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Science 2 December 1977:
Vol. 198. no. 4320, pp. 958 - 960
DOI: 10.1126/science.929182
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Articles

Science, Vol 198, Issue 4320, 958-960
Copyright © 1977 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Gap junctions: their presence and necessity in myometrium during parturition

RE Garfield, S Sims, and EE Daniel

Thin sections of longitudinal and circular muscle of myometrium obtained from rats during pregnancy, at term, during delivery, and postpartum were quantitatively examined in the electron microscope. Gap junctions (low resistance pathways) were only present during or immediately prior to delivery and immediately postpartum. The absence of gap junctions during gestation may be necessary for maintenance of pregnancy, while their occurrence during parturition may lead to effective termination of pregnancy.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Plasma Membrane Channels Formed by Connexins: Their Regulation and Functions.
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Oestriol and oestradiol increase cell to cell communication and connexin43 protein expression in human myometrium.
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Antioxidants Prevent {{gamma}}-Hexachlorocyclohexane-Induced Inhibition of Rat Myometrial Gap Junctions and Contractions.
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Expression of Myometrial Activation and Stimulation Genes in a Mouse Model of Preterm Labor: Myometrial Activation, Stimulation, and Preterm Labor.
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Sensitivity of myometrium to CGRP varies during mouse estrous cycle and in response to progesterone.
M. Naghashpour and G. Dahl (2000)
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 278, C561-C569
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Localization of regulatory protein binding sites in the proximal region of human myometrial connexin 43 gene.
C. O. Echetebu, M. Ali, M. G. Izban, L. MacKay, and R. E. Garfield (1999)
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Physiological Features of Visceral Smooth Muscle Cells, With Special Reference to Receptors and Ion Channels.
H. KURIYAMA, K. KITAMURA, T. ITOH, and R. INOUE (1998)
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Inhibitory Effect of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide on Myometrial Contractility Is Diminished at Parturition.
M. Naghashpour, M. I. Rosenblatt, I. M. Dickerson, and G. P. Dahl (1997)
Endocrinology 138, 4207-4214
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Activation of Protein Kinase C in Human Uterine Smooth Muscle Induces connexin-43 Gene Transcription through an AP-1 Site in the Promoter Sequence.
E. Geimonen, W. Jiang, M. Ali, G. I. Fishman, R. E. Garfield, and J. Andersen (1996)
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 23667-23674
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Stopping premature births before it's too late.
P Radetsky (1994)
Science 266, 1486-1488
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