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Role of Protein Kinase Cα in Regulation of [Ca2+]I and Force in Human Myometrium

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Abstract

Recent findings implicate protein kinase C in regulation of contraction of uterine muscle (myometrium). However, the role of protein kinase C isoforms in myometrial contraction remains uncertain. Therefore, this study examined protein kinase Cα’s role in regulation of contraction and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]I) of myometrium from term pregnant women. The authors demonstrated that protein kinase Cα inhibitor Go6976 decreased the amplitude of potassium chloride—induced myometrial contractions in a time-dependent manner. The treatment of the myometrial strips with protein kinase Cα—specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides decreased the potassium chloride—induced contraction and [Ca2+]I response to 39.3% ± 6.8% and 50.0% ± 3.3%, respectively, compared to control. The sense oligonucleotides treatment did not significantly change the potassium chloride responses (89.8% ± 6.8% and 93.9% ± 4.5% of the control for the contraction and [Ca2+]I, respectively). These data, coupled with the observation that protein kinase Cα levels are elevated in the pregnant myometrium, suggest the involvement of protein kinase Cα in regulation of human uterine contraction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 206 Wolf Hall, 19716, USA

    Victor P. Fomin PhD, Andris Kronbergs MS, Vladimir Simirskii PhD & Randall L. Duncan PhD

  2. Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    Susan Gunst PhD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christiana Hospital, Newark, Delaware, USA

    Matthew Hoffman MD

  4. Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA

    Dale Tang PhD

Authors
  1. Victor P. Fomin PhD
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  2. Andris Kronbergs MS
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  3. Susan Gunst PhD
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  4. Dale Tang PhD
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  5. Vladimir Simirskii PhD
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  6. Matthew Hoffman MD
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  7. Randall L. Duncan PhD
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Correspondence to Victor P. Fomin PhD.

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Fomin, V.P., Kronbergs, A., Gunst, S. et al. Role of Protein Kinase Cα in Regulation of [Ca2+]I and Force in Human Myometrium. Reprod. Sci. 16, 71–79 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719108324892

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