A Pilot Study of Uterine Artery Embolization with Tris-Acryl Gelatin Microspheres in Guinea Pigs

Study of the impact of uterine artery embolization (UAE) on endometrial microvessel density (MVD) and angiogenesis

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of uterine artery embolization (UAE) on endometrial microvessel density (MVD) and angiogenesis.

METHODS

Sixty female guinea pigs were divided into two groups, the control group (n = 15) and the UAE treatment group (n = 45). In the UAE group, tris-acryl gelatin microspheres were used to generate embolization. Animals were further divided into three subgroups, A1, A2, and A3 (n = 15 for each subgroup), with uterine specimens collected at 7-15, 16-30, and 31-45 days after UAE, respectively. Immunostaining for factor VIII and CD105 was performed to identify total endometrial MVD (MVDFVIII) and CD105-positive angiogenesis (MVDCD105) at the indicated time points after UAE.

RESULTS

Quantitative analysis revealed that MVDFVIII significantly decreased in the A1 (11.40 ± 2.76, p < 0.05) and A2 (15.37 ± 3.06, p < 0.05) groups compared to the control group (19.40 ± 2.50), and was restored to normal in the A3 group (18.77 ± 2.69). UAE caused a temporal up-regulation of MVDCD105-positive angiogenesis in the A1 group (9.33 ± 2.37, p < 0.05) and the A2 group (11.63 ± 1.56, p < 0.05) compared to the control group (7.12 ± 1.67), and the MVDCD105 value returned to normal in the A3 group (8.07 ± 1.97).

CONCLUSION

UAE caused a temporal decrease in endometrial MVD that reversed over time as a result of the increase of CD105-positive angiogenesis. Although the UAE-induced reduction of endometrial MVD was reversible, its long-term effect on endometrial receptivity still needs further study.