Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on the expression of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (Kir6.1/SUR2B) in human term pregnant myometrium.

Our data demonstrated the regulatory effect was different when HSMCs were treated with low (early pregnancy-like) and high (labor-like) CRH concentrations and the KATP channel expression showed significant increase and decrease. This could cause inhibition and activation, respectively, of uterine muscle contraction, demonstrating opposite dual actions of CRH.