COLLAGENOLYTIC EFFECT OF DISINTEGRATED BACTERIAL-CELL EXTRACTS ON THEHUMAN AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE AT TERM PREGNANCY

Bacterial ascending from the cervix may infect the membranes and amnio tic fluid, contributing to their premature rupture. In the present in vitro study, isolated amniotic membranes were exposed to different con centrations of disintegrated bacterial cells. Collagenolysis was estim ated by the ratio of acid-soluble/insoluble hydroxyproline. The amniot ic membrane proteins were separated by electrophoresis after incubatio n with C-14 proline and disintegrated bacterial cells. The proportion of soluble hydroxyproline increased with the bacterial concentration u sed, and the radioactivity decreased in proteins of the 30- to 80-kD r ange. The data support the notion that bacteria contain collagenolytic enzymes affecting human amniotic membranes.