THE POTENTIAL OF COLLAGENASE AS A NEW THERAPY FOR SEPARATION OF HUMANRETAINED PLACENTA - HYDROLYTIC POTENCY ON HUMAN, EQUINE AND BOVINE PLACENTAE

The purpose of this study was to determine to what degree bacterial co llagenase may digest human placentae compared to equine and bovine pla centae. Placenta samples from human, equine and bovine were incubated with bacterial collagenase solution at various concentrations. The deg ree of hydrolysis and collagen breakdown was measured by the release o f total proteins and hydroxyproline into the incubation media. Also, w hole placentae were injected via umbilical cord arteries with collagen ase solution (200 U/ml, 200 mi total volume in human and 1000 mi in eq uine) and hydrolysis determined chemically and subjectively. Human and equine placental collagens were the most sensitive to collagenase dig estion. Overall mean collagenase activity determined by the release of hydroxyproline from human placenta was 1.6 times and in equine placen ta three times greater than in bovine placenta, while the breakdown of non-collagenous proteins remained negligible. When injected into whol e placenta, the collagenase digested placentae evenly within 6-12 h. A t 24 h, placentae were liquefied, although, umbilical blood vessels re sisted collagenase digestion. Bacterial collagenase was highly effecti ve in breaking down human placenta collagen. Intraplacental injections of collagenase via umbilical cord arteries may help to detach retaine d placenta in women as it does in mares and cows. Placenta (1998), 19, 379-383. (C) 1998 W. B. Saunders Company Ltd.