Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study
Abstract When a vagina is dysfunctional or absent, a neovagina is typically created using an intestinal or dermal graft. This causes complications and complaints from different inherent tissue properties. We recently developed an organ-specific matrix from healthy, human vaginal wall tissue by decel...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14452-8 |
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| author | Jayson Sueters Daniel Docter Freek Groenman Sophie C. Visser Bernadette S. de Bakker Theo H. Smit Judith A. F. Huirne |
| author_facet | Jayson Sueters Daniel Docter Freek Groenman Sophie C. Visser Bernadette S. de Bakker Theo H. Smit Judith A. F. Huirne |
| author_sort | Jayson Sueters |
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| description | Abstract When a vagina is dysfunctional or absent, a neovagina is typically created using an intestinal or dermal graft. This causes complications and complaints from different inherent tissue properties. We recently developed an organ-specific matrix from healthy, human vaginal wall tissue by decellularization, and demonstrated native-like matrix protein composition and mechanical properties. However, the preservation of its vascular structures is unknown, but plays a crucial role for recellularization, tissue survival and graft integration during clinical applicability. Therefore, in this explorative study the vascular architecture of human native and decellularized vagina tissue were assessed and compared. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to analyze and quantify the three-dimensional micromorphology of blood vessels within native and decellularized human tissue. The vascular density, connectivity, length and thickness was determined for 11 test volumes from three healthy transgender donors. At a 5 μm isotropic voxel size resolution, quantitative assessment demonstrated no significant changes of the vascular density upon decellularization. However, significant decellularization-induced changes were seen for vascular connectivity (P < 0.001), vascular thickness (P < 0.01) and vascular length (P < 0.001). Micro-CT imaging is an effective strategy for high-resolution analysis of blood vessel structures in human (vaginal) tissue, and in bio-engineered tissue constructs. Despite significant loss of small capillaries, preservation of vascular architecture in chemically decellularized tissue was confirmed for large vascular structures through intra-patient comparison with native tissue. This validates an important aspect and predictor for functionality of a human vagina-specific matrix in terms of graft survival and integration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a074863d92946d6a3d3f9b0cf0e0157 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9a074863d92946d6a3d3f9b0cf0e01572025-08-24T11:17:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-14452-8Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative studyJayson Sueters0Daniel Docter1Freek Groenman2Sophie C. Visser3Bernadette S. de Bakker4Theo H. Smit5Judith A. F. Huirne6Department of Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmcAGEM – Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC – Location AMCDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmcDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location University of AmsterdamDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location University of AmsterdamDepartment of Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmcDepartment of Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmcAbstract When a vagina is dysfunctional or absent, a neovagina is typically created using an intestinal or dermal graft. This causes complications and complaints from different inherent tissue properties. We recently developed an organ-specific matrix from healthy, human vaginal wall tissue by decellularization, and demonstrated native-like matrix protein composition and mechanical properties. However, the preservation of its vascular structures is unknown, but plays a crucial role for recellularization, tissue survival and graft integration during clinical applicability. Therefore, in this explorative study the vascular architecture of human native and decellularized vagina tissue were assessed and compared. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to analyze and quantify the three-dimensional micromorphology of blood vessels within native and decellularized human tissue. The vascular density, connectivity, length and thickness was determined for 11 test volumes from three healthy transgender donors. At a 5 μm isotropic voxel size resolution, quantitative assessment demonstrated no significant changes of the vascular density upon decellularization. However, significant decellularization-induced changes were seen for vascular connectivity (P < 0.001), vascular thickness (P < 0.01) and vascular length (P < 0.001). Micro-CT imaging is an effective strategy for high-resolution analysis of blood vessel structures in human (vaginal) tissue, and in bio-engineered tissue constructs. Despite significant loss of small capillaries, preservation of vascular architecture in chemically decellularized tissue was confirmed for large vascular structures through intra-patient comparison with native tissue. This validates an important aspect and predictor for functionality of a human vagina-specific matrix in terms of graft survival and integration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14452-8Decellularized vagina matrixNeovaginaMicro-computed tomographyVasculatureBlood vessel density |
| spellingShingle | Jayson Sueters Daniel Docter Freek Groenman Sophie C. Visser Bernadette S. de Bakker Theo H. Smit Judith A. F. Huirne Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study Scientific Reports Decellularized vagina matrix Neovagina Micro-computed tomography Vasculature Blood vessel density |
| title | Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study |
| title_full | Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study |
| title_fullStr | Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study |
| title_short | Micro-computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue: explorative study |
| title_sort | micro computed tomography to visualize preserved vascular architecture in decellularized human vaginal tissue explorative study |
| topic | Decellularized vagina matrix Neovagina Micro-computed tomography Vasculature Blood vessel density |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14452-8 |
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