Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of cervical mucus

Daunter, Brian (1976) Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of cervical mucus. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

The first part of this investigation is a comparison of the serum' levels of copper, caeruloplasmin and caeruloplasmin oxidase activity between four groupsof women. Two groups taking one of two oral contraceptive preparations (50 ug'ethinyl oestradiol + 1.0 mg norethisterone or 50„ug ethinyl oestradiol.+0.5 mg norethisterone) and two groups using one of two types of intrauterine. devices (I .UnD.)CCopper Seven [Cu 7] I_U.D. + 200 mm?,copper wire or Dalkon Shield ..[D.S]' I.U.D. containing 0.5 ug copper/mg).No significant difference in the serum parameters was found within' the.. groups of women taking the oral contraceptives or within the groups of women using the I_U.D.s. A significant difference in the serum parameters was found between the combined I.U.D. groups and the combined oral contraceptive groups,' in which the serum levels of copper, caeruloplasmin and caeruloplasmin' oxidase activity were elevated.The second part of this investigation deals with the effect off contraceptive regimes on the cervical mucus. Cervical mucus from a group of women not using any contraceptive. protection: (normal)) was compared with one group of women taking a low, dose progestagen (350„ug'norethisterone) and two groups of. women using one of two types of I.U.D.s as described previously. The cervical mucus was separated into an aqueous and mucin rich fraction for the determination of the trace metals Cu, Mn,'Zn, and'Fe.'.The concentration of proteins in the aqueous phase (pre-albumin, albumin, transferrin and caeruloplasmin) wasmeasured and the sulphyfryl and disulphide content of the mucin rich fraction:.determined. Ultrastructural studies of cervical mucus were also' carried outusing a scanning electronmicros cope.The trace metals Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe were, found in. the aqueous phase of normal cervical mucus, the concentration of these metals were similar in both the proliferative and'luteal'phase. Only copper was found in the mucin rich fraction of normal cervical mucus which represents 96% of the total copper in cervical mucus (aqueous phase-.+ mucin rich fraction). The level of, this copper was 'similar ,in both the proliferative and luteal phase. The ratio of sulphydryl to disulphide groups in normal cervical mucus is 1:5. The molar:' concentration of these groups were similar in both the proliferative and luteal phase.The use of the Cu'7 I.U_D. for 2 months caused a 90% decrease' in the level of Mn in the proliferative and luteall phase cervical mucus. After 6 months the Mn level was similar to that of normal' cervical mucus. At 13' months the Mn level in the: luteal phase cervical mucus was decreased by 80%, Zn by 92% and Fe by 37%. The total copper content of cervical mucus (aqueousphase + mucin rich fraction) was only increased in the. luteal phase after6 months use of the Cu 7 I.U.D. by a factor of 4.6 x,'and at 13 months use was similar to that of the normal cervical mucus.The use of the D.S. I.U.D. for 6 and 13 months resulted in similar decreased levels of Mn in the proliferative phase cervical mucus. The trace metal concentration in the cervical mucus from the women taking the low dose progestagen was similar to that of normal cervical mucus. However, the molar concentration of sulphydryl groups were increased to similar levels in both the proliferative and luteal phase by a factor of '4 x. The albumin and transferrin found in the aqueous phase of pooled samples of cervical mucus was increased in the contraceptive regimes.The ultrastructure of normal cervical mucus consists of a honeycomb-like' structure made up of interconnecting channels' separated by, thin membraneouswalls. The diameter of these channels increase through the proliferative phase, to a maximum at midcycle. In the luteal phase the cervical mucusstructure was similar to that found, in the early proliferative phase and in pregnancy.

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