Cervical softening in late pregnant sheep by infusion of prostaglandin E-2 into a cervical artery

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Abstract
Cervical softening was induced in late pregnant sheep by infusion of PG[prostaglandin]E2 into a cervical artery. The effect of this treatment was assessed by measurement of the extensibility in-vitro of a strip of cervical tissue. After infusion of a saline/ethanol mixture extensibility was 2.84 .times. 10-3 .+-. 0.3 .times. 10-3 min-1 (mean .+-. SEM [standard error of the mean], n = 5); after infusion of PGE2 it increased significantly (P < 0.02) to 8.6 .times. 10-3 .+-. 1.8 .times. 10-3 min-1 (n = 6). Infusion of PGE2 did not increase uterine activity, and there was no significant change in the concentration of progesterone in the maternal jugular venous plasma. PGE2 might act as a mediator of cervical softening in vivo; the cervix could soften in the absence of uterine contractions.