Saito Y, Seki H, Takahashi S, Maki M
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi. 1986 Apr;38(4):595-601.
Gap junction is reported to be initiated by changes in levels of steroid hormones in the smooth muscle cells of myometrium. In order to clarify the difference in sex hormone dependence for gap junction formation in the muscles of uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium, uterine leiomyoma and myometrial gap junctions, and serum estradiol and progesterone levels were determined simultaneously in 23 women who had undergone simple hysterectomy for leiomyomas of the corpus uteri. In all tissues of the myometrium from 23 women, at least three gap junctions were found between muscle cells in the series of photographs. On the other hand, there were 7 out of 23 uterine leiomyomas in which not even one gap junction was detected between muscle cells in the series of photographs. The phasic change in the number of gap junctions related to the menstrual cycle was detected in the muscles of uterine leiomyoma as well as normal myometrium. Uterine leiomyoma was characterized by less correlation between the number of gap junctions in the muscles and the concentration of serum sex steroids, compared with those of normal myometrium. Sex steroids may have a trophic effect on some uterine leiomyoma, but the sex hormone dependence of uterine leiomyoma for gap junction formation may be less than that of normal myometrium. The present study also showed that the increased gap junction formation in myometrial muscles from women with dysmenorrhea may be formed between myometrial cells in response to physiologic or pathologic stimuli, such as the production of local prostaglandins, and may result in hypercontraction of the uterus.
据报道，缝隙连接是由子宫肌层平滑肌细胞中甾体激素水平的变化引发的。为了阐明子宫平滑肌瘤和正常子宫肌层肌肉中缝隙连接形成对性激素依赖性的差异，对23例因子宫体平滑肌瘤接受单纯子宫切除术的女性，同时测定了子宫平滑肌瘤和子宫肌层的缝隙连接以及血清雌二醇和孕酮水平。在23名女性子宫肌层的所有组织中，在一系列照片中肌肉细胞之间至少发现了三个缝隙连接。另一方面，在23个子宫平滑肌瘤中有7个，在一系列照片中肌肉细胞之间甚至未检测到一个缝隙连接。在子宫平滑肌瘤以及正常子宫肌层的肌肉中均检测到与月经周期相关的缝隙连接数量的阶段性变化。与正常子宫肌层相比，子宫平滑肌瘤的特征在于肌肉中缝隙连接数量与血清性类固醇浓度之间的相关性较低。性类固醇可能对某些子宫平滑肌瘤有营养作用，但子宫平滑肌瘤对缝隙连接形成的性激素依赖性可能低于正常子宫肌层。本研究还表明，痛经女性子宫肌层肌肉中缝隙连接形成增加可能是子宫肌层细胞之间对生理或病理刺激（如局部前列腺素的产生）作出反应而形成的，并且可能导致子宫过度收缩。
