Figure 5.

Proposed maternal model of uterine-directed contractile regulation. Theoretical model based on the major gene-expression pattern groups for quiescence, term activation and postpartum involution (light gray box outline). Arrows next to gene processes and functional groups indicate the predominant direction of fold-change as indicated by HOPACH analysis. This model proposes new roles for transcriptional regulators, regulators of mRNA processing, local hormone regulation, protease activity and cell junction formation in the control of both contractile signaling and contraction propagation in the myometrium during pregnancy. A model of postpartum involution is also presented, based on additional data (see Additional data files 4-6).