ConA的抗着床效应

本文用凝集素为探针,探索糖复合物在胚泡着床中的作用,报道了与甘露糖苷有专一结合的伴刀豆凝集素(ConA)有明显的抗小鼠胚泡着床作用。妊娠4d的小鼠,每只子宫角中注入Con A 25μg,22只子宫角中只有4只子宫角有胚泡着床,着床率为18.2％,与生理盐水对照组的着床率87.5％相比有明显差异。将相同剂量的Con A先与0.4mol/L α-甲基-D-甘露糖苷温育1—2h后再注入子宫,20只子宫角中有15只子宫角有胚泡着床,着床率提高到75％。用辣根过氧化物酶直接标记法证明,着床前子宫内膜细胞表面有Con A受体存在,并随着妊娠天数而增加,尤其是间质细胞,发情期时时为阴性反应,到着床期蜕膜细胞膜表面呈现出大量Con A受体。提示精复合物在着床中的重要作用。与甘露糖苷同样专一结合的,但寡糖结构专一性与Con A不同的豌豆凝集素注入子宫则无抗着床效应,着床率为85.7％。由此可以推测,N-连接的包含二个未被取代的或只在C-2位被取代的α-甘露糖苷的寡糖参于胚泡与子宫内膜相互作用的着床过程。     

双炔失碳酯对兔移植胚泡着床的影响

本文用胚泡移植技术验证了双炔失碳酯对子宫内膜的影响是胚泡不能着床的重要原因。将 29只胚龄4d的兔胚泡移植到给药后假孕4d的子宫,结果没有一只胚泡着床;而对照组的5只受卵兔,移植了41只胚泡,有26只着床成功。 为了了解双炔失碳酯对黄体的影响,在5只妊娠兔上,从交配后1—7d与对照组比较血清孕酮浓度的变化,结果表明:对照组的血清孕酮浓度随着妊娠天数显著升高,妊娠第7天时达 17.35±2.12ng/ml,而给药组升高不明显,第7天仅 1.83±1.03ng/ml,为对照组的1/9。已知足够的孕酮浓度对妊娠的维持和胚泡的成功着床具有十分重要的作用。由此推测,双炔失碳酯抑制孕酮的分泌势必影响子宫内膜的发育,从而阻碍胚泡的着床。     

双向凝胶电泳分析小鼠子宫内膜胚泡着床点和着床旁组织蛋白质组

目的 :研究小鼠子宫内膜胚泡着床点和着床旁蛋白质表达图谱及其差异。方法 :用固相pH梯度双向凝胶电泳分离 5d .p .c .(dayspostcoitum)小鼠子宫内膜胚泡着床点和着床旁总蛋白 ,同时分离同龄未交配小鼠子宫内膜总蛋白 ,银染显色 ,PDQuest 2DE软件分析。结果 :图像分析测得三块胶的匹配率达 74 5 %以上 ,在等电点pI 3～ 1 0、分子量 1 4 4～ 75 4kDa范围内分离得未交配小鼠子宫内膜蛋白点大约 81 0个 ,受孕小鼠子宫内膜胚泡着床旁和着床点蛋白质点分别大约为 95 0个和 1 0 4 0个 ,其中至少 90个蛋白点在三种不同的生理状态间有 2倍以上的量变。结论 :在“着床窗口期” ,小鼠子宫内膜特别是着床位点内膜合成更多的蛋白质 ,以适宜胚泡成功地植入。     

哺乳动物胚泡着床及影响因素

哺乳动物胚泡着床是生殖过程中的关键环节。受精卵经过早期发育形成了胚泡，胚泡脱去透明带后，经定位、粘附、滋养层侵入，植入到子宫内膜中，同时母体子宫内膜发生蜕膜化控制植入的程度，最终完成着床过程。着床过程受多种因素的影响，主要因素有：母体子宫内膜和胚泡发育的同步化，母体的激素环境，胚泡分泌的激素，母体子宫的接受性及局部免疫保护作用。     

人子宫内膜各型胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白随月经周期变动的研究

本实验对人正常子宫内膜月经周期中Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ型胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白的变动状况进行了免疫组织化学的观察,目的是进一步探讨为接受胚泡着床,子宫内膜方面的准备状况。本实验使用的是因良性疾息被摘除的子宫。切片标本应用ＬＳＡＢ免疫组织化学方法对细胞外基质中的各型胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白随月经周期变动的情况进行了观察。结果显示胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白主要分布在上皮组织的基底膜中。胶原蛋白和纤维粘连蛋白在分泌初期明显减少的结果说明细胞外基质的确有明显随月经周期变化而变化的现象。提示子宫内膜中的胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白的周期性变化对胚泡着床是有重要的作用。因此我们认为,胶原蛋白及纤维粘连蛋白是否能伴随月经周期而进行周期性变化是检查是否有真正正常月经周期的指标之一。本研究将对着床,抗着床机理及某些不孕症的治疗提供新的探讨方向。     

妊娠早期胚泡、子宫液和子宫内膜的蛋白质及其与着床的关系

哺乳动物胚泡着床是涉及胚泡和子宫内膜之间的相互作用问题,研究着床机理或从着床途径考虑控制生育,可从如何抑制胚泡着床能力或改变子宫内膜使其不适于胚泡着床的条件着手。近年来,有关这两方面的研究已积累了不少资料,特别是蛋白质分析技术的发展。许多研究者报道了在各种动物早期妊娠过程中,随体内激素水平的变化,子宫液(包括子宫内膜和胚泡)蛋白质或小肽物质有量和种类的细微变化,这些变化关系到母体对妊娠的识别、胚泡与子宫的粘附和胚泡的侵入。     

半夏蛋白在小鼠早期妊娠子宫结合部位的检测

利用辣根过氧化物酶标记定位技术对半夏蛋白抗小鼠早期妊娠的作用原理进行了探讨。结果显示小鼠子宫内膜和腺管上皮以及胚胎外胚盘锥体部分呈现明显的酶棕显色颗粒,它们的产生能被未经酶标半夏蛋白所抑制。子宫内膜和胚胎的其他部分均未见与半夏蛋白有专一性的结合。本文对半夏蛋白的抗生育机理进行了简略的讨论。     

PTEN在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达及其对胚泡着床的影响

本研究旨存检测肿瘤抑制基因PTEN(phosphatase andtensinhomologdeletedonchromosometen)在早孕小鼠子宫内膜中的表达规律,探讨PTEN在小鼠胚胎着床过程中的作用.采用实时荧光定量聚合酶联反应(real.time fluorescent quantitative PCR.FQ.PCR)和免疫组织化学方法分别检测未孕及孕1、3、4、5、7 d小鼠子宫内膜PTEN mRNA和蛋白的表达;子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸观察胚泡着床数.FQ-PCR结果显示,妊娠小鼠子宫内膜组织PTENmRNA的表达高于未妊娠小鼠,且随着妊娠天数的增加表达逐渐增强,到妊娠第5天达最高.免疫组织化学分析显示,PTEN蛋白在子宫内膜的表达规律与mRNA结果一致.子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸后胚泡着床数明显减少.结果提示,PTEN在妊娠早期子宫内膜持续表达,可能参与了胚泡着床.     

妊娠早期胚泡、子宫液和子宫内膜的蛋白质及其与着床的关系

哺乳动物胚泡着床是涉及胚泡和子宫内膜之间的相互作用问题,研究着床机理或从着床途径考虑控制生育,可从如何抑制胚泡着床能力或改变子宫内膜使其不适于胚泡着床的条件着手.近年来,有关这两方面的研究已积累了不少资料,特别是蛋白质分析技术的发展.许多研究者报道了在各种动物早期妊娠过程中,随体内激素水平的变化,子宫液(包括子宫内膜和胚泡)蛋白质或小肽物质有量和种类的细微变化,这些变化关系到母体对妊娠的识别、胚泡与子宫的粘附和胚泡的侵入.     

促黄体素释放激素类似物(LH-RH-A)对妊娠大鼠子宫代谢的直接作用

本实验结果表明,胚泡着床点对~3H-尿嘧啶和~3H-亮氨酸的摄取明显高于非着床点子宫部位。LH-RH-A可显著抑制胚泡着床点对这两种同位素的摄取;且对非着床子宫组织也有抑制作用,但抑制程度较弱。进一步证实,着床的胚泡确能产生一种或几种因子,对子宫内膜的分化起重要作用;同时证实,LH-RH-A可通过对RNA和蛋白质合成的抑制作用而直接影响妊娠大鼠子宫的代谢,对胚泡着床点部位的影响尤为明显。     

Conformational changes of pinellin in solution using intrinsic fluorescence and CD as probes

Pinellin is a plant protein extracted from the rhizome of the Chinese herb Pinellia. It has the ability to abort early pregnancy in mice as well as in rabbits. Studies on the conformational changes of pinellin have been carried out in our laboratory using intrinsic fluorescence and CD. Experimental results show that some tryptophanyl side chains are buried more deeply than others, which results in the heterogeneity of tryptophanyl emission. CD data indicated a high content of β-pleated sheet and β-turn for the backbone conformation. The results of fluorescence and CD measurements both demonstrated the presence of intermediates along the path of denaturation. The following was proposed as the unfolding mechanism of pinellin in 6M guanidine hydrochloride: native state → first intermediate → second intermediate → fully unfolded state.     

The receptor for human sex steroid binding protein (SBP) is expressed on membranes of neoplastic endometrium.

Sex steroid binding protein (SBP) receptor was detected on cell membranes obtained from human endometrium adenocarcinoma. The binding of SBP was proved to be highly specific, saturable, and at high affinity. It was, additionally, shown to occur at two sites at different affinities, as previously described for other human tissues. SBP was, therefore, demonstrated to recognized a specific receptor on endometrium adenocarcinoma membranes. The effect of steroid hormones on SBP-receptor interaction was also evaluated. Both dihydrotestosterone and estradiol were shown to inhibit the binding of SBP to its specific receptor on neoplastic membranes. Testosterone at a dose of 10(-9) M was shown not to interfere to a significant extent with SBP-receptor binding. The sensitivity for estradiol we had previously observed in normal premenopausal endometrium was completely lost in postmenopausal neoplastic tissue. These observations suggest that the SBP-membrane recognition system is still present in neoplastic postmenopausal endometrium, but it has been modified either by the postmenopausal endogenous milieu or by the neoplastic transformation.     

Carbohydrate metabolism and the temporal occurrence of a serotonin-like indole in the male and female reproductive tract and its relationship with PGF and infertility: a review

Both in the male and in the female reproductive tract glucose can be converted via either the pentose pathway or the sorbitol pathway. It is shown that a disturbed carbohydrate metabolism can lead to infertility, i.e. in the cow and in the bull semen. Evidence is provided that the serotonin-like indole which occurs in the protein-complex and is liberated, can exert effects on the uterine endometrium comparable to those caused by serotonin. It is suggested that the indole liberated can cause ischaemia, followed by regression of the endometrium. When this occurs in repeat breeder cows, exogenous PGF given in mid-cycle on a suitable day, may restore the endometrium so that the cow can again become pregnant. The possibility is mentioned that in humans the free indole might cause regression of the endometrium and some distress symptoms, but thereafter endogenous PGF does increase the vascular permeability resulting finally in bleeding.     

Spatial and temporal characterization of endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells activity during the menstrual cycle

The human endometrium is a highly dynamic tissue with the ability to cyclically regenerate during the reproductive life. Endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells (eMSCs) located throughout the endometrium have shown to functionally contribute to endometrial regeneration. In this study we examine whether the menstrual cycle stage and the location in the endometrial bilayer (superficial and deep portions of the endometrium) has an effect on stem cell activities of eMSCs (CD140b⁺CD146⁺ cells). Here we show the percentage and clonogenic ability of eMSCs were constant in the various stages of the menstrual cycle (menstrual, proliferative and secretory). However, eMSCs from the menstrual endometrium underwent significantly more rounds of self-renewal and enabled a greater total cell output than those from the secretory phase. Significantly more eMSCs were detected in the deeper portion of the endometrium compared to the superficial layer but their clonogenic and self-renewal activities remained similar. Our findings suggest that eMSCs are activated in the menstrual phase for the cyclical regeneration of the endometrium.     

Identification by hybridization histochemistry of human endometrial cells expressing mRNAs encoding a uterine beta-lactoglobulin homologue and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1.

A beta-lactoglobulin homologue (beta LG/PP14) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) are two major secretory proteins of the human endometrium. In the present study, we have shown that beta LG/PP14 mRNA is expressed in the endometrium in a cyclic manner, being hardly detectable in midcycle and most abundant during the late secretory phase. IGFBP-1 mRNA is also expressed in endometrium, but in amounts smaller than those encoding beta LG/PP14 and with maximal accumulation earlier in the secretory phase. The expression of these two mRNAs occurs in different cell types of the endometrium, as revealed by in situ hybridization techniques using single-stranded RNA probes. The glandular epithelial cells accumulate beta LG/PP14 mRNA during the late secretory phase of the cycle, whereas only the stromal cells of the late secretory endometrium express IGFBP-1 mRNA. In contrast to the endometrium, the two mRNAs are present at very low abundance in the fallopian tubes where they are expressed in the epithelial cells of the mucosa.     

Two pathways of progesterone action in the human endometrium: implications for implantation and contraception

The endometrium is the site of implantation and pregnancy. Preparation for this important biological event relies primarily on progesterone, which takes the estrogen-primed endometrium toward a state of receptivity. As a steroid target tissue, the endometrium is also prone to abnormal growth sometimes leading to the development of hyperplasia or cancer. It is the balance between estrogen and progesterone that maintains the endometrium in a state of health and provides the synchronous timing necessary for a successful implantation to occur. In our efforts to understand the role of progesterone in the endometrium we have focused on the use of specific protein biomarkers. Based on examination of a cell adhesion molecule, the alphavbeta3 integrin, and its ligand, osteopontin, we have come to conclude that progesterone action can be direct or indirect. Progesterone acting on the stromal compartment provides paracrine mediators that influence epithelial gene expression. Conversely, acting directly, progesterone may primarily stimulate gene expression of the endometrial epithelium. The complexity of the system is extended since progesterone itself works through two different receptor isoforms. Regulated differential expression of PR-A versus PR-B also appears to fine tune the effect of progesterone on specific genes. Progesterone may also inhibit specific genes that undergo cyclic variation during the menstrual cycle. Together, using in vitro models we have shown that progesterone dynamically regulates gene expression in the endometrium and that imbalances between estrogen and progesterone may have far reaching consequences on normal cycle fecundity and on the balance between health and disease in this hormone-target tissue.     

Galectin-1 Overexpression in Endometriosis and Its Regulation by Neuropeptides (CRH,UCN) Indicating Its Important Role in Reproduction and Inflammation

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease of women of reproductive age featured by the presence of ectopic endometrium and is strongly related to infertility. Galectins, carbonhydrate-binding proteins, have been found to have pro- or anti-inflammatory roles in the reproductive tract and in pathological conditions concerning infertility. Galectin-1, which is expressed at endometrium and decidua, plays a major role in implantation and trophoblast invasion. Also, the neuropeptides, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and urocortin (UCN) and their receptors are expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium showing a differential expression pattern in endometriotic women compared to healthy ones. The aim of this study was to examine the galectin-1 expression in endometriotic lesions and compare its expression in eutopic endometrium of endometriotic and healthy women. Furthermore, we examined the effect of CRH and UCN in galectin-1 expression in Ishikawa cell line and macrophages and investigated the implication of CRHR1 in these responses. Eutopic and ectopic endometrium specimens, Ishikawa cell line and mice macrophages were used. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were performed in order to identify galectin-1 expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis and the regulatory effect of CRH and UCN on galectin-1 expression. This study presents for the first time that galectin-1 is overexpressed in endometriotic lesions compared to eutopic endometrium of endometriotic women and is more abundantly expressed in eutopic endometrium of disease women compared to healthy ones. Furthermore, it is shown that CRH and UCN upregulate galectin-1 expression in Ishikawa cell line and macrophages and this effect is mediated through CRHR1. These results suggest that galectin-1 might play an important role in endometriosis pathology and infertility profile of women suffering from endometriosis by being at the same time regulated by CRH and UCN interfering in the immune disequilibrium which characterizes this pathological condition.     

Culture of rat endometrial telocytes

Previous studies have shown that telocytes are found in a variety of tissues. Here, we report the presence of telocytes in the human endometrium. In addition, telocytes were isolated from the rat endometrium and cultured. Immunohistochemistry was performed in vitro and in vivo. Cultured cells showed that telocytes expressed CD34, and similar results were found in the uterine tissue. In both species, telocytes also stained positive for vimentin and connexin 43. Telopodes were observed connecting cell colonies and connecting distant cells. Our findings suggest that telocytes may have a role in cell-to-cell communication over short and long distances within the endometrium.