Abstract
Objective: To undertake a comprehensive analysis of the biochemical tissue composition and passive biomechanical properties of ovine vagina and relate this to the histo-architecture at different reproductive stages as part of the establishment of a large preclinical animal model for evaluating regenerative medicine approaches for surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Methods: Vaginal tissue was collected from virgin (n = 3), parous (n = 6) and pregnant sheep (n = 6; mean gestation; 132 d; term = 145 d). Tissue histology was analyzed using H+E and Masson's Trichrome staining. Biochemical analysis of the extracellular matrix proteins used a hydroxyproline assay to quantify total collagen, SDS PAGE to measure collagen III/I+III ratios, dimethylmethylene blue to quantify glycosaminoglycans and amino acid analysis to quantify elastin. Uniaxial tensiometry was used to determine the Young's modulus, maximum stress and strain, and permanent strain following cyclic loading.
Highlights
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition affecting millions of women worldwide
The cellular components of the vaginal wall comprise fibroblasts which produce the majority of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and smooth muscle cells which function in vaginal contractility
The ECM consists of fibrous proteins, as well as a range of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) [5]
Summary
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition affecting millions of women worldwide. The support structures of the pelvic floor include the pelvic floor muscles, the cardinal and uterosacral suspensory ligaments and the dense fibromuscular connective tissue of the vaginal wall [4]. The cellular components of the vaginal wall comprise fibroblasts which produce the majority of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and smooth muscle cells which function in vaginal contractility. The ECM consists of fibrous proteins (e.g. collagens, elastin), as well as a range of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) [5]. Collagen type I comprises the major fibrillar protein found in bone, ligaments and interstitial tissues and contributes to their tensile strength [6]. Collagen I, together with elastin and smooth muscle cells influence the biomechanical and the viscoelastic properties of the vaginal wall. An increase in collagen III in healing or regenerating tissues usually reduces its mechanical strength by decreasing the overall collagen fiber diameter of collagen I/III heterofibrils [7]
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