ABSTRACT
Vaginal atresia is a congenital abnormality of the female genitourinary system, and the specific molecular mechanism leading to failure of vaginal development remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that the female mice lacking Tyro3 RTK subfamily (Tyro3, Axl, and Mer) exhibit a high incidence of distal vaginal atresia. The ratios of the vaginal atresia in Tyro3 RTKs mutant female mice are as follows: 2.5% for Mer(-/-) mice, 4.0% for Axl(-/-)Mer(-/-), 3.7% for Mer(-/-)Tyro3(-/-), 16.06% for Tyro(-/-)Axl(-/-)Mer(-/-) mice. We did not find the vaginal atresia in Axl(-/-), Tyro3(-/-), Axl(-/-) Tyro(-/-), and wild-type mice. These observations suggest that Tyro3 RTKs play roles collaboratively in vaginal development, and Mer is more critical, Axl and Tyro3 support the function of Mer. The phenotype of mice with the vaginal atresia was characterized in this study. Tyro3 RTKs mutant mouse could be a useful model to study the mechanism of vaginal atresia formation.
Subject(s)
Genetic Diseases, Inborn/genetics , Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , Vagina/abnormalities , Vaginal Diseases/genetics , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Genetic Diseases, Inborn/enzymology , Humans , Mice , Mice, Mutant Strains , Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Vagina/enzymology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymology , c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase , Axl Receptor Tyrosine KinaseSubject(s)
Esterases/metabolism , Vagina/enzymology , Animals , Epithelium/drug effects , Epithelium/enzymology , Estradiol/pharmacology , Estrus , Female , Histocytochemistry , Metaplasia/chemically induced , Metaplasia/enzymology , Naphthols , Pregnancy , Rats , Vagina/drug effects , Vaginal Diseases/enzymologySubject(s)
Estradiol/pharmacology , Metaplasia/enzymology , Progesterone/pharmacology , Testosterone/pharmacology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymology , Animals , Electron Transport Complex IV/analysis , Female , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/analysis , Glycogen/analysis , Glycosaminoglycans/analysis , Histocytochemistry , Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase/analysis , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/analysis , Metaplasia/chemically induced , Oxidoreductases/analysis , Rats , Staining and Labeling , Succinate Dehydrogenase/analysis , Vaginal Diseases/chemically inducedSubject(s)
Cysts/enzymology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymology , Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism , Epithelium/enzymology , Esterases/metabolism , Female , Histocytochemistry , Humans , NADH Tetrazolium Reductase/metabolism , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism , Succinate Dehydrogenase/metabolismSubject(s)
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/enzymology , Acid Phosphatase/blood , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Female , Histocytochemistry , Humans , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Leucyl Aminopeptidase/blood , Prognosis , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Vagina/enzymology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymologyABSTRACT
We found, by reverse transcription--real time--polymerase chain reaction, that the expression of aromatase (CYP19) in ovarian, peritoneal endometriosis, and deep endometriotic nodules is significantly different, which strengthens the theory of three distinct clinical entities. Compared with peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis exhibits an 8-fold higher expression of aromatase, which suggests that aromatase inhibitors may be particularly active in this form of endometriosis.
Subject(s)
Aromatase/metabolism , Endometriosis/enzymology , Ovarian Diseases/enzymology , Peritoneal Diseases/enzymology , Rectal Diseases/enzymology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymology , Female , Humans , Organ Specificity , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if phospholipase A2 was detectable within vaginal fluid and to correlate its presence with the presence of common lower genital tract infection or microbial conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant women were examined at the first prenatal visit with standard clinical evaluations and microbiologic cultures or tests. Vaginal fluid samples were evaluated for phospholipase A2 activity by means of a standardized enzyme fluorometric assay. Data were stratified to control for coexisting infections. RESULTS: Phospholipase A2 activity was detected among 29.8% of women and was independently associated with the presence of bacterial vaginosis (p < 0.001), Trichomonas. vaginalis (p < 0.04), and Chlamydia trachomatis (p < 0.02). The percentage of women with phospholipase A2 activity and the level of activity was increased in the presence of more than one infection. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated reproductive tract phospholipase A2 concentrations among pregnant women may play roles in the pathogenesis of preterm labor and birth. Identification of pregnant women with increased concentrations in vaginal fluid may allow for development of effective intervention strategies to reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Subject(s)
Infections/enzymology , Phospholipases A/metabolism , Uterine Cervical Diseases/enzymology , Vaginal Diseases/enzymology , Animals , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Infections/microbiology , Osmolar Concentration , Phospholipases A2 , Pregnancy , Trichomonas vaginalis/isolation & purification , Vaginosis, Bacterial/enzymology , Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Extragenital endometriosis is a rare form of endometriosis. Due to its invasive and metastatic properties it resembles some features of malignant tumours. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and is mainly expressed in inflammatory and malignant processes. In this study we investigated the COX-2 expression in extragenital endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tissue was obtained of 13 women with rectal and vaginal endometriosis, scar endometriosis and endometriosis of the omentum majus. The COX-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the glandular epithelium a COX-2 overexpression was found in all cases and in the stroma a weak to moderate COX-2 expression was found in half of the cases. A hormonal therapy at the time of surgery had no influence on the COX-2 expression in extragenital endometriosis. CONCLUSION: The high COX-2 expression in extragenital endometriosis is believed to be strongly correlated with the pathological abnormalities this of disease.