The effect of the oestrous cycle and of hormones on the collagen content of the uterus of the rat

Harkness, Margaret L. R.; Harkness, R. D.; Moralee, Brenda E.

doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005709

Cited by 29 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This growth differential under the influence of oestrogen has previously been demonstrated in intact rats (Harkness, Harkness & Moralee, 1957) and in hormone-treated weanling rats (Hurley & Herr¬ mann, 1955 (2) Finally, it is interesting to note the variation in total collagen content between oestrus and dioestrus (P < 0-001). This is considerably greater than in the rat in which Harkness et al (1957) found only a slight and not significant cyclic variation in uterine collagen content (their results for cervix and horns being combined since they varied together). Although the oestrous cycles of rat and mouse are very similar in many respects, there appears to be some difference in their effects on cervical collagen metabolism in the two species.…”

mentioning

confidence: 79%

Changes in the Collagen of the Uterine Cervix of the Mouse During the Oestrous Cycle

Rimmer¹

1972

Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The uterine cervix of the mouse consists of dense connective tissue with smooth muscle and has a small and relatively inextensible lumen in the non-pregnant state (Leppi, 1964). However, the cyclic variation of ovarian hormones results in small changes in cervical dilatability (Crelin, 1958). The present study was undertaken as, unlike the rat, there is a lack of information on the actual collagen content of the mouse cervix throughout the oestrous cycle. It was also felt to be a useful basis for an investigation currently in progress into cervical collagen changes during pregnancy in this species.Albino, virgin mice aged 3-6 months from a closed but not inbred colony were used. Animals with a regular cycle were selected after taking vaginal smears for at least two cycles. Allen's (1922) definitions were used to designate smears as prooestrus, oestrus, metoestrus and dioestrus. On the day of experiment smears were taken from the selected animals just before death, which was caused by chloroform inhalation. After removal of the reproductive tract, the cervical region was dissected away at the bifurcation of the uterine horns and the vagina trimmed off to expose the caudal projection of the cervix. The tissue was weighed immediately and again after overnight drying at 65°C. Collagen was estimated by hydroxyproline assay according to the method of Prockop & Udenfriend (1960).The means and standard errors of wet and dry weights, total collagen, collagen concentration ana percentage water content of cervical tissue at different stages of the oestrous cycle are shown in Table 1. The total collagen and the weight (wet and dry) of the cervix were greatest at oestrus and least at dioestrus. In contrast the collagen concentration (compared with wet or dry weight) was lowest during prooestrus and oestrus and highest at dioestrus. The water content varied only slightly but was marginally higher in the oestrogen-dominated part of the cycle than in metoestrus or dioestrus.Disregarding the slight variation in water content, it appears that the increase in cervical weight at oestrus is due, in only a small proportion, to increased collagen content, and in a much greater proportion to other tissue components, and this results in the overall fall in collagen concentration. This growth differential under the influence of oestrogen has previously been demonstrated in intact rats

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 79%

Changes in the Collagen of the Uterine Cervix of the Mouse During the Oestrous Cycle

Rimmer¹

1972

Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Collagen formation occurred as a late phenomenon in this. Thus taken as a whole the response was like other rapidly induced growth processes, for example, in the uterus after a simple hormonal stimulus [Harkness, Harkness and Moralee, 1957]; in the liver after partial hepatectomy [see Harkness, 1961].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collagen Formation and Changes in Cell Population in the Rat's Uterus After Distension With Wax

Cullen

Harkness

1968

Exp Physiol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Injection, through the cervical canal, of wax into the lumen of the uterine horn of spayed rats treated with a mixture of ostradiol-17 ,B, progesterone and relaxin, produced an increase in the total collagen content of the horn (estimated by determination of hydroxyproline). This occurred as a later phenomenon in a general growth process, accompanied by increase in the weight of the horn and cell division.Counts of the proportion of nuclei in mitosis after a single injection of wax showed increase within 24 hr., subsiding in 4 days. Estimates of total numbers of nuclei in the horn were also made in sections of fixed material from undistended and distended horns 4 Harkness, 1956 b]. These observations indicate that the mechanical effect of distension is a major factor in stimulating collagen formation, but do not exclude the possibility of a local hormonal stimulus arising from the fcetus. It therefore seemed of interest to investigate the effect of distension directly. Wax was introduced through the cervical canal and was found to induce collagen formation associated with a general growth response, involving cell division in all layers of the uterine wall.A preliminary account of this work has already been published [Cullen and Harkness, 1959].MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals. Virgin albino rats of the local strain, about 3 months old, were spayed by the dorsal route 2-4 weeks before experiments. Animals were selected for inclusion in the different experimental groups by reference to a table of random numbers.Treatment. In preliminary experiments on normal animals, it was found that material placed in the uterus was frequently expelled. As it was undesirable to prevent this by physical obstruction, we attempted to simulate the hormonal conditions in pregnancy when the uterus does not expel its contents. We used the following treatment which had previously been found to bring the cervix into a state resembling that of the second half of pregnancy [Cullen and Harkness, 1960]: Day 0. CEstradiol cyclopentyl propionate (Depo-estradiol, Upjohn) 10 ,ug. in 0*1 ml. olive oil subcutaneously.

show abstract

“…Oe8tradiol. A single dose of oestradiol (5 pFg) produced a rapid increase in weight of tissue and, like oestrone (Harkness, Harkness & Moralee, 1957), a slow increase in the total collagen content of the cervix (Table 2). There was a rise in k/lz and in the circumference at breaking point.…”

Section: Time Course Of Change Under Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of hormones on the physical properties and collagen content of the rat's uterine cervix

Cullen¹,

Harkness²

1960

The Journal of Physiology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effect of the oestrous cycle and of hormones on the collagen content of the uterus of the rat

Cited by 29 publications

References 9 publications

Changes in the Collagen of the Uterine Cervix of the Mouse During the Oestrous Cycle

Changes in the Collagen of the Uterine Cervix of the Mouse During the Oestrous Cycle

Collagen Formation and Changes in Cell Population in the Rat's Uterus After Distension With Wax

The effect of hormones on the physical properties and collagen content of the rat's uterine cervix

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About