Figure 1.

(A) Illustration of female reproductive system sideview with fractions of mesoderm tissue (two-third proximal vagina) and ectoderm tissue (one-third distal vagina). (B) Layers of the vagina wall (left to right): squamous epithelium – lamina propria – smooth muscle – adventitia (not depicted). (C) Completely removed vaginal rings from a single patient during robot-assisted laparoscopic colpectomy. Orientation proximal-distal origin from left to right. Image was taken before removal of burned and cankered tissue prior to the decellularization protocol. (D) Removed vaginal tissue from a single patient during vaginally performed colpectomy. Image was taken prior to the decellularization protocol. Macroscopic inspection of successful decellularization (DC) showed pink vagina before DC in (E) ring, (F), block, and (G) section, and white vaginal tissue after DC in (H) ring, (I) block, and (J) section.