Impact of birth in the presence and absence of simulated birth injury on vaginal glycosaminoglycan content

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of simulated birth trauma and vaginal and Cesarean delivery on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the vagina of female rats.One hundred ten 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 (20th day of gestation). in each group, half of the animals were killed 4 days after the procedure (time 1) and 12 weeks later (time 2). GAGs were extracted, isolated, and identified by using agarose gel electrophoresis and quantified by densitometry. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.We observed a significant decrease in total GAGs and dermatan sulfate (DS) at time 1. Evaluation at time 2 showed a significant increase in total GAGs, DS, and heparan sulfate.Levels of sulfated GAGs in the rat vagina are affected by delivery and simulated birth trauma.