Stella Roma

Sperm binding glycoprotein is differentially present surrounding the lumen of isthmus and ampulla of the pig's oviduct

In several mammals a sperm reservoir is formed at the isthmus of the Fallopian tube, providing viable, potentially fertile sperm for an extensive period. In pig (Sus scrofa) the spermadhesin AQN-1 seems to be involved in the establishment of the sperm reservoir. The pig oviductal protein, sperm binding glycoprotein (SBG), binds to sperm and exposes carbohydrate groups that can be recognized by AQN-1. In this study we obtain anti-SBG polyclonal antibodies and use them to localize SBG in the oviduct. Immunohistochemical analysis shows that SBG is present at the apical surface of isthmic and ampullar epithelial cells. The presence of SBG is limited to the upper two-thirds of the crypts of the isthmus and to cells located near the oviductal lumen in the ampulla. The ratio of the amount of SBG detected by western blot is 1:3 (ampulla:isthmus). Sperm entering the Fallopian tube probably contact the epithelial cells at the lumen before they reach the cells at the bottom of the folds. In vitro sperm can bind to isthmus and, at less extent, to ampulla. Thus, the localization and the relative amount of SBG in the isthmus and ampulla of pig’s oviduct are compatible with its possible function in sperm binding to oviductal epithelial cells.

Effect of the Treatment with Alpha-Macroglobulin on the Development of Experimental Pancreatitis

UNLABELLED Alpha-macroglobulins are proteinase inhibitors. Monofluorophosphate increases alpha-macroglobulin levels in plasma, inducing a higher survival rate and lower pancreatic damage in rats with pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alpha-macroglobulin on the development of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was surgically induced in Sprague-Dawley rats divided into groups of 16 rats each and -subjected to the following intravenous treatments for 3 days: CONTROLS pancreatitis without treatment, Enriched plasma: pancreatitis+-alpha-macroglobulin-enriched plasma, Normal plasma: pancreatitis+plasma with normal levels of alpha-macroglobulin, Saline Solution: pancreatitis+saline solution, Purified alpha-macroglobulin: pancreatitis+purified alpha-macroglobulin. After 14 days pancreatic damage was assessed using a score that measures: edema, fibrin, neutrophils, mononuclear leukocytes, necrosis, vascular congestion, thrombosis, hemorrhage and fibrosis. Pancreatic damage decreased and the percentage of animals with pancreatitis was lower in enriched-plasma and purified alpha-macroglobulin groups. We conclude that the intravenous administration of alpha-macroglobulins causes a reduction in the histological damage produced by pancreatitis.