Henning M. Beier

Uteroglobin-Like Antigen in the Male Genital Tract Secretions* **

SummaryThe secretion of the rabbit seminal vesicle has been investigated by morphological and biochemical means. Apical regions of seminal vesicle epithelial cells show highly active protein synthesizing and releasing organells. The secretory proteins released are analysed by disc-electrophoresis and three different immunological procedures. There is evidence for the presence of an uteroglobin-like antigen in seminal vesicle secretion. Comparison with seminal plasma indicates that the uteroglobin-like protein is also present in this fluid. The immunological and electrophoretical identity of rabbit uteroglobin, obtained from the uterus, with “male uteroglobin” is obvious, but molecular-biochemical and biological identity awaits further clarification. The demonstration of uteroglobin-like antigen in the male as in the female points towards new aspects in reproductive and contraceptive research.

Potential risk of light and room temperature exposure to preimplantation embryos

Adverse effects of simultaneous exposure to visible light and room temperature were investigated in rabbit early cleavage stages and morulae. Routine laboratory conditions were mimicked as close as possible. Embryonic development was assessed by cell proliferation via incorporation of tritiated thymidine, by gross morphology, and by electron microscopy. Damage was detectable in both stages at 1-hour exposure by statistically significant impaired cell proliferation. Compared with single exposure to each individual stressor, combined exposure to light and room temperature amplified detrimental effects. Ultrastructural analysis of light-exposed cleavage stages revealed no indication of cell injury at 4-hour exposure. Gross morphology proved to be too inaccurate to evaluate damage imposed by exposure toward both physical factors investigated.

Uteroglobin and Other Endometrial Proteins: Biochemistry and Biological Significance in Beginning Pregnancy

The fluids of male and female genital tracts were considered by the scientists of the 16th and 17th century to represent the male and female “semen”. They believed that the fusion of male and female semen resulted in the formation of an embryo, obviously emerging from the semen pool within the cavity of the uterus. Ham and Leeuwenhoek detected in 1677 (cited by Bargmann 1967) that the male semen fluid contained the spermatozoa, which immediately were referred to as the male germ cells. However, the female gamete was lacking, and consequently von Haller (cited by Bodemer 1969), the leading physiologist of his time, taught that a fluid was delivered from the ovary into the fallopian tube, then flooding the uterine cavity and giving rise to the oocyte by a process of coagulation. It was not until 1827 that von Baer finally detected and described properly the mammalian oocyte and its ovulation from the ovary. This discovery put an end to the theories of “uterine oocytes”. At the same time, however, the old question was again open, of whether or not the genital tract fluids, and in particular the uterine secretion, have a certain biological significance. Von Baer (1827) extended his studies on early mammalian development logically to the search for human early embryonic stages. When dissecting the cadaver of a young woman who had committed suicide through fear of being pregnant and not being married, von Baer investigated the uterus at 8 days after the supposed conception. He described the contents of the opened uterus as being a viscous and mucous fluid, most likely containing much protein.

Uteroglobin-like antigen in the pulmonary epithelium and secretion of the lung

SummaryThe immunological identity of a uteroglobin-like protein, occurring in respiratory tract secretions and tissue, with uteroglobin from rabbit endometrial secretion is demonstrated. A uteroglobin-like antigen has been localized in bronchial epithelial cells and in bronchioles by immunofluorescence. This secretory protein is, in contrast to the authentic uteroglobin, hormone-independent, as far as estrogens and progesterone are concerned. The possible significance of comparative studies on uteroglobin and the uteroglobin-like antigen is discussed, taking into account cytological, endocrinological, and molecularbiological aspects.

Effect of Clomiphene on the Functional Morphology of Oviductal and Uterine Mucosa

The effect of clomiphene on the functional morphology of the uterine and oviductal mucosa was studied in rabbits by means of light and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Tissues were obtained from mature nulliparous animals receiving subcutaneous doses ranging from 0.01-10 mg/kg per day. In all cases the effects were evaluated 2 days after termination of treatment. With 2 and 10 mg, effects were studied up to 12 and 7 days, respectively. Normally appearing oviductal and endometrial tissues, corresponding to various stages of the cycle, were observed with doses up to 5 mg. However, a burst of cellular secretory activity becomes evident with the administration of higher doses. Apical protrusions or cytoplasmic portions seem to be extruded, and draw attention. These cytologic events are concentrated near gland openings in the endometrium and can be seen abundantly among cilia of oviductal cells. Other ultrastructural changes are evident as well. These histologic changes may reflect nonsynchronous cellular activities which in turn interfere with oviductal and endometrial functions before implantation.

Studies on the innervation of the endometrium

SummaryThe innervation of the endometrium of rabbit, rat, mink, mongoose and pig has been investigated electron microscopically. Large bundles of nerve fibers can be observed in the connective tissue spaces within the basal layer of the endometrium. Unmyelinated nerve fibers enter the lamina functionalis, terminal nerve fibers penetrate the basal lamina and make contact with the glandular and the cavum epithelial cells. The terminal axons contain abundant synaptic vesicles, dense core vesicles and mitochondria. To date, no specialized presynaptic or postsynaptic membranes have been found.

Growth and Differentiation of Rabbit Blastocysts in Defined Culture Media

The mammalian blastocyst is formed by two fundamental processes which take place in the course of embryonic cleavage. These are first, the development of a certain number of species-specific blastomeres, and second, the formation of the blastocyst’s cavity (blastocoele) following the intercellular accumulation of fluid, the origin of which is the vacuolization of the blastomeric cytoplasm and the extrusion of the content of these vacuoles. The most important step in development of the blastocyst is the differentiation of embryoblast and trophoblast cells. During cleavage, the first eight or ten blastomeres within the zona pellucida are arranged such that one or two blastomeres are inner cells and the others surround them as outer cells, forming a morula. Between the 16-and 32-cell stages the blastocyst cavity is created by coalescence of the enlarged fluid-filled intercellular spaces (Calarco and Brown 1969). When the early blastocyst stage is reached after the relatively slow process of cleavage, at the age of 3–4 days, a characteristic species-dependent growth begins. Usually, the blastocyst enters the uterus at the same time, and cellular proliferation and expansion proceed quickly up to the time of implantation. However, at the beginning of implantation the numbers of cells in blastocysts vary remarkably between species, e.g., the mouse blastocyst is comprised of about 60, that of the rabbit of more than 5000 cells.

SEM-STUDIES OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE TUBAL MUCOSA OF THE RABBIT AT ESTRUS AND DURING GONADOTROPIN INDUCED PSEUDOPREGNANCY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the SEM-studies of structural changes in the tubal mucosa of the rabbit at estrus and during gonadotropin induced pseudopregnancy. Within the oviduct, fertilization takes place, all stages of cleavage develop and blastocyst formation begins. The maternal organism provides the essential “extrinsic” conditions for preimplantation development of the mammalian embryo by means of tubal and uterine transformations, cellular proliferation and secretion. The fallopian tube cannot be regarded to be a transportation organ between ovary and uterus, but the secretion of the tubal epithelium contributes to the survival of the developing embryo. The macromolecular components of this secretion are important. During the preimplantation stages of pregnancy, the serum identical proteins albumin and transferrin dominate in the oviductal secretion, whereas the uterus specific proteins prealbumin and uteroglobin appear in time specific patterns in uterine fluid. A fraction of acid mucoproteins can be detected in the oviductal fluid.