Abstract
Much of our understanding and knowledge of human parturition has been blurred by conjecture and extrapolation. The limited available data on human parturition reflect the inability to directly experiment with pregnant human subjects. In spite of this obvious impediment and the scarcity of longitudinal data on fundamental physiological changes in human pregnancy, recent reports have generated a better understanding of the synchronous activities leading to labor. The purpose of this review was to organize, in an evidence-based format, the current understanding of maternal physiologic phenomena leading from uterine quiescence to uterine labor activity. Recent discoveries have prompted a revision of pre-existing classical theories on the initiation of parturition, such as the progesterone block theory or the prostaglandins stimulation of the uterotonic action of oxytocin. The presence in the circulation of extrahypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) produced by the placenta and myometrium is an inciting unique feature of primate pregnancy and a promising field for research. The concept of anatomical regionalization in labor promotion, including the cervical physiological inflammatory reaction, is also discussed in the review, especially in support of the strong link between inflammatory activation and onset of preterm labor. Understanding the intimate chain of events leading to parturition is critical, and elucidating the interplay of signals and processes that initiate normal labor may help us to understand the abnormal variant, spontaneous preterm labor, and devise efficacious interventions against it.
Keywords: initiation of labor, human labor, Parturition
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Potential Biochemical Events Associated with Initiation of Labor
Volume: 15 Issue: 6
Author(s): S. M. Ramin and A. C. Vidaeff
Affiliation:
Keywords: initiation of labor, human labor, Parturition
Abstract: Much of our understanding and knowledge of human parturition has been blurred by conjecture and extrapolation. The limited available data on human parturition reflect the inability to directly experiment with pregnant human subjects. In spite of this obvious impediment and the scarcity of longitudinal data on fundamental physiological changes in human pregnancy, recent reports have generated a better understanding of the synchronous activities leading to labor. The purpose of this review was to organize, in an evidence-based format, the current understanding of maternal physiologic phenomena leading from uterine quiescence to uterine labor activity. Recent discoveries have prompted a revision of pre-existing classical theories on the initiation of parturition, such as the progesterone block theory or the prostaglandins stimulation of the uterotonic action of oxytocin. The presence in the circulation of extrahypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) produced by the placenta and myometrium is an inciting unique feature of primate pregnancy and a promising field for research. The concept of anatomical regionalization in labor promotion, including the cervical physiological inflammatory reaction, is also discussed in the review, especially in support of the strong link between inflammatory activation and onset of preterm labor. Understanding the intimate chain of events leading to parturition is critical, and elucidating the interplay of signals and processes that initiate normal labor may help us to understand the abnormal variant, spontaneous preterm labor, and devise efficacious interventions against it.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ramin M. S. and Vidaeff C. A., Potential Biochemical Events Associated with Initiation of Labor, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2008; 15 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986708783769786
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986708783769786 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Screening for Infectious Diseases During Pregnancy: Which Test and Which Situation
Current Women`s Health Reviews Hepatic Gene Transfer as a Means of Tolerance Induction to Transgene Products
Current Gene Therapy Autophagy and Cell Death in Caenorhabditis elegans
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Use of TNF Family Ligands and Receptors and Agents which Modify their Interaction as Therapeutic Agents
Current Drug Targets Mast Cells and Basophils: Trojan Horses of Conventional Lin- Stem/Progenitor Cell Isolates
Current Pharmaceutical Design Gene Therapy Approaches for Cartilage Injury and Osteoarthritis
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents MicroRNA-155 Regulates Inflammatory Response in Ischemic Cerebral Tissues through Autophagy
Current Neurovascular Research Causes of Impaired Fertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Current Women`s Health Reviews Keratinocytes in Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy CD31+ Circulating Angiogenic Cell Number and Subtypes are Reduced in Individuals with Chronic Stroke
Current Neurovascular Research Cell Death and microRNAs in Cholestatic Liver Diseases: Update on Potential Therapeutic Applications
Current Drug Targets An Evidence-Based Review of the Mechanism of Action, Efficacy, and Safety of Biologic Therapies in the Treatment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Translation of Basic Research into Clinics: Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors Genes in Autoimmune and Infectious Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biology and Regulatory Roles of Nuclear Lamins in Cellular Function and Dysfunction
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Gender Differences in Liver Fibrosis and Hepatitis C Virus-Related Parameters in Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Current HIV Research Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators Antagonize Apolipoprotein E4-Induced Cognitive Impairments
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Chaperoning the Cancer: The Proteostatic Functions of the Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Improved Mouse Models of Allergy and Allergic Asthma - Chances Beyond Ovalbumin
Current Drug Targets Algae Polysaccharides’ Chemical Characterization and their Role in the Inflammatory Process
Current Medicinal Chemistry Selenium and Autoimmune Diseases: A Review Article
Current Rheumatology Reviews