Knowledge of uterine cervical epithelial biology and factors that influence its

Because current treatments for preterm labor are either unsafe or ineffective and bacteria‐induced preterm labor is the leading cause of premature birth, here, we sought to test whether use of a natural product with anti‐bacterial and ‐inflammatory activities and a long history of safe use, namely Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (whole hydro‐ethanolic), could be used to attenuate bacteria‐ (lipopolyssacharide, LPS)‐induced inflammation in the mice uterine cervix. We initially optimized routes and dosages of the extract, and then deciphered the likely underlying mechanism by treating animals with either vehicle only, or a combination of whole hydro‐ethanolic root extract, LPS, and/or heme‐oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) inhibitor, dose‐dependently. Tissues were then harvested and evaluated using real time‐PCR, Western blot, histology and confocal immunofluorescence. Our data show that the extract promotes expression of HO‐1 mRNA and HO‐1 inhibitor blocked the protective effects of the extract in animals treated with LPS, dose‐dependently. We conclude from these findings that Echinacea could potentially be used to modulate inflammation‐induced preterm labor and that HO‐1 may mediate the anti‐inflammatory activities of E. purpurea in the uterine cervix. Funding: Office of Students Research, Appalachian State University.

Cervical remodeling (CR) is characterized by pronounced vascular alterations and cellular growth, such as increase in vascular leakage, white blood cell (WBC) tissue infiltration and cervical epithelial growth. However, factors that underlie these changes are not completely known. Here, we build on our previous data and investigate in depth the specific effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the best characterized angiogenic factor, on vascular leakage, edema, and cervical epithelial growth. Ovariectomized mice were treated with recombinant VEGF protein to determine the optimal dosage (vehicle, 50ng, 200ng and 400ng/mouse twice daily for 4 days, IP and intra‐vaginal alternately) and cervical tissues were harvested and analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), immunohistochemistry (Anti‐BrdU) and tissue hydration techniques. Mice used for cervical epithelial growth studies were also administered BrdU. VEGF was found to induce pronounced cervical epithelial growth and WBC infiltration and moderately increased edema in a dose‐dependent manner. These results demonstrate that VEGF is a potent regulatory factor of multiple processes of CR.