Hyaluronidase modifies the biomechanical properties of the rat cervix and shortens the duration of labor independent of myometrial contractility.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of intracervical hyaluronidase on the biomechanical properties of the cervix and on uterine contractility.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 33, term day 22) were injected with hyaluronidase (100 IU) or saline solution on day 18 of gestation (n = 8-9/group). On day 21, labor was induced with mifepristone (8 mg/rat). Injection-to-delivery times were recorded. Biomechanical properties of the cervix were assessed using stretch-tension analysis. Myometrial contractility was investigated in response to hyaluronidase (0.2-200 IU/mL), oxytocin (10(-10)M to 10(-5)M), and potassium chloride (60 mM).


RESULTS
Delivery times were shorter in the hyaluronidase group (P = .03). Cervices of the treated animals showed higher measures of elasticity and plasticity (P = .02 for both). Myometrial sensitivity to hyaluronidase, oxytocin, or potassium chloride was not affected by the cervical application of hyaluronidase (P > .05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical hyaluronidase treatment shortens labor and alters the biomechanical properties of the cervix, independent of the myometrium.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Benjamin D
BD
Byers
Egle
E
Bytautiene
Maged M
MM
Costantine
Catalin S
CS
Buhimschi
Irina
I
Buhimschi
George R
GR
Saade
Nima
N
Goharkhay
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase