Pregnancy and Outcome of Uterine Allotransplantation and Assisted Reproduction in Sheep

The risk of obstetrical syndromes after solid organ transplantation

“…With respect to uterus transplantation, the question arises how the extensive vascular adaptations associated with human deep placentation are tolerated after uterine artery anastomosis surgery, which inevitably is associated with scar formation particularly after a prolonged interval between surgery and pregnancy [44]. Second, while animal experiments have shown that a successful pregnancy can be achieved after uterus transplantation [45], these models are not representative for deep human placentation in which arterioles with a diameter of 50 mm must transform into large amorphic channels capable of accommodating 90% of the uterine blood supply to the intervillous space. Third, it is important to realise that the uterus cannot be viewed as an organ a priori designed to carry a pregnancy to term.…”

Experimental uterus transplantation

“…In a follow-up study, 12 ewes were transplanted with allogeneic uteri [26]. IS was increased compared to the previous experiment, and after 4 months five ewes were subjected to ET [26]. Three pregnancies occurred resulting in one live birth by caesarean section.…”

Uterus transplantation: animal research and human possibilities

“…The research in the UTx field has been conducted in several animal models, including rodents (mouse, rat) (27)(28)(29)(30), large domestic species (sheep, pig) (31)(32)(33)(34), and lately also nonhuman primates (baboon, macaque) (35)(36)(37). In general, the initial observations and key experiments have been done in rodents, and the conclusions from these experiments have then been used in experiments in the large domestic species with sizes of pelvic organs and vasculature closer to human.…”