title: Serum collagenase levels in relation to the state of the human cervix during pregnancy and labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of collagenase in the cervical ripening and dilatation process in term pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from nonpregnant women (n = 5) and term-pregnant women. The term-pregnant women were either admitted for elective cesarean section or labor induction (unfavorable cervix, n = 19; favorable cervix, n = 12) or in spontaneous, active labor (stiff and inelastic cervix, n = 7; soft compliant cervix, n = 8). Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nonpregnant women had low serum collagenase levels (5.2 +/- 0.7 micrograms collagen digested per minute per 100 ml serum, mean +/- SEM). At term but before labor, women with unripe cervices had higher collagenase levels (10.3 +/- 0.9). The women with ripe cervices had even higher serum collagenase levels (22.9 +/- 4.2; p < 0.001). During labor, women with stiff and inelastic cervices had lower serum collagenase levels compared with women with soft and compliant cervices (12.9 +/- 1.7 vs 28.0 +/- 4.2; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum collagenase during ripening at term and in active labor increases, supporting its active role in the ripening process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institute, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Granström
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmström
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ulmsten
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Woessner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000097:blood*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000097:blood; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017364:Collagenases