title: A rat model to study the structural properties of the vagina and its supportive tissues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the rat as a model for evaluating the structural properties of the vagina and its supportive tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in situ relationships between the vagina and its supportive tissues were studied grossly (n = 10), and in serial cross sections (n = 4). For biomechanical testing (n = 10), the lumbar spine was fixed to a testing machine while the distal vagina was gripped with a soft-tissue clamp mounted to a load-cell on the crosshead of the machine. The vagina was systematically pulled through the pelvis until failure of the supportive tissues occurred. Parameters describing the structural properties of the tissues (linear stiffness, ultimate load, ultimate elongation, and energy absorbed to failure) were determined from the resulting load-elongation curve. A coefficient of correlation (R) was used to determine experimental reproducibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rat vagina is supported by structures analogous to those in humans. The parameters describing the structural properties of these tissues were highly correlated among specimens (R = 0.95). The mechanism of failure was similar for all specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a mechanical testing protocol in which the structural properties of the vagina-supportive tissue complex can be measured. This will be a powerful tool for testing the impact of life events on vaginal support.
authors.affiliation: Magee-Womens Research Institute and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Magee Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. pmoalli@mail.magee.edu
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moalli
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Howden
authors.forename: Jerry L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lowder
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Debes
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Abramowitch
authors.forename: Savio L-Y
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000473:pathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*