Alterations in the endometrium of rats, rabbits, and Macaca mulatta that received an implantation of copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite
Authors: Jing He
Changhong Zhu
Bo Zhen
Hong Wang
Xianping Xia
Hefang Liu
Shi-Fu Hu
Wei Xia
Meng Rao
Changsheng Xie
Li-Xia Hu
Xiao-Ling Zhao
Jing Yang
Haihong Di
Journal: International Journal of Nanomedicine (2014)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite; endometrium; intrauterine device; side effects.
Affiliations: Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China., Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China ; Central Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, People's Republic of China., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  A copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite (nano-Cu/LDPE), a potential intrauterine device component material, has been developed from our research. A logical extension of our previous work, this study was conducted to investigate the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), substance P (SP), and substance P receptor (SP-R) in the endometrium of Sprague Dawley rats, New Zealand White rabbits, and Macaca mulatta implanted with nano-Cu/LDPE composite. The influence of the nano-Cu/LDPE composite on the morphology of the endometrium was also investigated. Animals were randomly divided into five groups: the sham-operated control group (SO group), bulk copper group (Cu group), LDPE group, and nano-Cu/LDPE groups I and II. An expression of PAI-1, SP, and SP-R in the endometrial tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry at day 30, 60, 90, and 180 postimplantation. The significant difference for PAI-1, SP, and SP-R between the nano-Cu/LDPE groups and the SO group (P&lt;0.05) was identified when the observation period was terminated, and the changes of nano-Cu/LDPE on these parameters were less remarkable than those of the Cu group (P&lt;0.05). The damage to the endometrial morphology caused by the nano-Cu/LDPE composite was much less than that caused by bulk copper. The nano-Cu/LDPE composite might be a potential substitute for conventional materials for intrauterine devices in the future because of its decreased adverse effects on the endometrial microenvironment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 One of the cell lines used in this paper is stated to be  Human laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells which was said to have been purchased from ATCC. HEp-2 is known since 1968!!!! to be a contaminated HeLa cell line. Furthermore if the the authors did purchase it from ATCC, they can not ignore this as it is clearly stated on the ATCC site on the CCL-23 product page  Tissue: HeLa contaminant  . It is also stated in many other places in the description of this cell line at ATCC. See: https: www.atcc.org Products All CCL-23.aspx Therefore all the conclusions in this paper relevant to laryngeal squamouse cell carcinoma are unfortunatly invalid. See the relevant [Cellosaurus entry] PS: Also note that a comment regarding HEp-2 and its contamination status was posted as a comment on the preprint of this article but was ignored by the authors. ,