Relationship of estimated SHIV acquisition time points during the menstrual cycle and thinning of vaginal epithelial layers in pigtail macaques

摘要

BackgroundHIV acquisition in the female genital tract remains incompletely understood. Quantitative data on biological HIV risk factors, the influence of reproductive hormones, and infection risk are lacking. We evaluated vaginal epithelial thickness during the menstrual cycle in pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina). This model previously revealed increased susceptibility to vaginal infection during and following progesterone-dominated periods in the menstrual cycle.