title: Menstrual cycle-related sialidase activity of the female cervical mucus is associated with exosome-like vesicles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study endogenous sialidase activity in genital tract secretions of pregnant and nonpregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Evolutionary Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sialidase activity was assessed by fluorimetric assay and localized by transmission electron microscopy and differential centrifugation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico le Scotte, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flori
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Secciani
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paccagnini
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Focarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000201:enzymology*; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D009439:Neuraminidase