1
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Ferdousy RN, Suong NT, Kadokawa H. Specific locations and amounts of denatured collagen and collagen-specific chaperone HSP47 in the uterine cervices of old cows compared with those of heifers. Theriogenology 2023; 196:10-17. [PMID: 36375211 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Collagen, the most abundant extra-cellular matrix in the reproductive tract, performs a critical role in pregnancy. Although detecting damaged collagen in tissues is challenging, we recently developed a new in situ detection method using a denatured collagen detection reagent in bovine oviducts and uteri. Utilizing this method, we evaluated the hypothesis that the locations and amounts of denatured collagen in the uterine cervices of old cows are different from those in young heifers as a result of repeated pregnancies and deliveries. We compared damaged collagen in the uterine cervix at the mid-luteal phase between post-pubertal growing nulliparous heifers (22.1 ± 1.0 months old; n = 5) and old multiparous cows (143.1 ± 15.6 months old; 9 ± 1 parities; sacrificed at least 3 months after the last parturition by vaginal delivery; n = 5). Picrosirius red staining showed collagen in almost all parts of the cervices. Expectedly, the amount of damaged collagen was increased in the cervices of old cows. Additionally, we combined in situ detection and fluorescence immunohistochemistry of the collagen-specific molecular chaperone, the 47 kDa heat shock protein (HSP47). Increased HSP47 amounts were observed in the cervices from the old cows, but damaged collagen and HSP47 were not located in the same areas. The age differences were confirmed by western blotting using the anti-HSP47 antibody. These findings revealed the specific location and amounts of denatured collagen in the uterine cervices of old cows compared with those of heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raihana Nasrin Ferdousy
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan
| | - Nguyen Thi Suong
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan
| | - Hiroya Kadokawa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan.
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2
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Nallasamy S, Palacios HH, Setlem R, Caraballo MC, Li K, Cao E, Shankaran M, Hellerstein M, Mahendroo M. Transcriptome and proteome dynamics of cervical remodeling in the mouse during pregnancy. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1257-1271. [PMID: 34309663 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During gestation, the female reproductive tract must maintain pregnancy while concurrently preparing for parturition. Here, we explore the transitions in gene expression and protein turnover (fractional synthesis rates [FSR]) by which the cervix implements a transition from rigid to compliant. Shifts in gene transcription to achieve immune tolerance and alter epithelial cell programs begin in early pregnancy. Subsequently, in mid-to-late pregnancy transcriptional programs emerge that promote structural reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Stable isotope labeling revealed a striking slowdown of overall FSRs across the proteome on gestation day 6 that reverses in mid-to-late pregnancy. An exception was soluble fibrillar collagens and proteins of collagen assembly, which exhibit high turnover in non-pregnant cervix compared to other tissues and FSRs that continue throughout pregnancy. This finding provides a mechanism to explain how cross-linked collagen is replaced by newly synthesized, less-cross-linked collagens, which allows increased tissue compliance during parturition. The rapid transition requires a reservoir of newly synthesized, less cross-linked collagens, which is assured by the high FSR of soluble collagens in the cervix. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized form of "metabolic flexibility" for ECM in the cervix that underlies rapid transformation in compliance to allow parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Hector H Palacios
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Rohit Setlem
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Mariano Colon Caraballo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Kelvin Li
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Edward Cao
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Mahalakshmi Shankaran
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Marc Hellerstein
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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3
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Nakajima T, Kozuma M, Hirasawa T, Matsunaga YT, Tomooka Y. Extracellular matrix components and elasticity regulate mouse vaginal epithelial differentiation induced by mesenchymal cells†. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:1239-1248. [PMID: 33693507 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oviduct, uterus, and vagina are derived from Müllerian ducts. But only in the vagina, the epithelium differentiates into stratified layers. Organ-specific secreted factors derived from the stroma of a neonatal mouse induce epithelial differentiation in the female reproductive tracts. However, the effects of the components and mechanical property of extracellular matrix (ECM) on the regulation of gene expression in the mesenchymal cells of neonatal stroma and differentiation of epithelium in the female reproductive tracts have been overlooked. In the present study, we have developed a simple 3D neonatal vaginal model using clonal cell lines to study the effect of ECM's components and stiffness on the epithelial stratification. Transcriptome analysis was performed by DNA-microarray to identify the components of ECM involved in the differentiation of vaginal epithelial stratification. The knockdown experiment of the candidate genes relating to vaginal epithelial stratification was focused on fibromodulin (Fmod), a collagen cross-linking protein. FMOD was essential for the expression of Bmp4, which encodes secreted factors to induce the epithelial stratification of vaginal mesenchymal cells. Furthermore, stiffer ECM as a scaffold for epithelial cells is necessary for vaginal epithelial stratification. Therefore, the components and stiffness of ECM are both crucial for the epithelial stratification in the neonatal vagina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadaaki Nakajima
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyabi Kozuma
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Hirasawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yasuhiro Tomooka
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
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4
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Sa Söz H, Liman N, Güney Saruhan B, Akbal K ME, Ketani MA, Topalo Lu UU. Expression and localisation of epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in the lower genital tract of cycling cows. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 31:1692-1706. [PMID: 31270009 DOI: 10.1071/rd18179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB) family and its ligands are essential for the regulation of multiple cellular processes required for mammalian reproduction. The objectives of this study were to investigate the expression and localisation of ErbB subtypes (ErbB1-4) and selected ligands, namely epidermal growth factor (EGF), amphiregulin (AREG) and neuregulin (NRG), in the cervix and vagina of cycling cows and to determine possible steroid hormone-dependence of their expression using immunohistochemistry. All four ErbBs and EGF, AREG and NRG proteins were found to be localised in the nucleus and cytoplasm of different cells in the cervix and vagina, and their expression differed during the oestrous cycle. During the follicular phase, in both the cervix and vagina, ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4 and EGF expression was higher in the luminal epithelium (LE) than in stromal and smooth muscle (SM) cells (P<0.05). During the luteal phase, the expression of ErbB1, ErbB3 and EGF in the LE was significantly different from that in stromal and SM cells in the cervix, whereas the expression of EGF and AREG differed in the vagina compared to the cervix (P<0.05). Throughout the oestrous cycle, in both the cervix and vagina, although ErbB2/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in the LE and SM cells was significantly higher than in the stromal cells (P<0.05), NRG expression was similar in the LE, stromal and SM cells (P>0.05). Overall, these results suggest that all four ErbBs and the EGF, AREG and NRG proteins may collectively contribute to several cellular processes in the bovine cervix and vagina during the oestrous cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Sa Söz
- Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey; and Corresponding author.
| | - Narin Liman
- Erciyes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Berna Güney Saruhan
- Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Mehmet E Akbal K
- Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Muzaffer A Ketani
- Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - U Ur Topalo Lu
- Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey
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Mileva R, Karadaev M, Fasulkov I, Petkova T, Rusenova N, Vasilev N, Milanova A. Oxytetracycline Pharmacokinetics After Intramuscular Administration in Cows with Clinical Metritis Associated with Trueperella Pyogenes Infection. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:E392. [PMID: 32659893 PMCID: PMC7400317 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9070392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic therapy with oxytetracycline is often used for treatment of clinical metritis although data about its penetration into the uterus and uterine secretion are lacking. Uterine secretions and milk from six cows with clinical metritis were collected for microbiological assay. The animals were treated intramuscularly with long-acting oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg) and samples of plasma, milk and uterine secretions were collected for determination of the antibiotic concentrations by HPLC-PDA analysis. Pharmacokinetics of the antibiotic and in silico prediction of its penetration into the uterus were described. Trueperella pyogenes with MIC values of 16-64 µg mL-1 was isolated (n of cows = 4) from uterine secretions. Oxytetracycline showed fast absorption and penetration in the uterine secretions and milk. No change of withdrawal time for milk was necessitated in cows with clinical metritis. Maximum levels in uterine secretions and predicted concentrations of oxytetracycline in the uterus were lower than MIC values. Systemic administration of long-acting oxytetracycline did not guarantee clinical cure and was not a suitable choice for treatment of clinical metritis associated with Trueperella pyogenes. The appropriate approach to antibiotic treatment of uterine infections of cows requires knowledge on penetration of the antibiotics at the site of infection and sensitivity of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rositsa Mileva
- Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (R.M.); (T.P.)
| | - Manol Karadaev
- Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Reproductive Disorders, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (M.K.); (I.F.); (N.V.)
| | - Ivan Fasulkov
- Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Reproductive Disorders, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (M.K.); (I.F.); (N.V.)
| | - Tsvetelina Petkova
- Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (R.M.); (T.P.)
| | - Nikolina Rusenova
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria;
| | - Nasko Vasilev
- Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Reproductive Disorders, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (M.K.); (I.F.); (N.V.)
| | - Aneliya Milanova
- Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (R.M.); (T.P.)
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6
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The effect of the intracervical administration of FSH or LH on the levels of hyaluronan, COX2, and COX2 mRNA in the cervix of the nonpregnant ewe. Theriogenology 2016; 86:2244-2253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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7
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Rodríguez-Piñón M, Tasende C, Casuriaga D, Bielli A, Genovese P, Garófalo E. Collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in the ewe cervix during the estrous cycle. Theriogenology 2015; 84:818-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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8
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Carlson LC, Romero ST, Palmeri ML, Muñoz Del Rio A, Esplin SM, Rotemberg VM, Hall TJ, Feltovich H. Changes in shear wave speed pre- and post-induction of labor: a feasibility study. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2015; 46:93-8. [PMID: 25200374 PMCID: PMC4363009 DOI: 10.1002/uog.14663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility of using shear wave speed (SWS) estimates to detect differences in cervical softening pre- and post-ripening in women undergoing induction of labor. METHODS Subjects at 37-41 weeks' gestation undergoing cervical ripening before induction of labor were recruited (n = 20). Examinations, performed prior to administration of misoprostol and 4 h later included Bishop score, transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length, and 10 replicate SWS measurements using an ultrasound system equipped with a prototype transducer (128 element, 3 mm diameter, 14 mm aperture) attached to the clinician's hand. Subjects were divided into two groups, 'not-in-labor' and 'marked-progression', based on cervical evaluation at the second examination. Measurements were compared via individual paired hypotheses tests and using a linear mixed model, with the latter also used to compare groups. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to compare SWS with Bishop score. The linear mixed model can take into account clustered data and accommodate multiple predictors simultaneously. RESULTS The Wilcoxon signed-rank paired test established a significant difference in pre- and post-ripening SWS, with mean SWS estimates of 2.53 ± 0.75 and 1.54 ± 0.31 m/s, respectively (P < 0.001) in the not-in-labor group (decrease in stiffness) and 1.58 ± 0.33 and 2.35 ± 0.65 m/s for the marked-progression group (increase in stiffness). The linear mixed model corroborated significant differences in pre- and post-ripening measurements in individual subjects (P < 0.001) as well as between groups (P < 0.0001). SWS estimates were significantly correlated with digitally-assessed cervical softness and marginally correlated with Bishop score as assessed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. CONCLUSIONS In-vivo SWS estimates detected stiffness differences before and after misoprostol-induced softening in term pregnancies. This ultrasonic shear elasticity imaging technique shows promise for assessing cervical softness.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Carlson
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S T Romero
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, UT, USA
| | - M L Palmeri
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - A Muñoz Del Rio
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S M Esplin
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, UT, USA
| | - V M Rotemberg
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - T J Hall
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - H Feltovich
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Department, Intermountain Healthcare, Provo, UT, USA
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9
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Mazza E, Parra-Saavedra M, Bajka M, Gratacos E, Nicolaides K, Deprest J. In vivo assessment of the biomechanical properties of the uterine cervix in pregnancy. Prenat Diagn 2014; 34:33-41. [PMID: 24155152 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Measuring the stiffness of the cervix might be useful in the prediction of preterm delivery or successful induction of labor. For that purpose, a variety of methods for quantitative determination of physical properties of the pregnant cervix have been developed. Herein, we review studies on the clinical application of these new techniques. They are based on the quantification of mechanical, optical, or electrical properties associated with increased hydration and loss of organization in collagen structure. Quasi-static elastography determines relative values of stiffness; hence, it can identify differences in deformability. Quasi-static elastography unfortunately cannot quantify in absolute terms the stiffness of the cervix. Also, the current clinical studies did not demonstrate the ability to predict the time point of delivery. In contrast, measurement of maximum deformability of the cervix (e.g. quantified with the cervical consistency index) provided meaningful results, showing an increase in compliance with gestational age. These findings are consistent with aspiration measurements on the pregnant ectocervix, indicating a progressive decrease of stiffness along gestation. Cervical consistency index and aspiration measurements therefore represent promising techniques for quantitative assessment of the biomechanical properties of the cervix.
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10
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Identification of biomechanical properties in vivo in human uterine cervix. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2014; 39:27-37. [PMID: 25084120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The course and outcome of pregnancy is closely correlated to change of biomechanical properties of the uterine cervix. The aim of this study was to build a non-linear, fiber reinforced mechanical model of the cervix for estimation of mechanical characteristics of the cervix in early- and term-pregnant women based on recordings of in vivo pressure and diameter by means of the Functional Luminal Imaging Probe (FLIP) technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five early- and six term-pregnant women were examined with a FLIP probe. The bag on the probe was inserted into the cervical canal for concomitant measurement of diameters at 16 serial locations along the canal and the bag pressure. The bag was inflated to a maximum volume of 50 ml. A three-fiber-families model including isotropic elastin-dominated matrix and anisotropic collagen was introduced to describe the mechanical behavior of the cervical canal. The unknown geometric and mechanical parameters were calculated on the basis of the mid-cervical diameters and the intraluminal pressures during the inflation. RESULTS The wall thickness in the unloaded state (zero pressure applied) and mechanical properties of the matrix material (c) and collagens (c1, c2) were estimated with good fits of the calculated intraluminal pressures to the FLIP recordings during the cervical canal distension. No significant difference in the wall thickness was found between the early- and term-pregnant women (10.3 ± 0.8mm vs. 11.7 ± 2.2mm, p=0.30). The cervical matrix material and the collagen in the early-pregnant women were much stiffer than that in the term-pregnant women (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The cervical mechanical properties can be obtained from recorded pressure and diameter data in vivo via the established mechanical model. Matrix material and collagens of the cervix wall were remodeled during pregnancy. The mechanical model can be applied to other tubular visceral organs where concomitant measures of pressure and diameter can be obtained for better understanding diseases and their evolution or treatment.
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11
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Carlson LC, Feltovich H, Palmeri ML, Dahl JJ, Munoz del Rio A, Hall TJ. Estimation of shear wave speed in the human uterine cervix. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2014; 43:452-8. [PMID: 23836486 PMCID: PMC3894258 DOI: 10.1002/uog.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore spatial variability within the cervix and the sensitivity of shear wave speed (SWS) to assess softness/stiffness differences in ripened (softened) vs unripened tissue. METHODS We obtained SWS estimates from hysterectomy specimens (n = 22), a subset of which were ripened (n = 13). Multiple measurements were made longitudinally along the cervical canal on both the anterior and posterior sides of the cervix. Statistical tests of differences in the proximal vs distal, anterior vs posterior and ripened vs unripened cervix were performed with individual two-sample t-tests and a linear mixed model. RESULTS Estimates of SWS increase monotonically from distal to proximal longitudinally along the cervix, they vary in the anterior compared to the posterior cervix and they are significantly different in ripened vs unripened cervical tissue. Specifically, the mid position SWS estimates for the unripened group were 3.45 ± 0.95 m/s (anterior; mean ± SD) and 3.56 ± 0.92 m/s (posterior), and 2.11 ± 0.45 m/s (anterior) and 2.68 ± 0.57 m/s (posterior) for the ripened group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We propose that SWS estimation may be a valuable research and, ultimately, diagnostic tool for objective quantification of cervical stiffness/softness.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Carlson
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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12
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Palmeri ML, Feltovich H, Homyk AD, Carlson LC, Hall TJ. Evaluating the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave elasticity imaging of the uterine cervix with an intracavity array: a simulation study. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2013; 60:2053-64. [PMID: 24081254 PMCID: PMC4423534 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2013.2796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The uterine cervix softens, shortens, and dilates throughout pregnancy in response to progressive disorganization of its layered collagen microstructure. This process is an essential part of normal pregnancy, but premature changes are associated with preterm birth. Clinically, there are no reliable noninvasive methods to objectively measure cervical softening or assess cervical microstructure. The goal of these preliminary studies was to evaluate the feasibility of using an intracavity ultrasound array to generate acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) excitations in the uterine cervix through simulation, and to optimize the acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitation for shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) of the tissue stiffness. The cervix is a unique soft tissue target for SWEI because it has significantly greater acoustic attenuation (α = 1.3 to 2.0 dB·cm(-1)·MHz(-)1) than other soft tissues, and the pathology being studied tends to lead to an increase in tissue compliance, with healthy cervix being relatively stiff compared with other soft tissues (E ≈ 25 kPa). Additionally, the cervix can only be accessed in vivo using a transvaginal or catheter-based array, which places additional constraints on the excitation focal characteristics that can be used during SWEI. Finite element method (FEM) models of SWEI show that larger-aperture, catheter-based arrays can utilize excitation frequencies up to 7 MHz to generate adequate focal gain up to focal depths 10 to 15 mm deep, with higher frequencies suffering from excessive amounts of near-field acoustic attenuation. Using full-aperture excitations can yield ~40% increases in ARFI-induced displacements, but also restricts the depth of field of the excitation to ~0.5 mm, compared with 2 to 6 mm, which limits the range that can be used for shear wave characterization of the tissue. The center-frequency content of the shear wave particle velocity profiles ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kHz, depending on the focal configuration and the stiffness of the material being imaged. Overall, SWEI is possible using catheter-based imaging arrays to generate adequate displacements in cervical tissue for shear wave imaging, although specific considerations must be made when optimizing these arrays for this shear wave imaging application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L. Palmeri
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC,
| | - Helen Feltovich
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Department, Intermountain Healthcare, Provo, UT
| | | | - Lindsey C. Carlson
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Timothy J. Hall
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
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13
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Reusch LM, Feltovich H, Carlson LC, Hall G, Campagnola PJ, Eliceiri KW, Hall TJ. Nonlinear optical microscopy and ultrasound imaging of human cervical structure. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2013; 18:031110. [PMID: 23412434 PMCID: PMC4023642 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.18.3.031110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The cervix softens and shortens as its collagen microstructure rearranges in preparation for birth, but premature change may lead to premature birth. The global preterm birth rate has not decreased despite decades of research, likely because cervical microstructure is poorly understood. Our group has developed a multilevel approach to evaluating the human cervix. We are developing quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques for noninvasive interrogation of cervical microstructure and corroborating those results with high-resolution images of microstructure from second harmonic generation imaging (SHG) microscopy. We obtain ultrasound measurements from hysterectomy specimens, prepare the tissue for SHG, and stitch together several hundred images to create a comprehensive view of large areas of cervix. The images are analyzed for collagen orientation and alignment with curvelet transform, and registered with QUS data, facilitating multiscale analysis in which the micron-scale SHG images and millimeter-scale ultrasound data interpretation inform each other. This novel combination of modalities allows comprehensive characterization of cervical microstructure in high resolution. Through a detailed comparative study, we demonstrate that SHG imaging both corroborates the quantitative ultrasound measurements and provides further insight. Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of specific microstructural cervical change in pregnancy should lead to novel approaches to the prevention of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Reusch
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Helen Feltovich
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Intermountain HealthCare, 1034 N 500 W, Provo, Utah
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Lindsey C. Carlson
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Gunnsteinn Hall
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Paul J. Campagnola
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Timothy J. Hall
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Address all correspondence to: Timothy J. Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Physics Department, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Tel: 801-357-8152; E-mail:
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Feltovich H, Hall TJ. Quantitative imaging of the cervix: setting the bar. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2013; 41:121-128. [PMID: 23371343 DOI: 10.1002/uog.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H Feltovich
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1005 WIMR, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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15
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Duraipandian S, Zheng W, Ng J, Low JJH, Ilancheran A, Huang Z. Non-invasive analysis of hormonal variations and effect of postmenopausal Vagifem treatment on women using in vivo high wavenumber confocal Raman spectroscopy. Analyst 2013; 138:4120-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c3an00526g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Optical properties, physiologic parameters and tissue composition of the human uterine cervix as a function of hormonal status. Lasers Med Sci 2008; 24:561-6. [PMID: 19039621 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-008-0611-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2008] [Accepted: 08/19/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The influence of sex hormones on the human uterine cervix is likely to be important in the process of cervical ripening. Frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) was used to investigate non-invasively the changes in the optical properties that reflect physiologic parameters and tissue composition of the uterine cervix in the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Twenty premenopausal and nine postmenopausal women were examined. Optical properties of the uterine cervix were measured, and physiological parameters [concentration of water, oxyhemoglobin (O(2)Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb), total hemoglobin (tHb), oxygen saturation (StO(2)), water, and scattering power] were calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for statistical significance. The optical properties of the anterior cervical lip did not differ from those of the posterior lip. HHb was significantly lower in cervices during menstrual bleeding than during the follicular, luteal, or postmenopausal phases. The ratio of O(2)Hb to HHb was highly significantly increased by a factor of 2 when cervices during the menstrual bleeding were compared with those during the follicular, luteal, or postmenopausal phases. The scattering power was significantly lower during menstrual bleeding than during the follicular or postmenopausal phases. We demonstrated that withdrawal of sex hormones during menstrual bleeding is associated with a significant decrease in HHb and scattering power, with stable values of O(2)Hb, tHb, StO(2), and H(2)O compared with the values during the follicular, luteal or postmenopausal phases of the menstrual cycle. Cervical softening during menstrual bleeding seems to be different from cervical softening for labor.
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Rodríguez-Piñón M, Tasende C, Puime P, Garófalo EG. Oestrogen and progesterone receptor binding capacity and oestrogen receptor alpha expression (ERalpha mRNA) along the cervix of cycling ewes. Reprod Fertil Dev 2008; 20:350-6. [PMID: 18402754 DOI: 10.1071/rd07186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2007] [Accepted: 12/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study the oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) binding capacity and the oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) mRNA concentration in cranial and caudal cervix during the ovine oestrous cycle. Cervical samples of synchronised Corriedale ewes were obtained on Day 1 (n=7), 6 (n=6) or 13 (n=7) after oestrus detection (Day 0). The ER and PR binding capacity by ligand-binding assay and the ERalpha mRNA concentration by solution hybridisation in both cranial and caudal zones of the cervix were determined. The ER and PR binding capacity were higher (P<0.005) on Day 1 than on Days 6 and 13 in both cranial and caudal zones. The ERalpha mRNA concentrations were higher (P<0.0001) on Day 1 than on Days 6 and 13 only in the caudal zone. The PR binding capacity and ERalpha mRNA concentration were higher (P<0.005) in the caudal than in the cranial zone on Day 1. The ER and PR expression in the ovine cervix varied during the oestrous cycle in agreement with the known upregulation exerted by oestrogen and downregulation exerted by progesterone. Differences in ER and PR expression along the longitudinal axis of the ovine cervix were found, reflecting histological and functional differences between the cranial and caudal zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rodríguez-Piñón
- Biochemistry, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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18
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Anderson J, Brown N, Mahendroo MS, Reese J. Utilization of different aquaporin water channels in the mouse cervix during pregnancy and parturition and in models of preterm and delayed cervical ripening. Endocrinology 2006; 147:130-40. [PMID: 16179408 DOI: 10.1210/en.2005-0896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Biochemical changes of cervical connective tissue, including progressive disorganization of the collagen network and increased water content, occur during gestation to allow for cervical dilatation during labor, but the mechanisms that regulate cervical fluid balance are not fully understood. We examined whether aquaporins (AQPs), a family of membrane channel proteins that facilitate water transport, help mediate fluid balance in the mouse cervix during parturition. Of the 13 known murine AQPs, AQP0-2, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12 were absent or at the limits of detection. By Northern blot and real-time PCR, AQP3 expression was low in nongravid and mid-pregnancy cervices with peak expression on d 19 and postpartum d 1 (PP1). AQP4 expression was generally low throughout pregnancy but showed a small upward trend at the time of parturition. AQP5 and AQP8 expression were significantly increased on d 12-15 but fell to nongravid/baseline by d 19 and PP1. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, AQP3 was preferentially expressed in basal cell layers of the cervical epithelium, whereas AQP4, 5, and 8 were primarily expressed in apical cell layers. Females with LPS-induced preterm labor had similar trends in AQP4, 5, and 8 expression to mice with natural labor at term gestation. Mice with delayed cervical remodeling due to deletion of the steroid 5alpha-reductase type 1 gene showed significant reduction in the levels of AQP3, 4, and 8 on d 19 or PP1. Together, these studies suggest that AQPs 3, 4, 5, and 8 regulate distinct aspects of cervical water balance during pregnancy and parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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Breeveld-Dwarkasing VNA, te Koppele JM, Bank RA, van der Weijden GC, Taverne MAM, van Dissel-Emiliani FMF. Changes in water content, collagen degradation, collagen content, and concentration in repeated biopsies of the cervix of pregnant cows. Biol Reprod 2003; 69:1608-14. [PMID: 12855606 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.012534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to assess if cervical ripeness could be quantified by measuring the percentage of denaturation of the collagen network of the stromal layer. Biopsy specimens from the caudal part of the cervix were obtained from nine pluriparous cows between Days 149 and 157 of gestation (second-trimester biopsy), at exactly Day 275 of gestation (term biopsy), and shortly after calving (calving biopsy). The samples were divided into a superficial stromal part and a deep stromal part. The water content was derived from the weight of the samples before and after lyophilization. A colorimetric assay was used to assess the percentage of collagen denaturation by determining the extinction at 570 nm of hydroxyproline released from alpha-chymotrypsine-treated samples. By incorporating a hydroxyproline standard series in the measurements, the insoluble collagen content (mug/mg dry wt) as well as the insoluble collagen concentration (mug/mg wet wt) could be derived. The water content of both layers of the cervix significantly increased between midpregnancy and parturition (P < 0.01). The insoluble collagen content and the insoluble collagen concentration were significantly increased at term (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) but were significantly decreased at calving (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Both parameters showed no significant differences between the superficial and deep stromal layer, and they were significantly correlated with each other. A significant increase in the percentage denaturation of the deep stromal layer occurred between the second trimester and term pregnancy (P < 0.01), whereas at calving, the percentage denaturation had not significantly increased compared to term. The percentage of collagen denaturation of the superficial stromal layer did not significantly change with stage of gestation or at parturition. Our findings indicate that cervical ripening is a combination of increased collagen synthesis and increased percentage of collagen denaturation, whereas at calving, an increased digestion of the denatured collagen leads to increased collagen loss from the cervical connective tissue. The finding that cervical ripening mainly takes place in the deep stromal layer of the cervix emphasizes the importance of a detailed description of the tissue sampling sites for a proper interpretation of the results obtained from biochemical studies of the cervix.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N A Breeveld-Dwarkasing
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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