[en] BACKGROUND/AIMS: The ewe is increasingly being used as an animal model for pelvic floor disorders. The aim was to further characterize changes in the vaginal properties during its entire lifespan.
METHODS: Vaginal tissues were collected at different stages of reproductive life (neonatal, prepubescence, nulliparous, primiparous, multiparous, and menopausal; ≥6 ewes/group). Vaginal size, as well as active and passive biomechanics, was measured. Microscopy included thickness of glycogen, epithelium, lamina propria and muscularis thickness, densities of collagen, elastin, smooth muscle, and nerves.
RESULTS: Vaginal dimensions increase during adolescence, peak at reproductive levels, and decrease sharply after ovariectomy. One year after first delivery, the distal vagina gets more compliant, yet this is reversed later in life. The thickness of glycogen staining epithelial layers changed with puberty and menopause. The epithelium was markedly thicker after multiple deliveries. The thickness of lamina propria and muscularis increased in puberty and in nulliparous. Semi-quantitative collagen assessment demonstrated a lower collagen and higher elastin content after first and multiple deliveries.
CONCLUSION: The changes in the ovine vaginal wall during representative moments of her lifespan parallel those observed in women.
Disciplines :
Reproductive medicine (gynecology, andrology, obstetrics)
Author, co-author :
Hympanova, Lucie; Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Rynkevic, Rita; Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; INEGI, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Urbankova, Iva; Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
BLACHER, Silvia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire
DE LANDSHEERE, Laurent ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > > Service de gynécologie-obstétrique (CHR)
Mackova, Katerina; Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Krofta, Ladislav; Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Deprest, Jan; Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, jan.deprest@uzleuven.be ; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, jan.deprest@uzleuven.be ; Pelvic Floor Unit, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, jan.deprest@uzleuven.be
Language :
English
Title :
Morphological and Functional Changes in the Vagina following Critical Lifespan Events in the Ewe.
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