Endogenous Hyaluronan: A Cytokine-Like Factor Present in Rabbit Uterine Cervix during Pregnancy

Uchiyama, Taro; Matsumoto, Tetsunori; Suzuki, Yoshiharu; Ishida, Masami; Obara, Takeo; Kanayama, Toshiji

doi:10.1248/bpb.27.1907

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Numerous investigations indicate that glycosaminoglycans are involved. 60,61 The glycoprotein decorin binds and immobilizes collagen fibers, and is in great abundance in cervical tissue. In late gestation, collagen dispersal is promoted by decreases in decorin concentrations and simultaneous increases in hyaluronan (HA).…”

Section: Cervical Ripeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…60 Low molecular weight HA binds to the cell surface receptor, CD44, and stimulates macrophages that are recruited to sites of inflammation to produce chemokines that, in turn, maintain the inflammatory response through recruitment of other inflammatory cells. 61,62 Thus, once collagen is solubilized by hydrophilic HA, an inflammatory cascade is initiated, propagated, and amplified by activation of macrophages within cervical tissue and recruitment of other inflammatory cells.…”

Section: Cervical Ripeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dynamics of Cervical Remodeling during Pregnancy and Parturition: Mechanisms and Current Concepts

Word¹,

Li²,

Hnat³

et al. 2007

Semin Reprod Med

330

290

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The cervix serves as a protective barrier from invading microorganisms and as a structural barrier to delivery of the fetus. Among all biological processes, the phenomenal connective tissue remodeling that occurs in the cervix during and after parturition is unparalleled in scope and magnitude. The process of connective tissue remodeling in the cervix during pregnancy occurs in four stages: softening, ripening, dilation, and repair. Although overlapping in time, each stage is uniquely regulated. Results from studies using serial measurements of cervical length indicate that cervical ripening precedes myometrial contractions of labor by several weeks, suggesting that parturition in women is a process of long duration and that uterine contractions of labor are late events in the parturition process. A clear understanding of the biologic mechanisms that regulate cervical remodeling during pregnancy is needed to influence the preterm birth rate and to develop strategies to prevent preterm dilation of the cervix.

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Section: Cervical Ripeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cervical Ripeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Cervical Remodeling during Pregnancy and Parturition: Mechanisms and Current Concepts

Word¹,

Li²,

Hnat³

et al. 2007

Semin Reprod Med

330

290

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…35 Hyaluronan has a high capacity to bind water molecules, leading to loosening collagen fibrils and softening elastin. 36,37 Decorin is a proteoglycan that binds to the collagen fibrils regulating the interfibrillary distance, and increased expression results in collagen disorganization. 32 Thus, this study's hypothesis was that QUS will detect the changes in the microstructure of the rat cervix associated with ripening (collagen content and concentration).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Ultrasound Assessment of the Rat Cervix

McFarlin

O’Brien

Oelze

et al. 2006

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine

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Objective-The purpose of this research was to detect cervical ripening with a new quantitative ultrasound technique.Methods-Cervices of 13 nonpregnant and 65 timed pregnant (days 15, 17, 19, 20, and 21 of pregnancy) Sprague Dawley rats were scanned ex vivo with a 70-MHz ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound scatterer property estimates (scatterer diameter [SD], acoustic concentration [AC], and scatterer strength factor [SSF]) from the cervices were quantified and then compared to hydroxyproline and water content. Insertion loss (attenuation) was measured in 3 rats in each of the 6 groups. Discriminant analysis was used to predict gestational age group (cervical ripening) from the ultrasound variables SD, SSF, and AC.Results-Differences were observed between the groups (SD, AC, and SSF; P < .0001). Quantitative ultrasound measures changed as the cervix ripened: (1) SD increased from days 15 to 21; (2) AC decreased from days 15 to 21; and (3) SSF was the greatest in the nonpregnant group and the least in the day 21 group. Cervix hydroxyproline content increased as pregnancy progressed (P < .003) and correlated with group, SD, AC, and SSF (P < .001). Discriminant analysis of ultrasound variables predicted 56.4% of gestational group assignment (P < .001) and increased to 77% within 2 days of the predicted analysis. Cervix insertion loss was greatest for the nonpregnant group and least for the day 21 group.Conclusions-Quantitative ultrasound predicted cervical ripening in the rat cervix, but before use in humans, quantitative ultrasound will need to predict gestational age in the later days of gestation with more precision.Keywords cervical attenuation; cervical ripening; collagen; preterm birth; quantitative ultrasound; rat cervixThe underlying mechanisms preceding labor are not yet fully understood. Preterm birth is the second leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. 1 Among the survivors, 20% to 25% have a major disability, 2 and it is estimated that just the initial neonatal care costs $6 billion annually. 3 The preterm birth rate was 12.5% in 2004, and the 16% increase in the incidence of preterm birth in the United States between 1990 and 2004 is an indication of the seriousness of this problem. , it is necessary to assume a geometric model (called a form factor) for the scatterers. These parameters were estimated by modeling the tissues as scatterers with a Gaussian form factor. The Gaussian form factor assumes that the scatterers do not have sharp discontinuities in acoustic impedance with the surrounding tissues (like glass beads in agar) but have more of a gradual change in impedance with surrounding tissues. The Gaussian form factor model was theorized to be appropriate for cervix tissue because this form factor has been shown to be a good predictor of scattering in many soft tissues. 17-21 The Gaussian form factor was chosen from several other available form factors because it gave the smallest χ 2 value relative to the scattered spectra. Furthermore, the properties of the spherical Gau...

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“…However, from the HPLC results, it is difficult to establish the ratio of HA fragments within the samples. While the presence of large HA fragments in the cervical samples may be explained on the basis of a decreased effect of HAase because of lower concentrations of P 4 or its receptor (Obara et al 2001, Uchiyama et al 2004, the existence of smaller HA fragments within the same samples may be the result of an increased production of HAS1 and HAS3 (Itano & Kimata 2002), which may be stimulated by exposure to either the increased concentrations of PGs at luteolysis (Stuhlmeier 2007) or oestrogens (Uzuka et al 1981) and/or LH (Schoenfelder & Einspanier 2003). However, to ascertain the definite effects of these hormones on HA synthase(s), it requires further studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyaluronan (HA) content, the ratio of HA fragments and the expression of CD44 in the ovine cervix vary with the stage of the oestrous cycle

Perry¹,

Haresign²,

Wathes³

et al. 2010

Reproduction

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The complex anatomy of the ovine cervix limits the success of trans-cervical artificial insemination in sheep. However, there is a degree of natural relaxation of cervix at oestrus that is accompanied by an increase in the water content. As hyaluronan (HA) has a high affinity for water molecules, in this study, we tested the hypothesis that the HA content of the cervix, the proportion of different size fragments of HA and expression of its receptor CD44 vary with the stage of the oestrous cycle. Oestrous was synchronized in 25 Welsh mountain ewes, and their cervices were collected either during luteal phase (nZ8) or pre-LH (nZ8) or post-LH (nZ9) surge stage of the oestrous cycle. The pre-LH surge group had the highest HA content (2.96 ng/mg of cervical tissue), which was significantly (P%0.05) higher than that observed for the post-LH surge (2.04 ng/mg) group. The luteal phase group had a mean HA content intermediate between the pre-and post-LH surge groups, and was significantly different from either. The frequency of cervical samples containing both sizes of HA fragments (small and large) was significantly higher (P%0.05) in the pre-LH surge group compared with the luteal and the post-LH surge groups, whereas that in post-LH surge group was significantly (P%0.05) higher than that in the luteal group. The number of cervical samples that contained only small HA fragments was significantly (P%0.05) higher in the luteal group compared with both the pre-and post-LH surge groups, whereas the number of samples containing only large HA fragments was significantly (P%0.05) higher in the post-LH surge group compared with the luteal or pre-LH surge groups. Overall mean expression of CD44 in the vaginal and mid regions was significantly (P%0.001) higher than that in the uterine region, with no difference between the vaginal and mid regions of the cervix. Pattern of CD44 expression depended on the stage of the oestrous cycle. At the luteal stage, CD44 expression did not vary among epithelial, sub-epithelial, circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers, whereas at the pre-and post-LH surge stages, the expression in the epithelial layer was significantly (P%0.001) higher than that in the other three layers. In general, CD44 expression in the transverse smooth muscle layer was significantly (P%0.05) lower than the expression in all the other layers at all the stages of the oestrous cycle. The results indicated that the HA varied with the steroid status. Higher HA values at a time when cervical relaxation is naturally higher may indicate its involvement in remodelling of the cervix at oestrus.

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Endogenous Hyaluronan: A Cytokine-Like Factor Present in Rabbit Uterine Cervix during Pregnancy

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Dynamics of Cervical Remodeling during Pregnancy and Parturition: Mechanisms and Current Concepts

Dynamics of Cervical Remodeling during Pregnancy and Parturition: Mechanisms and Current Concepts

Quantitative Ultrasound Assessment of the Rat Cervix

Hyaluronan (HA) content, the ratio of HA fragments and the expression of CD44 in the ovine cervix vary with the stage of the oestrous cycle

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