Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2022 Apr 29;20(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s12958-022-00932-3.
Normal motor activity of the fallopian tube is critical for human reproduction, and abnormal tubal activity may lead to ectopic pregnancy (EP) or infertility. Progesterone has an inhibitory effect on tubal contraction; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Small-conductance calcium-activated K channel 3 (SK3) is abundantly expressed in platelet-derived growth factor receptor α positive (PDGFRα+) cells and was reported to be important for the relaxation of smooth muscle. The present study aims to explore the expression of SK3 in the human fallopian tube and its role in progesterone-induced inhibition of tubal contraction.
We collected specimens of fallopian tubes from patients treated by salpingectomy for EP (EP group) and other benign gynecological diseases (Non-EP group). The expression of SK3 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry analyses. Isometric tension experiments were performed to investigate the role of SK3 in progesterone-induced inhibition of tubal contraction.
The baseline amplitude and frequency of human fallopian tube contraction were both statistically lower in the EP group compared with the non-EP group. The expression levels of SK3 in different portions of fallopian tubes from the non-EP group were significantly higher than in those from the EP group. Progesterone had an inhibitory effect on tubal contraction, mainly on the amplitude, in both groups, and SK3 as well as other calcium-activated K channels may be involved. SK3-expressing PDGFRα (+) cells were detected in the human fallopian tube.
The expression of SK3 is lower in the EP group, and SK3 is involved in the progesterone-induced inhibition of human fallopian tube contraction.
输卵管的正常运动对人类生殖至关重要，而输卵管活动异常可能导致宫外孕（EP）或不孕。孕激素对输卵管收缩有抑制作用；然而，其潜在机制尚不清楚。小电导钙激活钾通道 3（SK3）在血小板衍生生长因子受体α阳性（PDGFRα+）细胞中大量表达，被报道对平滑肌的松弛很重要。本研究旨在探讨 SK3 在人输卵管中的表达及其在孕激素诱导的输卵管收缩抑制中的作用。
我们收集了因 EP（EP 组）和其他良性妇科疾病（非 EP 组）接受输卵管切除术治疗的患者的输卵管标本。通过定量实时聚合酶链反应、western blot、免疫细胞化学和免疫组织化学分析检测 SK3 的表达。等长张力实验用于研究 SK3 在孕激素诱导的输卵管收缩抑制中的作用。
与非 EP 组相比，EP 组人输卵管收缩的基础幅度和频率均显著降低。非 EP 组输卵管不同部位 SK3 的表达水平明显高于 EP 组。孕激素对两组输卵管收缩均有抑制作用，主要作用于幅度，而 SK3 及其他钙激活钾通道可能参与其中。在人输卵管中检测到表达 SK3 的 PDGFRα+细胞。
EP 组 SK3 的表达较低，SK3 参与了孕激素诱导的人输卵管收缩抑制。
