Melisa María del Luján Velázquez

Los extendidos de moco cervical obtenidos mediante la técnica “spread it out” constituyen una herramienta útil para el estudio de la fertilidad femenina y la caracterización estructural del moco cervical mediante diferentes técnicas. Este estudio evaluó la conservación de dichos preparados bajo diferentes condiciones de temperatura (4 °C y ambiente), a lo largo del tiempo, en función de los cambios observados a nivel microscópico. Se analizaron muestras de ocho mujeres en edad fértil, clasificadas como moco tipo E (estrogénico) o tipo G (gestagénico), según su patrón de cristalización in vitro, y se evaluaron durante 90 y 60 días respectivamente por microscopía óptica. Los resultados mostraron que los extendidos de moco tipo E conservados a 4 °C presentaron una mayor estabilidad estructural en comparación con los mantenidos a temperatura ambiente, mientras que los extendidos de moco tipo G no evidenciaron cambios significativos en ninguna de las condiciones. Estos hallazgos representan un primer avance en la investigación sobre la conservación de preparados de moco cervical, con potencial aplicación clínica y experimental.

The cytokine context present in the reproductive tract of cows is closely involved in normal uterine functions, including the estrous cycle and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. However, the roles of some cytokines in the uterus, and their relation with reproductive performance remain to be elucidated. Thus, this study aimed to examine the protein expression of several cytokines such as TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, IL-4, and TGF-β₃ in endometrial biopsies previous to conception, to evaluate the possible association with delayed conception in dairy cows. Protein expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that the protein expression levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-4 and TGF-β₃ were not associated with the parturition-conception interval, whereas the high protein expression levels of IFNγ were associated with the parturition-conception interval. Finally, the low protein expression of IL-8 showed a statistical tendency to be associated with delayed conception. This is the first report about the protein expression of IFN-γ in the endometrium of dairy cows and also, this cytokine could enhance the favorable conditions to achieve an early pregnancy.

The objective of this work was to evaluate proliferation and apoptosis in the bovine ovary in a model of follicular persistence induced by low levels of progesterone to detect incipient changes during cystic ovarian disease development on the expected day of ovulation (day 0) and after 5, 10, and 15 days of follicular persistence. We analyzed cell proliferation by evaluating the expression of Ki-67 and apoptosis by evaluating caspase-3, BAX, and BCL2 expression. Proliferation was similar in the granulosa and theca cells of antral follicles in the P0 group (treated with progesterone up to the expected day of ovulation) and in the control group. A decrease in cell proliferation was detected after 5 days of persistence (P5) in relation to P0 (p < 0.05). Similar changes were found in the granulosa cells of the persistent follicles in relation to the control group (p < 0.05). Caspase-3 expression was similar in granulosa cells of antral follicles at early stages of persistence, with an increase after 15 days of persistence (p < 0.05). In the granulosa cells of group P10 (10 days of persistence), caspase-3 expression was reduced relative to that of antral follicles from the control group (p < 0.05). BCL2 expression was higher in granulosa cells of the persistent follicles of group P0 relative to the control follicles, with no changes in BAX expression, which was increased in persistent follicles of group P15 (p < 0.05). Similar results were observed in theca cells at initial stages of persistence. The results show that, initially, proliferation is maintained with low apoptosis and an increase in cell survival.