New rat to mouse xenograft transplantation of endometrium as a model of human endometriosis

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis can lead to infertility. Since there is no definitive treatment for endometriosis, animal modelling seems necessary to examine the possible treatments. Mouse endometrium cannot be separated for endometriosis induction. In addition, transplantation of uterus into the abdominal viscera to induce endometriosis causes organ damage. In this study, we defined a new model of endometriosis leading to separability of endometrium and a safe anatomical region for transplantation. METHODS: Forty female mice were allocated to 5 groups: 1, sham; 2, allograft uterus transplantation of mice to anterior abdominal wall of mice; 3, allograft uterus transplantation of mice to mesentery of mice; 4, xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice; 5, xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to mesentery of mice. Adult female rats with a previous pregnancy experience were selected and placed in the vicinity of male rats for 2 weeks to induce estrogen secretion and increase endometrial thickness. RESULTS: In the 4th group of animals, compared to sham, the peritoneal concentrations of VEGF‐A, TNF‐α, NO, MDA, and serum levels of CA‐125 and IL‐37 were increased and total body weight was decreased, while weight and size of endometrial lesions were increased significantly (P < .05). Genes expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 were decreased significantly (P < .05) in groups 2 and 4 compared to sham. CONCLUSIONS: Xenograft transplantation of endometrium from rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice can potentially mimic human endometriosis morphologically, histologically, and genetically.