Effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on nerve fibers of a rat model of endometriosis

ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is a common, benign, oestrogen-dependent, chronic gynaecological disorder associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Some researchers have identified nerve fibers in endometriotic lesions in women with endometriosis. Mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] have attracted interest for their possible use for both cell and gene therapies because of their capacity for self-renewal and multipotentiality of differentiation. We investigated how human umbilical cord-MSCs [hUC-MSCs] could affect nerve fibers density in endometriosis. In this experimental study, hUC-MSCs were isolated from fresh human umbilical cord, characterized by flow cytometry, and then transplanted into surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model. Ectopic endometrial implants were collected four weeks later. The specimens were sectioned and stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against neurofilament [NF], nerve growth factor [NGF], NGF receptor p75 [NGFRp75], tyrosine kinase receptor-A [Trk-A], calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] and substance P [SP] to compare the presence of different types of nerve fibers between the treatment group with the transplantation of hUC-MSCs and the control group without the transplantation of hUC-MSCs. There were significantly less nerve fibers stained with specific markers we used in the treatment group than in the control group [p<0.05]. MSC from human umbilical cord reduced nerve fiber density in the treatment group with the transplantation of hUC-MSCs