Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 80, 3073-3076, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Effect of corticotropin-releasing factor-binding protein on prostaglandin release from cultured maternal decidua and on contractile activity of human myometrium in vitro

F Petraglia, C Benedetto, P Florio, G D'Ambrogio, AD Genazzani, L Marozio and W Vale
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universities of Modena, Torino, Italy.

Human placenta and uterine tissues are sites of production and local action of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The recent evidence that CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP), a protein that blocks CRF-induced pituitary ACTH release, is produced by placental tissues suggested the present study to investigate the effects of CRF-BP on prostaglandin release and contractile activity of myometrial strips. Primary cultures of decidual cells were prepared using tissue collected from healthy women undergoing cesarean delivery at term. Mechanical and enzymatic cell dispersions were carried out, and experiments were performed 24-28 h after cell plating. The prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration in cultured medium was measured by RIA. Myometrial strips were obtained from the upper edge of the uterine incision during elective cesarean section at term. Dissected free of connective tissue, strips were mounted in a 30-mL two-chamber organ bath containing oxygenated Tyrode's buffer (37 C) and connected to a two-channel isometric smooth muscle transducer. Cultured decidual cells collected at term significantly increased the release of PGE2 in the presence of CRF (P < 0.01). The addition of CRF-BP did not significantly modify PGE2 release, but completely reversed the effect of CRF. When human myometrial strips were incubated in the presence of CRF and PGF2 alpha, a significant increase in contractile activity was observed (P < 0.01); preincubation with CRF-BP prevented the increased contractile activity induced by CRF. The present data show that CRF-BP is able to counteract the biological effect of CRF on human pregnancy endometrium and myometrium and suggest that CRF-BP may be a regulatory protein that plays a role in the local function of uterine tissues during pregnancy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P Florio, P J Lowry, C Benedetto, L Galleri, M Torricelli, A Giovannelli, R Battista, F M Reis, and F Petraglia Maternal plasma corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP) levels in post-term pregnancy: effect of prostaglandin administration Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2007; 157(3): 279 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.-M. Mignot, B. Paris, B. Carbonne, C. Vauge, F. Ferre, and D. Vaiman Corticotropin-releasing hormone effects on human pregnant vs. nonpregnant myometrium explants estimated from a mathematical model of uterine contraction J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2005; 99(3): 1157 - 1163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Florio, L. Cobellis, J. Woodman, F. M. Severi, E. A. Linton, and F. Petraglia Levels of Maternal Plasma Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and Urocortin During Labor Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2002; 9(4): 233 - 237. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. H. Allen Biological Mechanisms That Might Underlie Iron's Effects on Fetal Growth and Preterm Birth J. Nutr., February 1, 2001; 131(2): 581S - 589. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. Zoumakis, A.N. Margioris, C. Stournaras, E. Dermitzaki, E. Angelakis, A. Makrigiannakis, E. Koumantakis, and A. Gravanis Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) interacts with inflammatory prostaglandins and interleukins and affects the decidualization of human endometrial stroma Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 6(4): 344 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Reis, M. Fadalti, P. Florio, and F. Petraglia Putative Role of Placental Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in the Mechanisms of Human Parturition Reproductive Sciences, May 1, 1999; 6(3): 109 - 119. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S.A. Alvi, N.L. Brown, P.R. Bennett, M.G. Elder, and M.H.F. Sullivan Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and platelet-activating factor induce transcription of the type-2 cyclo-oxygenase gene in human fetal membranes Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 1999; 5(5): 476 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Petraglia, P. Florio, C. Benedetto, L. Marozio, A. M. Di Blasio, C. Ticconi, E. Piccione, S. Luisi, A. R. Genazzani, and W. Vale Urocortin Stimulates Placental Adrenocorticotropin and Prostaglandin Release and Myometrial Contractility in Vitro J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1999; 84(4): 1420 - 1423. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. J. HOBEL, C. P. ARORA, and L. M. KORST Corticotrophin-releasing Hormone and CRH-binding Protein: Differences between Patients at Risk for Preterm Birth and Hypertension Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., January 1, 1999; 897(1): 54 - 65. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Florio, R. J. Woods, A. R. Genazzani, P. J. Lowry, and F. Petraglia Changes in Amniotic Fluid Immunoreactive Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) and CRF-Binding Protein Levels in Pregnant Women at Term and during Labor J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1997; 82(3): 835 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]