title: Influence of ovarian steroids on relaxin-induced distensibility and compositional changes in the porcine cervix.
abstract: A study was conducted to examine the influence of ovarian steroids on relaxin-induced changes in distensibility and composition of the uterine cervix in gilts. Ovariectomized, prepubertal gilts received (i.m.) either 1) 0.5 ml corn oil (CO) for 16 days; 2) 0.5 ml CO for 16 days and estradiol benzoate (EB; 200 micrograms) twice daily on Days 13-14; 3) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Days 3-16 (EB + CO); 4) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Day 2 and twice daily injections of 100 mg progesterone (P) on Days 3-16 (EB + P); or 5) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Day 2 and P on Days 3-16 with additional EB treatment on Days 13-14 (EB + P + EB). One half of each group also received (i.m.) 0.5 ml 0.1 M PBS or 0.5 mg relaxin (RLX) every 6 h for 54 h coinciding with the final 2 days of the experimental period. Administration of RLX increased (p < 0.05) cervical distensibility compared to PBS treatment, with the response being greater (p < 0.05) in EB-, EB + CO-, and EB + P + EB-treated gilts compared to CO- or EB + P-treated gilts. Water content of cervical tissue was greater (p < 0.05) in EB-, EB+P- and EB + P + EB-treated gilts compared to CO- or EB + CO-treated gilt: and in all treatments, RLX enhanced (p < 0.05) imbibition of water by cervical tissues compared to that in PBS-treated gilts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Anthony
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003314:Corn Oil; D012065:Relaxin; D003094:Collagen