title: Effect of vitamin C on collagen structure of cardinal and uterosacral ligaments during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate changes in collagen structure in the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments of rats that were administered vitamin C during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen female rats were divided into three groups: six pregnant rats administered 1.25mg/ml/day of vitamin C during pregnancy (Group A); six non-pregnant rats that were not administered vitamin C (Group B); and six pregnant rats that were not administered vitamin C during pregnancy (Group C). Fifteen days after delivery, the uteruses of all rats were removed. The intensity of staining (mild, moderate or severe) and the extent of positive staining areas (%) of type I and type III collagen H scores for types I and III collagen, and intensity of elastin fibres in the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments were investigated immunohistochemically. Differences between groups were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and independent samples tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intensity and extent of type I and type III collagen, the H scores for type I and type III collagen, and the ratio of type III collagen H score: type I collagen H score differed significantly between groups. Pregnant rats administered vitamin C (Group A) had significantly higher values compared with non-pregnant rats (Group B): intensity of type I collagen (p=0.001), extent of type I collagen (p≤0.001), H score for type I collagen (p≤0.001), intensity for type III collagen (p=0.002), extent of type IV collagen (p=0.007), H score for type III collagen (p=0.017), type III collagen H score: type I collagen H score (p=0.039) and intensity of elastin fibres (p=0.097). A significant difference in the ratio of type III collagen H score: type I collagen H score was found between pregnant rats administered vitamin C (Group A) and pregnant rats not administered vitamin C (Group C) (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of vitamin C to rats during pregnancy had a favourable impact on collagen structure in the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments, suggesting that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy may help to prevent pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Training Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drbedir75@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Findik
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: İlkaya
authors.affiliation: Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guresci
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.affiliation: Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Department of Biostatics, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karakaya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D004549:Elastin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Cardinal and uterosacral ligaments; Collagen; Pelvic organ prolapse; Vitamin C