E-Posters-10230

10230_Liang

Pdf Summary

The study investigated the impact of an extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffold on vaginal smooth muscle in a procedure to regenerate vaginal supports. Female middle-aged rhesus macaques underwent surgeries to transect uterosacral ligaments and paravaginal attachments. The MatriStem bioscaffold was used, with vaginal incisions made in some animals and without incisions in others. At 12 weeks, graft-vagina complexes were harvested and analyzed. Immunofluorescence labeling and western blot detection were used to assess the morphology and contractile proteins of the smooth muscle.<br /><br />The results showed that the implantation of MatriStem did not negatively impact the cell size or the amount of contractile protein in vaginal smooth muscle. However, it did induce the formation of smaller muscle bundles and an increase in blood vessels. The size of smooth muscle bundles in the MatriStem groups was smaller compared to the control group. Additionally, smaller bundles were increased in both MatriStem groups. Myocyte diameter was similar in all groups.<br /><br />The contractile protein, alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), did not differ significantly between the MatriStem groups and the control group. Low molecular weight smoothelin, a marker for visceral smooth muscle, was not different between the groups. However, high molecular weight smoothelin, indicative of blood vessels, increased in the MatriStem groups.<br /><br />The study suggests that the use of the ECM bioscaffold did not have a negative impact on vaginal smooth muscle in terms of cell size and contractile protein. However, it did affect the micromorphology of the muscle, leading to smaller bundles. The increase in blood vessels indicates an ongoing remodeling response. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to better understand the long-term effects of the ECM bioscaffold on vaginal supports.

Keywords

extracellular matrix

ECM bioscaffold

vaginal smooth muscle

regenerate vaginal supports

uterosacral ligaments

paravaginal attachments

MatriStem bioscaffold

smooth muscle morphology

contractile proteins

blood vessels