Kruppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) in fetal-maternal tissue during periimplantation and effects of ovarian steroid hormone antagonist on its expression during uterine receptivity of albino mice

Background Embryo implantation is a tightly regulated sequence of events regulated by ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone, and their downstream targets. Ovarian steroids regulate most of the genes involved in embryo implantation and pregnancy. However, some factors are not regulated by ovarian steroids, estrogen, progesterone, or both. Kruppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) is an example of an ovarian steroid–independent factor having a role in cellular proliferation, differentiation. The detailed expression profile of Klf5 during uterine receptivity and periimplantation has not been studied till now. In the present research work, an attempt was made to investigate the expression pattern of Klf5 in mice fetal-maternal tissue during periimplantation (day 4–day 8). The expressional and functional independence of Klf5 on the ovarian steroids was studied using estrogen and progesterone antagonist. The study was carried out in female Swiss albino mice of LACA strain during the periimplantation period. KLF5 was localized in the fetal-maternal tissues using the immunofluorescence technique in paraffin-embedded tissues. Ovarian steroid antagonists were administered subcutaneously from day 1 to day 3 of gestation, and the uterus was collected on the morning of day 4. Klf5 protein and mRNA levels were studied by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. Results KLF5 was localized in the embryo, uterine luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, and proliferating stromal cells during periimplantation. In ovarian steroid antagonist–treated groups, KLF5 was localized in the luminal and glandular epithelium and stroma. Western blot and qPCR confirmed translation and transcription of KLF5 during the experimental period. The KLF5 protein level significantly increased on day 6, day 7, and day 8 when compared with day 4 (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of Klf5 increased significantly on day 7 and day 8 when compared with day 4 (P < 0.05). In ovarian steroid antagonist–treated groups, protein and mRNA corresponding to Klf5 were observed. From this finding, it can be assumed that Klf5 may be a steroid-independent factor expressed during uterine receptivity. Conclusion Spatiotemporal KLF5 expression in fetal-maternal tissue was observed during the experimental period. The results suggest that Klf5 is an ovarian steroid–independent factor that may play a pivotal role in implantation, decidualization, and embryogenesis.

Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Immunoexpression in Fallopian Tubes among Postmenopausal Women Based on Time since the Last Menstrual Period

Existing data on the expression of estrogen receptor (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in fallopian tubes in postmenopausal women are mostly inconclusive. Therefore, we assessed ERα and PR immunoexpression in the oviducts of these women. One hundred postmenopausal women were divided into three groups based on time elapsed since the last menstrual period: (A) 1–5 years, (B) 6–10 years, and (C) ≥11 years. In all groups, both in the glandular epithelium and stroma of the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct, immunolocalization of ERα and PR were noted. The glandular epithelium of the ampulla showed a higher percentage of PR-positive cells than the isthmus in each group. Regarding ERα, there were no significant differences. In the glandular epithelium in both the ampulla and isthmus, the percentage of ERα- and PR-positive cells was significantly higher than that in the stroma in each study group and higher in the A group than in the C group. In conclusion, in postmenopausal women, time elapsed since the last menstrual period in the fallopian tubes was positively correlated with the following: (1) the epithelium showed vacuolation of cytoplasm with greater frequency, (2) the proportion of ciliated cells decreased, and (3) the percentage of ERα- and PR-positive cells also decreased. The obtained results indicate a significant decrease in ERα and PR expression depending on the time that has elapsed since the last menstruation, which is undoubtedly related to the loss of the reproductive function of the patients.

Low Expression of STING Promoted Endometrial Stromal Cells Invasion and Migration Via STING/IRF3/IFNb1 Pathway in Endometriosis Eutopic Endometrium

Background: Recent studies have confirmed that endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. In our previous work, we found that STING (stimulator of interferon genes) was differentially expressed in eutopic endometrium and controlled endometrium by proteomics.Method: we used the 11 pairs of samples to verify STING expression by WB and IHC experiments. We detected cells proliferation by EdU assays, cells invasion and migration by Transwell assays. The effect of signaling pathway in HESC was detected by WB and Elisa expreriments.Results: STING was significantly lower expressed in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis, while IHC results showed that STING was expressed in both stroma and glandular epithelium of normal endometrium, but in endometriosis, STING was mainly expressed in the stroma of eutopic endometrium, and mainly in glandular epithelium of ectopic endometrium. Further study on the role of STING on endometrial stromal cells showed that low expression of STING could promote the HESC proliferation by EdU experiments, invasion and migration by Transwell experiments. The effect of STING/IRF3/IFNb1 signaling pathway in HESC with low expression of STING was also reduced, mainly showed the decreased expression of phosphorylated IRF3 and TBK1, and the decreased secretion of IFNb1. In order to further study the effect of IFNb1, secreted by STING/ IRF3/IFNb1 signaling pathway, on stromal cells, we added exogenous IFNb1 to the HESC with low expression of STING, and found that IFNb1 could reverse the invasion and migration function of stromal cells, but little effect on cell proliferation.Conclusions: We clarified that STING expressed mainly in stromal tissues and lower in endometriosis eutopic endometrium compared to normal endometrium. Low expressed STING promoted stromal cells invasion and migration via STING/IRF3/IFNb1 signaling pathway.

Three unusual Pulmonary fibroleiomyomatous hamartomas: cases report and literature review

BackgroundPulmonary fibroleiomyomatous hamartomas (PFLH) is an extremely rare benign leision, characterized by most patients have no respiratory symptoms and pulmonary nodules is found during rutine chest imaging. It’s completely different from fibrochondrolipoma (ie.chondrogenic pulmonary hamartoma, FCL), Herein, we report three unusual cases of PFLH in a 48-year-old male patient, a 63-year-old male patient and a 63-year-old female patient,respectively and discuss their morphological characteristics and differential diagnoses including fibrochondrolipoma (FCL), pulmonary fibroadenoma (PFA), primary pulmonary leiomyoma (PPL), bronchioloalveolar adenoma (BAA), solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and pulmonary metastatic leiomyoma (PML) in female patients.Case presentationThree cases showed singler and multiple nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma,the boundary of these nodules was clear. it showed swelling growth and lobulated in larger tumors. it consisted of the mesenchymal rich in spindle cells and the glandular epithelium tissue. the spindle cells form smooth muscle tissue and fibrous tissue, the glandular epithelium with invagination showed glandular ducts or fissures, disorder of composition. Immunohistochemical staining showed Desmin, SMA,H-caldesmon-positive in the all spindle cells; H-caldesmon-positive, SMA-weak positive and desmin-negative in the long spindle cells; TTF-1,CK7 were positive in glandular epithelium and P63,CK5/6 were expressed in basal cells; HMB45,S-100,CD34, ER,PR were negative in all cells. Additionally, Ki-67 VPI was low and less than 1%. The immunohistochemical analysis combined with the morphological results supported the diagnosis of solitary PFLH (SPFLH) or multiple PFLH (M PFLH). There was no recurrence in SPFLH and recurrence in MFLH in the group.ConclusionsPFLH is a rare benign leision .It originated from the small bronchus or smooth muscle cells of vascular wall which implanted into the lung parenchyma and overgrowth into nodules or mass, the messenchymal component of PFLH is the most important for accurate pathological diagnosis, PFLH is easy to be confused with PFA and PPL when there are not enough immune marker such as SMA,desmin, H-caldesmon to mark the mesenchymal components. Therefore, Diagnosis of PFLH mainly depends on pathological examination, females patients have to exclude PML.

The chemistry and histology of sexually dimorphic mental glands in the freshwater turtle, Mauremys leprosa

Despite evidence from anatomy, behavior and genomics indicating that the sense of smell in turtles is important, our understanding of chemical communication in this group is still rudimentary. Our aim was to describe the microanatomy of mental glands (MGs) in a freshwater turtle, Mauremys leprosa (Geoemydidae), and to assess the chemical composition of their secretions with respect to variation among individuals and between sexes. MGs are paired sac-like organs on the gular region of the neck and are dimorphic in this species with males having fully functional holocrine glands while those of females appear non-secretory and vestigial. In adult males, the glandular epithelium of the inner portion of the gland provides exocytotic products as well as cellular debris into the lumen of the gland. The contents of the lumen can be secreted through the narrow duct portion of the gland ending in an orifice on the surface of the skin. Females have invaginated structures similar in general outline to male glands, but lack a glandular epithelium. Using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, we identified a total of 61 compounds in mental gland secretions, the most numerous being carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, alkanes, steroids and alcohols. The number of compounds per individual varied widely (mean (median) ± SD = 14.54 (13) ± 8.44; min = 3; max = 40), but only cholesterol was found in all samples. We found that the relative abundances of only six chemicals were different between the sexes, although males tended to have larger amounts of particular compounds. Although the lipid fraction of mental gland secretions is rich in chemical compounds, most occur in both sexes suggesting that they are metabolic byproducts with no role in chemical signaling. However, the relative amounts of some compounds tended to be higher in males, with significantly larger amounts of two carboxylic acids and one steroid, suggesting their putative involvement in chemical communication.

Gross stomach morphology in akodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae: Akodontini): a reappraisal of its significance in a phylogenetic context

Akodontini, the second largest tribe within sigmodontine rodents, encompasses several stomach morphologies. This is striking because most sigmodontine groups of comparable taxonomic rank are very conservative in this respect. Based on extensive sampling of newly dissected specimens (213 stomachs representing 36 species), as well as published examples, covering almost all akodontine living genera (15 of 16), we undertook a reappraisal of the gross morphology of this organ. We then mapped this information, together with gallbladder occurrence, in a refined multilocus molecular phylogeny of the tribe. We surveyed three different configurations of stomachs in akodontines, according to the degree of development and location of the glandular epithelium; in addition, two minor variations of one of these types were described. Of the five major clades that integrate Akodontini, four are characterized by a single stomach morphology, while one clade exhibits two morphologies. Mapping stomach type on the phylogeny recovered two configurations for the most recent ancestor of Akodontini. A revised survey of gallbladder evidence also revealed overlooked congruencies. The observed stomach diversity and its arrangement in the phylogeny, along with additional morphological characters and the genetic diversity among the main clades, supports the necessity of changes in the current classification of the tribe. Recognition of subtribes or partitioning of Akodontini into several additional tribes of equal rank could be suitable options.

Morphometric analysis and mucin histochemistry of gallbladdersurface and glandular epithelium in swine

The aim of thestudy was to perform morphometric analysis and to distinguishhistochemically the variety of mucins in surface and glandular gallbladderepithelium in swine at different ages. The histochemical analyses by usingalcian blue staining at different pH and alcian blue-PAS technique alloweddistinguishing neutral and acidic mucin expression in the surface andglandular epithelium of gallbladder’s fundus, body and neck where age- andsite-specific localisation of mucin content was defined. Goblet cells alsoexpressed both neutral and acidic mucins. Morphometric analysis allowedestimating the height of the surface and glandular epithelium, diameter ofglands and crypts, and comparing these parameters between the three agegroups and three gallbladder parts. The goblet cells were observed in thegallbladder neck only. The morphometric and histochemical analyses extendthe knowledge on structural and topographic features of the studiedgallbladder components that could be useful as reference data for variety ofexperiments on this organ.