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JFL, Terrace Conference Room (001)
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Tubal ectopic pregnancy is a condition where a conceived embryo implants in the fallopian tube leading to the uterus, rather than in the uterus itself(1). As the baby grows, the tension it puts on the wall of the fallopian tube will cause it to tear, resulting in maternal hemorrhaging and death(2). Thus, tubal ectopic pregnancies are universally terminated either by surgical removal of the fallopian tube with the baby, or by chemically inducing miscarriage(3). Tubal ectopic pregnancy rarely occurs in animals, so researchers have no high-fidelity model for testing new interventions(4). Our hypothesis is that placement of endometrial cells inside the fallopian tube, followed by inserting a rat embryo into the tube, will lead to implantation of the embryo and formation of a working ectopic pregnancy animal research model. Our procedure involves two groups of female rats: embryo donors and embryo recipients. Embryo donors are superovulated to produce 20-40 embryos each, which are then collected for future placement. Embryo recipients have a small section of endometrium removed from the uterus, broken down into small clusters of cells using enzymes and placed back into one fallopian tube of the same rat. Time is then allowed for the endometrium to attach in the tube, after which an embryo is placed in the tube. After 4 days have passed, equivalent to about 6 weeks of pregnancy in humans, the rats are dissected and assessed for presence of an ectopic pregnancy. Future research involves modification of this procedure to use rabbits, which are more structurally similar to humans. Surgical interventions can then be tested to 1) release the tension placed by the ectopic pregnancy on the wall of the fallopian tube; and 2) place the baby into the uterus.   Citations: 1. HS. Ectopic pregnancy - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/. Updated August 21, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2025. 2. Zhang S, Liu J, Yang L, Li H, Tang J, Hong L. Global burden and trends of ectopic pregnancy: An observational trend study from 1990 to 2019. PLoS One. 2023;18(10):e0291316. Published 2023 Oct 26. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0291316 3. HS. Ectopic pregnancy - Treatment - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/treatment/. Updated August 21, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2025. 4. Shaw JL, Dey SK, Critchley HO, Horne AW. Current knowledge of the aetiology of human tubal ectopic pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update. 2010;16(4):432-444. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmp057
Modeling Ectopic Pregnancy In Murids
JFL, Terrace Conference Room (001)
Tubal ectopic pregnancy is a condition where a conceived embryo implants in the fallopian tube leading to the uterus, rather than in the uterus itself(1). As the baby grows, the tension it puts on the wall of the fallopian tube will cause it to tear, resulting in maternal hemorrhaging and death(2). Thus, tubal ectopic pregnancies are universally terminated either by surgical removal of the fallopian tube with the baby, or by chemically inducing miscarriage(3). Tubal ectopic pregnancy rarely occurs in animals, so researchers have no high-fidelity model for testing new interventions(4). Our hypothesis is that placement of endometrial cells inside the fallopian tube, followed by inserting a rat embryo into the tube, will lead to implantation of the embryo and formation of a working ectopic pregnancy animal research model. Our procedure involves two groups of female rats: embryo donors and embryo recipients. Embryo donors are superovulated to produce 20-40 embryos each, which are then collected for future placement. Embryo recipients have a small section of endometrium removed from the uterus, broken down into small clusters of cells using enzymes and placed back into one fallopian tube of the same rat. Time is then allowed for the endometrium to attach in the tube, after which an embryo is placed in the tube. After 4 days have passed, equivalent to about 6 weeks of pregnancy in humans, the rats are dissected and assessed for presence of an ectopic pregnancy. Future research involves modification of this procedure to use rabbits, which are more structurally similar to humans. Surgical interventions can then be tested to 1) release the tension placed by the ectopic pregnancy on the wall of the fallopian tube; and 2) place the baby into the uterus.   Citations: 1. HS. Ectopic pregnancy - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/. Updated August 21, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2025. 2. Zhang S, Liu J, Yang L, Li H, Tang J, Hong L. Global burden and trends of ectopic pregnancy: An observational trend study from 1990 to 2019. PLoS One. 2023;18(10):e0291316. Published 2023 Oct 26. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0291316 3. HS. Ectopic pregnancy - Treatment - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/treatment/. Updated August 21, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2025. 4. Shaw JL, Dey SK, Critchley HO, Horne AW. Current knowledge of the aetiology of human tubal ectopic pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update. 2010;16(4):432-444. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmp057
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