Role of both actin–myosin cross bridges and NO-cGMP pathway modulators in the contraction and relaxation of human placental stem villi

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) 2013-12, Vol.34 (12), p.1163-1169
• Main Authors: Lecarpentier, E, Claes, V, Timbely, O, Hébert, J.-L, Arsalane, A, Moumen, A, Guerin, C, Guizard, M, Michel, F, Lecarpentier, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,3-Butanedione monoxime; Actin myosin crossbridges; Actins - antagonists & inhibitors; Actins - chemistry; Actins - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blebbistatin; Chorionic Villi - chemistry; Chorionic Villi - drug effects; Chorionic Villi - physiology; Cyclic GMP - agonists; Cyclic GMP - antagonists & inhibitors; Cyclic GMP - physiology; Diacetyl - analogs & derivatives; Diacetyl - pharmacology; Electric Stimulation; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings - pharmacology; Human placenta; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Internal Medicine; Isosorbide dinitrate; Isosorbide Dinitrate - pharmacology; Kinetics; Myosins - antagonists & inhibitors; Myosins - chemistry; Myosins - physiology; Nitric Oxide - agonists; Nitric Oxide - antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide - physiology; Nitric Oxide Donors - pharmacology; NO-cGMP pathway; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Piperazines - pharmacology; Pliability - drug effects; Potassium Chloride - metabolism; Pregnancy; Protein Structure, Quaternary; Purines - pharmacology; Second Messenger Systems - drug effects; Sildenafil; Sildenafil Citrate; Sulfones - pharmacology; Term Birth
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.10.007

Abstract Introduction Human placental stem villi (PSV) present contractile properties. We studied the role of actin–myosin cross bridges (CBs) and the effects of NO-cGMP pathway modulators in the PSV contraction and relaxation. Methods In vitro contractile properties were investigated in 71 PSV from term human placentas studied according to their long axis. Contraction was induced by both KCl and electrical tetanic stimulation. Relaxation was induced by inhibiting the CB cycle with either 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) or blebbistatin (BLE) and by activating the NO-cGMP pathway with isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), sildenafil (SIL) or ISDN + SIL. Results PSV tension slowly increased by 140% of the basal tone after KCl exposure and by 85% after tetanus. The addition of BDM, BLE, ISDN, SIL and ISDN + SIL induced a relaxation of PSV, the overall time course of relaxation (in s) was respectively (means ± SD) 3412 ± 1904, 14,250 ± 3095*, 3813 ± 1383, 2883 ± 1188 and 2440 ± 477; significantly longer in BLE compared with BDM, ISDN, SIL and ISDN + SIL:*p < 0.001). the overall time course of relaxation (in s) was respectively (means ± SD) 3412 ± 1904, 14,250 ± 3095*, 3813 ± 1383, 2883 ± 1188 and 2440 ± 477; significantly longer in BLE compared with BDM, ISDN, SIL and ISDN + SIL:* p