• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2015

The female reproductive tract has two main functions: protection against microbial challenge and maintenance of pregnancy to term. The upper reproductive tract comprises the fallopian tubes and the uterus, including the endocervix, and the lower tract consists of the ectocervix and the vagina. Immune cells residing in the reproductive tract play contradictory roles: they maintain immunity against vaginal pathogens in the lower tract and establish immune tolerance for sperm and an embryo/fetus in the upper tract. The immune system is significantly influenced by sex steroid hormones, although leukocytes in the reproductive tract lack receptors for estrogen and progesterone. The leukocytes in the reproductive tract are distributed in either an aggregated or a dispersed form in the epithelial layer, lamina propria, and stroma. Even though immune cells are differentially distributed in each organ of the reproductive tract, the predominant immune cells are T cells, macrophages/dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and mast cells. B cells are rare in the female reproductive tract. NK cells in the endometrium significantly expand in the late secretory phase and further increase their number during early pregnancy. It is evident that NK cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are extremely important in decidual angiogenesis, trophoblast migration, and immune tolerance during pregnancy. Dysregulation of endometrial/decidual immune cells is strongly related to infertility, miscarriage, and other obstetric complications. Understanding the immune system of the female reproductive tract will significantly contribute to women's health and to success in pregnancy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2020

Although many aquaporin (AQP) transcripts have been demonstrated to express in the female reproductive tract, the defined localizations and functions of AQP subtype proteins remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP5, AQP6, and AQP9 proteins in female reproductive tract of mouse and characterized their precise localizations at the cellular and subcellular levels. Immunofluorescence analyses for AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 showed that these proteins were abundantly expressed in female reproductive tract and that intense immunoreactivities were observed in mucosa epithelial cells with a subtype-specific pattern. The most abundant aquaporin in both vagina and uterine cervix was AQP3. Each of AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 exhibited its distinct distribution in stratified squamous or columnar epithelial cells. AQP9 expression was predominant in oviduct and ovary. AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 proteins were mostly seen in apical membrane of ciliated epithelial cells of the oviduct as well as in both granulosa and theca cells of ovarian follicles. Most of AQP subtypes were also expressed in surface epithelial cells and glandular cells of endometrium in the uterus, but their expression levels were relatively lower than those observed in the vagina, uterine cervix, oviduct and ovary. This is the first study to investigate the expression and localization of 5 AQP subtype proteins simultaneously in female reproductive tract of mouse. Our results suggest that AQP subtypes work together to transport water and glycerol efficiently across the mucosa epithelia for lubrication, proliferation, energy metabolism and pH regulation in female reproductive tract.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2000

To investigate fatty acid constituents and relative compositions in the fluid of the follicles, oviducts, uterine body and uterine body in Korean native cow, the fluids of the reproductive tract were analyzed using gas chromatography. The samples were taken from various reproductive tract of 23 Korean native cows. q. Caprylic acid (C8:0), myristic acid(C14:0), palmitic acid(C16:0), palmitoleic acid(C16:1), stearic acid(C18:0), oleic acid(C18:1), linoleic acid(C18:2), arachidonic acid(C20:4) were found in the reproductive tracts of the cows, which made 8 kinds of fatty acid in total. 2. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid were predominant with 35.67%, 24.98% and 17.52%, respectively. while low levels of fatty acids(<5%) were myristic acid, palmitoleic acid and caprylic acid with 1.75%, 1.28% and 2.69%, respectively. 3. Two kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid arachidonic acid were found in the reproductive tracts of cows. 4. Palmitic acid among saturated fatty acids and oleic acid among unsaturated fatty acids were the highest level in all of the reproductive tracts. 5. The Highest level of arachidonic acid was found in the uterine horn. 6. The sum of the palmitic acid and oleic acid were 61.72%, 63.72%, 57.66% and 57.65% for the fluid of follicle, oviduct, uterine horn and uterine body of the cows, respectively. 7. The relative compositions of palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and caprylic acid were higher during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase. 8. The relative compositions of arachidonic acid was higher during the follicular phase in the fluid of uterine horn and uterine body of the cows. 9. The long chain fatty acid, the palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acidshowed higher relative compositions during the follicular phase(86.49%∼95.51%) than during the luteal phase(85.64%∼88.93%).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.485-492
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• 2009

Estrogen has dramatic effects on the development and function of the reproductive tract in mammals. Although diethylstilbestrol (DES) triggers the development of reproductive organs in immature animals, continued exposure to DES induces dysfunction of the female reproductive tract in mice. To investigate the effects of neonatal estrogen exposure on the reproductive tract of female chickens, we implanted DES pellets into the abdominal region of immature female chicks and then examined the effects of DES on the oviducts of both immature chicks and sexually mature chickens (30 weeks old). DES induced mass growth and differentiation of the oviduct in immature chicks. The chick oviduct increased by 2.7- and 29-fold in length and weight, respectively, following primary DES stimulation. In secondary DES stimulation, the length and weight of the chick oviduct increased by 4.5- and 74-fold, respectively. Additionally, DES treatments caused abnormal development of the infundibulum and magnum in hen oviducts. Furthermore, infundibulum abnormality gave rise to unusual ovulation of follicles and resulted in infertility and dysfunction of the magnum, such as less production of egg white proteins. Our results indicate that DES exposure during early developmental stages in chickens has detrimental effects on the development and maintenance of the female reproductive tract after sexual maturation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.245-262
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• 2020

In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionized global healthcare and has been predicted to exert a remarkable effect on clinical medicine. In this context, the clinical use of nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and the management of infertility and other pathologies linked to pubertal development, menopause, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has substantial promise to fill the existing lacunae in reproductive healthcare. Of late, a number of clinical trials involving the use of nanoparticles for the early detection of reproductive tract infections and cancers, targeted drug delivery, and cellular therapeutics have been conducted. However, most of these trials of nanoengineering are still at a nascent stage, and better synergy between pharmaceutics, chemistry, and cutting-edge molecular sciences is needed for effective translation of these interventions from bench to bedside. To bridge the gap between translational outcome and product development, strategic partnerships with the insight and ability to anticipate challenges, as well as an indepth understanding of the molecular pathways involved, are highly essential. Such amalgamations would overcome the regulatory gauntlet and technical hurdles, thereby facilitating the effective clinical translation of these nano-based tools and technologies. The present review comprehensively focuses on emerging applications of nanotechnology, which holds enormous promise for improved therapeutics and early diagnosis of various human reproductive tract diseases and conditions.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.24-31
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• 1979

The maturation changes in morphology were studied with the spermatozoa collected from the testis and three successive parts of the epididymis in Korean native Cattle. Acrosomal granules were observed in the testis. Avoiding the cap and acrosome phases, the tail base and the striated column of the neck were formed in spermatides. The volume of the acrosome was decreased during transit from the testis to the epididymis. The cell membranes were also separated from the acrosome or damage during the spermatozoan passage through successive parts of the reproductive tract. Cytoplasmic droplets were observed in the spermatozoa collected from various parts of the reproductive tract.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2000

To investigate fatty acid constituents and relative compositions in the fluid of the follicles, oviducts, uterine ho군 and uterine body in sows, the fluids of the reproductive tract were analyzed using Gas chromatography. The samples were taken from various reproductive tract of 21 sows slaughtered. 1. Caprylic acid(C8: 0), capric acid(C10:0), lauric acid(C12:0), myristic acid(C14:0), palmitic acid(C16:0), plamitolele acid(C16:1), stearic acid(C18:0), oleic acid(C18:1), linoleic acid(C18:2) and arachidonic acid(C20:4) were found in the reproductive tracts of the sows, which made 10 kinds of fatty acid intotal. 2. Two kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and archidonic acid were found inthe reproductive tracts. 3. Palmitic acid among saturated fatty acids and oleic acid among unsaturated fatty acids were the hihgest level in all of the reproductive tracts. 4. Palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid showed higher rate with 44.89%, 23.69% and 14.36%, respectively, and lauric acid, capric acid, palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid ad myristic acid showed lower rate with 0.62%, 1.13%, 1.65%, 1.97% and 2.24%, respectively in the reproductive fluid. 5. The highest level of arachidonic acid was found in the uterine horn. 6. The sum of the palmitic acid and oleic acid were 66.91%, 70.41%, 66.14% and 73.36% in the fluid of follicle, oviduct, uterine horn and uterine body, respectively. 7. The relative composition of arachidonic acid was higher during the follicular stage than during the luteal phase in the fluid of oviduct and uterine. 8. The long chain fatty acids such as the palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid showed higher relative compositions during the follicular phase(93.18%∼96.83%) than during the luteal phase(82.56%∼88.37%). 9. Caprylic acid, luric acid and palmitoleic acid were undetected in the fluid of all of the reproductive tracts during the follicular phase. Low relative compositions of capric acid, myristic acid andarachidonic acid were found during the follicular phase, while the low relative compositions (<5%)of capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, plamitoleic acid and arachidonic acid were found during the luteal phase.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3529-3533
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• 2012

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence and knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in rural Chinese women, and to explore the acceptance and feasibility of implementing a combined screening program in rural China. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 30 to 59 years old in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province from 2009 to 2010. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and RTIs, and the attitude toward single or combined screening were collected by an interview questionnaire. Each participant received a clinical examination of the cervix, breast and reproductive tract. Examinations included visual inspection, mammography, laboratory tests and pathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 1,530 women were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of cervical precancerous lesions, suspicious breast cancer, suspicious benign breast disease and RTIs was 1.4%, 0.2%, 14.0% and 54.3%, respectively. Cervicitis, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginitis were the three most common RTIs among our participants. Television, radio broadcast, and public education during screening were the major source of healthcare knowledge in rural China. Moreover 99.7% of women expressed great interest in participating in a combined screening project. The affordable limit for combined screening project was only 50 RMB for more than half of the rural women. Conclusion: A combined screening program would be more effective and popular than single disease screening projects, while appropriate accompanied education and a co-pay model for its successful implementation need to be explored, especially in low-resource settings.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2003

Localization of mercury compounds was investigated in selective regions of the male reproductive tract using autometallography. The results demonstrated that mercury was observed in Sertoli and Leydig cells in testis, but not in the epithelial cells of rete testis and germ cells. In the efferent ductule, mercury compounds were observed in the cytoplasmic compartments of epithelial cells in the proximal and common regions, while they were observed in the supranuclear cytoplasmic compartments in the conus region. In the epididymis, the compounds were observed in the cytoplasmic compariments of narrow and basal cells, but not in the principal cells of the initial segment. In contrast, the compounds were evenly detected in the cytoplasmic compartments of principal cells in the caput. In the corpus and caudal epididymis, the compounds were observed in the basal region of principal cells. The data shows that mercury is differentially accumulated in the male reproductive tract in a region-specific manner.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1071-1078
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• 2015

Superovulation induced by exogenous gonadotropin treatment (PMSG/hCG) increases the number of available oocytes in humans and animals. However, Superovulatory PMSG/hCG treatment is known to affect maternal environment, and these effects may result from PMSG/hCG treatment-induced oxidative stress. 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prxs) act as antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative stress induced by various exogenous stimuli. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that repeated PMSG/hCG treatment induces 2-Cys Prx expression and overoxidation in the reproductive tracts of female mice. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analyses further demonstrated that, after PMSG/hCG treatment, the protein expression levels of 2-Cys Prxs increased most significantly in the ovaries, while that of Prx1 was most affected by PMSG/hCG stimulation in all tissues of the female reproductive tract. Repeated PMSG/hCG treatment eventually leads to 2-Cys Prxs overoxidation in all reproductive organs of female mice, and the abundance of the 2-Cys Prxs-$SO_{2/3}$ proteins reported here supports the hypothesis that repeated superovulation induces strong oxidative stress and damage to the female reproductive tract. Our data suggest that excessive oxidative stress caused by repeated PMSG/hCG stimulation increases 2-Cys Prxs expression and overoxidation in the female reproductive organs. Intracellular 2-Cys Prx therefore plays an important role in maintaining the reproductive organ environment of female mice upon exogenous gonadotropin treatment.