Biomechanical and Compositional Changes in the Murine Uterus with Age

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Biomaterials science
• Tissue engineering

Background:

• The uterus, a fibromuscular organ, undergoes physiological changes related to menstruation and pregnancy.
• Extracellular matrix (ECM) components like collagen influence uterine biomechanical properties.
• Age-related changes in uterine ECM composition and biomechanics are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-dependent alterations in the biomechanical properties and ECM composition of the murine uterus.
• To correlate biomechanical function with optical signatures using Raman spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Raman spectroscopy combined with biaxial inflation testing.
• Analyzed murine uteri across four age groups: 2-3, 4-6, 10-12, and 20-24 months.
• Quantified changes in tissue moduli and ECM spectral contributions.

Main Results:

• Linear and toe moduli decreased significantly with reproductive aging (2-12 months) but increased in the oldest group (20-24 months).
• The oldest group showed significantly higher optical concentration of combined elastin and collagen.
• Glycogen contribution was highest in the youngest murine uteri (2-3 months).

Conclusions:

• The study presents a novel workflow coupling mechanical testing and spectroscopy for aging uterus research.
• Findings reveal significant age-related changes in uterine biomechanics and ECM composition.
• This research provides foundational data for understanding age-related uterine disorders and potential clinical translation.