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Is cervical dilatation during parturition at term associated with apoptosis?

  • B. Kemp , W. Rath , M. Winkler , T. Reineke , H.M. Beier and U. von Rango
Published/Copyright: June 1, 2005
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Volume 33 Issue 2

Abstract

Aims: Cellular turnover may be involved in remodeling of the cervix during parturition. Therefore, the number and localization of apoptotic and proliferating cells during cervical dilatation at term were determined.

Methods: Biopsy specimens from the lower uterine segment of 36 women undergoing cesarean section with a cervical dilatation of <2 cm (n=10), 2–<4 cm (n=9), 4–6 cm (n=8), and >6 cm (n=9) were examined for nuclear fragmentation by the TUNEL assay, and for cell survival by the apoptosis-blocking bcl-2. Proliferation was marked by Ki-67, epithelial cells by cytokeratin and leukocytes by CD 45. For quantification of apoptotic and proliferating cells, eight random fields of each specimen stained for TUNEL or Ki-67 were blindly counted by two investigators. For statistical evaluation, 90% confidence intervals based on a Poisson distribution were used; groups with non-overlapping intervals were considered significantly different.

Results: Apoptotic cells were found exclusively within the stromal compartment, while bcl-2 was expressed in epithelial cells and leukocytes. Proliferating cells were of stromal and epithelial origin. The number of apoptotic as well as proliferating cells ranged from 0 to 2 cells per high-power field (median number 0) in all groups. The confidence intervals were overlapping for all groups, showing no statistical difference between them.

Conclusion: Apoptosis does not seem to play a decisive role in the process of cervical dilatation during parturition at term.

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Corresponding author: PD Dr. med. Birgit Kemp, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital, Technical University Pauwelsstr, 3052057 Aachen/Germany. Tel.: +44-241-8088400; Fax: +43-241-8082476;

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Published Online: 2005-06-01
Published in Print: 2005-03-01

©2005 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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