title: Collagenase activity in the cervix of non-pregnant and pregnant women.
abstract: Cervical biopsies were obtained from non pregnant patients and from pregnant at various stages of gestation and during labour. The tissues were extract with a Ca(++)-containing buffer, and collagenase activity was determined in these extracts using a solid phase assay in which triple helical 125I-labelled collagen was cleaved. Collagenase was detected in all samples but significantly elevated activity was only present in labour at 6-8 cm cervical dilatation. This provides direct evidence for the crucial role of specific collagen degradation during cervical ripening and dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, FRG.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osmers
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Adelmann-Grill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fittkow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severényi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuhn
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000201:enzymology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology; D007749:Labor Stage, Third / Q000502:physiology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
chemical_list: D003012:Microbial Collagenase