For decades, the non-pregnant uterus has been viewed as a dormant organ with no significant role beyond reproduction. A groundbreaking study from Arizona State University challenges this long-standing belief.
In a series of experiments, researchers surgically removed the uterus from rats while leaving the ovaries intact. These animals developed a clear deficit in spatial working memory, the ability to temporarily hold and manipulate information needed for tasks like navigation, learning, and reasoning. The impairment became especially evident as cognitive demands increased.
The findings suggest the existence of a direct uterus–brain connection (in addition to the well-known ovary–brain axis) that helps maintain cognitive function. Rats that underwent hysterectomy showed altered hormone profiles and struggled more with high-demand memory tasks compared to those with intact uteri or those whose ovaries were also removed.
[Koebele, S. V., Palmer, J. M., Hadder, B., Melikian, R., Fox, D., Shipley, A. L., Mayer, L. P., & Bimonte-Nelson, H. A. (2019). Hysterectomy Uniquely Impacts Spatial Memory in a Rat Model: A Role for the Nonpregnant Uterus in Cognitive Processes. Endocrinology, 160(1), 1–19. DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00709]