Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Endometrial Function in Female Rats: Mechanism Exploration

In a preclinical model, OSA-like exposure promoted weight gain, uterine atrophy, and progressive endometrial damage. Mechanistic analyses revealed that this impairment resulted from oxidative stress-mediated inhibition of cellular proliferation (reflected by reduced Ki-67 expression) and suppression of angiogenesis (indicated by decreased VEGF levels), concurrent with enhanced apoptotic activity. Given the observed duration-dependent pathological progression, our findings establish that sleep apnea contributes to female reproductive dysfunction, warranting early clinical intervention in women with sleep-disordered breathing.