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Li Q, Zheng T, Chen J, Li B, Zhang Q, Yang S, Shao J, Guan W, Zhang S. Exploring melatonin's multifaceted role in female reproductive health: From follicular development to lactation and its therapeutic potential in obstetric syndromes. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00168-1. [PMID: 38692429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melatonin is mainly secreted by the pineal gland during darkness and regulates biological rhythms through its receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition, it also plays a role in the reproductive system by affecting the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and by acting as a free radical scavenger thus contributing to the maintenance of the optimal physiological state of the gonads. Besides, melatonin can freely cross the placenta to influence fetal development. However, there is still a lack of overall understanding of the role of melatonin in the reproductive cycle of female mammals. AIM OF REVIEW Here we focus the role of melatonin in female reproduction from follicular development to delivery as well as the relationship between melatonin and lactation. We further summarize the potential role of melatonin in the treatment of preeclampsia, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and ovarian aging. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW Understanding the physiological role of melatonin in female reproductive processes will contribute to the advancement of human fertility and reproductive medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihui Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Tenghui Zheng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaming Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Baofeng Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qianzi Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Siwang Yang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiayuan Shao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wutai Guan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihai Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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Grant AD, Erickson EN. Birth, love, and fear: Physiological networks from pregnancy to parenthood. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 11:100138. [PMID: 35757173 PMCID: PMC9227990 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and childbirth are among the most dramatic physiological and emotional transformations of a lifetime. Despite their central importance to human survival, many gaps remain in our understanding of the temporal progression of and mechanisms underlying the transition to new parenthood. The goal of this paper is to outline the physiological and emotional development of the maternal-infant dyad from late pregnancy to the postpartum period, and to provide a framework to investigate this development using non-invasive timeseries. We focus on the interaction among neuroendocrine, emotional, and autonomic outputs in the context of late pregnancy, parturition, and post-partum. We then propose that coupled dynamics in these outputs can be leveraged to map both physiologic and pathologic pregnancy, parturition, and parenthood. This approach could address gaps in our knowledge and enable early detection or prediction of problems, with both personalized depth and broad population scale. Giving birth and caring for offspring are dynamic processes that can instill both love and fear. Maternal physiology continuously integrates fetal, social, and environmental cues. The result is coupled change in hormonal, autonomic nervous, and emotional output. Coupling may allow internal state to be assessed from peripheral autonomic markers. Such markers may identify healthy or pathologic pregnancy, parturition, and parenting, and enable creation of real-world tools.
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Marinić M, Mika K, Chigurupati S, Lynch VJ. Evolutionary transcriptomics implicates HAND2 in the origins of implantation and regulation of gestation length. eLife 2021; 10:61257. [PMID: 33522483 PMCID: PMC7943190 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental origins and evolutionary histories of cell types, tissues, and organs contribute to the ways in which their dysfunction produces disease. In mammals, the nature, development and evolution of maternal-fetal interactions likely influence diseases of pregnancy. Here we show genes that evolved expression at the maternal-fetal interface in Eutherian mammals play essential roles in the evolution of pregnancy and are associated with immunological disorders and preterm birth. Among these genes is HAND2, a transcription factor that suppresses estrogen signaling, a Eutherian innovation allowing blastocyst implantation. We found dynamic HAND2 expression in the decidua throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, gradually decreasing to a low at term. HAND2 regulates a distinct set of genes in endometrial stromal fibroblasts including IL15, a cytokine also exhibiting dynamic expression throughout the menstrual cycle and gestation, promoting migration of natural killer cells and extravillous cytotrophoblasts. We demonstrate that HAND2 promoter loops to an enhancer containing SNPs implicated in birth weight and gestation length regulation. Collectively, these data connect HAND2 expression at the maternal-fetal interface with evolution of implantation and gestational regulation, and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Marinić
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Katelyn Mika
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | | | - Vincent J Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, United States
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Yaw AM, McLane-Svoboda AK, Hoffmann HM. Shiftwork and Light at Night Negatively Impact Molecular and Endocrine Timekeeping in the Female Reproductive Axis in Humans and Rodents. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E324. [PMID: 33396885 PMCID: PMC7795361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiftwork, including work that takes place at night (nightshift) and/or rotates between day and nightshifts, plays an important role in our society, but is associated with decreased health, including reproductive dysfunction. One key factor in shiftwork, exposure to light at night, has been identified as a likely contributor to the underlying health risks associated with shiftwork. Light at night disrupts the behavioral and molecular circadian timekeeping system, which is important for coordinated timing of physiological processes, causing mistimed hormone release and impaired physiological functions. This review focuses on the impact of shiftwork on reproductive function and pregnancy in women and laboratory rodents and potential underlying molecular mechanisms. We summarize the negative impact of shiftwork on female fertility and compare these findings to studies in rodent models of light shifts. Light-shift rodent models recapitulate several aspects of reproductive dysfunction found in shift workers, and their comparison with human studies can enable a deeper understanding of physiological and hormonal responses to light shifts and the underlying molecular mechanisms that may lead to reproductive disruption in human shift workers. The contributions of human and rodent studies are essential to identify the origins of impaired fertility in women employed in shiftwork.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hanne M. Hoffmann
- Department of Animal Science and the Reproductive and Developmental Science Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Daylight Saving Time and Spontaneous Deliveries: A Case-Control Study in Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17218091. [PMID: 33153052 PMCID: PMC7662372 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Although the current literature shows that daylight saving time (DST) may play a role in human health and behavior, this topic has been poorly investigated with reference to Obstetrics. The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate whether DST may influence the number of spontaneous deliveries. (2) Methods: A low-risk pregnancy cohort with spontaneous onset of labor (n = 7415) was analyzed from a single Italian region for the period 2016–2018. Primary outcome was the number of spontaneous deliveries. Secondary outcomes were: gestational age at delivery, type and time of delivery, use of analgesia, birth weight, and 5-min Apgar at delivery. We compared the outcomes in the two weeks after DST (cases) to the two weeks before DST (controls). (3) Results: Data showed no significant difference between the number of deliveries occurring before and after DST (Chi-square = 0.546, p = 0.46). Vaginal deliveries at any gestational age showed no statistical difference between the two groups (Chi-square = 0.120, p = 0.73). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes, as well. (4) Conclusions: DST has neither a significant impact on the number of deliveries nor on the obstetric variables investigated by this study.
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Using Circadian Rhythm Patterns of Continuous Core Body Temperature to Improve Fertility and Pregnancy Planning. J Circadian Rhythms 2020; 18:5. [PMID: 33024445 PMCID: PMC7518073 DOI: 10.5334/jcr.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Review relationships among circadian clocks, core body temperature (CBT), and fertility in women. Methods Scoping literature review. Results Circadian clocks are a ubiquitous adaptation to the most predictable environmental events - the daily cycles of light and dark. Core body temperature (CBT) also follows a circadian rhythm. Additionally, CBT is tightly controlled by a combination of neuronal circuits that begin in the hypothalamus and involve many other portions of the brain as well as a wide range of peripheral mechanisms. In women with normal reproductive function, the diurnal temperature pattern for CBT is strongly influenced by the menstrual cycle of reproductive hormones, primarily estradiol and progesterone, which modulate the activity of hypothalamic neural circuits involved in body temperature control, resulting in an infradian CBT rhythm. Conclusions Analysis of CBT via continuous recording reveals patterns in the interactions of circadian and infradian CBT rhythms capable of accurately predicting the fertility window and hormonal patterns suggesting oligo-ovulation and subfertility. New wearable technologies can facilitate employment of hormone-associated changes in CBT for pregnancy planning and offer clinical insight to infertility and menopause.
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Amano T, Ripperger JA, Albrecht U. Changing the light schedule in late pregnancy alters birth timing in mice. Theriogenology 2020; 154:212-222. [PMID: 32650187 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In rats, birth timing is affected by changes in the light schedule until the middle of the pregnancy period. This phenomenon can be used to control birth timing in the animal industry and/or clinical fields. However, changes in the light schedule until the middle of the pregnancy period can damage the fetus by affecting the development of the major organs. Thus, we compared birth timing in mice kept under a 12-h light/12-h darkness schedule (L/D) throughout pregnancy with that of mice kept under a light schedule that changed from L/D to constant light (L/L) or constant darkness (D/D) from day 17.5 of pregnancy, the latter phase of the pregnancy period. On average, the pregnancy period was longer in D/D mice (19.9 days) than L/L or L/D mice (19.5 and 19.3 days, respectively, P < 0.05), confirming that light schedule affects birth timing. The average number of newborns was the same in L/L, L/D, and D/D mice (7.5, 7.8, and 7.9, respectively), but the average newborn weight of L/L mice (1.3 g) was lower than that of L/D and D/D mice (both 1.4 g, P < 0.05), indicating that constant light has detrimental effects on fetus growth. However, the percentage of dead newborns was the same between L/L, L/D, and D/D mice (11.1, 10.6, and 3.6%, respectively). The serum progesterone level on day 18.5 of pregnancy in L/D mice was 42.8 ng/ml, lower (P < 0.05) than that of D/D mice (65.3 ng/ml), suggesting that light schedule affects luteolysis. The average pregnancy period of mice lacking a circadian clock kept under D/D conditions from day 17.5 of pregnancy (KO D/D) (20.3 days) was delayed compared with wild-type (WT) D/D mice (P < 0.05). However, the average number of newborns, percentage of births with dead pups, and weight per newborn of KO D/D mice (7.6, 3.6%, and 1.4 g, respectively) were the same as WT mice kept under D/D conditions. A direct effect of the circadian clock on the mechanism(s) regulating birth timing was questionable, as the lighter average weight per KO fetus (0.6 g) versus WT fetus (0.7 g) on day 17.5 of pregnancy might have caused the delay in birth. The range of birth timing in KO D/D mice was the same as that of WT D/D mice, indicating that the circadian clock does not concentrate births at one time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Amano
- College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agriculture, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Midorimachi Bunkyodai, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, 069-8501, Japan.
| | - Jürgen A Ripperger
- Department of Biology/Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Urs Albrecht
- Department of Biology/Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Yaw AM, Duong TV, Nguyen D, Hoffmann HM. Circadian rhythms in the mouse reproductive axis during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:294-308. [PMID: 32128870 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Molecular and behavioral timekeeping is regulated by the circadian system which includes the brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that translates environmental light information into neuronal and endocrine signals aligning peripheral tissue rhythms to the time of day. Despite the critical role of circadian rhythms in fertility, it remains unexplored how circadian rhythms change within reproductive tissues during pregnancy. To determine how estrous cycle and pregnancy impact phase relationships of reproductive tissues, we used PER2::Luciferase (PER2::LUC) circadian reporter mice and determined the time of day of PER2::LUC peak (phase) in the SCN, pituitary, uterus, and ovary. The relationships between reproductive tissue PER2::LUC phases changed throughout the estrous cycle and late pregnancy and were accompanied by changes to PER2::LUC period in the SCN, uterus, and ovary. To determine if the phase relationship adaptations were driven by sex steroids, we asked if progesterone, a hormone involved in estrous cyclicity and pregnancy, could regulate Per2-luciferase expression. Using an in vitro transfection assay, we found that progesterone increased Per2-luciferase expression in immortalized SCN (SCN2.2) and arcuate nucleus (KTAR) cells. In addition, progesterone shortened PER2::LUC period in ex vivo uterine tissue recordings collected during pregnancy. As progesterone dramatically increases during pregnancy, we evaluated wheel-running patterns in PER2::LUC mice. We confirmed that activity levels decrease during pregnancy and found that activity onset was delayed. Although SCN, but not arcuate nucleus, PER2::LUC period changed during late pregnancy, onset of locomotor activity did not correlate with SCN or arcuate nucleus PER2::LUC period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Yaw
- Department of Animal Science and the Reproductive and Developmental Science Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Thu V Duong
- Department of Animal Science and the Reproductive and Developmental Science Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Duong Nguyen
- Department of Animal Science and the Reproductive and Developmental Science Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Hanne M Hoffmann
- Department of Animal Science and the Reproductive and Developmental Science Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Takmaz T, Unal B, Ozcan P, Arici Halici BN, Gorchiyeva I, Gokmen Karasu AF, Sahbaz C. Are chronotype and subjective sleep quality associated with preeclampsia and preterm birth? BIOL RHYTHM RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2020.1730617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taha Takmaz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Busra Unal
- Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Pinar Ozcan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Belfin Nur Arici Halici
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Irana Gorchiyeva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Filiz Gokmen Karasu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Cigdem Sahbaz
- Department of Psychiatry, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
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Hu JJ, Xiao LF, Song LL, Ge WB, Duan HW, Jiang Y. The expression of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 is regulated by E2 in sheep oviduct. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 286:113135. [PMID: 30849411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Some of the functions of melatonin in mammals are exerted through its membrane receptors (MRs) and studies have shown that estradiol (E2) might play an important role in regulating the expression of these proteins in female reproductive organs. However, no reports have reported the expression of MRs in the sheep oviduct or whether they are regulated by E2. Thus, herein, we detected the localization of MT1 and MT2 in the sheep oviduct. Moreover, we also investigated the expression pattern of these markers in the ovulating and non-ovulating side of the oviduct in the sheep ampulla and isthmus. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that both MT1 and MT2 are mainly expressed on oviduct epithelial cells. Both real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses showed that MT1 and MT2 genes and proteins are highly expressed on the non-ovulating side of the oviduct ampulla, but not the ovulating side. However, regarding the oviduct isthmus, there were no significant differences between the ovulating and non-ovulating sides. In vitro, 10 ng/ml and 1 µg/ml of E2, as well as 1 µg/ml of E2 combined with 0.1 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml, and 10 µg/ml of ICI182780 (a non-selective estrogenreceptor antagonist), were used to treat oviduct epithelial cells. We found that E2 inhibited the expression of MT1 and MT2 in cultured oviduct cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effect was suppressed by ICI182780. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that MRs are present in the sheep oviduct, and that E2, via the ER pathway, regulates their expression in the oviduct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jie Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
| | - Long-Fei Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China.
| | - Liang-Li Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
| | - Wen-Bo Ge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
| | - Hong-Wei Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
| | - Yuting Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
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Differences in DNA methylation of insulin-like growth factor 2 and cadherin 13 in patients with preeclampsia. Pregnancy Hypertens 2020; 19:150-158. [PMID: 32007784 DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In a previous mass spectrometry study of our research group, 25 proteins were found to be differentially expressed in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with preeclampsia compared to controls. The objective of the current study was to investigate DNA methylation of the genes encoding for the former mentioned proteins in an independent dataset. STUDY DESIGN In a nested case-control study of the Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort, placental tissue, umbilical cord white blood cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were obtained of 13 patients with early-onset preeclampsia, 16 patients with late-onset preeclampsia and 83 normotensive controls (27 patients with fetal growth restriction, 20 patients with spontaneous preterm birth and 36 uncomplicated pregnancies). DNA methylation of 783 CpGs in regions of 25 genes was measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES DNA methylation of selected candidate genes in early- and late-onset preeclampsia compared to fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth and uncomplicated controls. RESULTS From the 783 CpGs of the 25 selected genes, 15 CpGs were differentially methylated between early-onset preeclampsia and spontaneous preterm birth (3.80 E-5 ≤ p ≤ 0.036). Four CpGs were differentially methylated between early-onset preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (0.0002 ≤ p ≤ 0.037) and 13 CpGs were differentially methylated between early onset preeclampsia and uncomplicated controls (0.0001 ≤ p ≤ 0.04). CONCLUSION Differences in DNA methylation were found in placental tissue, umbilical cord white blood cells and HUVEC of patients with early onset preeclampsia compared to (un)complicated controls, but not in patients with late-onset preeclampsia. The genes showing the largest differential methylation encode insulin-like growth factor 2 binding protein and receptor and cadherin 13.
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Abstract
For more than a half century the hormone melatonin has been associated with vertebrate reproduction, particularly in the context of seasonal breeding. This association is due in large measure to the fact that melatonin secretion from the pineal gland into the peripheral circulation is a nocturnal event whose duration is reflective of night length, which of course becomes progressively longer during winter months and correspondingly shorter during the summer months. The nocturnal plasma melatonin signal is conserved in essentially all vertebrates and is accessed not just for reproductive rhythms, but for seasonal cycles of metabolic activities, immune functions, and behavioral expression. A vast literature on melatonin and vertebrate biology has accrued over the past 60 years since melatonin's discovery, including the broad topic of animal reproduction, which is far beyond the scope of this human-focused review. Although modern humans in the industrialized world appear in general to have little remaining reproductive seasonality, the relationships between melatonin and human reproduction continue to attract widespread scientific attention. The purpose of this chapter is to draw attention to some newer developments in the field, especially those with relevance to human fertility and reproductive medicine. As the vast majority of studies have focused on the female reproductive system, a discussion of the potential impact of melatonin on human male fertility will be left for others.
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McCarthy R, Jungheim ES, Fay JC, Bates K, Herzog ED, England SK. Riding the Rhythm of Melatonin Through Pregnancy to Deliver on Time. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:616. [PMID: 31572299 PMCID: PMC6753220 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is influenced by the circadian ("circa" or approximately; diēm or day) system, which coordinates physiology and behavior with predictable daily changes in the environment such as light/dark cycles. For example, most species deliver around a particular time of day. In mammals, circadian rhythms are controlled by the master circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus. One key way that the suprachiasmatic nucleus coordinates circadian rhythms throughout the body is by regulating production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. Serum melatonin concentration, which peaks at night and is suppressed during the day, is one of the best biological indicators of circadian timing. Circadian misalignment causes maternal disturbances in the temporal organization of many physiological processes including melatonin synthesis, and these disturbances of the circadian system have been linked to an increased risk for pregnancy complications. Here, we review evidence that melatonin helps regulate the maternal and fetal circadian systems and the timing of birth. Finally, we discuss the potential for melatonin-based therapeutic strategies to alleviate poor pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald McCarthy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Emily S. Jungheim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Justin C. Fay
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Keenan Bates
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Erik D. Herzog
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Sarah K. England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Sarah K. England
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Chronodisruption: An untimely cause of preterm birth? Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018; 52:60-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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DiCarlo LM, Vied C, Nowakowski RS. The stability of the transcriptome during the estrous cycle in four regions of the mouse brain. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3360-3387. [PMID: 28685836 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the transcriptome of the C57BL/6J mouse hypothalamus, hippocampus, neocortex, and cerebellum to determine estrous cycle-specific changes in these four brain regions. We found almost 16,000 genes are present in one or more of the brain areas but only 210 genes, ∼1.3%, are significantly changed as a result of the estrous cycle. The hippocampus has the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (82), followed by the neocortex (76), hypothalamus (63), and cerebellum (26). Most of these DEGs (186/210) are differentially expressed in only one of the four brain regions. A key finding is the unique expression pattern of growth hormone (Gh) and prolactin (Prl). Gh and Prl are the only DEGs to be expressed during only one stage of the estrous cycle (metestrus). To gain insight into the function of the DEGs, we examined gene ontology and phenotype enrichment and found significant enrichment for genes associated with myelination, hormone stimulus, and abnormal hormone levels. Additionally, 61 of the 210 DEGs are known to change in response to estrogen in the brain. 50 of the 210 genes differentially expressed as a result of the estrous cycle are related to myelin and oligodendrocytes and 12 of the 63 DEGs in the hypothalamus are oligodendrocyte- and myelin-specific genes. This transcriptomic analysis reveals that gene expression in the female mouse brain is remarkably stable during the estrous cycle and demonstrates that the genes that do fluctuate are functionally related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M DiCarlo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida.,Translational Science Laboratory, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Richard S Nowakowski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
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van den Berg CB, Chaves I, Herzog EM, Willemsen SP, van der Horst GTJ, Steegers-Theunissen RPM. Early- and late-onset preeclampsia and the DNA methylation of circadian clock and clock-controlled genes in placental and newborn tissues. Chronobiol Int 2017; 34:921-932. [DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2017.1326125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. B. van den Berg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics & Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I. Chaves
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E. M. Herzog
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics & Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S. P. Willemsen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics & Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G. T. J. van der Horst
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R. P. M. Steegers-Theunissen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics & Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Price EC, Payne C, Wormell D. Why do captive pied tamarins give birth during the day? Zoo Biol 2016; 35:487-494. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eluned C. Price
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; Les Augrès Manor; Trinity Jersey
| | - Catherine Payne
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; Les Augrès Manor; Trinity Jersey
| | - Dominic Wormell
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; Les Augrès Manor; Trinity Jersey
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20
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Conley A. Review of the reproductive endocrinology of the pregnant and parturient mare. Theriogenology 2016; 86:355-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Menon R, Bonney EA, Condon J, Mesiano S, Taylor RN. Novel concepts on pregnancy clocks and alarms: redundancy and synergy in human parturition. Hum Reprod Update 2016; 22:535-60. [PMID: 27363410 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmw022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The signals and mechanisms that synchronize the timing of human parturition remain a mystery and a better understanding of these processes is essential to avert adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although our insights into human labor initiation have been informed by studies in animal models, the timing of parturition relative to fetal maturation varies among viviparous species, indicative of phylogenetically different clocks and alarms; but what is clear is that important common pathways must converge to control the birth process. For example, in all species, parturition involves the transition of the myometrium from a relaxed to a highly excitable state, where the muscle rhythmically and forcefully contracts, softening the cervical extracellular matrix to allow distensibility and dilatation and thus a shearing of the fetal membranes to facilitate their rupture. We review a number of theories promulgated to explain how a variety of different timing mechanisms, including fetal membrane cell senescence, circadian endocrine clocks, and inflammatory and mechanical factors, are coordinated as initiators and effectors of parturition. Many of these factors have been independently described with a focus on specific tissue compartments.In this review, we put forth the core hypothesis that fetal membrane (amnion and chorion) senescence is the initiator of a coordinated, redundant signal cascade leading to parturition. Whether modified by oxidative stress or other factors, this process constitutes a counting device, i.e. a clock, that measures maturation of the fetal organ systems and the production of hormones and other soluble mediators (including alarmins) and that promotes inflammation and orchestrates an immune cascade to propagate signals across different uterine compartments. This mechanism in turn sensitizes decidual responsiveness and eventually promotes functional progesterone withdrawal in the myometrium, leading to increased myometrial cell contraction and the triggering of parturition. Linkage of these processes allows convergence and integration of the gestational clocks and alarms, prompting a timely and safe birth. In summary, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the mediators that contribute to the timing of human labor. Integrating these concepts will provide a better understanding of human parturition and ultimately improve pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., MRB, Room 11.138, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 792 College Parkway, Fanny Allen Campus, Suite 101, Colchester, Burlington, VT 05446, USA
| | - Jennifer Condon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Perinatal Research Branch, NICHD, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Robert N Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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Qiu C, Gelaye B, Denis M, Tadesse MG, Luque Fernandez MA, Enquobahrie DA, Ananth CV, Sanchez SE, Williams MA. Circadian clock-related genetic risk scores and risk of placental abruption. Placenta 2015; 36:1480-6. [PMID: 26515929 PMCID: PMC5010362 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The circadian clock plays an important role in several aspects of female reproductive biology. Evidence linking circadian clock-related genes to pregnancy outcomes has been inconsistent. We sought to examine whether variations in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of circadian clock genes are associated with PA risk. METHODS Maternal blood samples were collected from 470 PA case and 473 controls. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina Cardio-MetaboChip platform. We examined 119 SNPs in 13 candidate genes known to control circadian rhythms (e.g., CRY2, ARNTL, and RORA). Univariate and penalized logistic regression models were fit to estimate odds ratios (ORs); and the combined effect of multiple SNPs on PA risk was estimated using a weighted genetic risk score (wGRS). RESULTS A common SNP in the RORA gene (rs2899663) was associated with a 21% reduced odds of PA (P < 0.05). The odds of PA increased with increasing wGRS (Ptrend < 0.001). The corresponding ORs were 1.00, 1.83, 2.81 and 5.13 across wGRS quartiles. Participants in the highest wGRS quartile had a 5.13-fold (95% confidence interval: 3.21-8.21) higher odds of PA compared to those in the lowest quartile. Although the test for interaction was not significant, the odds of PA was substantially elevated for preeclamptics with the highest wGRS quartile (OR = 14.44, 95%CI: 6.62-31.53) compared to normotensive women in the lowest wGRS quartile. DISCUSSION Genetic variants in circadian rhythm genes may be associated with PA risk. Larger studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to further elucidate the pathogenesis of this important obstetrical complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunfang Qiu
- Center for Perinatal Studies, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Bizu Gelaye
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie Denis
- UMR Amélioration Génétique et Adaptation des Plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales (AGAP), CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mahlet G Tadesse
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Daniel A Enquobahrie
- Center for Perinatal Studies, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cande V Ananth
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sixto E Sanchez
- Sección de Post Grado, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru; A.C. PROESA, Lima, Peru; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Marcos University, Lima, Peru
| | - Michelle A Williams
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Pérez S, Murias L, Fernández-Plaza C, Díaz I, González C, Otero J, Díaz E. Evidence for clock genes circadian rhythms in human full-term placenta. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2015; 61:360-6. [PMID: 26247999 DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2015.1069420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Biological rhythms are driven by endogenous biological clocks; in mammals, the master clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. This master pacemaker can synchronize other peripheral oscillators in several tissues such as some involved in endocrine or reproductive functions. The presence of an endogenous placental clock has received little attention. In fact, there are no studies in human full-term placentas. To test the existence of an endogenous pacemaker in this tissue we have studied the expression of circadian locomoter output cycles kaput (Clock), brain and muscle arnt-like (Bmal)1, period (Per)2, and cryptochrome (Cry)1 mRNAs at 00, 04, 08, 12, 16, and 20 hours by qPCR. The four clock genes studied are expressed in full-term human placenta. The results obtained allow us to suggest that a peripheral oscillator exists in human placenta. Data were analyzed using Fourier series where only the Clock and Bmal1 expression shows a circadian rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pérez
- a Transplants, Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) , Oviedo , Spain
| | - Lucía Murias
- b Area of Physiology, Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain
| | | | - Irene Díaz
- d Area of Computation Science and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Computer Science, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain
| | - Celestino González
- b Area of Physiology, Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain
| | - Jesús Otero
- a Transplants, Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) , Oviedo , Spain
| | - Elena Díaz
- b Area of Physiology, Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain
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24
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Beesley S, Lee J, Olcese J. Circadian clock regulation of melatonin MTNR1B receptor expression in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2015; 21:662-71. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gav023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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25
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Circadian System and Melatonin Hormone: Risk Factors for Complications during Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Int 2015; 2015:825802. [PMID: 25821470 PMCID: PMC4363680 DOI: 10.1155/2015/825802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a complex and well-regulated temporal event in which several steps are finely orchestrated including implantation, decidualization, placentation, and partum and any temporary alteration has serious effects on fetal and maternal health. Interestingly, alterations of circadian rhythms (i.e., shiftwork) have been correlated with increased risk of preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia. In the last few years evidence is accumulating that the placenta may have a functional circadian system and express the clock genes Bmal1, Per1-2, and Clock. On the other hand, there is evidence that the human placenta synthesizes melatonin, hormone involved in the regulation of the circadian system in other tissues. Moreover, is unknown the role of this local production of melatonin and whether this production have a circadian pattern. Available information indicates that melatonin induces in placenta the expression of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, prevents the injury produced by oxidative stress, and inhibits the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) a gene that in other tissues is controlled by clock genes. In this review we aim to analyze available information regarding clock genes and clock genes controlled genes such as VEGF and the possible role of melatonin synthesis in the placenta.
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26
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Camargo-Sanchez A, Niño CL, Sánchez L, Echeverri S, Gutiérrez DP, Duque AF, Pianeta O, Jaramillo-Gómez JA, Pilonieta MA, Cataño N, Arboleda H, Agostino PV, Alvarez-Baron CP, Vargas R. Theory of Inpatient Circadian Care (TICC): A Proposal for a Middle-Range Theory. Open Nurs J 2015; 9:1-9. [PMID: 25767632 PMCID: PMC4353124 DOI: 10.2174/1874434601509010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian system controls the daily rhythms of a variety of physiological processes. Most organisms show physiological, metabolic and behavioral rhythms that are coupled to environmental signals. In humans, the main synchronizer is the light/dark cycle, although non-photic cues such as food availability, noise, and work schedules are also involved. In a continuously operating hospital, the lack of rhythmicity in these elements can alter the patient’s biological rhythms and resilience. This paper presents a Theory of Inpatient Circadian Care (TICC) grounded in circadian principles. We conducted a literature search on biological rhythms, chronobiology, nursing care, and middle-range theories in the databases PubMed, SciELO Public Health, and Google Scholar. The search was performed considering a period of 6 decades from 1950 to 2013. Information was analyzed to look for links between chronobiology concepts and characteristics of inpatient care. TICC aims to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge of biomedical sciences and apply it to clinical practice in a formal way. The conceptual points of this theory are supported by abundant literature related to disease and altered biological rhythms. Our theory will be able to enrich current and future professional practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Camargo-Sanchez
- Nursing School at the Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carmen L Niño
- Nursing School at the Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Sánchez
- Nursing School at the Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sonia Echeverri
- Nursing Department at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá University Hospital, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana P Gutiérrez
- Division of Internal Medicine at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá University Hospital, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Oscar Pianeta
- School of Medicine at the Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jenny A Jaramillo-Gómez
- Cell Death Group, School of Medicine and Institute of Genetics at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martin A Pilonieta
- School of Medicine at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nhora Cataño
- School of Nursing at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Humberto Arboleda
- Neurosciences Research Group, School of Medicine and Institute of Genetics at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Patricia V Agostino
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Rafael Vargas
- School of Medicine at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Simşek Y, Parlakpınar H, Turhan U, Tağluk ME, Ateş B. Dual effects of melatonin on uterine myoelectrical activity of non-pregnant rats. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2014; 15:86-91. [PMID: 24976773 DOI: 10.5152/jtgga.2014.26932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2013] [Accepted: 12/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this experimental study, we aimed to investigate the role of melatonin on uterine myoelectrical activity of non-pregnant rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-six female rats were assigned to six groups: (1) control; (0.2 mL 0.9% NaCl was injected intravenously (IV), n=6); (2) melatonin applied as 0.4 mg/kg/IV (n=8); (3) melatonin applied as 4 mg/kg/IV (n=8); (4) single dose of oxytocin (100 mU/kg) injected IV (n=8); (5) melatonin (0.4 mg/kg) plus oxytocin (100 mU/kg) (n=8); and (6) melatonin (4 mg/kg) plus oxytocin (100 mU/kg) injected IV (n=8). Each rat underwent a laparotomy, and uterine myoelectrical signals were recorded. The mean spectrum, averaged over the spectral content of signals in each group, was compared. RESULTS Melatonin induced uterine myoelectrical activity in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of melatonin after oxytocin suppressed the mean power of the signals. Serum melatonin concentrations were significantly higher in melatonin-treated rats. CONCLUSION Melatonin itself at two different dose levels was found to be equally effective in stimulating the uterine electrical signals, although oxytocin-induced uterine electrical activity was suppressed by melatonin. These findings merit further investigations on the possible beneficial role of melatonin in the treatment of conditions associated with abnormal uterine activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yavuz Simşek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey
| | - Hakan Parlakpınar
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Uğur Turhan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Emin Tağluk
- Department of Electrical and Electronics, İnönü University Faculty of Engineering, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Burhan Ateş
- Department of Chemistry, İnönü University Faculty of Science, Malatya, Turkey
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Cha J, Dey SK. Cadence of procreation: orchestrating embryo-uterine interactions. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2014; 34:56-64. [PMID: 24862857 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Embryo implantation in eutherian mammals is a highly complex process and requires reciprocal communication between different cell types of the embryo at the blastocyst stage and receptive uterus. The events of implantation are dynamic and highly orchestrated over a species-specific period of time with distinctive and overlapping expression of many genes. Delayed implantation in different species has helped elucidate some of the intricacies of implantation timing and different modes of the implantation process. How these events are coordinated in time and space are not clearly understood. We discuss potential regulators of the precise timing of these events with respect to central and local clock mechanisms. This review focuses on the timing and synchronization of early pregnancy events in mouse and consequences of their aberrations at later stages of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeyeon Cha
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Sudhansu K Dey
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States.
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Varea C, Fernández-Cerezo S. Revisiting the daily human birth pattern: time of delivery at Casa de Maternidad in Madrid (1887-1892). Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:707-9. [PMID: 24789752 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Among the ancestral characteristics of the primate group to which Homo sapiens belongs we find a pattern of daytime physical activity, but one notable exception is birthing which usually begins with night-time labor. In populations with a moderate or high level of medicalized labor, there is evidence that the medical preferences interfere with the underlying biological mechanism for the circadian pattern of human birth. METHODS This study analyses the hourly patterns of 4,599 single live births in the House of Maternity in Madrid between 1887 and 1892, a period of very limited obstetric intervention and without the influence of artificial lighting. In order to determine the influence of natural light on labor, two periods of maximum and minimum light have been established around the summer and winter solstices of the years in question. RESULTS A clear circadian pattern of births emerges, with very early morning and early morning births dominating, and a sharp drop from midday until nightfall. The hourly distribution on both solstices follows this pattern, but with a clear peak shift: in winter, there is a greater concentration of deliveries in the early morning, whereas in the summer, the highest concentration is between 8 and 12 in the morning. CONCLUSIONS The results confirm that non-intervened human birth has a clear diurnal cycle, with a higher incidence of deliveries in the early morning or morning. The shift in distribution during the winter and summer solstices seems to confirm the effect of light on the labor process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Varea
- Department of Biology, Madrid Autonomous University, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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Miller BH, Takahashi JS. Central circadian control of female reproductive function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 4:195. [PMID: 24478756 PMCID: PMC3898595 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, it has become clear just how much of our physiology is under the control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the cell-intrinsic molecular clock that ticks with a periodicity of approximately 24 h. The SCN prepares our digestive system for meals, our adrenal axis for the stress of waking up in the morning, and the genes expressed in our muscles when we prepare to exercise. Long before molecular studies of genes such as Clock, Bmal1, and the Per homologs were possible, it was obvious that female reproductive function was under strict circadian control at every level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and in the establishment and successful maintenance of pregnancy. This review highlights our current understanding of the role that the SCN plays in regulating female reproductive physiology, with a special emphasis on the advances made possible through the use of circadian mutant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke H Miller
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine , Gainesville, FL , USA
| | - Joseph S Takahashi
- Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX , USA
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31
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Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Korkmaz A, Rosales-Corral SA. Melatonin and stable circadian rhythms optimize maternal, placental and fetal physiology. Hum Reprod Update 2013; 20:293-307. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmt054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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32
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Yip KS, Suvorov A, Connerney J, Lodato NJ, Waxman DJ. Changes in mouse uterine transcriptome in estrus and proestrus. Biol Reprod 2013; 89:13. [PMID: 23740946 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.107334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the CD-1 mouse uterine transcriptome during proestrus and estrus were investigated to help elucidate mechanisms of uterine tissue remodeling during the estrus cycle and their regulation by estrogen and progesterone in preparation of the uterus for pregnancy. Mice were staged beginning at 6 weeks of age, and uterine horns were harvested after monitoring two estrus cycles. Microarray analysis of whole uterine horn RNA identified 2428 genes differentially expressed in estrus compared to proestrus, indicating there is extensive remodeling of mouse uterus during the estrus cycle, affecting ~10% of all protein-encoding genes. Many (~50%) of these genes showed the same differential expression in independent analyses of isolated uterine lumenal epithelial cells. Changes in gene expression associated with structural alterations of the uterus included remodeling of the extracellular matrix, changes in cell keratins and adhesion molecules, activation of mitosis and changes in major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) presentation, complement and coagulation cascades, and cytochrome P450 expression. Signaling pathways regulated during the estrus cycle, involving ligand-gated channels, Wnt and hedgehog signaling, and transcription factors with poorly understood roles in reproductive tissues, included several genes and gene networks that have been implicated in pathological states. Many of the molecular pathways and biological functions represented by the genes differentially expressed from proestrus to estrus are also altered during the human menstrual cycle, although not necessarily at the corresponding phases of the cycle. These findings establish a baseline for further studies in the mouse model to dissect mechanisms involved in uterine tissue response to endocrine disruptors and the development of reproductive tract diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerri Stanley Yip
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Boden MJ, Varcoe TJ, Kennaway DJ. Circadian regulation of reproduction: from gamete to offspring. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 113:387-97. [PMID: 23380455 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Few challenges are more critical to the survival of a species than reproduction. To ensure reproductive success, myriad aspects of physiology and behaviour need to be tightly orchestrated within the animal, as well as timed appropriately with the external environment. This is accomplished through an endogenous circadian timing system generated at the cellular level through a series of interlocked transcription/translation feedback loops, leading to the overt expression of circadian rhythms. These expression patterns are found throughout the body, and are intimately interwoven with both the timing and function of the reproductive process. In this review we highlight the many aspects of reproductive physiology in which circadian rhythms are known to play a role, including regulation of the estrus cycle, the LH surge and ovulation, the production and maturation of sperm and the timing of insemination and fertilisation. We will also describe roles for circadian rhythms in support of the preimplantation embryo in the oviduct, implantation/placentation, as well as the control of parturition and early postnatal life. There are several key differences in physiology between humans and the model systems used for the study of circadian disruption, and these challenges to interpretation will be discussed as part of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Boden
- Robinson Institute, Research Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Medical School, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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Waddell B, Wharfe M, Crew R, Mark P. A rhythmic placenta? Circadian variation, clock genes and placental function. Placenta 2012; 33:533-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2012.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Slominski RM, Reiter RJ, Schlabritz-Loutsevitch N, Ostrom RS, Slominski AT. Melatonin membrane receptors in peripheral tissues: distribution and functions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 351:152-66. [PMID: 22245784 PMCID: PMC3288509 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2012.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 465] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 01/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Many of melatonin's actions are mediated through interaction with the G-protein coupled membrane bound melatonin receptors type 1 and type 2 (MT1 and MT2, respectively) or, indirectly with nuclear orphan receptors from the RORα/RZR family. Melatonin also binds to the quinone reductase II enzyme, previously defined the MT3 receptor. Melatonin receptors are widely distributed in the body; herein we summarize their expression and actions in non-neural tissues. Several controversies still exist regarding, for example, whether melatonin binds the RORα/RZR family. Studies of the peripheral distribution of melatonin receptors are important since they are attractive targets for immunomodulation, regulation of endocrine, reproductive and cardiovascular functions, modulation of skin pigmentation, hair growth, cancerogenesis, and aging. Melatonin receptor agonists and antagonists have an exciting future since they could define multiple mechanisms by which melatonin modulates the complexity of such a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir M. Slominski
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cellular & Structural Biology, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
| | - Natalia Schlabritz-Loutsevitch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Rennolds S. Ostrom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
- Corresponding author at: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 930 Madison Avenue, Suite 5000, Memphis, TN 38163, United States. Tel.: +1 901 448 3741. (A.T. Slominski)
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