Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the influence of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) on nerve fibers in the lesions of rat models of endometriosis (EMs). Methods   hUC-MSCs were isolated and cultured from fresh human umbilical cord, then identified by flow cytometry. Adult female Wistar rats, weighing 180-210g, were surgically induced EMs. Thereafter the EMs rat models were randomly divided into two groups (12 rats each), namely the treatment group and the control group. Two weeks later, the treatment group received hUCMSCs by injection of normal saline into the tail vein once a week for two weeks. Meanwhile, the control group only received the same volume of normal saline. EMs lesions were collected four weeks later. The specimens were sectioned and stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against Neurofilament (NF) and Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP-43). Results   Compared to that of the control group, the mean density of NF-immunoreactive nerve fibres of the treatment group was  remarkably lower(P＜0.01). Besides, the mean density of nerve fibres stained with GAP-43 was also much lower in the treatment group in comparison with that of the control group(P＜ 0.01).  Conclusion   MSCs from human umbilical cord could reduce the nervefiber density of EMs lesions.  

Key words: Endometriosis; Mesenchymal stem cells; Nerve fibers; Human umbilical cord; Rats