Regulation of cervical ripening of the uterus through prostaglandin E2 receptor 4

背景技术背景：本研究的目的是探讨EP4作为前列腺素（PG）E2受体是否参与脂多糖（LPS）诱导的宫颈成熟。方法：将新西兰白色未孕兔随机分为4组，每天一次用含有LPS和不同浓度的EP 4选择性拮抗剂的阴道栓剂治疗3天，然后处死进行分析。进行分析以检查EP 4拮抗剂对LPS诱导的宫颈成熟的抑制作用。免疫组化法检测LPS处理后宫颈组织中EP4的表达。以5.8g恒定垂直拉伸测定宫颈段的宫颈伸展度百分比作为拉伸强度。通过计算机辅助数字分析仪的显微镜系统计算H&E切片中出现水肿变化的宫颈成熟区域。使用FITC标记的1型胶原测定宫颈组织中的1型胶原酶活性。结果：免疫组化结果显示，LPS处理后的宫颈间质细胞EP4呈阳性染色。与单纯LPS组相比，LPS + EP 4拮抗剂组的宫颈伸展度、宫颈水肿面积和Ⅰ型胶原酶活性均显著降低。结论：这些数据暗示EP4作为PGE2受体参与LPS诱导的宫颈成熟。

BACKGROUND : The purpose of this study was to examine whether EP4 as prostaglandin (PG) E2 receptor is involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cervical ripening. METHODS : New Zealand White non-pregnant rabbits were randomly allocated to 4 equal groups and treated with vaginal suppositories containing LPS with various concentrations of EP4-selective antagonist once daily for 3 days, and then sacrificed for analysis. Analysis was performed in order to examine the inhibitory effect of EP4 antagonist on LPS-induced cervical ripening. The expression of EP4 in a cervix treated with LPS was examined immunohistochemically. The percent of cervical extensibility in the segment of cervix as the tensile strength was determined with 5.8g of constant perpendicular stretching. The ripening area of the cervix with edematous changes in H&E sections was calculated by a microscopic system with a computer-assisted digital analyser. Type-1 collagenase activity was determined in cervical tissue using FITC-labelled type-1 collagen. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical study shows the positive staining of EP4 at the interstitial cells in the cervix treated with LPS. The extensibility, cervical edematous area and type-1 collagenase activity are significantly reduced in the cervix treated with LPS in the presence of EP4 antagonist compared with that treated with LPS alone. CONCLUSIONS : These data implicates the EP4 as the PGE2 receptor involved in LPS-induced cervical ripening.