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Interleukin‐6 Does Not Stimulate Rat Myometrial Contractions in an In Vitro Model
Author(s) -
Dajani Nafisa,
Idriss Edo,
Collins Patricia L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1994.tb01120.x
Subject(s) - myometrium , fetus , decidua , uterotonic , uterine contraction , amniotic fluid , medicine , endocrinology , in vitro , membrane , fetal membrane , in utero , uterus , andrology , chemistry , oxytocin , biology , pregnancy , placenta , biochemistry , genetics
PROBLEM: Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is increased in culture‐positive amniotic fluid in women with preterm labor. IL‐6 stimulates the production of prostaglandins leading to increased uterine activity. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that IL‐6 increases myometrial activity through release of uterotonic mediators. We studied the effect of IL‐6 on uterine contractions in the absence and presence of fetal membranes to determine if the effect was on myometrium alone or was mediated through fetal membranes/decidua. IL‐6 in concentrations of 100, 10, 0.1 or 0 ng/ml was added to the maternal side of the dual chamber‐fetal membrane‐uterine muscle in vitro model. RESULTS: We found that 10 ng/ml of IL‐6 alone, without fetal membranes, caused a significant decrease in uterine contractions over time (P≤0.01). This decrease was not observed with the addition of term, nonlabored fetal membranes. CONCLUSIONS: IL‐6 in the presence or absence of membranes, over a four log fold dose range, did not stimulate uterine contractions.