Antifibrotic Effects of Decellularized and Lyophilized Human Amniotic Membrane Transplant on the Formation of Intrauterine Adhesion.

OBJECTIVES: Intrauterine adhesion is a disease involving endometrial fibrosis that arises from injury to the basal layer of the endometrium. Here, we aimed to explore the preventive effects of decellularized and lyophilized amniotic membrane on endometrial fibrosis in a rat model of intrauterine adhesion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. For the intrauterine adhesion group, endometria of left uteri were scraped without treatment. For the intrauterine adhesion plus decellularized and lyophilized amniotic membrane transplant group, decellularized and lyophilized amniotic membrane was sutured onto the scraped wound of left uteri. Right uteri were kept as the control group. At 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after transplant, uteri were sampled for histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation.

RESULTS: Histology examination revealed extensive fibrosis with significantly reduced numbers of endometrial glands in uteri in the intrauterine adhesion group. Immunohistochemical staining showed a remarked increase in expression of transforming growth factor β1 (P < .01) and decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (P < .01) in the intrauterine adhesion group. In rats with transplant of decellularized and lyophilized amniotic membrane, endometrial fibrosis apparently improved (P < .05) with reduced expression of transforming growth factor β1 and increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression (P < .05). However, there were no significant differences in the number of endometrial glands or endometrial thickness between the 2 groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Development of intrauterine adhesion was prevented with transplant of decellularized and lyophilized amniotic membrane via suppression of transforming growth factor β1 and increased production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in a rat model.