Rheological and ultrastructural properties of bovine vaginal fluid obtained at oestrus
Rheological and ultrastructural properties of bovine vaginal fluid obtained at oestrus
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DOI：
10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00069.x
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发表时间：
2002-07-01
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
López-Gatius, F
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rutllant, J;López-Béjar, M;López-Gatius, F
宫颈阴道液的特性受到严格的激素控制：在精液沉积在阴道前部的哺乳动物中，这些特性产生的变化可能导致精子运动的阻力降低或升高。本研究的目的是确定牛阴道液的结构组织是否与其流变特性相关。在发情时从 41 头奶牛身上采集阴道液样本：20 头在发情中期（发情开始后 8 至 12 小时），21 头在发情结束时（18 至 22 小时）。使用粘度计测定流动行为，并通过扫描电子显微镜进行超微结构分析。六个样本显示出牛顿行为：三个在发情中期收集，三个在发情末期收集。牛顿样品具有致密且致密的矩阵，排列为具有粗糙、不规则表面的膜和稀疏、细丝（< 150 nm）。发情末期收集的非牛顿样品 (n = 18) 的一致性指数 (K = 944 +/- 229 mPa.s(n)) 比发情中期收集的样品 (n = 17; K = 237 +/- 84 mPa.s(n)) 更高 (P = 0.016)。在发情末期收集的所有非牛顿样品中观察到粗丝（> 700 nm）与细丝随机排列形成网状或由细丝（50-150 nm）严重交联，而在发情中期收集的非牛顿样品中观察到形成松散网络的中等直径丝（200至500 nm）。这些发现表明牛阴道液结构元素的分子组织与其流变行为之间存在密切关系。发情过程中阴道液显着降低其机械屏障效应，但似乎始终保持其三维丝状结构。显示牛顿行为的阴道液图像似乎支持之前的结果，表明这种特性可能与牛不育有关。
The properties of cervical-vaginal fluid are under strict hormonal control: and in mammals in which semen is deposited in the anterior vagina, changes produced in these properties can result in a lower or higher resistance to sperm motion. The aim of this study was to determine whether the structural organization of bovine vaginal fluid is related to its rheological properties. Vaginal fluid samples were collected from 41 cows at oestrus: 20 at the middle of oestrus (between 8 and 12 h after starting) and 21 at the end of oestrus (between 18 and 22 h). Flow behaviour was determined using a viscosimeter, and the ultrastructural analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy. Six samples showed newtonian behaviour: three collected at the middle and three collected at the end of oestrus. Newtonian samples had dense and compact matrices arranged as membranes with rough, irregular surfaces, and sparse, thin filaments (< 150 nm). Non-newtonian samples collected at the end of oestrus (n = 18) had a higher (P = 0.016) consistency index (K = 944 +/- 229 mPa.s(n)) than those collected at the middle of oestrus (n = 17; K = 237 +/- 84 mPa.s(n)). Thick filaments (> 700 nm) that were either randomly arranged with thinner filaments forming a mesh or heavily cross-linked by thin filaments (50-150 nm) were observed in all non-newtonian samples collected at the end of oestrus, while medium-diameter filaments (between 200 and 500 nm) forming loose networks were observed in non-newtonian samples collected at the middle of oestrus. These findings indicate a close relationship between the molecular organization of the structural elements of bovine vaginal fluid and its rheological behaviour. Vaginal fluid dramatically reduces its mechanical barrier effect during the course of oestrus but always appears to maintain its three-dimensional filamentous structure. The images of vaginal fluid showing newtonian behaviour would appear to support previous results, suggesting that this property may be related to bovine infertility.