Introduction and hypothesis: This study assesses the effects of simulated birth trauma, vaginal and cesarean delivery on glycosaminoglycans in the connective tissue of female rat urethra.
Methods: One hundred and ten female rats were divided into six groups: A--control, B--vaginal trauma, C--cesarean delivery, D--cesarean delivery followed by vaginal trauma, E--vaginal delivery, and F--female rats on the 20th day of gestation. In each group, half of the animals were sacrificed 4 days after the procedures and half were sacrificed 12 weeks later. Glycosaminoglycans were extracted by proteolysis and analyzed using densitometry after agarose gel electrophoresis.
Results: The examination at 4 days showed larger amounts of glycosaminoglycans in pregnant female rats compared to other groups. The examination at 12 weeks showed larger amounts of glycosaminoglycans in the cesarean delivery group followed by simulated birth trauma.
Conclusions: There is a change in sulfated glycosaminoglycans in female rat urethra during pregnancy and simulated birth trauma.