abstract: Pregnancy and childbirth are both natural occurring events, but still little is known about the signaling mechanisms that induce contractions. Throughout the world, premature labor occurs in 12% of all pregnancies with 36% of infant deaths resulting from preterm related causes. Even though the cause of preterm labor can vary, understanding alternative signaling pathways, which affect muscle contraction, could provide additional treatment options in stopping premature labor. The uterus is composed of smooth muscle, which is innervated, with a plexus of nerves that cover the muscle fibers. Smooth muscle can be stimulated or modulated by many sources such as neurotransmitters [i.e. dopamine], hormones [i.e. estrogen], peptides [i.e. oxytocin] and amines. This study focuses on the biogenic monoamine tyramine, which is produced in the tyrosine catecholamine biosynthesis pathway. Tyramine is known to be associated with peripheral vasoconstriction, increased cardiac output, increased respiration, elevated blood glucose and the release of norepinephrine. This research has found tyramine, and its specific receptor TAAR1, to be localized within mouse uterus and that this monoamine can induce uterine contractions at levels similar to oxytocin. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2017

Orientadores: Francisco Eduardo Martinez, Marcelo Martinez / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T22:41:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Milton_FloraAparecida_M.pdf: 5438971 bytes, checksum: b5bc54519ed03a8c208655ff89209ccd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Considerando-se o uso do álcool entre mulheres questão atual e preocupante, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar as conseqüências do abuso do álcool sobre o epitélio uterino de ratas. Foram formados os grupos UChA e UCh8, bebedores voluntários de etanol a 10% e Wistar, consumidores de água. Após 120 dias, dez animais de cada grupo foram sacrificados, amostras de sangue coletadas, o peso corporal e dos órgãos genitais mensurado e os cornos uterinos coletados e processados para análise morfométrica e microscópica. A análise do peso corporal e dos órgãos genitais não revelou diferença significativa entre os grupos, embora o peso corporal do grupo UCh8 tenha sido significativamente maior quando comparado ao UChA. A análise morfométrica revelou que a altura do epitélio uterino do grupo UChA foi significativamente menor, quando comparada aos grupos controle e UCh8, embora não tenha sido observada diferença significativa na concentração plasmática dos hormônios FSH, LH, progesterona e estradiol. A microscopia de luz não mostrou diferença nas características histológicas do epitélio uterino entre os grupos, enquanto a microscopia eletrônica de transmissão mostrou gotas lipídicas, vacúolos digestivos, cisternas do retículo endoplasmático granular dilatadas e núcleos com deformidades nos grupos UChA e UCh8. Mitocôndrias volumosas foram observadas no grupo UChA. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura dos grupos UChA e UCh8 evidenciou espaços intercelulares aumentados e gotas lípidicas no citoplasma e luz. Conclui-se, portanto, que a ingestão crônica de etanol esta relacionada a várias alterações na ultraestrutura do epitélio uterino da linhagem UChA e UChB / Abstract: Considering the use of alcohol among women, a current and concerning issue, this paper aims at assessing the consequences of the abuse of alcohol on the uterine epithelium of rats. The UChA and UChB study groups. were formed for voluntary 10% ethanol consumption and the Wistar group for voluntary intake of water. After 120 days; ten animais from each group were sacrificed, blood samples were taken, the body weight and genital organs were measured, and the uterine horns were collected and processed for morphometric and microscopic analysis. The analysis of body weight and genital organs did not reveal a significant difference among the study groups, although the body weight of animais in group UChB was significantly greater in comparison with the UChA. The morphometric analysis revealed that the height of the uterine epithelium of animais in group UChA was significantly smaller in comparison with the control and UChB groups, although no significant difference was observed in the plasma concentration of hormones FSH, LH, progesterone, and estradiol. The light microscopy did not show differences in the histological characteristics of the uterine epithelium among the groups, while the transmission electronic microscopy showed the presence of fat drops, digestive vacuoles, dilated cisterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and nuclei with deformities In groups UChA and UChB. Voluminous mitochondria were observed in group UChA. The scanning electronic microscopy in groups UChA and UChB showed increased intercellular spaces and fat drops in the cytoplasm and lighí. It can therefore be concluded that the chronic intake of ethanol is related to various alterations in the ultrastructure of the uterine epithelium of UChA and UChB rat strains / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural