Sustained Physiological Stretch Induces Abdominal Skin Growth in Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Tissue Engineering
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Supraphysiological stretching in skin expanders induces tissue growth for implants.
• Pregnancy involves sustained mechanical stretch, prompting investigation into skin growth during gestation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether skin growth occurs during pregnancy.
• To quantify the biophysical cues and tissue remodeling in abdominal skin during gestation.
• To compare pregnancy-related skin changes with those in skin expanders.

Main Methods:

• Combined a mechanical model of skin with suction experiment observations from five pregnant women.
• Utilized numerical simulations to analyze skin deformation, stiffness, and growth.
• Quantified alterations in the skin mechanome, including stiffness, fluid pressure, flow, and electrical potential.

Main Results:

• Skin stiffness increased continuously during pregnancy, with the most significant changes in the last trimester.
• Measured stiffness increase was lower than predicted for the observed deformation, suggesting growth.
• Simulations accounting for growth predicted approximately 40% area increase in abdominal skin before delivery.
• Identified similarities and differences in biophysical cues between pregnancy and skin expansion.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy stimulates substantial skin growth, comparable to tissue expansion.
• Understanding pregnancy-induced skin mechanome alterations can inform tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery.
• Biophysical cues during gestation play a crucial role in tissue remodeling.