Uterine smooth muscle cells are sensitive to the hormone oxytocin. When oxytocin
ID: 3477121 • Letter: U
Question
Uterine smooth muscle cells are sensitive to the hormone oxytocin. When oxytocin binds to its receptors on uterine cells, the cells produce second messengers that lead to diverse cell functions including contraction of uterine smooth muscle cells. During pregnancy, estrogen (a hormone made from cholesterol) levels continually rise, increasing production of oxytocin receptors on uterine cells. At the time of labor and birth, oxytocin is released in large amounts, causing uterine contractions to expel the baby out of the uterus. 1. (3 pts) For uterine smooth muscle cells, what cell structures/organelles would be the most important to the function of estrogen as described above? Name at least 3 structures/organelles and why they would be the most important in this contextExplanation / Answer
The cytoskeleton of the myometrium(uterine wall ) undergoes a substantial remodelling process that equips it with the machinery required to respond to contractile stimuli This response involves the rearrangement of of the cytoskeleton of the cells (rearrangement of the proteins that constitute the thin and thick filaments as well as those that make up the intermediate filaments) as well as electrical and mechanical coupling of all the cells to propogate contraction throughout the tissue
The cytoskeleton is composed of actin thin filaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. The latter two components link with dense bodies in the cytoplasm to dense bands on the plasma membrane to provide a cellular backboneto facilitate contraction.
Electrical communication between adjacent cells can be achieved through gap junctions present in the cell membrane which.couple adjacent cells chemically and electrically, facilitating the spread of chemicals (e.g., calcium) or action potentials between smooth muscle cells.
focal adhesions provides mechanical coupling of cells together such that contraction of one cell invokes some degree of contraction in an adjoining cell. providing a means for mechanotransduction.
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