{"id":{"repo_id":"unr","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11551"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unr/oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11551","repository":{"repo_id":"unr","name":"University of Nevada - Reno","base_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"TREK-1 confers differential effects on contractile dynamics in myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor","abstract":"Roughly 6-13% of reproductive age females (114-247 million) globally are affected by endometriosis, a life-altering condition with no cure causing extreme pain during periods, infertility, and even depression and anxiety. Ten percent of women undergo labor prematurely in the United States, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Both endometriosis and preterm labor are considered to be inflammation- related conditions potentially caused by hormonal and/ or immune dysregulation with a higher prevalence of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by circulating immune cells including B and T-cells. IL-6 has been found to increase oxytocin receptors in the myometrium, leading to an increase in contractility. It has been established that TREK-1, a potassium channel, plays a major role in quiescing the myometrium, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy. However, the effects of IL-6 and the role of TREK-1 in the fallopian tube have yet to be fully determined. We hypothesize that an increase in IL-6 leads to reduced contractile activity in the fallopian tube and increased contractility in the myometrium, which may contribute to endometriosis and preterm labor. IL-6 leads to a decrease in TREK-1 expression in the myometrium, leading to a decrease in the ability to remain in a relaxed state. TREK-1 expression is increased in the fallopian tube as a result of IL-6 presence, leading to its dilation, allowing for retrograde movement of menses material. Though not statistically significant, the organ bath results show a trend that mouse uterine horns incubated in the presence of IL-6 result in increased contractility compared to control. In both IL-6 and control uterine tissues, contractility showed a downward trend when dosed with the TREK-1 agonist ML335. It was determined that oviducts incubated in IL-6 had a decreased contractile response after washout compared to oviducts which were not exposed to IL-6, and both groups had a similar level of contractility relative to control when exposed to ML335. TREK-1 protein expression was found to be significantly increased in oviduct samples treated with IL-6. Based on these findings we have concluded TREK-1 portrays differential effects on contractile dynamics in the myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor which will be further investigated in the future.","abstract_html":"Roughly 6-13% of reproductive age females (114-247 million) globally are affected by endometriosis, a life-altering condition with no cure causing extreme pain during periods, infertility, and even depression and anxiety. Ten percent of women undergo labor prematurely in the United States, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Both endometriosis and preterm labor are considered to be inflammation- related conditions potentially caused by hormonal and/ or immune dysregulation with a higher prevalence of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by circulating immune cells including B and T-cells. IL-6 has been found to increase oxytocin receptors in the myometrium, leading to an increase in contractility. It has been established that TREK-1, a potassium channel, plays a major role in quiescing the myometrium, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy. However, the effects of IL-6 and the role of TREK-1 in the fallopian tube have yet to be fully determined. We hypothesize that an increase in IL-6 leads to reduced contractile activity in the fallopian tube and increased contractility in the myometrium, which may contribute to endometriosis and preterm labor. IL-6 leads to a decrease in TREK-1 expression in the myometrium, leading to a decrease in the ability to remain in a relaxed state. TREK-1 expression is increased in the fallopian tube as a result of IL-6 presence, leading to its dilation, allowing for retrograde movement of menses material. Though not statistically significant, the organ bath results show a trend that mouse uterine horns incubated in the presence of IL-6 result in increased contractility compared to control. In both IL-6 and control uterine tissues, contractility showed a downward trend when dosed with the TREK-1 agonist ML335. It was determined that oviducts incubated in IL-6 had a decreased contractile response after washout compared to oviducts which were not exposed to IL-6, and both groups had a similar level of contractility relative to control when exposed to ML335. TREK-1 protein expression was found to be significantly increased in oviduct samples treated with IL-6. Based on these findings we have concluded TREK-1 portrays differential effects on contractile dynamics in the myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor which will be further investigated in the future.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ramirez, Mairani Vanessa"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":"Master's Degree","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Barnett, Scott D","Buxton, Iain L. O."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Etezadi-Amoli, Neda"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025","date_published":"2025","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:47:36Z","subjects":["Endometriosis","Fallopian tube","Preterm Labor","Reproductive health","TREK-1","Uterus"],"languages":["en_US","English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11551","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Barnett, Scott D","Buxton, Iain L. 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Ten percent of women undergo labor prematurely in the United States, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Both endometriosis and preterm labor are considered to be inflammation- related conditions potentially caused by hormonal and/ or immune dysregulation with a higher prevalence of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by circulating immune cells including B and T-cells. IL-6 has been found to increase oxytocin receptors in the myometrium, leading to an increase in contractility. It has been established that TREK-1, a potassium channel, plays a major role in quiescing the myometrium, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy. However, the effects of IL-6 and the role of TREK-1 in the fallopian tube have yet to be fully determined. We hypothesize that an increase in IL-6 leads to reduced contractile activity in the fallopian tube and increased contractility in the myometrium, which may contribute to endometriosis and preterm labor. IL-6 leads to a decrease in TREK-1 expression in the myometrium, leading to a decrease in the ability to remain in a relaxed state. TREK-1 expression is increased in the fallopian tube as a result of IL-6 presence, leading to its dilation, allowing for retrograde movement of menses material. Though not statistically significant, the organ bath results show a trend that mouse uterine horns incubated in the presence of IL-6 result in increased contractility compared to control. In both IL-6 and control uterine tissues, contractility showed a downward trend when dosed with the TREK-1 agonist ML335. It was determined that oviducts incubated in IL-6 had a decreased contractile response after washout compared to oviducts which were not exposed to IL-6, and both groups had a similar level of contractility relative to control when exposed to ML335. TREK-1 protein expression was found to be significantly increased in oviduct samples treated with IL-6. Based on these findings we have concluded TREK-1 portrays differential effects on contractile dynamics in the myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor which will be further investigated in the future."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["PDF"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["TREK-1 confers differential effects on contractile dynamics in myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Barnett, Scott D","Buxton, Iain L. O."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Etezadi-Amoli, Neda"],"dc:creator":["Ramirez, Mairani Vanessa"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-09-08T18:38:08Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-09-08T18:38:08Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025"],"dc:description.abstract":["Roughly 6-13% of reproductive age females (114-247 million) globally are affected by endometriosis, a life-altering condition with no cure causing extreme pain during periods, infertility, and even depression and anxiety. Ten percent of women undergo labor prematurely in the United States, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Both endometriosis and preterm labor are considered to be inflammation- related conditions potentially caused by hormonal and/ or immune dysregulation with a higher prevalence of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by circulating immune cells including B and T-cells. IL-6 has been found to increase oxytocin receptors in the myometrium, leading to an increase in contractility. It has been established that TREK-1, a potassium channel, plays a major role in quiescing the myometrium, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy. However, the effects of IL-6 and the role of TREK-1 in the fallopian tube have yet to be fully determined. We hypothesize that an increase in IL-6 leads to reduced contractile activity in the fallopian tube and increased contractility in the myometrium, which may contribute to endometriosis and preterm labor. IL-6 leads to a decrease in TREK-1 expression in the myometrium, leading to a decrease in the ability to remain in a relaxed state. TREK-1 expression is increased in the fallopian tube as a result of IL-6 presence, leading to its dilation, allowing for retrograde movement of menses material. Though not statistically significant, the organ bath results show a trend that mouse uterine horns incubated in the presence of IL-6 result in increased contractility compared to control. In both IL-6 and control uterine tissues, contractility showed a downward trend when dosed with the TREK-1 agonist ML335. It was determined that oviducts incubated in IL-6 had a decreased contractile response after washout compared to oviducts which were not exposed to IL-6, and both groups had a similar level of contractility relative to control when exposed to ML335. TREK-1 protein expression was found to be significantly increased in oviduct samples treated with IL-6. Based on these findings we have concluded TREK-1 portrays differential effects on contractile dynamics in the myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor which will be further investigated in the future."],"dc:format":["PDF"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11551"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:subject":["Endometriosis","Fallopian tube","Preterm Labor","Reproductive health","TREK-1","Uterus"],"dc:title":["TREK-1 confers differential effects on contractile dynamics in myometrium and the oviduct, indicating a unique role in endometriosis and labor"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's Degree"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:47:36Z"}