Comparative analysis of functions of cow and reindeer female reproductive organs: Progesterone content in vessels of reproductive organs

Progesterone content in blood from paired ovarian and uterine veins as well as from jugular veins of cows and reindeers was studied in the estrous cycle lutein phase and at the earlier stages of pregancy. In the both species, maximal progesterone concentration was detected in blood from vein of the ovary carrying corpus luteum (p < 0.001). In cows, a higher hormone concentration, as compared with jugular vein, has also been determined in vein of the uterus horn closest to ovary with corpus luteum (p < 0.01). In reindeers, blood from all studied vessels of reproductive organs had the progesterone concentration that was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that from jugular vein. In cows, progesterone concentration in blood from the ovarian vein was found to be higher when corpus luteum was located on the right ovary (p < 0.05) as compared with left-side corpus luteum location. No functional asymmetry of ovaries was revealed in reindeers. A possible role of mechanisms of the hormone local transport between ovary and uterus in adaptation of ruminants to reproduction under Nordic conditions is discussed.     

Comparative analysis of function of reproductive organs of cow and female reindeer. Cellular composition of blood in vessels of reproductive organs

Cellular composition of blood was studied in vessels of reproductive organs and jugular vein in females of reindeer and cow depending on their physiological state. Physiological leukocytosis was revealed in reproductive organs of the animals, the most expressed in reindeer. In both species, during the estrous cycle, in blood of vessels of reproductive organs the content of lymphocytes and monocytes is higher than that of granulocytes. With onset of pregnancy, in vessels of ovary and uterus in reindeer and cow the number of lymphocytes and monocytes decreases, while the number of granulocytes increases due to a rise of eosinophils and basophils. The more successful reproduction of reindeer females under conditions of North seems to be owing to an increased immune reactivity of reproductive organs.     

Essential functions of microRNAs in animal reproductive organs

The development of the reproductive organs and the gametogenesis in animals are complex and multistage processes that require the precise and efficient regulation. In this review, we summarized the recent findings about the essential functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of gene expression during the differentiation of germ cells in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Most likely, main and common functions of the conserved and highly expressed miRNAs in the male and female reproductive organs of mammals are the control of differentiation and proliferation of cells. Also we discussed a possible involvement of germline-expressed miRNAs in the formation of reproductive barriers and speciation.     

Harvesting and culture of epithelial cells from hollow organs of the female reproductive system

Summary The technique of trypsinization of cells lining the hollow organs applied to the female reproductive tract has proven successful in harvesting living cells which produced luxuriant cultures in vitro.Elements from the oviduct, endometrial cavity and vagina were obtained from 6 rabbits, 2 dogs and 6 surgical specimens by means of bathing the lumen of the organs with the use of a 0.5% solution of trypsin in calcium and magnesium free Gey's balanced salt solution for 30 to 40 min, employing continued gentle agitation provided by a syringe.Epithelial cells so harvested were grown in Rose chambers and in T-30 flasks for as long as 30 days, when they were fixed for study with special stains.No fibrocytic contamination of the cultures was observed.Further applications of the method are under investigation and are briefly outlined in the discussion.This work was performed in the Department of Cellular Biology, Pasadena Foundation for Medical Research, Pasadena, California, and aided in part by a grant from the U. S. Public Health Service, No. 2 G 279 and from the U. S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Department of the Army, under Research Grant No. DA-MD-49-193-63-G80 administered by C. M. Pomerat.     

Immuno-electron microscopic localization of estradiol receptor in cells of male and female reproductive and non-reproductive organs

Summary— The localization of estradiol receptor (ER) in various tissues and their distribution in sub-cellular compartments were studied by means of immunogold-electron microscopic methods using a site-directed polyclonal antibody developed against a peptide from the DNA binding site of ER. This method was used to determine the presence and localization of ER in tissues and cells of male and female reproductive and non-reproductive organs. In the female reproductive tract, endometrial cells and the cells of the corpus luteum were found to contain ER. In non-reproductive organs of both sexes the following cell types showed significant labeling: hepatocytes, epithelial duodenal cells, striated muscle fibers, cells of the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney, lymphocytes, neurons, and adipose cells. Alveolar epithelial cells were studied only in female specimens and were labeled by the anti-ER. Prostatic and epididymal epithelial cells were found to be labeled in the male reproductive organs. In all these cells a higher density of label was found in the nucleus, especially in the space between the clumps of compact chromatin, as was previously found in epithelial endometrial cells. These results suggest that estradiol exerts its effects through a common nuclear mechanism in cells of male and female reproductive and non-reproductive organs.     

毛缺沟姬蜂雌性内生殖器官的结构及其发育

报道了毛缺沟姬蜂Lissonota setosa(Geoffroy)成虫雌性内生殖器官的结构及其发育的系统观察结果.雌性成虫内生殖器官包括一对卵巢、两条侧输卵管、一条中输卵管、一个受精囊和一个附腺.成虫期卵巢生长速度随日龄是先加快后变慢.成虫期内其它生殖器官一般随日龄的增长而增大,达到一定程度后基本保持稳定.     

Defects in reproductive functions in PACAP-deficient female mice

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a highly conserved neuropeptide and widely expressed in both brain and peripheral tissues, including several reproductive organs (e.g., testis and ovary). PACAP stimulates syntheses of several sexual hormones and steroids, suggesting it has possible roles in reproductive function. In this study, the role of PACAP in female reproductive functions such as fertility, mating behavior and maternal behaviors were investigated by using mice lacking PACAP (PACAP(-/-)). PACAP(-/-) females showed reduced fertility (the number of parturitions relative to the number of pairings). Mating experiments using vasectomized males revealed that mating frequency and its intervals in some PACAP(-/-) females were quite different (zero to eight times/4 weeks), whereas the frequency was relatively constant (two to three times/4 weeks) in wild-type females. In PACAP(-/-) females, maternal crouching behavior tended to decrease compared to wild-type females, although the influence of litter size on maternal behavior needs to be considered. These data suggest a role for endogenous PACAP in female reproductive processes.     

野蚕黑卵蜂雌性内生殖器官的结构及其发育

报道了野蚕黑卵蜂成虫雌性内生殖器官的结构及其发育的系统观察结果.雌性成虫内生殖器官包括一对卵巢、两条侧输卵管、中输卵管、受精囊和附腺.成虫期卵巢生长速度随日龄是先增大后减小,但卵子随日龄是增大后并不下降,而且卵子成熟量一直保持较高水平,显示该蜂具有较强的生殖力.成虫期内其它生殖器官一般随日龄的增长而增大,达到一定程度后基本保持稳定.     

Differential expression of p63 isoforms in female reproductive organs

p63 is the identity switch for uterine/vaginal epithelial cell fate, and disruption of p63 expression by diethylstilbestrol (DES) induces cervical/vaginal adenosis in mice. In this article, we report the expression patterns of p63 isoforms (TA, DeltaN, alpha, beta and gamma) in mice, focusing on the reproductive tract. We also present the reproductive tract phenotype of female p63-/- mice. Finally, to better evaluate the potential role of p63 in human development of DES-induced cervical/vaginal adenosis, we describe the ontogeny of p63 in human female fetuses. In adult mice, the DeltaN isoforms of p63 were expressed only in squamous/basal/myoepithelial cells of epithelial tissues, while TA isoforms of p63 were highly expressed in germ cells of the ovary and testis. In fetal mice, the DeltaN and alpha forms of p63 were expressed in the cloacal and urogenital sinus epithelia. In the female p63-/- mice, the sinus vagina developed, but p63-/- sinus vaginal epithelium failed to undergo squamous differentiation confirming an essential role of p63 in squamous epithelial differentiation. Although TAp63 was highly expressed in developing primordial germ cells/oocytes, p63-/- ovaries and oocytes developed normally. The ontogeny of p63 in female reproductive organs was essentially identical in mouse and human. In the human fetus at the susceptible stage for DES-induced cervical/vaginal adenosis, most cervical/vaginal epithelial cells were columnar and negative for p63. Therefore, inhibition of p63 expression by DES should change the cell fate of human Müllerian duct epithelial cells and cause cervical/vaginal adenosis as previously demonstrated in mouse.     

Localization of metallothionein in female reproductive organs of rat and guinea pig

We demonstrated the localization of metallothionein (MT) in rat uterus and ovaries and in guinea pig mammary glands. During the cyclic changes from one estrous period to the next, strong MT immunostaining was found in the glandular epithelium of the endometrium and weak immunostaining was observed in the simple columnar epithelium. Interestingly, during estrus, the intensity of MT immunostaining decreased in the cytoplasm, whereas during metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus the intensity of strong and similar immunostaining was observed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. During proestrus and estrus, the number of vaginal epithelial cells containing MT increased on the luminal side of the epithelium and inside the lumen. In rat ovary, strong immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of granulosa-lutein cells of the corpus luteum and in the cytoplasm of the ovum. In mammary gland of non-pregnant guinea pig, very strong but scattered MT immunostaining was demonstrated in both cytoplasm and nucleus of some epithelial cells of the lactiferous ducts. The mammary tissue of the pregnant guinea pig showed an increase in MT staining in alveolar cells that had proliferated due to pregnancy. The presence of MT in the female reproductive organs, the tissues of which actively grow under the control of female sex hormones, indicates some as yet unknown association of MT with cell proliferation and differentiation.     

Alteration of glutathione reductase expression in the female reproductive organs during the estrous cycle.

The enzyme glutathione reductase (GR) recycles oxidized glutathione (GSSG) by converting it to the reduced form (GSH) in an NADPH-dependent manner. A specific antibody raised against recombinant rat GR was used to localize the protein in the female reproductive organs during the estrous cycle in the rat. In the ovary, the strongest reactivity to the antibody was observed in oocytes, followed by granulosa cells, corpus luteum, and interstitial cells. A strongly positive reaction was also observed mainly in the oviduct epithelia, uterine epithelia, and endometrial gland in the reproductive tract. Oviducts contained the highest GR activity. The GR activity of uterus during metestrus was about twice as high as that for other stages of the cycle. The levels of GR proteins in the tissues roughly matched the activities. The expression of the GR mRNA was highest during metestrus. Because GSH is known to increase gamete viability and the efficiency of fertility, GR, which is expressed in these tissues, is predicted to play a pivotal role in the reproduction process as a source of GSH.     

The effect of oestradiolum benzoicum and progesterone on the noradrenalin content in organs of the female reproductive system of sexually immature pigs

The paper describes the effect of exogenous oestradiol and progesterone on noradrenalin (NA) content in the ovary, tuba uterina, uterus, and vagina, and on the morphological features of adrenergic nerves in these organs in sexually immature female pigs. 30 animals were used, of body weight 37 to 43 kg, and age 115 to 125 d. The animals were divided randomly into 4 groups. Group I (n = 6) constituted the control, group II (n = 8) was given oestradiolum benzoicum, group III (n = 8) was given progesterone, and group IV (n = 8) was given oestradiol and progesterone. Oestradiol injections resulted in a 1.5-fold increase of NA content in the ovary, a 4.5-fold increase in the tuba uterina, and a decrease of NA content in the uterine horn, cervix, and in the vagina, to 0.6 of the control NA level. Progesterone injections did not cause changes in NA content in the ovary, while there was 8.5-fold increase of NA in the oviduct, a 4-fold increase in the uterile horn, a 6-fold increase in the cervix, and a 3-fold increase in the vagina compared to the control. Joint injections of oestradiol and progesterone resulted in a decrease of NA content in the ovary to about 0.5 of the control level, and in an increase of NA content of about 5-fold in the tuba uterina, 7-fold in the uterine horn, 8-fold in the cervix, and 2-fold in the vagina. The increase of NA content in the organs was coupled with a slight increase in the density of the adrenergic innervation and the intensity of fluorescence of these nerves compared to the control. The results were compared to the results of similar but not identical studies, carried out on other mammals.     

Transmembrane carbonic anhydrase isozymes IX and XII in the female mouse reproductive organs

Background  

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) classically catalyses the reversible hydration of dissolved CO₂ to form bicarbonate ions and protons. The twelve active CA isozymes are thought to regulate a variety of cellular functions including several processes in the reproductive systems.