Effect of human umbilical cord stem cells (HUMSC) administration on collagen expression in the anterior vaginal wall in menopausal rats.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of human umbilical cord stem cells (HUMSC) administration on collagen expression within the frontal vaginal wall of menopausal rats.

Materials and methods: We conducted an experimental, randomized post-test-only controlled group design. The study samples were 40 healthy female Winstar rat with the age of 8-12 weeks that had been ovariectomized, had never mated, and weighed 18-22 grams. The umbilical cord was obtained from voluntary donors who did not have a history of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, cytomegalovirus infection, treponema pallidum infection, or a history of other infections transmitted through the blood, placental tract, and genitals. Data collection (frontal vaginal wall of the rat) was carried out in a controlled environment with the consideration that all conditions were maintained equally and could be controlled.

Results: There were 36 samples. A total of 13 menopausal rats (72%) had strong collagen expression and 5 rats had weak-to-moderate collagen expression (28%). On the other hand, 18 menopausal rats (100%) that belonged to the control group had weak-moderate collagen expression, and no menopausal rats appeared to have strong expression (0%). The administration of collagen to the anterior vaginal wall of postmenopausal rats proved to be effective by increasing the strong collagen expression in the damaged anterior vagina of postmenopausal female rats (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Administration of HUMSC resulted in an increase in collagen levels in the anterior vaginal tissue of postmenopausal female rats. These results demonstrate significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction.