| Research Abstract |
IL-8 induced cervical ripening in non pregnant and pregnant rabbits. After treatment with IL-8 cervices become soft and dilatable. Water content and total glycosaminoglycan were increased, whereas collagen concentration was decreased. Neutrophil influx was observed after exogenous application of IL-8 to the cervices. Collagenase, elastase and gelatinase activities were increased. Similar results, but less marked, were found after treatment of the rabbit cervices with IL-1.
IL-8 receptors (type I and II) were expressed in the chorion and decidua before the initiation of labor, whereas amnion was negatively stained for IL-8 receptors. After initiation of labor pain, IL-8 receptors were strongly stained in amnion, chorion and decidua. IL-8 receptors were also expressed in myometrium.
Stratified squamous epithelium of portio vaginalis was strongly stained for IL-8 receptors (type I and II), whereas the columnar epithelium of the cervical glands was negatively stained for receptors. Cervical fibroblasts and smooth muscle fibers of the cervix were strongly stained for IL-8 receptors. The density of IL-8 receptors was increased after incubation with DHA-S,whereas no effect was found after incubation with E_2, DHA,or progesterone. DHA-S was also found to potentiate the ripening effect of IL-8 on the rabbit cervices.
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