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Biomedical subjects

F Labrie

Publications and source records attributed to F Labrie.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Glycosyltransferase and UDP-galactose pyrophosphatase activities in the endometrium during oestrous cycle of the rat.

UDP-galactose: glycoprotein galactosyltransferase, CMP-sialic acid: glycoprotein sialyltransferase and UDP-galactose pyrophosphatase activities were measured in the endometrium of rat uteri during the oestrous cycle. The galactosyltransferase activity started to increase at dioestrus and reached a maximum on the afternoon of pro-estrus. The UDP-galactose pyrophosphatase activity changed in a direction opposite to that of galactosyltransferase. The sialyltransferase activity was low during metoestrus and dioestrus, but began to rise on the morning of pro-oestrus, reaching a peak on the morning of oestrus. Previously, we have shown that oestradiol administration stimulated galactosyl- and sialyltransferase and inhibited pyrophosphatase activities several-fold in the endometrium of ovariectomized rats. Progesterone prevented the oestradiol effect on the enzymes. The changes in glycosyltransferase and pyrophosphatase activities during the oestrous cycle possibly bear a direct relationship to the ovarian hormones in the rat during the normal oestrous cycle. This relationship will then be conducive to increased synthesis of glycopolymers during ovulation. Furthermore, the lag of 18 h for a maximal rise of sialyltransferase following that of galactosyltransferase is consistent with the normal sequence of glycosylation that occurs in glycoprotein secretion.

Animals↗

High inhibitory activity of a new antiestrogen, RU 16117 (11alpha-methoxy ethinyl estradiol), on the development of dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors.

From the first day of dimethylbenzanthracene administration, daily treatment with 8 or 24 mug of the new antiestrogen 11alpha-methoxy ethinyl estradiol (RU 16117) completely prevented the appearance of mammary tumors in all animals up to the last time interval studied (130 days after dimethyl benzanthracene administration). At daily doses of 0.5 and 2.0 mug RU 16117, the tumor incidence was reduced to 78.6 and 40%, respectively. Not only was the number of animals developing tumors reduced after injection of low doses of RU 16117, but the number of tumors per rat and the size of tumors were also markedly reduced. The levels of receptors for estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin in tumor tissue were reduced after treatment with 2.0 mug RU 16117, while the binding of growth hormone and insulin was not affected. Whereas plasma luteinizing hormone levels decreased after treatment with 8 or 24 mug RU 16117, plasma prolactin levels slightly increased in animals receiving the highest dose of the antiestrogen. It is thus likely that the potent inhibitory effect of RU 16117 on the development of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced mammary tumors results from actions at both the hypothalamic-pituitary and the tumor (mammary gland) levels, the action at the peripheral level possibly being secondary to a reduced sensitivity of the tissue to circulating hormones through lowering of hormone receptor concentrations.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

[Effect of time in culture on the stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on adenohypophyseal hormone release (author's transl)].

Secretion of LH, FSH, TSH and prolactin was studied in rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. Basal LH release, LH cell content and LH responsiveness to LHRH decreased with a half-life of 4 days. Basal FSH decreased only 20% up to 20 days thus indicating the relative independence of FSH secretion compared to that of LH. The stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on LH and FSH secretion was higher during the first days in culture. The stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on prolactin secretion did however remain maximal up to 20 days.

Animals↗

Binding of the opiate-like pentapeptide methionine-enkephalin to a particulate fraction from rat brain.

The characteristics of stereospecific binding of [3H] met-enkephalin (15 Ci/mmole) were studied in a particulate fraction from rat brain. The binding assay was performed for 70 min at degrees C and the bound radioactivity separated by filtration through glass fiber filters (Whatman, GF/C). In the absence of sodium, binding of [3H] met-enkephalin could be described on the basis of two independent binding sites with apparent KDs of 2.1 and 53 nM, respectively. The data are also consistent with one class of binding sites showing negative cooperativity. In the presence of 100 mM NaCl, binding of [3H] met-enkephalin was 90-95% reduced, thus indicating the agonist properties of the peptide. The highly stereospecific binding of [3H] met-enkephalin was evidenced by the 10,000-fold greater potency of levorphanol than its analgesically inactive enantiomer dextrorphan to compete for [3H] met-enkephalin binding. Similar conclusions could be reached using levallorphan, (+)-3-hydro-N-allyl-morphinan, (-) methadone and (+) methadone. The apparent affinity of various opiate agonists and antagonists for the binding sites was closely correlated with their known pharmacological activity.

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Potent inhibitory activity of a new antiestrogen, RU 16 117, on the development and growth of DMBA-induced rat mammary adenocarcinoma.

When initiated the same day as dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) administration, daily treatment with 8 or 24 mug of the new antiestrogen RU 16117 (11alpha-methoxy ethinyl estradiol) completely prevented the appearance of mammary tumors in all animals up to the last time interval studied (130 days after DMBA administration). At daily doses of 0.5 and 2.0 mug of RU 16117, the tumor incidence was reduced to 78.6% and 40.0%, respectively. The levels of receptors for estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin in tumor tissue were reduced after treatment with 2.0 mug RU 16117 while the binding of growth hormone and insulin was not affected. While plasma LH levels were decreased after treatment with 8 or 24 mug RU 16117, plasma prolactin levels were slightly increased in animals receiving the highest dose of the antiestrogen. When RU 16117 was given at the daily dose of 24 mug for a period of 4 weeks, RU 16117 led to 65% reduction of the number of already established DMBA-induced mammary tumors. Not only the tumor number but also the tumor size was reduced by RU 16117 in a manner similar to that following ovariectomy. That the inhibitory effect of RU 16117 was not due to its low estrogenic activity is indicated by the absence of inhibitory effect of similar treatment with a range of doses (0.1-12.5 mug per day) of estradiol-17beta which cover the low estrogenic activity of the doses of RU 16117 used. Decreased levels of receptors for estradiol-17beta, progesterone, and prolactin were found in the tumors remaining after ovariectomy while treatment with the dose (24 mug) of RU 16117, efficient to inhibit tumor growth, has a similar inhibitory effect on the levels of estradiol-17beta and prolactin receptors. The present data indicate that the potent inhibitory effect of RU 16117 on the development and growth of DMBA-induced mammary tumors results from actions at both the hypothalamic-pituitary and tumor levels. The action at the peripheral level would be possibly secondary to a reduced sensitivity of the tissue to circulating hormones through lowering of hormone receptor concentrations.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Binding of [3H] methyltrienolone (R 1881) in rat prostate and human benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

Methyltrienolone (R 1881 - 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-estra-4, 9, 11-trien-3-one) binding to rat ventral prostate cytosol has a specificity typical of an androgen receptor. In human benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) tissue, the specificity of [3H] R 1881 binding is different from that measured in rat prostate: progesterone and R 5020 (17, 21-dimethyl-19-nor-4, 9-pregnadiene-3, 20-dione) being more potent while 19-nortestosterone is less potent competitor. Moreover, the synthetic progestin [3H] R 5020 binds to BPH tissue with a similar specificity. These data suggest the presence of progestin binding components or of an atypical androgen receptor in human BPH cytosol.

Animals↗

Specific progesterone receptors in dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors.

Properties of a progesterone receptor present in the cytosol (105,000 xg supernatant) of dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors were studied using the highly potent progestin [3H]R 5020 (17, 21-dimethyl-19-nor-pregna-4, 9-diene-3,20-dione). As shown by sucrose gradient analysis, specific binding of [3H] R 5020 is associated with components migrating at 7-8S and 4S. Low affinity binding of the synthetic progestin is eliminated by treatment with dextran-coated charcoal. [3H] R 5020 binding is highly progestin-specific since it is easily displaced by unlabelled norgestrel, R 5020 and progesterone while estradiol-17beta, dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, testosterone and diethylstilbestrol have much lower activity. Dexamethasone and cortisol have little, if any, effect on [3H] R 5020 binding.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Specificity of the stimulatory effect of prostaglandins on hormone release in rat anterior pituitary cells in culture.

Specificity of the effect of prostaglandins (PGs) on hormone release by the anterior pituitary gland was studied using cells in primary culture. Growth hormone (GH) release is stimulated by all eight PGs studied, PGE1 and E2 being 1000-fold more potent than the corresponding PGFs. The release of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin (PRL) remains unchanged upon addition of PGEs. While the basal release of thyrotropin (TSH) is only slightly stimulated by concentrations of PGEs above 10(-6)M, an important potentiation of the stimulatory effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on TSH release is observed. The release of GH, TSH and LH is stimulated equally well by PGAs and PGBs at concentrations higher than 10(-6)M, 3 X 10(-6)M, and 10(-5)M, respectively. PGFs do not affect the release of any of the measured pituitary hormones at concentrations below 10(-4)M. The stimulation of GH release by PGE2 can be inhibited by the PG antagonist 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid, a half-maximal inhibition being found at a concentration of 4 X 10(-5)M of the antagonist in the presence of 10(-6)M PGE2. In the presence of somatostatin 10(-8)M, the inhibition of GH release cannot be reversed by PGE2 at concentrations up to 10(-4)M. 8-bromo-cyclic AMP-induced GH release is additive with that produced by PGE2. The present data show that 1) of the five pituitary hormones measured, only GH release is stimulated by prostaglandins at relatively low concentrations, 2) the PGE-induced GH release can be competitively inhibited by 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid, 3) the inhibition of GH release by somatostatin cannot be reversed by PGE2 and 4) the PGEs increase the responsiveness of the thyrotrophs to TRH.

Animals↗

Site of the in vivo stimulatory effect of prostaglandins on LH release.

A possible direct effect of prostaglandins E1 and E2 (PGE1 and PGE2) on luteinizing hormone (LH) release at the pituitary level was studied in vitro using anterior pituitary cells in primary culture, a system approximately 10-fold more sensitive to stimulation of LH release than previously used hemipituitaries. No effect of PGE1 or PGE2 could be detected on the time course of basal or LH-RH-stimulated LH release or on the LH responsiveness to LH-RH. This absence of a direct effect of PGEs at the pituitary level on LH release was confirmed by in vivo experiments using female rats under Surital anesthesia in the afternoon of proestrus. After intravenous injection, under these conditions, 15(S)-15-methyl PGE2 was 3-5 times more potent than PGE2 to increase plasma LH levels while PGE1 had about 50% the potency of PGE2. Injection of sheep anti-LH-RH serum one hour before PGE1 or PGE2 injection not only lowered basal plasma LH levels but prevented the rise induced by PGEs. These data indicate clearly that the increased plasma LH levels observed after in vivo PGE injection are secondary to a stimulation of LH-RH release while PGEs do not appear to have a significant effect on LH release at the pituitary level.

Animals↗

Identification of gonadotropic cells in the human pituitary by immunoperoxidase technique.

Using specific antibodies against the beta-subunits of human LH and FSH, the pituitary cells which produce the two gonadotropins have been localized in the human pituitary by an immunoperoxidase technique. In serial semi-thin sections (2 mum), it was clearly shown that about 90% of gonadotropic cells contained both FSH and LH, whereas the remaining 10% of gonadotrophs were positive only for FSH. At the ultrastructural level, the gonadotrophs containing both LH and FSH were characterized by the presen-e of two types of secretory granules: the smaller ones which whowed a strong immunohistochemical reaction and the larger ones which generally presented a weaker reaction.

Antibodies↗

Inhibition by six somatostatin analogs of plasma growth hormone levels stimulated by thiamylal and morphine in the rat.

Administration of sodium thiamylal (50 mg/kg,i.p.) and morphine (3 mg/animal,s.c.) leads to high plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) with a maximum measured approximately 30 min after injection. When the same dose of morphine is administered 60 and 120 min later and small additional doses of thiamylal are injected to maintain the animals deeply anesthetized, constant high levels of plasma GH are maintained up to the last interval studied (3 h). This in vivo model has been used to evaluate the potency and duration of action of somatostatin and of six of its analogs by serial blood sampling of animals bearing a cannula inserted into the right superior vena cava. A significant inhibitory effect of somatostatin (45% inhibition) is observed 15 min after a s.c. injection of 1 mug of the peptide while a near maximal effect (90-95% inhibition) is found at a dose of 25 mug. Both the degree of inhibition and duration of action of somatostatin are dose-dependent. Inhibitory activities equivalent to 1-250 mug of somatostatin can be measured with the model described. [Tyr1] somatostatin, [D-Ala1]somatostatin, [N-acetyl-Cys3] somatostatin and [N-benzoyl-Cys3] somatostatin have activities indistinguishable from somatostatin itself while [D-Lys4] somatostatin and [des-amino1, des-carboxy14] somatostatin have approximately 10% the activity of the natural hypothalamic peptide. This in vivo model offers advantageous characteristics of precision and reproducibility for the evaluation of potency of inhibitors of GH release.

Animals↗

Effect of thyroxine on the inactivation of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone by rat and human plasma.

The inactivation of synthetic [3H]thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) by plasma was studied in rats treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) alone or with PTU and thyroxine. 48 h after the onset of treatment with thyroxine, the capacity of rat plasma to inactivate [3H]TRH was significantly increased. The percentage of deamidation of TRH to TRH-free acid was increased 2-fold after 4 days of administration of thyroid hormone. The inactivation of TRH by plasma from hypothyroid patients was compared to that obtained from hyperthyroid patients. Extraction of human plasma incubated with [3H]TRH, followed by thin-layer electrophoresis, showed that transformation of [3H[TRH into TRH-free acid was 44% higher in plasma from hyperthyroid than from hypothyroid patients (P less than 0-05). These data suggest that the inactivation process of TRH by blood proteins could be an important factor in the regulation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid axis in rat and man.

Animals↗

Inhibitory activity of analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in vitro and in vivo.

Improved inhibitors of LH-RH are those which, beside removal of the histidine residue at position 2 of LH-RH, include replacement of glycine at position 6 by a D-amino acid. A still better modification is replacement of the histidine residue at position 2 by D-phenylalanine. As examples, when tested in pituitary cells in culture, [Des-His2]LH-RH, [Des-His2, D-Leu6]LH-RH, [Des-His2, D-Phe6]-LH-RH, [D-Phe2]LH-RH, [D-Phe2, D-Leu6]LH-RH and [D-Phe2, D-Phe6]LH-RH inhibit 50% of LH release induced by LH-RH at molar ratios (MR50S) of 3000, 500, 60, 1000, 150 and 25, respectively. [D-Phe2, D-Phe6, D-Phe7]LH-RH, [D-Phe2, Phe3, D-Phe6]LH-RH and [D-Phe2, Phe5, D-Phe6]LH-RH have MR50 values of respectively 400, 100, and 75. When evaluated in vivo, some of the mentioned structural modifications permit inhibition of LH-RH action at molar ratios lower than observed in vitro. At a 500 molar ratio, [D-Phe2, Phe5, D-Phe6]-LH-RH inhibits the plasma LH rise induced by LH-RH by 75% up to 5 h after its injection. When administered at 12.00 hours at the dose of 2 mg, this analogue inhibits the spontaneous pro-oestrus LH surge and ovulation by 85 and 75%, respectively.

Animals↗