Title Experimental static cold storage of the rat uterus: protective effects of relaxin- or erythropoietin-supplemented HTK-N Solutions /
Authors Jakubauskienė, Lina ; Jakubauskas, Matas ; Ražanskienė, Gintarė ; Leber, Bettina ; Ramašauskaitė, Diana ; Strupas, Kęstutis ; Stiegler, Philipp ; Schemmer, Peter
DOI 10.3390/biomedicines10112730
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Is Part of Biomedicines.. Basel : MDPI. 2022, vol. 10, no. 11, art. no. 2730, p. [1-10].. eISSN 2227-9059
Keywords [eng] animal model ; cold storage ; erythropoietin ; relaxin ; uterus
Abstract [eng] Uterus transplantation (UTx) is the only treatment method for women with absolute uterine infertility. Currently, the number of grafts retrieved from deceased donors is increasing; hence, prolonged cold ischemia time is inevitable. Thus, this study was designed to assess the effect of the novel relaxin (RLN)- or erythropoietin (EPO)-supplemented Custodiol-N (HTK-N) solutions in an experimental uterus static cold storage (SCS) model. A total of 15 Sprague Dawley rats were used. Uterus horns were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 10/group). SCS was performed by keeping samples at 4 °C in HTK-N solution without or with different additives: 10 IU/mL EPO or 20 nM RLN. Tissue samples were taken after 8 and 24 h of preservation. Uterine tissue histology, and biochemical and immunohistochemical markers were analyzed. No significant differences in SCS-induced tissue damage were observed between groups after 8 h of preservation. Uterine tissue histology, MDA, SOD levels and the TUNEL-positive cell number showed severe damage in HTK-N without additives after 24 h of preservation. This damage was significantly attenuated by adding RLN to the preservation solution. EPO showed no favorable effect. Our study shows that RLN as an additive to an HTK-N solution can serve as an effective uterine tissue preservative in the uterus SCS setting.
Published Basel : MDPI
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2022
CC license CC license description