Parity negatively impacts vaginal mechanical properties and collagen structure in rhesus macaques

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of parity on mechanical behavior of the vagina and to correlate these findings with alterations in collagen structure. Study Design Mechanical properties of 5 nulliparous and 6 parous rhesus macaques were derived from uniaxial tensile t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2010-12, Vol.203 (6), p.595.e1-595.e8
Main Authors: Feola, Andrew, BS, Abramowitch, Steven, PhD, Jones, Keisha, MD, MSC, Stein, Suzan, BS, Moalli, Pamela, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
Collagen - physiology
Female
Macaca mulatta
mechanical properties
Models, Animal
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Parity
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Animal - physiology
prolapse
Random Allocation
Reference Values
rhesus macaque
Statistics, Nonparametric
Tensile Strength - physiology
Uterine Prolapse
Vagina - physiology
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Summary:Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of parity on mechanical behavior of the vagina and to correlate these findings with alterations in collagen structure. Study Design Mechanical properties of 5 nulliparous and 6 parous rhesus macaques were derived from uniaxial tensile tests. Collagen ratios and alignment were quantified by quantitative fluorescent microscopy and picrosirius red staining. Outcomes were compared by the Student t test or Mann Whitney U test ( P < .05) and Spearman's rho for correlation coefficients. Results Mechanical properties were inferior in a parous vs nulliparous vagina with decreased tangent modulus ( P = .03), tensile strength ( P < .001), and strain energy density ( P = .006). Although no difference in collagen ratios ( P = .26) were observed, collagen alignment decreased with parity ( P = .06). Worsening pelvic organ support negatively correlated with decreasing collagen alignment (r2 = –0.66) and mechanical properties (r2 = –0.67). Conclusion Vaginal parity is associated with inferior tissue mechanics and loss of collagen alignment. Such behavior likely predisposes to the development of pelvic organ prolapse.
ISSN:0002-9378
1097-6868
DOI:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.06.035