MORPHOMETRIC REMODELING OF THE UTERUS IN FEMALE RATS AFTER EXPERIMENTAL LIVER INJURY

Abstract

The study aimed to assess structural and morphometric remodeling of the uterus in female albino rats after experimental liver injury. Female rats aged 3 and 9 months were examined, with intact age-matched animals serving as controls. Liver injury was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of heliotrine at a dose of 25 mg/100 g body weight. Uterine specimens were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, processed routinely, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Morphometric measurements were performed on digital microphotographs using QuPath 0.5.1. Experimental liver injury produced reductions in the thickness of the uterine wall and its structural components, as well as decreases in epithelial height, stromal thickness, uterine gland diameter and gland density. In 3-month-old rats, uterine wall thickness decreased from 950±18 to 875±17 μm, endometrial thickness from 181±4 to 158±4 μm, and stromal thickness from 156±3 to 138±3 μm. Myometrial thickness decreased to 690±11 μm, while muscle fiber diameter decreased to 12.8±0.3 μm. In 9-month-old animals, uterine wall thickness decreased to 925±19 μm, endometrial thickness to 171±4 μm, and stromal thickness to 148±3 μm. Myometrial thickness and muscle fiber diameter decreased to 731±13 and 13.7±0.3 μm, respectively. Uterine gland diameter and density decreased to 23.8±0.6 μm and 17.6±0.7 glands/mm² in 3-month-old animals and to 25.7±0.7 μm and 15.2±0.6 glands/mm² in 9-month-old animals. In contrast, vascular diameter increased to 46.8±1.2 and 53.6±1.4 μm, respectively. The findings demonstrate that hepatic injury is accompanied by pronounced morphometric remodeling of the uterus, with greater changes in older animals.