Phosphorylation of spinal signaling-regulated kinases by acute uterine cervical distension in rats

L Z Wang, X. Liu, W X Wu, Wanxin Wu, R K Chai, Xiang-Yu ChANG, X Y Chang
International journal of obstetric anesthesia · 2009 · vol. 19(1) , pp. 50–55 · doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2009.04.006 · PMID:19945266 · W2097920150
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Acute uterine cervical distension in rats activates spinal signaling-regulated kinases, suggesting their involvement in the physiological response to cervical stimulation.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spinal extracellular signaling-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2) have been found to contribute to nociceptive processing, but the role of spinal ERK 1/2 in visceral pain related to the uterine cervix, the source of pain during the first stage of labor, is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate ERK activation (phosphorylation) in spinal dorsal horn neurons after acute uterine cervical distension. METHODS: Under intraperitoneal anesthesia using chloral hydrate 300 mg/kg, female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a 10-s uterine cervical distension of 25, 50, 75, and 100g or no distension (sham). The electromyographic response in the rectus abdominis muscle and mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate changes to uterine cervical distension were determined. The numbers of phosphorylated-ERK 1/2- immunoreactive (pERK 1/2-IR) dorsal horn neurons in cervical (C5-8), thoracic (T5-8), thoracolumbar (T12-L2) and lumbosacral (L(6)-S(1)) segments were counted using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the non-distended sham rats, uterine cervical distension resulted in a stimulus-dependent increase in electromyographic activity and the number of pERK-IR neurons that selectively located to the thoracolumbar segment, mostly in the deep dorsal and the central canal regions. The time course study demonstrated that spinal ERK activation peaked at 60 min with a slow decline for 120 min after uterine cervical distension stimulation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that activation of spinal ERK might be involved in acute visceral pain arising from the uterine cervix.

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MeSH descriptors

Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases Uterus Uterus Animals Dilatation Electromyography Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases Female Hemodynamics Hemodynamics Immunohistochemistry Kinetics Muscle, Smooth, Vascular Muscle, Smooth, Vascular Neurons Neurons Neurons Phosphorylation Physical Stimulation Rats

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