el Maradny E, Kanayama N, Halim A, Maehara K, Sumimoto K, Terao T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1995 May;60(1):75-80. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(95)02085-3.
In this research we studied the effect of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on the cervix.
Vaginal suppositories of a low dose of IL-1 beta (200 ng) were applied to non-pregnant and pregnant rabbits. Results were compared with a control group which were treated only by placebo. Water concentration, collagen content, collagenase and elastase activities were measured. Neutrophil numbers in the cervical connective tissue were counted. Also, interleukin-8 (IL-8) was measured in the supernatant of homogenized cervical tissue treated by IL-1 beta.
Water contents of the tested cervices were increased (P < 0.006 and 0.03, respectively), whereas collagen content was markedly decreased (P < 0.0004 and 0.001, respectively). Collagenase activity was found to be increased in non-pregnant and pregnant cervices treated by IL-1 beta (P < 0.02 and 0.002, respectively). Also, elastase activity of these cervices were significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.0007 and 0.001, respectively). Neutrophil invasion was observed in the cervical connective tissues after application of IL-1 beta. IL-8 was significantly elevated (P < 0.0001) in the treated cervices.
Interaction between IL-1 and IL-8 is suspected to be essential for cervical ripening.
