scholarly journals Pattern Recognition via the Toll-Like Receptor System in the Human Female Genital Tract

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaei Nasu ◽  
Hisashi Narahara
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Recognition ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Microbial Infection ◽  
Receptor System ◽  
Female Genital

The mucosal surface of the female genital tract is a complex biosystem, which provides a barrier against the outside world and participates in both innate and acquired immune defense systems. This mucosal compartment has adapted to a dynamic, non-sterile environment challenged by a variety of antigenic/inflammatory stimuli associated with sexual intercourse and endogenous vaginal microbiota. Rapid innate immune defenses against microbial infection usually involve the recognition of invading pathogens by specific pattern-recognition receptors recently attributed to the family of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) synthesized by microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses as well as endogenous ligands associated with cell damage. Members of the TLR family, which includes 10 human TLRs identified to date, recognize distinct PAMPs produced by various bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. The available literature regarding the innate immune system of the female genital tract during human reproductive processes was reviewed in order to identify studies specifically related to the expression and function of TLRs under normal as well as pathological conditions. Increased understanding of these molecules may provide insight into site-specific immunoregulatory mechanisms in the female reproductive tract.

scholarly journals The Effects of Commensal Bacteria on Innate Immune Responses in the Female Genital Tract

2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paria Mirmonsef ◽  
Douglas Gilbert ◽  
Mohammad R. Zariffard ◽  
Bruce R. Hamaker ◽  
Amandeep Kaur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Commensal Bacteria ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Female Genital

Mucosal Innate Immune Factors in the Female Genital Tract Are Associated with Vaginal HIV-1 Shedding Independent of Plasma Viral Load

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 788-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Cummins ◽  
Logan Christensen ◽  
Jeffery L. Lennox ◽  
Timothy J. Bush ◽  
Zhiwei Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Plasma Viral Load ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Immune Factors ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Female Genital

Migration and motility of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract of the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata (Acari, Argasidae)

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. RESLER ◽  
J. L. FRAZIER ◽  
J. G. SHEPHERD ◽  
J. D. MODAFFERI
Keyword(s):  
Genital Tract ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Gliding Motility ◽  
Soft Tick ◽  
Ornithodoros Moubata ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Many ◽  
Female Genital

SUMMARYThe spermatozoa of ticks are anomalous in many respects: they are very large, cytoplasm-rich cells which lack a flagellum but move with a peculiar gliding motility. Their metamorphosis after deposition in the female has been well documented, but many of the subsequent events in the career of the spermatozoa are controversial or poorly documented. Our observations of motility imply that the many types of motility that have been reported (up to 5 different types in several reports) can be reduced to 2 apparently independent types of active motility: (1) gliding motility generated along the whole spermatozoon and (2) contortions of the anterior tip of the head. These types of motility appear as a consequence of sperm maturation after transfer to the female, but only become pronounced if the female has taken a recent bloodmeal. A consequence of this enhanced gliding motility after feeding is the movement of the spermatozoa out of the naturally ruptured neck of the spermatophore and up the female genital tract. This occurs without any apparent assistance from the female's musculature and likely is the prime mechanism of movement of the spermatozoa to the site of fertilization.

A comparison of sperm and embryo transport in the female reproductive tract of marsupial and eutherian mammals

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Taggart
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Embryo Transport ◽  
Female Genital

A review on current knowledge of sperm and embryo transport in the female reproductive tract of marsupials. Some of the unique features of gamete structure-function and female genital tract morphology will be described and compared with data available on eutherian mammals.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide: occurrence and relaxant effect in female genital tract

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (1) ◽  
pp. E108-E117 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Steenstrup ◽  
P. Alm ◽  
J. Hannibal ◽  
J. C. Jorgensen ◽  
C. Palle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Fallopian Tube ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Female ◽  
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Female Genital

The distribution, localization, and smooth muscle effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) were studied in the human female genital tract. The concentrations of PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 were measured by radioimmunoassays, and both peptides were found throughout the genital tract. The highest concentrations of PACAP-38 were detected in the ovary, the upper part of vagina, and the perineum. The concentrations of PACAP-27 were generally low, in some regions below the detection limit and in other regions 1 to 5% of the PACAP-38 concentrations. Immunocytochemistry revealed that PACAP was located in delicate varicose nerve fibers that were most abundant in the internal cervical os, where they mainly seemed to innervate blood vessels and smooth muscle cells. PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of the spontaneous activity of the nonvascular smooth muscle strips from fallopian tube and myometrium in vitro. Likewise, both peptides (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused relaxation of nonrepinephrine (10(-6) M)-precontracted intramyometrial arteries. No effect of the PACAP sequences, PACAP-(6-27), PACAP-(16-38), and PACAP-(18-27), on fallopian tube was observed. The findings suggest a smooth muscle regulatory role of PACAP in the human female reproductive tract.

scholarly journals Atypical Cervical Stromal Cells Masquerading as Malignancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. C30-31
Author(s):  
Shraddha Avinash Kurekar ◽  
Jayashri Popat Chaudhari ◽  
Asha Sharad Shenoy ◽  
Rachana Ajay Chaturvedi
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Genital

Atypical stromal cells (ASCs) of the female genital tract are uncommon and found in various polypoid lesions of the vulva, vagina, cervix and endometrium. Although they are benign; they can be misinterpreted as a malignant. Hence it is important for a pathologist to identify the ASCs in the specimens or biopsies of lower Female genital tract and avoid over diagnosis as a malignancy. We present a case of atypical cervical stromal cells in a 45-year-old female. On microscopy, Atypical stromal cells were stellate, enlarged in size, with moderate to severely atypical hyperchromatic, multilobulated nuclei without any mitoses. Their chromatin was dense often with prominent nucleoli. This report highlights the significance of awareness about the occurrence of these cells in the female reproductive tract.

XX.—Studies on Reproduction in the Albino Mouse. III. The Duration of Life of Spermatozoa in the Female Reproductive Tract

1940 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 207-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Merton
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Male Genital Tract ◽  
Exact Data ◽  
Female Genital ◽  
Male Genital

The method of artificial insemination in the mouse, which has been used successfully only once previously (Mark and Long, 1911), has made it possible to collect exact data on the duration of life and the fertilising capacity of spermatozoa in the female genital tract. Earlier results concerning the conditions under which spermatozoa from the male genital tract attain their maximum activity (Merton, II) and the exact knowledge of the time of parturition (Merton, I) were helpful in carrying out artificial insemination during the following œstrous period.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document