OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Cuichan Zhusheng Decoction (CZD) on cervical maturation factors.

METHODSNinety women with full-term pregnancy and indication for labor inducing were assigned to three groups equally. The treated group was treated by water decoction of CZD, one dose (300 mL) daily, taken orally in the morning 30 min before breakfast, for successive 3 days, the administration would be discontinued if uterine contraction occurred for over 3 times/hour in the course. The control group was treated with pitocin by adding 1 U into 500 mL 5% glucose for intravenous dripping in 6 h, once every day for 3 successive days. The blank group was treated by placebo of CZD, administrated in same way as that in the treated group. The length and width of cervix and diameter of neck tube in all the women were measured on the very day of medication and 72 h later or parturient time by vaginal B-ultrasonography, and the cervical maturation degree was scored referring to the clinical Bishop scale. In the experimental study, the cervical tension of pregnant rats was measured with an in vitro cervical tension-meter, rats' cervical tissues were taken for pathologic examination to observe its morphological change.

RESULTSThe total effective rate for promoting cervical maturation was 96.67% in the treated group and 83.33% in the control group. It was significantly superior in the treated group to that in the control group and the blank group (P<0.05). Moreover, the cervical score in the treated group was higher in comparing with that in the blank group showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Animal experiments displayed that after medication, the cervical tissue of rat loosened with significantly lessened, swollen, convoluted and ruptured collagen fiber, showing sparse disorderly lined-up reticular status. Degradation of collagen fiber, vascular dilatation and congestion with massive amount of inflammatory cells infiltration, increased matrix components, and many leucocyte and fibroblast in the stroma could be seen.

CONCLUSIONCZD can change the morphorlogic structure of cervical tissue, decrease cervical tension, so as to promote the cervical maturation and induce labor.