The uterine muscle remains quiescent throughout pregnancy until parturition, when it must contract in a coordinated manner to effect delivery of the fetus.
Parturition is characterized by a relatively high complication rate for reasons poorly understood.
My laboratory is investigating whether environmental and occupational toxicants may interfere with uterine muscle functions and thereby present a risk for parturition. Using muscle bath contraction systems and myometrial smooth muscle cell cultures, we are examining hypotheses whereby toxicants may modify uterine cell and tissue functions that are critical for labor.