The pig as a medical model for gynecological diseases: an applied perspective.

Abstract

Gynecological diseases pose substantial risks to female reproductive health and overall wellbeing. To improve disease prevention and treatment, researchers continue to develop experimental models that faithfully replicate key features of the female reproductive system. Porcine models have gained increasing attention in gynecological research due to their substantial similarities to humans in anatomical structure, physiological function, and pathological processes. This review aims to evaluate the practical applications of porcine models for investigating gynecological disorders. We examine the use of porcine models in studying common gynecological diseases such as endometritis, infertility, and ovarian cancer, analyze their advantages and limitations, and discuss their role in genetic engineering applications. Notably, porcine models have facilitated key advances in gynecological research, including elucidating neuropeptide-mediated uterine dysmotility in endometritis, refining surgical techniques for uterine transplantation and vaginoplasty in infertility management, and evaluating dihydroartemisinin as a potential therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. This analysis aims to characterize the distinctive features of porcine models for gynecological research, thereby facilitating the selection of optimal animal models for future preclinical studies.