E-cadherin localization in oviduct and uterine horn of swamp buffalo during estrous cycle

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the localization of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) in the oviduct and uterine horn of swamp buffalo at the follicular and mid-luteal phases. E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein which plays a vital role in the mechanism of the maintenance epithelial architecture, cell growth and proliferation, cell to cell adhesion including cell to epithelium adhesion. Female reproductive tracts of swamp buffaloes (n=30) were collected from local abattoirs and categorized into follicular (n=15) and mid-luteal (n=15) phases. Tissue samples from the oviducts and uterine horns were regularly handled according to histological and immunohistochemical techniques. The results established that E-cadherin localization was detected in the surface epithelium of uterotubal-junction (UTJ) and isthmus of the oviducts and strong intensity was significantly observed (P<0.05) in the follicular phase compared to the mid-luteal phase. In the uterine horns, E-cadherin was found in the endometrial and glandular epithelium of superficial and deep endometrial glands during both phases of the estrous cycle. However, difference in the immunostaining intensity in the uterine tissues was not found between estrous phases. The current findings indicate that the existence of E-cadherin in the UTJ and isthmus, called sperm reservoir, might function with other molecular substances that appear in this region to regulate the adhesion and release of spermatozoa. In addition, E-cadherin in the endometrial and glandular epithelium is associated with the major preparation of the maintenance of epithelial cell architecture including cell growth and proliferation in uterine horn before blastocyst hatching during implantation period.