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Long-term administration of estradiol decreases expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and improves insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice: a possible mechanism is through direct regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.

In this study, we used ob/ob mice as a model to investigate the effects of long-term estradiol administration on insulin sensitivity and to explore the mechanisms that underlie the antidiabetic effects of estrogen on mouse liver. Female ob/ob mice were randomly divided into two groups and given estradiol (100 microg/kg.d) or vehicle alone for 4 wk. Estrogen administration improved glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose in ob/ob mice. Moreover, insulin resistance and liver triglyceride levels were decreased in response to estrogen administration. Microarray analysis revealed that expression of genes involved in hepatic lipid biosynthesis was decreased in ob/ob mouse livers after estradiol treatment. Further searches for direct estrogen target genes revealed increased hepatic mRNA expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and several known Stat3 target genes in ob/ob livers after long-term estradiol treatment. Furthermore, Stat3 and phosphorylated Stat3 protein is induced in ob/ob mouse liver after long-term estrogen treatment. We also present data showing that Stat3 is rapidly induced by estradiol in mouse livers. This, together with data showing recruitment of ERalpha to the promoter of Stat3 in vivo, suggests that Stat3 is a direct target gene for estradiol. In conclusion, estradiol treatment improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice. We propose that this may be mediated, at least partially, via estrogen stimulation of the hepatic expression of Stat3, leading to decreased expression of hepatic lipogenic genes, and thereby to antidiabetic effects.

Animals↗

Alterations in phosphoinositide metabolism associated with 17 beta-estradiol and growth factor treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Steady-state levels of phosphatidyl inositol (PtdIns) turnover are examined in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in response to estradiol treatment. Elevated levels of PtdIns are observed 12-24 h after estradiol treatment, occur at estradiol concentrations as low as 10(-12) M, and are competitively blocked by the antiestrogen LY117018. MCF-7 cells secrete a transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha-like material which can partly replace estradiol in conferring tumorgenicity in nude mice. We show that acute or chronic treatment of MCF-7 cells with TGF alpha results in elevated PtdIns turnover and that chronic treatment increases growth rate. In contrast TGF beta is growth inhibitory and blocks estradiol-induced increases in PtdIns turnover. A phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate specific phospholipase-C activity has been identified and is elevated in association with estradiol treatment. These data are consistent with estradiol-induced autocrine growth factors, including TGF alpha, acting through the PtdIns turnover pathway as part of their mechanism of action.

Breast Neoplasms↗

FRA-1 expression level modulates regulation of activator protein-1 activity by estradiol in breast cancer cells.

We compared the effect of estradiol on activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity in estrogen receptor positive (ER alpha+) and estrogen receptor negative (ER alpha-) human breast cancer cell lines transiently transfected with the AP-1-responsive reporter plasmid AP-1-TK-CAT and an ER alpha expression vector. While estradiol increased AP-1 activity in the ER alpha+ cell lines MCF7, ZR75.1, and T47D, it decreased (MDA-MB231 and BT20 cells) or had no significant effect (MDA-MB435 cells) on AP-1-mediated transcription in ER alpha- cells. Estradiol also inhibited AP-1 activity in ER alpha-MDA-MB231 cells stably transfected with ER alpha and in which ER alpha levels are close to those found in MCF7. Use of ER alpha mutant expression vectors demonstrated that the DNA-binding domain of ER alpha was needed for stimulation or inhibition of AP-1 activity by estradiol but suggested that ER alpha binding to estrogen-responsive elements was not required for these effects. Changes in regulation paralleled quantitative and qualitative changes in protein binding to AP-1 sites, as demonstrated by gel shift assay: protein binding was greater and DNA/protein complexes migrated faster for ER alpha--than for ER alpha+ cells. In fact, by Northern blot, a high level of Fra-1 mRNA was found in BT20 and MDA-MB231 cells as compared with ER alpha+ cells, and MDA-MB435 cells showed an intermediary level of expression. The differential expression of Fra-1 in MCF7 and MDA-MB231 cells was confirmed at the protein level by supershift experiments. In addition, overexpression of Fra-1 in MCF7 cells decreased the positive effect of estradiol while inhibition of Fra-1 expression in MDA-MB231 cells, by transient transfection of the Fra-1 antisense expression vector, abolished the negative effect of the hormone. In conclusion, we demonstrated that ER alpha- breast cancer cell lines differ from ER+ cells by a high level of AP-1 DNA-binding activity due, at least in part, to high Fra-1 constitutive expression. High Fra-1 concentration is crucial for the negative regulation of AP-1 activity by estradiol and thus may take part in estradiol-induced inhibition of cell proliferation in ER alpha- breast cancer cells transfected with ER alpha expression construct.

Blotting, Northern↗

Specific estradiol binding in schwannomas, meningiomas, and neurofibromas.

The cytoplasmic fractions of schwannomas (acoustic neuromas), meningiomas, and neurofibromas were assayed for the presence of estrogen receptors. Specific estradiol binding was detected in 7 of 16 schwannomas, 7 of 10 meningiomas, and 1 of 6 neurofibromas. A nontumorous vestibular nerve was also studied and showed no estradiol binding. In the tumors, the concentration of the estradiol binding sites as estimated by saturation binding analysis covered a wide range of values (21 to 2430 fmol/g of tumor) but, overall, meningiomas contained the highest amount of estradiol binder. A Scatchard plot analysis of one of the schwannoma specimens demonstrated high affinity estradiol binding (Ka = 1.695 X 10(10) M-1). Although there were more females than males in each tumor category, the overall incidence of estradiol binding was similar in males (5 of 11, 45%) and in females (10 of 21, 48%). In 5 cases, progestin binding was also measured and was detected in two meningiomas (both from female patients); one meningioma and two neurofibromas showed no progestin binding. A discussion is presented of the possible role of estradiol in the pathogenesis or modulation of meningeal and Schwann cell tumors as well as in the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis.

Adolescent↗

17-beta-Estradiol induced alterations of cell-matrix and intercellular adhesions in a human mammary carcinoma cell line.

The MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cell line undergoes morphological differentiation in vitro when treated with 17-beta-estradiol. A prominent feature of this process is the postconfluent development of multicellular, three-dimensional nodules that rise above the surrounding monolayer. Formation of the nodules suggests that changes in cellular adhesion occur during this cellular overgrowth. Therefore changes in the distribution of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion plaque proteins were examined with respect to estradiol induction of nodule development. Estradiol treatment of the carcinoma cell line had the following effects: (1) vinculin- and talin-rich cell-matrix adhesion plaques were reduced in overall number and size in confluent and postconfluent cultures. No overt change in distribution or morphology of adhesion plaques was observed in subconfluent cultures. (2) Staining for vinculin was reduced in cell-cell adhesions situated at the apical region of subconfluent, confluent and postconfluent monolayers. Staining for F-actin and plakoglobin was retained at this region in estradiol-induced cells. (3) vinculin was not detected in intercellular adhesions of nodule cells although intense labelling for both F-actin and plakoglobin was observed. In addition, in untreated monolayer cells, both F-actin and plakoglobin were concentrated in a subapical/basolateral location, as a vesicle-like pattern, which corresponded to intercellular spaces observed with phase-contrast microscopy. Treatment with estradiol caused the rearrangement of subapical/basolateral F-actin and plakoglobin staining into a more uniform pattern. The findings of this study show that estradiol induces changes in both cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions in an estrogen-responsive carcinoma cell line. The gradual loss of vinculin from cell-matrix and cell-cell adherens junctions of the monolayer could be a potential factor in the capacity of these cells to form multilayers or nodules in postconfluent growth. Furthermore, the development of the nodules in response to estradiol may provide a useful system in which to study steroid hormone regulation of adhesion and the cytoskeleton in responsive tumor cells.

Actins↗

17beta-estradiol pretreatment prevents the global ischemic injury-induced decrease of Akt activation and bad phosphorylation in gerbils.

Estradiol acts as a neuroprotective factor against ischemic brain injury. This study investigated whether estradiol modulates neuroprotective mechanism through the activation of Akt and its downstream target such as Bad in global ischemic injury. Adult female gerbils were ovariectomized and treated with estradiol prior to ischemic injury. Transient cerebral ischemia was accomplished by bilateral clipping of the common carotid artery for 5 min. Brains were collected on 1, 3, 5 day after injury. In hippocampal CA1 region of non-treated gerbils, most of neuronal cells exhibited pyknotic nuclei and showed the positive reaction of TUNEL staining on 5 day after injury. However, estradiol significantly reduced the neuronal cell death. Potential activation was measured by phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 and Bad at Ser136 using western blot analysis. The levels of pAkt and pBad were significantly decreased in non-treated gerbils on 1-5 day after injury. However, estradiol prevents the global ischemic injury-induced decrease of pAkt and pBad. Our findings suggest that estradiol prevents cell death due to global ischemic injury and that Akt activation and Bad phosphorylation by estradiol mediated these protective effects.

Animals↗

Performance characteristics of eight estradiol immunoassays.

Measurement of estradiol is useful in assisted reproduction, evaluation of infertility, menopause, and male feminization. The analytic performance of 8 estradiol immunoassays was evaluated. The imprecision and accuracy of the Access, ADVIA Centaur, ARCHITECT i2000, AutoDELFIA, Elecsys 2010, IMMULITE 2000, and Vitros ECi estradiol assays (see text for proprietary information) were evaluated by using an isotope dilution-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (ID-GC-MS) reference method. The coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 6.9% on the Elecsys 2010 to 42.6% on the ADVIA Centaur at an estradiol concentration of 18 pg/mL (66 pmol/L), with the ARCHITECT i2000 assay in development and the Vitros ECi having a CV below 10% at this estradiol concentration. Agreement between the automated assays and ID-GC-MS was variable, with slopes ranging from 0.87 to 1.20. The Access, ARCHITECT i2000 in development, and the IMMULITE 2000 were the most accurate, with slopes of 0.99, 0.98, and 1.03, respectively. These findings indicate that the ARCHITECT i2000 estradiol assay in development had the best precision and accuracy of the assays evaluated for measurement of serum estradiol concentrations.

Estradiol↗

Estradiol in severe asthma with premenstrual worsening.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the beneficial effects of estradiol in a severely asthmatic woman with premenstrual worsening of asthma. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old white woman, with a 14-year history of severe steroid-dependent asthma and monthly premenstrual worsening of asthma, was randomized to receive estradiol 2 mg or placebo for 6 days during the late luteal phase (days 23-28) of 2 successive menstrual cycles. Despite greater prednisone and inhaled beta-agonist use during the late luteal phase of the placebo cycle, the patient exhibited improved asthma symptoms, pulmonary function, and peak expiratory flows, as well as lower values for biomarkers of airway inflammation during the same time period of the estradiol cycle. DISCUSSION: This subject's response to estradiol was in contrast to results of a randomized, controlled trial involving patients with predominantly mild asthma under excellent control. The discrepant observations for this case versus the majority of subjects in the randomized, controlled study suggest that premenstrual asthma (PMA) and a beneficial response to estradiol may be more likely in women with severe asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of estradiol during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle to a woman with severe asthma with PMA was associated with improved asthma symptoms, pulmonary function, and peak expiratory flows, and lower serum eosinophil protein X and urinary leukotriene E(4) biomarker concentrations. Thus, estradiol's potential role in women with severe asthma and PMA may warrant further exploration in this subgroup.

Asthma↗

Long-term sensitivity of uterus and hypothalamus/pituitary axis to 17beta-estradiol is higher than that of bone in rats.

UNLABELLED: We examined the long-term sensitivity of uterus and bone to low-dose 17beta-estradiol in a 4-month experiment in OVX rats and found that a dose of estradiol that fully protected against uterine atrophy did not protect against bone loss. Our results suggest higher estrogen sensitivity of the uterus compared with bone. INTRODUCTION: Estrogen is essential for the function of reproductive tissues and for the normal acquisition and maintenance of bone mass in females. This study was designed to examine the long-term sensitivity of the uterus and bone to low-dose estrogen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In preliminary experiments, we determined the lowest subcutaneous dose of 17beta-estradiol able to fully protect against uterine atrophy in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. This dose was found to be 1.5 microg/kg, given five times per week. Subsequently, groups of sham-operated (SHAM) or OVX 6-month-old rats (n = 8 each) were subcutaneously injected with vehicle or 1.5 microg/kg 17beta-estradiol five times per week. All animals were killed 4 months after surgery. Serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured as biochemical markers of bone turnover. Bones were analyzed by bone histomorphometry and pQCT. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our study clearly showed that a dose of estradiol that restores physiological estradiol serum levels, fully maintains uterine weight in OVX rats at the SHAM control level, and suppresses serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by 67% relative to OVX vehicle controls does not provide significant protection against OVX-induced bone loss at different cancellous and cortical bone sites. We conclude that the long-term sensitivity of the uterus and the hypothalamus/pituitary axis to 17beta-estradiol is higher than that of bone in rats.

Amino Acids↗

Free testosterone is a positive, whereas free estradiol is a negative, predictor of cortical bone size in young Swedish men: the GOOD study.

UNLABELLED: In this study, we evaluated the predictive roles of sex steroids for skeletal parameters in young men (n = 1068) at the age of peak bone mass. Serum free estradiol was a negative predictor, whereas free testosterone and SHBG were positive predictors of cortical bone size. INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that free estradiol in serum is an independent predictor of areal BMD (aBMD) in elderly men. The aim of this study was to determine whether sex steroids are predictors of volumetric BMD (vBMD) and/or size of the trabecular and cortical bone compartments in young men at the age of peak bone mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants (GOOD) study consists of 1068 men, 18.9 +/- 0.6 years of age. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured, and free levels of testosterone and estradiol were calculated. The size of the cortical bone and the cortical and trabecular vBMDs were measured by pQCT. RESULTS: Regression models including age, height, weight, free estradiol, and free testosterone showed that free estradiol was an independent negative predictor of cortical cross-sectional area (tibia beta = -0.111, p < 0.001; radius beta = -0.125, p < 0.001), periosteal circumference, and endosteal circumference, whereas it was a positive independent predictor of cortical vBMD (tibia beta = 0.100, p < 0.003; radius beta = 0.115, p = 0.001) in both the tibia and radius. Free testosterone was an independent positive predictor of cortical cross-sectional area (tibia beta = 0.071, p = 0.013; radius beta = 0.064, p = 0.039), periosteal circumference, and endosteal circumference in both the tibia and radius. Neither cortical nor trabecular vBMD was associated with free testosterone. SHBG was an independent positive predictor of parameters reflecting the size of the cortical bone, including cross-sectional area (beta = 0.078, p = 0.009), periosteal circumference, and endosteal circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Free estradiol is a negative, whereas free testosterone is a positive, predictor of cortical bone size in young men at the age of peak bone mass. These findings support the notion that estrogens reduce, whereas androgens increase, cortical bone size, resulting in the well-known sexual dimorphism of cortical bone geometry.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Impact of AGT rs5050(T>G) variants on associations between estradiol and angiotensinogen levels: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

AIMS: Angiotensinogen plays an essential role in maintaining circulatory homeostasis. AGT rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) has been identified as a regulator of the transcription of AGT mRNA, with differential expression between sexes. We sought to determine if rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G), an estrogen response element, modifies the relationship between estrogen and angiotensinogen levels. METHODS: rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) was genotyped, and plasma angiotensinogen levels were measured in 4,831 MESA participants, including postmenopausal women, on hormone therapy (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;709) or not (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;1,551), and 2,581 men. Linear regression models were employed to determine the associations of angiotensinogen with rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) allele dosage; and to evaluate whether rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) modifies the association between estradiol and angiotensinogen, with a main effect term and interaction term between rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G)*estradiol. Estimated marginal means (EMMs) were used to further evaluate the effect of estradiol on angiotensinogen across different rs5050 alleles (T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G). RESULTS: rs5050TT had the highest median levels of angiotensinogen, followed by TG and GG. Adjusted main effect model showed positive associations between estradiol and angiotensinogen, with each rs5050T allele associated with 0.329 SD higher log-angiotensinogen levels (CI 95% 0.293, 0.365). The interaction rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G)*estradiol was not significant, with EMMs exhibiting overlapping slope confidence intervals across genotypes. The proportion of the variance in angiotensinogen explained by modeling increases from 47.9% to 51.6% when including rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) or interation rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G)*estradiol in the model. CONCLUSIONS: rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) is associated with circulating angiotensinogen levels, but rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G) alleles do not influence the relationship between estradiol and angiotensinogen. This suggests that estrogen's effect on angiotensinogen regulation occurs independently of rs5050(T&#x2009;>&#x2009;G), despite its location within an estrogen-responsive element.

Angiotensinogen↗

Induction of uterine prostaglandin H synthase 2 by estradiol following fetal adrenalectomy.

In sheep, fetal cortisol stimulates the conversion of progesterone to estradiol in late gestation initiating labor. It is unclear whether an intact fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is required to induce the estradiol-triggered subsequent endocrine changes including enhanced intrauterine prostaglandin (PG) synthesis associated with the onset of labor. We have shown that maternal estradiol administration stimulates PG H synthase (PGHS)-2 expressions in pregnant ovine intra-uterine tissues. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the fetal adrenal mediates estradiol's stimulation of the intrauterine PGHS-2 in pregnant sheep. Placenta, myometrium, and endometrium were collected from two groups of ewes at 123-127 d of gestational age (dGA) after fetal adrenalectomy and vehicle treatment (ADX; n = 5); or fetal ADX and maternal estradiol administration (5 mg twice a day for 2 d, ADX+E2, n = 5). PGHS-2 mRNA and protein were analyzed by Northern and Western Blot analyses in both groups and presented as the ratios to beta actin mRNA for Northern and G protein beta subunit for Western blot analysis. Fetal plasma cortisol was measured by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed by Student's t test. Fetal plasma cortisol levels were low in ADX and ADX+ E2 groups (<6 ng/mL). The cervix of all ADX+E2 treated ewes was dilated at necropsy. Three out of five ADX+ E2-treated ewes delivered within 48 h. The cervix was closed in all fetal ADX ewes at necropsy. PGHS-2 mRNA and protein increased (p < 0.05) in myometrium and endometrium, but not placenta in ADX+E2-treated ewes compared with ADX group. These data provide the first in vivo evidence for estradiol upregulation of intrauterine PGHS-2 in late gestation in the absence of an intact fetal HPA axis. Thus, the fetal adrenal is not required to mediate estradiol's stimulation of uterine PGHS-2 expression associated with the onset of labor.

Adrenal Glands↗

Testosterone and estradiol have specific differential modulatory effect on the proliferation of human thyroid papillary and follicular carcinoma cell lines independent of TSH action.

Differential effects of testosterone and estradiol on the proliferation of human thyroid papillary (NPA-87-1) and follicular (WRO-82-1) carcinoma cell lines were assessed by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and the cell number. Cells (2.5 x 10(5)) plated in 24-well culture plates in 400 microL RPMI-1640 medium/well, under 5% CO(2) and 95= air, at 37 degrees C were exposed to exponential concentrations of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH) (1.25-640 ng/mL), testosterone (1.25-640 ng/mL), or estradiol (1.25-640 pg/mL) for 24 h. Testosterone and estradiol increased the proliferation of NPA cell line in a dose-dependent manner; flutamide (an anti-androgen) and tamoxifen (an anti-estrogen) (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), and 10(-5) mol/L) effectively inhibited the testosterone and estradiol-induced cell proliferation, respectively. While flutamide inhibited the stimulatory effect of testosterone on the WRO cell line, tamoxifen augmented the inhibitory effect of estradiol. TSH did not have any effect on the proliferation of NPA or WRO cell lines, and testosterone-estradiol had no impact on TSH binding to these cells. N-ethylmalemide (5alpha-reductase inhibitor) (10(-8)-10(-5) mol/L) did not modulate basal and testosterone-induced cell proliferation, indicating the direct effect of testosterone without getting converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Both the cell lines tested positive for androgen and estrogen receptors and were up-regulated by the respective ligands. It is concluded that testosterone and estradiol modify the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells through homologous up-regulation of their own receptors, which is independent of TSH, and their effects may vary according to the cell type.

Androgen Antagonists↗

[Selective augmentation of cellular hCG alpha mRNA levels and immunoreactive hCG alpha secretion by 17 beta-estradiol in the normal placenta].

In order to elucidate a possible self-regulation for hCG synthesis in placenta, effects of estradiol on hCG production and secretion were evaluated by culturing early placental tissue in the presence or absence of estradiol. The cellular level of mRNAs encoding hCG (alpha, beta) and hPL were estimated by mean grain count per syncytial nucleus on the placental sections hybridized in situ with labeled cDNA probes corresponding to these mRNAs. Immunoreactive hCG, hCG alpha and hPL in the media and explanted tissues were measured by the homologous RIAs. Addition of estradiol at concentration of 1 approximately 10 ng/ml into the medium caused an increase in the cellular levels of hCG alpha mRNA after 24-hour cultured, and exhibited significant increases in immunoreactive hCG alpha levels in the media and explanted tissues after 72-hour culture. The addition of estradiol neither affected the cellular levels of mRNA encoding hCG beta and hPL nor immunoreactive hCG and hPL levels in the media and tissues. The appropriated concentration of estradiol (1 approximately 10 ng/ml) used in above experiments was found to be similar to the tissue concentration in normal placenta. These findings suggest that the physiological concentration of estradiol selectively stimulates hCG alpha synthesis and secretion by normal placenta. Thus, estradiol in placenta may be a factor responsible for the increase of hCG alpha in maternal serum and placental tissue with the progress of gestation.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Inhibitory effects of the porcine follicular fluid on estradiol and progesterone secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells.

The effect of porcine follicular fluid on estradiol and progesterone secretion was examined using a rat granulosa cell culture with FSH and testosterone in the medium. Follicular fluids from small (less than 5 mm) and large (greater than 6 mm) follicles (SFFI, LFF1) were treated with charcoal, and then fractionated by filtration through an Amicon XM-50 and an PM-10 membrane. The addition of 25% SFF1 and LFF1 into the culture system significantly inhibited estradiol and progesterone secretion (P less than 0.005). These inhibitory activities were observed in PM-10 retentates (10,000-50,000 MW) and filtrates (less than 10,000 MW) of SFF1 and LFF1. The addition of XM-50 filtrates (less than 50,000 MW) of SFF1 and LFF1 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of estradiol and progesterone secretion. The dose-response relationship between the filtrates and estradiol secretion was linear with a significant correlation coefficient. The addition of the filtrates exerted no inhibitory effect on the growth of the cells cultured. XM-50 filtrate of LFF1 from a batch with a low ratio of small/large follicles showed a lower inhibitory activity on estradiol secretion than that of LFF1, while the inhibitory activities in both filtrates on progesterone secretion were almost equivalent. These results suggest that the follicular fluid of small porcine follicle contains nonsteroidal regulators capable of inhibiting estradiol and progesterone secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells, and that the estradiol secretion inhibitor activity decreases in the fluid of large follicle while the progesterone secretion inhibitor activity does not decrease in it.

Animals↗

Chronic treatment by the calcium channel blocker +/- PN 200-110 in the rat counteracts the stimulations of pituitary weight, prolactin release and pituitary C-kinase activity induced by a chronic estradiol treatment, in vivo.

In order to investigate whether a calcium channel blocker could modulate the protein kinase C activity in normal and estradiol pretreated rat pituitary, female Wistar rats were treated or not (controls) with +/- PN 200-110 (3 mg.kg-1.day-1, sc) for 8 days or with estradiol cervical implants for 8 or 15 days, alone or in combination with PN 200-110 the last 8 days. Estradiol treatment induced a significant increase in plasma prolactin levels and pituitary weight. PN 200-110 administered to normal rats did not modify these parameters, whereas it reduced the effects of the 15 days estradiol treatment on prolactin levels (53.1 +/- 4.9 vs 95.0 +/- 9.1 micrograms/l, p less than 0.0001) and pituitary weight (19.9 +/- 0.4 vs 23.0 +/- 0.6 mg, p less than 0.001), to values statistically comparable to those measured after 8 days of estradiol treatment. PN 200-110 alone did not induce any change in protein kinase C activity as compared with controls. In contrast, PN 200-110 treatment significantly counteracted the large increase in soluble activity and the decrease in the particulate one induced by estradiol between day 8 and day 15. We conclude that PN 200-110 opposed the stimulatory effects of chronic in vivo estradiol treatment on plasma prolactin levels and pituitary weight and that this regulation was related to a concomitant modulation of the protein kinase C activity.

Animals↗

Serum estradiol 17-sulphate and lipid peroxides in late pregnancy.

Estradiol 17-sulphate is readily converted to 2-OH or 4-OH estradiol 17-sulphate. The latter two strongly antagonize lipid peroxidation, which may play certain roles during pregnancy, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension. Serum estradiol 17-sulphate during mid and late pregnancy was measured using a direct radioimmunoassay without hydrolysis, and the level increased as pregnancy progressed. The levels in the sixth (20-23 weeks) and tenth months (36-39 weeks) of gestation were 1.42 +/- 0.04 nmol/l (mean +/- SD) and 3.42 +/- 1.09 nmol/l, respectively. The maternal venous levels before and at delivery and in the umbilical veins and artery were 3.38 +/- 0.83, 3.48 +/- 1.53, 4.11 +/- 1.40 and 4.30 +/- 1.81 nmol/l, respectively. The latter two values were slightly higher than the former two. Estradiol 17-sulphate in maternal venous blood began to decrease around delivery. Serum lipid peroxides were measured using the method of Yagi. Estradiol 17-sulphate and lipid peroxides showed a simple regression slope (r = -0.548, p less than 0.05) during late pregnancy. These results suggest that estradiol 17-sulphate may be converted to 2-OH or 4-OH estradiol 17-sulphate, which act as lipid peroxide scavengers during pregnancy.

Estradiol↗

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on myometrial LH/hCG receptors in pigs.

High affinity luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptors have been identified in porcine, rabbit and rat uteri and immunocytochemically demonstrated in the human uterus. We have now assessed the effect of estradiol and progesterone on the capacity and affinity of LH/hCG binding sites in crude membrane fractions of porcine myometria. Nineteen cross-bred gilts were ovariectomized at 6-7 months of age. Five weeks later, the experiment was conducted and gilts were given estradiol benzoate 2 mg (N = 5), progesterone 50 mg (N = 4) and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate plus 50 mg of progesterone in 2 ml of corn oil (N = 6), im for five consecutive days. Controls (N = 4) received 2 ml of the vehicle. Gilts were hysterectomized 24 h after the last injection. Blood samples for assays of LH, estradiol and progesterone were collected 1 h before hysterectomy. The numbers and affinities of unoccupied LH/hCG binding sites were characterized in all samples of myometrium. The results indicate that treatment with estradiol benzoate increases (p less than 0.01) the number of LH/hCG binding sites compared with gilts receiving corn oil. Progesterone treatment caused elevation in the number of LH/hCG receptors (p less than 0.05), when compared with estradiol alone (2.9 +/- 0.3 vs 1.2 +/- 0.1 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Combined administration of estradiol and progesterone increased receptor capacity to 2.7 +/- 0.4. Steroid treatment did not alter the affinity (Ka) of [125I]hCG binding to receptors and it varied from 1.8 +/- 0.8 to 2.9 +/- 0.2 x 10(11) l/mol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗