Contractions of the inner third of the myometrium

Article Abstract:

The uterus is made of smooth muscle cells, which continuously contract and relax in a rhythmic fashion. Contraction of one muscle cell sends a message to the next muscle cell, resulting a wave of contractions. The activity of the myometrium, the muscle layer of the uterus, has not been well studied. Endovaginal ultrasonography is a new technique that produces high-resolution images of internal structures using high-frequency sound emitted through probe inserted into the vagina. Myometrial activity was studied in 42 women having 46 ultrasonographic examinations for a variety of obstetrical and gynecological conditions. The study group consisted of pregnant, nonpregnant women and menopausal women. The location, duration, height and length of the uterine contractions were measured. Contractions of the inner third of the myometrium could be visualized in 35 of the 46 examinations; the contractions involved only the inner third of the uterus in all but two cases, where all three layers of the myometrium were involved. The contractions generally moved from the neck of the uterus (cervix) up towards the tip of the uterus (fundus), although the wave of contractions was reversed in menstruating women and one woman experiencing a spontaneous abortion. Information regarding uterine muscle contractions may help explain cases of infertility caused by ineffective sperm transport and the loss of a pregnancy due to the failure of a fertilized embryo to implant in the uterine wall. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Usage, Ultrasound imaging, Muscle contraction, Myometrium

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Release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by human peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro

Article Abstract:

In some types of infertility, macrophages and lymphocytes, immune fighting cells, are increased in the fluid bathing the abdominal cavity. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a substance released by macrophages during inflammation, can cause cell death. An increase in the amount of macrophages and lymphocytes has been found in the abdominal fluid of some patients with endometriosis, a condition in which cells normally found lining the uterus grow in other locations. Endometriosis is a major cause of infertility. Increased TNF can be found in infertile patients with and without endometriosis. TNF is also known to be toxic to embryos. TNF was measured in the abdominal fluid of 78 healthy patients. TNF activity was measured in 38 percent of the samples. Of the cells removed from the abdominal fluid and evaluated in the laboratory, 43 percent of the macrophages released TNF particularly when stimulated by the presence of bacteria. The cells obtained from patients with endometriosis were more likely to release TNF in the laboratory setting than cells of fertile women. It is suggested that increased TNF activity has the potential for causing adverse effects on reproduction. The stimulus for TNF production is not clear. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Development and progression, Tumor necrosis factor, Endometriosis

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Effects of colony-stimulating factors on the secretion of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase by human decidual macrophages

Article Abstract:

A group of proteins in the body called colony-stimulating factors can increase or decrease the amount of platelet-activating factor in the uterus. This is important because platelet-activating factor is involved in uterine contraction. Some pregnant women with increased amounts of colony-stimulating factors give birth prematurely.

Fetal membranes, Colony-stimulating factors (Physiology), Colony-stimulating factors

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