HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Poonia, B Articles by Veazey, R S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Poonia, B Articles by Veazey, R S

Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Centre, 18703 Three Rivers Road, Covington, Louisiana 70433, USA
¹ Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Centre, 18703 Three Rivers Road, Covington, Louisiana 70433, USA
² Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, 18703 Three Rivers Road, Covington, Louisiana 70433, USA

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to R S Veazey; Email: rveazey{at}tulane.edu)

Studies in nonhuman primates indicate that changes in the thickness and integrity of the vaginal epithelium affect the transmission rates of HIV-1, but few studies have examined the normal variations that may occur in the vagina of normal macaques as a result of aging or changes in the menstrual cycle. This study was conducted to determine if differences occur in the thickness of the vaginal mucosa with age or menses. Vaginal mucosal thickness was compared in 46 rhesus macaques grouped as juvenile (1–3 years old), mature cycling (3–21 years old), and geriatric (> 21 years old). Epithelia of mature cycling macaques were also compared at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Older females (> 21 years) had the thinnest and least keratinized epithelium of all groups, followed by the youngest females (< 3 years). The vaginal epithelium was also thinner in cycling macaques during menses compared to the follicular stage. In addition, young, geriatric, or cycling macaques during menses had minimal keratinization. We hypothesize that normal physiologic changes in the vaginal epithelium of women occur with age and menses, which may affect a woman’s susceptibility to HIV-1 transmission and other sexually transmitted diseases. Also, age and menstrual cycle should be considered when designing vaginal transmission experiments in rhesus macaques.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Z. Hel, E. Stringer, and J. Mestecky Sex Steroid Hormones, Hormonal Contraception, and the Immunobiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infection Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2010; 31(1): 79 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Verhoeven, S. Sankaran, M. Silvey, and S. Dandekar Antiviral Therapy during Primary Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Fails To Prevent Acute Loss of CD4+ T Cells in Gut Mucosa but Enhances Their Rapid Restoration through Central Memory T Cells J. Virol., April 15, 2008; 82(8): 4016 - 4027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]