Tissue macrophages play an important role in all stages of pregnancy, including uterine stromal remodeling (decidualization) before embryo implantation, parturition, and post-partum uterine involution. The activation state and function of utero-placental macrophages are largely dependent on the local tissue microenvironment. Thus, macrophages are involved in a variety of activities such as regu...

We have previously reported that endometrial mRNA expression of both tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) and matrix metalloproteinase-26 (MMP-26) peaks in the early secretory phase, which implies a role in implantation. The objective of this study was to compare the distribution of TIMP-4 and MMP-26 in endometrial tissue and uterine fluid over the menstrual cycle. Endometrial tiss...

Spring 2013 | Volume 7 Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal 10 Characterizing the Biomechanical and Biochemical Properties of Mouse Uterine Tissue Eli Mondragon*, Kyoko Yoshida, M.S. Kristin Myers, Ph.D Biomedical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 Mechanical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 Abstract For a successful pregnancy, the u...

To investigate the effectiveness of laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion combined with myomectomy for uterine fibroids. From August 2008 to August 2009, forty-eight women with uterine fibroids desiring to preserve their uteri underwent laparoscopic myomectomy. Among them, 18 women received laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion before uterine myomectomy while the others received laparoscopic my...

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) develops more often in the muscle tissue layer of the uterine body than in the uterine cervix. The development of gynecologic tumors is often correlated with female hormone secretion; however, the development of uterine LMS is not substantially correlated with hormonal conditions, and the risk factors are not yet known. Importantly, a diagnostic-biomarker which dist...

Arsenic consumption through drinking water is a worldwide major health problem. Management of arsenic intoxication with invasive, painful therapy using metal chelators is usually used as a conventional treatment strategy in human. In this present study, we examined the efficacy of oral administration of N-acetyl l-cysteine (NAC) in limiting arsenic-mediated female reproductive disorders and oxi...

Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female genital tract and is the fourth most frequent cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Despite the high prevalence of uterine cancers, the molecular events that lead to neoplastic transformation in the uterus are poorly understood. Moreover, there are limited mouse models to study these malignancies. We generated transgenic mice with high...

Changes in the physiological uterine activity have been associated with the progression of pregnancy and the onset of labor: during pregnancy, the uterus is usually relatively quiescent while the cervix is rigid and closed, whereas during labor, the uterus exhibits rhythmic and coordinated forceful contractions while the cervix softens and dilates for successful expulsion of the fetus. These ut...

The prevalence of endometriosis in women in the general population is in the region of 10% and it most commonly occurs in the pouch of Douglas, pelvic peritoneum and ovaries. However, extragenital sites such as the small and large intestine can be involved. Extra-uterine endometrial tissue behaves just as uterine endometrial tissue and, therefore, undergoes hormone-induced changes during the me...