Interleukin-8-assoziierte Zunahme der Zahl neutrophiler Granulozyten im zervikalen Stroma als zentraler Mechanismus der Zervixeröffnung bei der Termingeburt

Term During labour, large numbers of neutrophils are found in the cervical stroma. The degradation of the extracellular matrix by collagenases and other proteases released from activated neutrophils is thought to be essential for cervical dilatation. Purpose: To investigate the type and numbers of leukocytes infiltrating the stroma of the human cervix during parturition, and to determine any possible relationship with interleukin (IL)-8 concentration in this tissue. Patients and methods: Biopsy specimens were taken from the lower uterine segment of 63 women with cervical dilatation of 6cm (n=16) undergoing Caesarean section at term. The specimens were stained histochemically and immunohistochemically for different leukocyte populations and the IL-8-concentration was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Results: The number of neutrophils in the cervical stroma increased significantly with the degree of cervical dilatation. The greatest number was found at > 6 cm dilatation (p 6 cm dilatation we found a similar high concentration (1626.9 pg/mg TP). Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that the extravasation of neutrophils plays a key role in the process of cervical dilatation during parturition at term.