Up-regulated monoamine oxidase in the mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period

Purpose  

Monoamine oxidases (MAO), functioning as the metabolism of neuroamines, have been reported to be required for endometrial receptivity recently. The aim of this study was to examine the expression patterns of the two subtypes, MAOA and MAOB, during the peri-implantation period and to investigate whether MAOA or MAOB is a useful marker for receptivity.     

Serum HCG measured in the peri-implantation period predicts IVF cycle outcomes

The current study assessed the relationship between serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) measured in the peri-implantation period and various outcome measures following blastocyst transfer in IVF cycles. The study group included 767 autologous IVF cycles, each with the transfer of two fresh blastocysts in a 6-year study period, ending 31 December 2009. Outcome measures were ectopic pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy loss, ongoing pregnancy, spontaneous abortion and multiple pregnancy. Peri-implantation serum HCG concentration measured 5 days after blastocyst transfer was highly predictive of these outcome measures. These findings suggest embryonic implantation and developmental fate are largely determined by 5 days after blastocyst transfer and that very early serum HCG measurements may be useful markers of IVF outcome.     

Endocrinology of lactation.

Hormones are necessary for the growth of mammary glands, for initiation of the secretory process, and for the maintenance of an established lactation in all mammals. Hormonal changes which occur in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period are described and graphed. This data was derived from research with animal models and relevant human data. Enzymatic and cytologic differentiation of the mammary gland and limited mammary secretion begin during late pregnancy. This constitutes the 1st stage of lactogenesis. The 2nd stage consists of a great increase in lactation secretion occurring 0-4 days before delivery. Quantities of milk produced are very variable. The role of all the following hormones in lactogenesis are described: prolactin; adrenocorticotropin (ACTH, which stimulates glucocorticoid secretion); estrogens; placental lactogens. Maintenance of intense lactation also depends on a complex of hormones. Prolactin seems to be the most important hormone at this stage of the process. Milk secretion continuation is reliant on constant milk removal.     

Pregnancy detection by ultrasound and chorionic gonadotropin during the peri-implantation period in the macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

The goal of these studies was to correlate sonographic evidence of pregnancy during the peri-implantation period with the timing of the rise in monkey chorionic gonadotropin (mCG) as measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Animals were time-mated at mid-cycle, and ultrasound examinations were performed on postovulation days 12-15 (n = 77). Pregnancy was sonographically identified in 48 of 77 animals (62.3%), of which 28 had correlative ultrasound/endocrine data collected. For these animals, blood samples were obtained on postovulation days 12-15 for mCG assay. Pregnancy was identified by ultrasound on postovulation days 12 (6/28; 21.4%), 13 (6/28; 21.4%), 14 (8/28; 28.6%) or 15 (8/28; 28.6%). Seven of the 28 (25.0%) were found to have mCG levels consistent with pregnancy (> or = 1 ng/ml) on the same day as ultrasound confirmation, 12 of 28 (42.9%) were sonographically detected as pregnant 1 (n = 6), 2 (n = 3) or 3 (n = 3) days earlier than by mCG, and nine of 28 (32.1%) were found to have elevated mCG levels 1 (n = 7), 2 (n = 1) or 3 (n = 1) days earlier than ultrasound confirmation of pregnancy. The results of these studies have demonstrated (1) the utility of anatomical and endocrine techniques for detecting pregnancy approximately 3 days after the onset of implantation, and (2) the variation in the timing of implantation and the rise in circulating mCG in individual animals.     

Chronological changes in sex steroids and prostaglandins receptor concentrations in rat endometrium during peri-implantation period

Successful completion of implantation requires coordinated functional synchronism of fertilized egg and endometrium. In the present study, these synchronized changes were analyzed by chronological changes in estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha (PGE2, PGF2 alpha) receptor (R) concentrations in various sites in rat endometrium during the peri-implantation period. Unilaterally pregnant horn prepared by tubal ligation was also used. The results obtained: Nuclear E2R (E2RN) increased in the first 5 days of the fertilized cycle but decreased after that in the pregnant horn. P4RN, on the other hand, continued to increase throughout the period studied. PGE2-R remained low until the 6th day but thereafter showed a rapid increase. PGF2 alpha-R was significantly higher in the pregnant horn but showed a fall after day 6. Cyclooxygenase distribution, studied by 14C-indomethacin binding, showed an increase in the peri-implantation period. The synchronous changes required for successful implantation, therefore, involve complex changes in steroids as well as the prostaglandin receptor concentration in the endometrium around the implantation tissue.     

Impact of high body mass index on endometrial morphology and function in the peri-implantation period in women with recurrent miscarriage

There is evidence that women with a high body mass index may have a higher risk of miscarriage. It is not known if this is due to an endometrial or embryo defect. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine markers of endometrial function in overweight and obese women with recurrent unexplained miscarriage. A total of 136 women were included in the study and classified according to their body mass index (BMI) into two groups, normal BMI (< 25 kg/m(2), n = 70) and high BMI (> or = 25 kg/m(2), n = 66). Endometrial morphology was examined in all patients. A subgroup of 28 patients was examined for endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors in different components of the endometrium, and in a further subgroup of 28 patients, endometrial glandular leukaemia inhibitory factor and leukocyte populations were examined. A modest increase in the BMI (30.4 +/- 0.71 kg/m(2)) does not have a significant impact on endometrial steroid receptors, leukocyte populations or endometrial morphology. However, there was a significant negative correlation between endometrial glandular leukaemia inhibitory factor concentrations and the BMI (r = -0.4, P = 0.02), warranting further investigation in prospective studies that include patients with higher BMI levels.     

Endocrinology of the aging male

Despite enormous medical progress during the past few decades, the last years of life are still accompanied by increasing ill health and disability. The ability to maintain active and independent living for as long as possible is a crucial factor for ageing healthily and with dignity. The most important and drastic gender differences in aging are related to the reproductive organs. In distinction to the course of reproductive ageing in women, with the rapid decline in sex hormones expressed by the cessation of menses, men experience a slow and continuous decline. This decline in endocrine function involves: a decrease of testosterone, dehydro epiandrosterone (DHEA), oestrogens, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH), IGF1, and melatonin. The decrease of sex hormones is concomitant with a temporary increase of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) increase with age resulting in further lowering the concentrations of free biologically active androgens. These hormonal changes are directly or indirectly associated with changes in body constitution, fat distribution (visceral obesity), muscle weakness, osteopenia, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, loss of cognitive functioning, reduction in well being, depression, as well as sexual dysfunction. The laboratory and clinical findings of partial endocrine deficiencies in the aging male will be described and discussed in detail. With the prolongation of life expectancy both women and men today live 1/3 of their life with endocrine deficiencies. Interventions such as hormone replacement therapy may alleviate the debilitating conditions of secondary partial endocrine deficiencies by preventing the preventable and delaying the inevitable.     

STAT3在围植入期小鼠子宫内膜的表达及意义

目的:检测信号转导和转录激活因子3(STAT3)在小鼠围植入期子宫内膜的表达,探讨STAT3在胚泡植入中的生物学作用。方法:取未孕动情期、真孕及假孕1天、2天、3天、4天上午、4天下午、4天午夜、5天、6天、7天、8天小鼠子宫做切片,用免疫组化技术和图像分析方法对STAT3在围植入期子宫内膜的表达进行定位和半定量分析。结果:STAT3主要分布于小鼠子宫内膜腔上皮、腺上皮和蜕膜细胞。真孕组小鼠子宫内膜腔上皮和腺上皮的STAT3于孕4天上午开始呈强阳性表达,孕4天下午表达最强,此后表达逐渐减弱;蜕膜细胞的STAT3表达则从孕5天开始逐渐增强。假孕组小鼠子宫内膜中STAT3只在孕4天呈弱阳性表达。未孕组小鼠子宫内膜中STAT3弱表达。真孕组小鼠子宫内膜中STAT3含量明显高于同期各假孕组。结论:STAT3参与胚泡植入过程和子宫内膜容受性的建立。STAT3还可能参与植入后胚泡滋养层的扩展、分化及子宫内膜蜕膜化反应。STAT3在子宫内膜的表达不仅受母体因素调控,而且可能与胚泡的刺激有关。     

Endocrinology of lactation

The endocrine control of lactation is one of the most complex physiologic mechanisms of human parturition. Mammogenesis, lactogenesis, galactopoiesis, and galactokinesis are all essential to assure proper lactation. Prolactin is the key hormone of lactation and seems to be the single most important galactopoietic hormone. Oxytocin, serotonin, opioids, histamine, substance P, and arginine-leucine modulate prolactin release by means of an autocrine/paracrine mechanism, whereas estrogen and progesterone hormones can act at the hypothalamic and adenohypophysial levels. Human placental lactogen and growth factors play an essential role to assure successful lactation during pregnancy. Oxytocin is the most powerful galactokinetic hormone.     

Endocrinology in pregnancy

The author supplies a survey about hormones (steroids, peptides, and calcitropes) in pregnancy, delivery and lactation. It is reported on the biorhythms, the endocrinological function of the decidua, and for evaluation of the feto-placental unit.     

Endocrinology of preterm labor

The clinical importance of preterm labor and delivery dictates that we understand the physiology and diagnostic usefulness of endocrine as well as other agents that may be helpful in this regard. Clearly, estrogen and progesterone establish the environment that allows parturition and probably preterm labor to occur. The use of salivary estriol, though not a foolproof test, is becoming more frequent and is commercially available. Fibronectin, though not an endocrine test, has a similar diagnostic usefulness. In the future, we would expect to see CRH and even the use of selective cytokines, probably IL-6, as possible diagnostic tests. Whereas all of these agents have some diagnostic usefulness, none of them can be expected to predict every case of preterm delivery and some battery of tests, not unlike the triple or quadruple tests that are used for prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, may be effective and should be examined in the future. The use of these tests, salivary estriol and fetal fibronectin in particular, has already had an effect on management and decision making involved in preterm labor, and the future should give us more options and hopefully, better choices to manage this most difficult condition.