Pregnancy-induced remodeling of the murine reproductive tract: a longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging study

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dc.contributor.authorSuarez, Aileen C.en
dc.contributor.authorGimenez, Clara J.en
dc.contributor.authorRussell, Serena R.en
dc.contributor.authorWang, Maosenen
dc.contributor.authorMunson, Jennifer M.en
dc.contributor.authorMyers, Kristin M.en
dc.contributor.authorMiller, Kristin S.en
dc.contributor.authorAbramowitch, Steven D.en
dc.contributor.authorDe Vita, Rafaellaen
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-02T15:59:23Zen
dc.date.available2024-02-02T15:59:23Zen
dc.date.issued2024-01-05en
dc.description.abstractMammalian pregnancy requires gradual yet extreme remodeling of the reproductive organs to support the growth of the embryos and their birth. After delivery, the reproductive organs return to their non-pregnant state. As pregnancy has traditionally been understudied, there are many unknowns pertaining to the mechanisms behind this remarkable remodeling and repair process which, when not successful, can lead to pregnancy-related complications such as maternal trauma, pre-term birth, and pelvic floor disorders. This study presents the first longitudinal imaging data that focuses on revealing anatomical alterations of the vagina, cervix, and uterine horns during pregnancy and postpartum using the mouse model. By utilizing advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, T1-weighted and T2-weighted images of the reproductive organs of three mice in their in vivo environment were collected at five time points: non-pregnant, mid-pregnant (gestation day: 9–10), late pregnant (gestation day: 16–17), postpartum (24–72 h after delivery) and three weeks postpartum. Measurements of the vagina, cervix, and uterine horns were taken by analyzing MRI segmentations of these organs. The cross-sectional diameter, length, and volume of the vagina increased in late pregnancy and then returned to non-pregnant values three weeks after delivery. The cross-sectional diameter of the cervix decreased at mid-pregnancy before increasing in late pregnancy. The volume of the cervix peaked at late pregnancy before shortening by 24–72 h postpartum. As expected, the uterus increased in cross-sectional diameter, length, and volume during pregnancy. The uterine horns decreased in size postpartum, ultimately returning to their average non-pregnant size three weeks postpartum. The newly developed methods for acquiring longitudinal in vivo MRI scans of the murine reproductive system can be extended to future studies that evaluate functional and morphological alterations of this system due to pathologies, interventions, and treatments.en
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier586 (Article number)en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50437-1en
dc.identifier.eissn2045-2322en
dc.identifier.issn2045-2322en
dc.identifier.issue1en
dc.identifier.orcidDe Vita, Raffaella [0000-0003-3157-9409]en
dc.identifier.orcidMunson, Jennifer [0000-0002-9477-1505]en
dc.identifier.other10.1038/s41598-023-50437-1 (PII)en
dc.identifier.pmid38182631en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/117832en
dc.identifier.volume14en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherSpringeren
dc.relation.urihttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38182631en
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subject.meshUterusen
dc.subject.meshVaginaen
dc.subject.meshAnimalsen
dc.subject.meshMammalsen
dc.subject.meshHumansen
dc.subject.meshMiceen
dc.subject.meshMagnetic Resonance Imagingen
dc.subject.meshPostpartum Perioden
dc.subject.meshPregnancyen
dc.subject.meshResearch Designen
dc.subject.meshFemaleen
dc.titlePregnancy-induced remodeling of the murine reproductive tract: a longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging studyen
dc.title.serialScientific Reportsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.otherJournal Articleen
dcterms.dateAccepted2023-12-20en
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineeringen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineering/Biomedical Engineering and Mechanicsen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Faculty of Health Sciencesen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/All T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineering/COE T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/University Research Institutesen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/University Research Institutes/Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTCen

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