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BMC Pharmacology & Toxicology Jul 2022As a progesterone receptor antagonist, mifepristone combined with misoprostol is widely used to terminate early pregnancy in clinical practice. It has also been reported...
BACKGROUND
As a progesterone receptor antagonist, mifepristone combined with misoprostol is widely used to terminate early pregnancy in clinical practice. It has also been reported that mifepristone may cause cell death in decidual cells and result in hemorrhage of the decidua and insufficient blood supply. However, little is known about the histological effects of mifepristone on human decidua and chorion.
METHODS
Histological and subcellular structural changes of decidua and chorionic villi from women taking mifepristone at early pregnancy times were examined by Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transmission Electron microscope. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax/Bcl-2 was examined by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
After 48 h of mifepristone administration, the decidua tissue and chorionic villus structures were altered in women within 39-49 days of gestation and displayed varying degrees of degeneration and necrosis-like features. Apoptotic events were observed in the decidua and chorionic villi of early pregnancy, and mifepristone treatment significantly increases the number of apoptotic cells. The increased apoptotic events were concomitant with the increased expression of Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2.
CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence that mifepristone induces histological and subcellular changes in decidua and chorionic villi. Mifepristone modulates the relative ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the increased apoptosis contributes to the pregnancy termination at early stage of pregnancy.
Topics: Chorionic Villi; Decidua; Female; Humans; Mifepristone; Misoprostol; Pregnancy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; bcl-2-Associated X Protein
PubMed: 35869506
DOI: 10.1186/s40360-022-00592-4 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hypothalamic neuropeptides classically associated with their regulatory role in reproduction, water homeostasis, and social... (Review)
Review
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hypothalamic neuropeptides classically associated with their regulatory role in reproduction, water homeostasis, and social behaviors. Interestingly, this role has expanded in recent years and has positioned these neuropeptides as therapeutic targets for various neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism, addiction, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorders. Due to the chemical-physical characteristics of these neuropeptides including short half-life, poor blood-brain barrier penetration, promiscuity for AVP and OT receptors (AVP-R, OT-R), novel ligands have been developed in recent decades. This review summarizes the role of OT and AVP in neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as the findings of different OT-R and AVP-R agonists and antagonists, used both at the preclinical and clinical level. Furthermore, we discuss their possible therapeutic potential for central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Topics: Animals; Central Nervous System Diseases; Drug Agonism; Drug Antagonism; Humans; Mental Disorders; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins
PubMed: 34769501
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112077 -
Current Biology : CB Sep 2022Maternity transforms body, brain and behavior. A new study analyzing the activity of oxytocin neurons across birth and lactation revealed strengthening of suckling...
Maternity transforms body, brain and behavior. A new study analyzing the activity of oxytocin neurons across birth and lactation revealed strengthening of suckling responses in mice. Although this did not involve major rewiring of inputs to oxytocin neurons, inhibition from the stria terminalis was found to pattern the suckling responses.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Female; Humans; Lactation; Mice; Neurons; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Thalamus
PubMed: 36099897
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.051 -
Journal of Mother and Child Dec 2020Prolonged labour can lead to postpartum complications and adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Measurable parameters can help in the active management of labour,... (Review)
Review
Prolonged labour can lead to postpartum complications and adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Measurable parameters can help in the active management of labour, timely diagnosis of dystocia and in the choice of the method of delivery. Progressive uterine contractions are necessary to complete labour successfully. Myometrial fatigue during prolonged labour causes a change from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, resulting in an accumulation of intramuscular lactic acid and probably a subsequent increase in amniotic fluid lactate concentration. High amniotic fluid lactate level has been associated with ineffective uterine contractions leading to labour arrest. A considerable number of studies conducted so far indicate that the level of lactate in amniotic fluid may be a new non-invasive diagnostic tool for early prediction of prolonged labour and the need for immediate obstetric intervention. Low amniotic fluid lactate level may facilitate a decision to continue vaginal labour by oxytocin augmentation. A high level of amniotic fluid lactate is associated with surgical obstetric procedures. Measuring amniotic fluid lactate level might simplify the patient's allocation to a group, which will benefit from the administration of oxytocin and to a group that will not benefit from further prolongation of labour. This study aimed to briefly review current knowledge on amniotic fluid lactate concentrations measured using standard biochemical methods during the first stage of labour following normal pregnancy, as a possible diagnostic tool for prolonged labour. For this purpose, PubMed, EMBASE, Medline (1990 to July 2020) trials register and reference lists of relevant articles were searched.
Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Female; Humans; Lactic Acid; Obstetric Labor Complications; Oxytocics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Time Factors
PubMed: 33470958
DOI: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20202403.2027.d-20-00011 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021Oxytocin (OT) is a crucial regulator of reproductive behaviors, including parturition in mammals. Arg-vasopressin (AVP) is a nonapeptide homologous to Arg-vasotocin...
Oxytocin (OT) is a crucial regulator of reproductive behaviors, including parturition in mammals. Arg-vasopressin (AVP) is a nonapeptide homologous to Arg-vasotocin (AVT) in teleosts that has comparable affinity for the OT receptor. In the present study, ovoviviparous guppies () were used to study the effect of AVT on delivery mediated by the activation of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis isotocin (IT) receptors (ITRs). One copy each of and and two copies of were identified in guppies. The results of the affinity assay showed that various concentrations of AVT and IT (10, 10, and 10 mol/L) significantly activated (P < 0.05). experiments revealed significant upregulation (P < 0.05) of cyclooxygenase 2 (), which is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in PG biosynthesis, and by AVT and IT. Furthermore, dual hybridization detected positive signals for and at the same site, implying that ITR1 may regulate gene expression. Measurement of prostaglandin F (PGF) concentrations showed that AVT induced PGF synthesis (P < 0.05) and that the effect of IT was not significant. Finally, intraperitoneal administration of PGF significantly induced premature parturition of guppies. This study is the first to identify and characterize AVT and ITRs in guppies. The findings suggest that AVT promotes PG biosynthesis ITR and that PGF induces delivery behavior in ovoviviparous guppies.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprost; Oxytocin; Parturition; Poecilia; Receptors, Vasopressin; Up-Regulation; Vasotocin
PubMed: 33967951
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.617580 -
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official... Jan 2021
Topics: Animals; Methamphetamine; Oxytocin; Rats; Self Administration; Vagus Nerve
PubMed: 32572151
DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0742-8 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Feb 2022The purpose of this integrative literature review was to appraise studies conducted worldwide using misoprostol and estradiol in converting Type 3 transformation zone... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this integrative literature review was to appraise studies conducted worldwide using misoprostol and estradiol in converting Type 3 transformation zone (TZ) of the cervix into Types 1 or 2 and to assess which regimen could be more feasible in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). We reviewed the English language literature for peer-reviewed studies that evaluated strategies to convert Type 3 TZs to Types 1 or 2 for cervical cancer screening. Web of Science and PubMed searches were performed up to July 2020. Search terms included: "cervical colposcopy," "inadequate colposcopy", "cervical cancer screening", "transformation zone," "estrogen", "estradiol", and "misoprostol." Inclusion criteria were articles published in the English language, original research, and peer reviewed articles. A total of 127 articles were abstracted, 24 articles were reviewed, and 9 articles met all inclusion criteria. We found that intravaginal misoprostol, intravaginal estradiol, and oral estradiol can successfully convert Type 3 TZ to Types 1 or 2. A single dose of vaginal misoprostol had a similar maximum response rate (20-80%) to a multi-dose regimen over several days or weeks of both intravaginal estradiol (64-83%) and oral estradiol (50-70%). Misoprostol administration was associated with more side effects such as abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding compared to estradiol, although these were generally mild. In conclusion, Oral estradiol, intravaginal estradiol, and intravaginal misoprostol can be used to convert Type 3 TZ to Types 1 or 2. Intravaginal misoprostol is well tolerated and more feasible in LMICs due to availability and shorter treatment schedule compared to oral or intravaginal estradiol.
Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Cervical Ripening; Early Detection of Cancer; Estradiol; Female; Humans; Misoprostol; Oxytocics; Pregnancy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 34952401
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.11.431 -
Computational and Mathematical Methods... 2022The efficacy of oxytocin and carbetocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with vaginal delivery has been controversial. This study is aimed at... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of oxytocin and carbetocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with vaginal delivery has been controversial. This study is aimed at conducting a meta-analysis that compares the efficacy of carbetocin and oxytocin in the prevention of PPH among women with vaginal delivery.
METHODS
Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and CNKI databases. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare the efficacy of carbetocin and oxytocin to prevent PPH were searched. Data from the included literatures were extracted by two researchers, including author, title, publication date, study type, study number, the incidence of PPH, number of patients requiring additional uterotonics, and number of patients requiring blood transfusion. Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included RCTs. The Chi-square test was adopted for the heterogeneity test. A fixed-effect model was used for analysis if heterogeneity did not exist between literatures. If heterogeneity exists between literatures, a random-effect model was used for analysis. The source of heterogeneity was explored by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS
The incidence of PPH in the carbetocin group was lower than that in the oxytocin group (OR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.46, 0.84), = 3.14, = 0.002). There was no heterogeneity among studies ( = 7.29, = 0.12, = 45%) and no significant publication bias ( > 0.05). The proportion of women requiring additional uterotonics in the carbetocin group was lower than that in the oxytocin group (OR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.29, 0.56), = 5.34, < 0.00001). There was no heterogeneity among studies ( = 0.82, = 0.84, = 0%) and no significant publication bias ( > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of women needing blood transfusion between the carbetocin group and the oxytocin group (OR = 0.92, 95% CI (0.66, 1.29), = 0.46, = 0.64). There was no heterogeneity among studies ( = 3.06, = 0.55, = 0%) and no significant publication bias ( > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Carbetocin is superior to oxytocin in preventing PPH among women with vaginal delivery and can be widely used in clinical practice.
Topics: Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy
PubMed: 35770122
DOI: 10.1155/2022/6420738 -
American Family Physician Jun 2021
Review
Topics: Female; Humans; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34060793
DOI: No ID Found -
Scientific Reports Mar 2020With a strong tendency to socialise, the zebrafish is a useful model to study social behaviour, with implications for better treatments of social impairments, for...
With a strong tendency to socialise, the zebrafish is a useful model to study social behaviour, with implications for better treatments of social impairments, for instance in autism spectrum disorders. Although oxytocin is crucial for social behaviour in mammals, the importance of the fish orthologue - isotocin or zebrafish oxytocin (zOT) - for social behaviour in zebrafish is unclear. The aims of this study were firstly, to elucidate the receptor specificity of zOT and the related vasotocin or zebrafish vasopressin (zVP; the orthologue of mammalian vasopressin) and the nonpeptidergic oxytocin receptor antagonist L-368,899, and secondly to investigate if L-368,899 inhibits social preference in zebrafish. The potencies of ligands were evaluated for zOT/zVP family receptors in HEK293 cells. Adult and larval zebrafish were treated with L-368,899 or vehicle and subsequently assessed for social behaviour and anxiety (adults only). The antagonist L-368,899 specifically inhibited the two zOT receptors, but not the two zVP-1 receptors. The antagonist decreased social preference in adult and larval zebrafish. It did not affect anxiety in adults. These results indicate that endogenous zOT, and possibly zVP, is involved in social behaviour in zebrafish via either or both of the two zOT receptors, and show promise for future explorations of the anatomy and evolution of networks underlying social behaviour.
Topics: Animals; Camphanes; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Models, Animal; Models, Psychological; Oxytocin; Piperazines; Receptors, Oxytocin; Social Behavior; Vasotocin; Zebrafish
PubMed: 32214126
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61073-4