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Z. X. Zhou
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Z. P. Deng
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J. L. Chen
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Lectin-binding glycoconjugates in the endometrium of miniature pigs were determined for sexually immature, dioestrus, oestrus and early pregnancy periods, using five horseradish peroxidase-labelled lectins. Apparent changes associated with sexual maturity were increases in binding intensity of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Glycine max agglutinin (SBA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) and the appearance of Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA) binding. The binding intensity of WGA, SBA and UEA further increased at oestrus, particularly for UEA which showed a stage-specific binding on the surface of endometrial epithelium. Pregnancy-related changes included an increase in WGA binding and a decrease in UEA and RCA binding. The results indicate that stage-specific alterations in lectin binding glycoconjugates occur in the endometrium of pigs associated with sexual maturity and the reproductive cycle.

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Y B Ding Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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J L He Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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X Q Liu Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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X M Chen Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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C L Long Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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Y X Wang Department of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China

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We have characterized the uterine expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) during early pregnancy in mice and determined whether a folate-deficient diet (FDD) can affect DNMTs in this context. Within endometrial cells, expressions of DNMT (cytosine-5) 1 (Dnmt 1), Dnmt3a, and Dnmt 3b were significantly elevated during the prereceptive phase of pregnancy but generally returned to baseline levels during receptive and postimplantation periods. As such, the transcription of DNMT genes is temporally regulated during early pregnancy. When comparisons were made between implantation sites (IS) and inter-IS on day 5 of pregnancy, lower levels of Dnmt3a were detected at IS. Comparisons between IS and inter-IS did not reveal significant expression differences for other DNMT genes. When tissue sections were examined, DNMT3A was specifically lower in the stroma of IS. Reduced DNMT1 and DNMT3B levels were also observed in the luminal and glandular epithelia of IS, whereas no obvious differences in the stroma were detected. In pseudo-pregnant mice subjected to a FDD, levels of Dnmt 1 and Dnmt 3a (but not Dnmt 3b) were significantly upregulated in endometrial tissues, as compared with controls. When tissues from these folate-deficient mice were examined, DNMT1 levels were elevated in both the luminal and glandular epithelia, whereas DNMT3A was upregulated in the luminal epithelium and the stroma. A slight increase in DNMT3B levels was detected in the glandular epithelium. These results indicate that DNMTs may regulate the transcription of endometrial genes associated with embryo implantation and that levels of DNMTs are affected by dietary folate in mice.

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Linda Lefièvre Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Kweku Bedu-Addo Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Sarah J Conner Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Gisela S M Machado-Oliveira Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Yongjian Chen Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Jackson C Kirkman-Brown Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Masoud A Afnan Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Stephen J Publicover Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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W Christopher L Ford Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Christopher L R Barratt Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, Division of Reproductive and Child Health, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China and Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

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Although sperm dysfunction is the single most common cause of infertility, we have poor methods of diagnosis and surprisingly no effective treatment (excluding assisted reproductive technology). In this review, we challenge the usefulness of a basic semen analysis and argue that a new paradigm is required immediately. We discuss the use of at-home screening to potentially improve the diagnosis of the male and to streamline the management of the sub-fertile couple. Additionally, we outline the recent progress in the field, for example, in proteomics, which will allow the development of new biomarkers of sperm function. This new knowledge will transform our understanding of the spermatozoon as a machine and is likely to lead to non-ART treatments for men with sperm dysfunction.

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