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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
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Published on: August 13, 2019
Androgen-regulated cervical ripening: a structural, biomechanical, and molecular analysis
Huiling Ji1, Tanya L Dailey, Vit Long
1Section of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|February 19, 2008
Summary
Androgens, like dihydrotestosterone, decrease cervical resistance. However, flutamide, an androgen receptor antagonist, preserves cervical resistance by altering collagen and proteoglycan composition.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Androgens are known to influence biomechanical properties of load-bearing tissues.
- Emerging evidence suggests a potential role for androgens in cervical tissue regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct impact of androgens on cervical remodeling.
- To determine if androgens alter cervical collagen structure and proteoglycan composition.
Main Methods:
- Cervical resistance was measured using the cervical creep method following dihydrotestosterone or flutamide administration.
- Collagen microstructure was analyzed via transmission electron microscopy and polarized light birefringence.
- Proteoglycan expression was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate analysis.
Main Results:
- Dihydrotestosterone administration reduced cervical resistance compared to controls.
- Flutamide treatment prevented the decline in cervical resistance.
- Flutamide was associated with improved collagen organization, increased aggrecan expression, and altered glycosaminoglycan profiles, while inhibiting hyaluronan increase.
Conclusions:
- Androgens play a significant role in regulating cervical resistance, primarily through modulation of proteoglycan content.
- Flutamide's effects suggest a potential influence on collagen fibril organization and structure within the cervix.
