Journal article
Effect of Supracervical Apposition and Spontaneous Labour on Apoptosis and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Fetal Membranes
Mahalia Chai, Susan P Walker, Clyde Riley, Gregory E Rice, Michael Permezel, Martha Lappas
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL | HINDAWI LTD | Published : 2013
DOI: 10.1155/2013/316146
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) are capable of hydrolysing components of the extracellular matrix and weakening the fetal membranes which leads to eventual rupture, a key process of human parturition. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supracervical apposition and spontaneous labour on apoptosis and MMP-9 in human fetal membranes at term. METHODS: Fetal membranes were obtained from term non-labouring supracervical site (SCS) and compared to (i) a paired distal site (DS) or (ii) site of rupture (SOR) after spontaneous labour onset. RESULTS: The expression of the proapoptotic markers Bax, Smac, Fas, FasL, caspase-3, and PARP, was significantly highe..
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Grants
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Clinical Research Midwives Gabrielle Fleming, Renee Grant and Astrid Tiefholz, and the Obstetric and Midwifery staff of the Mercy Hospital for Women (Heidelberg, Victoria) for their support and cooperation. Mahalia Chai was supported by a Felix Meyer Scholarship. Dr. Martha Lappas is supported by a Career Development Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Grant no. 1047025). The work described in this paper was funded in part by the Medical Research Foundation for Women and Babies, Melbourne Research Grant Scheme, and the Mercy Research Foundation. Funding for the Leica Qwin Image Analysis System was provided by the Medical Research Foundation for Women and Babies.