Fumiko Tawara1, Naoaki Tamura2, Nobuhiko Suganuma3, Naohiro Kanayama2. 1. Tawara Fumiko IVF Clinic Shizuoka Japan. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hamamatsu University School of Medicine 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku 431-3192 Hamamatsu Japan. 3. Human Health Sciences Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cervical mucus plays an important role in host defense mechanisms and is involved in the ascendance of sperm. To determine the change of neutrophil mediators contained in cervical mucus, we measured total neutrophil elastase (NE) levels throughout the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Cervical NE concentrations in 31 healthy women having regular ovulatory cycles were measured during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. RESULTS: The cervical NE levels during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases were 0.73 ± 0.57 (mean ± SD), 0.29 ± 0.33 and 1.32 ± 1.24 μg/ml, respectively. The NE concentrations during the ovulatory phase were significantly lower than the other phases. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in total cervical NE level during the ovulatory phase suggests that neutrophil activity in cervical mucus is depressed around ovulation. The decreased cervical NE levels and the depressed neutrophil activity in cervical mucus at ovulation may be suitable for sperm passage through the cervical canal.
PURPOSE: Cervical mucus plays an important role in host defense mechanisms and is involved in the ascendance of sperm. To determine the change of neutrophil mediators contained in cervical mucus, we measured total neutrophil elastase (NE) levels throughout the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Cervical NE concentrations in 31 healthy women having regular ovulatory cycles were measured during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. RESULTS: The cervical NE levels during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases were 0.73 ± 0.57 (mean ± SD), 0.29 ± 0.33 and 1.32 ± 1.24 μg/ml, respectively. The NE concentrations during the ovulatory phase were significantly lower than the other phases. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in total cervical NE level during the ovulatory phase suggests that neutrophil activity in cervical mucus is depressed around ovulation. The decreased cervical NE levels and the depressed neutrophil activity in cervical mucus at ovulation may be suitable for sperm passage through the cervical canal.
Authors: A Moriyama; K Shimoya; I Ogata; T Kimura; T Nakamura; H Wada; K Ohashi; C Azuma; F Saji; Y Murata Journal: Mol Hum Reprod Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 4.025
Authors: Sean M Hughes; Claire N Levy; Ronit Katz; Erica M Lokken; Melis N Anahtar; Melissa Barousse Hall; Frideborg Bradley; Philip E Castle; Valerie Cortez; Gustavo F Doncel; Raina Fichorova; Paul L Fidel; Keith R Fowke; Suzanna C Francis; Mimi Ghosh; Loris Y Hwang; Mariel Jais; Vicky Jespers; Vineet Joag; Rupert Kaul; Jordan Kyongo; Timothy Lahey; Huiying Li; Julia Makinde; Lyle R McKinnon; Anna-Barbara Moscicki; Richard M Novak; Mickey V Patel; Intira Sriprasert; Andrea R Thurman; Sergey Yegorov; Nelly Rwamba Mugo; Alison C Roxby; Elizabeth Micks; Florian Hladik Journal: BMC Med Date: 2022-10-05 Impact factor: 11.150