Includes bibliography (leaves 217-239). / xxviii, 239 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Undertakes a detailed characterisation of the molecular phenotypes of the various antigen presenting cell populations present in the uterus, with a particular focus on the cells present at estrus, following insemination, and at the time of embryo implantation (day 4 of pregnancy). / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2000

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, 2003. / "A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Hons) Health" Bibliography : leaves 109-118.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2008. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, page: 2660. Advisers: Russell R. Broaddus; Matthew B. Schabath. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 46 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-45).

Orientador: Luis Guillermo Bahamondes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T21:06:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Canteiro_Renata_M.pdf: 1520573 bytes, checksum: 430ed31c6f7893af060873188cd2b55a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: O dispositivo intrauterino (DIU), apesar de ser um método contraceptivo altamente eficaz e adequado para a maioria das mulheres, nem sempre é recomendado para mulheres nuligestas. Alguns artigos apontaram para taxas de expulsão e gravidez aumentadas neste grupo de mulheres e outros sugeriram a adoção de DIU menores para nuligestas. Esta discussão tem se tornado mais evidente devido ao grande número de gravidezes indesejadas entre adolescentes (as quais, em sua maioria, são nuligestas), evidenciando a necessidade de métodos contraceptivos adequados a este perfil de usuárias. Restam dúvidas sobre a necessidade de novos DIU menores ou de formatos diferentes. Além disso, a avaliação do comprimento da cavidade uterina com o ultrassom, método mais moderno e preciso que o histerômetro, pode orientar para a necessidade de modelos de DIU diferenciados para nuligestas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comprimento da cavidade uterina em mulheres nuligestas e com gestação prévia através da histerometria e do ultrassom. Sujeitos e métodos: Foram avaliadas 570 mulheres (17 a 52 anos) distribuídas em 260 nuligestas e 310 com gestação prévia. Resultados: A diferença entre os valores médios obtidos pela histerometria e pelo ultrassom foi de 0,28cm. O comprimento da cavidade uterina em nuligestas e mulheres com gestação prévia foi 3,84 ± 0,03 e 4,25 ± 0,03, respectivamente, (p < 0,001) pela histerometria e 3,70 ± 0,03 e 3,84 ± 0,03 (média ± EPM), respectivamente pelo ultrassom (p = 0,006). Conclusões: O comprimento da cavidade uterina, avaliado por ambas as técnicas, foi maior entre as mulheres com gestação prévia que entre nuligestas. Esta foi em média maior que 3,6cm, que é o comprimento da maioria dos DIU disponíveis atualmente (TCu 380A) e o sistema liberador de levonorgestrel (LNG-IUS; 3,2cm). Entretanto, um terço das mulheres apresentou valores abaixo dessa medida. Isto permite especular que há poucas razões para o desenvolvimento de novos DIU com comprimento menor, embora exista a possibilidade de um terço das mulheres não se ajustar ao tamanho atual. / Abstract: Introduction and objectives: Due to the controversies about the necessity of new shorter intrauterine devices (IUDs) for nulliparous women in order to reduce expulsion rate, the length of the endometrial cavity was measured in women with different parities by uterine sound and ultrasound. Materials and methods: We evaluated 570 women (17 to 52 years old) distributed on 260 nulliparous and 310 parous. Results: The difference between mean values obtained by the uterine sound and by ultrasound was 0.28 cm. The length of the endometrial cavity on nulliparous and parous women was 3.84 ± 0.03 and 4.25 ± 0.03, respectively (p < 0.001) when assessed by the uterine sound and 3.70 ± 0.03 and 3.84 ± 0.03 (mean ± SEM), respectively when assessed by ultrasound (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The endometrial cavity length evaluated by the two techniques showed a mean value greater than 3.6 cm which is the length of the most worldwide available IUD (TCu380A) and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). This allows us to speculate that there is no rationale to develop new IUDs with shorter length, because the actual models are fitted to most of the women, including nulliparous. / Mestrado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Mestre em Tocoginecologia

Abstract Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a group of zinc-containing metalloenzymes that catalyze the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate (CO2 + H2O ⇔ HCO3- + H+). They are present in almost all organs and are implicated in various biological functions, the most important of which is participation in the regulation of ion, water, and acid-base balance. Recently, some members of the CA gene family have been suggested to promote cell proliferation and to act as trophic growth factors. The present study was undertaken to examine the distribution of CA isoenzymes in the reproductive system, to attain a more detailed view on their linkage to the reproductive processes and to neonatal development. The expression of membrane-bound CA IX and CA XII was studied in the female and male reproductive tracts by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. CA XII was found to be expressed in the basolateral plasma membrane of luminal and glandular epithelia in human uterus. In human efferent ducts, it was located in the basolateral plasma membrane of luminal epithelium, where it coexpressed with Aquaporin-1. In epididymal duct, CA XII was only expressed in occasional epithelial cells. These cells coexpressed CA II, suggesting that they represent apical mitochondria-rich cells (AMRC). CA IX was also expressed in the basolateral plasma membrane of luminal epithelium in human efferent ducts, but its expression was not uniform among the tubules. These findings suggest that basolateral plasma membrane-associated CA IX and CA XII contribute, along with CA II and CA IV, to the regulation of acid-base balance and water transport in the reproductive tract. Western blotting of rat Leydig tumor cells and testis for CA II revealed an unidentified 66-kDa polypeptide band. The polypeptide was successfully purified from several rat tissues using CA inhibitor affinity chromatography. The amino acid sequence of the polypeptide showed it to be identical to NonO/p54nrb, a non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein previously implicated in transcriptional regulation. The recombinant NonO/p54nrb was shown to display CA activity, and the antibody to it predominantly immunostained the nuclei in lymphocytes, where CA activity was also detected histochemically. Accordingly, the nuclear Leydig cell CA immunoreactivity represents NonO/p54nrb. It is classified as a novel, nonclassical CA, and it may participate in pH-related events in the nucleus. Human and rat milk was found to contain CA VI by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The enzyme purified from human milk by CA inhibitor affinity chromatography was confirmed by PNGase F digestion and amino acid sequence as CA VI. The CA VI concentrations in human colostral milk were approximately eight times higher than those in mature milk (34.7 mg/l vs. 4.5 mg/l). Secretion of CA VI into milk is suggested by its localization in the alveolar epithelium of the rat mammary gland. The structural and functional stability of CA VI in an acidic milieu, its suggested growth-supporting function in taste bud stem cells, and its high concentration in colostrum suggest that it is an essential factor for the growth and development of the newborn alimentary canal.

Although pregnant viviparous squamates are sometimes claimed to be able to resorb inviable eggs and embryos from the uterus, definitive evidence for such resorption is not available. After placing pregnant female Pseudemoia pagenstecheri into conditions under which embryonic development is terminated, we periodically harvested the gravid oviducts and examined them histologically. Females contained abnormal and degenerating eggs and embryos that had died in various stages of development. Dead embryos had undergone extensive cytolysis, dissolution, and aseptic necrosis and vitelline masses showed signs of deterioration and passage down the oviduct. The uterine mucosa lay in direct contact with the vitelline material, with no intact shell membrane intervening between them. Yolk was sometimes displaced into the exocoelom and allantoic cavity due to rupture of the extraembryonic membranes. Histological examination revealed no evidence of the uptake of yolk by the uterine epithelium or its accumulation in the subepithelial connective tissue. In many specimens, the uterine epithelium showed minuscule, apical granules. The position, appearance, and staining properties of the granules suggests them to be secretory, a manifestation of placentotrophy. Our observations indicate that P. pagenstecheri females retain dead eggs and embryos for several weeks or longer, yet do not resorb them during that period. This lizard is the second placentotrophic skink species in which resorption has been suspected, but in which abortive eggs appear to be retained or extruded instead of being resorbed by the oviducts. Researchers should not assume that squamates can digest and resorb oviductal eggs without definitive morphological evidence.

Blastocyst implantation is the process in which a competent blastocyst acquires the ability to tether into the mother endometrium. At the same time, the endometrial tissue undergoes the process of decidualization to support the anchoring of the blastocyst and provides the blastocyst with nutrition until the fully functional placenta is formed. Although the process of implantation and decidualization are under control of progesterone and estrogen, the precise mechanisms involved in this regulation are not fully understood. Here, we report the expression and function of a transcription factor, HAND2, in sensitizing mouse uterus for implantation and decidualization. In mouse, HAND2 expression was localized mainly in the endometrial stromal cells even before the blastocyst implantation. The expression of HAND2 increased after blastocyst implantation and correlated with the increase in decidual compartment. The expression of HAND2 depended on progesterone but not estrogen. Further investigation using conditional knockout mouse revealed that HAND2 was important for both implantation and decidualization. Hand2d/d mice were infertile and had defects in decidualization. It seemed that HAND2 was an important factor that mediates the anti-estrogenic effect of progesterone on luminal epithelial proliferation. The abnormal in expression of Mucin 1, Calcitonin and E-Cadherin in Hand KO uterus may be responsible for defects in the uterine receptivity. The expression of HAND2 was also critical in decidualization in vitro. Silencing and over-expression HAND2 disclosed the roles of HAND2 in regulating the expression of FOXO1A, IGFBP1, BMP2 as well as WNT4. It seemed that HAND2 promoter worked in tissue specific manner and although both HOXA10 and cAMP binding sites were found in proposed HAND2 promoters, its activity was stimulated by cAMP and steroid hormones rather than the expression of HOXA10.

IGF1 and its receptor IGF1R have been correlated with the proliferation of granulosa cells as well as steroid synthesis. Studies have shown that conditional ablation of Igf1r in granulosa cells leads to follicular arrest at a secondary stage, absence of ovulation and infertility. With a high homology between IGF1R and INSR, the full effects of insulin signaling could be masked by just a single receptor knockout. Therefore, utilizing Esr2-iCre we generated a granulosa specific double knockout mouse model. These mice have severely disrupted follicular development, with a block at a primary stage. Granulosa cells do not proliferate, while the oocytes appear activated resulting in reduction of ovarian size, absence of estrous cyclicity and infertility. Since an early granulosa cell knockout leads to block in follicular development, it masks the receptor function during ovulation, and CL formation. With the use of Pgr-Cre, the follicular development goes undisturbed until the periovulatory stages. Pgr-Cre knockout of Insr and Igf1r results in reduced ovulation, and progesterone synthesis. Few oocytes, that do escape, get fertilized but fail to thrive, and do not implant. Pgr-Cre is also active in the uterine endometrium. Ablation of Insr and Igf1r in the uterus results in reduced endometrial proliferation during the preimplantation period, complete absence of implantation and decidualization. Collectively, these results indicate the importance of INSR and IGF1R during follicular development, and ovulation, as well as in uterine proliferation, implantation, and decidualization.