A bioprinted model of pregnant human uterine myometrium

We have utilized primary human uterine smooth muscle cells to bioprint myometrial tissue rings containing >75% viable cells with elongated, smooth muscle morphology. Immunofluorescence confirmed expression of smooth muscle markers (caldesmon, alpha smooth muscle actin, and smooth muscle myosin), contractile-associated proteins (oxytocin receptor, prostaglandin receptors and connexin-43), and steroid hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors) characteristic of pregnant human uterine myometrium. Bioprinted tissue ring area contracted in response to physiological agonists oxytocin (p<0.001), prostaglandin F2 alpha (p=0.003), and prostaglandin E2 (p<0.001), and relaxed in response to the nitric oxide donor S-nitrosoglutathione (p=0.0004).