In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment
Abstract The cervix is a vital component of pregnancy: it provides a protective barrier during the antepartum period and undergoes drastic remodeling to facilitate parturition. There is a wealth of research that studies cervical remodeling during late pregnancy and labor, but few studies investigate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Women's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00083-x |
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| author | Emily E. Spurlin Katy Belcher Folaoluwashewa Shofu Jennifer A. E. Esteves Patricia T. Jimenez Christine M. O’Brien |
| author_facet | Emily E. Spurlin Katy Belcher Folaoluwashewa Shofu Jennifer A. E. Esteves Patricia T. Jimenez Christine M. O’Brien |
| author_sort | Emily E. Spurlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The cervix is a vital component of pregnancy: it provides a protective barrier during the antepartum period and undergoes drastic remodeling to facilitate parturition. There is a wealth of research that studies cervical remodeling during late pregnancy and labor, but few studies investigate the cervix during the earliest weeks of gestation. This study focuses on biochemical changes that occur between the time just prior to conception and 6–8 weeks gestation by enrolling patients undergoing intrauterine insemination. In vivo Raman spectroscopy was utilized as a nondestructive tool to identify early biochemical changes within the cervix. The study found the early cervical remodeling included increased vascularity, decreased structural proteins, and decreased trivalent collagen cross-linking. This is the first study demonstrating the feasibility of using in vivo Raman spectroscopy to measure biochemical changes upon the transition to early pregnancy and indicates that cervical remodeling begins in the earliest stages of pregnancy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ec0aaa99eb946ee8ff6d526505d039b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2948-1716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ec0aaa99eb946ee8ff6d526505d039b2025-08-20T02:05:39ZengNature Portfolionpj Women's Health2948-17162025-06-01311710.1038/s44294-025-00083-xIn vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishmentEmily E. Spurlin0Katy Belcher1Folaoluwashewa Shofu2Jennifer A. E. Esteves3Patricia T. Jimenez4Christine M. O’Brien5Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Washington University in St. LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. LouisDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Washington University in St. LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. LouisAbstract The cervix is a vital component of pregnancy: it provides a protective barrier during the antepartum period and undergoes drastic remodeling to facilitate parturition. There is a wealth of research that studies cervical remodeling during late pregnancy and labor, but few studies investigate the cervix during the earliest weeks of gestation. This study focuses on biochemical changes that occur between the time just prior to conception and 6–8 weeks gestation by enrolling patients undergoing intrauterine insemination. In vivo Raman spectroscopy was utilized as a nondestructive tool to identify early biochemical changes within the cervix. The study found the early cervical remodeling included increased vascularity, decreased structural proteins, and decreased trivalent collagen cross-linking. This is the first study demonstrating the feasibility of using in vivo Raman spectroscopy to measure biochemical changes upon the transition to early pregnancy and indicates that cervical remodeling begins in the earliest stages of pregnancy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00083-x |
| spellingShingle | Emily E. Spurlin Katy Belcher Folaoluwashewa Shofu Jennifer A. E. Esteves Patricia T. Jimenez Christine M. O’Brien In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment npj Women's Health |
| title | In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| title_full | In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| title_fullStr | In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| title_full_unstemmed | In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| title_short | In vivo Raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| title_sort | in vivo raman spectroscopy reveals biochemical changes in the human cervix with pregnancy establishment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00083-x |
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