Figure 5
Immunohistochemistry for fibroblasts using an antibody for prolyl 4-hydroxylase in myometrium during term labour. Prolyl 4-hydroxylase is an enzyme critical to the production of collagen and its presence is used as a marker for fibroblasts. Immunohistochemistry for this enzyme showed fibroblasts (arrows) in fewer numbers than the cells identified by unphosphorylated connexin 43 staining. These fibroblasts were also distributed more evenly throughout the myometrium and were located more frequently within the smooth muscle bundles rather than on the surface of the smooth muscle bundles (Magnification × 20, Bar 50 micrometres).