For the purpose of fetal membrane healing, amnion mesenchymal cells were embedded in three-dimensional (3D) collagen I, and amnion epithelial cells were placed on top of it to build the amniotic cells/collagen I matrix complex to simulate the architecture of native amnion. Morphology of cell cultured on 3D collagen I was visualized by F-actin filaments incubated with rhodamine-labelled phalloidin. Cell ultrastructure of amnion epithelial cells and amnion mesenchymal cells was visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results show amnion epithelial and mesenchymal cells cultured in collagen I matrix assume cell morphologies similar to those observed in vivo.
Conclusion: Collagen I might be useful in amnion cell tissue engineering, Three-dimensional cell-matrix system might be useful in the study of preterm premature rupture of the membrane (PPROM) and be a therapeutic strategy for PPROM.