2024/12/04 by Xiaowen Wang, Wen‐Bin Cai, Ting Liang +5 · 1 voice
Medicine · Immunology and Microbiology · #Endometriosis Research and Treatment #Uterine Myomas and Treatments #Reproductive System and Pregnancy
paper · pdf · doi:10.4081/ejh.2024.4131
openalex publication_date 2024/12/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/02
Previous ultrasound studies suggest that patients with adenomyosis (AM) exhibit increased uterine cavity stiffness, although direct evidence regarding extracellular matrix (ECM) content and its specific impact on endometrial stiffness remains limited. This study utilized atomic force microscopy to directly measure endometrial stiffness and collagen morphology, enabling a detailed analysis of the endometrium's mechanical properties: through this approach, we established direct evidence of increased endometrial stiffness and fibrosis in patients with AM. Endometrial specimens were also stained with Picrosirius red or Masson's trichrome to quantify fibrosis, and additional analyses assessed α-SMA and Ki-67 expression. Studies indicate that pathological conditions significantly influence the mechanical properties of endometrial tissue. Specifically, adenomyotic endometrial tissue demonstrates increased stiffness, associated with elevated ECM and fibrosis content, whereas normal endometrial samples are softer with lower ECM content. AM appears to alter both the mechanical and histological characteristics of the eutopic endometrium. Higher ECM content may significantly impact endometrial mechanical properties, potentially contributing to AM-associated decidualization defects and fertility challenges.