Presentation of a New Endometriosis Mice Model Through Rat to Mice Xenograft Transplantation of Endometrium with some Modifications; A Pilot Study

Abstract

Human endometriosis can lead to many complications, including permanent infertility. Rodent model of endometriosis is complicated due to the impractical isolation of myometrium. In this method, we defined a new model of endometriosis with some modifications. 40 female mice were grouped as; 1st sham, 2nd mice-mice allograft uterus transplantation of mice to anterior abdominal wall of mice, 3rd mice-mice allograft uterus transplantation of mice to mesentery of mice, 4th rat-mice xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice, 5th rat-mice xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to mesentery of mice. In recipient animals, estrous cycle was synchronized. Endometrium was dissected in rats and transplanted in abdominal wall or mesentery layer. Angiogenetic and inflammatory factors, serum levels of CA125, oxidative stress in peritoneal fluid, physical and histopathological features, and genes expression in uterus were assessed. Peritoneal concentrations of VEGF-A, TNF-α, NO, MDA, and serum levels of CA125, IL-37 were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in transplanted groups, especially in the 4th group than control. Total body weight of animals was decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while weight and size of endometrial lesions were increased significantly (P > 0.05). Genes expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 were decreased in endometrium of uterus. Finally, histopathological features of endometrial lesions were confirmed by H&E and Perl staining. Xenograft transplantation of endometrium from rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice can potentially mimic the human endometriosis morphologically, histologically and genetically.