The uterine glands synthesize and secrete substances essential for the survival and development of the conceptus and associated extra-embryonic membranes. In dromedary, morphological and glyco-histochemical studies have been carried out on the feto-maternal interface but investigations regarding the glycoconjugates produced in the uterine glands during gestation are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and molecular changes of dromedary uterine glands during pregnancy. Uterus fragments from 3rd and 6th month pregnant dromedaries were fixed in 4% (w/v) neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Morphometric examinations were carried out on Haematoxyline-Eosin stained sections. Histochemical reactions were performed to evaluate the secretion of proteins with the bromophenol blue method and carbohydrates by means of PAS (neutral mucosubstances/glycoproteins), Alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 (carboxylated mucosubstances) and AB pH 1.0 (sulphated mucosubstances). In addition, the analysis of oligosaccharides was performed with 5 lectins in association with sialidase (s) treatment. Uterine glands from 6 month pregnant dromedary (6mp) were larger and the columnar epithelium was taller than 3 month pregnant (3mp) ones. Mean gland diameter was 60.0 ± 10.6 μm in 6mp and 47.8 ± 17.9 μm in 3mp (p<0.05); mean epithelium height was 16.2 ± 3.0 μm in 6mp and 13.8 ± 2.5 μm in 3mp (p< 0,05). 6mp contained dilated glands in the deep zone of the endometrium. The mean diameter of these glands was 104.7 ± 19.5 μm and the cuboidal lining epithelium was 9.7 ± 1.8 μm tall. Lumen glands from both 3mp and 6mp dromedaries contained glycoconjugates with terminal Galβ1,4GlcNAc (PNA) and with internal/terminal αMan (Con A affinity). The lumen of dilated glands of 6mp was full of proteins, neutral glycoconjugates, as well as glycans terminating with Neu5Acα2,6Gal/GalNAc, GalNAcα1,3GalNAcα1,3Galβ1,4Galβ1,4GlcNAc (SNA and DBA reactivity). The results of this study show that during gestation, in addition to morphological changes, variations also occur in the substances secreted from dromedary uterine glands and that the secretions mostly consist of proteins and neutral glycoconjugates, whereas acidic substances are scarcely secreted. As in other mammals, the morphology and molecules produced in the uterine glands during pregnancy show changes as pregnancy progresses. These findings are related to the morpho-functional effects of changes occurring in hormone secretion during gestation in the dromedary.

Morphological and molecular changes in dromedary uterine glands during pregnancy

DESANTIS, Salvatore;VENTRIGLIA G;LACALANDRA, Giovanni Michele
2008-01-01

Abstract

The uterine glands synthesize and secrete substances essential for the survival and development of the conceptus and associated extra-embryonic membranes. In dromedary, morphological and glyco-histochemical studies have been carried out on the feto-maternal interface but investigations regarding the glycoconjugates produced in the uterine glands during gestation are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and molecular changes of dromedary uterine glands during pregnancy. Uterus fragments from 3rd and 6th month pregnant dromedaries were fixed in 4% (w/v) neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Morphometric examinations were carried out on Haematoxyline-Eosin stained sections. Histochemical reactions were performed to evaluate the secretion of proteins with the bromophenol blue method and carbohydrates by means of PAS (neutral mucosubstances/glycoproteins), Alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 (carboxylated mucosubstances) and AB pH 1.0 (sulphated mucosubstances). In addition, the analysis of oligosaccharides was performed with 5 lectins in association with sialidase (s) treatment. Uterine glands from 6 month pregnant dromedary (6mp) were larger and the columnar epithelium was taller than 3 month pregnant (3mp) ones. Mean gland diameter was 60.0 ± 10.6 μm in 6mp and 47.8 ± 17.9 μm in 3mp (p<0.05); mean epithelium height was 16.2 ± 3.0 μm in 6mp and 13.8 ± 2.5 μm in 3mp (p< 0,05). 6mp contained dilated glands in the deep zone of the endometrium. The mean diameter of these glands was 104.7 ± 19.5 μm and the cuboidal lining epithelium was 9.7 ± 1.8 μm tall. Lumen glands from both 3mp and 6mp dromedaries contained glycoconjugates with terminal Galβ1,4GlcNAc (PNA) and with internal/terminal αMan (Con A affinity). The lumen of dilated glands of 6mp was full of proteins, neutral glycoconjugates, as well as glycans terminating with Neu5Acα2,6Gal/GalNAc, GalNAcα1,3GalNAcα1,3Galβ1,4Galβ1,4GlcNAc (SNA and DBA reactivity). The results of this study show that during gestation, in addition to morphological changes, variations also occur in the substances secreted from dromedary uterine glands and that the secretions mostly consist of proteins and neutral glycoconjugates, whereas acidic substances are scarcely secreted. As in other mammals, the morphology and molecules produced in the uterine glands during pregnancy show changes as pregnancy progresses. These findings are related to the morpho-functional effects of changes occurring in hormone secretion during gestation in the dromedary.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/54708
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