title: Glycosaminoglycans in cervical connective tissue during pregnancy and parturition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the content and distribution patterns of glycosaminoglycans in the human cervix during pregnancy and parturition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained a total of 87 specimens from nonpregnant and pregnant women. Biopsies (weight 50-200 mg) were taken from the posterior lip of the cervix. Hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfates, and heparan sulfate were separated on a Dowex 1 x 2 column and identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total amount of glycosaminoglycans increased during pregnancy from 2800 to 5000 nmol/g dry weight. The highest values were observed at the onset of labor (7100 nmol/g dry weight), followed by a sharp decrease during parturition. The clinical features of cervical ripening and dilatation were also associated with remarkable changes in glycosaminoglycan patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides collagenolysis during pregnancy, the glycosaminoglycans are also important regulators of cervical function. The different clinical features of the human cervix are characterized not only by variation in the total glycosaminoglycan content but also by changes in the proportions of the different glycosaminoglycans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osmers
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pflanz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Stuhlsatz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szeverényi
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans