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Regulation Of Alpha-1-Adrenoceptor-Mediated Contractions Of The Uterine Artery By Pkc, Hongying Zhang May 2007

Regulation Of Alpha-1-Adrenoceptor-Mediated Contractions Of The Uterine Artery By Pkc, Hongying Zhang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Pregnancy is associated with a significant decrease in uterine vascular tone and a striking increase in uterine blood flow, which ensures normal fetal development. Multiple mechanisms are involved in the adaptation of uterine artery contractility during pregnancy. Both protein kinase C (PKC) and activation of ai-adrenoceptors play important roles in the regulation of uterine artery contractility. In addition, PKC mediates the pregnancyassociated decrease in myogenic tone of the uterine artery, and interacts with ajadrenoceptors leading to modulation of ai-adrenoceptor-mediated contractions of vascular smooth muscle. Yet, whether or to what extent PKC regulates ai-adrenoceptormediated contractions of the uterine artery and their …


Obesity As A Risk Factor For Preeclampsia: Role Of Inflammation And The Innate Immune System, Tanvi Jayendra Shah Jan 2007

Obesity As A Risk Factor For Preeclampsia: Role Of Inflammation And The Innate Immune System, Tanvi Jayendra Shah

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a known risk factor for preeclampsia, but the reason for this risk is unknown. We sought to demonstrate how obese individuals are predisposed to preeclampsia by mechanisms involving inflammation and the innate immune system. First, we used immunohistochemical studies to identify neutrophil infiltration, NF-κB activation and COX-2 expression in vascular tissue of obese women. We then demonstrated similar neutrophil infiltration and vascular inflammation in preeclamptic women.We used in vitro experiments to test if neutrophils and their products, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) can activate NF-κB and cause expression of its inflammatory products, COX-2, thromboxane …