常染色体显性遗传性低钙血症1型家系的临床特征及致病分子机制

目的 总结一个常染色体显性遗传性低钙血症1型(autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1,ADH1)家系的临床特征,分析其致病分子机制。方法 回顾性收集一个ADH1家系的初诊及随诊资料,采集先证者及其母亲的外周血白细胞提取DNA,进行CASR基因Sanger测序,并进行生物信息学分析。结果先证者及其母亲均为出生后短期起病,以手足搐搦为首发症状,血钙最低分别为1.69和1.49 mmol/L,全段甲状旁腺激素(intact parathyroid hormone, iPTH)分别为小于3和18.9 pg/mL,伴高磷血症,治疗过程中血镁最低0.64和0.56 mmol/L,给予钙剂和维生素D治疗后多次出现尿钙升高,分别在起病后的5年和30年被诊断为甲状旁腺功能减退症(hypoparathyroidism, HP)。基因检测发现存在CASR基因c.2299G>C(p.Glu767Gln)杂合错义变异,已有文献报道并经体外实验验证为激活性变异。结论 对于起病年龄早且治疗期间易出现尿钙升高的HP患者,及时行CASR基因筛查有助于尽早将ADH1从HP患者中筛出。ADH1患者应将血钙控制在正常低值或低于正常值,避免出现高钙尿症和肾脏并发症。     

成人起病低血磷性骨软化症长期补充磷制剂致三发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症:5例报告并文献复习

目的分析低血磷性骨软化症患者长期补充磷制剂致三发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症(tertiary hyperparathyroidism,3HPT)的临床特点,以提高临床医生对该病的认识。方法回顾性分析1982年7月至2014年6月在北京协和医院确诊的成人起病低血磷性骨软化症长期服用磷制剂致3HPT患者的临床表现、中性磷治疗前后生物化学指标变化、甲状旁腺肿物病理特点及术后转归,并进行文献复习。结果成人起病低血磷性骨软化症长期服用磷制剂致3HPT患者5例(男性∶女性=3∶2),起病年龄中位数为39(31~60)岁,5例患者均有骨痛、活动障碍,其中3例有骨折,4例出现身高变矮,均采用口服药治疗。中性磷治疗时间中位数为18(11~26)年,剂量中位数为300(240~400)m L/d[2.3(1.9~3.1)g/d]。元素钙剂量中位数0.7(0.6~1.0)g/d。4例患者服用骨化三醇,剂量为0.25~0.50μg/d;1例患者服用阿法骨化醇,剂量0.75μg/d。发生3HPT时,血钙浓度为(2.83±0.09)mmol/L,血磷浓度为(0.63±0.10)mmol/L,碱性磷酸酶浓度(341.8±53.6)U/L,全长甲状旁腺激素(intact parathyroid hormone,i PTH)浓度(871.4±296.2)pg/m L,游离钙浓度(1.35±0.07)mmol/L。5例患者均行甲状旁腺肿物切除术,病理检查结果2例为甲状旁腺增生;2例为甲状旁腺腺瘤;1例初次为增生,7年后再次手术为腺瘤。5例术后血钙均恢复正常。3例血PTH水平恢复正常,2例血PTH水平仍高。复习Pub Med国外12篇文献报道,男性∶女性=5∶7,起病年龄中位数39.5岁,中性磷治疗时间中位数13年。结论对于长期服用中性磷治疗的成人低血磷性骨软化症患者,需定期检查血钙、血磷、PTH等指标,调整磷制剂及活性维生素D用量,警惕出现3HPT。     

不同类型甲状旁腺功能减退症的临床特点

目的分析不同类型甲状旁腺功能减退症的临床特点。方法收集2008年10月到2014年6月在内分泌代谢科住院,并首次确诊为甲状旁腺功能减退症患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 61例甲状旁腺功能减退症患者,根据病因分为3组,其中假性甲状旁腺功能减退组19例,特发性甲状旁腺功能减退组35例,术后甲状旁腺功能减退组7例。3组患者的平均发病年龄分别为(13.9±6.3)、(33.9±18.0)和(40.8±8.6)岁,假性和特发性甲状旁腺功能减退组的误诊/漏诊年限分别为(9.4±6.6)和(6.0±6.6)年,术后甲状旁腺功能减退症无误诊。92%的患者以手足搐搦、口周/肢体麻木为首发症状。初诊时平均血清甲状旁腺素(high serum parathyroid hormone,i PTH)比较,假性甲状旁腺功能减退组(29.9 pmol/L,95%CI:23.2~36.9 pmol/L)明显高于特发性甲状旁腺功能减退组(1.4 pmol/L,95%CI:0.9~2.1 pmol/L,P0.001)和术后甲状旁腺功能减退组(1.4 pmol/L,95%CI:0.7~2.3 pmol/L,P0.001)。假性和特发性甲状旁腺功能减退组患者与术后甲状旁腺功能减退组患者相比,具有病程更长(9.4年,95%CI:6.7~12.6年;6.0年,95%CI:4.1~8.3年vs.0.3年,95%CI:0.1~0.6年,P=0.006)、24小时尿钙水平更低(0.53 mmol/24 h,95%CI:0.26~0.80 mmol/24 h;1.52 mmol/24 h,95%CI:0.95~2.09 mmol/24 h vs.4.40 mmol/24 h,95%CI:0.77~8.01 mmol/24 h,P0.001)、骨吸收指标[Ⅰ型胶原羧基末端肽(carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen,CTX)]更高(0.81μg/L,95%CI:0.45~1.17μg/L;0.54μg/L,95%CI:0.09~1.48μg/L vs.0.16μg/L,0.04~0.25μg/L,P=0.049)、颅内钙化(78.9%,60.0%vs.0%)及脑电图异常(15.3%,14.3%vs.0%)的发生率更高的临床特点。结论假性甲状旁腺功能减退症和特发性甲状旁腺功能减退症早期的误诊率和漏诊率极高。临床医师特别是非内分泌专科医师对于不明原因癫痫样发作、口周/肢体麻木、手足搐搦的患者,应该常规进行血钙、磷及甲状旁腺素(parathyroid hormone,PTH)检测,以期尽早发现假性甲状旁腺功能减退症及特发性甲状旁腺功能减退症患者,尽早处理,减少并发症的发生。     

血液透析与血液灌流联合治疗尿毒症心包积液随机对照研究

目的探讨血液透析(HD)与血液灌流(HP)联合治疗对尿毒症患者心包积液的临床价值。方法选择2013年10月至2015年12月在中国医科大学附属盛京医院就诊的尿毒症合并心包积液患者88例,随机分为对照组和观察组,每组各44例患者,观察组患者行HD与HP联合治疗,对照组患者通过HD进行治疗。比较两组患者治疗前与治疗8周后血清C反应蛋白(CRP)等炎性因子水平以及心功能、心包积液量的变化。结果观察组治疗后血液甲状旁腺激素(PTH)水平[(301.7±92.4)ng/L]、炎症因子CRP[(13.2±1.4)mg/L]明显低于治疗前[PTH和CRP分别为(611.2±190.1)ng/L和(41.6±11.7)mg/L],血肌酐水平也显著下降[治疗前后分别为(689.0±251.0)μmol/L和(373.0±57.2)μmol/L),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组治疗后的各项检测指标与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),心包积液量也明显低于对照组,心功能改善优于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论HD与HP联合治疗尿毒症心包积液能更有效地清除炎症因子,减轻心包积液程度,改善心功能。     

987例乙型肝炎患者HBV-DNA P区多位点耐药突变分析及临床意义

目的分析乙型肝炎患者HBV-DNA P区基因突变情况、用药史及其临床意义。方法采用焦磷酸测序法,对368例经核苷(酸)类似物(NAs)治疗1年以上(用药组)及619例未用抗病毒药物治疗(未用药组)的乙型肝炎患者HBV-DNA P基因区9个NAs相关耐药突变位点进行检测,回顾性分析不同NAs耐药的突变形式,分析NAs治疗前HBV逆转录酶(RT)基因自然变异的发生率。结果 368例中94例出现基因耐药变异,变异模式以经典突变L180M、M204V/I、A181V/T、N236T突变为主,其次为V173L、S202G/S、T184L、I169T突变,M204V多以联合L180M突变的形式存在,其中235例服用单种NAs有48例发生变异,多位点(3个及以上耐药位点)突变5例(10.42%),133例服用多种NAs有46例发生变异,多位点突变19例(41.30%),多药使用者发生多位点变异率明显高于单药使用者(χ2=8.38,P0.05)。368例患者中多位点变异组(A组)与少于三个位点变异组(B组)的年龄、HBVDNA、ALT无明显差异。619例中51例出现基因耐药变异(8.24%)。结论 HBV感染者存在少量自然变异位点。长期应用NAs可筛选出HBV-DNA P基因区的相关耐药变异且耐药变异复杂,服用多种NAs(特别是序贯治疗)容易发生基因耐药变异且易发生多位点变异。长期应用NAs的乙型肝炎患者需定期检测基因耐药情况并及时干预,避免临床反跳的发生。     

遗传性胰腺炎临床和遗传特点分析13例

目的:研究遗传性胰腺炎(hereditary pan-creatitis,HP)的临床表现和遗传特征.方法:回顾性分析3个家系的10例HP患者和3例散发病例的临床资料并随访观察.结果:3个家系的HP患者起病年龄为8-46岁(平均23.8)岁,<20岁起病7例,>20岁起病3例,以胰蛋白酶原基(protease serine 1,PRSS1)突变多见.临床表现复杂多样,反复腹痛是该病的重要体征,为常染色体显性遗传.散发病例起病年龄均>25岁.其中1个两代成员发病的家系中,均有随代数延续、发病年龄提前的现象结论:遗传性胰腺炎具有临床异质性、遗传异质性及遗传早现的特征.     

支气管哮喘患者Th2细胞过度分化与转录因子T-bet和GATA-3的调控作用

目的　探讨支气管哮喘 (简称哮喘 )患者是否存在Th2细胞过度分化以及转录因子T bet和GATA 3的调控作用。方法　将 32例哮喘患者 (A组 )和 2 0名健康对照者 (B组 )纳入研究。A组中儿童型 (A1组 )和成人型 (A2 组 )分别为 12、2 0例 ,变应原皮试阳性 (AⅠ 组 )和阴性 (AⅡ 组 )者分别为 18、14例。采用酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA)法检测哮喘患者外周血淋巴细胞培养上清液中白细胞介素 4 (IL 4 )和γ干扰素 (INF γ)浓度 ,用直接免疫荧光标记法测定淋巴细胞中CCR3 和CCR5 阳性细胞率 ,用逆转录 聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)和流式细胞术 (FCM)测定淋巴细胞中T bet、GATA 3mRNA表达水平。结果　A组和B组患者淋巴细胞培养上清液中IL 4、INF γ浓度分别为 (118± 2 5 ) μg/L、(75± 12 ) μg/L、(6 5 1± 85 ) μg/L、(1179± 332 ) μg/L ,A、B两组比较差异均有显著性 (P均 <0 0 0 1) ;A1组和A2 组淋巴细胞培养上清液中IL 4浓度分别为 (12 1± 2 5 ) μg/L、(118± 2 5 ) μg/L ;INF γ浓度分别为 (6 39±132 ) μg/L、(6 6 1± 84 ) μg/L ,A1和A2 组分别与B组比较差异均有显著性 (P均 <0 0 1) ,但A1组与A2 组间比较差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。AⅠ 组与AⅡ 组IL 4浓度分别为 (12 6± 2 3) μg/L、(10 7± 2 6     

风湿性疾病中高同型半胱氨酸血症的临床研究

目的　分析多种风湿性疾病患者血浆中同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平及其相关因素。方法脊柱关节病(uSpA)患者和 62例正常对照的Hcy、VitB12、叶酸的水平和亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因 677位的多态性。结果　(1)各疾病组Hcy水平分别为:SLE组 (19 04±6 86)μmol/L,RA组(19 07±7 43)μmol/L,AS组(16 47±6 50)μmol/L,uSpA组(16 59±6 72)μmol/L,对照组(12 24±3 58)μmol/L,各疾病组Hcy水平明显较对照组高,其差异有统计学意义 (P<0 01 ); ( 2 )Hcy与VitB12、叶酸呈负相关,相关系数分别为-0 701和-0 443,P<0 01; (3)MTHFR基因 677位C→T的突变使Hcy水平升高, CC型 ( 13 41±5 78 )μmol/L,CT型 ( 16 81±4 22 )μmol/L,TT型(20 88±6 60)μmol/L,P<0 01;TT基因型是高Hcy血症的易感基因 (OR=84 46,P<0 05);TT基因型还是SLE的易感基因(OR=7 56,P<0 05)。结论　(1)SLE、RA、AS、uSpA4种疾病患者普遍存在高Hcy血症。(2)导致高Hcy血症的原因可能有叶酸、VitB12的水平降低和MTHFR基因的突变。(3)TT型基因是Hcy异常升高的易感基因,也是SLE的易感基因。     

特发性房颤相关GATA5基因新突变的识别

目的:识别特发性房颤(AF)相关GATA5基因新突变. 方法:收集120例无血缘关系的特发性AF患者和200名无血缘关系且种族匹配的健康对照者的临床资料和血标本.抽提基因组DNA,通过聚合酶链反应扩增AF候选基因GATA5的全部外显子及其两侧的部分内含子,采用双脱氧核苷链末端合成终止法对全部扩增片段进行测序.将所测的序列与GenBank数据库中的GATA5基因序列进行比对,以发现GATA5基因突变.应用多序列比对软件ClustalW评估突变氨基酸的保守性,应用致病性预测软件MutationTaster预测突变的致病性. 结果:在2例AF患者各发现1个新的GATA5基因杂合错义突变,突变率约为1.67％.突变分别为GATA5基因编码核苷酸序列第668位的腺嘌呤(adenine,A)变为胸腺嘧啶(thymine,T),即c.668A＞T突变；第863位的A变为胞嘧啶(cytosine,C),即c.863A＞C突变.多序列比对显示2种突变氨基酸在进化上均高度保守,致病性预测表明2种突变均有致病性. 结论:本研究识别出AF相关GATA5基因新突变,有助于揭示AF发生的分子机制.     

肝细胞癌患者PBMCs中T-bet、GATA3和Foxp3 mRNA水平及其意义

目的探讨肝细胞癌患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中T-bet、GATA3和Foxp3 mRNA水平变化及意义。方法在肝细胞癌患者20例和健康对照人群10例,采用RT-PCR法检测PBMC中T-bet、GATA3和FoxP3mRNA水平。结果 HCC患者和健康对照T-bet水平分别为0.554±0.030和0.514±0.071(P=0.391);HCC患者和健康对照GATA3水平分别为0.956±0.030和0.535±0.028(P<0.01);HCC患者和健康对照FoxP3水平分别为0.976±0.073和0.772±0.083(P<0.01);HCC患者和健康对照T-bet/GATA3比值分别为0.697±0.078和0.963±0.133(P<0.01)。结论肝细胞癌患者PBMC中GATA3和FoxP3 mRNA水平上调,可能参与了HCC的发生和发展过程。     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.