1. Our aim was to determine the presence and numbers of immunocompetent cells in the oviduct of laying and moulting hens. Immunocompetent cells were localised by immunocytochemistry throughout the entire length of the oviduct. 2. In laying birds, MHC class II + cells were observed in the subepithelial and middle part of the stroma of all oviducal segments and the mucosal epithelium of the infundibulum and vagina. CD3 + cells were also localised in subepithelial and middle part of stroma as well as in mucosal epithelium of each oviducal segment. Bu-lb + and IgG + cells were also observed in the epithelium and subepithelial and middle part of the stroma of all oviducal segments, though stroma of the magnum, isthmus and uterus contained few Bu-lb + cells. IgA + cells were observed only in the mucosal epithelium of the magnum in small numbers. 3. In moulting hens, there were few numbers of immunocompetent cells in the mucosal epithelium of each oviducal segment, although CD3 + cells were observed in the infundibulum and vagina. In the subepithelial stroma, the populations of MHC class II + cells in the infundibulum, magnum and uterus, CD3 + cells in the infundibulum and vagina, as well as IgG + cells in each oviducal segment except for isthmus were smaller than in laying hens. In contrast, the number of immunocompetent cells in the middle part of stroma of moulting hens were equal to or greater than in laying hens. 4. These results suggest that the oviducal immune function is active in the surface tissues of the mucosa in laying hens, whereas it is reduced in moulting hens.

No abstract

The goal of this study was to determine whether sperm storage tubules (SST) in the uterovaginal junction (UVJ) contain receptors for progesterone and estrogen (PR and ER) and whether estrogenic stimulation induces activation of these receptors in the SST. Frozen sections of UVJ obtained from immature chicks treated with or without diethylstilbestrol (DES), which is an estrogenic substance, and those from laying hens were immunostained for PR and ER. In laying hens, immunoreactions for PR were observed in the SST cells and on the surface epithelium of UVJ; the strongest reactions appeared in the SST cells. In contrast, ER immunoreactions were localized in the SST cells but not in the other cells. Immunoreactions for PR and ER were negligible in the UVJ of control immature birds that received only the oil vehicle. However, in the DES-treated birds, PR immunoprecipitates were localized in the surface epithelium and SST cells, and there were ER in the SST cells. These results suggest that the SST cells in the UVJ contain PR and ER, and estrogenic stimulation may play a significant role in inducing activation of these receptors.