Vaginal microbiota transplantation alleviates vaginal atrophy in ovariectomized mice

Abstract

Genitourinary menopausal syndrome (GSM) is a prevalent symptom in menopausal women, affecting over 50% of older women and patients with loss of ovarian function. The role of factors other than estrogen, such as the vaginal microbiota, in the development of GSM has not been fully explored. Therefore, we selected 8-week-old C57 mice with bilateral oophorectomy for experimentation. After four weeks of treatment, we observed that the vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized mice showed signs of atrophy, and the structure and metabolites of vaginal microbiota showed significant differences. Vaginal transplantation of microbiota from ovary-intact mice significantly ameliorated the vaginal atrophy of ovariectomized mice and altered the structure and metabolism of vaginal microbiota. These findings indicate that ovarian activity significantly affects the structure and metabolism of vaginal microbiota. The vaginal microbiota of ovary-intact mice may promote vaginal health by upregulating ER (estrogen receptor) in vaginal epithelial cells in ovariectomized mice, which in turn promotes cell proliferation. Further studies are needed to investigate the interactions between vaginal bacterial microbiota and vaginal health. This finding can help develop new therapeutic strategies and interventions for patients suffering from vaginal atrophy.