R Kaidi | PubMed Health

PubMed1995

Uterine collagen during pregnancy in cattle.

Uteri were collected at the slaughter of non-pregnant dairy cattle and cattle at various stages of gestation. The weight of the whole uterus increased about 12-fold during the 9 month gestation period. The greatest increase was in the weight of the pregnant horn. The increase in weight of the uterine horns was accompanied by an increase in collagen content. The collagen concentration did not change. The collagen crosslink pyridinoline was identified in pregnant uterine tissues at a level of about 0.13 residues per mole of collagen; this level was the same at the beginning and end of pregnancy.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1991

Uterine collagen during involution in cattle.

Post-partum involution of the bovine uterus was assessed by clinical examination and monitored biochemically by measuring the total urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and the collagen cross-link, pyridinoline. Uterine tissue contained 0.13 +/- 0.04 residues of pyridinoline per mole of collagen and negligible (less than 0.005 residues/mole) deoxypyridinoline. The pyridinoline/creatinine ratio was found to be a clearer and more reliable indicator of uterine resorption than the hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio. The amount of collagen cross-link excreted above baseline was equivalent to the amount of cross-link estimated to have been accumulated during pregnancy. Maximal excretion of pyridinoline occurred at day 6 and returned to baseline values in 2-3 weeks after parturition. An electron microscope study during the period of peak resorption revealed macrophage-like cells apparently engulfing or containing collagenous material, indicating phagocytic removal of the connective tissue.

Amino Acids↗