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Material Properties of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Human Uterine Layers.

ABSTRACT: The uterus has critical biomechanical functions in pregnancy and undergoes dramatic material growth and remodeling from implantation to parturition. The intrinsic material properties of the human uterus and how they evolve in pregnancy are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap and assess the heterogeneity of these tissues, the time-dependent material properties of all human uterine layers were measured with nanoindentation. The endometrium-decidua layer was found to be the least stiff, most viscous, and least permeable layer of the human uterus in nonpregnant and third-trimester pregnant tissues. In pregnancy, endometrium-decidua becomes stiffer and less viscous with no material property changes observed in the myometrium or perimetrium. Additionally, uterine material properties did not significantly differ between third-trimester pregnant tissues with and without placenta accreta. The foundational data generated by this study will facilitate the development of physiologically accurate models of the human uterus to investigate gynecologic and obstetric disorders.

SUBMITTER: Fodera DM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10441310 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Material Properties of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Human Uterine Layers.

Fodera Daniella M DM Russell Serena R SR Lund-Jackson Johanna L JL Fang Shuyang S Chen Xiaowei X Vink Joy-Sarah Y JY Oyen Michelle L ML Myers Kristin M KM

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 20231220

The uterus has critical biomechanical functions in pregnancy and undergoes dramatic material growth and remodeling from implantation to parturition. The intrinsic material properties of the human uterus and how they evolve in pregnancy are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap and assess the heterogeneity of these tissues, the time-dependent material properties of all human uterine layers were measured with nanoindentation. The endometrium-decidua layer was found to be the least stiff ...[more]

PMID: 37609213

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Project description:Modulation of the immune system is known to be important for successful pregnancy but how immune function might differ between the lymph nodes draining the reproductive tract and peripheral lymph nodes is not well understood. Additionally, if immune system changes in response to the presence of an embryo during early pregnancy, and if this response differs in local versus peripheral immune tissue, has not been well characterized. To address these questions, we examined expression of genes important for immune function using NanoString technology in the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct, endometrium, lymph nodes draining the reproductive tract (lumbo-aortic and medial iliac) as well as a peripheral lymph node (axillary), the spleen, and circulating immune cells from ewes on day 5 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in plasma were also determined. Principal component analysis revealed separation of the local from the peripheral lymph nodes (MANOVA P = 3.245e-08, R2 = 0.3) as well as separation of tissues from pregnant and nonpregnant animals [lymph nodes (MANOVA P = 2.337e-09, R2 = 0.5), reproductive tissues (MANOVA P = 2.417e-14, R2 = 0.47)]. Nine genes were differentially (FDR < 0.10) expressed between lymph node types, with clear difference in expression of these genes between the lumbo-aortic and axillary lymph nodes. Expression of these genes in the medial iliac lymph node was not consistently different to either the axillary or the lumbo-aortic lymph node. Expression of IL10RB was increased (FDR < 0.05) by 24% in the reproductive tissue of the pregnant animals compared to nonpregnant animals. Analysis of gene categories revealed that expression of genes of the T-cell receptor pathway in reproductive tract tissues was associated (P < 0.05) with pregnancy status. In conclusion, assessment of gene expression of reproductive and immune tissue provides evidence for a specialization of the local immune system around the reproductive tract potentially important for successful establishment of pregnancy. Additionally, differences in gene expression patterns in reproductive tissue from pregnant and nonpregnant animals could be discerned as early as day 5 of pregnancy. This was found to be associated with expression of genes important for T-cell function and thus highlights the important role of these cells in early pregnancy.

Project description:BackgroundAlthough mass vaccination against COVID-19 may prove to be the most efficacious end to this deadly pandemic, there remain concern and indecision among the public toward vaccination. Because pregnant and reproductive-aged women account for a large proportion of the population with particular concerns regarding vaccination against COVID-19, this survey aimed at investigating their current attitudes and beliefs within our own institution.ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand vaccine acceptability among pregnant, nonpregnant, and breastfeeding respondents and elucidate factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.Study designWe administered an anonymous online survey to all women (including patients, providers, and staff) at our institution assessing rates of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents were contacted in 1 of 3 ways: by email, advertisement flyers, and distribution of quick response codes at virtual town halls regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Based on their responses, respondents were divided into 3 mutually exclusive groups: (1) nonpregnant respondents, (2) pregnant respondents, and (3) breastfeeding respondents. The primary outcome was acceptance of vaccination. Prevalence ratios were calculated to ascertain the independent effects of multiple patient-level factors on vaccine acceptability.ResultsThe survey was administered from January 7, 2021, to January 29, 2021, with 1012 respondents of whom 466 (46.9%) identified as non-Hispanic White, 108 (10.9%) as non-Hispanic Black, 286 (28.8%) as Hispanic, and 82 (8.2%) as non-Hispanic Asian. The median age was 36 years (interquartile range, 25-47 years). Of all the respondents, 656 respondents (64.8%) were nonpregnant, 216 (21.3%) were pregnant, and 122 (12.1%) were breastfeeding. There was no difference in chronic comorbidities when evaluated as a composite variable (Table 1). A total of 390 respondents (39.2%) reported working in healthcare. Nonpregnant respondents were most likely to accept vaccination (457 respondents, 76.2%; P<.001) with breastfeeding respondents the second most likely (55.2%). Pregnant respondents had the lowest rate of vaccine acceptance (44.3%; P<.001). Prevalence ratios revealed all non-White races except for non-Hispanic Asian respondents, and Spanish-speaking respondents were less likely to accept vaccination (Table 3). Working in healthcare was not found to be associated with vaccine acceptance among our cohort.ConclusionIn this survey study of only women at a single institution, pregnant respondents of non-White or non-Asian races were more likely to decline vaccination than nonpregnant and breastfeeding respondents. Working in healthcare was not associated with vaccine acceptance.

Dataset Information

Material Properties of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Human Uterine Layers.

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Material Properties of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Human Uterine Layers.

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