Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Jan;41(1):138-146. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2020.1727868. Epub 2020 Mar 11.
Progesterone and oestrogen play important roles during parturition; however, their roles in the uterine cervix during preterm labour and delivery are unknown. We evaluated the serum progesterone and oestrogen levels and changes in their receptors (PR and ER) in the cervix in a cervical excision-associated preterm delivery mouse model. Adult female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: sham, cervical excision (Ex), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Ex + LPS. Mating was permitted at 3 weeks post-Ex. On gestation day 16, mice were administered LPS intrauterine (100 µg/100 µL/mouse) or physiological saline (100 µL) laparotomy. Uterine cervices and blood were sampled immediately postpartum. As a result, epithelial PR and muscular ERα were down- and upregulated, respectively, in the proximal cervix in Ex + LPS group compared to in the sham group. These results indicate that unique sex hormone effects are exerted on the uterine cervix during cervical excision-associated spontaneous preterm labour and delivery.Impact statement Preterm and term parturition require the withdrawal of progesterone and the activation of oestrogen in the uterine body and systemic levels. However, we have little understanding of the role of the sex hormones in the uterine cervix. Increased ERα-to-PR expression ratio in the proximal cervix was associated with preterm labour and delivery. ERα expression in the smooth muscle layer of the proximal cervix was higher and PR expression in the proximal cervix epithelium was lower during preterm labour and delivery. This study revealed the differences between the roles of sex hormones and their receptors in epithelial and muscle layers of proximal and distal cervices in preterm labour and delivery.
孕激素和雌激素在分娩过程中发挥重要作用；然而，它们在早产和分娩时子宫颈中的作用尚不清楚。我们评估了在宫颈切除相关早产小鼠模型中，血清孕激素和雌激素水平及其受体（PR 和 ER）的变化。成年雌性 C57BL/6 小鼠分为四组：假手术组、宫颈切除组（Ex）、脂多糖组（LPS）和 Ex+LPS 组。切除后 3 周允许交配。在妊娠第 16 天，通过剖腹术向小鼠宫内给予 LPS（100µg/100µL/只/鼠）或生理盐水（100µL）。产后立即采集子宫颈和血液样本。结果表明，与假手术组相比，Ex+LPS 组近端宫颈上皮 PR 和肌肉 ERα 分别下调和上调。这些结果表明，在宫颈切除相关自发性早产和分娩期间，独特的性激素对子宫颈发挥作用。
早产和足月分娩需要在子宫体和全身水平上停止孕激素并激活雌激素。然而，我们对性激素在子宫颈中的作用知之甚少。近端宫颈中 ERα 与 PR 表达比值的增加与早产有关。早产和分娩时，近端宫颈平滑肌层中的 ERα 表达较高，而近端宫颈上皮中的 PR 表达较低。这项研究揭示了性激素及其受体在早产和分娩时近端和远端宫颈上皮和肌肉层中的作用差异。
