Dr Sarah Arrowsmith
Lecturer in Reproductive Science
My profile
Biography
Academic and professional qualifications
PhD Physiology, University of Liverpool, UK
MRes Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, UK
BSc (Hons) Physiology, University of Liverpool, UK
Fellow of Higher Education (FHEA), Advance HE
OTHER ACADEMIC SERVICE (ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT)
I co-lead the delivery of the MSc in Clinical Science /Cellular Science in Reproductive science (Embryology) which is the academic component of the NHS Clinical Scientist Training Programme (STP).
Unit leader for:
Principles and Practice of Reproductive Science and Diagnostic Semen Analysis (MSc Clinical Sciences/Cellular Science: Reproductive Science, STP Year one)
Gametes and Fertilization, Infertility, Treatment, and Role of Regulation (MSc Clinical Sciences/ Cellular Science: Embryology, STP Year two)
Disorder Case Study (MSc Biomedical Science)
I also contribute to a several units in BSc. Biomedical science, BSc. Human Bioscience and BSc. Human Physiology
EXPERT REVIEWER
Invited reviewer for The Society for Reproductive Investigation, abstracts for annual conference (2020-current)
Review editor for Ethnopharmacology (specialty section of Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2019-current)
Reviewer for International Journal of Nanomedicine (2018- current)
Reviewer for British Journal of Pharmacology (2017-current)
Review editor for Frontiers: Cardiovascular and Smooth Muscle Pharmacology (2016-current).
Reviewer for Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2016-current).
I have also been reviewer for PLoS One and European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.
VISITING AND HONORARY POSITIONS
Honorary Lecturer, University of Liverpool
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Full member of The Physiological Society
Member of the Society for Reproductive Investigation
Member of the British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society
Member of the British Society for Cell Biology
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Interests and expertise
I am a physiologist with long-standing research interests inthe physiology of parturition, with particular emphasis on uterine contraction and cell signalling. The current lack of effective treatments for uterine dysfunction such as preterm labour, labour dystocia (prolonged labour) and post-partum haemorrhage has amplified the search for more promising therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for controlling uterine contractions in labour. My research ultimately aims to learn more about the physiology of the uterus and the regulation of its contraction, to be able to translate findings into patient benefit. My current research focus is signalling by the neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin, in the uterus as well as developing improved tocolytic therapies, including nanomedicines, and strategies for their application in preterm birth.
Projects
I have a number of ongoing research projects and interests in the laboratory focussed on myometrial physiology. Please contact me for more information on potential projects which I can supervise.
Teaching
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING
I am responsible for the design and delivery of lectures and assessments for several undergraduate units associated with the BSc. Biomedical science, BSc. Human Bioscience and BSc. Human Physiology including Physiology of Ageing and Techniques and Applications in Biomedical Science
POSTGRADUATE TEACHING
I teach on many aspects of reproductive biology including; endocrinology of female reproduction, causes of male and female infertility, clinical biochemistry of pregnancy, physiology of pregnancy and disorders of uterine function in pregnancy and labour
SUBJECT SPECIALISMS
Reproductive science and endocrinology, infertility, physiology of pregnancy, uterine physiology, smooth muscle physiology
Supervision
I supervise research project students on the BSc Biomedical Science programme and act as academic supervisor for students on the MSc Clinical Science / Cellular Science programme (Reproductive Science).
Research outputs
Research Expertise, Publications and Grants
Publications
Journal articles
- S. Arrowsmith (2021). Identification and validation of suitable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR gene expression analysis in pregnant human myometrium. Molecular Biology Reports. 48(1), pp.413-423.
- S. Arrowsmith (2020). Oxytocin and vasopressin signalling and myometrial contraction. Current Opinion in Physiology. 13, pp.62-70.
- S. Arrowsmith, P. Keov, M. Muttenthaler, CW. Gruber Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development. Journal of Visualized Experiments.
- S. Arrowsmith, Y. Fang, A. Sharp Comparison of the myometrial transcriptome from singleton and twin pregnancies by RNA-Seq. PLOS ONE. 15(1), pp.e0227882-e0227882.
- BE. Osaghae, S. Arrowsmith, S. Wray Gestational and Hormonal Effects on Magnesium Sulfate’s Ability to Inhibit Mouse Uterine Contractility. Reproductive Sciences. pp.193371911982808-193371911982808.
- M. Muttenthaler, Å. Andersson, I. Vetter, R. Menon, M. Busnelli, et al (2017). Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species. Science Signaling. 10(508), pp.eaan3398-eaan3398.
- S. Arrowsmith, J. Neilson, S. Wray (2016) The combination tocolytic effect of magnesium sulfate and an oxytocin receptor antagonist in myometrium from singleton and twin pregnancies. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 215(6), pp.789.e1-789.e9.
- S. Arrowsmith, J. Neilson, L. Bricker, S. Wray (2016). Differing In Vitro Potencies of Tocolytics and Progesterone in Myometrium From Singleton and Twin Pregnancies. Reprod Sci. 23(1), pp.98-111.
- M. Alotaibi, S. Arrowsmith, S. Wray (2015). Hypoxia-induced force increase (HIFI) is a novel mechanism underlying the strengthening of labor contractions, produced by hypoxic stresses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 112(31), pp.9763-9768.
- S. Wray, T. Burdyga, D. Noble, K. Noble, L. Borysova, et al (2015). Progress in understanding electro-mechanical signalling in the myometrium. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 213(2), pp.417-431.
- S. Arrowsmith, S. Wray (2014). Oxytocin: its mechanism of action and receptor signalling in the myometrium. J Neuroendocrinol. 26(6), pp.356-369.
- S. Arrowsmith, A. Kendrick, J-A. Hanley, K. Noble, S. Wray (2014) Myometrial physiology—time to translate?. Exp Physiol. 99(3), pp.495-502.
- J. Koehbach, M. O’Brien, M. Muttenthaler, M. Miazzo, M. Akcan, et al (2013) Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 110(52), pp.21183-21188.
- S. Arrowsmith, A. Kendrick, S. Wray (2010) Drugs acting on the pregnant uterus. Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 20(8), pp.241-247.
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Wray, S., Arrowsmith, S. (2021) Uterine Excitability and Ion Channels and Their Changes with Gestation and Hormonal Environment.
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Chapters in books
Arrowsmith, S. (2022) 'Human Myometrial Contractility Assays.' Methods in Molecular Biology. pp. 29-42.
Wray, S., Arrowsmith, S. (2012) 'Uterine smooth muscle.' Muscle. pp. 1207-1216.
Wray, S., Arrowsmith, S. (2012) 'Uterine Smooth Muscle.' Muscle: Fundamental Biology and Mechanisms of Disease. pp. 1207-1216.
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Journal articles
Arrowsmith, S. (2023) 'Multiple pregnancies, the myometrium and the role of mechanical factors in the timing of labour.' Current Research in Physiology, 6pp. 100105-100105.
Taylor, J., Sharp, A., Rannard, S.P., Arrowsmith, S., McDonald, T.O. (2023) 'Nanomedicine strategies to improve therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of preterm birth and future directions.' Nanoscale Advances, 5(7) pp. 1870-1889.
Wray, S., Arrowsmith, S., Sharp, A. (2022) 'Pharmacological Interventions in Labor and Delivery.' Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 63pp. 471-489.
Wray, S., Prendergast, C., Arrowsmith, S. (2021) 'Calcium-activated chloride channels in myometrial and vascular smooth muscle.' Frontiers in Physiology, 12pp. 751008-751008.
Wray, S., Arrowsmith, S. (2021) 'The Physiological Mechanisms of the Sex-Based Difference in Outcomes of COVID19 Infection.' Frontiers in Physiology, 12pp. 627260-627260.
Arrowsmith, S. (2021) 'Identification and validation of suitable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR gene expression analysis in pregnant human myometrium.' Molecular Biology Reports, 48(1) pp. 413-423.
Taylor, J.M., Scale, K., Arrowsmith, S., Sharp, A., Flynn, S., Rannard, S., McDonald, T.O. (2020) 'Using pyrene to probe the effects of poloxamer stabilisers on internal lipid microenvironments in solid lipid nanoparticles.' Nanoscale Advances, 2(12) pp. 5572-5577.
Osaghae, B.E., Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S. (2020) 'Gestational and Hormonal Effects on Magnesium Sulfate’s Ability to Inhibit Mouse Uterine Contractility.' Reproductive Sciences, 27(8) pp. 1570-1579.
Arrowsmith, S. (2020) 'Oxytocin and vasopressin signalling and myometrial contraction.' Current Opinion in Physiology, 13pp. 62-70.
Arrowsmith, S., Fang, Y., Sharp, A. (2020) 'Comparison of the myometrial transcriptome from singleton and twin pregnancies by RNA-Seq.' PLOS ONE, 15(1) pp. e0227882-e0227882.
Osaghae, B.E., Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S. (2019) 'Gestational and Hormonal Effects on Magnesium Sulfate’s Ability to Inhibit Mouse Uterine Contractility.' Reproductive Sciences, pp. 193371911982808-193371911982808.
Arrowsmith, S., Keov, P., Muttenthaler, M., Gruber, C.W. (2018) 'Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development.' Journal of Visualized Experiments, (131)
Muttenthaler, M., Andersson, Å., Vetter, I., Menon, R., Busnelli, M., Ragnarsson, L., Bergmayr, C., Arrowsmith, S., Deuis, J.R., Chiu, H.S., Palpant, N.J., O’Brien, M., Smith, T.J., Wray, S., Neumann, I.D., Gruber, C.W., Lewis, R.J., Alewood, P.F. (2017) 'Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species.' Science Signaling, 10(508) pp. eaan3398-eaan3398.
Di Giglio, M.G., Muttenthaler, M., Harpsøe, K., Liutkeviciute, Z., Keov, P., Eder, T., Rattei, T., Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S., Marek, A., Elbert, T., Alewood, P.F., Gloriam, D.E., Gruber, C.W. (2017) 'Development of a human vasopressin V
1a -receptor antagonist from an evolutionary-related insect neuropeptide.' Scientific Reports, 7Arrowsmith, S., Neilson, J., Wray, S. (2016) 'The combination tocolytic effect of magnesium sulfate and an oxytocin receptor antagonist in myometrium from singleton and twin pregnancies.' American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 215(6) pp. 789.e1-789.e9.
Attah, A.F., Hellinger, R., Sonibare, M.A., Moody, J.O., Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S., Gruber, C.W. (2016) 'Ethobotanical survey of Rinorea dentata (Violaceae) used in South-Western Nigerian ethnomedicine and detection of cyclotides.' Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 179pp. 83-91.
Sarah, A., James, N., Leanne, B., Susan, W. (2016) 'Differing In Vitro Potencies of Tocolytics and Progesterone in Myometrium From Singleton and Twin Pregnancies.' Reproductive Sciences, 23(1) pp. 98-111.
Alotaibi, M., Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S. (2015) 'Hypoxia-induced force increase (HIFI) is a novel mechanism underlying the strengthening of labor contractions, produced by hypoxic stresses.' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(31) pp. 9763-9768.
Wray, S., Burdyga, T., Noble, D., Noble, K., Borysova, L., Arrowsmith, S. (2015) 'Progress in understanding electro-mechanical signalling in the myometrium.' Acta Physiologica, 213(2) pp. 417-431.
Arrowsmith, S., Kendrick, A., Hanley, J.A., Noble, K., Wray, S. (2014) 'Myometrial physiology - time to translate?.' Experimental Physiology, 99(3) pp. 495-502.
Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S. (2014) 'Oxytocin: Its mechanism of action and receptor signalling in the myometrium.' Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 26(6) pp. 356-369.
Koehbach, J., O'Brien, M., Muttenthaler, M., Miazzo, M., Akcan, M., Elliott, A.G., Daly, N.L., Harvey, P.J., Arrowsmith, S., Gunasekera, S., Smith, T.J., Wray, S., Göransson, U., Dawson, P.E., Craik, D.J., Freissmuth, M., Gruber, C.W. (2013) 'Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design.' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(52) pp. 21183-21188.
Turton, P., Arrowsmith, S., Prescott, J., Ballard, C., Bricker, L., Neilson, J., Wray, S. (2013) 'A Comparison of the Contractile Properties of Myometrium from Singleton and Twin Pregnancies.' PLoS ONE, 8(5)
Arrowsmith, S., Robinson, H., Noble, K., Wray, S. (2012) 'What do we know about what happens to myometrial function as women age?.' Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, 33(3-4) pp. 209-217.
Arrowsmith, S., Quenby, S., Weeks, A., Burdyga, T., Wray, S. (2012) 'Poor spontaneous and oxytocin-stimulated contractility in human myometrium from postdates pregnancies.' PLoS ONE, 7(5)
Arrowsmith, S., Wray, S., Quenby, S. (2011) 'Maternal obesity and labour complications following induction of labour in prolonged pregnancy.' BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 118(5) pp. 578-588.
Arrowsmith, S., Kendrick, A., Wray, S. (2010) 'Drugs acting on the pregnant uterus.' Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 20(8) pp. 241-247.
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Conference papers
Canton, G., Gibbons, R., Mania, A., Sarris, I., Carroll, M., Arrowsmith, S. (2023) 'Cleavage stage morphokinetic timings can predict the likelihood of aneuploidy in blastocysts.' 38. 25/6/2023 - 28/6/2023. Oxford University Press (OUP),
Weavers, L., Gibbons, R., Newton1, S., Carroll, M., Arrowsmith, S., Mania, A., Sarris, I. (2023) 'Investigating the use of zygote number to identify good prognosis patients for blastocyst transfer.' In Fertility2012. Belfast, 10/1/2023 - 13/1/2023.
Press and media
Public and Media Engagement
‘Every Birth Matters’ seminar series: ‘The Science of Labour’ talk to midwifes and aspiring midwives. An opportunity to expand their knowledge of pregnancy and delivery and better support pregnant women through their maternity experience (22.09.21)
BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘5 life feature programme’ Presenter Anna Foster takes a modern look at the challenges many people face when trying to start a family (31.07.16)
Biology of Reproduction Journal highlight in ‘WORLD OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY: Low Oxygen Drives Powerful Contractions During Labor’ (29.07.15)
Press Release for British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Maternal obesity linked to prolonged pregnancy and increased need for induction of labour (26.01.11).
The Telegraph (Health News online and in print): Obese women have more complicated births (26.01.11).