Levels of active and inactive reninlike enzymes in plasma and reproductive tract of the pregnant wallaby

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (4) ◽  
pp. R1353-R1358
Author(s):  
E. R. Lumbers ◽  
R. I. Menzies ◽  
K. J. Gibson ◽  
C. H. Tyndale-Biscoe

Active and total (acid-activated) levels of a reninlike enzyme (hereafter called renin) were measured in plasma, tissues, and yolk sac fluid of pregnant and postpartum wallabies. Plasma active renin generated angiotensin I (ANG I) from sheep angiotensinogen at 14 +/- 1.3 (SE) ng.ml-1.h-1, whereas acid-activated renin generated ANG I at 33.3 +/- 2.5 ng.ml-1.h-1, i.e., 44.2 +/- 3.7% of renin in plasma was active, and 58 +/- 3.7% was inactive. Inactive renin levels were highest in pregnant animals (P = 0.05). Uterine renin was mainly inactive (95%); levels were 5.1 +/- 1.1 times plasma levels. The levels of renin in nonpregnant uteri were the same as those in pregnant uteri from the same animals. Uterine renin levels did not change with gestation. Pooled acid-activated yolk sac fluid generated ANG I at low rates (0.7 and 1.6 ng.ml-1.h-1); the acid-activated supernatant of a homogenate of pooled fetal membranes generated ANG I at 15 ng.g wet wt-1.h-1. Yolk sac fluid was strikingly different in electrolyte composition from maternal plasma. Its lower osmolality suggests that the membranes separating it from maternal plasma have a low permeability to water. Thus, although eutherian and marsupial mammals diverged 136-164 million years ago, the wallaby, like many eutherian mammals, has inactive renin in blood, in the female reproductive tract, and in fetal membranes.

Author(s):  
PALLERLA PRIYANKA ◽  
M. SRI REKHA ◽  
A. SEETHA DEVI

Vaginal drug administration can improve prophylaxis and treatment of many conditions affecting the female reproductive tract, which includes fungal and bacterial infections, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer also. This is the best route for the administration of proteins, peptides, and also other therapeutic drugs like macro-molecules. For the administration of drugs like contraceptives, steroids, metronidazole, anti-retroviral, vaginal drug delivery is the most preferable route. However, achieving sufficient drug concentration in the vagina can be challenging because of its low permeability. The benefits of the vaginal drug delivery system are it increases the bioavailability, least systemic side effects; easiness of use and self-medication is possible. However vaginal drug delivery system is considered as a less effective route because of the unfortunate absorption of drugs across the vaginal epithelium. The traditional commercial preparations, such as creams, foams, gels, irrigations and tablets, are known to reside in the vaginal cavity for a relatively short period of time owing to the self-cleaning action of the vaginal tract and often require multiple daily doses to ensure the desired therapeutic effect. With the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology, the use of specifically designed carrier systems such as Nanoparticle-based drug delivery has been proven an excellent choice for vaginal application to overcome the challenges associated with the low permeability.


Author(s):  
Mai M. Said ◽  
Ramesh K. Nayak ◽  
Randall E. McCoy

Burgos and Wislocki described changes in the mucosa of the guinea pig uterus, cervix and vagina during the estrous cycle investigated by transmission electron microscopy. More recently, Moghissi and Reame reported the effects of progestational agents on the human female reproductive tract. They found drooping and shortening of cilia in norgestrel and norethindrone- treated endometria. To the best of our knowledge, no studies concerning the effects of mestranol and norethindrone given concurrently on the three-dimensional surface features on the uterine mucosa of the guinea pig have been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mestranol and norethindrone on surface ultrastructure of guinea pig uterus by SEM.Seventy eight animals were used in this study. They were allocated into two groups. Group 1 (20 animals) was injected intramuscularly 0.1 ml vegetable oil and served as controls.


Author(s):  
R.P. Apkarian ◽  
J.S. Sanfilippo

The synthetic androgen danazol, is an isoxazol derivative of ethisterone. It is utilized in the treatment of endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and has a potential use as a contraceptive. A study was designed to evaluate the ultrastructural changes associated with danazol therapy in a rat model. The preliminary investigation of the distal segment of the rat uterine horn was undertaken as part of a larger study intended to elucidate the effects of danazol on the female reproductive tract.Cross-sections (2-3 mm in length) of the distal segment of the uterine horn from sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for SEM. Ten rats in estrus served as controls and six danazol treated rats were noted to have alterations of the estrus cycle i.e. a lag in cycle phase or noncycling patterns. Specimens were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.05M phosphate buffer containing CaCl2 at pH 7.0-7.4 and chilled to 4°C. After a brief wash in distilled water, specimens were passed through a graded series of ethanol, critical point dryed in CO2 from absolute ethanol, and coated with 6nm Au. Observations were made with an IS1-40 SEM operated at 15kV.


Author(s):  
Lawrence M. Roth

The female reproductive tract may be the site of a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, as well as non-neoplastic tumor-like conditions, most of which can be diagnosed by light microscopic examination including special stains and more recently immunoperoxidase techniques. Nevertheless there are situations where ultrastructural examination can contribute substantially to an accurate and specific diagnosis. It is my opinion that electron microscopy can be of greatest benefit and is most cost effective when applied in conjunction with other methodologies. Thus, I have developed an approach which has proved useful for me and may have benefit for others. In cases where it is deemed of potential value, glutaraldehyde-fixed material is obtained at the time of frozen section or otherwise at operation. Coordination with the gynecologic oncologist is required in the latter situation. This material is processed and blocked and is available if a future need arises.


1966 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Schul ◽  
C. W. Foley ◽  
C. D. Heinze ◽  
R. E. Erb ◽  
R. B. Harrington

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindrilla Chumduri ◽  
Margherita Y. Turco

AbstractHealthy functioning of the female reproductive tract (FRT) depends on balanced and dynamic regulation by hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and childbirth. The mucosal epithelial lining of different regions of the FRT—ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina—facilitates the selective transport of gametes and successful transfer of the zygote to the uterus where it implants and pregnancy takes place. It also prevents pathogen entry. Recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) organoid systems from the FRT now provide crucial experimental models that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity and physiological, anatomical and functional properties of the organ in vitro. In this review, we summarise the state of the art on organoids generated from different regions of the FRT. We discuss the potential applications of these powerful in vitro models to study normal physiology, fertility, infections, diseases, drug discovery and personalised medicine.


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