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Marvaldi C, Herrero F, Johnson C, Aylen Schander J, Correa F, Cella M, Aisemberg J, Franchi AM, Bradshaw H, Wolfson ML. Endocannabinoid regulation in the cervix during pregnancy: insights into molecular mechanisms of premature labor. Reproduction 2024; 167:e230383. [PMID: 38271800 DOI: 10.1530/rep-23-0383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
In brief The cervix plays a crucial role not only in the maintenance of pregnancy but also during delivery, when it undergoes extensive changes. This study highlights the involvement of the endocannabinoidome in cervical remodeling, emphasizing its relevance in the shift from a nonpregnant to pregnant state and its potential contribution to preterm delivery in inflammatory contexts. Abstract During pregnancy, the main role of the cervix is to isolate the fetus from outside pathogens and maintain the relatively closed system of uterine gestation. Conversely, toward the end of pregnancy, the cervix must be remodeled to increase flexibility and allow the delivery. This process is called cervical remodeling and dysregulation of the process plays a role in premature delivery. The endocannabinoidome plays an important role in several reproductive events; however, its function on cervical tissue throughout pregnancy is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence and participation of the endocannabinoidome in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cervical changes. Therefore, we evaluated key components of the endocannabinoidome in cervical tissue from nonpregnant mice and pregnant mice with and without LPS treatment. Using mass spectrometric analysis, we found an increase in anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the cervix of pregnant mice when compared to nonpregnant mice. We have also found a reduction in FAAH protein expression in these tissues. Furthermore, when treated with LPS, we observed a reduction in the cervical immunostaining with anti-CB1 and anti-CB2 antibodies. Likewise, using cervix explants from pregnant mice, we found that LPS significantly increased cervical metalloprotease activity and cyclooxygenase 2, which were subsequently modulated by cannabinoid receptor antagonists. Collectively, our findings suggest that an LPS-induced imbalance of cervix endocannabinoidome likely contributes to premature cervical remodeling, which is part of the key components that contribute to premature delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Marvaldi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Felisa Herrero
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Clare Johnson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Julieta Aylen Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Heather Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Manuel Luis Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Luz de la Cruz Borthiry F, Beltrame JS, Schander JA, Franchi AM, Ribeiro ML. Chronic mild maternal stress modulates early pregnancy processes. Placenta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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de la Cruz Borthiry FL, Schander J, Cella M, Beltrame JS, Franchi AM, Ribeiro ML. Maternal exposure to an enrichment environment promotes uterine vascular remodeling and prevents embryo loss in mice. Reproduction 2022; 163:85-94. [PMID: 34990399 DOI: 10.1530/rep-21-0297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
AIM Implantation-related events are crucial for pregnancy success. In particular, defects in vascular remodeling at the maternal-fetal interface are associated with spontaneous miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss. Physical activity and therapies oriented to reduce stress improve pregnancy outcomes. In animal models, environmental stimulation and enrichment are associated with enhanced well-being, cognitive function and stress resilience. Here we studied whether exposure of BALB/c mice to an enriched environment (EE) regulates crucial events during early gestation at the maternal-fetal interface. METHOD Pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed to the EE that combines non-invasive stimuli from the sensory pathway with voluntary physical activity. The pregnancy rate was evaluated. Implantation sites were investigated microscopically and macroscopically. Vascular adaptation parameters at the maternal-fetal interface were analyzed. RESULTS We found that exposure to the EE prevented pregnancy loss between gestational days 7 and 15. Also, it increased the diameter of the uterine artery and decreased the wall:lumen ratio of the mesometrial decidual vessels, suggesting that EE exposure promotes vascular remodeling. Moreover, it increased nitric oxide synthase activity and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, as well as prostaglandin F2α production and endoglin expression in the implantation sites. CONCLUSION Exposure of pregnant females to the EE regulates uterine physiology, promoting vascular remodeling during early gestation. These adaptations might contribute to preventing embryo loss. Our results highlight the importance of the maternal environment for pregnancy success. The design of an "EE-like" protocol for humans could be considered as a new non-pharmacologic strategy to prevent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda L de la Cruz Borthiry
- F de la Cruz Borthiry, Laboratorio Laboratorio de Fisiología y Farmacología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Schander
- J Schander, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Cella
- M Cella, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena S Beltrame
- J Beltrame, Laboratorio de Fisiología y Farmacología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- A Franchi, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María L Ribeiro
- M Ribeiro, Laboratorio de Fisiología y Farmacología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Bariani MV, Correa F, Rubio APD, Wolfson ML, Schander JA, Cella M, Aisemberg J, Franchi AM. Maternal obesity reverses the resistance to LPS-induced adverse pregnancy outcome and increases female offspring metabolic alterations in cannabinoid receptor 1 knockout mice. J Nutr Biochem 2021; 96:108805. [PMID: 34147601 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2021.108805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Maternal overnutrition negatively impacts the offspring's health leading to an increased risk of developing chronic diseases or metabolic syndrome in adulthood. What we eat affects the endocannabinoid system (eCS) activity, which in turn modulates lipogenesis and fatty acids utilization in hepatic, muscle, and adipose tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the transgenerational effect of maternal obesity on cannabinoid receptor 1 knock-out (CB1 KO) animals in combination with a postnatal obesogenic diet on the development of metabolic disturbances on their offspring. CB1 KO mice were fed a control diet (CD) or a high-fat diet (HFD; 33% more energy from fat) for 3 months. Offspring born to control and obese mothers were also fed with CD or HFD. We observed that pups born to an HFD-fed mother presented higher postnatal weight, lower hepatic fatty acid amide hydrolase activity, and increased blood cholesterol levels when compared to the offspring born to CD-fed mothers. When female mice born to HFD-fed CB1 KO mothers were exposed to an HFD, they gained more weight, presented elevated blood cholesterol levels, and more abdominal adipose tissue accumulation than control-fed adult offspring. The eCS is involved in several reproductive physiological processes. Interestingly, we showed that CB1 KO mice in gestational day 15 presented resistance to LPS-induced deleterious effects on pregnancy outcome, which was overcome when these mice were obese. Our results suggest that an HFD in CB1 receptor-deficient mice contributes to a "nutritional programming" of the offspring resulting in increased susceptibility to metabolic challenges both perinatally and during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Bariani
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Paula Domínguez Rubio
- Departamento de Química Biológica. Intendente Güiraldes, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica. Intendente Güiraldes, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel Luis Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aylen Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA/CONICET). Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Arias A, Schander JA, Bariani MV, Correa F, Domínguez Rubio AP, Cella M, Cymeryng CB, Wolfson ML, Franchi AM, Aisemberg J. Dexamethasone-induced intrauterine growth restriction modulates expression of placental vascular growth factors and fetal and placental growth. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab006. [PMID: 33528567 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids (GC) is a central topic of interest in medicine since GCs are essential for the maturation of fetal organs and intrauterine growth. Synthetic glucocorticoids, which are used in obstetric practice, exert beneficial effects on the fetus, but have also been reported to lead to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In this study, a model of growth restriction in mice was established through maternal administration of dexamethasone during late gestation. We hypothesised that GC overexposure may adversely affect placental angiogenesis and fetal and placental growth. Female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to control or dexamethasone treatment, either left to give birth or euthanised on days 15, 16, 17 and 18 of gestation followed by collection of maternal and fetal tissue. The IUGR rate increased to 100% in the dexamethasone group (8 mg/kg body weight on gestational days 14 and 15) and pups had clinical features of symmetrical IUGR at birth. Dexamethasone administration significantly decreased maternal body weight gain and serum corticosterone levels. Moreover, prenatal dexamethasone treatment not only induced fetal growth retardation but also decreased placental weight. In IUGR placentas, VEGFA protein levels and mRNA expression of VEGF receptors were reduced and NOS activity was lower. Maternal dexamethasone administration also reduced placental expression of the GC receptor, αGR. We demonstrated that maternal dexamethasone administration causes fetal and placental growth restriction. Furthermore, we propose that the growth retardation induced by prenatal GC overexposure may be caused, at least partially, by an altered placental angiogenic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Arias
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J A Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M V Bariani
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A P Domínguez Rubio
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Dinámica Celular y Nanoherramientas, Instituto de Química Biológica Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN-UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C B Cymeryng
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Molecular, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M L Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Schander JA, Marvaldi C, Correa F, Wolfson ML, Cella M, Aisemberg J, Jensen F, Franchi AM. Maternal environmental enrichment modulates the immune response against an inflammatory challenge during gestation and protects the offspring. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 144:103273. [PMID: 33515908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during inflammatory processes has been associated with preterm birth (PTB) and fetal injury in humans and mice. We previously demonstrated that exposition to an enriched environment (EE), defined as a noninvasive and biological significant stimulus of the sensory pathway combined with voluntary physical activity, prevented PTB and perinatal death induced by the systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. This work aimed to analyze whether EE modulates the immune response to the inflammatory process induced by LPS in peripheral blood and the amniotic fluid (AF). We observed that EE modulated maternal white blood cell count and its response to LPS. Furthermore, we found higher levels of IL-10 and a higher percentage of B cells in AF from EE exposed mothers compared to controls. Albeit LPS significantly increased IL-6 levels in AF from both groups, it was 3.6 times higher in control environment (CE) exposed group when compared to EE. Similarly, levels of IL-22 were significantly increased by LPS in both groups, but it was 6.7 times higher in EE group. Interestingly, levels of PGE2 in AF were only increased in the EE-LPS treated group, and a positive correlation between IL-22 and PGE2 levels was observed. During lactation, EE prevented LPS-induced delay in physical landmarks analyzed to assess offspring development. Our results suggest that EE modulates the immune response to systemic LPS-administration protecting the offspring. We propose that an EE-like protocol could be designed for pregnant women aiming at preventing the sequelae present in premature children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Aylen Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carolina Marvaldi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel Luis Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Jensen
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Schander JA, Aisemberg J, Correa F, Wolfson ML, Juriol L, Cymeryng C, Jensen F, Franchi AM. The enrichment of maternal environment prevents pre-term birth in a mice model. Reproduction 2020; 159:479-492. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Maternal lifestyle affects both mother health and pregnancy outcome in humans. Several studies have demonstrated that interventions oriented toward reducing stress and anxiety have positive effects on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, excessive gestational weight, gestational diabetes and preterm birth. In this work, we showed that the environmental enrichment (EE), defined as a noninvasive and biologically significant stimulus of the sensory pathway combined with voluntary physical activity, prevented preterm birth (PTB) rate by 40% in an inflammatory mouse model induced by the systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, we found that EE modulates maternal metabolism and produces an anti-inflammatory environment that contributes to pregnancy maintenance. In pregnant mice uterus, EE reduces the expression of TLR4 and CD14 (the LPS receptor and its coactivator protein), preventing the LPS-induced increase in PGE2 and PGF2α release and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. In cervical tissue, EE inhibits cervical ripening events, such as PGE2 release, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 increased activity and neutrophil recruitment, therefore conserving cervical function. It seems that EE exposure could mimic the stress and anxiety-reducing techniques mentioned above, explaining, at least partially, the beneficial effects of having a healthy lifestyle before and during gestation. Furthermore, we propose that designing an EE protocol for humans could be a noninvasive and preventive therapy for pregnancy complications, averting pre-term birth occurrence and dreaded sequelae that are present in the offspring born too soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Aylen Schander
- 1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- 1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- 1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel Luis Wolfson
- 1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorena Juriol
- 2Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cora Cymeryng
- 3Laboratorio de Endocrinología Molecular, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Jensen
- 2Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- 1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Aisemberg J, Schander J, Marvaldi C, Wolfson M, Franchi AM. PLACENTAL ANGIOGENIC FACTORS EXPRESSION IN A MURINE MODEL OF DEXAMETHASONE-INDUCED INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RESTRICTION (IUGR). DOES MELATONIN PREVENT IUGR? Placenta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Sacerdoti F, Scalise ML, Burdet J, Amaral MM, Franchi AM, Ibarra C. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections during Pregnancy. Microorganisms 2018; 6:E111. [PMID: 30360505 PMCID: PMC6313425 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6040111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. The main virulence factor of STEC is Shiga toxin (Stx), which is responsible for HUS development. STEC can produce Stx type 1 and/or 2 (Stx1, Stx2) and their variants, Stx2 being more frequently associated with severe cases of HUS. This pathology occurs in 5⁻15% of cases with STEC infection when Stx gain access to the bloodstream and causes damage in the target organs such as the kidney and brain. STEC infections affect mainly young children, although the large HUS outbreak with a new Stx2-producing STEC O104:H4 in Europe in 2011 involved more adults than children, and women were over-represented. Maternal infections during pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Studies in rats showed that Stx2 binds to the utero-placental unit and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this article, we provide a brief overview of Stx2 action on placental tissues and discuss whether they might cause pregnancy loss or preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Sacerdoti
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
| | - María Luján Scalise
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
| | - Juliana Burdet
- Laboratorio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Austral, Pilar, Buenos Aires 1629, Argentina.
| | - María Marta Amaral
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
| | - Ana María Franchi
- CEFYBO-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
| | - Cristina Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
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Salazar AI, Carozzo A, Correa F, Davio C, Franchi AM. Evidence for CB2 receptor involvement in LPS-induced reduction of cAMP intracellular levels in uterine explants from pregnant mice: pathophysiological implications. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:500-508. [PMID: 28460003 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the role of the endocannabinoid system (eCS) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) effects on uterine explants from 7-day pregnant mice in a murine model of endotoxin-induced miscarriage? SUMMARY ANSWER We found evidence for cannabinoid receptor type2 (CB2) involvement in LPS-induced increased prostaglandin-F2α (PGF2α) synthesis and diminished cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) intracellular content in uterine explants from early pregnant mice. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Genital tract infections by Gram-negative bacteria are a common complication of human pregnancy that results in an increased risk of pregnancy loss. LPS, the main component of the Gram-negative bacterial wall, elicits a strong maternal inflammatory response that results in embryotoxicity and embryo resorption in a murine model endotoxin-induced early pregnancy loss. We have previously shown that the eCS mediates the embryotoxic effects of LPS, mainly via CB1 receptor activation. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION An in vitro study of mice uterine explants was performed to investigate the eCS in mediating the effects of LPS on PGF2α production and cAMP intracellular content. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Eight to 12-week-old virgin female BALB/c or CD1 (wild-type [WT] or CB1-knockout [CB1-KO]) mice were paired with 8- to 12-week-old BALB/c or CD1 (WT or CB1-KO) males, respectively. On day 7 of pregnancy, BALB/c, CD1 WT or CD1 CB1-KO mice were euthanized, the uteri were excised, implantation sites were removed and the uterine tissues were separated from decidual and embryo tissues. Uterine explants were cultured and exposed for an appropriate amount of time to different pharmacological treatments. The tissues were then collected for cAMP assay and PGF2α content determination by radioimmunoassay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In vitro treatment of uteri explants from 7-day pregnant BALB/c or CD1 (WT or CB1-KO) mice with LPS induced an increased production of PGF2α (P < 0.05) and a reduction of the tissue content of cAMP (P < 0.05). These effects were mediated by CB2 receptors since exposure to AM630 (a specific CB2 receptor antagonist) prevented these LPS-induced effects (P < 0.05). Collectively, our results suggest a role for the eCS mediating LPS-induced deleterious effects on reproductive tissues. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Since our experimental design involves in vitro experiments of uterine explants, the extrapolation of the results presented here to humans is limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings provide evidence for the role of CB2 receptors in reproductive events as well as their participation as a mediator of LPS deleterious effects on reproductive tissues. LARGE SCALE DATA None. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) Dr Ana María Franchi was funded by Agencia Nacional para la Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2010/0813 and PICT 2013/0097) and by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 2012/0061). Dr Carlos Davio was funded by Agencia Nacional para la Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2013/2050). The authors have no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Inés Salazar
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16, C1121ABG Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Carozzo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16, C1121ABG Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Davio
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16, C1121ABG Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Bariani MV, Correa F, Leishman E, Domínguez Rubio AP, Arias A, Stern A, Bradshaw HB, Franchi AM. Resveratrol protects from lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in the uterus and prevents experimental preterm birth. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:571-581. [PMID: 28810692 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is resveratrol able to prevent the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm labor in 15-day pregnant BALB/c mice? SUMMARY ANSWER Resveratrol prevented the LPS-induced onset of preterm labor in 64% of the cases and showed anti-inflammatory and tocolytic effects by downregulating COX-2 and iNOS expression and NOS activity, and by changing the uterine prostaglandin and endocannabinoid profiling. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Genital tract infections by Gram-negative bacteria are a common complication in human pregnancy and have been shown to increase risk of preterm delivery. Bacterial LPS elicits a strong maternal inflammatory response that results in preterm delivery and fetal death in a murine model endotoxin-induced preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION An in vivo animal study was conducted. On Day 15 of pregnancy, mice received at 8:00 h a dose of vehicle (40% ethanol in saline solution) or resveratrol (3 mg/kg in vehicle) via oral gavage followed by two doses of LPS or vehicle administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), the first one at 10:00 h (0.17 mg/kg in 0.1 ml of sterile saline solution) and the second at 13:00 h (0.5 mg/kg in 0.1 ml of sterile saline solution). The mice were closely observed for any signs of morbidity (piloerection, decreased movement, and diarrhea), vaginal bleeding or preterm delivery. The beginning of preterm delivery was defined by early delivery of the first pup. Normal term labor occurs on Day 19 of gestation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Time of labor, pregnancy outcome and morphological features were evaluated after LPS and/or resveratrol administration. Uterine stripes were collected 5 h after the last LPS injection and prostaglandin and endocannabinoid profiling was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured by radioconversion assay. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-Pgdh) mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-PCR whilst the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), COX-1 and COX-2 were studied by western blot. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In vivo treatment of 15-day pregnant BALB/c mice with resveratrol prevented the LPS-induced preterm birth in 64% of the cases, whereas only 15% of mice with LPS alone escaped preterm birth. Treatment with resveratrol resulted in a reduced NOS activity (P < 0.05) in the uterus of LPS-treated mice. Similarly, resveratrol reduced the expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory agents such as iNOS (P < 0.05), COX-2 (P < 0.05), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (P < 0.05) and anandamide (AEA) (P < 0.05). Moreover, resveratrol administration resulted in changes in the uterine endocannabinoid profiling altered by LPS. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Since our experimental design involves the use of mice, the extrapolation of the results presented here to humans is limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings provide evidence for the tocolytic effects of resveratrol. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) Dr Ana María Franchi was funded by Agencia Nacional para la Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2013/0097) and by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 2012/0061). Dr Heather B. Bradshaw was funded by NIH (DA006668). The authors have no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Bariani
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana,USA
| | - Ana Paula Domínguez Rubio
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andreína Arias
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aníbal Stern
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana,USA
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Domínguez Rubio AP, Correa F, Aisemberg J, Dorfman D, Bariani MV, Rosenstein RE, Zorrilla Zubilete M, Franchi AM. Maternal administration of melatonin exerts short- and long-term neuroprotective effects on the offspring from lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. J Pineal Res 2017; 63. [PMID: 28776755 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth is a major contributor to early and delayed physical and cognitive impairment. Epidemiological and experimental data indicate that maternal infections are a significant and preventable cause of preterm birth. Recently, melatonin has been suggested to exert neuroprotective effects in several models of brain injury. Here, we sought to investigate whether the administration of melatonin is able to prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fetal brain damage in a model of LPS-induced preterm labor. For this purpose, 15-day pregnant BALB/c mice received intraperitoneally 2 doses of LPS or vehicle: the first one at 10:00 hours (0.26 mg/kg) and the second at 13:00 hours (0.52 mg/kg). On day 14 of pregnancy, a group of mice was subcutaneously implanted with a pellet of 25 mg melatonin. This experimental protocol resulted in 100% of preterm birth and pup death in the LPS group and a 50% of term birth and pup survival in the melatonin + LPS group. In the absence of melatonin, fetuses from LPS-treated mothers showed histological signs of brain damage, microglial/macrophage activation, and higher levels of IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and neuronal NOS mRNAs as well as increased histone acetyltransferase activity and histone H3 hyperacetylation. In contrast, antenatal administration of melatonin prevented LPS-induced fetal brain damage. Moreover, when behavioral traits were analyzed in the offspring from control, melatonin, and melatonin + LPS, no significant differences were found, suggesting that melatonin prevented LPS-induced long-term neurodevelopmental impairments. Collectively, our results suggest that melatonin could be a new therapeutic tool to prevent fetal brain damage and its long-term consequences induced by maternal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Domínguez Rubio
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Damián Dorfman
- Laboratorio de Neuroquimíca Retiniana y Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Bariani
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ruth Estela Rosenstein
- Laboratorio de Neuroquimíca Retiniana y Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Zorrilla Zubilete
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicofarmacología del Estrés, Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Correa F, Wolfson ML, Valchi P, Aisemberg J, Franchi AM. Endocannabinoid system and pregnancy. Reproduction 2017; 152:R191-R200. [PMID: 27798285 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (eCS), is a complex system, comprising the main endogenous ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and the biosynthetic and degrading enzymes. Cumulative evidence shows that the eCS plays an important role in reproduction, from egg fertilization to parturition. Therefore, alterations in this system, either by recreation/therapeutic use of cannabis or deregulation of the endogenous cannabinoids, might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including retardation in embryo development, poor blastocyst implantation, inhibition of decidualization, miscarriage and compromised placentation. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which the eCS participates in different stages of pregnancy remain poorly understood. In this review, we will examine the evidence from animal and human studies to support the role of the eCS in implantation, early-to-late pregnancy and placentation as well as the difficulties of targeting this system for treatment of female infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Correa
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel L Wolfson
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Valchi
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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14
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Wolfson ML, Aisemberg J, Correa F, Franchi AM. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Infiltration Downregulates Decidual FAAH Activity in an LPS-Induced Embryo Resorption Model. J Cell Physiol 2016; 232:1441-1447. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Luis Wolfson
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor; Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO), CONICET-UBA; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor; Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO), CONICET-UBA; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor; Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO), CONICET-UBA; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor; Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO), CONICET-UBA; Buenos Aires Argentina
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Gervasi MG, Osycka-Salut C, Sanchez T, Alonso CAI, Llados C, Castellano L, Franchi AM, Villalón M, Perez-Martinez S. Sperm Release From the Oviductal Epithelium Depends on Ca(2+) Influx Upon Activation of CB1 and TRPV1 by Anandamide. J Cell Biochem 2016; 117:320-33. [PMID: 26129689 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The oviduct acts as a functional sperm reservoir in many mammalian species. Both binding and release of spermatozoa from the oviductal epithelium are mainly modulated by sperm capacitation. Several molecules from oviductal fluid are involved in the regulation of sperm function. Anandamide is a lipid mediator involved in reproductive physiology. Previously, we demonstrated that anandamide, through activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), promotes sperm release from bovine oviductal epithelial cells, and through CB1 and the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), induces sperm capacitation. Herein we investigate co-activation between CB1 and TRPV1, and Ca(2+) influx as part of the mechanism of action of anandamide during sperm release from oviductal cells. Our results indicate that in the absence of Ca(2+) anandamide failed to release spermatozoa from oviductal epithelial cells. Additionally, sperm release promoted by cannabinoid and vanilloid agonists was abolished when the spermatozoa were preloaded with BAPTA-AM, a Ca(2+) chelator. We also determined Ca(2+) levels in spermatozoa preloaded with FURA2-AM co-cultured with oviductal cells and incubated with different cannabinoid and vanilloid agonists. The incubation with different agonists induced Ca(2+) influx, which was abolished by CB1 or TRPV1 antagonists. Our results also suggest that a phospholypase C (PLC) might mediate the activation of CB1 and TRPV1 in sperm release from the bovine oviduct. Therefore, our findings indicate that anandamide, through CB1 and TRPV1 activation, is involved in sperm release from the oviductal reservoir. An increase of sperm Ca(2+) levels and the PLC activation might be involved in anandamide signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.,Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
| | - C Osycka-Salut
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
| | - T Sanchez
- Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C A I Alonso
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
| | - C Llados
- Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - L Castellano
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
| | - M Villalón
- Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - S Perez-Martinez
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires-Argentina
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Schander JA, Correa F, Bariani MV, Blanco J, Cymeryng C, Jensen F, Wolfson ML, Franchi AM. A role for the endocannabinoid system in premature luteal regression and progesterone withdrawal in lipopolysaccharide-induced early pregnancy loss model. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:800-808. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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17
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Wolfson ML, Muzzio DO, Ehrhardt J, Franchi AM, Zygmunt M, Jensen F. Expression analysis of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 in B cells during pregnancy and their role on cytokine production. J Reprod Immunol 2016; 116:23-7. [PMID: 27163857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system consists in a family of lipids that binds to and activates cannabinoid receptors. There are two receptors so far described, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2). In the context of pregnancy, the endocannabinoid system was shown participates in different key aspects of reproductive events. B-lymphocytes are pleiotropic cells belonging to the adaptive arm of the immune system. Besides immunoglobulin production, B-lymphocytes were recently shown to be actively involved in antigen presentation as well as cytokine production, thus playing a central role in immunity. In this study we first aimed to characterize the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in B cells during pregnancy and then analyze the impact of their activation in term of cytokine production by B cells from pregnant and non-pregnant mice. We observed that the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in B-lymphocytes is differentially regulated during pregnancy. While CB2 expression is down regulated CB1 is augmented in B-lymphocytes of pregnant mice. Additionally, the treatment of activated B-lymphocytes with specific CB1 and CB2 agonists, showed a different response in term of cytokine production. Particularly, CB1 against boosted the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by activated B-lymphocytes from pregnant mice.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance
- Interleukin-10/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Pregnancy
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Wolfson
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D O Muzzio
- Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - J Ehrhardt
- Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - A M Franchi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Zygmunt
- Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - F Jensen
- Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Laboratory for Immunology of Pregnancy, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Health Sciences, National University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Bariani MV, Domínguez Rubio AP, Cella M, Burdet J, Franchi AM, Aisemberg J. Role of the endocannabinoid system in the mechanisms involved in the LPS-induced preterm labor. Reproduction 2015; 150:463-72. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Prematurity is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a strong causal relationship between infection and preterm births. Intrauterine infection elicits an immune response involving the release of inflammatory mediators like cytokines and prostaglandins (PG) that trigger uterine contractions and parturition events. Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Similarly to PG, endocannabinoids are implicated in different aspects of reproduction, such as maintenance of pregnancy and parturition. Little is known about the involvement of endocannabinoids on the onset of labor in an infectious milieu. Here, using a mouse model of preterm labor induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we explored changes on the expression of components of endocannabinoid system (ECS). We have also determined whether AEA and CB antagonists alter PG production that induces labor. We observed an increase in uterineN-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D expression (NAPE-PLD, the enzyme that synthesizes AEA) upon LPS treatment. Activity of catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) did not change significantly. In addition, we also found that LPS modulated uterine cannabinoid receptors expression by downregulatingCb2mRNA levels and upregulating CB1 protein expression. Furthermore, LPS and AEA induced PGF2a augmentation, and this was reversed by antagonizing CB1 receptor. Collectively, our results suggest that ECS may be involved in the mechanism by which infection causes preterm birth.
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Wolfson ML, Schander JA, Bariani MV, Correa F, Franchi AM. Progesterone modulates the LPS-induced nitric oxide production by a progesterone-receptor independent mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 769:110-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Wolfson ML, Correa F, Leishman E, Vercelli C, Cymeryng C, Blanco J, Bradshaw HB, Franchi AM. Lipopolysaccharide-induced murine embryonic resorption involves changes in endocannabinoid profiling and alters progesterone secretion and inflammatory response by a CB1-mediated fashion. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 411:214-22. [PMID: 25958042 PMCID: PMC4458170 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genital tract infections are a common complication of human pregnancy that can result in miscarriage. We have previously shown that a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces embryonic resorption in a murine model of inflammatory miscarriage. This is accompanied by a dramatic decrease in systemic progesterone levels associated with a robust pro-inflammatory response that results in embryo resorption. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the endogenous cannabinoid system (eCS), through cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), plays a role in regulating progesterone levels and, therefore, the pro-inflammatory response. We show that LPS treatment in pregnant mice causes significant changes in the eCS ligands, which are reversed by progesterone treatment. We further show the CB1-KO mice maintain higher plasma progesterone levels after LPS treatment, which is associated with a feebler uterine inflammatory response and a significant drop in embryo resorption. These data suggest that manipulation of CB1 receptors and/or ligands is a potential therapeutic avenue to decrease infection-induced miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel L Wolfson
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Claudia Vercelli
- Biomedicine Research Institute of Buenos Aires, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society (MPSP), National Research Council, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cora Cymeryng
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Blanco
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Sande PH, Dorfman D, Fernandez DC, Chianelli M, Domínguez Rubio AP, Franchi AM, Silberman DM, Rosenstein RE, Sáenz DA. Treatment with melatonin after onset of experimental uveitis attenuates ocular inflammation. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 171:5696-707. [PMID: 25131343 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Uveitis is a prevalent intraocular inflammatory disease and one of the most damaging ocular conditions. Pretreatment with melatonin prevented ocular inflammation induced by an intravitreal injection of bacterial LPS in the Syrian hamster. Here, we have assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin administered after the onset of ocular inflammation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The eyes of male Syrian hamsters were intravitreally injected with vehicle or LPS. Melatonin was injected i.p. every 24 h, starting 12 or 24 h after the LPS injection. A clinical evaluation (with a score index based on clinical symptoms), the number of infiltrating cells, protein concentration and PGE2 and PGF2α levels in the aqueous humour, as well as retinal NOS activity, lipid peroxidation and TNF-α levels were assessed. Retinal function was assessed by scotopic electroretinography, and light microscopy and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the state of the retinal structure. KEY RESULTS Both treatment regimens with melatonin decreased clinical symptoms, reduced the leakage of cells and proteins, and decreased PG levels in aqueous humour from eyes injected with LPS. In addition, melatonin treatment blocked the decrease in scotopic electroretinogram a- and b-wave amplitude, protected the retinal structure and reduced the increase in NOS activity, lipid peroxidation and TNF-α levels, induced by LPS. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results indicate that treatment with melatonin, starting after the onset of uveitis, attenuated ocular inflammation induced by LPS in the Syrian hamster and support the use of melatonin as a therapeutic resource for uveitis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P H Sande
- Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Sacerdoti F, Amaral MM, Franchi AM, Ibarra C. Involvement of hypoxia and inflammation in early pregnancy loss mediated by shiga toxin type 2. Placenta 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.01.502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Gini G, Franchi AM, Manganaro A, Golbamaki A, Benfenati E. ToxRead: a tool to assist in read across and its use to assess mutagenicity of chemicals. SAR QSAR Environ Res 2014; 25:999-1011. [PMID: 25511972 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2014.976267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Life sciences, and toxicology in particular, are heavily impacted by the development of methods for data collection and data analysis; they are moving from an analytical approach to a modelling approach. The scarce availability of experimental data is a known bottleneck in assessing the properties of new chemicals. Even when a model is available, the resulting predictions have to be assessed by close scrutiny of the chemicals and the biological properties of the compounds concerned. To avoid unnecessary testing, a read across strategy is often suggested and used. In this paper we discuss how to improve and standardize read across activity using ad hoc visualization and data search methods which use similarity measures and fragment search to organize in a chart a picture of all the relevant information that the expert needs to make an assessment. We show in particular how to apply our system to the case of mutagenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gini
- a Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria , Politecnico di Milano , Milan , Italy
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Barreiro Arcos ML, Sterle HA, Vercelli C, Valli E, Cayrol MF, Klecha AJ, Paulazo MA, Diaz Flaqué MC, Franchi AM, Cremaschi GA. Induction of apoptosis in T lymphoma cells by long-term treatment with thyroxine involves PKCζ nitration by nitric oxide synthase. Apoptosis 2014; 18:1376-1390. [PMID: 23733107 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-013-0869-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormones are important regulators of cell physiology, inducing cell proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis, depending on the cell type. Thyroid hormones induce proliferation in short-term T lymphocyte cultures. In this study, we assessed the effect of long-term thyroxine (T4) treatment on the balance of proliferation and apoptosis and the intermediate participants in T lymphoma cells. Treatment with T4 affected this balance from the fifth day of culture, inhibiting proliferation in a time-dependent manner. This effect was associated with apoptosis induction, as characterized through nuclear morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, and Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide co-staining. In addition, increased iNOS gene and protein levels, and enzyme activity were observed. The generation of reactive oxygen species, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, and a reduction in glutathione levels were also observed. The imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants species is typically associated with the nitration of proteins, including PKCζ, an isoenzyme essential for lymphoma cell division and survival. Consistently, evidence of PKCζ nitration via proteasome degradation was also observed in this study. Taken together, these results suggest that the long-term culture of T lymphoma cells with T4 induces apoptosis through the increased production of oxidative species resulting from both augmented iNOS activity and the loss of mitochondrial function. These species induce the nitration of proteins involved in cell viability, promoting proteasome degradation. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of these results on the modulation of T lymphoma growth and the thyroid status in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Barreiro Arcos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H A Sterle
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C Vercelli
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - E Valli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M F Cayrol
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A J Klecha
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M A Paulazo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M C Diaz Flaqué
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G A Cremaschi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), CONICET, Alicia M. de Justo 1600 3° piso, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Beltrame JS, Sordelli MS, Cella M, Perez Martinez S, Franchi AM, Ribeiro ML. Lysophosphatidic acid increases the production of pivotal mediators of decidualization and vascularization in the rat uterus. Placenta 2013; 34:751-6. [PMID: 23790320 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The decidual reaction and the formation of new vessels in the uterus are two crucial processes during embryo implantation. Previously, we observed that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) increases cyclooxygenase-2 derived - prostaglandin E2 production during implantation in the rat uterus and that it augments the expression of decidualization (IGFBP-1) and vascularization (IL-10) markers. Both cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are known enzymes involved in these processes. Thus, we became interested in studying which factors contribute to LPA receptor-specific role during the decidual and the vascular reaction at implantation. METHODS We adopted a pharmacological approach in vitro incubating the uterus from rats on day 5 of gestation (day of implantation) with LPA, DGPP (a highly selective antagonist of LPA3, an LPA receptor) and cyclooxygenase and NOS selective and non-selective inhibitors. We determined NOS activity, prostaglandin E2 production and IGFBP-1 and IL-10 expression to evaluate decidualization and vascularization. RESULTS We observed that LPA augmented the activity of the inducible NOS isoform through LPA1/LPA3. Inducible NOS activity participated in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 increase stimulated by LPA. Also, cyclooxygenase-2 derived prostaglandins mediated LPA-stimulatory action on NOS activity. Both cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NOS mediated LPA effect on IGFBP-1 and IL-10 expression. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest the participation of LPA/LPA3 in the production of crucial molecules involved in vascularization and decidualization, two main processes that prepare the uterine milieu for embryo invasion during implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Beltrame
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Farmacología de la Reproducción, CEFYBO CONICET - UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Osycka-Salut C, Gervasi MG, Pereyra E, Cella M, Ribeiro ML, Franchi AM, Perez-Martinez S. Anandamide induces sperm release from oviductal epithelia through nitric oxide pathway in bovines. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30671. [PMID: 22363468 PMCID: PMC3281848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an egg immediately upon ejaculation. They acquire this ability during their transit through the female genital tract in a process known as capacitation. The mammalian oviduct acts as a functional sperm reservoir providing a suitable environment that allows the maintenance of sperm fertilization competence until ovulation occurs. After ovulation, spermatozoa are gradually released from the oviductal reservoir in the caudal isthmus and ascend to the site of fertilization. Capacitating-related changes in sperm plasma membrane seem to be responsible for sperm release from oviductal epithelium. Anandamide is a lipid mediator that participates in the regulation of several female and male reproductive functions. Previously we have demonstrated that anandamide was capable to release spermatozoa from oviductal epithelia by induction of sperm capacitation in bovines. In the present work we studied whether anandamide might exert its effect by activating the nitric oxide (NO) pathway since this molecule has been described as a capacitating agent in spermatozoa from different species. First, we demonstrated that 1 µM NOC-18, a NO donor, and 10 mM L-Arginine, NO synthase substrate, induced the release of spermatozoa from the oviductal epithelia. Then, we observed that the anandamide effect on sperm oviduct interaction was reversed by the addition of 1 µM L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, or 30 µg/ml Hemoglobin, a NO scavenger. We also demonstrated that the induction of bull sperm capacitation by nanomolar concentrations of R(+)-methanandamide or anandamide was inhibited by adding L-NAME or Hemoglobin. To study whether anandamide is able to produce NO, we measured this compound in both sperm and oviductal cells. We observed that anandamide increased the levels of NO in spermatozoa, but not in oviductal cells. These findings suggest that anandamide regulates the sperm release from oviductal epithelia probably by activating the NO pathway during sperm capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Osycka-Salut
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Gracia Gervasi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elba Pereyra
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Cella
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Laura Ribeiro
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Perez-Martinez
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Al-Khan A, Aye IL, Barsoum I, Borbely A, Cebral E, Cerchi G, Clifton VL, Collins S, Cotechini T, Davey A, Flores-Martin J, Fournier T, Franchi AM, Fretes RE, Graham CH, Godbole G, Hansson SR, Headley PL, Ibarra C, Jawerbaum A, Kemmerling U, Kudo Y, Lala PK, Lassance L, Lewis RM, Menkhorst E, Morris C, Nobuzane T, Ramos G, Rote N, Saffery R, Salafia C, Sarr D, Schneider H, Sibley C, Singh AT, Sivasubramaniyam TS, Soares MJ, Vaughan O, Zamudio S, Lash GE. IFPA Meeting 2010 Workshops Report II: Placental pathology; trophoblast invasion; fetal sex; parasites and the placenta; decidua and embryonic or fetal loss; trophoblast differentiation and syncytialisation. Placenta 2011; 32 Suppl 2:S90-9. [PMID: 21236487 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 12/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting. At IFPA Meeting 2010 diverse topics were discussed in twelve themed workshops, six of which are summarized in this report. 1. The placental pathology workshop focused on clinical correlates of placenta accreta/percreta. 2. Mechanisms of regulation of trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling were discussed in the trophoblast invasion workshop. 3. The fetal sex and intrauterine stress workshop explored recent work on placental sex differences and discussed them in the context of whether boys live dangerously in the womb.4. The workshop on parasites addressed inflammatory responses as a sign of interaction between placental tissue and parasites. 5. The decidua and embryonic/fetal loss workshop focused on key regulatory mediators in the decidua, embryo and fetus and how alterations in expression may contribute to different diseases and adverse conditions of pregnancy. 6. The trophoblast differentiation and syncytialisation workshop addressed the regulation of villous cytotrophoblast differentiation and how variations may lead to placental dysfunction and pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Al-Khan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Cella M, Farina MG, Dominguez Rubio AP, Di Girolamo G, Ribeiro ML, Franchi AM. Dual effect of nitric oxide on uterine prostaglandin synthesis in a murine model of preterm labour. Br J Pharmacol 2010; 161:844-55. [PMID: 20860663 PMCID: PMC2992899 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00911.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2009] [Revised: 04/20/2010] [Accepted: 05/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Maternal infections are one of the main causes of adverse developmental outcomes including embryonic resorption and preterm labour. In this study a mouse model of inflammation-associated preterm delivery was developed, and used to study the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The murine model of preterm labour was achieved by assaying different doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Once established, it was used to analyse uterine levels of prostaglandins E(2) and F(2α) (by radioimmunoassay), cyclooxygenases (COX) and NOS proteins (by Western blot) and NO synthase (NOS) activity. Effects of inhibitors of COX and NOS on LPS-induced preterm labour were also studied. In vitro assays with a nitric oxide donor (SNAP) were performed to analyse the modulation of prostaglandin production by NO. KEY RESULTS Lipopolysaccharide increased uterine NO and PG synthesis and induced preterm delivery. Co-administration of meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, or aminoguanidine, an inducible NOS inhibitor, prevented LPS-induced preterm delivery and blocked the increase in PGs and NO. Notably, the levels of NO were found to determine its effect on PG synthesis; low concentrations of NO reduced PG synthesis whereas high concentrations augmented them. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS An infection-associated model of preterm labour showed that preterm delivery can be prevented by decreasing PG or NO production. NO was found to have a dual effect on PG synthesis depending on its concentration. These data contribute to the understanding of the interaction between NO and PGs in pregnancy and parturition, and could help to improve neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cella
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (National Research Council - School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Franchi AM, Di Girolamo G, De los Santos AR, Marti ML, Gimeno MA. Ex vivo effects of lysine clonixinate on cyclooxygenases in rat lung and stomach preparations. Inflammopharmacology 2010; 7:401-11. [PMID: 17657442 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-999-0033-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/1998] [Revised: 11/20/1998] [Accepted: 12/21/1998] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Lysine clonixinate (LC) is an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and analgesic drug with minor digestive side effects, which might suggest a weak COX-1 inhibitor. The aim of this study focused on ex vivo effects of LC 40 mg/kg ip and indomethacin (INDO) 10 mg/kg ip in lung and stomach preparations of control rats and LPS-treated rats (5 mg/kg ip). The non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs were administered concomitantly, following three hours and before one, two or three hours of LPS treatment. Tissues were weighed and incubated in 2 ml of Kress Ringer Bicarbonate buffer containing glucose (11 mM) under an atmosphere of 95% oxygen and 5% CO(2). Approximately 200 mg of tissue were used for each determination; 0.25 microCi of (14)C-arachidonic acid was added to each tube and the tissues were incubated for 60 min. Prostanoids were extracted from the incubation medium and separated by TLC. Results were expressed as a percentage of the total radioactivity of the plates (% of cpm on plate/100 mg ww). It was found that LC animals that were not given LPS did not modify the synthesis of PGE(2); in lung and stomach tissues showing that did not inhibit COX-1 activity. However, LC inhibited clearly the synthesis of PGE(2) in both preparations obtained from LPS-treated animals. The inhibition was shown when the rats were treated concomitantly, 3 h after or 1 or 2 h before the injection of LPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Franchi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
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Aisemberg J, Vercelli C, Wolfson M, Salazar AI, Osycka-Salut C, Billi S, Ribeiro ML, Farina M, Franchi AM. Inflammatory agents involved in septic miscarriage. Neuroimmunomodulation 2010; 17:150-2. [PMID: 20134189 DOI: 10.1159/000258710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though the understanding of the cause of early pregnancy loss due to chromosomal abnormalities has improved, there is a dearth of knowledge of the causes of loss in euploid conceptuses. Maternal infections are a cause of abort in humans, but the mechanisms are not clear, so we have developed a murine model to study the mechanism of septic abortion by inducing embryonic resorption (ER) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We demonstrated that augmented production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PG) is involved in ER, and that inhibitors of their synthesis could prevent ER. Also, we observed an increase in the oxidative damage, evidenced by nitration of tyrosine proteins, due to the peroxynitrite anion. Since an association between chronic marijuana smoking and early miscarriage has been shown in women, we studied the participation of anandamide (AEA), the principal endocannabinoid, on the mechanism of action of LPS. We showed that LPS-induced NO synthesis and tissue damage were mediated by AEA, and that this endotoxin inhibited AEA degradation and increased its synthesis. These results suggest that several inflammatory molecules participate in the mechanism of early pregnancy loss and that their modulation could be useful tools to prevent it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Aisemberg
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor--Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO, CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Vercelli CA, Aisemberg J, Billi S, Cervini M, Ribeiro ML, Farina M, Franchi AM. Anandamide regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide synthesis and tissue damage in the murine uterus. Reprod Biomed Online 2009; 18:824-31. [PMID: 19490788 DOI: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60033-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In women, the association between chronic marijuana smoking and early miscarriage has long been known. Anandamide, a major endocannabinoid, mimics some of the psychotropic, hypnotic and analgesic effects of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of marijuana. The uterus contains the highest concentrations of anandamide yet discovered in mammalian tissues and this suggests that it might play a role in reproduction. The production of small amounts of nitric oxide (NO) regulates various physiological events including implantation and myometrial relaxation, but in an inflammatory setting such as sepsis, NO has toxic effects as it is a free radical. The results presented in this study indicate that anandamide modulates NO production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in an in-vitro murine model. It was shown that LPS-induced NO synthesis and tissue damage were mediated by anandamide, as a cannabinoid receptor type I antagonist could block the effect of LPS (P < 0.001). This endotoxin inhibited anandamide uterine degradation (P < 0.05) and increased the expression of one of its synthesizing enzymes (P < 0.05). Contrary to the known anti-inflammatory and protective effects, in this model anandamide seems to act as a pro-inflammatory molecule modulating the production of NO induced by LPS. This proinflammatory effect of anandamide may be implicated in pathological reproductive events such as septic abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Vercelli
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labour, Centre for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Burdet J, Zotta E, Franchi AM, Ibarra C. Intraperitoneal administration of shiga toxin type 2 in rats in the late stage of pregnancy produces premature delivery of dead fetuses. Placenta 2009; 30:491-6. [PMID: 19395083 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2009.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2009] [Revised: 03/19/2009] [Accepted: 03/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Infection associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and subsequent Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS) have become relevant in public health since STEC is considered as one of the most important emergent pathogens. STEC infection may either be asymptomatic or begin with watery diarrhea associated with hemorrhagic colitis and HUS. The major virulence factor of STEC is Shiga toxin type 1 or 2 (Stx1, Stx2) although strains that express only Stx2 are highly prevalent. Up to now, it has not been established whether STEC infection affect pregnant women. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Stx2 on maternal lethality, fetal status and delivery time by injecting Stx2 in rats in the late stage of pregnancy. Stx2 induced fetal resorption, placental abruption, intrauterine hemorrhage and fetal death at 1-2 days post-injection in a dose-dependent manner. With 2ng Stx2/g body weight, placentas and fetuses presented extensive necrotic areas, while uteri and kidneys showed normal histology. Immunolocalization of Stx2 was observed in placentas and fetuses. With 4 and 6ng Stx2/g body weight maternal death was also observed. Those rats that survived after Stx2-treatment were able to become pregnant and deliver normal pups at term. Our results show, for the first time, that the preterm labor with fetal death observed in treated rats may be a consequence of the action of Stx2 on the feto-maternal unit. Although there are no reports of Stx2 effects in human pregnancy, we speculate that STEC infections could be one of the causes not yet determined of fetal morbimortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Burdet
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Gervasi MG, Rapanelli M, Ribeiro ML, Farina M, Billi S, Franchi AM, Martinez SP. The endocannabinoid system in bull sperm and bovine oviductal epithelium: role of anandamide in sperm–oviduct interaction. Reproduction 2009; 137:403-14. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-08-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Anandamide binds to cannabinoid receptors and plays several central and peripheral functions. The aim of this work was to study the possible role for this endocannabinoid in controlling sperm–oviduct interaction in mammals. We observed that bull sperm and bovine oviductal epithelial cells express cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, and fatty acid amide hydrolase, the enzyme that controls intracellular anandamide levels. A quantitative assay to determine whether anandamide was involved in bovine sperm–oviduct interaction was developed. R(+)-methanandamide, a non-hydrolysable anandamide analog, inhibited sperm binding to and induced sperm release from oviductal epithelia. Selective CB1 antagonists (SR141716A or AM251) completely blocked R(+)-methanandamide effects. However, SR144528, a selective CB2 antagonist, did not exert any effect, indicating that only CB1 was involved in R(+)-methanandamide effect. This effect was not caused by inhibition of the sperm progressive motility or by induction of the acrosome reaction. Overall, our findings indicate for the first time that the endocannabinoid system is present in bovine sperm and oviductal epithelium and that anandamide modulates the sperm–oviduct interaction, by inhibition of sperm binding and induction of sperm release from oviductal epithelial cells, probably by activating CB1 receptors.
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Cella M, Leguizamón GF, Sordelli MS, Cervini M, Guadagnoli T, Ribeiro ML, Franchi AM, Farina MG. Dual effect of anandamide on rat placenta nitric oxide synthesis. Placenta 2008; 29:699-707. [PMID: 18561998 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2008.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2008] [Revised: 05/05/2008] [Accepted: 05/07/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Anandamide (AEA) has been reported to have pleiotropic effects on reproduction, but the mechanism by which it exerts these effects is unclear. The aim of this study is to characterize rat placental endocannabinoid system and to analyze the possible functional role of AEA in the regulation of NO levels in rat placenta during pregnancy. We found that cannabinoids receptors (CB1 and CB2), FAAH and TRPV1 were expressed in chorio-allantoic placenta. NOS activity peaked at day 13 and decreased with progression of pregnancy. Both exogenous and endogenous AEA significantly decreased NOS activity. Although pre-incubation with AM251 (CB1 antagonist) or AM630 (CB2 antagonist) had no effect, co-incubation with both antagonists induced NOS activity. Furthermore, pre-incubation with exogenous AEA and both antagonists resulted in the induction of placental NOS activity and this effect was reverted with capsazepine (selective TRPV1 antagonist). Additionally, the enhanced NO synthesis caused by capsaicin was abrogated by co-treatment with capsazepine, illustrating that NOS activity could be modulated by TRPV1. Finally, the inhibition of TRPV1 receptor by capsazepine caused a significant fall in NOS activity. These data support the concept that AEA modulates NO levels by two independent pathways: (1) diminishing the NOS activity via CBs; and (2) stimulating NO synthesis via TRPV1. We hypothesized that AEA have an important implication in the normal function of placental tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cella
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor - CEFYBO, School of Medicine, (National Research Council - University of Buenos Aires), Paraguay 2155, C1121ABG Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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35
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Farina MG, Billi S, Sordelli MS, Ribeiro ML, Di Girolamo G, Lombardi E, Franchi AM. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits prostaglandin E2 9-ketoreductase (9-KPR) activity in human fetal membranes. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2006; 79:260-70. [PMID: 16647639 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2006.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2005] [Revised: 02/09/2006] [Accepted: 02/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by fetal membranes may act either directly inhibiting myometrium contractility or indirectly interacting with tocolytic agents as prostaglandins (PGs). Here we examined if NO could modulate prostaglandin E(2) 9-ketoreductase (9-KPR) activity in human fetal membranes (HFM). 9-KPR is the enzyme that converts PGE(2) into PGF(2alpha), the main PGs known to induce uterine contractility at term. Chorioamnion explants obtained from elective caesareans were incubated with aminoguanidine (AG), an iNOS inhibitor, or NOC-18, a NO donor. NOC-18 (2mM) increased PGE(2) production and diminished PGF(2alpha) synthesis in HFM. AG presented the opposite effect. When we evaluated the activity of 9-KPR by the conversion of [(3)H]-PGE(2) into [(3)H]-PGF(2alpha) and 13,14-dihidro-15-keto prostaglandin F(2alpha) (the PGF(2alpha) metabolite), we found that NOC-18 inhibited 9-KPR activity. Interestingly, AG did not elicit any effect on 9-KPR but l-NAME, a non-selective NOS inhibitor, significantly increased its activity. Our data suggests that exogenous NO inhibits 9-KPR activity in HFM, thus modulating the synthesis of important labor mediators as PGF(2alpha).
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Farina
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO, CONICET), Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Paraguay 2155, C1121ABG Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Ribeiro ML, Aisemberg J, Billi S, Farina MG, Meiss R, McCann S, Rettori V, Villalón M, Franchi AM. Epidermal growth factor prevents prepartum luteolysis in the rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:8048-53. [PMID: 15911754 PMCID: PMC1142386 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0502899102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously reported that intrauterine (i/u) administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF 500 ng) on day (d) 21 of pregnancy delayed 19.0 +/- 0.6 h the onset of labor. Progesterone (P) is secreted by ovarian corpora lutea (CL) throughout gestation in the rat. Prepartum CL regression due to increased uterine cyclooxygenase I and prostaglandin F(2alpha) results in P withdrawal followed by labor. The aims of the present work were (i) to study whether EGF delayed-onset of labor was mediated by a mechanism that prevented CL regression; (ii) to determine amniotic fluid (AF) EGF in pregnant rats. Rats on d21 of pregnancy received i/u EGF (500 ng) and were killed 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h later. Control AF from rats on d13 and 18-22 of pregnancy was obtained. EGF decreased uterine prostaglandin F(2alpha) synthesis 8 h after treatment. Twelve hours after EGF injection, P reached its highest serum level and uterine cyclooxygenase I expression was undetectable. CL from rats killed 8 and 12 h after EGF were similar to those from rats on d13 of pregnancy, when serum P is maximum. EGF in AF increased throughout gestation, reached a maximum on d21, and decreased before the onset of labor. We suggest that the effect of EGF on the onset of labor was mediated by an early effect on the uterus that prevented prepartum CL regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, School of Medicine Paraquay 2155, Buenos Aires CP(1121), Argentina.
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37
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Girolamo GD, Farina M, Riberio ML, Ogando D, Aisemberg J, Santos ARDL, Marti ML, Franchi AM. Effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitor pretreatment on nitric oxide production, nNOS and iNOS expression in rat cerebellum. Br J Pharmacol 2004. [DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Velardez MO, del Carmen Díaz M, Lasaga M, Franchi AM, Duvilanski BH. Estrogen decreases the sensitivity of anterior pituitary to the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on prolactin release. Horm Res Paediatr 2004; 60:111-5. [PMID: 12931037 DOI: 10.1159/000072521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2002] [Accepted: 04/09/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated the effect of chronic estrogen treatment on the inhibitory action of nitric oxide (NO) on prolactin release. METHODS The effect of NO on prolactin release was studied in anterior pituitaries of female Wistar rats, intact at random stages, ovariectomized (OVX), and OVX treated for 15 days with 17beta-estradiol (OVX-E(2)). RESULTS Sodium nitroprusside (NP, 0.5 mM), a NO donor, inhibited prolactin release from anterior pituitaries and was able to stimulate cGMP synthesis in intact and OVX rats. Only a high, supraphysiological concentration of NP (2 mM) inhibited prolactin release from anterior pituitaries of OVX-E(2) rats and increased cGMP synthesis in OVX-E(2) rats. 8-Br-cGMP, a cGMP analogue, decreased prolactin release from anterior pituitaries of OVX rats but did not affect it in OVX-E(2) rats. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that estrogen may modify the sensitivity of the anterior pituitary to the inhibitory effect of NO on prolactin release by affecting guanylyl cyclase activity and the cGMP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Omar Velardez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Tognetti T, Estevez A, Luchetti CG, Sander V, Franchi AM, Motta AB. Relationship between endothelin 1 and nitric oxide system in the corpus luteum regression. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2003; 69:359-64. [PMID: 14580371 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2003.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between the nitric oxide (NO) system and endothelin 1 (ET-1) in the mechanism of corpus luteum (CL) development and consequently regression in rats. We first evaluated basal ET-1 levels in ovarian tissue from rats with different stages of CL development. An increased ovarian ET-1 content was found during CL regression. In a dose-department response, ET-1 decreased progesterone (P4) and increased prostaglandin (PG) PGF2alpha production. By means of a competitive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor: L-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and a slow NO releasing: diethyl-aminetriamine (DETA-NONOate), we demonstrated that NO system could be the intermediary in the ET-1 diminishing P4 production. The Western blot analysis revealed an increase on iNOS while eNOS protein expression was diminished. We also found a diminution of total NOS activity after ET-1 treatment. These data suggest the existence of a functional relationship between ET-1 and NOS isoforms leading the regulation of CL functionally.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tognetti
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatologi;a Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO): Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cienti;ficas y Técnicas (CONICET), Serrano 669, (C1414DEM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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40
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DiGirolamo G, Farina M, Riberio ML, Ogando D, Aisemberg J, de los Santos AR, Martí ML, Franchi AM. Effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitor pretreatment on nitric oxide production, nNOS and iNOS expression in rat cerebellum. Br J Pharmacol 2003; 139:1164-70. [PMID: 12871835 PMCID: PMC1573931 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
1. The therapeutic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is thought to be due mainly to its inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, but there is a growing body of research that now demonstrates a variety of NSAIDs effects on cellular signal transduction pathways other than those involving prostaglandins. 2. Nitric oxide (NO) as a free radical and an agent that gives rise to highly toxic oxidants (peroxynitrile, nitric dioxide, nitron ion), becomes a cause of neuronal damage and death in some brain lesions such as Parkinson and Alzheimer disease, and Huntington's chorea. 3. In the present study, the in vivo effect of three NSAIDs (lysine clonixinate (LC), indomethacine (INDO) and meloxicam (MELO)) on NO production and nitric oxide synthase expression in rat cerebellar slices was analysed. Rats were treated with (a) saline, (b) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 mg kg(-1), i.p.), (c) saline in combination with different doses of NSAIDs and (d) LPS in combination with different doses of NSAIDs and then killed 6 h after treatment. 4. NO synthesis, evaluated by Bred and Snyder technique, was increased by LPS. This augmentation was inhibited by coadministration of the three NSAIDs assayed. None of the NSAIDs tested was able to modify control NO synthesis. 5. Expression of iNOS and neural NOS (nNOS) was detected by Western blotting in control and LPS-treated rats. LC and INDO, but not MELO, were able to inhibit the expression of these enzymes. 6. Therefore, reduction of iNOS and nNOS levels in cerebellum may explain, in part, the anti-inflammatory effect of these NSAIDs and may also have importance in the prevention of NO-mediated neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- G DiGirolamo
- Segunda Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Farina
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Argentina
| | - M L Riberio
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Argentina
| | - D Ogando
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Argentina
| | - J Aisemberg
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Argentina
| | - A R de los Santos
- Primera Cátedra de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M L Martí
- Primera Cátedra de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), CONICET, Argentina
- Author for correspondence:
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Airaldi MG, Alonso-Romanowski S, Ambrosio A, Bessone JB, Bibiloni AG, Castro EA, Cravero C, Debenedetti SL, De Filippo J, Denzoin LA, Fernández Lahore M, Fiamberti H, Fossati CA, Franchi AM, Furnari JC, Gadaleta P, Gaggioli N, García AP, Ghilarducci A, Gubertini MT, Hajos S, Hermida EB, Hozbor D, Ielpi L, Iriondo M, Isturiz MA, Jasnis MA, Kochen S, Landoni MF, Lemos DR, Manghi M, Milana JP, Nonzioli AC, Otero AM, Palermo M, Pérez O, Ravelo A, Rearte B, Recavarren MI, Rodríguez ME, Rofman A, Sadir AM, Sasiain MC, Schattner M, Stumpo R, Yantorno O. [Vaccine production in Argentina: a decision that cannot be postponed]. Medicina (B Aires) 2003; 63:457-8. [PMID: 14628659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
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Ogando DG, Paz D, Cella M, Franchi AM. The fundamental role of increased production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced embryonic resorption in mice. Reproduction 2003; 125:95-110. [PMID: 12622700 DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1250095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) fulfils important functions during pregnancy and has a role in implantation, decidualization, vasodilatation and myometrial relaxation. However, at high concentrations, such as those that are produced in sepsis, NO has toxic effects as it is a free radical. The aim of this study was to characterize uterine and decidual NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced embryonic resorption in mice and to determine which isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) take part. LPS produced 100% embryonic resorption at 24 h, with complete fetus expulsions at 48 h. Decidual and uterine NO production were increased by LPS, with maximum production at 6 h. This increase was due to the induction of expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) isoform in the decidua and uterus, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) isoform in the decidua, as detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. LPS increased iNOS expression in decidual and myometrial cells and increased nNOS expression in decidual cells. In addition, LPS caused fibrinolysis and infiltration of mesometrial decidua by macrophages positive for iNOS and CD14 (LPS receptor). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was found in decidual and uterine arteries but LPS did not modify its expression. LPS induced CD14 expression in endometrial glands, and this could have amplified the inflammatory response. Aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of iNOS activity, totally reversed the LPS-induced embryonic resorption. This result could be explained by an inhibition of the increase in NO production but also by an inhibition of the cellular infiltration and fibrinolysis. These results show that NO fulfils a fundamental role in LPS-induced embryonic resorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Ogando
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Serrano 669, Capital Federal, 1414MEM, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Franchi AM, Di Girolamo G, Farina M, de los Santos AR, Martí ML, Gimeno MA. In vivo and in vitro effects of lysine clonixinate on nitric oxide synthase in LPS-treated and untreated rat lung preparations. Nitric Oxide 2001; 5:150-7. [PMID: 11292364 DOI: 10.1006/niox.2000.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that some nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) inhibited the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) without direct effect on the catalytic activity of this enzyme. This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of lysine clonixinate (LC) and indomethacin (INDO) on NOS activity in rat lung preparation. LC is a drug with antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic action. In the in vitro experiments, rats were injected with saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and killed 6 h after treatment. Lung preparations were incubated with LC at 2.3 x 10(-5) M or 3.8 x 10(-5) M. The minimum concentration did not modify NOS activity in control or LPS-treated rats but the maximum dose inhibited increased NO production induced by LPS. Furthermore, INDO at 10(-6) M had no effect on enzymatic activity in control or LPS-treated rats. In the in vivo experiments, 40 mg/kg of LC were injected ip. Such a dose did not affect basal production of NO. When LC and LPS were injected simultaneously 6 h before sacrifice, a significant decrease in LPS-induced NOS activity was observed. INDO 10 mg/kg injected in control animals had no effect on NOS activity and did not block LPS induced stimulation of NO production when injected simultaneously. Finally, when LC (40 mg/kg) was injected 3 h after LPS, the enzymatic activity remained unchanged. Expression of iNOS was detected by Western blotting in rats treated with LPS plus 4, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of LC. The lowest dose was the only one showing no effect on LPS-induced increase of iNOS. In short, LC is a NSAID with inhibitory action on the expression of LPS-induced NOS, effect that was not seen with INDO in our experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Franchi
- CEFYBO (Pharmacological and Botanical Research Center), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) affects cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipooxygenase (LOX) activities in several tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of NO on the AA metabolism in the anterior pituitary. LOX and COX products from anterior pituitaries of Wistar male rats were determined by [14C]-AA radioconversion method. Sodium nitroprusside (NP, 0.5 mM) and DETA NONOate (1 mM), NO donors, decreased 5-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) synthesis (P<0.05), effects that were reversed by hemoglobin. L-arginine also inhibited LOX activity. To the contrary, the inhibition of NO synthase by L-NAME (0.5 mM) or aminoguanidine (0.5 mM) increased 5-HETE production (P<0.05). COX activity was slightly stimulated by NP and L-arginine. However, DETA NONOate induced a stimulation of the synthesis of all prostanoids (P<0.05), this effect being reversed by hemoglobin. Neither NOS inhibitors nor hemoglobin modified basal prostanoids synthesis. These results indicate that NO inhibits LOX activity and stimulates COX activity in the anterior pituitary gland. The inhibition of LOX by NO may be another mechanism involved in the effects of NO on hormone release in the anterior pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- M O Velardez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1121, Paraguay 2155, Piso 10, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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45
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Abstract
The present study investigated the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the lifespan of the corpus luteum (CL). Using a competitive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 600 micromol/l), and a long-life NO donor, diethyl-aminetriamine (DETA-NONOate, 10(-8), 10(-6) or 10(-4) mol/l), we found that in ovaries from rats at the mid stage of CL development, endogenous NO increased both glutathione (GSH) and progesterone production. However, during prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha))-induced luteolysis NO acted as an intermediary molecule in the inhibitory effect of PGF(2 alpha), on GSH content. This was supported by the fact that in-vivo PGF(2 alpha) treatment enhanced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. These results indicate that the NO could act with a dual action (protective or pro-oxidant) in CL development.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Motta
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Serrano 669, 1414 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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46
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Perez Martinez S, Farina M, Ogando D, Ribeiro ML, Gimeno M, Franchi AM. Nitric oxide inhibits prostanoid synthesis in the rat oviduct. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2000; 62:239-42. [PMID: 10882188 DOI: 10.1054/plef.2000.0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the production of arachidonic acid ([14C]-AA) metabolites in the rat oviduct. The basal synthesis of eicosanoids was measured by the conversion of ([14C]-AA) to the different radiolabeled products of cyclooxygenase (COX). The oviducts incubated for 1 h with the labeled substrate of COX were able to convert 3.3 +/- 0.3% of ([14C]-AA) to 6-ceto-PGF1alpha, 10.7 +/- 1.0% to PGF2alpha, 13.5 +/- 1.2% to PGE2 and 6.3 +/- 0.5% to TXB2. The tissues were incubated with different doses of two NO donors: SIN-1 and Spermine NONOate. The results indicated that SIN-1 produces a significant decrease (50%; P < 0.05) in all prostanoids evaluated in a dose-response fashion. The inhibitory effect was completely reversed by addition of 20 microg/ml of hemoglobin (Hb), a NO scavenger. The addition of Spermine NONOate to the incubation medium diminished significantly (65%) the synthesis of COX metabolites suggesting that NO acts by inhibiting COX activity in the rat oviduct. However, NOS inhibitors, N(G)-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) nd N(G)-L-monomethyl-arginine (L-NMMA) had no effect on basal production of the prostanoids. These results indicate that in the rat oviduct the synthesis of COX metabolites is negatively regulated by nitric oxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Perez Martinez
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Farina M, Ribeiro ML, Ogando D, Gimeno M, Franchi AM. IL1alpha augments prostaglandin synthesis in pregnant rat uteri by a nitric oxide mediated mechanism. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2000; 62:243-7. [PMID: 10882189 DOI: 10.1054/plef.2000.0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to examine the possible relationship between cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins in the pregnant rat uterus. Results indicate that 1) IL1alpha enhances the synthesis of prostaglandins and augments NO production in pregnant rat uteri and 2) the effect of IL1alpha on prostaglandin synthesis is abolished by NMMA, a NOS inhibitor, by aminoguanidine, an iNOS inhibitor, and by NS-398, a COX-2 inhibitor. These results suggest that there is an interaction between IL1alpha, NO and prostaglandins and that are involved COX-2 and iNOS in this interrelationship. This mechanism might be important in the regulation of uterine contractility during pregnancy and labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Farina
- Centro de Estudios Farmácologicos y Botanicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Perez Martinez S, Viggiano M, Franchi AM, Herrero MB, Ortiz ME, Gimeno MF, Villalón M. Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on ovum transport and oviductal smooth muscle activity in the rat oviduct. J Reprod Fertil 2000; 118:111-7. [PMID: 10793632 DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.1180111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The effect of the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) on ovum transport and oviductal motility in rats was investigated. Three different NOS inhibitors were injected into the ovarian bursa at oestrus or day 3 of pregnancy. Oviducts and uteri were flushed 24 h later and the presence of ova was recorded. In oestrous and pregnant rats, treatment resulted in accelerated egg transport, as shown by a decrease in the number of ova present in the oviducts. In cyclic rats, intrabursal injection of 1 mg kg-1 of either N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or N omega nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) elicited a 30% reduction in the number of ova present in the oviducts, whereas in pregnant animals, the same dose of L-NMMA produced a reduction of 40%. Simultaneous administration of the NO donor spermine NONOate (5 mg kg-1) completely reversed the effect of L-NMMA. Tubal motility was assessed by microsphere displacement analysis within the oviduct. Surrogate ova were transferred to the oviductal lumen at oestrus and 24 h later the effect of intraoviductal injection of 1 microgram L-NMMA or vehicle was assessed. The microspheres in the isthmus showed an oscillating motion, and periods in which movement was not detectable. However, L-NMMA treatment produced a 3.6-fold increase in the maximum instant velocities and a significant reduction in the resting periods of the microspheres compared with the control group (P < 0.001). These results provide evidence that NO inhibition increases tubal motility that results in accelerated ovum transport, and indicate that NO could act as a paracrine signal between different layers of the oviductal wall, providing a role for endogenous NO in regulation of tubal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Perez Martinez
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Perez Martinez S, Viggiano M, Franchi AM, Herrero MB, Ortiz ME, Gimeno MF, Villalon M. Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on ovum transport and oviductal smooth muscle activity in the rat oviduct. Reproduction 2000. [DOI: 10.1530/reprod/118.1.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The effect of the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) on ovum transport and oviductal motility in rats was investigated. Three different NOS inhibitors were injected into the ovarian bursa at oestrus or day 3 of pregnancy. Oviducts and uteri were flushed 24 h later and the presence of ova was recorded. In oestrous and pregnant rats, treatment resulted in accelerated egg transport, as shown by a decrease in the number of ova present in the oviducts. In cyclic rats, intrabursal injection of 1 mg kg-1 of either N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or N omega nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) elicited a 30% reduction in the number of ova present in the oviducts, whereas in pregnant animals, the same dose of L-NMMA produced a reduction of 40%. Simultaneous administration of the NO donor spermine NONOate (5 mg kg-1) completely reversed the effect of L-NMMA. Tubal motility was assessed by microsphere displacement analysis within the oviduct. Surrogate ova were transferred to the oviductal lumen at oestrus and 24 h later the effect of intraoviductal injection of 1 microgram L-NMMA or vehicle was assessed. The microspheres in the isthmus showed an oscillating motion, and periods in which movement was not detectable. However, L-NMMA treatment produced a 3.6-fold increase in the maximum instant velocities and a significant reduction in the resting periods of the microspheres compared with the control group (P < 0.001). These results provide evidence that NO inhibition increases tubal motility that results in accelerated ovum transport, and indicate that NO could act as a paracrine signal between different layers of the oviductal wall, providing a role for endogenous NO in regulation of tubal function.
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Franchi AM, Di Girolamo G, de los Santos AR, Martí ML, Gimeno MA. Effects of lysine clonixinate on cyclooxygenase I and II in rat lung and stomach preparations. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1998; 58:421-4. [PMID: 10189073 DOI: 10.1016/s0952-3278(98)90164-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Lysine clonixinate (LC) is a drug of antiinflammatory antipyretic and analgesic activity that produces minor digestive side-effects. This fact induced us to think that LC is possibly a weak COX-1 inhibitor. In order to investigate our hypothesis we inhibited cyclooxygenase activity with LC or indomethacin (INDO) in rat lung and stomach obtained from rats treated with lipopolysacharide (LPS) and control rats. Rat lung preparations incubated with 14C-arachidonic acid synthesise mainly PGE2. LC at 2.5 and 4.1 x 10(-5) M does not modify the basal production of PGE2 (probably COX-1) but at 6.8 x 10(-5) M significantly inhibited PGE2 production (approximately 48.5% inhibition, P<0.001). On the other hand, INDO at 10(-6) inhibited the basal production of PGE2 by around 73%. In LPS-treated rats, the production of PGE2 was significantly higher than in the lungs of control rats, probably due to the induction of COX-2. The addition of LC at 2.7 and 4.1 x 10(-5) M recovered the control values of PGE2 inhibiting, probably only from COX-2 activity. LC at higher concentrations (6.8 x 10(-5) M) and INDO 10(-6) M inhibited PGE2 formed by COX-2 and also partly by COX-1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Franchi
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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