UTERINE AND PLACENTAL ENZYMES

1964 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. E. Hafez

ABSTRACT The effects of ovariectomy and exogenous gonadal hormones on uterine enzymes have been examined for several laboratory mammals. Qualitative and quantitative measurement of uterine and placental enzymes involve histochemical, cytochemical and biochemical techniques. Enzymes have a wide and characteristic distribution in the female reproductive tract. The pattern of distribution varies showing peculiar species – specific differences in the anatomical localization of the enzyme and its relationship to the reproductive cycle. Progestational responses involve major endometrial growth and striking change in the enzyme system. The amount and biochemical composition of endometrial secretions vary with the stage of reproductive cycle. The placenta contains a complex enzyme system which has been classified into five major groups: hydrases, transferases, oxidoreductases, lyases and isomerases. The passage of many substances across the placental barrier is chemically regulated; the cytoplasm of barrier contains several enzymes and organelles. Carbonic anhydrase activity of the endometrium increases markedly during the luteal phase of the cycle and during pregnancy in the rabbit but not in some other species. Alkaline phosphatase is widely distributed in all types of placenta, in maximal concentration in species producing no fructose. Several hydrolytic enzymes are associated with the small cytoplasmic particles, the lysosomes, β-glucuronidase of the endometrial and glandular epithelia shows cyclical changes with the oestrus cycle. The activity of the succinic dehydrogenase may be an index of the functional status of the epithelial cells. Some enzymes e. g. acid and alkaline phosphatase, 5-nucleotidase and adenosinetriphosphate show a typical »secretion cycle«. The role of certain uterine enzymes in implantation of blastocyst deserves investigation.

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Spurgeon ◽  
Aayushi Uberoi ◽  
Stephanie M. McGregor ◽  
Tao Wei ◽  
Ella Ward-Shaw ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPapillomaviruses exhibit species-specific tropism, thereby limiting understanding and research of several aspects of HPV infection and carcinogenesis. The discovery of a murine papillomavirus (MmuPV1) provides the opportunity to study papillomavirus infections in a tractable,in vivolaboratory model. MmuPV1 infects and causes disease in the cutaneous epithelium, as well as the mucosal epithelia of the oral cavity and anogenital tract. In this report, we describe a murine model of MmuPV1 infection and neoplastic disease in the female reproductive tracts of wild-type immunocompetent FVB mice. Low-grade dysplastic lesions developed in reproductive tracts of FVB mice infected with MmuPV1 for 4 months, and mice infected for 6 months developed significantly worse disease, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We also tested the contribution of estrogen and/or UV radiation (UVR), two cofactors we previously identified as being involved in papillomavirus-mediated disease, to cervicovaginal disease. Similar to HPV16 transgenic mice, exogenous estrogen treatment induced high-grade precancerous lesions in the reproductive tracts of MmuPV1-infected mice by 4 months and together with MmuPV1 efficiently induced SCC by 6 months. UV radiation and exogenous estrogen cooperated to promote carcinogenesis in MmuPV1-infected mice. This murine infection model represents the first instance ofde novopapillomavirus-mediated carcinogenesis in the female reproductive tract of wild-type mice resulting from active virus infection and is also the first report of the female hormone estrogen contributing to this process. This model will provide an additional platform for fundamental studies on papillomavirus infection, cervicovaginal disease, and the role of cellular cofactors during papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis.IMPORTANCETractable and efficient models of papillomavirus-induced pathogenesis are limited due to the strict species-specific and tissue-specific tropism of these viruses. Here, we report a novel preclinical murine model of papillomavirus-induced cervicovaginal disease in wild-type, immunocompetent mice using the recently discovered murine papillomavirus, MmuPV1. In this model, MmuPV1 establishes persistent viral infections in the mucosal epithelia of the female reproductive tract, a necessary component needed to accurately mimic HPV-mediated neoplastic disease in humans. Persistent MmuPV1 infections were able to induce progressive neoplastic disease and carcinogenesis, either alone or in combination with previously identified cofactors of papillomavirus-induced disease. This new model will provide a much-needed platform for basic and translational studies on both papillomavirus infection and associated disease in immunocompetent mice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1929) ◽  
pp. 20201030
Author(s):  
Erin L. McCullough ◽  
Caitlin E. McDonough ◽  
Scott Pitnick ◽  
Steve Dorus

Fertility depends, in part, on interactions between male and female reproductive proteins inside the female reproductive tract (FRT) that mediate postmating changes in female behaviour, morphology, and physiology. Coevolution between interacting proteins within species may drive reproductive incompatibilities between species, yet the mechanisms underlying postmating–prezygotic (PMPZ) isolating barriers remain poorly resolved. Here, we used quantitative proteomics in sibling Drosophila species to investigate the molecular composition of the FRT environment and its role in mediating species-specific postmating responses. We found that (i) FRT proteomes in D. simulans and D. mauritiana virgin females express unique combinations of secreted proteins and are enriched for distinct functional categories, (ii) mating induces substantial changes to the FRT proteome in D. mauritiana but not in D. simulans , and (iii) the D. simulans FRT proteome exhibits limited postmating changes irrespective of whether females mate with conspecific or heterospecific males, suggesting an active female role in mediating reproductive interactions. Comparisons with similar data in the closely related outgroup species D. melanogaster suggest that divergence is concentrated on the D. simulans lineage. Our study suggests that divergence in the FRT extracellular environment and postmating response contribute to previously described patterns of PMPZ isolation and the maintenance of species boundaries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Hitit M

Female reproductive tract is composed of ovarium, oviduct, cervix and uterus. Development and function of reproductive tract is dispens a ble for maintenance and achievement of reproduction. Reproductive tract responses to cyclic changes and ovarium hormones which provide optimum conditions for gam e t e movement and development. While the potential influence of pitu i tary and gonadal hormones on reproductive function is clearly understood, the molecular mechanism regulating reproductive tract remains elusive. Although, post - transcriptional gene regulation has critical role in cell differ e ntiation and proliferation, little information is ava i lable in post - transcriptional gene regulation in reproductive tract. Post - transcriptional g ene regulation includes splicing, processing, transport and translation of mRNA. In addition, role of RNA binding proteins and recently discovered miRNAs were also implicated in reproductive tract.


1957 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
CECILIA LUTWAK-MANN ◽  
C. E. ADAMS

SUMMARY In an attempt to establish the measurement of uterine carbonic anhydrase activity as a quantitative test for progestationally active substances, the activity of carbonic anhydrase in the rabbit endometrium has been correlated with the conventional histological method of assaying progestational activity. The following steroids have been tested in this manner with special regard to the duration of their effect: (a) progesterone, deoxycorticosterone (DC), deoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA), 3-acetoxy-pregna-3,5-diene-20-one, 17α-hydroxy-progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Delalutin); (b) 17α-ethinyl-19-nortestosterone, 17β-acetoxy-isoprogesterone, 3α-hydroxy-pregnane-12:20-dione, 12α-hydroxy-pregnane-3:20-dione, pregnane-3:12:20-trione, 2β-acetoxy-progesterone, 2 α-acetoxyprogesterone, pregna-5-ene-20-one. The action of DCA was weak and transient; that of progesterone and 3-acetoxy-pregna-3,5-diene-20-one was marked but of limited duration; Delalutin was powerful as well as sustained; DC and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone failed to produce true progestational changes. Ethinyl-19-nor-testosterone was the only steroid in group (b) endowed with progestational potency. Stilboestrol (2 mg) administered a day before or simultaneously with DCA (16 mg), progesterone (4 mg) or Delalutin (2 mg), suppressed the endometrial response for 5 days but did not interfere with the late (8-day) progestational effect of the long-acting progestogen Delalutin. Small doses of purified FSH induced a few ovulations in the rabbit when injected intravenously, the endometrium showed some proliferative changes by bioassay but the activity of carbonic anhydrase was not appreciably increased. Subcutaneous injections had no effect. When progesterone was administered subcutaneously with FSH its effect was curtailed. With few exceptions, there was satisfactory agreement between the enzymic and histological method of determining progestational activity.


Author(s):  
Mai M. Said ◽  
Ramesh K. Nayak ◽  
Randall E. McCoy

Burgos and Wislocki described changes in the mucosa of the guinea pig uterus, cervix and vagina during the estrous cycle investigated by transmission electron microscopy. More recently, Moghissi and Reame reported the effects of progestational agents on the human female reproductive tract. They found drooping and shortening of cilia in norgestrel and norethindrone- treated endometria. To the best of our knowledge, no studies concerning the effects of mestranol and norethindrone given concurrently on the three-dimensional surface features on the uterine mucosa of the guinea pig have been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mestranol and norethindrone on surface ultrastructure of guinea pig uterus by SEM.Seventy eight animals were used in this study. They were allocated into two groups. Group 1 (20 animals) was injected intramuscularly 0.1 ml vegetable oil and served as controls.


Author(s):  
R.P. Apkarian ◽  
J.S. Sanfilippo

The synthetic androgen danazol, is an isoxazol derivative of ethisterone. It is utilized in the treatment of endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and has a potential use as a contraceptive. A study was designed to evaluate the ultrastructural changes associated with danazol therapy in a rat model. The preliminary investigation of the distal segment of the rat uterine horn was undertaken as part of a larger study intended to elucidate the effects of danazol on the female reproductive tract.Cross-sections (2-3 mm in length) of the distal segment of the uterine horn from sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for SEM. Ten rats in estrus served as controls and six danazol treated rats were noted to have alterations of the estrus cycle i.e. a lag in cycle phase or noncycling patterns. Specimens were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.05M phosphate buffer containing CaCl2 at pH 7.0-7.4 and chilled to 4°C. After a brief wash in distilled water, specimens were passed through a graded series of ethanol, critical point dryed in CO2 from absolute ethanol, and coated with 6nm Au. Observations were made with an IS1-40 SEM operated at 15kV.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document