title: Morphological and morphometric changes in the cervix uteri of the rat at term pregnancy induced by hyaluronidase.
abstract: Intracervix injection of hyaluronidase during pregnancy has been proposed to accelerate cervix ripening. We evaluated the morphological and morphometric changes of the uterine cervix of pregnant rats, caused by the action of this enzyme. Ten female rats were equally divided between an experimental group (G II) and a control group (G I). On the 20th day of pregnancy, under light microscopy, a greater thinning of the superficial muciferous epithelium, with lamina propria rich in blood vessels and in eosinophils was found in G II. The histometric count of G II showed a smaller number of collagen fibers (average 248 vs 552 in the control group) and a greater concentration of eosinophils (average 18.20 vs 9.20 in the control group). The Student's t-test showed a significant difference in collagen fibers (p < 0.0001) and in eosinophils (p < 0.0007). The action of this enzyme caused a predominance of flaccid connective tissue, a lower concentration of collagen fibers and an increased concentration of eosinophils, confirming its utilization in cervix ripening.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Department, Federal University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo (Brazil).
authors.forename: G Negrão
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cordioli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Jesus Simões
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: L Júnior
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kulay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008853:Microscopy; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase