Responses to intensive training and methandrostenelone administration: II. Hormonal,organ weights,muscle weights and body composition

The hormonal levels of the gonadotropins, the weight of selected organs and of the triceps surae as well as body composition were determined in Sprague Dawley rats at 3 and 6 weeks after intensive training with or without a methandrostenelone (Dianabol) supplement (0.35 mg/kg/day). The controls were sedentary rats of similar age and weight at the start of the experiment. The dianabol treated rats in the sedentary and exercise groups had a depression of plasma LH levels. There were no differences in body weight, specific gravity, lean body weight, fat or % fat between the two trained groups. Dianabol had no apparent effect on the measured parameters other than a depression of LH.     

Controversies in plastic surgery: Suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) and the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) protocol for obesity treatment

The advent of SAL (suction-assisted lipectomy) has dramatically increased the number of obese patients coming to our consultation offices. Despite several articles suggesting a conservative approach to fat suction, some reports insinuate that SAL might be a useful tool for obesity treatment. This hypothesis is refuted by a vast body of evidence that concludes that the adipose tissue may regenerate in adult humans. Therefore, surgical procedures are not advised as the method of choice to manage the disease. On the other hand, the terms obesity and being overweight may not be interchangeable. Obesity may be a disease whereas being overweight is asign of the disease. Consequently, proper preoperative selection of candidates for SAL becomes mandatory. The hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) method for obesity treatment appears to be a complete program for the management of obesity. It contains pharmacologic, dietetic, and behavior modification aspects in a 40-day course of treatment. Some data suggest hCG to be lipolytic, thus explaining former clinical observations regarding body fat redistribution in treated patients. hCG commercial preparations contain -endorphin, an opioid peptide linked to mood behavior. This article speculates on the possible actions of the complex hCG -endorphin in the neuromodulation of mood and energy metabolism. The method comprises a behavior modification that helps in handling the patient better. There are some correlations between a current behavior modification program and the basic guidelines contained in the hCG protocol. Thus, the hCG method appears to be a reasonable alternative in the management of a long-standing, unsolved problem of human metabolism.     

自然排卵与注射人绒毛膜促性腺激素促排卵时阴道脱落细胞雌、孕激素受体的研究

目的：研究排卵期阴道脱落细胞的雌、孕激素受体。方法：自然排卵妇女、注射人绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈｕｍａｎ ｃｈｏｒｉｏｎｉｃ ｇｏｎａｄｏｔｒｏｐｉｎ,ｈＣＧ）促排卵妇女排卵期阴道脱落细胞,应用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ 法和图像分析技术进行雌激素受体（ｅｓｔｒｏｇｅｎｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ,ＥＲ） 和孕激素受体（ｐｒｏｇｅｓｔｅｒｏｎｅｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ,ＰＲ）的定位和定量研究。结果：两组组内排卵前、后阴道脱落细胞ＥＲ比较均无差异;注射ｈＣＧ 后阴道脱落细胞的ＥＲ在排卵前和排卵后均较自然排卵组有明显增高;自然排卵组ＰＲ在排卵后较之排卵前明显升高。结论：排卵前后阴道上皮细胞ＥＲ 无明显变化;ｈＣＧ可提高阴道上皮细胞ＥＲ 水平;排卵后阴道上皮细胞ＰＲ增加。     

甲胎蛋白、游离雌三醇及绒毛膜促性腺激素测定在产前诊断唐氏综合征中的应用

目的：探讨胎儿胎盘产物甲胎蛋白（ＡＦＰ）、游离雌三醇（ｕＥ３）和β绒毛膜促性腺激素（β－ｈＣＧ）水平与胎儿唐氏综合征发病的关系。方法：用放射免疫法测定１７例妊娠唐氏综合征胎儿的孕妇（病例组）和１３１例妊娠正常胎儿孕妇（对照组）的外周血、羊水及脐血中ＡＦＰ、ｕＥ３和β－ｈＣＧ水平。结果：病例组孕妇外周血、羊水和脐血中ＡＦＰ水平均低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）；ｕＥ３水平也均低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）；β－ｈＣＧ水平均高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：检测孕妇外周血中ＡＦＰ、ｕＥ３、β－ｈＣＧ可用于胎儿唐氏综合征的产前诊断     

Spearmint induced hypothalamic oxidative stress and testicular anti-androgenicity in male rats – altered levels of gene expression, enzymes and hormones

Mentha spicata Labiatae, commonly known as spearmint, can be used for various kinds of illnesses in herbal medicines and food industries. One of the prominent functions of this plant extract is its anti-androgenic activity. The present study investigated the probable correlation between oxidative stress in hypothalamic region and anti-androgenic action of this plant’s aqueous extract on rats. Decreased activities of enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in hypothalamus of treated rats indicated spearmint induced oxidative stress. Further RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated the decreased expression of some of the steroidogenic enzymes, cytochrome P450scc, cytochrome P450C17, 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and other related proteins like, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, androgen receptor and scavenger receptor class B-1. Further, in vitro enzyme assays demonstrated depressed activities of testicular 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD enzymes. Histopathology indicated a decreased sperm density in cauda epididymis and degeneration of ductus deference. Our study suggested that spearmint probably induced oxidative stress in hypothalamus resulting in decreased synthesis of LH and FSH which in turn down-regulated the production of testicular testosterone through the disruption of a number of intermediate cascades.     

hCG对JAR细胞E_2、P分泌功能的影响

目的 :探讨hCG是否作为自分泌激素参与了滋养细胞雌二醇 (estradiol ,E2 )、孕酮 (progesterone ,P)分泌功能的调节。方法 :以绒癌JAR细胞为研究对象 ,用hCGβ亚基反义寡脱氧核苷酸 (AS ODN)阻断体外培养的JAR细胞hCG分泌 ,观察hCG被阻断或加入外源性hCG时JAR细胞分泌E2 、P功能的改变。结果 :JAR细胞受AS ODN(2 0 μmol/L)作用hCG分泌抑制后 ,E2 、P的分泌下降。与空白对照组相比 ,在相当于加药 2 4、4 8、72h时E2 的分泌量下降分别是 6 0 .0 %、78.3%、6 9.0 % ;P的分泌量下降分别是 5 4 .1%、71.9%、6 4 .7%。外源性hCG对JAR细胞分泌激素的影响主要在作用第 2 4h ,表现为雌二醇、孕酮的分泌较空白对照组高 ,4 8h后雌二醇、孕酮的增加差异无显著性。JAR细胞hCG分泌量的改变影响E2 、P的分泌量。结论 :hCG可能作为自分泌激素参与了JAR细胞雌二醇、孕酮分泌的调节 ,JAR细胞hCG分泌的量与E2 、P分泌量呈正相关。     

Serum inhibin B in normal term-born male and female neonates during the first week of life

Inhibin B, a gonadal peptide regulating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in adults, has been found during gestation in amniotic fluid, but at birth only in term cord blood of male babies. Since no data are available on the evolution of serum inhibin B during the 1st week of life, we studied changes in inhibin B using a specific and sensitive immunoassay in male and female neonates during the 1st week of life in relation to FSH and to evaluate the possible effect of perinatal factors on inhibin B production. Inhibin B was measured by a specific monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inhibin B was detectable in cord blood of all eight longitudinally studied male newborns, correlated negatively with the ponderal index and increased significantly on day 5 (from 54.2 ± 18.5 to 100.4 ± 34.8 ng/l, P < 0.005). Cord blood inhibin B was detected in only 1 out of 13 screened female neonates. In 48 at term-born females in whom inhibin B was measured on the 5th day of life, only 20 cases had a detectable level (between 8 and 68.6 ng/l). Inhibin B concentrations in cord blood and on day 5 were independent of duration of pregnancy, type of delivery, Apgar score and FSH concentration. Conclusion A sexual difference in serum inhibin B is already present at the end of gestation and changes in inhibin B during the 1st week of life are independent of follicle stimulating hormone changes and perinatal factors in both sexes. Our data suggest that neonatal inhibin B could be used to study whether the newborn has functional testes, i.e. in babies with ambiguous genitalia and/or bilateral cryptorchidism. Received: 30 September 1999 and in revised form 23 December 1999 and 20 January 2000 /Accepted: 20 January 2000     

Drug development for ovarian hyper-stimulation and anti-cancer treatment: blocking of gonadotropin signaling for epiregulin and amphiregulin biosynthesis

Gonadotropins play a crucial role in ovarian homeostasis and fertilization through the activation of the cAMP cascade. However, gonadotropin hyper-stimulation may be associated with higher risk for ovarian cancer development. It has been suggested, that high gonadotropin levels in peritoneal and ovarian cystic fluids of patients suffering from benign ovarian cysts, may lead to malignancy. Moreover, we have recently discovered that gonadotropin stimulation can activate the MAPK cascade in target cells. Using DNA microarray technology and RNA from human granulosa cells, we discovered that stimulation with saturating doses of gonadotropins dramatically elevates activity of genes coding for epiregulin and amphiregulin. These gene products can bind and activate the EGF receptor and ERBB4, which are associated with the development of various cancers such as ovarian, breast endometrial and other non-gynecological malignancies. Gonadotropin receptors are expressed not only in the gonads, but also in non-gonadal tissues and in cancer cells. The discovery that gonadotropins activate certain mitogenic signal transduction pathways, may serve as a guide for novel anti-cancer therapy by (1) specific interference at the receptor level to block the gonadotropic response, or arresting the receptor expression and (2) blocking downstream mitogenic signals generated by these hormones, like attenuation of the expression of epiregulin and amphiregulin that belong to the EGF family, using anti-sense and/or SiRNA techniques targeted to suppress their expression. Moreover, since amphiregulin and epiregulin act as mediators of luteinizing hormone (LH) action in the mammalian ovulatory follicles, regulation of the expression of these factors may open new possibilities in treatment of ovarian malfunction implicated with ovarian hyper-stimulation.     

Ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation in repeated IVF cycles after unilateral salpingectomy

Purpose : This study aimed to examine ovarian response to gonadotrpoin stimulation after repeated IVF treatment cycles in patients who underwent previous unilateral salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy. Methods : The study group included 26 patients who underwent unilateral salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy 1–9 years prior to starting IVF treatment. A control group of 52 patients with anatomically intact pelvis was treated during the same time period by ICSI. The two groups were matched for age, number of gonadotropin ampules, and length of stimulation. End point measurements included number of follicles, oocytes, and cleaved embryos in consecutive treatment cycles of each group. Results : There were 98 cycles in the study group and 154 cycles in the control group. The mean number of follicles, retrieved oocytes, and cleaved embryos were not different in the two groups, and no reductions in these parameters were noted up to 10 cycles of treatment. The mean number of follicles ipsilateral to the operated side was similar to the number of follicles of the contralateral ovary and was not different whether salpingectomy was by laparoscopy or laparotomy. Conclusions : Unilateral salpingectomy does not affect ipsilateral ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation even after repeated IVF treatment cycles.     

Effect of oral tamoxifen on semen characteristics and serum hormone profile in male bonnet monkeys

The effects of oral tamoxifen were studied at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg per day, on the serum hormones and semen parameters in adult male bonnet monkeys, for a period of 90 days. Honey was used as vehicle. Monkeys were treated with honey for 30 days, followed by tamoxifen from Day 30-120 (90 days). Thereafter the treatment was withdrawn until Day 150 of schedule. Blood samples were drawn at 12 and 24 clock hours at monthly intervals for the analysis of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone. Semen samples were also collected for analysis once a month, from Day 0-150 of exposure. Tamoxifen treatment produced a transient but significant increase in circulating gonadotropins, at Day 90 of treatment schedule, corresponding to 60 days of treatment. Whilst serum testosterone levels were normal throughout treatment period, an increase was observed after 30 days of drug withdrawal. No effect of oral tamoxifen was evident on semen parameters, viz., volume, counts, morphology and motility. However, throughout the exposure period to honey, a significant increase was observed in sperm counts without any effect on testosterone levels. The present study suggests that oral tamoxifen has a transient antiestrogenic effect on the serum hormones and no effect on semen parameters of adult nonhuman primate males. It is concluded that bioefficacy of oral tamoxifen may have been reduced due to hepatic metabolism.