Bioengineered uterine tissue could provide a treatment option for women with uterine factor infertility. In large animal models, reconstruction of the uterus has been demonstrated only with xenogeneic tissue grafts. Here we use biodegradable polymer scaffolds seeded with autologous cells to restore uterine structure and function in rabbits. Rabbits underwent a subtotal uterine excision and were reconstructed with autologous cell-seeded constructs, with nonseeded scaffolds or by suturing. At 6 months postimplantation, only the cell-seeded engineered uteri developed native tissue-like structures, including organized luminal/glandular epithelium, stroma, vascularized mucosa and two-layered myometrium. Only rabbits with cell-seeded constructs had normal pregnancies (four in ten) in the reconstructed segment of the uterus and supported fetal development to term and live birth. With further development, this approach may provide a regenerative medicine solution to uterine factor infertility.

生物工程子宫组织可以为患有子宫因子不育症的妇女提供治疗选择。在大型动物模型中，只有异种组织移植物才能证明子宫的重建。在这里，我们使用植入自体细胞的可生物降解的聚合物支架来恢复兔子的子宫结构和功能。兔子进行子宫次全切除，并用自体细胞接种的构建体，无种子的支架或通过缝合重建。植入后6个月，只有经细胞播种的工程子宫发育出天然的组织样结构，包括有组织的腔/腺上皮，基质，血管化粘膜和两层子宫肌层。只有具有细胞接种结构的兔子在子宫的重建部分可以正常怀孕（十分之四），并支持胎儿发育至足月和活产。随着进一步的发展，这种方法可以为子宫因子不孕症提供再生医学解决方案。