Endocrine Abstracts

The successful establishment of pregnancy is dependent on appropriate embryo development and uterine receptivity. The latter consists of secretory transformation of the glandular epithelial cells followed by decidualisation of the stromal compartment during the mid to late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. This phase of the cycle is also characterised by extensive tissue remodelling in the superficial layer of the endometrium in preparation for the invasion and implantat...

The successful establishment of pregnancy is dependent on appropriate embryo development and uterine receptivity. The latter consists of secretory transformation of the glandular epithelial cells followed by decidualisation of the stromal compartment. This phase of the cycle is also characterised by extensive tissue remodelling in the superficial layer of the endometrium in preparation for the invasion and implantation of the proliferating trophoblast cells. Ovarian steroids a...

Previously we have demonstrated up-regulated expression of COX-2 and enhanced synthesis of PGE2 in cervical carcinomas. (Sales et al. 2001. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab. 86(5):2243-2249). Enhanced PGE2 synthesis as a consequence of COX-2 overexpression has been associated with various carcinomas and is regarded as a promoter of neoplastic cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In sexually active women growth and invasiveness of neoplastic cervical cells may be...

Introduction:Steroid hormones exert numerous effects through their action on genomic receptors but little is known about the rapid effects mediated via membrane-bound proteins. Analyses in several vertebrate species indicate that three groups (alpha or A, beta or B, and gamma) of membrane progestin receptors (mPR) exist and have distinct tissue distributions.Objective:The aims of this study were to establish ...

The prokineticins (PK1 and PK2, also known as endocrine gland vascular endothelial growth factor [EG-VEGF] and Bv8 respectively), which bind to two closely homologous G-protein coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2, have been identified as novel angiogenic factors in endocrine tissue. However, little information is available on their expression and distribution in the uterus. The objectives of this study were to examine the expression and localisation of prokineticins and their rec...

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been implicated in benign and neoplastic endometrial pathologies. PGE2 exerts its function by coupling to 4 subtypes of G protein coupled receptors (EP1-EP4). Recently a role for the EP2 receptor in angiogenesis has been established. This study investigated signal transduction and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by the EP2 receptor in Ishikawa endometrial epithelial cells. Ishikawa cells were stably transfect...

Pituitary gonadotropes (LH and FSH producing cells) are simultaneously exposed to numerous stimuli, which exert multiple signalling pathways that cross-talk with the GnRH receptor (GnRHR). A model downstream effector system is the prostanoid family. Hence, prostanoid receptors and GnRHR might cross-talk and affect the biological responses of the gonadotropes. Here we report the expression of prostaglandin (PG) PGE2 receptors EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4, the PGF2</sub...