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Labour induces increased concentrations of biglycan and hyaluronan in human fetal membranes

Meinert, M. ; Malmström, Anders LU orcid ; Tufvesson, Ellen LU ; Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla LU ; Petersen, A. C. ; Laurent, C. ; Uldbjerg, N. and Eriksen, G. V. (2007) In Placenta 28(5-6). p.482-486
Abstract
Objective: The proteoglycan decorin stabilizes collagen whereas biglycan and hyaluronan disrupt well-organized collagen. The aim was to compare hyaluronan and proteoglycans in human fetal membranes obtained before and after spontaneous labour at term. Study design: Prelabour samples of fetal membranes (N = 9) were obtained from elective caesarean sections and regionally sampled from over the cervix (cervical membranes) and mid-zone samples between this area and the placental edge. Postlabour samples (N = 11) were obtained from spontaneous vaginal delivery and also regionally sampled. Amnion and chorio-decidua were analysed separately. The proteoglycans decorin and biglycan were analysed using alcian blue precipitation, SDS polyacrylamide... (More)
Objective: The proteoglycan decorin stabilizes collagen whereas biglycan and hyaluronan disrupt well-organized collagen. The aim was to compare hyaluronan and proteoglycans in human fetal membranes obtained before and after spontaneous labour at term. Study design: Prelabour samples of fetal membranes (N = 9) were obtained from elective caesarean sections and regionally sampled from over the cervix (cervical membranes) and mid-zone samples between this area and the placental edge. Postlabour samples (N = 11) were obtained from spontaneous vaginal delivery and also regionally sampled. Amnion and chorio-decidua were analysed separately. The proteoglycans decorin and biglycan were analysed using alcian blue precipitation, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunostaining. Hyaluronan was analysed using a radioimmunoassay and by histochemistry. Collagen was measured by estimating hydroxyproline content. Results: In prelabour membranes the biglycan concentration (mu g/mg wtw) in the cervical amnion was 40% lower than in the mid-zone amnion (P < 0.05). After delivery the cervical amnion showed a twofold increase in biglycan (P < 0.05), a 30% decrease in collagen (P < 0.05), and a 50% decrease in decorin concentration (P < 0.05). In mid-zone samples after delivery the concentrations of hyaluronan showed an increase form 1.0 to 4.9 mu g/mg wtw (P < 0.05). Histology demonstrated a gelatinous substance, which separated amnion and chorio-decidua, in particular at the cervical site. This gelatinous substance contained hyaluronan at a concentration of 3.0 mu g/mg wtw. Conclusion: It is well established that prelabour fetal membranes are considerably stronger than postlabour fetal membranes. Two features may explain this; a weakening of the amnion combined with a separation of amnion and chorio-decidua. The biomechanical changes are consistent with the decrease in collagen and decorin, and the increase in hyaluronan and biglycan demonstrated in this study. The separation of the membranes is caused by the formation of a gelatinous substance, rich in hyaluronan. The results indicate that the biomechanical changes are not merely secondary to the stress of labour but that an active maturation process is involved. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
chorio-decidua, aranion, collagen, rupture of membranes, decorin, biglycan, labour
in
Placenta
volume
28
issue
5-6
pages
482 - 486
publisher
W.B. Saunders
external identifiers
  • wos:000246449700015
  • scopus:34247165106
ISSN
1532-3102
DOI
10.1016/j.placenta.2006.09.006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
019cb9d5-725d-49cb-8bb7-aa276f8e059b (old id 659839)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:32:29
date last changed
2022-02-03 23:34:31
@article{019cb9d5-725d-49cb-8bb7-aa276f8e059b,
  abstract     = {{Objective: The proteoglycan decorin stabilizes collagen whereas biglycan and hyaluronan disrupt well-organized collagen. The aim was to compare hyaluronan and proteoglycans in human fetal membranes obtained before and after spontaneous labour at term. Study design: Prelabour samples of fetal membranes (N = 9) were obtained from elective caesarean sections and regionally sampled from over the cervix (cervical membranes) and mid-zone samples between this area and the placental edge. Postlabour samples (N = 11) were obtained from spontaneous vaginal delivery and also regionally sampled. Amnion and chorio-decidua were analysed separately. The proteoglycans decorin and biglycan were analysed using alcian blue precipitation, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunostaining. Hyaluronan was analysed using a radioimmunoassay and by histochemistry. Collagen was measured by estimating hydroxyproline content. Results: In prelabour membranes the biglycan concentration (mu g/mg wtw) in the cervical amnion was 40% lower than in the mid-zone amnion (P &lt; 0.05). After delivery the cervical amnion showed a twofold increase in biglycan (P &lt; 0.05), a 30% decrease in collagen (P &lt; 0.05), and a 50% decrease in decorin concentration (P &lt; 0.05). In mid-zone samples after delivery the concentrations of hyaluronan showed an increase form 1.0 to 4.9 mu g/mg wtw (P &lt; 0.05). Histology demonstrated a gelatinous substance, which separated amnion and chorio-decidua, in particular at the cervical site. This gelatinous substance contained hyaluronan at a concentration of 3.0 mu g/mg wtw. Conclusion: It is well established that prelabour fetal membranes are considerably stronger than postlabour fetal membranes. Two features may explain this; a weakening of the amnion combined with a separation of amnion and chorio-decidua. The biomechanical changes are consistent with the decrease in collagen and decorin, and the increase in hyaluronan and biglycan demonstrated in this study. The separation of the membranes is caused by the formation of a gelatinous substance, rich in hyaluronan. The results indicate that the biomechanical changes are not merely secondary to the stress of labour but that an active maturation process is involved. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Meinert, M. and Malmström, Anders and Tufvesson, Ellen and Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla and Petersen, A. C. and Laurent, C. and Uldbjerg, N. and Eriksen, G. V.}},
  issn         = {{1532-3102}},
  keywords     = {{chorio-decidua; aranion; collagen; rupture of membranes; decorin; biglycan; labour}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5-6}},
  pages        = {{482--486}},
  publisher    = {{W.B. Saunders}},
  series       = {{Placenta}},
  title        = {{Labour induces increased concentrations of biglycan and hyaluronan in human fetal membranes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2006.09.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.placenta.2006.09.006}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}