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Menstrual cycle-related sialidase activity of the female cervical mucus is associated with exosome-like vesicles.

Flori F, Secciani F, Capone A, Paccagnini E, Caruso S, Ricci MG, Focarelli R

Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico le Scotte, Siena, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To study endogenous sialidase activity in genital tract secretions of pregnant and nonpregnant women. DESIGN: Laboratory study. SETTING: Department of Evolutionary Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. INTERVENTION(S): Vaginal and cervical mucus samples were obtained from pregnant and nonpregnant women in different phases of the menstrual cycle and in different weeks of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sialidase activity was assessed by fluorimetric assay and localized by transmission electron microscopy and differential centrifugation. RESULT(S): Sialidase activity in cervical mucus of healthy women reaches a maximum in the ovulatory phase. Cervical mucus from pregnant and nonpregnant women had significant sialidase activity that was associated with membranous vesicles having an exosome-like structure. CONCLUSION(S): Female cervical mucus contains an endogenous menstrual cycle-related sialidase that could be involved in modifying the rheologic properties of mucus to favor sperm progression at fertilization. Its association with exosome-like vesicles also suggests a role in intercellular communication before and after fertilization.

Published 9 October 2007 in Fertil Steril, 88(4): 1212-9.
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