Endocrine Abstracts

In birds similar to mammalian species, the reproductive performance in females deteriorates with age. In the present study, relationships between the growth of preovulatory follicles (PF), reproductive aging and sex steroids were investigated using young hens with long clutch (YLC), old hens with long clutch (OLC) and old hens with short clutch (OSC). 1) hens were killed 1.5 and 14.5 h after assumed ovulation. 2) YLC hens were killed 3.5 h after treatments with LH and/or amino...

Aim: To investigate the ralationship between semen parameters and serum follicale-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL) in a group of Chinese men with congenital absence of vas deferens (CAVD).Methods: Ninety patients with CAVD were investigated. During the physical examination the body hair distribution, testicular size, epididymides and vas deferens were carefully inspected and palpated. Semen analysis i...

In this study, pituitary of five carp fish were collected. The pituitary cells were dispersed enzymatically and cultivated as monolayers in MEM for 72 h. Then the culture media were collected and frozen in −20 °C.The carp ovaries were also collected and their follicles were separated mechanically and incubated in BSS Cortland medium in 24 well microplates for 48 h in room temperature. Then the incubated ovarian follicles were divided in two gr...

Since estrogens are known to have some antiatherosclerotic properties and influence on endothelial function, including nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, the purpose of this study was to determine NOx levels after menopause and to find whether the administration of estrogen therapy restores plasma NOx levels back to normal. The study group consisted of 26 women with surgically induced menopause, mean age 50.9±2.9 years, and the controls were 40 healthy pre...

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid peptide, was recently isolated from the stomach of rat, and was identified as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR. Two GHSR subtypes, generated by an alternative splicing of a single gene, have been identified: the full-length type 1a receptor and truncated type 1b. The GHS-R1a is the functionally active, signal transduction form of the receptor. Ghrelin is recognized as an important regulator of growth hormone secr...

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of the finasteride (5 mg/day) plus flutamide (125 mg/day) combination therapy in unselected women with moderate to severe hirsutism.Patients and methods: Thirty hirsute women were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Sixteen patients (group 1) were treated with flutamide (125 mg per day) and 14 patients (group 2) were treated with finasteride (5 mg per day) plus flutamide (125 mg per day) f...

Objective: Hirsutism, affects between 5% and 10% of women during reproductive age. Hirsutism associated with normal ovulatory function and normal circulating androgen concentrations is defined as idiopathic hirsutism and little information is available regarding the molecular pathogenesis.Aim: Significance of polymorphisms of the genes involved in androgen/oestrogen biosynthesis (SRD5A2,CYP19) and their expressions inmodulating the susceptibility ...

Somatostatin (SST) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) are hypothalamic hormones that, respectively, inhibit and stimulate pituitary GH secretion. In addition, in peripheral tissues somatostatin and its analogues inhibit, whereas GHRH stimulates, both normal and cancer cell growth and survival. Furthermore, both somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR-2) and GHRH expression have been shown in normal human endometrium. Endometriosis is a common estrogen-dependent disorder defined...

Chemosensory cues from receptive females produce the activation of the pituitary–testicular axis and facilitate a complex display of sexual behavior in male mice. Testosterone output in response to a receptive female and the pattern of sexual behaviour were investigated in male mice (n=190) of three inbred strains BALB/cLac, CBA/Lac and PT at puberty (45 days of age) and in adulthood (90 days). Sexually naive pubertal or adult male was exposed for 10 min to a recep...

Objective: The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the effect of growth hormone on semen parameters in men with primary infertility and normogonadotropic idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.Method: This study was performed as a prospective, open- label, non-randomized observational study in a private practice in fourteen men, aged 26 to 35, with normogonadotropic idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. Growth hormone 1.5 IU/day was administered for 6 months a...

The adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ involved in the control not only of metabolism and energy balance, but also of other relevant body functions, including reproduction. Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone, with relevant roles in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis, recently involved in the control of different endocrine organs, such as the placenta, pituitary and, likely, the ovary. However, whether as described previously for other adipokines, such as leptin...

Objectives: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often associated with a wide array of psychiatric symptoms, although few studies systematically address their specific association with ED determinants. Aim of this study is to explore the relationship between ED and different psychopathological symptoms.Design and methods: A consecutive series of 1388 (mean age 51±13 years) male patients with ED was studied. Several hormonal and biochemical parameters were i...

Objectives: Recommending general dynamic penile color doppler ultrasound (D-PCDU) screening in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) has been questioned due to an inadequate cost-benefit ratio. The aim of the present study is to asses the validity of different risk scores in the identification of patients being screened for arteriogenic ED at D-PCDU.Design and methods: A consecutive series of 738 (mean age 53.6±9.2 years) patients with ED was stud...

Recently was established, that in the ovary Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the granulose cells and correlated with the count of small antral follicles. As AMH is largely expressed throughout folliculogenesis, it is considered that the serum levels of AMH may represent both the quantity and quality of the ovarian follicle pool. To determine the changes of AMH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) we have studied 22 patients with this disorder and comp...

Little is known about the negative regulation of angiogenesis in the ovary. Recent evidence has revealed that estradiol 17β and its metabolites may play an important role in this fine tuning1. In a previous work2, we set up an assay to quantify 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE) in follicular fuids. In order to get an insight on the angiogenic effect of 4-OHE and 2-OHE, the objective of this research was to study their possible...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic disease that occurs in about 10% of women in reproductive age. Today, PCOS is considered not only reproductive edocrinopathy but also a metabolic disorder associated with long-term health risks, including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presense of early vascular demage in normal-weight women with polycystic ovar...

In a previous study, we demonstrated that the concept of functional ovarian hyperandrogenism (FOH), as documented by the exaggerated 17OHP response to buserelin (GnRH-analogue) does not represent a specific feature of all women with PCOS, being present in less than half of PCOS and is a condition characterized by more severe hyperandrogenemia, glucose-stimulated B-cell insulin secretion and worse insulin resistance. INSL3 is produced in the Leydig cells and at reduced levels i...

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the semen quality in men with metabolic syndrome/MS/ and healthy controls.Materials and methods: Semen samples were collected from 35 males (mean age – 27.45±8.00 years). Nineteen of them had the features of the metabolic syndrome according to the IDF definition and 16 were healthy volunteers. The semen samples were analyzed by only one experienced researcher according to the World Health Organization gu...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, and also associated with insulin resistance. Subclinical chronic inflammation might be an important pathogenetic factor in the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and recently has been also observed in PCOS. There is evidence for a familial predisposition not only to hormonal abnormalities but also to metabolic d...

In purpose to elucidate pathogenetic mechanisms of congenital forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism we have examined 25 women with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), mean age 26 years and 7 months (group 1). All patients had amenorrhea, little breast development (Tanner 2–3), absence or little axillery and pubic hair, infantile uterus and decreased ovary volume. There were no pathological changes during MRI-investigation. Twenty healthy women were included i...

Background and aims: Dehydroepiandrosterone fatty acid esters (DHEA-FAEs) belong to a unique family of naturally occurring hydrophobic steroid hormone derivatives with long-lasting hormonal activity. DHEA-FAEs function through hydrolysis of DHEA-FAEs into free DHEA and further metabolized to biologically active steroids. The lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) mediates the intracellular hydrolysis of cholesterol esters. This study aims to study the possible role of LAL on the hydrolys...

Background and aims: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an important prohormone and precursor of all sex steroids. DHEA fatty acid esters (DHEA-FAEs) belong to a unique family of naturally occurring hydrophobic steroid hormone derivatives with long-lasting hormonal activity, which are exclusively transported in lipoproteins. In the circulation, DHEA is esterified in a reaction catalyzed by lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase associated with HDL particles. The physiological role...

The 5α-reductase is one of the enzyme of steroid synthesis and founded in two isoformes. Two distinct 5α-reductase isoenzymes, type I and type II, are found across mammalian species. Each of these isoenzymes is differentially expressed in tissues and during distinct developmental stages and also in different species. The 5α-reductase is enzyme responsible for the reduction of testosterone to dihydrostestosterone, progesterone to dihydroprogesterone and deoxycort...

TU is an effective option for androgen replacement in FtM subjects, but long-term physiological effects and the significance of T and its metabolites dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E) on physiological functions are unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of long-term TU treatment on bone metabolism, body composition and lipid profile in FtM subjects and to evaluate the relationship between the observed effects and circulating levels of T, E and D...

A previous study demonstrate that chronic tadalafil administration (2 mg/kg per day) was able to prevent some, but not all, penile alterations induced by long-term (3 months) bilateral cavernous neurotomy (BCN) in the rat. In particular, in vitro acetylcholine responsiveness and reduced eNOS and nNOS expression were not preserved, while PDE5 down-regulation, along with muscle/fiber ratio and hypoxygenation (hypoxyprobe) were significantly restored by chronic tadalafil (...

It is suggested that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway is involved in regulation of estrogen effects in the uterus. Therefore, effects of posphatidylinositol 3-kinase blocker, wortmannin, on proliferative and morphogenetic reactions in the uterus under long-term estrogen treatment were examined. Ovariectomized mice were treated with estradiol dipropionate (4 μg per 100 g; s.c.; once a week) or vehicle and wortmannin (0.1 mg per 100 g; s.c.; once a day) or vehicle for ...

Oxidative stress is associated with chronic alcoholic abuse; it is also a mechanism involved in male infertility. To further investigate the relationships between these two conditions, we studied 6 patients with diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence (DSM-IV) during post-detoxification phase, who consulted our centre for infertility. We evaluated seminal parameters, hormone pattern, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and the lipophilic antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), both in blood an...

Immunoassays for testosterone produce sometimes incorrectly high results in female samples. The reasons of this phenomenon are not fully understood, but interference by cross-reacting substances and inaccurate calibration can be critical. One known endogenous interfering substance is dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S). Other substances still have to be identified.An Elecsys® Testosterone II assay using a new high affinity sheep mono...

To examine the hormonal characteristics related to age of reproductive axis, serum hormone profiles and inhibins A and B were investigated in fertile and menopausal women.Subjects: Forty-three cycling women (23–40-year-old) and 75 menopausal women (55–70-year-old) were studied. Serum 17-OHP, DHEA, DHEAS, androstendion, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone, DHT, SHBG, inhibin A and inhibin B, LH, FSH, Prl, TSH, GH, I...

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a plasma glycoprotein responsible for high-affinity binding and transport of sex steroids. In men there is a large interindividual variation of SHBG levels, and consequently of serum total testosterone (T) and serum total estradiol (E2) levels. Family and twin studies suggested a strong genetic contribution to this variation, besides a hormonal and metabolic influence. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of a missense mutat...

Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) is characterized by a lack of germ cells and thickened seminiferous tubule walls and is a frequent finding among men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Spermatogenesis is dependent upon the function and number of Sertoli cells (SC) to support the developing germ cells. Klinefelter syndrome is the most frequent genetic cause of SCOS and presents histological features in common with idiopathic SCOS. Aim of this study was to analyze the relationsh...

Subjects and methods: We performed nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity monitoring (NPTRM) in order to study the effects of Tadalafil on sleep-related erections in 23 adult healthy men (age: 34.27±8.48 years). The subjects were randomly administered Tadalafil, 10 mg tablet, the 1st (N1) or the 2nd (N2) night (Group A and B respectively) of 3 consecutive nights of erections’ monitoring. In Group A the 3rd night monitoring was regarded as control (N-ctr); in Group ...

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) due to cyclophosphamide (Cyc) therapy is well documented in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Studies show that the use of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues appears to protect women from POF. We present our experience in SLE patients treated with triptorelin.Methods: Observational study of 15 women diagnosed of SLE who have received concomitant treatment with Cyc and GnRH analogues (tri...

Dysfunctional prostanoid and oxytocin receptors have been implicated in the development of myometrial hyperactivity, causing dysmenorrhoea and infertility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the topographical differences in functional contractile PG and oxytocin receptors in mid-cycle isolated myometrium.Longitudinal, full-thickness sections of the anterior uterus were obtained from consenting pre-menopausal donors (aged 39–48 years) un...

Background of study: Twin studies have shown that age at menarche may be subject to hereditary influences but the specific determinants are unknown. Estrogens are known to have an important role in menarche. Since aromatase is responsible enzyme for the conversion of androgens to estrogens, the aromatase (CYP19) gene could be a candidate gene for the regulation of menarche. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of the CYP19(TTTA)n poly...

Obesity is strictly connected with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). However, we still do not know whether a form of PCOS secondary to obesity exists or whether obesity exacerbates manifestations of the syndrome. To answer this question we contacted seventy obese patients with PCOS that attended our Endocrinology Unit in the last 3 years and that lose weight after at least 6 months of dietary treatment. Sixty-five out of 70 patients agreed to take part to the study and gave th...

Background of study: Experimental research supports the hypothesis that fetal exposure to androgen excess may programme in utero the development of PCOS in adult life. Potential mechanisms for prenatal androgenization could be a reduced binding capacity of androgens by SHBG or reduced aromatization of androgens by aromatase. The aim of this study was to examine whether the SHBG(TAAAA)n polymorphism, known to be associated with SHBG levels and the CYP19(TTTA)n<...

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and the Matrix Metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) have been considered as important mediators of vascular remodeling and plaque instability. The formation of a complex with NGAL and MMP-9 is crucial for atherotic plaque erosion and thrombus formation. In women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) the incidence of cardiovascular clinical events is not increased, despite the fact that they display a wide spectrum of risk fac...

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), isolated for the first time from hypothalamic extracts (Miyata et al. 1989), was localized in some peripheral tissues such as adrenal, gastrointestinal tract, ovary and testis (Arimura et al. 1991, Watanabe et al. 1992, Gathei et al. 1993, Shioda et al. 1994, Kononen et al. 1994). It was previously demonstrated that in the testis PACAP was involved in the steroidogenesis r...

The aim of this study was to simultaneously profile, using electrospray ionization liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS), prostanoids (PG) produced in samples of: pregnant preterm non labouring (PTNL); term non labouring (TNL): and term labouring (TL) myometrium.Lower segment samples were obtained at Caesarean section from consenting pregnant women (18–36 years of age) at term (38–41 weeks) and preterm (33 weeks) gestation. Sample...

Aim: The present study was designed to examine the relationship between adiponectin gene (T45G in exon 2) polymorphism and clinical and hormonal characteristics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Materials and methods: Ninety-six patients with PCOS and 93 healthy subjects were included in the study. Serum levels of sex steroids, insulin and adiponectin levels were measured. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOM...

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a potent inhibitor of osteoclastic bone resorption. Besides osteoblasts, OPG is expressed by both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, elevated serum OPG has been found in conditions associated with insulin resistance such as obesity, diabetes and/or Cushing syndrome.The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between serum OPG and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome ...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder. The metabolic aspect of disorder is characterized by obesity-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine in women with PCOS, indices of lipid metabolism and their oxidation, and to assess possible relation to insulin resistance. We investigated 75 women with PCOS (age: 23.1±5.1 years, body mass index (BMI): 24.9±4.7 kg/m2) and 56 age an...

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with insulin resistance. As polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also associated with insulin resistance, the presence of NAFLD has been investigated in patients with the syndrome and there are data showing an increased prevalence of abnormal aminotransferance activity and/or ultrasonographic evidence of hepatic steatosis.Objective: In the present prospective study women with PCOS we...

Objectives: Hirsutism is a common clinical condition in women during reproductive age and characterized by excessive growth of terminal hair in the androgen-sensitive skin regions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and idiopathic hirsutism (IH) account for most of the cases of hirsutism. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been demonstrated in women with PCOS and IH. We intended to investigate the degree of insulin resistance in women with PCOS compared to weight-match...

The present study aimed to investigate whether dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are detected in the ovarian tissue of normal female rats and whether they affect metabolic or hormonal profile.Normal rats were randomly assigned to regular diet, high (H-AGE) or low (L-AGE) content for 6 months. Age-matched rats fed with regular diet served as controls.H-AGE rats, demonstrated higher levels of fasting glucose (P&#6...

Inflammation activates a variety of inflammatory cells, which induce and activate several oxidant-generating enzymes which are able to produce high concentrations of free radicals and oxidants which react with each other to generate other more potent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−) that can damage DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins by nitration, oxidation, etc., leading to increased mutations and altered functions of enzymes and ...

Apoptosis is crucial in regulating many aspects of the reproductive system. Since mitogen-activated-protein-kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase (PI3K)-dependent signaling systems play important roles in apoptosis regulation, we undertook to study their involvement in the induction of apoptosis in the reproductive system.Two pro-apoptotic stimulants were investigated in two corresponding cell lines. One of them was prostaglandin F2&#9...