TY - JOUR
T1 - Cervical remodeling during pregnancy and parturition
T2 - Molecular characterization of the softening phase in mice
AU - Read, Charles P.
AU - Word, R. Ann
AU - Ruscheinsky, Monika A.
AU - Timmons, Brenda C.
AU - Mahendroo, Mala S.
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - Cervical remodeling during pregnancy and parturition is a single progressive process that can be loosely divided into four overlapping phases termed softening, ripening, dilation/labor, and post partum repair. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that facilitate all phases of cervical remodeling is critical for an understanding of parturition and for identifying processes that are misregulated in preterm labor, a significant cause of perinatal morbidity. In the present study, biomechanical measurements indicate that softening was initiated between gestation days 10 and 12 of mouse pregnancy, and in contrast to cervical ripening on day 18, the softened cervix maintains tissue strength. Although preceded by increased collagen solubility, cervical softening is not characterized by significant increases in cell proliferation, tissue hydration or changes in the distribution of inflammatory cells. Gene expression studies reveal a potentially important role of cervical epithelia during softening and ripening in maintenance of an immunomucosal barrier that protects the stromal compartment during matrix remodeling. Expression of two genes involved in repair and protection of the epithelial permeability barrier in the gut (trefoil factor 1) and skin (serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 5) were increased during softening and/or ripening. Another gene whose function remains to be elucidated, purkinje cell protein 4, declines in expression as remodeling progressed. Collectively, these results indicate that cervical softening during pregnancy is a unique phase of the tissue remodeling process characterized by increased collagen solubility, maintenance of tissue strength, and upregulation of genes involved in mucosal protection.
AB - Cervical remodeling during pregnancy and parturition is a single progressive process that can be loosely divided into four overlapping phases termed softening, ripening, dilation/labor, and post partum repair. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that facilitate all phases of cervical remodeling is critical for an understanding of parturition and for identifying processes that are misregulated in preterm labor, a significant cause of perinatal morbidity. In the present study, biomechanical measurements indicate that softening was initiated between gestation days 10 and 12 of mouse pregnancy, and in contrast to cervical ripening on day 18, the softened cervix maintains tissue strength. Although preceded by increased collagen solubility, cervical softening is not characterized by significant increases in cell proliferation, tissue hydration or changes in the distribution of inflammatory cells. Gene expression studies reveal a potentially important role of cervical epithelia during softening and ripening in maintenance of an immunomucosal barrier that protects the stromal compartment during matrix remodeling. Expression of two genes involved in repair and protection of the epithelial permeability barrier in the gut (trefoil factor 1) and skin (serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 5) were increased during softening and/or ripening. Another gene whose function remains to be elucidated, purkinje cell protein 4, declines in expression as remodeling progressed. Collectively, these results indicate that cervical softening during pregnancy is a unique phase of the tissue remodeling process characterized by increased collagen solubility, maintenance of tissue strength, and upregulation of genes involved in mucosal protection.
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U2 - 10.1530/REP-07-0032
DO - 10.1530/REP-07-0032
M3 - Article
C2 - 17660242
AN - SCOPUS:34548042542
SN - 1470-1626
VL - 134
SP - 327
EP - 340
JO - Reproduction
JF - Reproduction
IS - 2
ER -