Studies on the mucosal barrier system in the oviduct of hens

Immune system in the oviduct is responsible to maintain the health of this organ to produce hygienic eggs. The mucosal barrier function plays essential roles in the defence to pathogens. Mucins, tight junctions of epithelium, and leukocyte activity form mucosal barrier to play roles to prevent infection in the mucosal tissues. Mucins may prevent adherence of pathogens to the mucosal surface. Tight junctions form the outer mechanical barrier to protect the mucosa from being invaded with infectious agents. The goal of this study was to determine the mechanism by which mucosal barrier mediated by mucins and tight junction is formed in the mucosal epithelium of the oviduct. Specifically, it was focused on the mechanism by which mucin synthesis for mucosal barrier is stimulated by oviductal growth, gonadal steroid and bacterial component, LPS, in the lower segment of oviduct, namely vagina, uterus or isthmus. Then, the existence of the epithelial barrier formed by tight junction was also examined