Second Harmonic Generation microscopy reveals collagen fibres are more organised in the cervix of postmenopausal women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During labour, the cervix undergoes a series of changes to allow the passage of the fetoplacental unit. While this visible transformation is well-described, the underlying and causative microscopic changes, in which collagen plays a major role, are poorly understood and difficult to visualise. Recent studies in mice and humans have shown that Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy, a non-destructive imaging technique, can detect changes in the cervical collagen. However, the question of whether SHG can identify changes in the arrangement of cervical collagen at different physiological stages still needs addressing. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the cervical collagen alignment between pre- and postmenopausal women using SHG and to generate proof-of-concept d

SUBMITTER: Narice BF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5073459 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature