A Study On The Change Of Phosphorylation Of Connexin 43 (Cx43) In Uterus Smooth Muscle And Its Relationship With Onset Of Labor Of Mouse

Objective To explore the relationship between the change of phosphorylation of Connexin 43 (Cx43) with onset of labor of mouse.Methods Pregnant mice were intubated with ethanol to induce preterm birth.Western-Blot method was used to evaluate the expression of Cx43 and phosphorylated Cx43 (p-Cx43).protein in uterus smooth muscle of mice in preterm labor with labor, in term pregnancy with labor and in term pregnancy without labor(there were 7 samples in each group). The distribution of Cx43 and p-Cx43 was observed by immunofluorescence.Results1. Western-Blot result indicated thatâ‘ the expression of Cx43 protein in uterus smooth muscle samples of mice in preterm labor with labor and in term pregnancy with labor were significantly higher than in term pregnancy without labor (P<0.05), but no difference was found between preterm labor with labor and term pregnancy with labor, P>0.05â‘¡the expression of p-Cx43 protein in uterus smooth muscle samples of mice in preterm labor with labor and in term pregnancy with labor were significantly higher than in term pregnancy without labor (P<0.05), but no difference was found between preterm labor with labor and term pregnancy with labor, P>0.05â‘¢Compared in term pregnancy without labor, the increment of p-Cx43 in preterm labor with labor and in term pregnancy with labor was consistent with Cx43.2. Immunofluorescence study showed that Cx43 and p-Cx43 of term pregnancy without labor nearly can not see on cytomembrane,but can see a little on cytoplasm; while Cx43 and p-Cx43 both in preterm labor with labor and in term pregnancy with labor increased obviously on cytomembrane and cytoplasm.ConclusionThe increment of p-Cx43 in uterus smooth muscle is closely correlated to the onset of labor of mouse.