In vivo Regulation of Prolactin Gene Expression in the Male Rat: Role of Sex Steroids and Dopamine

The influence of sex steroids and the dopaminergic system on the in vivo modulation of prolactin (PRL) mRNA levels was investigated by quantitative in situ hybridization in the male rat anterior pituitary gland. In situ hybridization was performed using a [³⁵S]-labeled cDNA probe encoding PRL. Orchiectomy performed 14 days earlier did not modify PRL mRNA levels. In orchiectomized rats treatment with the dopaminergic agonist bromocriptine for 14 days decreased PRL mRNA levels by 30%, while in intact animals the same treatment did not induce any changes in PRL mRNA levels. Administration of the dopamine D₂ receptor antagonist haloperidol in both intact and orchiectomized rats induced a 4-fold increase in mRNA levels. Administration of dihydrotestosterone to orchiectomized animals which had been treated or not with haloperidol or bromocriptine did not modify PRL mRNA levels. In orchiectomized animals administration of 17ß-estradiol (0.25 μg twice daily) for 14 days caused a 4-fold increase in amounts of PRL mRNA. Administration of bromocriptine to 17ß-estradiol-treated animals induced a 15% decrease of PRL mRNA levels compared to those obtained by 17ß-estradiol administered alone. The concomitant administration of 17ß-estradiol and haloperidol resulted in a 50% increase in PRL mRNA levels compared to those measured in animals treated with haloperidol alone. The present results clearly demonstrate that in vivo estrogen as well as dopamine-mediated mechanisms play a regulatory role in PRL mRNA levels in the male rat.     

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on muscle weight and acetylcholine receptors in “myasthenic” rats

Summary Clinical evidence suggests that endocrinal factors are involved in fluctuations of the symptoms of women with myasthenia gravis. We studied the effect of estradiol and progesterone in an animal model for myasthenia gravis in rats. Although it was found that the mass of muscles was dependent on sex, and in female rats affected by estradiol, the number of acetylcholine receptors in these muscles was independent of sex and hormone administration. Sex hormones failed to influence the severity of muscle weakness in myasthenic rats.     

溃疡病男性患者血浆睾丸酮和雌二醇浓度的变化

本文对20例溃疡病男性患者和20名男性健康者进行了血浆睾丸酮和雌二醇则定。两者相比,溃疡病男性患者血浆睾丸酮水平虽较健康者为高,但经统计学处理,无显著差异(t:1.616 P>0.05);而血浆雌二醇水平,溃疡病男性患者低于健康者,经统计学处理,有显著差异(t:2.53 P<0.05)。     

Protective role of estradiol in extremal states

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Radiobiology, Medico-Biological Faculty, Russian National Medical University, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences P. V. Sergeev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol, 114, No. 11, pp, 497–500, November, 1992.     

雌二醇对去势沙鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后脑组织中NO和NOS的影响

目的　观察雌二醇对去势沙鼠脑缺血再灌注脑损伤的保护作用。方法　去势雌性沙鼠 30只 ,随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注组和雌二醇干预组。采用夹闭双侧颈总动脉法复制沙鼠脑缺血再灌注模型 ,缺血 7min再灌注 12h ,取脑组织测定脑组织中一氧化氮 (NO)含量、一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)活力的变化 ,并取脑组织观察海马CA1区神经细胞的病理改变。结果　缺血再灌注组脑组织中NO含量明显增高 ,NOS活力明显降低 ,与假手术组比较有显著差异 (P <0 . 0 1) ;雌二醇干预组脑组织中NO水平明显降低 ,NOS活力有所增高 ,与缺血再灌注组比较有显著差异 (P <0 . 0 1) ;缺血再灌注组脑组织海马CA1区神经细胞损伤明显 ,脑组织水肿明显 ;雌二醇干预组神经细胞损伤明显减轻。结论　预防性应用雌二醇能明显减轻缺血再灌注所造成的神经细胞损伤 ,对脑缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用。     

女性银屑病患者血清性激素浓度测定

对20例女性、非妊娠期、生育年龄的寻常型、进行期银屑病患者检测了雌二醇(E_2)、孕酮(P)和睾酮(T)的血清浓度。结果为:卵泡期E_2平均值为84±61.6pg/ml,黄体期E_2平均值为164.9±115pg/ml,均显著高于正常平均值(P值分别为<0.001,<0.005);黄体期P平均值为2.67±4.62ng/ml,显著低于正常平均值(P<0.005);T平均值在正常范围,提示银屑病可能与血清E_2和P浓度有关。     

Prodrugs for Improved Oral β-Estradiol Bioavailability

Prodrugs of -estradiol (1) were prepared with the objective of improving its oral bioavailability. -Estradiol-3-acetylsalicylate (2), -estradiol-3-salicylate (3), and -estradiol-3-anthranilate (4) were synthesized. With these prodrugs the 3-phenolic hydroxy group of estradiol was protected, so that first-pass conjugative metabolism could be reduced. Prodrug hydrolysis rates in dog and human plasma in vitro were determined. Deacetylation of estradiol-3-acetylsalicylate was much more rapid than its hydrolysis to estradiol. In dogs, oral estradiol bioavailability after administration of 2 and 4 was 17-fold and 5-fold higher, respectively, than after oral 1.     

Transdermal Dual-Controlled Delivery of Contraceptive Drugs: Formulation Development,in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluations,and Clinical Performance

Several transdermal contraceptive device (TCD) formulations were developed to provide a dual-controlled transdermal delivery of levonorgestrel (LN), a potent progestin, and 17-estradiol (E₂), a natural estrogen. Using a sensitive HPLC method, the in vitro release and skin permeation profiles of LN and E₂ from various TCD formulations were simultaneously characterized in the hydrodynamically well-calibrated Valia–Chien skin permeation cells and both were found to follow zero-order kinetics. The rates of drug release and skin permeation were observed to vary significantly depending upon some formulation parameters. Six-month stability studies were performed on seven formulations at room and elevated temperatures (37 and 45°C), and two (Formulations 4 and 5) were found to be acceptable, based on drug recovery, release rate, and skin permeation rate data. Judging from the 6-month accelerated stability studies, it is projected these two formulations will have shelf-life of at least 2 years. As a result of development of an efficient manufacturing process, Formulation 4 was selected for further evaluation. One-week primary skin irritation evaluation in 6 rabbits indicated that Formulation 4 is nonirritating, and it was thus selected for Phase I clinical bioavailability/dose proportionality studies in 12 healthy female volunteers of child-bearing age. Results of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses demonstrated that it is capable of achieving and maintaining a steady-state serum level of LN throughout the 3-week treatment period by weekly applications of one or two TCD patches (10 or 20 cm²). A dose proportionality was obtained in the serum drug levels, daily dose delivered, and contraception efficacy. An excellent correlation was obtained for the rates of transdermal delivery determined by the in vitro studies using human cadaver skin, the in vivo studies in rabbits, and the clinical studies in living subjects.