Female reproductive tract

The primary difficulty with periodic abstinence is the month-to-month variation in the time of ovulation. Whereas the ovum can only be fertilized during the first 12 to 24 hours after its release from the ovary, sperm remain viable longer in the female reproductive tract, able to fertilize an ovum for 5—7 days and perhaps longer. Thus, intercourse several days prior to ovulation can result in pregnancy. 

A. G., and Perkins, B. H., Biodegradable fibers for the controlled release of tetracycline in treatment of peridontal disease, Proc. Int. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater., 14, 289, 1987. Dunn, R. L., Lewis, D. H., and Beck, L. R., Fibrous polymer for the delivery of contraceptive steroids to the female reproductive tract, in Controlled Release of Pesticides and Pharmaceuticals (D. H. Lewis, ed.). Plenum Press, New York, 1981, pp. 125-146. 

FIGURE 91-1. Diagram of female reproductive tract (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, vagina). Dashed-line box outlines what is removed during the total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO). 

Tubbs, C.E. et al. (2002) Binding of protein D/E to the surface of rat epidermal sperm before ejaculation and after deposition in the female reproductive tract./. Andrology 23(4), 512-521. 

Phthalates are suspected of acting as endocrine disrupters also in humans, affecting male and female reproductive tract development. Exposure to PAEs in adult men has been associated with semen quality and alterations in sexual behavior [104], and with endometriosis and intrauterine inflammation (which is a risk factor for prematurity) in adult women [105, 106], as well as other effects. These studies suggest that DEHP may play a role in inducing the intrauterine inflammatory process. Besides the reproductive effects of PAEs, recent studies have also shown the genotoxicity of DEHP, DBP, and DiBP in human lymphocytes and mucosal cells [107,108]. 

Certain tissues of the female reproductive tract, which are subject to the trophic action of hormones, exhibit a high frequency of neoplasia. Cancer of the breast, the second most common form of cancer in American women, and the rarer endometrial cancer in women, are often responsive to treatments with estrogens or progestins. The toxicity of these hormonal treatments compared with standard cancer chemotherapy is low. 

Two important aspects of early development of the reproductive tract are that the fetal gonad is structurally indifferent in male and female embyros and that the fetal reproductive system can therefore develop as male or female. Thus, the first major step in development of the reproductive system is establishing gonadal sex. Sex of the embryo depends on whether the spermatozoon carries an X or Y chromosome, and sexual differentiation of the indifferent structures in the gonad is necessary to form the male or female reproductive tract. The SRY gene on the Y chromosome is needed for testicular... 

They were particularly concerned about possible effects of in utero or early postnatal exposures on the development of the male and female reproductive tracts, which are highly sensitive to steroid hormone levels. 

Lutwak-Mann, C. Carbonic anhydrase in the female reproductive tract. Occurence, distribution and hormonal dependence. J. Endocrin. 13, 26 (1955)... 

Gockel, C.M., S. Bao, and K.W. Beagley. 2000. Transcutaneous immunization induces mucosal and systemic immunity A potent method for targeting immunity to the female reproductive tract. Mol Immunol 37 537. 

Although it has been shown that delivering an antigen to the mucosal tissues of the female reproduction tract produces an effective immune response a number of researchers have explored the possibility of enhancing the response by using a nonspecific stimulatory adjuvant. 

Barnhart, K.T., et al. 2001. Distribution of a spermicide containing nonoxynol-9 in the vaginal canal and the upper female reproductive tract. Hum Reprod 16 1151. 

Kutteh WH, Moldoveanu Z, Mestecky J. Mucosal immunity in the female reproductive tract correlation of immunoglobulins, cytokines, and reproductive hormones in human cervical mucus around the time of ovulation. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1998 14 Suppl 1 S51—5. 

Any detailed examination on intrauterine development, sex differentiation, and pubertal development is beyond the scope of this discussion. Highly specialised methods need to be applied, and there is usually no indication for such effects from the early regulatory toxicology studies (28 days in rats and dogs). The special aspects of toxicological findings with xenobiotics have been reviewed for the female reproductive tract... 

Marty MS, Crissman JW, Carney EW (2001) Evaluation of the male pubertal assay s ability to detect thyroid inhibitors and dopaminergic agents. Toxicol Sci 60 63-76 Newbold RR (1999) Hormonal Mechanisms in Female Reproductive Tract Toxicity In Harvey PW, Rush KC, Cockbum A (eds) Endocrine and Hormonal Toxicology. John Wiley Sons, England, pp 407-418... 

The male reproductive tract consists of the (i) testes, which serve as the site of gamete and steroid hormone production, (ii) excurrant ducts and epididymes for the transport, maturation, and storage of sperm, (iii) accessory sex glands for the production of seminal fluid, and (iv) penis, for copulation and delivery of mature sperm to the female reproductive tract. 

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