blanksResearch summary

My work focuses on the mechanisms of reproduction in mammals. In particular I am interested in how the uterine muscle develops and changes during gestation such that it can expel a healthy fetus at the right time.
My work can be divided into three areas:
1) Fundamental understanding of the electrical signals produced by cells utilizing a combination of experimentation, computation and mathematical modeling
2) Understanding the mechanisms of diseases associated with dysfunction of labour in humans, such as when babies are born too early and when the uterus fails to contract properly
3) Discovering new drugs to treat these diseases and helping to develop new therapies in partnership with pharmaceutical companies.

 

 

  1. research
  2. people
  3. alumni
  4. collaborators
  5. software
  6. funders
  7. publications

pacemakerMapping the uterine pacemaker

In collaboration with Wim Lammers we identify and reconstruct uterine pacemaker regions at the myometrial placental interface.

 

Lutton E.J., Lammers W.J.E.P., James S., van den Berg H.A., Blanks A.M. (2017)
Identification of uterine pacemaker regions at the myometrial-placental interface.
bioRxiv
[link]

 

uterusReconstructing the uterus

We develop new software to reconstruct the 3-dimensional anatomy of the human and rat uterus from H&E sections making it possible to examine archived pathology material at unprecedented resolution.

 

Lutton E.J., Lammers W.J.E.P., James S., van den Berg H.A., Blanks A.M. (2017)
A computational method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the microarchitecture of myometrial smooth muscle from histological sections.
PLoS One.
[link]

 

redundancyExploring the action potential

Using computational analysis we reconstruct the uterine action potential from a combination of transcriptomic, electrophysiological and calcium imaging data. Based on accurate recording of individual ion channel behaviour this novel approach affords quantitative interrogation of complex biological phenomena such a redundancy in a non-linear dynamical system.

 

 

Atia J., McCloskey C., Shmygol A., Rand D.A., van den Berg H., Blanks A.M. (2016)
Reconstruction of cell surface densities of ion pumps, exchangers, and channels from mRNA expression, conductance kinetics, whole-cell calcium, and current-clamp voltage recordings, with an application to human uterine smooth muscle cells.
PLoS Computational Biology.
[link]

 

highthroughputDesigning new drugs

In collaboration with MRC-technologies and Essen Bioscience we develop a new highthroughput assay to test novel inhibitors of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir7.1.

 

Wright P.D., Kanumilli S., Tickle D., Cartland J., Bouloc N., Dale T., Tresize D.J., McCloskey C., McCavera S., Blanks A.M., Kettleborough C., Jerman J.C. (2015)
A High-Throughput Electrophysiology Assay Identifies Inhibitors of the Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel Kir7.1.
J Biomol Screen.
[link]

 

kir7.1Finding new drug targets

We identify Kir7.1 as a key regulator of myometrial resting membrane potential in mid gestation.

 

McCloskey C., Rada C., Bailey E., McCavera S., van den Berg H.A., Atia J., Rand D.A., Shmygol A., Chan Y.W., Quenby S., Brosens J.J., Vatish M., Zhang J., Denton J.S., Taggart M.J., Kettleborough C., Tickle D., Jerman J., Wright P., Dale T., Kanumilli S., Trezise D.J., Thornton S., Brown P., Catalano R., Lin N., England S.K., Blanks A.M. (2015)
The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy.
EMBO Mol Med.
[link]

 

cx45Modelling the effect of different gap junction isoforms on a network model of myometrium

We demonstrate the biophysics of CX45 are ideally suited to modulate uterine excitibility and the transition from quiescence to labour.

 

Sheldon R.E., Mashayamombe C., Shi S.Q., Garfield R.E., Shmygol A., Blanks A.M., van den Berg H.A. (2014)
Alterations in gap junction connexin43/connexin45 ratio mediate a transition from quiescence to excitation in a mathematical model of the myometrium.
J R Soc Interface.
[link]

 

CXSolving the uterine capacitance problem

At term the uterus consists of billions of highly connected myocytes. How does it become excitable? We demonstrate that spatial heterogeneity of gap junctions in a coupled lattice model of myometrium can explain the existence of pacemaker cells that can excite the whole network.

 

Sheldon R.E., Baghdadi M., McCloskey C., Blanks A.M., Shmygol A., van den Berg H.A. (2014)
Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium.
J R Soc Interface.
[link]

 

>> see all primary publications here

 

AndyAndrew Blanks | PI

I am a former Research Councils United Kingdom fellow and currently Associate Professor in Reproductive Medicine at Warwick Medical School. I began my Glaxo-Wellcome Prize PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge before completing my studies on oxytocin in pregnancy at the University of Warwick. In subsequent years and in parallel to my interests in mammalian parturition, I became interested in the function of cellular heterogeneity in complex tissues and the correlation of physiological data with molecular biology with particular consideration given to levels of biological organisation. This led to a period of study in the lab of Prof. David Spanswick, developing mRNA amplification methods after electrophysiological experimentation in single cells. Since then, I have been assembling a computational model of the pregnant human uterus and rodent uterus based on accurate biophysical, molecular and anatomical parameters. From these studies we aim to identify novel treatments to target manipulation of uterine contractility in both preterm and dysfunctional labour. I am or have been a scientific consultant for GlaxoSmithKline, Pieris and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

 

lab members & projects

JosiahE Josiah Lutton | PhD Student | funded by Medical Research Council

I am developing software for the analysis of sequential histological sections to render the anatomical features of archived tissues in 3 dimensions. I have also correlated these anatomical data sets with realtime analysis from multielectrode arrays to triangulate the origin of the uterine pacemaker potentials in the rat

 

ayanAyan Daud Dirir | PhD Student | funded by Grace Research Fund

I am investigating the role of the phosphoinositide binding protein phospholipase C-like 1 (PLCL1) in the modulation of uterine agonist signalling.

 

joeJoseph Dunford | Masters Student | funded by Medical Research Council

I am investigating the role of the calcium activated chloride channel anoctamin-1 in coupling sarcoplasmic calcium release to membrane depolarisation in myometrial smooth muscle. In my project I am implementing a new markov model of ANO1 into the lab single cell action potential model.

 

paulPaul Brighton | postdoctoral research fellow | 2012-2016

I am a pharmacologist. I did my PhD at the University of Leicester working on the pharmacology of the neuropeptide neuromedin U in the lab of Gary Willars. In the Blanks lab I worked with GlaxoSmithkline on the preclinical development of novel small molecule oyxtocin receptor antagonists for the treatment of preterm labour.

I am currently a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Jan Brosens at the University of Warwick.

conorConor McCloskey | postdoctoral research fellow | 2010-2015

I am an electrophysiologist. I did my PhD at Queens University Belfast working on corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, followed by a post-doc working on megakaryocytes in the lab of Martyn Mahaut-Smith. In the Blanks lab I worked on the role of the inwardly rectifying postassium channel Kir7.1 in modulating resting membrane potential in myometrial smooth muscle cells.

I am currently a senior scientist at Charles River Laboratories, Oxford.

samSamantha McCavera | postdoctoral research fellow | 2012-2013

I am an electrophysiologist. I did my PhD at the University of Bath working on the pharmacology of the ivermectin-sensitive glutamate-gated chloride channel from the parasitic nematode haemonchus contortus in the lab of Adrian Wolstenholme. In the Blanks lab I worked with Medical Research Council Technologies and Essen Bioscience on the development of novel small molecule inhibitors for the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir7.1.

I am currently working in industry at Novartis International AG in Vancouver, Canada.

yiYi-Wah Chan | postdoctoral research fellow | 2009-2012

I am a mathematician and bioinformatician. After a first degree in mathematics I did my PhD at the University of Warwick working on the evolutionary history of phages A-HIS1 and A-HIS2 in cyanobateria in the lab of Dave Scanlan. In the Blanks lab I used laser capture microdissection and RNA-seq to sequence the transcriptome of uterine smooth muscle cells in humans.

I am currently a bioinformatician at the MRC Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Imperial College London.

ZhengHangZhengHang Zhao | postdoctoral research fellow | 2005-2007

I am a qualified clinician and electrophysiologist. I worked on the role of the T-type calcium channel in modulating frequency of depolarization in myometrial smooth muscle cells.

I am currently a member of faculty in Xian University, China.

 

josiahE Josiah Lutton| PhD student | 2012 - 2017

Thesis title: Digital capture of the histological microarchitecture in the myometrium and its implications for the propagation of electrophysiological excitation.

 

Papers published from thesis:

 

Lutton EJ, Lammers WJEP, James S, van den Berg HA, Blanks AM (2017) Identification of uterine pacemaker regions at the myometrial-placental interface. bioRxiv 152678; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/152678

 

Lutton EJ, Lammers WJ, James S, van den Berg HA, Blanks AM (2017) A computational method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the microarchitecture of myometrial smooth muscle from histological sections. PLoS One. Mar 16;12(3):e0173404.

 

I have recently graduated and am working on furthering my PhD studies.

chipoChipo Mashayamombe| PhD student | 2011 - 2015

Thesis title: A Rat Model Study of the Spatio-temporal Effects of Progesterone Signalling on the Transcriptome of Uterine Tissues During Pregnancy and Parturition.

 

Papers published from thesis:

 

Sheldon RE, Mashayamombe C, Shi SQ, Garfield RE, Shmygol A, Blanks AM, van den Berg HA. Alterations in gap junction connexin43/connexin45 ratio mediate a transition from quiescence to excitation in a mathematical model of the myometrium. J R Soc Interface. 2014 Dec 6;11(101):20140726.

 

I am currently a clinical bioinformatician working in the NHS.

lizElizabeth Bailey | PhD student | 2011 - 2015

Thesis title: An investigation into the combination of nifedipine with potassium channel openers as potential tocolytic therapy for preterm labour; and a novel potassium channel blocker as potential therapy for post-partum haemorrhage.

 

Papers published from thesis:

 

McCloskey C, Rada C, Bailey E, McCavera S, van den Berg HA, Atia J, Rand DA, Shmygol A, Chan YW, Quenby S, Brosens JJ, Vatish M, Zhang J, Denton JS, Taggart MJ, Kettleborough C, Tickle D, Jerman J, Wright P, Dale T, Kanumilli S, Trezise DJ, Thornton S, Brown P, Catalano R, Lin N, England SK, Blanks AM. The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy. EMBO Mol Med. 2014 Jul 23;6(9):1161-74.

 

I am currently a practising midwife and research fellow at Coventry University.

rachelRachel Sheldon | PhD student | 2010 - 2014

Thesis title: The role of gap junctions in the excitability of the myometrial smooth muscle network.

 

Papers published from thesis:

 

Sheldon RE, Mashayamombe C, Shi SQ, Garfield RE, Shmygol A, Blanks AM, van den Berg HA. Alterations in gap junction connexin43/connexin45 ratio mediate a transition from quiescence to excitation in a mathematical model of the myometrium. J R Soc Interface. 2014 Dec 6;11(101):20140726.

 

Sheldon RE, Baghdadi M, McCloskey C, Blanks AM, Shmygol A, van den Berg HA. Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium. J R Soc Interface. 2013 Jul 10;10(86):20130458. PMID: 23843249.

 

I am currently a software developer working at IBM in Manchester, UK.

joleneJolene Atia| PhD student | 2009 - 2014

Thesis title: Development of a method to characterise the expression profile of electrogenic transmembrane proteins in excitable cells.

 

Papers published from thesis:

 

Atia J, McCloskey C, Shmygol A, Rand D.A., van den Berg H, Blanks AM (2016) Reconstruction of cell surface densities of ion pumps, exchangers, and channels from mRNA expression, conductance kinetics, whole-cell calcium, and current-clamp voltage recordings, with an application to human uterine smooth muscle cells. PLoS Computational Biology, Apr 22;12(4):e1004828.

 

McCloskey C, Rada C, Bailey E, McCavera S, van den Berg HA, Atia J, Rand DA, Shmygol A, Chan YW, Quenby S, Brosens JJ, Vatish M, Zhang J, Denton JS, Taggart MJ, Kettleborough C, Tickle D, Jerman J, Wright P, Dale T, Kanumilli S, Trezise DJ, Thornton S, Brown P, Catalano R, Lin N, England SK, Blanks AM. The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy. EMBO Mol Med. 2014 Jul 23;6(9):1161-74.

 

I am currently a post doctoral researcher with Laura Green and Matt Keeling at the University of Warwick working on modelling the spread of D. nodosus in sheep and its relation to the dynamics of the disease footrot at foot- and population-level.

hugoHugo van den Berg | Warwick Mathematics Institute | Warwick

Hugo and I have collaborated on building a computational model of the uterus for over 10 years. We have co-supervised several PhD students and published several joint papers, we continue to work in the area of modelling the electrical behaviour of uterine smooth muscle.

davidDavid Rand | Warwick Mathematics Institute | Warwick

David and I were awarded the initial MRC grant to undertake the uterine modelling work. We have co-supervised two PhD students and published several joint papers.

janJan Brosens | Warwick Medical School | Warwick

Jan and I have collaborated on a number of projects in understanding fundamental aspects of uterine function. We have co-supervised two PhD students and published several joint papers.

sarahSarah England | Faculty of Medicine | Washington University St Louis

Sarah and I collaborated on combining lentiviral miRNA inhibition of ion channel expression combined with in vivo intrauterine pressure telemetery (McCloskey et al., EMBO mol med. 2014).

georgeGeorge Gallos | Department of Anesthesiology | Columbia University

George and I have recently begun a collaboration working on the role of the calcium activated chloride channel ANO1 in the control of uterine activity.

arunArun Holden | Biological Sciences | University of Leeds

Arun and I have collaborated on understanding the physical structure of the uterus by diffusion tensor MRI imaging. We have also generated Fitzhugh-Nagumo models of uterine excitation (Aslanidi et al., Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2011) .

mikeMichael Taggart | Cardiovascular Research Centre | Newcastle University

Mike and I have collaborated on understanding the physical structure of the uterus by diffusion tensor MRI imaging. We have also generated Fitzhugh-Nagumo models of uterine excitation (Aslanidi et al., Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2011) .

hengguiHenggui Zhang | Physics and Astronomy | University of Manchester

Henggui and I have collaborated on understanding the physical structure of the uterus by diffusion tensor MRI imaging. We have also generated Fitzhugh-Nagumo models of uterine excitation (Aslanidi et al., Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2011) .

vassoVasso Terzidou | Institute of Reproduction and Development | Imperial College London

Vasso and I have collaborated with Prof Bennett for a number of years on the actions of peptide and small molecule inhibitors of oxytocin receptor function, in particular looking at the potential for ligand bias in the peptide antagonist classes.

philPhillip Bennett| Institute of Reproduction and Development | Imperial College London

Vasso and I have collaborated with Vasso Terzidou for a number of years on the actions of peptide and small molecule inhibitors of oxytocin receptor function, in particular looking at the potential for ligand bias in the peptide antagonist classes.

Java code for 3D Tissue Reconstruction

 

uterus

You can download the supplementary files from our recent tissue reconstruction paper (Lutton et al. 2017) as Image J plugins here[link]<

 



 

Mathematica code for single myometrial cell electrophysiology simulation

 

redundancy

You can download the supplementary files (both parameter estimation and full simulation) from our recent single myometrial cell electrophysiology simulation paper (Atia et al. 2016) as Mathematica nb. files here[link]

 



We are grateful to the following organisations or charities for their past and ongoing support.

 

 

mrc

 

bbsrc

 

epsrc

 

gsk

 

ferring

 

grace

 

PAPERS


Clark A, Terzidou V, Blanks AM and Thornton S (1999) 5β dihydroprogesterone inhibits spontaneous human myometrial contractions in vitro. BJOG 106 1100

Thornton S, Terzidou V, Clark A and Blanks AM (1999) Progesterone metabolite and spontaneous myometrial contractions in vitro. Lancet 353 (9161) 1329-1331 [PubMed]

Blanks AM and Thornton S (2003) The role of oxytocin in parturition. BJOG 110 Suppl 20 46-51 [PubMed]

Blanks AM, Vatish M, Allen MJ, Ladds G, Dewit NCJ, Slater DM and Thornton S (2003) Paracrine oxytocin and estradiol demonstrate a spatial increase in human intrauterine tissues with labor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab Jul 88 (7) 3392-3400 [PubMed]

Van den Top M, Lee K, Whyment A, Blanks AM and Spanswick D (2004) Orexigen–sensitive NPY-AgRP pacemaker neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Nat Neurosci 7 (5) 493-494 [PubMed]

Whyment AD, Blanks AM, Lee K, Renaud L and Spanswick D (2005) Histamine excites neonatal rat sympathetic preganglionic neurons in vitro via activation of H1 receptors. J Neurophys 95 (4) 2492-2500 [PubMed]

Shmygol A, Gullam JE, Blanks AM and Thornton S (2006) Multiple mechanisms involved in oxytocin-induced modulation of myometrial contractility. Acta Pharmacol Sin 27 (7) 827-832 [PubMed]

Holden AV, Pan L, Blanks AM, Evans CJ, Kharche S, Simpson NAB, Smye S, Snowden S, Taggart MJ, Walker JJ and Zhang H (2006) Towards an electrophysiological functional atlas of the uterus in premature and full term labour. Proceedings of the MICCAI Workshop - From Statistical Atlases to Personalized Models: Understanding Complex Diseases in Populations and Individuals.

Blanks AM, Shmygol A and Thornton S (2007) Regulation of oxytocin receptors and oxytocin receptor signalling. Semin Repro Med 25 (1) 52-59 [PubMed]

Shmygol A, Blanks AM, Bru-Mercier G, Gullam JE and Thornton S (2007). Control of uterine Ca2+ by membrane voltage: toward understanding the excitation-contraction coupling in human myometrium. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1101 97-109 [PubMed] REVIEW

Blanks AM, Zhao Z, Shmygol A, Bru-Mercier G, Astle S and Thornton S (2007) Characterization of the molecular and electrophysiological properties of the T-type calcium channel in human myometrium. J Physiol 581 (Pt 3) 915-926 [PubMed]

Taggart MJ, Blanks AM, Kharche S, Holden A, Wang B and Zhang H (2007) Towards understanding the myometrial physiome: approaches for the construction of a virtual physiological uterus. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 7 Suppl 1:S3. REVIEW [PubMed]

Gullam JE, Blanks AM, Thornton S and Shmygol A (2009) Phase-plot analysis of the oxytocin effect on human myometrial contractility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 144 Suppl 1 S20-24 [PubMed]

Higgins CA, Martin W, Anderson L, Blanks AM, Norman JE, McConnachie A and Nelson SM (2010) Maternal obesity and its relationship with spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractility of human myometrium in vitro. Reprod Sci 17 (2) 177-185 [PubMed]

Vatish M, Steer PJ, Blanks AM, Hon M and Thornton S (2010) Diurnal variation is lost in preterm deliveries before 28 weeks of gestation. BJOG 117 (6) 765-767 [PubMed]

Terzidou V, Blanks AM, Kim SH, Thornton S and Bennett PR (2010) Labor and inflammation increase the expression of oxytocin receptor in human amnion. Biol Reprod [PubMed]

Aslanidi O, Atia J, Benson AP, van den Berg HA, Blanks AM, Choi C, Gilbert SH, Goryanin I, Hayes-Gill BR, Holden AV, Li P, Norman JE, Shmygol A, Simpson NA, Taggart MJ, Tong WC, Zhang H (2011) Towards a computational reconstruction of the electrodynamics of premature and full term human labour. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. Oct;107(1):183-92. doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Jul 13. Review.

Blanks AM, Brosens JJ (2012) Progesterone action in the myometrium and decidua in preterm birth Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 4(3):33-43. Review. PMID: 24753902

Bru-Mercier G, Gullam JE, Thornton S, Blanks AM, Shmygol A (2012) Characterization of the tissue-level Ca2+ signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium J Cell Mol Med. Dec;16(12):2990-3000. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01626.x. PMID: 22947266

Kuroda K, Venkatakrishnan R, Salker MS, Lucas ES, Shaheen F, Kuroda M, Blanks A, Christian M, Quenby S, Brosens JJ (2013) Induction of 11β-HSD 1 and activation of distinct mineralocorticoid receptor- and glucocorticoid receptor-dependent gene networks in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells. Mol Endocrinol. Feb;27(2):192-202. doi: 10.1210/me.2012-1247. Epub 2012 Dec 28. PMID: 23275455

Blanks AM, Brosens JJ (2013) Meaningful menstruation: cyclic renewal of the endometrium is key to reproductive success. Bioessays. May;35(5):412. doi: 10.1002/bies.201300022. PMID: 23580337

Sheldon RE, Baghdadi M, McCloskey C, Blanks AM, Shmygol A, van den Berg HA (2013) Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium J R Soc Interface. Jul 10;10(86):20130458. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0458. Print 2013 Sep 6. PMID: 23843249

Brosens JJ, Blanks AM, Lucas ES (2013) LRH-1: orphaned, adopted and needed for pregnancy. Nat Med. Aug;19(8):968-9. doi: 10.1038/nm.3271. PMID: 23921740

Chan YW, van den Berg HA, Moore JD, Quenby S, Blanks AM (2014) Assessment of myometrial transcriptome changes associated with spontaneous human labour by high-throughput RNA-seq. Exp Physiol. 2014 Mar;99(3):510-24. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2013.072868. Epub 2013 Nov 22. PMID: 24273302

McCloskey C, Rada C, Bailey E, McCavera S, van den Berg HA, Atia J, Rand DA, Shmygol A, Chan YW, Quenby S, Brosens JJ, Vatish M, Zhang J, Denton JS, Taggart MJ, Kettleborough C, Tickle D, Jerman J, Wright P, Dale T, Kanumilli S, Trezise DJ, Thornton S, Brown P, Catalano R, Lin N, England SK, Blanks AM (2014) The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy. EMBO Mol Med. Jul 23;6(9):1161-74. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201403944. PMID: 25056913

Sheldon RE, Mashayamombe C, Shi SQ, Garfield RE, Shmygol A, Blanks AM, van den Berg HA (2014) Alterations in gap junction connexin43/connexin45 ratio mediate a transition from quiescence to excitation in a mathematical model of the myometrium. J R Soc Interface. Dec 6;11(101):20140726. PMID: 25401181

Kim SH, MacIntyre DA, Firmino Da Silva M, Blanks AM, Lee YS, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V. (2015) Oxytocin activates NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways in human gestational tissues. Mol Cell Endocrinol. Mar 5;403:64-77. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Nov 14. PMID: 25451977

Wright PD, Kanumilli S, Tickle D, Cartland J, Bouloc N, Dale T, Tresize DJ, McCloskey C, McCavera S, Blanks AM, Kettleborough C, Jerman JC (2015) A High-Throughput Electrophysiology Assay Identifies Inhibitors of the Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel Kir7.1. J Biomol Screen. Jul;20(6):739-47. doi: 10.1177/1087057115569156. Epub 2015 Feb 5. PMID: 25656238

Sheldon RE, Shmygol A, van den Berg HA, Blanks AM (2015) Functional and morphological development of the womb throughout life. Sci Prog. 98(Pt 2):103-27. Review. PMID: 26288915

Lammers WJ, Stephen B, Al-Sultan MA, Subramanya SB, Blanks AM (2015) The location of pacemakers in the uteri of pregnant guinea pigs and rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. Dec 1;309(11):R1439-46. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00187.2015. Epub 2015 Sep 16. PMID: 26377559

Kim SH, MacIntyre DA, Hanyaloglu AC, Blanks AM, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V (2016) The oxytocin receptor antagonist, Atosiban, activates pro-inflammatory pathways in human amnion via Gαi signalling. Mol Cell Endocrinol. Jan 15;420:11-23. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.11.012. Epub 2015 Nov 14. PMID: 26586210

Atia J, McCloskey C, Shmygol A, Rand D.A., van den Berg H, Blanks AM (2016) Reconstruction of cell surface densities of ion pumps, exchangers, and channels from mRNA expression, conductance kinetics, whole-cell calcium, and current-clamp voltage recordings, with an application to human uterine smooth muscle cells. PLoS Computational Biology, Apr 22;12(4):e1004828. PMID: 27105427

Muter J, Brighton PJ, Lucas ES, Lacey L, Shmygol A, Quenby S, Blanks AM, Brosens JJ (2016) Progesterone-Dependent Induction of Phospholipase C-Related Catalytically Inactive Protein 1 (PRIP-1) in Decidualizing Human Endometrial Stromal Cells. Endocrinology. 2016 May 11:en20151914. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 27167772

BOOK CHAPTERS


Blanks AM and Thornton S (2007) Gene redundancy: Lessons for Tocolysis. in Preterm Birth: Mechanisms, Mediators, Prediction & Interventions. Editors: Petraglia, F, Strauss JF, Gabbe SG, & Weiss G

Blanks AM, Shmygol A and Thornton S (2007) Preterm labour. Myometrial Function & Prematurity. In Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology : Preterm Birth. Eds: Bennett P and Thornton S 21 (5) 807-819 [PubMed]

MEETING ABSTRACTS

(Peer reviewed)

Blanks AM, McAulay JA and Sneddon JM (1995) Effect of cisplatin on glucose uptake in immortalised human kidney cells (G401) Br J Pharmacol 116 213p

Clark A, Terzidou V, Blanks AM and Thornton S (1999) Spontaneous and oxytocin-induced human myometrial contractions are inhibited by 5β dihydroprogesterone in vitro. J Soc Gynecol Invest 6 43

Blanks AM, Allen MJ, Slater DM and Thornton S (2001) Oxytocin and not vasopressin is differentially expressed within the human uterus. J Soc Gynecol Invest 8 202A

Blanks AM, Slater DM, Lee K, Richardson PJ and Thornton S (2002) Analysis of heterogeneous gene expression and phenotype in single human myometrial cells by Three Prime End Amplification-RT-PCR (TPEA-RTPCR) J Soc Gynecol Invest

Vatish M, Blanks AM, Ladds GR and Thornton S (2002) Determination Of Oxytocin Peptide/Oestradiol Concentrations in Human Labour and Non-Labour Gestational Tissues. J Soc Gynecol Inv 9 (Suppl) 134A

Blanks AM, Vatish M, Ladds G, Slater DM and Thornton S (2002) Paracrine oxytocin and oestradiol during pregnancy and parturition in human intrauterine tissues. BJOG 109 483-484

Blanks AM, Vatish M, Slater DM and Thornton S (2004) Expression of keto-steroid reductase 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 mRNA in human choriodecidua throughout gestation. J Soc Gynecol Inv 11 323A

Blanks AM, Zhao ZH and Thornton S (2005) Functional heterogeneity of the t-type calcium channel subunit cav3.1 and cav3.2 in human myometrium. J Soc Gynecol Inv 12 118

Taggart MJ, Zhang H, Kharche S, Holden AV, Thornton S and Blanks AM (2005) Integrative approaches towards understanding the myometrial physiome. J Soc Gynecol Inv 12

Shmygol A, Blanks AM, Bru-Mercier G, Astle S and Thornton S (2006) Tissue-level Ca2+ signalling in human myometrium: a possible role for ICCs Proc Physiol Soc 3 C114

Shmygol A, Blanks AM, Bru-mercier G, Spanswick D and Thornton S (2006) Ultra-thin tissue slices - a new approach to study Ca2+ signalling in human myometrium. J Biomech 39 S341 6476.

Gullam JE, Blanks AM, Shmygol A and Thornton S (2006) Two components in the oxytocin-induced potentiation of myometrial contractility. BJOG

Bru-Mercier G, Shmygol A, Thornton S and Blanks AM (2007) A new model to study myometrial complexity and heterogeneity. Reproductive Sciences Vol. 14 No 1 (Supplement) p233A

Bru-Mercier G, Shmygol A, Thornton S and Blanks AM (2007) Effects of mechanical stretch on inter- and intracellular Ca2+ signals in ultra-thin slices of myometrium. Proc Physiol Soc

Fyfe GK, Bru-Mercier G, Blanks AM, Shymgol A, Thornton S, Khan RN and Taggart MJ (2007) A shared pathway for hydrogen peroxide and 4-aminopyridine inhibition of whole-cell K+ currents in isolated human uterine smooth muscle cells. J Physiol

Gullam JE, Blanks AM, Thornton S and Shmygol A (2008) Oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions in the presence of nifedipine, What is the mechanism? Reproductive Sciences 15 (1) A192

Bru-Mercier G, Shmygol A, Thornton S and Blanks AM (2008) Spontaneous activity and the complex action potential require the myometrial network. Reproductive Sciences 15 (1) A188.

Higgins CA, Martin W, Blanks AM, Thornton S, Norman JE and Nelson SM (2008) Maternal obesity does not impair spontaneous or oxytocin induced contractility of human myometrium. Reproductive Sciences 15 (1) A184.

Bru-Mercier G, Gullam JE, Blanks AM, Thornton S and Shmygol A (2008) Oxytocin-induced oscillations of isometric force and cytoplasmic Ca2+ in slices of human myometrium subjected to inhibition of Ca2+ channels. J Physiol

Jimenez-Roldan EJ, Bru-Mercier G, Blanks AM, Thornton S and Shmygol A (2009) Extracellular cyclic ADP-ribose modulates Ca2+ signalling in human myometrium. J Soc Gynecol Inv 451

Bailey E, Bradley A, Blanks AM, Shmygol A, Gordon D and Thornton S (2009) Effects of a ß3-adrenoceptor agonist, solabegron, on spontaneous myometrial contractility in isolated human myometrial strips. J Soc Gynecol Inv 762

Bailey E, Bradley A, Shmygol A, Thornton S, Blanks AM (2009) Combination therapy using potassium channels openers and nifedipine in human myometrium in vitro. J Soc Gynecol Inv 763

Higgins CA, Martin W, Blanks AM, Thornton S, Nelson SM (2009) Investigation of myometrial gene expression in response to sustained spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contraction in vitro. J Soc Gynecol Inv 773

Higgins CA, Martin W, Blanks AM, Catalano R, Thornton S, Nelson SM (2010) Myometrial cytokines and chemokines during human labour: a co-ordinated time and contraction dependent event. J Soc Gynecol Inv 401

Zhang J, Taggart MJ, Thornton S, Shmygol A, Blanks AM (2010) The pregnancy dependent expression profile of the genomic complement of K+ channels in human myometrial smooth muscle and vasculature. J Soc Gynecol Inv 42

Blanks AM, Tong WC, Benson AP, Holden AV (2010) Digital reconstruction of the fibre architecture of the pregnant human uterus in vivo and in vitro by diffusion MRI. J Soc Gynecol Inv 930