Changes in the weight, collagen concentration and content of the uterus and cervix of the ewe during pregnancy

The dry and wet weights of the uterus (caruncular and intercaruncular areas ) and cervix were measured in non-pregnant (n = 5) and pregnant (n = 25) ew es post mortem; for the: latter, five were obtained fur each of the 5 month s of gestation. The total collagen tissue content was measured in both area s of the uterus and cervix by hydroxyprolime analysis and image analysis of Haematoxylin-Van Gieson stained tissue sections. Both wet and dry uterine weights increased significantly with gestational age (P < 0.001). The water content of uterine and cervical tissue remained constant, at between 83 pe r cent to 85 per cent and 76 per cent to 80 per cent, respectively. There w as a close correlation between the two methods used to determine the collag en content (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). and between the increasing weight of the uterus during pregnancy and the total collagen content of tissues (r = 0.97 , P < 0.001). At all stages, the total collagen content of the cervix [mean (SEM) 96.2 (5.4) mg g(-1)] was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that of the caruncular mean [mean (SEM) 24.3 (1.4) mg g(-1)], and the intercaru ncular areas [mean (SEM) 29.0 (1.0) mg g(-1)]. The changes in uterine and c ervical weights and collagen content of the tissues were similar to those r eported in other related species. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.