Application of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Intrauterine Adhesions in Rats

Aims: To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on intrauterine adhesions (IUA). Methods: BMSCs were isolated and labeled by green fluorescence protein. IUA model was established by mechanical injury. 48 rats were randomly divided into control, IUA model, BMSCs vein injection and BMSCs intrauterine injection groups (n=12 in each group). The third generation of BMSCs was injected through tail vein or intrauterine. Three rats were killed at time 0 h, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d and bilateral uterus were obtained at each time points for the subseqent experiments. Morphological changes were determined by hematoxylin-eosin staining or Masson staining. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: BMSCs were specifically stained by CD44 and CD90, but not by CD45. Before treatment, the numbers of endometrial glands were significantly decreased, while fibrosis area rate was increased in IUA model group (P<0.05 vs Control). Meanwhile, ER expression, but not PR was significantly up-regulated in model group (P<0.05 vs Control). By contrast, the therapies by BMSCs transplantation through either tail vein injection or intrauterine injection significantly elevated the numbers of endometrial glands and decreased the fibrosis area rate (P<0.05 vs Model). Moreover, both ER and PR were remarkably up-regulated after BMSCs transplantation (P<0.05 vs Model). The therapeutic effect attained to optimal level 1 or 2 weeks after transplantation. Conclusion: BMSCs transplantation was effective to repair the damaged endometrium likely through promoting the ER and PR expressions. (C) 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel