[Histochemical changes of the glycosaminoglycans in the uterine cervix of pregnant rats after local injection of hyaluronidase].
OBJECTIVE
to study the histochemical changes related to the uterine cervix glycosaminoglycan of the albino female rat, after local administration of hyaluronidases at the end of pregnancy.


METHODS
ten female rats with positive pregnancy tests were randomly distributed in two numerically equal groups. The control group (Cg) was built up with rats that received a single dose of 1 mL of distilled water in the uterine cervix, under anesthesia, at the 18th pregnancy day. In the experimental group (Exg), the rats received 0.02 mL of hyaluronidase, diluted in 0.98 mL of distilled water (1 mL as a total), under the same conditions as the Cg. At the 20th pregnancy day, the rats were anesthetized once again and submitted to dissection, and the cervix prepared for histochemical study with alcian blue dye and its blockades (pH=0.5, pH=2.5, methylation and saponification).


RESULTS
strongly positive reaction in the lamina propria (+3) has been seen in the Cg, and negative reaction in the Exg, with pH=0.5 alcian blue staining. With pH=2.5, staining has also been strongly positive (+4) in the Cg, and weakly positive (+1) in the Exg slide. After methylation, both groups have shown negative reaction, with pH=2.5 alcian blue staining. The lamina propria staining became negative after methylation in both groups, followed by saponification and enzymatic digestion on slide.


CONCLUSIONS
there is clear predominance of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the Cg as compared to the Exg and a small amount of identified carboxylated glycosaminoglycans in the Exg. The changes evidenced in the extracellular matrix have suggested that the hyaluronidase injected in the uterine cervix has promoted biochemical changes compatible with cervix maturation.
Lopes
Viviane Almeida de Alcântara
VA
Departamento de Obstetrícia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. vivialcantara@hotmail.com
Luz
Mônica Regina Lourenço
MR
Souza
Guilherme Negrão de
GN
Fernandes Júnior
João Antão
JA
Simões
Manuel de Jesus
Mde J
Camano
Luiz
L
Souza
Eduardo de
Ed
D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase