Medical Hypotheses and Research

OBJECTIVE: To establish an experimental model of extracorporeally perfused non-pregnant swine uteri for the study of uterine contractility, peristalsis and transport mechanisms through the female genital tract using an intrauterine double-chip microcatheter. In order to validate the model described biochemical parameters were assessed during the whole perfusion time. METHODS: An extracorporeal perfusion model of swine uteri was used to keep the uterus in a functional condition and is appropriate for the study of physiological questions. Thirty-two swine uteri were perfused with different concentrations of 17β-estradiol simulating the hormone levels during the periovulatory phase and to provide an estrogen-priming of the uteri. Oxytocininduced uterine contractility and peristalsis was assessed using an intrauterine double-chip microcatheter. RESULTS: The vitality parameters remained physiological during the first 8 hours of perfusion. A dose-dependent increase in IUP in the isthmus (P < 0.005) and corpus uteri (P < 0.005) was observed. The pressure increase was significantly higher in the isthmus uteri than in the corpus uteri at all concentrations tested resulting in a cervico-fundic pressure gradient. In addition, significant more peristalsis started in the isthmus uteri and was moving in the direction of the corpus uteri (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The extracorporeally perfusion model of non-pregnant swine uteri kept the uterus in a functional condition and showed a good preservation of the organ for up to eight hours. Therefore this ex-vivo perfusion model can serve as an adequate model for studying uterine contractility, peristalsis and transport mechanisms in obstetrics and reproductive medicine and can be used for further in vitro experiments. R E SE A R C H A R T IC L E *ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: DR. ANDREAS MUELLER, DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, ERLANGEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITAETSSTRASSE 21-23, 91054 ERLANGEN, GERMANY. PHONE: +49-9131-8533553. FAX: +49-9131-8533552. E-MAIL: [email protected] ● M E D IC A L H Y PO T H E SE S A N D R E SE A R C H ● T H E JO U R N A L FO R IN N O V A TI V E ID EA S IN B IO M ED IC A L R ES EA R C H ● A. MUELLER, ET AL. 700