Naglaa Mohamed Salama1, Somaia Saad Zaghlol1, Hala Hassan Mohamed1, Samaa Samir Kamar2. 1. Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. 2. Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. dr_samaakamar@yahoo.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Asherman syndrome (AS) is a symptomatic intrauterine adhesion caused by endometrial basal layer fibrosis as a result of either uterine cavity surgery or infection leading to many complications. There is a concern to repair the injured tissues by using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). We aimed in this study to develop an animal model of AS and evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of BM-MSCs in this model through histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-two adult female adult albino rats were divided into (i) donor group composed of 2 rats used for isolation and propagation of BM-MSCs, and (ii) experimental groups: 40 rats equally divided into 4 groups: GpI (control), GpII (AS model), GpIII (BM-MSCs-treated AS rats), GpIV (untreated AS rats). Histological staining and immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kB) were performed. The results were evaluated by morphometric and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant endometrial thinning, fibrosis, and degeneration of the endometrial epithelium with a significant decrease in PCNA and VEGF immunoexpression and a significant increase in NF-kB immunoexpression were detected in GpII and GpIV groups. These changes were substantially reversed in BM-MSCs-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: BM-MSCs treatment resulted in substantial improvement of intrauterine adhesion in the rat model of Asherman syndrome.
INTRODUCTION:Asherman syndrome (AS) is a symptomatic intrauterine adhesion caused by endometrial basal layer fibrosis as a result of either uterine cavity surgery or infection leading to many complications. There is a concern to repair the injured tissues by using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). We aimed in this study to develop an animal model of AS and evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of BM-MSCs in this model through histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-two adult female adult albino rats were divided into (i) donor group composed of 2 rats used for isolation and propagation of BM-MSCs, and (ii) experimental groups: 40 rats equally divided into 4 groups: GpI (control), GpII (AS model), GpIII (BM-MSCs-treated AS rats), GpIV (untreated AS rats). Histological staining and immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kB) were performed. The results were evaluated by morphometric and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant endometrial thinning, fibrosis, and degeneration of the endometrial epithelium with a significant decrease in PCNA and VEGF immunoexpression and a significant increase in NF-kB immunoexpression were detected in GpII and GpIV groups. These changes were substantially reversed in BM-MSCs-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: BM-MSCs treatment resulted in substantial improvement of intrauterine adhesion in the rat model of Asherman syndrome.