Characteristics of the Endometrium in Menstruating Species: Lessons Learned from the Animal Kingdom†

Overview

Journal Biol Reprod

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2020 Mar 5

PMID 32129461

Citations 20

Authors

Laura Catalini

Jens Fedder

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Here we have summarized what is currently known about menstruating animal species with special emphasis on non-primate species: length of their menstrual cycle, ovulation, implantation, placentation, decidualization, and endometrial characteristics. Having an overview of all the possible animal models that can be used to study menstruation and the menstrual cycle could be useful to select the one that better matches the needs of the individual research projects. The most promising species to study menstruation seems to be the spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus. It is a rodent that could be easily held in the existing laboratory facilities for rats and mice but with the great advantage of having spontaneous menstruation and several human-like menstrual cycle characteristics. Among the species of menstruating bats, the black mastiff bat Molossus ater and wild fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii are the ones presenting the most human-like characteristics. The elephant shrew seems to be the less suitable species among the ones analyzed. The induced mouse model of menstruation is also presented as an adaptable alternative to study menstruation.

Citing Articles

Differences in gut microbiota composition, diversity, and predicted functional activity between wild and captive zoo Carollia perspicillata in a One Health perspective.

Popov I, Popov I, Chebotareva I, Tikhmeneva I, Peshkova D, Krikunova A Braz J Microbiol. 2025; .

PMID: 39961999 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-025-01630-z.

Integral Roles of the TGFβ Signaling Pathway in Uterine Function and Disease.

Unser A, Monsivais D Endocrinology. 2025; 166(3).

PMID: 39950970 PMC: 11843549. DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf032.

Hallmarks of female reproductive aging in physiologic aging mice.

Balough J, Dipali S, Velez K, Kumar T, Duncan F Nat Aging. 2024; 4(12):1711-1730.

PMID: 39672896 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00769-y.

Current advances in understanding endometrial epithelial cell biology and therapeutic applications for intrauterine adhesion.

Wang J, Zhan H, Wang Y, Zhao L, Huang Y, Wu R Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024; 15(1):379.

PMID: 39456113 PMC: 11515228. DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03989-6.

Bats as instructive animal models for studying longevity and aging.

Cooper L, Ansari M, Capshaw G, Galazyuk A, Lauer A, Moss C Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2024; 1541(1):10-23.

PMID: 39365995 PMC: 11580778. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15233.

References

Liu S, Diao L, Huang C, Li Y, Zeng Y, Kwak-Kim J . The role of decidual immune cells on human pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol. 2017; 124:44-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2017.10.045. View

Soares M, Varberg K, Iqbal K . Hemochorial placentation: development, function, and adaptations. Biol Reprod. 2018; 99(1):196-211. PMC: 6044390. DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy049. View

Lamers W, Mooren P, Griep H, Endert E, Degenhart H, Charles R . Hormones in perinatal rat and spiny mouse: relation to altricial and precocial timing of birth. Am J Physiol. 1986; 251(1 Pt 1):E78-85. DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.1986.251.1.E78. View

King B, Hastings 2nd R . The comparative fine structure of the interhemal membrane of chorioallantoic placentas from six genera of myomorph rodents. Am J Anat. 1977; 149(2):165-79. DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001490204. View

Komar C, Zacharachis-Jutz F, Cretekos C, Behringer R, Rasweiler 4th J . Polarized ovaries of the long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina: a novel model for studying ovarian development, folliculogenesis, and ovulation. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2007; 290(11):1439-48. DOI: 10.1002/ar.20602. View

Wynn R, PANIGEL M, MacLennan A . Fine structure of the placenta and fetal membranes of the baboon. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1971; 109(4):638-48. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90640-5. View

Carter A . Classics revisited: C. J. van der Horst on pregnancy and menstruation in elephant shrews. Placenta. 2018; 67:24-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.05.010. View

Rasweiler 4th J . Spontaneous decidual reactions and menstruation in the black mastiff bat, Molossus ater. Am J Anat. 1991; 191(1):1-22. DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001910102. View

Menning A, Walter A, Rudolph M, Gashaw I, Fritzemeier K, Roese L . Granulocytes and vascularization regulate uterine bleeding and tissue remodeling in a mouse menstruation model. PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e41800. PMC: 3413732. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041800. View

10.

Brasted M, White C, Kennedy T, Salamonsen L . Mimicking the events of menstruation in the murine uterus. Biol Reprod. 2003; 69(4):1273-80. DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.016550. View

11.

Bondarenko G, Durning M, Golos T . Immunomorphological changes in the rhesus monkey endometrium and decidua during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2012; 68(4):309-21. PMC: 3440518. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2012.01174.x. View

12.

Rasweiler 4th J, Cretekos C, Behringer R . The short-tailed fruit bat Carollia perspicillata: a model for studies in reproduction and development. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2010; 2009(3):pdb.emo118. DOI: 10.1101/pdb.emo118. View

13.

Maslar I, Riddick D . Prolactin production by human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1979; 135(6):751-4. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(79)90386-7. View

14.

Lee K, DeMayo F . Animal models of implantation. Reproduction. 2004; 128(6):679-95. DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00340. View

15.

Kerber W, REESE W . Comparison of the menstrual cycle of cynomolgus and Rhesus monkeys. Fertil Steril. 1969; 20(6):975-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)37215-6. View

16.

FINN C . Menstruation: a nonadaptive consequence of uterine evolution. Q Rev Biol. 1998; 73(2):163-73. DOI: 10.1086/420183. View

17.

Bellofiore N, Ellery S, Mamrot J, Walker D, Temple-Smith P, Dickinson H . First evidence of a menstruating rodent: the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus). Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 216(1):40.e1-40.e11. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.07.041. View

18.

Rasweiler 4th J . Early embryonic development and implantation in bats. J Reprod Fertil. 1979; 56(1):403-16. DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0560403. View

19.

Emera D, Romero R, Wagner G . The evolution of menstruation: a new model for genetic assimilation: explaining molecular origins of maternal responses to fetal invasiveness. Bioessays. 2011; 34(1):26-35. PMC: 3528014. DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100099. View

20.

Hartman C . THE PERIOD OF GESTATION IN THE MONKEY, MACACUS RHESUS. Science. 1928; 67(1723):15. DOI: 10.1126/science.67.1723.15. View