Localization of hyaluronan in regions of the human female reproductive tract

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 1131 - 1135
• Main Authors: Edelstam, GA, Lundkvist, OE, Wells, AF, Laurent, TC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01-08-1991; SAGE Publications; Histochemical Society
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Cell Division - physiology; Cell structures and functions; Endometrium - chemistry; Endometrium - cytology; Fallopian Tube Diseases - metabolism; Fallopian Tube Diseases - pathology; Fallopian Tubes - chemistry; Fallopian Tubes - cytology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid - analysis; Infertility, Female - metabolism; Infertility, Female - pathology; Molecular and cellular biology; Tissue Adhesions - metabolism; Tissue Adhesions - pathology; Human; Hyaluronic acid; Localization; Genital system
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/39.8.1856461

Accumulation of hyaluronan has previously been observed in various organs as an inflammatory response. To study the presumed connection between infertility due to a tubal factor and inflammation, we performed an analysis of the hyaluronan distribution in biopsy specimens from the female reproductive tract, using a biotinylated hyaluronan binding protein (HABP) as a histochemical probe. In normal specimens hyaluronan was localized in the dense, irregular connective tissue surrounding blood vessels of various sizes. Smooth muscle and columnar epithelium were devoid of hyaluronan. The isthmic part of the normal Fallopian tube showed moderately intense staining of the entire lamina propria, whereas normal fimbriae stained weakly. No cyclic changes in hyaluronan content were observed. In biopsy specimens from women with infertility due to a tubal factor, intense staining, stronger than in normal tubes, was detected in the adhesions and in the lamina propria of sactosalpinx. This may indicate that infertility due to a tubal factor is associated with an ongoing inflammatory and/or proliferative process.