Figure 4.

Prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) activates phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal receptor kinase (ERK1/2), P38 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Human uterine smooth muscle cells (HUSMCs) from lower segment (LS) were treated with PGF_2α (10⁻⁶ M) for the indicated time. The levels of (A) phospho-PI3K, (B) phospho- ERK1/2, (C) phospho-P38 and (D) phospho-p65 were determined by western blotting. Representative blots are presented at the top of corresponding diagram. Values are presented as mean ± SEM. n = 4 (from four patients). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared with vehicle control.