PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The uterus provides protection and nourishment (via its blood supply) to a developing fetus, and contracts to deliver the baby at an appropriate time, thereby having a critical contribution to the life of every human. However, despite this vital role, it is an under-investigated organ, and gaps remain in our understanding of how contractions are initiated or coordinated. The uterus is a smooth muscle organ that undergoes variations in its contractile function in response to hormonal fluctuations, the extreme instance of this being during pregnancy and labor. Researchers typically use various approaches to studying this organ, such as experiments on uterine muscle cells, tissue samples, or the intact organ, or the employment of mathematical models to simulate the electrical, mechanical and ionic activity. The complexity exhibited in the coordinated contractions of the uterus remains a challenge to understand, requiring coordinated solutions from different research fields. This review investigates differences in the underlying physiology between human and common animal models utilized in experiments, and the experimental interventions and computational models used to assess uterine function. We look to a future of hybrid experimental interventions and modeling techniques that could be employed to improve the understanding of the mechanisms enabling the healthy function of the uterus.
摘要：
子宫为发育中的胎儿提供保护和营养（通过其血液供应），并在适当的时间接生婴儿，从而对每个人的生活都有重要贡献。然而,尽管这个重要的角色,这是一个调查不足的器官，我们对收缩是如何开始或协调的理解仍然存在差距。子宫是一个平滑肌器官，它的收缩功能会随着荷尔蒙的波动而发生变化，这种情况的极端例子是在怀孕和分娩期间。研究人员通常使用各种方法来研究这个器官，比如子宫肌细胞实验，组织样本,或者完整的器官，或者使用数学模型来模拟电气，机械和离子活动。子宫协调收缩的复杂性仍然是一个挑战，需要来自不同研究领域的协调解决方案。这篇综述调查了实验中使用的人类和常见动物模型之间的潜在生理学差异，以及用于评估子宫功能的实验干预措施和计算模型。我们展望了混合实验干预和建模技术的未来，这些技术可用于提高对子宫健康功能机制的理解。
