title: Biomechanical analysis of cervix uteri in nonpregnant, pregnant and antigestagen (ZK 98 299) treated pregnant rats.
abstract: The biomechanical properties of the cervix uteri of the rat were studied under different pharmacological conditions. Four groups of rats were enrolled: A. non-pregnant (N = 12), B. 18 days pregnant treated with vehicle (N = 14), C. 18 days pregnant treated with the antigestagen ZK 98 299 (Onapristone) for 19 hours (N = 15), D. 22 days pregnant during spontaneous labor (N = 12). Load-dimension curves of two 2 mm ring-preparations from each cervix were obtained by a material testing machine. The results showed that the sampling position, the cervical ripening process, and the influence of antigestagen treatment were reflected in the biomechanical and compositional parameters. In conclusion the methodology in the present study constitute a model in which the effect of pharmaca on cervical ripening can be tested. The study demonstrated that antigestagen treatment induced biomechanical changes in the cervix comparable to those occurring during physiological cervical ripening at term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus Kommunehospital, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spanggaard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uldbjerg
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Danielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006067:Gonanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D006067:Gonanes; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; C053238:onapristone