Effects of progesterone on iNOS, COX-2, and collagen expression in the cervix.

This study examines the relationship between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the control of cervical ripening and parturition under normal (normal term pregnancy) and abnormal (preterm labor and prolongation of pregnancy) conditions by (a) measuring changes in the collagen both visually and quantitatively, (b) localizing and characterizing iNOS and COX-2 under normal conditions, and (c) characterizing the changes in iNOS and COX-2 under abnormal conditions. Cervices are obtained from estrus and timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4-10 per group). Preterm labor is induced with Onapristone (3 mg/rat; progesterone antagonist) and the prolongation of pregnancy with progesterone (2.

Light-induced fluorescence of the human cervix decreases after prostaglandin application for induction of labor at term.

Objective: To define the changes in cervical light-induced fluorescence (LIF), an index of cross-linked collagen, after the use of locally applied prostaglandin preparations for labor induction at term and the correlation between LIF and Bishop-Score.

Study Design: The characteristic LIF of cervical collagen was measured from the surface of the cervix using a specially designed instrument (collascope) in 41 gravidas undergoing labor induction at term by prostaglandins. LIF and Bishop-Score were obtained directly before and 4h after the administration of prostaglandin.

Uterosacral ligament in postmenopausal women with or without pelvic organ prolapse.

The uterosacral ligaments are thought to contribute to pelvic support. The objective of this study was to compare the structural components of these ligaments in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We characterized uterosacral ligaments of 25 postmenopausal women with POP and 16 controls histomorphologically and immunohistochemically by quantifying their content of collagen I, III, and smooth muscle using a computerized image analysis.

Cervical light-induced fluorescence in humans decreases throughout gestation and before delivery: Preliminary observations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate gestational changes of cervical light-induced fluorescence, an index of cross-linked collagen, and the relationship between light-induced fluorescence and the time-to-delivery interval.

Study Design: Fifty patients were included in one of two groups. (1) Twenty-one healthy pregnant women without signs of labor underwent repeated cervical light-induced fluorescence measurement during the last trimester.