Ultrastructural Changes in the Cervical Epithelium during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial &lt;i&gt;Monodelphis domestica&lt;/i&gt; (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

Wick, Regula; Kress, Annetrudi

doi:10.1159/000063710

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…This was in agreement with other studies that examined fewer stages in cattle (Wordinger et al, 1972), horses (Huchzermeyer et al, 2005), and gray short-tailed opossums (Wick and Kress, 2002). As with a previous study (Wordinger et al, 1972), the cervical epithelial cells contained mixed neutral and acidic mucins, which we demonstrated were most abundant 48 h after estrus but were greater in the basal than the apical epithelia of the cervix.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Glycoproteins and glycosidases of the cervix during the periestrous period in cattle1

Pluta

Irwin

Dolphin

et al. 2011

Journal of Animal Science

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The cervix and its secretions undergo biochemical and physical changes under the differential influences of estrogen and progesterone. These include changes in the glycoprotein profile of the endocervix and its secretions. A comprehensive survey of such changes in cervical epithelium and cervical secretions was performed on bovine samples throughout the periestrous period. Cervical tissue samples and swabs were collected from synchronized beef heifers that were slaughtered 1) 12 h after controlled intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) removal, 2) 24 h after CIDR removal, 3) at the onset of estrus, 4) 12 h after the onset of estrus, 5) 48 h after the onset of estrus, and 6) 7 d after the onset of estrus. Histological staining with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff, Alcian blue, and high-iron diamine was carried out to map overall patterns of stored glycoproteins and tissue structure. Biotinylated lectins were also used to detect the presence and distribution of a range of saccharide structures. The activities of β-galactosidase, α-L-fucosidase, β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, and sialidase were measured in cervical swabs using specific substrates. The epithelial layer of the cervix exhibited dynamic changes in cellular hypertrophy and amounts of stored glycoprotein. The greatest content of neutral and acidic mucins was observed 48 h after onset of estrus (P < 0.05). Sialylated mucins predominated at the bases of cervical folds, whereas sulfated mucins were more abundant (P < 0.05) at their apices. The stained area of core mucin glycans changed (P < 0.05) in association with follicular versus luteal phases, whereas terminal glycans changed (P < 0.05) mainly at the time of estrus and shortly thereafter. The greatest activity of β-galactosidase and sialidase was observed 12 h after onset of estrus, whereas β-hexosaminidase and α-fucosidase peaked at the luteal time point (P < 0.05). Taken together, we suggest that the well-known changes in the endocervix and its secretions that are associated with the physiological modulation of sperm transport and function of the cervical barrier are, in part, driven by glycosylation changes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Glycoproteins and glycosidases of the cervix during the periestrous period in cattle1

Pluta

Irwin

Dolphin

et al. 2011

Journal of Animal Science

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“…They are lined with an epithelium of alternating special secretory and ciliated cells [Wick and Kress, 2002b], while the sinus vaginalis, as the rest of the vaginal complex, is entirely covered by an either slightly secretory nonkeratinized or keratinized epithelium depending on the estrous cycle stage. The same situation of a complete keratinization of the sinus vaginalis during estrus is only described for Schoinobates [Smith, 1969] and Marmosa [Godfrey, 1975].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While in the scanning electron microscopy picture the change between the two sites appears very abrupt [Wick and Kress, 2002b], in transmission electron microscope a narrow special zone is seen. While in the cervix secretory cells are distinct entities of the goblet cell type which alternate with ciliated cells; in the adjoining vaginal epithelium ciliated cells have disappeared and the stratified squamous epithelium is more of the cuboidal than of the flat type and resembles the description of the transitional zone of the nasopharyngeal epithelium [Nakano, 1986].…”

Section: Metestrusmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…This paper gives an account of the epithelial changes of the vaginal epithelium related to functional changes during the estrous cycle, in context with the changes in other parts of the genital tract, namely the uterus [Wick and Kress, 2002a] and cervix [Wick and Kress, 2002b]. It focusses on transmission electron microscopy, namely on the process of keratinization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in the Epithelium of the Vaginal Complex during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i>

Regli

Kress²

2002

Cells Tissues Organs

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The vaginal complex of marsupials differs from that of eutherians. Cervices open separately in a sinus vaginalis or cul-de-sac. Two lateral vaginae adjoin the sinus vaginalis and fuse at the level of the urethra opening and form the sinus urogenitalis. During the estrous cycle the vaginal epithelium undergoes a number of specified morphological changes. This paper is the first to describe these changes on an ultrastructural level in a marsupial. Investigations in Monodelphis vagina reveal that a cyclic switch exists between a keratinized and a stratified nonkeratinized epithelium. Keratinization starts during proestrus and reaches its maximum during estrus. In the postestrus, desquamation of the stratum corneum takes place, mostly in two steps. In metestrus one to two additional layers of the now nonkeratinized surface cells are shed into the vaginal lumen. Typical cell structures, such as keratin filaments, keratohyalin and membrane-coating granules, are involved in the keratinization process. Keratohyalin is found in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus of stratum granulosum cells, a phenomenon which is known from other parakeratinized epithelia of rapid turnover. Membrane-coating granules, responsible for the permeability barrier between the epithelial cells, are of the nonlamellated type in the nonkeratinized epithelium and produce an amorphous material in the intercellular spaces after extrusion. At periods, however, when the epithelium is keratinized, membrane-coating granules are of the lamellated type and form a lamellated barrier structure after extrusion in the intercellular space. The loss of the protective keratinized layers asks for an additional defense mechanism for the epithelium. The migration of leukocytes through the epithelium predominantly during post- and metestrus and their presence in the vaginal lumen may play a protective role together with the bacterial content.

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“…The anatomy of the female reproductive tract of marsupials is in some aspects unusual when compared with that of eutherian mammals. The anatomy of the marsupial female genital system consists of two ovaries, oviducts, double uterus, two lateral vaginae, vaginal cul‐de‐sac and a urogenital canal (Wick & Kress, ). The order Marsupialia has two lateral vaginas that originate in the urogenital sinus and connect the uterus with the corresponding antimere to form the vaginal cul‐de‐sac (vaginal sinus) where the two cervices open (Taggart, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of the vaginal complex in the white‐eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): Gross anatomy and light microscopy

Schimming

Cesário

Matheus

2018

Anat Histol Embryol

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Opossums, the largest marsupials found in Brazil, are animals of great interest due to their commonality in large urban centres and their frequent use as laboratory animals. Thus, this study was designed to describe the vaginal complex in ten female opossums by gross anatomy and light microscopy. The vaginal complex comprises two lateral vaginae, a vaginal cul-de-sac and a urogenital sinus. No marked morphological contrast of the vaginal complex was observed in the proestrus and metestrus phases of the females studied. The epithelium lining of cul-de-sac was simple columnar and folded. The lateral vagina was lined by a stratified squamous epithelium that was keratinised in its cranial portion and nonkeratinised in the caudal region. The urogenital sinus was also lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. The morphology of vaginal complex of white-eared opossum is similar to those reported for other marsupials, showing similar histological features.

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Ultrastructural Changes in the Cervical Epithelium during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i> (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

Cited by 8 publications

References 85 publications

Glycoproteins and glycosidases of the cervix during the periestrous period in cattle1

Glycoproteins and glycosidases of the cervix during the periestrous period in cattle1

Changes in the Epithelium of the Vaginal Complex during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i>

Morphology of the vaginal complex in the white‐eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): Gross anatomy and light microscopy

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