Reproductive tract

Estrogens coordinate the systemic response during the ovulatory cycle, including the growth and maintenance of the reproductive tract, pituitary, breasts, and other tissues. Estrogens are also responsible for maturation of the skeleton and development of female secondary sex characteristics when females enter puberty. The other important functions of estrogens include modulation of many metaboHc processes (76). 

Health and Safety Factors. Both pyromellitic acid and its dianhydride irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, and they cause skin sensitization (156). When it comes in contact with moist tissue the dianhydride converts to the acid. Direct contact with should be avoided and protective clothing should be worn in areas where it is used. The LD q for intergastric administration in rats is 2.2—2.6 g/kg (157). In 6-mo experiments, the maximum nontoxic dose was 0.07 mg/kg/d, and it affected the fiver, kidney, and reproductive tract. Precautions against fire and dust explosions as explained in the terephthafic acid section should be foUowed. 

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. 

In order to discuss the biological mechanisms involved in the aetiology of genital tract malformations, testicular cancer and lowered sperm counts, some knowledge of the processes involved in the differentiation and development of the male reproductive tract and determination of normal testicular function is required. An early embryo has the potential to develop either a male or a female... 

Sites of Oestrogen Action and Production in the Male Reproductive Tract... 

Analysis of ERa-deficient mice showed that both sexes are infertile and display a variety of phenotypic changes associated with the gonads, mammary glands, reproductive tracts, and skeletal tissues. In addition,... 

Eroschenko, V.P. (1981). Estrogenic activity of the insecticide chlordecone in the reproductive-tract of birds and mammals. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 8, 731-742. 

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. 

The POMC gene is expressed in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary. The most conserved sequences between species are within the amino terminal fragment, the ACTH region, and the (3-endorphin region. POMC or related products are found in several other vertebrate tissues, including the brain, placenta, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract, lung, and lymphocytes. 

The POMC protein is processed differendy in the anterior lobe than in the intermediate lobe. The intermediate lobe of the pituitary is mdimentary in adult humans, but it is active in human fetuses and in pregnant women during late gestation and is also active in many animal species. Processing of the POMC protein in the peripheral tissues (gut, placenta, male reproductive tract) resem-... 

Found in secretions of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts and also in membranes of various cells. 

Mucins are a class of O-linked glycoproteins that are distributed on the surfaces of epithelial cells of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts. The Golgi apparatus plays a major role in glycosyla-tion reactions involved in the biosynthesis of glycoproteins. 

SHARPE R M and SKAKKEBAEK N E (1993) Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract Lancet. 341 (8857) 1392-5. 

Conception is most likely to occur when viable sperm are present in the upper region of the reproductive tract at the time of ovulation. Fertilization occurs when a spermatozoan penetrates an ovum. Approximately 6 to 8 days after ovulation,... 

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). 

Male and female rats showed no treatment-related gross or histological reproductive tract alterations when exposed by inhalation 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks to a 990 mg/m3 aerosol of cyclotri-phosphazene (Kinkead et al. 1989a, 1990), or aerosol concentrations of Skydrol 500B-4 <300 mg/m3,... 

Likewise, no treatment-related gross reproductive tract alterations after intermediate-duration exposure were observed in male or female rabbits or in male hamsters continuously exposed to aerosols of Fyrquel 220 at concentrations <100 mg/m3 (MacEwen and Vemot 1983). Two male rabbits exposed for 1-4 hours/day, 4-5 days/week, for 11-26 days to 2,000 mg/m3 aerosol of Cellulube 220 (Carpenter et al. 1959) showed no histological evidence for effects on reproductive tissues. No acute or chronic inhalation studies examining reproductive effects in animals were located. 

Somkuti SG, Lapadula DM, Chapin RE, et al. 1987a. Reproductive tract lesions resulting from subchronic administration (63 days) of tri-o-cresyl phosphate in male rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 89 49-63. 

Sampson, N, G Untergasser, E Plas, and P Berger. 2007. The ageing male reproductive tract. J Pathol 211 206-218. 

Rodriguez, C. M., et al. (2000). Expression of the lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase gene in the reproductive tracts of Holstein bulls. J. Reprod. Pert. 120, 303-9. 

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