The effect of orally and vaginally administered misoprostol on inflammatory mediators and cervical ripening during early pregnancy

Compared to untreated controls, treatment with misoprostol was associated with a greater expression of inflammatory cells. It could be hypothesized that administration of misoprostol mimics the cervical ripening at term pregnancy by a possible influx and activation of inflammatory cells, which increases MMP 8 and MMP 9 and thereby leads to the degradation of collagen and cervical softening.