Interleukin-8 induces cervical ripening in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether cervical ripening can be induced in rabbits by interleukin-8.


METHODS
Nonpregnant and pregnant rabbits were treated for 5 days with vaginal suppositories containing 100 ng of interleukin-8. Collagen and glycosaminoglycan concentration in the cervices were assessed histologically by picrosirius red and alcian blue, and the mean optical density was calculated. The mean neutrophil count in five random fields was calculated from each biopsy specimen.


RESULTS
Interleukin-8 induced softening and dilatation of the rabbit cervices. Water content was significantly increased (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Cervical collagen concentration was found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.0004 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Glycosaminoglycan concentration was significantly increased in nonpregnant and pregnant cervices (p < 0.0009 and p < 0.1, respectively). The mean number of neutrophils was significantly increased (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.006, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-8 can induce cervical ripening in nonpregnant and pregnant rabbits.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
E
E
el Maradny
N
N
Kanayama
A
A
Halim
K
K
Maehara
K
K
Sumimoto
T
T
Terao
D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014867:Water; D003094:Collagen