[The biochemical mechanism of cervical ripening after intracervical application of PGE2].

The influence of local intracervical application of PGE2 (Prostin E2-Upjohn) on collagenolytic activity as well as extracellular matrix components of human cervix during parturition has been analyzed. The content and extractability of collagen as well as concentration of glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid were investigated. Since we did not find any statistical changes in DNP-peptide collagenolytic activity and investigated extracellular macromolecules of cervical connective tissue we presumed that cervical ripening after local prostaglandin application closely resembles that occurring spontaneously.