Impact of Chronic Exposure to Endometriosis on Perinatal Outcomes: Establishment of a Mouse Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish a new mouse model of endometriosis that mimics real-world women’s health problems, in which women continue to be affected by endometriosis long before they wish to become pregnant, and to evaluate the impact of “chronic exposure to endometriosis” on perinatal outcome. Endometriosis was established by the intraperitoneal injection of homologous minced mouse uteri. Vehicle was injected for the control. Mating was initiated either 1 or 43 days after disease establishment (Young or Aged studies, respectively). Mice were sacrificed on 18 dpc. The number pups and resorptions were counted and pups’ body weights (BW) were measured, and the endometriosis lesion was identified and weighted. In the Young study, the number of resorptions and BW were comparable between the groups. In the Aged study, the number of resorptions was significantly higher and BW was significantly lower in endometriosis than that in control. The total weight of endometriosis lesion per dam was significantly lower in the Aged compared to the Young endometriosis group; however, not a single mouse was found to have any lesions at all. These results suggest that in addition to the presence of endometriosis per se, “chronic exposure to endometriosis” prior to pregnancy affect perinatal outcomes.