{
  "abstract": "Introduction and Hypothesis: The objective was to assess the regional variability, mechanical properties, and histological composition of the perineal body in postmenopausal ewes with and without delayed estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), providing data relevant for pelvic floor modeling and the understanding of menopausal tissue changes.\n\nMethods: The fibromuscular layer of the central tendon of the perineal area between the rectum and vagina was used for the study. We analyzed 24 specimens from 8 postmenopausal ewes with ERT (initiated 180 days after ovariectomy and continued for 100 days)—POST-ERT group—and 21 specimens from 7 ewes without ERT—POST group, all 280 days after ovariectomy. Uniaxial tensile tests determined the Young’s moduli in small (E0) and large (E1) deformation regions, ultimate stress, and ultimate strain. Histological stereology quantified volume fractions of collagen, elastin, smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue in three regions (R1–R3). Group comparisons and regional analyses were performed using nonparametric statistics.\n\nResults: Mechanical parameters did not differ significantly between groups (E0: 28/25 kPa; E1: 0.38/0.33 MPa; ultimate stress: 0.23/0.23 MPa; ultimate strain: 0.94/0.90 for POST-ERT/POST). ERT was associated with higher collagen (33% versus 23%, p < 0.001) and elastin (6% versus 5%, p < 0.01) content. Regional differences were minimal, with only modest variation in adipose and smooth-muscle fractions and ultimate stress between the midline and lateral regions.\n\nConclusions: Despite prolonged estrogen deprivation, the perineal body maintained mechanical integrity. Structural changes, particularly increased collagen and elastin after delayed ERT, suggest adaptive remodeling but do not translate into measurable biomechanical reinforcement within the studied timeframe. The results provide parameters for finite element modeling of pelvic floor disorders.\n\nSupplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06692-7.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "European Centre of Excellence NTIS, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic",
    "Centre for Surgical Technologies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium",
    "Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium",
    "The Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic",
    "Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, General University Hospital in Prague and First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic",
    "New Technologies Research Centre NTC, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic",
    "Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic",
    "Pelvic Floor Unit, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium",
    "Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Pilsen, Czech Republic",
    "Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Petra Kochova",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7411-3065"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Lucie Hajkova Hympanova"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Katerina Mackova"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Robert Cimrman"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Zbynek Tonar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Jan Deprest"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Vladimir Kalis"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8e3j5k923gtq6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1007/s00192-026-06692-7",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13731510/",
  "id": "8e3j5k923gtq6",
  "issns": [
    "0937-3462",
    "1433-3023"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06692-7",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2748|Pelvic floor disorders treatments"
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  "openalex": "W7163878861",
  "pdf_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00192-026-06692-7.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13731510",
  "pmid": "42257722",
  "published": "2026-06-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8e3j5k923gtq6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:21:41Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13731510",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06692-7"
    }
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2748|Pelvic floor disorders treatments",
      "subfield": "general"
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  ],
  "title": "Histological Microstructure and In Vitro Mechanical Properties of Postmenopausal Ewe Perineal Body With and Without Estrogen Replacement Therapy",
  "title_text": "Histological Microstructure and In Vitro Mechanical Properties of Postmenopausal Ewe Perineal Body With and Without Estrogen Replacement Therapy",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:21:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8e3j5k923gtq6",
  "venue": "International Urogynecology Journal",
  "versions": []
}