Liman, NarinSağsöz, Hakan2023-09-272023-09-272023Liman, N. ve Sağsöz, H. (2023). The immunolocalization of cadherins and beta-catenin in the cervix and vagina of cycling cows. Veterinary Research Communications, 47(3), 1155-1175.0165-7380https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11259-023-10075-4https://hdl.handle.net/11468/12613The adherens junctions (AJs) maintain the epithelial cell layers' structural integrity and barrier function. AJs also play a vital role in various biological and pathological processes. AJs perform these functions through the cadherin-catenin adhesion complex. This study investigated the presence, cell-specific localization, and temporal distribution of AJ components such as classical type I cadherins and beta-catenin in the cow cervix and vagina during the estrous cycle. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis results demonstrated that beta-catenin and epithelial (E)-, neural (N)-, and placental (P)-cadherins are expressed in the cow cervix and vagina during the estrous cycle. These adhesion molecules were localized in the membrane and cytoplasm of the ciliated and non-ciliated cervical cells and the stratified vaginal epithelial cells. Positive immunostaining for P-, N-cadherin, and beta-catenin was also observed in the vascular endothelial cells of the cervical and vaginal stroma. Quantitative immunohistochemistry examinations revealed that in the cervical and vaginal epithelia, P-cadherin's optical density values (ODv) were the highest; in contrast, the N-cadherin ODv were the lowest. The ODv of P-cadherin and beta-catenin in the cervical epithelium and E-cadherin in the vagina were significantly higher in the luteal phase versus the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, the ODv of P-cadherin, N-cadherin, and beta-catenin in the cervix's central and peripheral epithelial regions were different during the estrous cycle. These findings indicate that classical cadherins and beta-catenin in the cervix and vagina exhibit cell- and tissue-specific expression patterns under the influence of estrogen and progesterone hormones during the estrous cycle.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessBeta-cateninBovineCadherinCervixVaginaArticle47311551175WOS:0009246803000012-s2.0-851472839343672927810.1007/s11259-023-10075-4Q2N/A