Autophagy and human parturition: evaluation of LC3 expression in placenta from spontaneous or medically induced onset of labor

Biomed Res Int. 2013:2013:689768. doi: 10.1155/2013/689768. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

Abstract

Induction of labor is one of the most used procedures in obstetrics, performed to achieve vaginal delivery through cervical ripening and stimulation of uterine contractions. We investigated the impact of induction of labor upon placental autophagy, a catabolic pathway activated in response to alteration of the physiological intracellular conditions. We collected 28 singleton placentas at the time of uncomplicated term vaginal delivery (7 spontaneous onset of labor, 21 induced labor). Autophagy was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting. No significant difference in the autophagy expression was found between spontaneous or induced onset of labor. We found an inverse relationship between autophagy expression and the maternal prepregnancy body mass index, irrespective of the mode of labor onset. This result could be related to the nutritional maternal habits before and throughout pregnancy rather than rapid metabolic changes during labor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy / genetics*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Labor, Induced*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Parturition / genetics
  • Parturition / metabolism*
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • MAP1LC3A protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone