Tissue concentrations of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the lower uterine segment during term parturition.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentration of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the lower uterine segment during parturition at term.


METHODS
We analyzed protein extracts from the lower uterine segments of 38 women who had nonelective cesareans at term. We measured concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subjects were grouped according to cervical dilatation (less than 2 cm, n = 10; 2 to less than 4 cm, n = 9; 4-6 cm, n = 9; more than 6 cm, n = 10) and duration of labor (up to 6 hours, n = 14; 6-12 hours, n = 10; 12-24 hours, n = 9; longer than 24 hours, n = 5) at the time of cesarean.


RESULTS
The median concentration of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 increased significantly with increasing dilatation (from 2.24 ng/mg total protein at less than 2 cm to 6.73 ng/mg at 4-6 cm) and increasing duration of labor (from 2.53 ng/mg up to 6 hours to 5.90 ng/mg at 12-24 hours). However, this study did not have adequate statistical power to identify differences in concentrations of the other endothelial adhesion molecules.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that parturition at term is associated with expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1.
Winkler
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Technical University, Aachen, Germany. mwinkler@post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de
Kemp
B
B
Fischer
D C
DC
Ruck
P
P
Poth
D
D
Rath
W
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D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1