Quantification of protein expression of hormone receptors and evaluation of cell proliferation in the vagina of senescent primiparous and multiparous mice during pregnancy and postpartum

• Grant number: 25/09001-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Sílvio Roberto Consonni
• Grantee: Luiza Miano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During a woman's reproductive life, several factors contribute to changes in the reproductive organs, such as age, pregnancy and childbirth. The vagina plays an important role in supporting the pelvic organs. Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and relaxin have an important influence on cell proliferation and the tissues of the vaginal wall. These changes can lead to loss of integrity of this wall, which can cause Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), which affects approximately 21.7% of women between the ages of 18 and 83. Furthermore, multiparity is a contributing factor to changes in the tissues, which can cause structural weakening. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between vaginal structures and hormonal variations between humans and murine models. Therefore, animal models are important for investigating and understanding POP. However, little is known about the mechanisms that modify the integrity of the vaginal wall and whether the hormones estrogen, progesterone and relaxin have an effect on the pathophysiology of POP. (AU)