Prostaglandins are integral mediators in reproductive processes but their exact role in
uterine function is still not clear. In addition, ethical restraints have limited the
availability of human tissue to investigate uterine prostanoid receptor populations. The
aim of this thesis was to characterise the prostanoid receptors on the human and rat
myometrium in order to evaluate the potential of the rat as an animal model of human
uterine function and disease.
For functional analysis of myometrial prostanoid receptors the immersion technique
was utilised. LC-ESI-MS/MS was also used to measure the ex vivo myometrial release
of prostanoid metabolites.
The results show that both the rat and human uterus displays cyclical changes in uterine
motility, with myogenicity greatest in the follicular and oestrus stages. The data also
indicate that whilst the human uterus is responsive to EP3, EP2, TP, FP and IP receptor
agonists, a functional population of only EP3, EP2 and FP receptors is present on the rat
uterus, although the TP receptor appears to be upregulated at gestation and post-partum.
The results also show that myometrial prostanoid release in the human uterus is
cyclically regulated, with the greatest amount of prostaglandins being released during
the late follicular stage.
In conclusion, although similarities do exist with regard to the ovarian regulation of
uterine motility in both the rat and human uterus, the differences in the apparent
functional prostaglandin receptor populations between the two species suggest further
work is required before the rat can be used as a model of human uterine function. / Allergan Inc
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/5691 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Sabar, Uzmah Jabeen |
| Contributors | Marshall, Kay M. |
| Publisher | University of Bradford, Bradford School of Pharmacy |
| Source Sets | Bradford Scholars |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, doctoral, PhD |
| Rights | <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>. |
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