Mechanisms of Regeneration and Fibrosis in the Endometrium

In: Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology · 2023 · vol. 39(1) , pp. 197–221 · doi:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-011723-021442 · PMID:37843929 · W4387667345
review OA: hybrid CC0 ⤵ 10 in-corpus citations
AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09

This review examines endometrial regeneration and fibrosis mechanisms across species following various disruptions to understand why some tissues heal without scarring while others form fibrotic scars, with implications for reproductive health.

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Abstract

The uterine lining (endometrium) regenerates repeatedly over the life span as part of its normal physiology. Substantial portions of the endometrium are shed during childbirth (parturition) and, in some species, menstruation, but the tissue is rapidly rebuilt without scarring, rendering it a powerful model of regeneration in mammals. Nonetheless, following some assaults, including medical procedures and infections, the endometrium fails to regenerate and instead forms scars that may interfere with normal endometrial function and contribute to infertility. Thus, the endometrium provides an exceptional platform to answer a central question of regenerative medicine: Why do some systems regenerate while others scar? Here, we review our current understanding of diverse endometrial disruption events in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents, and the associated mechanisms of regenerative success and failure. Elucidating the determinants of these disparate repair processes promises insights into fundamental mechanisms of mammalian regeneration with substantial implications for reproductive health.

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infertility

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europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-04T01:30:01.192114+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK