Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation on Nerve Fibers of A Rat Model of Endometriosi

Background: Endometriosis is a common, benign, oestrogen-dependent, chronic gynaecological \ndisorder associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Some researchers have \nidentified nerve fibers in endometriotic lesions in women with endometriosis. Mesenchymal \nstem cells (MSCs) have attracted interest for their possible use for both cell and \ngene therapies because of their capacity for self-renewal and multipotentiality of differentiation. \nWe investigated how human umbilical cord-MSCs (hUC-MSCs) could affect \nnerve fibers density in endometriosis. \nMaterials and Methods: In this experimental study, hUC-MSCs were isolated from \nfresh human umbilical cord, characterized by flow cytometry, and then transplanted into \nsurgically induced endometriosis in a rat model. Ectopic endometrial implants were collected \nfour weeks later. The specimens were sectioned and stained immunohistochemically \nwith antibodies against neurofilament (NF), nerve growth factor (NGF), NGF \nreceptor p75 (NGFRp75), tyrosine kinase receptor-A (Trk-A), calcitonin gene-related \npeptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) to compare the presence of different types of nerve \nfibers between the treatment group with the transplantation of hUC-MSCs and the control \ngroup without the transplantation of hUC-MSCs. \nResults: There were significantly less nerve fibers stained with specific markers we \nused in the treatment group than in the control group (p<0.05). \nConclusion: MSC from human umbilical cord reduced nerve fiber density in the treatment \ngroup with the transplantation of hUC-MSCs.