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Updated: May 15, 2026
Mouse Model of Surgically-induced Endometriosis by Auto-transplantation of Uterine Tissue
Published on: January 6, 2012
A novel mouse model that closely mimics human uterine leiomyomas
Michael Drosch1, Jörn Bullerdiek, Thomas M Zollner
1Center of Human Genetics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Objective:
To develop a predictive mouse model for uterine fibroids.
Design:
Human fibroid cells xenografted to immunodeficient mice.
Setting:
University and industrial research center.
Animal(S):
Immunodeficient scid/beige mice.
Intervention(S):
Subcutaneous and intrauterine injection of fibroid-derived cells, SV40 transformation of primary cells by lentiviral transduction, proliferation determined by immunohistochemistry, FISH.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Characterization of primary and immortalized cells by Western blot and soft agar assay, determination of in vivo tumorigenicity, comparative histology and immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Result(S):
Tumorigenicity of primary myoma cells disappears upon in vitro culture. Transformation and immortalization does not restore or conserve the in vivo growth potential of cultured cells. Injection of primary cells into myometrium of mice leads to xenografts with a leiomyoma-like histology.
Conclusion(S):
Primary myoma cells are suited to generate fibroid-like xenografts for studying pathogenesis without genetic modifications. In contrast, in vitro culture abolishes transplantability, and neither transformation nor immortalization is sufficient to restore tumorigenic capacity.
