TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes of large molecular weight hyaluronan and versican in the mouse pubic symphysis through pregnancy
AU - Rosa, Renata Giardini
AU - Akgul, Yucel
AU - Joazeiro, Paulo Pinto
AU - Mahendroo, Mala
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - During pregnancy, the mouse pubic symphysis undergoes expansion and remodeling resulting in formation of a flexible and elastic interpubic ligament allowing passage of a term fetus. In the current study, we sought to identify and characterize components of the extracellular matrix that likely play an important role in elongation and flexibility of the interpubic ligament during parturition. Mouse pubic symphyses and interpubic ligaments collected at time points during pregnancy and postpartum were utilized to evaluate collagen type, collagen content, processing and solubility, matricellular protein, and proteoglycan expression and quantitative assessment of all glycosaminoglycans. These studies revealed increased gene expression for hyaluronan synthase 1, hyaluronan synthase 2, and versican on Gestation Day 18 as well as a decline in protein expression for the versican-degrading protease a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 (ADAMTS1) motif. These findings suggest that the primary mediators of increased elongation and flexibility of the interpubic ligament at term result from increased synthesis and reduced metabolism of viscoelasticity-promoting molecules such as high molecular weight hyaluronan and versican.
AB - During pregnancy, the mouse pubic symphysis undergoes expansion and remodeling resulting in formation of a flexible and elastic interpubic ligament allowing passage of a term fetus. In the current study, we sought to identify and characterize components of the extracellular matrix that likely play an important role in elongation and flexibility of the interpubic ligament during parturition. Mouse pubic symphyses and interpubic ligaments collected at time points during pregnancy and postpartum were utilized to evaluate collagen type, collagen content, processing and solubility, matricellular protein, and proteoglycan expression and quantitative assessment of all glycosaminoglycans. These studies revealed increased gene expression for hyaluronan synthase 1, hyaluronan synthase 2, and versican on Gestation Day 18 as well as a decline in protein expression for the versican-degrading protease a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 (ADAMTS1) motif. These findings suggest that the primary mediators of increased elongation and flexibility of the interpubic ligament at term result from increased synthesis and reduced metabolism of viscoelasticity-promoting molecules such as high molecular weight hyaluronan and versican.
KW - Collagen
KW - Extracellular matrix
KW - Hyaluronan
KW - Mouse
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Pubic symphysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858706761&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858706761&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1095/biolreprod.111.093229
DO - 10.1095/biolreprod.111.093229
M3 - Article
C2 - 22011392
AN - SCOPUS:84858706761
SN - 0006-3363
VL - 86
JO - Biology of reproduction
JF - Biology of reproduction
IS - 2
M1 - 44
ER -