Increasing matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity by treatment of ovine cervical explants with a long-acting analogue of oxytocin (Carbetocin) at the expected time of artificial insemination.
Carbetocin treatment increased MMP-2 activity in cervical explants from sheep, but the clinical significance of this finding is unclear.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the carbetocin corpusSummary and findings
The study measured the effect of Carbetocin on cervical collagenolysis in synchronized ewes. Five ewes were treated with varying doses of Carbetocin and their cervical explants were analyzed for matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity. The results indicated increased MMP-2 activity at specific doses of Carbetocin.
Abstract
Abstract The aim was to study the effect of long-acting analogue of oxytocin (Carbetocin, Cb) on cervical collagenolysis of MAP-eCG synchronized ewes. At the expected time of artificial insemination, five ewes were slaughtered (n = 5) and their cervical explants (100–200 mg) were incubated during 12 h with MEM supplemented with 0, 8, 16, 32 and 64 ng/mL of Cb. Activities of activated (A) and latent (L) forms of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and − 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively) in the supernatant were determined by a SDS-PAGE zymography and PGE2 concentration immunoassay. Data were analyzed by Welch's ANOVA test. The MMP-9 activity was detected weakly and sporadically. The activity of A MMP-2 was higher in 32 ng/mL Cb treated samples than in untreated samples (P < 0.03). The activity of L MMP-2 tended to be higher in 32 ng/mL than in 8 ng/mL Cb treated samples (P = 0.0784). The A/L ratio of MMP-2 tended to be higher in 64 ng/mL Cb treated samples than in untreated samples (P = 0.0955). PGE2 concentration was not affected by Cb dose. The data show that Cb treatment of cervical explants induces an increase in MMP-2 activity by PGE2-independent mechanisms, suggesting Cb as a potential inducer of cervical dilation in sheep.