Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1997 Feb;190(Pt 2):299–307. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1997.19020299.x

Lectin binding patterns of porcine oviduct mucosa and endometrium during the oestrous cycle

INGRID WALTER 1 , S BAVDEK 2
PMCID: PMC1467607  PMID: 9061451

Abstract

Important functions of the oviduct during reproduction include the provision of an optimal environment for gametes and zygotes and nutrition of the early embryo. These functions are ensured by the secretion of an oviductal fluid which is known to contain organ-specific glycoproteins. Glycoconjugates of the apical glycocalyx are considered to play a major role in cell recognition and interaction processes. In the present investigation, binding patterns of Con A, HPA, LTA, RCA I, UEA I, and WGA were studied in defined segments of the oviduct (infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus) and in the uterus during the oestrous cycle. The carbohydrate distribution showed regional as well as time dependent differences. LTA, HPA and WGA reacted strongly with Golgi regions and secretory granules in the oviduct epithelium during the follicular phase, indicating high secretory activity. LTA, HPA, and UEA I also revealed a varying carbohydrate composition of the glycocalyx during the oestrous cycle. Prominent regional differences in glycoconjugate expression were shown in oviductal segments by LTA and HPA binding: during the follicular phase, LTA binding sites were only present on epithelial cells of the isthmic segment, the ampulla and infundibulum being unreactive. D-N-acetyl-galactosamine residues were demonstrated on ciliated epithelial cells of the ampulla and infundibulum exclusively during oestrus. The glycocalyx of uterine epithelial cells was clearly defined by HPA, WGA, LTA, RCA I and UEA I; LTA binding was restricted to the secretory phase. The observation of regional and time dependent variability in glycoconjugate distribution strongly indicates their specific physiological functions in reproductive processes.

Keywords: Pig, uterus, oviduct, glycoconjugates, lectins

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (672.2 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Abe H., Numazawa C., Abe M., Hoshi H., Oikawa T. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine oviductal glycoproteins. J Exp Zool. 1993 Jan 1;265(1):77–83. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402650111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Abe H., Oikawa T. Observations by scanning electron microscopy of oviductal epithelial cells from cows at follicular and luteal phases. Anat Rec. 1993 Mar;235(3):399–410. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092350309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Abe H., Oikawa T. Ultrastructural evidence for an association between an oviductal glycoprotein and the zona pellucida of the golden hamster egg. J Exp Zool. 1990 Nov;256(2):210–221. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402560211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Abe H. Regional variations in the ultrastructural features of secretory cells in the rat oviductal epithelium. Anat Rec. 1994 Sep;240(1):77–85. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092400108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Aoki D., Kawakami H., Nozawa S., Udagawa Y., Iizuka R., Hirano H. Differences in lectin binding patterns of normal human endometrium between proliferative and secretory phases. Histochemistry. 1989;92(3):177–184. doi: 10.1007/BF00500916. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Boice M. L., Geisert R. D., Blair R. M., Verhage H. G. Identification and characterization of bovine oviductal glycoproteins synthesized at estrus. Biol Reprod. 1990 Sep;43(3):457–465. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod43.3.457. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brenner R. M. Renewal of oviduct cilia during the menstrual cycle of the rhesus monkey. Fertil Steril. 1969 Jul-Aug;20(4):599–611. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)37086-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Brown C. R., Cheng W. K. Changes in composition of the porcine zona pellucida during development of the oocyte to the 2- to 4-cell embryo. J Embryol Exp Morphol. 1986 Mar;92:183–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Buhi W. C., Vallet J. L., Bazer F. W. De novo synthesis and release of polypeptides from cyclic and early pregnant porcine oviductal tissue in explant culture. J Exp Zool. 1989 Oct;252(1):79–88. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402520111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gaddum-Rosse P., Blandau R. J. Comparative observations on ciliary currents in mammalian oviducts. Biol Reprod. 1976 Jun;14(5):605–609. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod14.5.605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gaddum-Rosse P., Blandau R. J. In vitro studies on ciliary activity within the oviducts of the rabbit and pig. Am J Anat. 1973 Jan;136(1):91–104. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001360108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Gandolfi F., Brevini T. A., Moor R. M. Effect of oviduct environment on embryonic development. J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1989;38:107–115. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gandolfi F., Modina S., Brevini T. A., Galli C., Moor R. M., Lauria A. Oviduct ampullary epithelium contributes a glycoprotein to the zona pellucida, perivitelline space and blastomeres membrane of sheep embryos. Eur J Basic Appl Histochem. 1991;35(4):383–392. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hagiwara H., Shibasaki S., Ohwada N. Ciliogenesis in the human oviduct epithelium during the normal menstrual cycle. J Electron Microsc (Tokyo) 1992 Oct;41(5):321–329. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hedrick J. L., Wardrip N. J., Berger T. Differences in the macromolecular composition of the zona pellucida isolated from pig oocytes, eggs, and zygotes. J Exp Zool. 1987 Feb;241(2):257–262. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402410213. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hunter R. H., Fléchon B., Fléchon J. E. Pre- and peri-ovulatory distribution of viable spermatozoa in the pig oviduct: a scanning electron microscope study. Tissue Cell. 1987;19(3):423–436. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(87)90037-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kimber S. J., Lindenberg S. Hormonal control of a carbohydrate epitope involved in implantation in mice. J Reprod Fertil. 1990 May;89(1):13–21. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0890013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. King R. S., Killian G. J. Purification of bovine estrus-associated protein and localization of binding on sperm. Biol Reprod. 1994 Jul;51(1):34–42. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod51.1.34. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Leese H. J. The formation and function of oviduct fluid. J Reprod Fertil. 1988 Mar;82(2):843–856. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0820843. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Murray M. K. Epithelial lining of the sheep ampulla oviduct undergoes pregnancy-associated morphological changes in secretory status and cell height. Biol Reprod. 1995 Sep;53(3):653–663. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod53.3.653. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Nayak R. K., Ellington E. F. Ultrastructural and ultracytochemical cyclic changes in the bovine uterine tube (oviduct) epithelium. Am J Vet Res. 1977 Feb;38(2):157–168. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Odor D. L., Gaddum-Rosse P., Rumery R. E., Blandau R. J. Cyclic variations in the oviuductal ciliated cells during the menstrual cycle and after estrogen treatment in the pig-tailed monkey, Macaca nemestrina. Anat Rec. 1980 Sep;198(1):35–57. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091980104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Pacey A. A., Hill C. J., Scudamore I. W., Warren M. A., Barratt C. L., Cooke I. D. The interaction in vitro of human spermatozoa with epithelial cells from the human uterine (fallopian) tube. Hum Reprod. 1995 Feb;10(2):360–366. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a135943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Patek E. The epithelium of the human Fallopian tube. A surface ultrastructural and cytochemical study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand Suppl. 1974;31(0):1–28. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Pereira M. E., Kisailus E. C., Gruezo F., Kabat E. A. Immunochemical studies on the combining site of the blood group H-specific lectin 1 from Ulex europeus seeds. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1978 Jan 15;185(1):108–115. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(78)90149-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Roberts G. P., Parker J. M., Symonds H. W. Proteins in the luminal fluid from the bovine oviduct. J Reprod Fertil. 1975 Nov;45(2):301–313. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0450301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Satoh T., Kobayashi K., Yamashita S., Kikuchi M., Sendai Y., Hoshi H. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) produced by granulosa and oviduct cells enhances in vitro development of bovine embryo. Biol Reprod. 1994 Apr;50(4):835–844. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod50.4.835. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Schulte B. A., Rao K. P., Kreutner A., Thomopoulos G. N., Spicer S. S. Histochemical examination of glycoconjugates of epithelial cells in the human fallopian tube. Lab Invest. 1985 Feb;52(2):207–219. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Stalheim O. H., Gallagher J. E., Deyoe B. L. Scanning electron microscopy of the bovine, equine, porcine, and caprine uterine tube (oviduct). Am J Vet Res. 1975 Aug;36(08):1069–1075. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Suarez S., Redfern K., Raynor P., Martin F., Phillips D. M. Attachment of boar sperm to mucosal explants of oviduct in vitro: possible role in formation of a sperm reservoir. Biol Reprod. 1991 Jun;44(6):998–1004. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod44.6.998. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Thomas P. G., Ball B. A., Brinsko S. P. Interaction of equine spermatozoa with oviduct epithelial cell explants is affected by estrous cycle and anatomic origin of explant. Biol Reprod. 1994 Aug;51(2):222–228. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod51.2.222. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Uhrín V., Kliment J. Submikroskopické zmeny sekrecných buniek epitelu vajcovodu kravy pocas pohlaveného cyklu. Vet Med (Praha) 1983;28(4):199–209. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Verhage H. G., Bareither M. L., Jaffe R. C., Akbar M. Cyclic changes in ciliation, secretion and cell height of the oviductal epithelium in women. Am J Anat. 1979 Dec;156(4):505–521. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001560405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Vierbuchen M. Lectin receptors. Curr Top Pathol. 1991;83:271–361. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-75515-6_10. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wegner C. C., Killian G. J. In vitro and in vivo association of an oviduct estrus-associated protein with bovine zona pellucida. Mol Reprod Dev. 1991 May;29(1):77–84. doi: 10.1002/mrd.1080290112. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wu T. C., Lee S. M., Jih M. H., Liu J. T., Wan Y. J. Differential distribution of glycoconjugates in human reproductive tract. Fertil Steril. 1993 Jan;59(1):60–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES