A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin-like motifs (ADAMTS) represent a diverse family of secreted metalloproteinases, comprising 19 distinct members categorized into five groups based on their substrate specificity: proteoglycanases, procollagen N-peptidases, von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, cartilage oligomeric matrix proteases and other proteases. Among these, ADAMTS proteoglycanases predominantly target hyalectans, pivotal components in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammation. Dysfunction of ADAMTS proteoglycanases disrupts the structure and function of hyalectans, thereby perturbing ECM homeostasis, resulting in reproduction disorders, including abnormal follicular development, ovulation dysfunction, impaired implantation, placentation and preterm labor. Hence, investigation of the role of ADAMTS proteoglycanases offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological or pathological processes within the female reproductive system, thereby paving the way for innovative strategies in predicting, preventing and treating reproductive system diseases. This review summarizes the recent research advances in the structure and regulation of ADAMTS proteoglycanases and their role in female reproductive system.
Humans ; Female ; ADAMTS Proteins/physiology* ; ADAM Proteins/physiology* ; Pregnancy ; Animals ; Genitalia, Female/enzymology* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism*

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the promoting effect of Zuogui Pills on ovarian and vaginal angiogenesis in early-aging rats and mobilization factors granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF), stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1), and their receptors of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) and explore the mechanism of Zuogui Pills in improving reproductive hypofunction in early-aging rats. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the chemical components of the extract of Zuogui Pills. Forty 14-month-old female early-aging rats with estrous cycle disorder were randomly divided into a blank group, a conjugated estrogen group(conjugated estrogen suspension, 65 μg·kg~(-1)), and low-(11 g·kg~(-1)) and high-dose(33 g·kg~(-1)) Zuogui Pills groups, with 10 rats in each group. In addition, 10 4-month-old female rats were assigned to the youth control group. The rats in the blank group and the youth control group were treated with 20 g·kg~(-1) distilled water by gavage, while those in the groups with drug intervention were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage, once a day for 15 days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the mobilization of EPCs in serum. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the changes in the number of ovarian follicles at all levels and corpus luteum, the number of vaginal epithelial layers, the number of vaginal folds, and the blood vessels of ovarian and vaginal tissues in the groups with drug intervention. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ER, GM-CSFR, CXCR4, and CXCR7 proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues. As revealed by the results, the blank group showed decreased number of corpus luteum, gro-wing follicles at all levels, and blood vessels(P<0.05), decreased thickness of vaginal mucosa, the number of epithelial layers, the number of vaginal folds, and the number of vessels in the lamina propria(P<0.05), reduced content of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the peripheral blood(P<0.05), and down-regulated levels of ER, CXCR4, CXCR7, and GM-CSFR proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues(P<0.05). The groups with drug intervention showed increased number of growing follicles at all levels, corpus luteum, and blood vessels(P<0.05), decreased number of atresia follicles(P<0.05), increased thickness of vaginal mucosa, the number of epithelial layers, the number of vaginal mucosal folds, and the number of blood vessels in the lamina propria(P<0.05), increased content of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the peripheral blood(P<0.05), and up-regulated levels of ER, CXCR4, CXCR7, and GM-CSFR proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues(P<0.05). This experiment suggests that Zuogui Pills may promote ovarian and vaginal angiogenesis and improve the reproductive function of early-aging rats by up-regulating the levels of mobilization factors SDF-1, GM-CSF, and their receptors of EPCs.
Rats ; Female ; Animals ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Aging ; Genitalia

Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Genitalia, Female/pathology* ; Molecular Biology

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease worldwide. However, unlike that in female infertility, the role of CT infection in male infertility remains controversial. The objective of this retrospective study was to explore the impacts of CT infection in the genital tract on sperm quality, sperm acrosin activity, antisperm antibody levels, and inflammation in a large cohort of infertile males in China. A total of 7154 semen samples were collected from infertile male subjects, 416 of whom were CT positive (CT+ group) and 6738 of whom were CT negative (CT- group), in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2018. Routine semen parameters (semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, viability, motility, morphology, etc.), granulocyte elastase levels, antisperm antibody levels, and sperm acrosin activity were compared between the CT+ and CT- groups. Our results showed that CT infection was significantly correlated with an abnormally low semen volume, as well as an increased white blood cell count and granulocyte elastase level (all P < 0.05) in the semen of infertile males; other routine semen parameters were not negatively impacted. The antisperm antibody level and sperm acrosin activity were not affected by CT infection. These findings suggested that CT infection might contribute to inflammation and hypospermia but does not impair sperm viability, motility morphology, and acrosin activity or generate antisperm antibodies in the infertile males of China.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Spermatozoa

Genital dissatisfaction is well known in female and adults. Less is known about male adolescents and their genital satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate and report the role of surgery in male adolescents to improve the evaluation of their genitalia. We considered all patients treated for external genital pathology in the period of adolescence. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were created. Patients underwent an evaluation test before and after surgery. During the study period, 137 patients were treated, and at the end of the study, 98 cases were considered for analysis. The most frequent pathologies were webbed penis and penile curvature. A postoperative score improvement was noted and patients with concealed penis and webbed penis showed a better postoperative outcome. Overweight was considered an important factor associated with a worse preoperative score. Evaluation of the external genitalia is important in adolescents, and it is an understudied problem. Overweight may be associated with a worse evaluation of one's genital and should be clinically considered to avoid related social problems in adulthood. Therefore, cosmetic genital surgery should be considered even in male adolescents.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Male/surgery* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Male ; Overweight ; Penile Diseases ; Penis/surgery*

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of established genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus(LS)and compare the differences between them. Method The clinicopathological data of 55 patients with established genital and extragenital LS diagnosed by pathological examination in the Department of Dermatology of Beijing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results The 55 patients included 11 males and 44 females.Among them,38,15,and 2 patients had genital lesions,extragenital lesions,and both genital and extragenital lesions,respectively.Extragenital LS mainly involved the back(14.55%)and extremities(7.27%).Among the patients,28.30% were asymptomatic,and 73.58% and 24.53% felt itchy and painful,respectively.The asymptomatic patients had a higher proportion in extragenital cases(
Darier Disease ; Extremities ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus/epidemiology* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Exosomes ; physiology ; Female ; Genitalia, Female ; physiology ; Genitalia, Male ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Reproduction ; physiology

Unilateral cervicovaginal agenesis in a didelphic uterus is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. Women born with this anomaly present with menarche associated with progressive dysmenorrhea and symptoms of worsening endometriosis. Presented here is a case of a 12 year old nulligravid who presented with progressive cyclic abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed a tender large right adnexal mass and presence of a vaginal canal and cervix tilted to the left. Sonography showed the presence of uterine didelphys, right hematosalpinx and hematocolpos. Preoperative impression was outflow tract obstruction probably due to Herlyn Werner-Wunderlich syndrome. However, intraoperatively, it was discovered this was a case of uterine didelphys with outflow tract obstruction of the right hemiuterus due to unilateral cervicovaginal agenesis and ipsilateral renal agenesis.

PURPOSE: Patients with ovotesticular disorder of sex development (DSD) and mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) usually present with asymmetric gonads and have wide phenotypic variations in internal and external genitalia. The differential diagnosis of these conditions is based on karyotype and pathological findings of the gonads. This study investigated the clinical features at presentation, karyotype, sex of rearing, and pubertal outcomes of patients with ovotesticular DSD and MGD.METHODS: The study comprised 23 patients with DSD who presented with asymmetric gonads. The presenting features, karyotype, sex of rearing, and pubertal outcomes were reviewed retrospectively.RESULTS: All 23 patients presented with ambiguous genitalia at a median age of 1 month (range, 1 day–1.6 years). Müllerian duct remnants were identified in 15 of 23 patients (65.2%). Fourteen patients were diagnosed with ovotesticular DSD, whereas the other 9 were diagnosed with MGD. Eight of 14 patients (57.1%) with ovotesticular DSD were raised as males, while 7 of 9 patients with MGD (77.8%) were assigned as males. One male-assigned patient with ovotesticular DSD changed to female sex at age 20 years.CONCLUSION: Patients with ovotesticular DSD and MGD manifest overlapping clinical presentations and hormonal profiles. It is difficult to determine the sex of rearing and predict long-term pubertal outcomes. Therefore, long-term follow-up is required to monitor spontaneous puberty, sex outcome, and urological and gynecological complications.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genitalia ; Gonadal Dysgenesis ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed ; Gonads ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Male ; Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development ; Puberty ; Retrospective Studies

The aim of this paper was to observe the toxic effect of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets( TG) on the reproductive system of Ⅱ type collagen induced arthritis( CIA) male rats,and to explore the toxic mechanism preliminarily. Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group( Con),model group( CIA),Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets clinical equivalent dose groups of 1,2,4 times( 9,18,36 mg·kg-1),10 rats in each group,and were given by gavage once a day for 42 days after the first immunization.The organ indexes of uterine and ovarian were calculated on days 21 and 42. Histopathological and morphological changes of uterine and ovarian were observed under optical microscope. The concentration of estradiol( E2),follicle-stimulating hormone( FSH),luteinizing hormone( LH),17α-hydroxylase( CYP17 A1) and cytochrome P450 19 A1( CYP19 A1) in serum were detected by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 related proteins in the apoptosis pathway of uterus and ovary. The results showed that compared with the Con group,CIA group could reduce the number of uterine glands( P<0.05),but no significant changes were observed in other groups. Compared with the CIA group,there were no significant changes in the coefficients of uterus and ovary in the Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets groups. The number of uterine glands,total follicles in the ovary,mature follicles and corpus luteum,the distribution of blood vessels and mitochondria had a certain inhibitory trend,and also slightly increased the number of atresia follicles,but the histopathological quantitative indicators were not statistically different. Except that 2 times clinical dose of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets could significantly reduce the content of CYP19 A1( P<0. 05) after 42 d administration,there were no significant changes in serum estrogen E2,FSH,LH and estrogen synthesis key enzymes CYP17 A1 in each administration group. Medium and high doses of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets could increase the expression of apoptotic protein Bax in uterine and ovarian tissues( P<0. 05,P<0. 01),and all the administration groups could inhibit the expression of apoptotic inhibiting protein Bcl-2( P <0. 05,P<0. 01,P<0.001),42 d was more obvious than 21 d. In conclusion,4 times and less than 4 times Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets did not cause obvious toxicity and histopathological changes in the reproductive organs of CIA rats,but it could reduce the level of serum estrogen synthesis key enzyme CYP19 A1 and affect the content of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 in uterus and ovary tissues. The relevant mechanism needs further study.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aromatase ; metabolism ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Female ; Genitalia, Female ; drug effects ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tablets ; Tripterygium ; chemistry