Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: 3βHSD catalyses the formation of Δ4-3-ketosteroids including progesterone and androgens. Levonorgestrel (LNG) is an androgenic progestogen used in the LNG intra-uterine system (LNG-IUS). 17βHSD-5 is involved not only in androgen and oestrogen metabolism, but also has 3β-reductase activity.Objective: To determine expression patterns of 3βHSD-1 and -2, and 17βHSD-5 in human endometrium across the normal menstrual...

Introduction: Decidualisation of the endometrial stromal cell (ESC) is pivotal for successful implantation and is initiated in response to increasing progesterone levels. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGFβ-1), a potent cytokine involved in many diverse cellular responses, is activated from the latent form in the mid-late secretory phase. Previous reports suggest that TGFβ-1 might oppose the action of progesterone, although no mechanism has been proposed. We hav...

Oestrogens are essential regulators of fertility in women. They induce changes in uterine cell function by binding to oestrogen receptors (ERs) two of which (ERα and ERß) have been identified. ERα and ERß share significant sequence homology with three other steroid receptor superfamily members that are known as oestrogen related receptors alpha (ERRα), beta (ERRß) and gamma (ERRγ). ERRs bind as monomers to the sequence TNAAGGTCA and as dimers...

BackgroundOne in 80 pregnancies is ectopic. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the major risk factor for ectopic pregnancy yet knowledge of the pathogenic events that lead from Chlamydial infection to ectopic pregnancy is unclear. Furthermore, a blood test that can reliably differentiate an ectopic from an intra-uterine pregnancy is not available. The innate immune system is likely to offer protection against Chlamydia and the natural anti-...