Scientists have created organoids that regenerate in a way similar to the endometrium — the uterine lining that renews itself during every menstrual cycle.
Detailed in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the discovery enables researchers to study in the lab a rare form of tissue repair seen in humans and could support future treatments for wound healing and regenerative medicine.
The endometrium is remarkable for its ability to repair itself after menstruation without forming scars. How this process works remains a scientific mystery, according to molecular biologist Konstantina Nikolakopoulou of the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, who led the research.
Lab-Grown Organoids Replicate the Menstrual Cycle
According to the Nature portal, Nikolakopoulou’s team developed 3D structures using human endometrial epithelial cells. These hollow organoids mirrored the behavior of uterine tissue by responding to hormones and undergoing stages similar to the menstrual cycle.
To recreate the cycle, researchers exposed the organoids to estrogen and progesterone before withdrawing the hormones, imitating the natural progesterone drop that initiates menstruation. After mechanical damage, the tissue was able to regenerate on its own.
The current organoids remain relatively simple, consisting only of epithelial cells. Nikolakopoulou noted that understanding these core mechanisms is an essential first step before making the model more advanced by adding other cell types, including immune, endothelial, and stromal cells.
Scientists Say the Model Could Transform Endometriosis Research
Evolutionary biologist Deena Emera from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in California praised the breakthrough, saying the model provides a unique way to investigate endometrial regeneration and may improve understanding of conditions such as Endometriosis.
Earlier research in primates indicated that deep stem cells were mainly responsible for renewing the endometrium. However, the new study also found a role for luminal cells — surface cells that help embryos implant during pregnancy.
The findings challenge long-standing ideas about how the uterus regenerates. Researchers say the model could eventually be used to test treatments and therapies focused on women’s reproductive health and may also guide advances in regenerative medicine.
By enabling scientists to watch tissue break down and regenerate in real time, the study offers a rare glimpse into how the human body heals without forming scars. The development of the organoid marks both a scientific and technological milestone for researchers.
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