Search

 

MediaCNRS News Briefs

Paris, March 12, 2007

Obese women have difficulty giving birth

Women who are overweight or obese sometimes have difficulty in going into labor or continuing labor once it has started. Over and above the secondary complications related to obesity (diabetes, vascular problems, high blood pressure, preeclampsia), a team from the Laboratoire de génétique des eucaryotes, endocrinologie moléculaire (Eukaryotic Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Endocrinology, CNRS) has shown that a decrease in the sensitivity to the hormone oxytocin could be responsible for this difficulty in triggering contractions correctly. At present, the molecular mechanisms involved are unknown.

In order to understand the role of lipids in uterine muscle function, a study was carried out on transgenic mice lacking the nuclear receptor(1) LXRβ. The team was able to show increased accumulation of lipids in the uterine myocytes(2) of these females. This decreases the sensitivity of the uterus to hormone stimulation and inhibits expulsion of the fetus. These females lacking LXRβ are the first mouse model displaying abnormal uterine contractions. This should soon help understanding of how a dietary imbalance (lipid-rich diet) can interfere with human pregnancy. The team will research into the identification of new target genes, and the use of specific receptor ligands to decrease the quantity of lipids in the myometrium, (the muscle fibers of the uterine wall).

This research is published on the front page of the Journal of Biological Chemistry of 16th February 2007.

Notes :

1) Protein present in the cell nucleus which has a hormone binding site

2) Muscle cells responsible for the contractions

Références :

Oxysterol nuclear receptor LXRbeta regulates cholesterol homeostasis and contractile function in mouse uterus, K. Mouzat, M. Prod'Homme, D. H. Volle, B. Sion, P. Dechelotte, K. Gauthier, J-M. Vanacker, and J-M. A. Lobaccaro, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 16th February 2007, 282(7):4693-701.
View web site

Contacts :

Chercheur
Jean-Marc Lobaccaro
T. 04 73 40 74 16
j-marc.lobaccaro@univ-bpclermont.fr

Presse
Cécile Pérol
T. 01 44 96 43 09
cecile.perol@cnrs-dir.fr

Top

Latest press releases

All disciplines

Back to homepageContactcredits