Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 1080-1088, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
E El Maradny, N Kanayama, H Kobayashi, B Hossain, S Khatun, S Liping, T Kobayashi and T Terao
During pregnancy, hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration in the human cervix is
very low, but increases rapidly at the onset of labour. HA has a high
affinity for water molecules and hence can maintain tissue hydration. HA
can stimulate collagenase production in rabbit cervix, and also stimulates
migration and function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the tissues. It
is an endogenous regulator of interleukin- 1 (IL-1). We hypothesized that
HA plays an essential role during cervical ripening. The effect of
exogenous application of HA (20 mg) on non-pregnant and pregnant (day 23)
rabbit cervices was compared with controls. HA induced cervical ripening in
both pregnant and non- pregnant animals, and cervical water content was
significantly increased. Tissue collagen was markedly decreased. The
localization and distribution of HA and HA receptor CD44 was determined in
non-pregnant and pregnant human cervical connective tissue using
biotinylated HA binding protein and CD44 monoclonal antibodies. Both were
widely distributed in the connective tissues, especially around the blood
vessels and cervical glands. The effect of IL-8 (50, 100, 150 and 200
ng/ml) on HA production and hyaluronidase (HAase) activity was investigated
in cultures of lower uterine segment collected during elective Caesarean
sections. HA production was stimulated in a dose- dependent manner; there
was no effect on hyaluronidase activity. HA administration (0.5, 1 and 2
mg/ml) stimulated the activities of collagenase and gelatinase together
with IL-8 production in the culture supernatants. Thus HA may play an
important role in cervical ripening, being involved in the regulation of
cervical tissue water content, collagenolytic enzymes and cytokines.
ARTICLES
The role of hyaluronic acid as a mediator and regulator of cervical ripening
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handa-cho, Japan.
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