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  • Collagen organization and structure in FBLN5-/- mice using label-free microscopy: implications for pelvic organ prolapse
Title: Collagen organization and structure in FBLN5-/- mice using label-free microscopy: implications for pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a gynecological disorder described by the descent of superior pelvic organs into or out of the vagina as a consequence of disrupted muscles and tissue. A thorough understanding of the etiology of POP is limited by the availability of clinically relevant samples, restricting longitudinal POP studies on soft-tissue biomechanics and structure to POP-induced models such as fibulin-5 knockout (FBLN5-/-) mice. Despite being a principal constituent in the extracellular matrix, little is known about structural perturbations to collagen networks in theFBLN5-/-mouse cervix. We identify significantly different collagen network populations in normal and prolapsed cervical cross-sections using two label-free, nonlinear microscopy techniques. Collagen in the prolapsed mouse cervix tends to be more isotropic, and displays reduced alignment persistence via 2-D Fourier transform analysis of images acquired using second harmonic generation microscopy. Furthermore, coherent Raman hyperspectral imaging revealed elevated disorder in the secondary structure of collagen in prolapsed tissues. Our results underscore the need forin situmultimodal monitoring of collagen organization to improve POP predictive capabilities.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1751050 2146549
PAR ID:
10499124
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Optical Society of America
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Biomedical Optics Express
Volume:
15
Issue:
5
ISSN:
2156-7085
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: Article No. 2863
Size(s):
Article No. 2863
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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