• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 2008

Mast cells containing a variety of mediators in their cytoplasmic granules are widely distributed in connective tissues and mucosal surfaces of skin, airways, and guts. Within these tissues, mast cells are involved in the pathophysiological conditions such as inflammation, self-defense, tissue-remodeling, and autoimmunity. In order to understand the functional roles of master cells in the uterus, we histologically examined the distribution and density of uterine mast cells in the different aged mice. Until 6 weeks mast cells were sparsely detected in the uterus. But at 7 weeks after birth, when estrous cycle begins, the number of mast cells within uterine tissues increased dramatically and the increment of mast cell density continued up to 32 weeks-age. After then, uterine glandular tissue degenerated gradually and density of uterine mast cell decreased. Uterine mast cells were mainly found in the myometrium and they were closely associated with smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and collagens, which contents were changed according to the uterine development in the myometrium. These results suggest that uterine mast cells could be involved in myometrial contractions mediated by smooth muscle cells and tissue reconstitution or remodeling during estrous cycle and parturition including the various immunological functions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 1984

The effects of external $Ca^{2+}$ ana the inhibition of Na-pump on vanadate-induced contraction in isolated human and rat uterine smooth muscle were studied and the following results were observed. 1) Vanadate induced contraction in rat uterine muscle and showed maximal contraction at concentration of $5{\times}10^{-4}$M, and the contractile response to vanadate was more sensitive in human than rat uterine muscle. 2) Vanadate-induced contraction was not completely inhibited by $Ca^{2+}$ removal from PSS and the response to $Ca^{2+}$ removal was more sensitive in human than rat uterine muscle. 3) Vanadate-induced contraction decreased with increasing concentration of verapamil, but even in the presence of $3{\times}10^{-5}M$ verapamil which inhibited 100 K-induced contraction completely. about 40% of maximal contraction remained, and its amplitude was similar to that of contraction in $Ca^{2+}$-free solution. 4) Vanadate-induced contraction was increased by the inhibition of Na-pump and this increase also could be observed in the presence of $3{\times}10^{-5}M$ verapamil. 5) After pretreatment with $Ca^{2+}$-free PSS containing ouabain Vanadate-induced contraction was not increased, but the contractile response of these tissues to the addition of external $Ca^{2+}$ was remarkably increased in the presence of vanadate. 6) $3{\times}10^{-5}$M verapamil inhibited vanadate-induced $Ca^{45}$ influx completely, but after pretreatment with ouabain vanadate could induce remarkable $Ca^{45}$ influx even in the presence of verapmil. 7) With increasing the time of pretreatment with ouabain or $K^+$-free solution, the degree of increase in contraction by vanadate was more remarkable. 8) $10^{-4}M$ papaverine stowed a considerable inhibition of the increase in the vanadate-induced contraction by pretreatment with ouabain. 9) Acetylcholine-induced contraction increased with lengthening the duration of Na-pump inhibition even in the presence of verapamil. Considering above results it seems that the uterine muscle of human is more sensitive to vanadate than that of rat, and both internal and external $Ca^{2+}$ is utilized in vanadate·induced contraction. In the case of Na-pump inhibition several smooth muscle contracting agents seems to induce $Ca^{2+}$ influx which is not inhibited by verapamil. This $Ca^{2+}$ influx seems to be inhibited by papaverine and to be associated with membrane potential, although its precise characteristics is not certain.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.25-42
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• 2007

Purpose : Uterine leiomyoma (fibroids) are benign smooth muscle tumors originating from the myometrium. These benign neoplasms of monoclonal origin are typically diagnosed during the reproductive years, occurring only after puberty and tending to regress after menopause. In the present study we used Chiljehyangbu-hwan to determine its growth inhibitory effect and apoptosis in human uterine leiomyoma cells. Methods : Primary cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells were treated with Chiljehyangbu-hwan. Cell viability analysis was analyzed by MTS assay and FACS was performed to ascertain the effects Chiljehyangbu-hwan. DNA fragmentation analysis and casapase-3 activity test were done. Expression of apoptosis related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : Cell viability was significantly influenced by Chiljehyangbu-hwan treatment in a dose-dependent manner in leiomyoma cells compare to normal myometrial cells. FACS showed that Chiljehyangbu-hwan induced Sub G1 arrest. DNA fragmentation assay was carried out and apoptosis was detected. Activation of caspase-3, down-regulation of Bcl-2, with concomitant increased expression in Bid and Bax were observed. Chiljehyangbu-hwan treatment of uterine leiomyoma cells resulted in a concentration-dependent cell death induced via the mitochondrial pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.693-698
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• 2022

Angioleiomyoma (vascular leiomyoma) of the uterine cervix is an extremely rare type of benign tumor composed of smooth muscle cells and thick-walled blood vessels. Only a few cases of cervical angioleiomyoma have been reported. Here, we present imaging, including ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced CT, MRI, and histopathological findings of a 38-year-old female with an angioleiomyoma of the uterine cervix.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2020

A 5-year-old female lion-head rabbit weighing 2 kg was brought to a local animal hospital with hematuria. Radiography showed a mass in the uterus, which was removed by ovariohysterectomy. Macroscopic examination showed several masses in both uterine horns. These masses, which invaded the deep uterine walls, were firm to the touch, and their cut surfaces were greyish-white in color. Histopathologically, these masses were nonencapsulated and were composed of spindle cells arranged in cellular, large interlacing bundles or streams. The tumor cells had elongate nuclei with prominent nucleoli, granular chromatin and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were observed. Severe and extensive inflammation and necrosis were present within the masses. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, desmin, and α-smooth muscle actin, but negative for cytokeratin. These uterine masses were diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a uterine leiomyosarcoma in the rabbit in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.191-203
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• 1994

$K^+$ channel openers (KCOs) are known to have a wide range of effects by opening the $K^+$ channel in plasma membranes of various smooth muscles, cardiac muscle and pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 5 types of KCOs, cromakalim, RP49356, pinacidil, nicorandil and diazoxide on the contractility of isolated rat uterus. All KCOs tested inhibited the uterine contraction induced by 0.2 nM oxytocin in a dose-dependent manner. Individual KCO and its $pD_2$ values were cromakalim 6.5, RP49356 6.3, pinacidil 5.92, nicorandil 4.43 and diazoxide 4.18. The relaxant effects of KCO were inhibited by glibenclamide (0.3, 1 and $10\;{\mu}M$) with $pA_2$ values of cromakalim 6.91, RP49356 6.59, pinacidil 6.55, nicorandil 5.97 and diazoxide 6.37. In addition, the relaxant effect of cromakalim or pinacidil was antagonised by TEA, a non-selective $K^+$ channel blocker, but not by apamin. Contractions induced by low concentration of KCI (< 40 mM) were inhibited by cromakalim $(100{\mu}M)$ and nicorandil $(300{\mu}M)$, but those evoked by higher concentration (> 40 mM) of KCI were little affected. In ovariectomized rat uterus, cromakalim dose-dependently inhibited oxytocin-induced contraction and glibenclamide $(10{\mu}M)$ inhibited the relaxant effect of cromakalim with $pD_2$ and $K_B$ values of 7.48 and $1.26{\times}10^{-7}M$, respectively. In estrogen-primed rat uterus, these values were 6.51 and $1.57{\times}10^{-7}M$, respectively, indicating that the cromakalim is less effective on the estrogen-treated uterine smooth muscle. Our results suggest that the KCO-sensitive $K^+$ channels participate in the motility of uterine smooth muscle and such channels are, at least in part, under the control of estrogen. In addition, our data Indicate that the type of $K^+$ channels activated by KCO is ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels which is blocked by glibenclamide.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.442-454
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of silver spike point (SSP) low frequency electrical stimulation on plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) activities measured by radioimmunoassay from volunteer and the effects of VIP on pain substance-induced contraction investigated by isometric tension methode in animal. The current of 3 Hz continue type, but not 100 Hz continue type, of SSP low frequency electrical stimulation significantly increased in plasma VIP from normal volunteer. The pain substance, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$, increased vascular smooth muscle contraction, respectively. These responses were inhibited by VIP applied cumulatively (1 nM - $1\;{\mu}M$), but not serotonin-induced contraction. In addition, serotonin, and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$ induced uterine smooth muscle contraction from rat. However, these responses were inhibited by VIP ($1\;{\mu}M$), only serotonin-induced contraction. These results suggest that the VIP regulates pain substance in part and that the SSP low frequency electrical stimulation, specifically current of 3 Hz continue type, significantly increases plasma VIP from volunteer.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2005

Purpose : 귀전우(Euonymus alatus, EA)는 현재까지 항종양활성을 나타낸다고 보고되었지만 그 작용 메커니즘에 대해서는 아직 밝혀지지 않은 채 남아 있다. 본 연구에서는, 자궁근종세포(ULSMC)에서 EA의 분자적 수준에서의 작용메커니즘을 연구${\cdot}$검토하고자 하였다. Methods : EA의 열수추출액이 자궁근종세포(ULSMC)와 caspase-3 pretense의 활성도에 미치는 영향을 측정하였다. Results : 우리는 자궁근종에서 EA 유도 세포독성의 메커니즘을 검토하였는바, 근종 세포들은 20-200g/ml 농도의 EA추출물에 6시간 배양될 때, caspase-3가 활성화되고, 그때 세포들은 apoptosis를 유발하게 되었다. EA에 의한 apoptosis의 유도가 진행되었으며, cytochrome- c의 세포질분획에서 양적증가가 caspase-3의 활성보다도 우세하였다. GSH합성의 저해제인 5mM buthionine용액에 전처리는 EA유도 apoptosis를 용이하게 하지만 pan-caspase inhibitor인 Z-VAD-fmk용액 전 처리는 부분적으로 apoptosis유도를 억제하였다. 한편, EA는 건강한 지원자들로 부터 채취한 말초혈액 단핵세포들에 있어서는 독성의 효과는 없었다. Conclusion : 이들 결과들은 EA가 prooxidant로 작용을 하고 그리고 caspase-3 activation과 mitochondrial pathway를 경유하는 apoptosis를 유발한다는 것을 나타낸다. EA의 탕제약제로서 열수추출액이 항산화활성뿐만 아니라, 종양세포에 대한 세포독성효과를 나타낸다고 보고된 바, 이에 향후 근종치료에 대한 임상연구가 필요할 것으로 보인다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1984

The effects of $Ca^{++}$ and its antagonists (verapamil and $La^{+++}$) upon the spontaneous contraction and the contracture induced by 60 mM K-Tyrode solution were studied in the isolated uterine muscle. Longitudinal muscle strips were prepared from the rat uteri at estrous stage. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at 35^{\circ}$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the uterine strips contracting spontaneously, both the amplitude of peak tension and the area of contraction curve increased dose-dependently in the range of $0.5${\sim}8$ mM $Ca^{++}$. The frequency of contraction increased as the concentration of $Ca^{++}$ increased up to 2 mM, but above this concentration the frequency decreased. In $Ca^{++}-free$ media, however, contraction did not develop. In the contracture induced by 60 mM K-Tyrode solution, the developed tension increased dose-dependently as the concentration of external $Ca^{++}$ increased to 8 mM. In the absence of external $Ca^{++}$ K-contracture appeared, but it was not sustained. 2) The spontaneous contraction of rat uterus was suppressed by verapamil in proportion to an increase of its concentration and totally abolished at the concentration of $3{\times}10^{-4}\;g/l$, but the spontaneous contraction re-appeared by addition of $Ca^{++}$. The amplitude of peak tension recovered completely but the recovery of frequency was incomplete. K-contracture decreased in a dose-dependent manner after the treatment with verapamil and totally disappeared at its concentration of $3{\times}10^{-4}\;g/l$. Even in this case contracture developed again by extra $Ca^{++}$. 3) The spontaneous contractile activity was inhibited by $La^{+++}$. At the concentration of $10^{-4}$M $La^{+++}$, fibrillation appeared. In the strip inhibited by $10^{-5}M\;La^{+++}$, contractility recovered completely by extra $Ca^{++}$ while in the $10^{-4}M\;La^{+++}$ treated preparation, the rhythmic spontaneous contraction did not develop even at the concentration of 16 mM $Ca^{++}$. After the initial transient depression of contracture tension by $10^{-3}M$ of $La^{+++}$, the strip stowed considerably large size of contracture, hardly influenced by external $Ca^{++}$ or verapamil. The results obtained in this experiment suggest that in the rat uterine muscle there would be some competitive actions between $Ca^{++}$ and its antagonists. It is speculated that $Ca^{++}$ plays an important role in the conduction of excitation, and $La^{+++}$ influences upon cellular $Ca^{++}$ mobilization and re-uptake process as well as transmembrane $Ca^{++}$ transport in a K-depolarized state.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.659-662
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• 2007

Purpose: Multiple skin leiomyoma and uterine myoma bearing autosomal dominant traits are benign smooth muscle tumors which originate in skin or female uterus. Skin leiomyoma occurs after gene mutation originating from arrector pili muscle of hair follicle where its clinical manifestations vary significantly from person to person. Our department hereby reports the histological findings and genetic evaluations of this very rare disease. Methods: A 57-year-old woman presented in our institute with multiple tumors in the left and central parts of her back that started to appear since 19 years ago. The patient was diagnosed as having uterine myoma 15 years ago and underwent hysterectomy. Biopsy has been done on the specimen, and genomic DNA was separated from Fumarate hydratase gene for it to go through PCR amplification. The results of PCR amplification were aligned by sequencer. Results: According to the results of biopsy, tumor cells were spindle-shaped and were aligned in a bundle where there was no dysplasia or mitosis. Moreover, these cells had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with elongated nucleus, and benign leiomyoma that showed positive reactions to SMA stain were found. In genetic examination, mutations such as heterozygous single nucleotide substitutions were found in alignments of amplified DNA. Conclusion: Multiple skin leiomyoma and uterine myoma are relatively uncommon diseases that are transmitted through autosomally dominant traits from genetic mutations. When a patient's chief complaint lies upon skin-colored or brown masses that occur in multiples appearing in the trunk or extremities with characteristic clinical symptoms and histological findings, and when the patient's family history is acknowledged such as skin or uterine leiomyoma or renal tumor, necessary genetic examination on multiple skin leiomyoma and uterine myoma could be done, and thereby precise diagnosis could also be made.