Objective: The aim of our study was to test if oral high hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) administration was effective in contrasting induced preterm birth (PTB) in female Wistar rats.
Materials and methods: A total of 24 pregnant rats were pretreated with placebo or low (2.5 mg/day)/high dose (5 mg/day) of HMW-HA (day 15) and then induced to delivery with mifepristone plus prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (3 mg/100 µL + 0.5 mg/animal) on the 19th day of pregnancy. The delivery time was recorded and the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)1β, IL-6] were detected in the uterine tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real PCR). Immunohistochemistry was performed alongside.
Results: Oral HMW-HA was well absorbed in the body and was able to significantly delay the timing of delivery and decrease mRNA synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions: HMW-HA, by acting in the management of PTB, may represent a new approach to protecting physiological pregnancy.