The development of robust uterine fibroid animal models is a cornerstone of preclinical research. As a leader in disease model development, Protheragen recognizes that no single model can perfectly recapitulate all aspects of human uterine fibroids. Therefore, we utilize and develop a diverse range of models, each offering unique advantages for specific research questions.
Overview of Uterine Fibroid Animal Models
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system, affecting a significant proportion of women during their reproductive years. These non-cancerous growths in the uterus can cause a range of symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and fertility issues, severely impacting the quality of life of affected individuals.
Fig.1 Usual-type leiomyoma with MED12 mutation. (Bulun S. E.,
et al., 2025)
Animal models play a pivotal role in understanding the complex pathogenesis, progression, and treatment of uterine fibroids. They provide a controlled environment to study the disease at the cellular, molecular, and physiological levels, which is not feasible in human subjects due to ethical and practical constraints. By mimicking human uterine fibroid characteristics, these models enable researchers to investigate the underlying mechanisms, test new drugs, and evaluate surgical interventions, ultimately facilitating the translation of basic research findings into clinical applications.
Types of Uterine Fibroid Animal Models
| Animal Model |
Animal Species |
Modeling Method |
Model Characteristics |
| Spontaneous Animal Model |
Eker rat, Japanese quail, Large intestine pig |
Unmanipulated experimental animals that naturally develop uterine tumors. |
Advantages: No artificial intervention needed, disease characteristics similar to humans. Disadvantages: High cost, long modeling period, and influenced by other factors. |
| Induced Animal Model |
Rat |
Single injection of estrogen or combined injection of estrogen and progesterone. |
Advantages: Good simulation of human uterine tumor development, low cost, and easy to reproduce. Disadvantages: Specific methods are not yet standardized. |
| Heterogeneous Transplantation Animal Model |
Immunodeficient mice |
Transplant uterine tumor tissue or cells into immunodeficient mice. |
Advantages: High modeling success rate, better response to human diseases. Disadvantages: High cost, strict requirements for an aseptic environment. |
| Genetic Engineering Animal Model |
Genetically engineered mice |
Introduce exogenous DNA fragments into fertilized eggs or use artificial nucleases to edit target gene sequences to produce mice with stable inheritance. |
Advantages: Strong specificity, more effective, and direct research on the impact of related genes on uterine tumors. Disadvantages: High technical requirements, complex procedures, low efficiency, and high cost. |
Our Services
Protheragen offers comprehensive services for the development of uterine fibroid animal models. Our team of experts has extensive experience in creating and validating various animal models, ensuring that they accurately reflect the pathophysiology of uterine fibroids. We provide customized solutions to meet the specific needs of our clients, from model selection and development to validation and customization.
Spontaneous Animal Models
The Eker rat is a prime example of our spontaneous animal models. This rat strain carries a mutation in the Tsc2 gene and spontaneously develops uterine fibroids after 3–4 months of age. This model is highly valued for its natural development process, which closely mirrors the human condition without artificial intervention. Its pathological features are strikingly similar to those observed in humans, making it an excellent tool for studying disease mechanisms.
For researchers seeking cost-effective and easily reproducible models, our induced animal models are an ideal choice. These models are developed by administering estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone to animals, which effectively induces the formation of uterine fibroids. This approach allows for large-scale drug screening and can simulate the human fibroid development process.
Our xenograft models involve the transplantation of human uterine fibroid tissue or cells into immunodeficient mice. This method ensures that the histological features of human fibroids are retained, making the model particularly suitable for evaluating drug efficacy and conducting preclinical studies.
| Cell Lines |
Description |
| UtLM-hTERT |
Immortalized human uterine leiomyoma cell line generated by transfection with human telomerase |
| UtSMC-hTERT |
Immortalized human uterine smooth muscle cell line generated by transfection with human telomerase |
| ELT-3 |
Cell line derived from Eker rat uterine fibroids, used extensively to identify therapeutic strategies for uterine fibroids |
For studies focused on specific gene mutations, our genetically engineered models offer unparalleled precision. By knocking out or integrating specific genes such as Tsc2 or Med12, these models can accurately simulate the genetic basis of uterine fibroids. This approach is particularly useful for investigating the impact of specific genetic alterations on disease development.
| Model Types |
Conditional Knockout Mice |
Knockout Mice |
| Model Name |
Tsc2-Flox Mice |
Tubb4a-KO Mice |
| Also Known As |
C57BL/6-Tsc2tm1(flox) |
C57BL/6-Tubb4Aem1 |
| Detailed Description |
The mice possess loxP sites flanking Exons 3-5 of the Tsc2 gene. When crossed with a strain expressing Cre recombinase, they facilitate tissue-specific conditional knockout of the Tsc2 gene. |
Exon 2 of the Tubb4a gene was deleted to generate Tubb4a knockout mice. |
| NCBI ID |
22084 |
22153 |
| MGI ID |
102548 |
107848 |
| Gene Alias |
Tcs2, Nafld |
Tubb, Tubb4, AI325297, M(beta)4 |
| Chromosomes |
Chr 17 |
|
| Sales Status |
Repository live |
Embryo cryopreservation |
| Applications & Therapeutic Areas |
Uterine Fibroid; Tuberous Sclerosis |
Low myelinated leukocyte dystrophy 6; Autosomal dominant tonic dystonia 4 |
| Ensembl ID |
ENSMUSG00000002496 |
ENSMUSG00000062591 |
| Pubmed |
Tsc2 |
Tubb4a |
| Human Ortholog |
TSC2 |
TUBB4A |
Case Study
Protheragen has developed patient-derived leiomyoma xenograft animal models. Cells are sourced from patient or human leiomyoma tissues and transfected with a luciferase gene (such as GFP-LUC) for in vivo imaging. These cells are then subcutaneously injected into nude mice, mixed with Matrigel matrix. Additionally, 17β-estradiol-releasing pellets are implanted in the mice to support tumor growth. This model is ideal for studying human-derived leiomyoma cells.
Fig 2. Changes in tumor volume and weight in the leiomyoma animal model group and treatment group.
Protheragen's approach to Uterine Fibroid Animal Model Development Services is built on the principles of precision, efficiency, and partnership. We recognize that the lack of adequate animal models has been a significant bottleneck in the field. Our comprehensive platform is designed to overcome these challenges, empowering our clients to accelerate their drug discovery and development efforts. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Bulun, Serdar E., et al. "Uterine fibroids." Physiological reviews 105.4 (2025): 1947-1988.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
