In the present in vitro experiments we examined FSH- and ghrelin-induced changes in ovarian hormone secretion by transgenic rabbits. Fragments of ovaries isolated from adult transgenic (carrying mammary gland-specific mWAP-hFVIII gene) and non-transgenic rabbits from the same litter were cultured with and without FSH or ghrelin (both at 0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml medium). The secretion of progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was assessed by RIA. It was observed that ovaries isolated from transgenic rabbits secreted much less P4, E2 and IGF-I than the ovaries of non-transgenic animals. In control animals FSH reduced E2 (at doses 1-100 ng/ml medium) and IGF-I (at 1-100 ng/ml), but not P4 secretion, whereas ghrelin promoted P4 (at 1 ng/ml) and IGF-I (at 100 ng/ml), but not E2 output. In transgenic animals, the effects were reversed: FSH had a stimulatory effect on E2 (at 100 ng/ml) and ghrelin had an inhibitory effect on P4 (at 10 ng/ml). No differences in the pattern of influence of FSH on P4 and IGF-I and of ghrelin on E2 and IGF-I were found between control and transgenic animals. The present observations suggest that 1) both FSH and ghrelin are involved in rabbit ovarian hormone secretion, 2) transgenesis in rabbits is associated with a reduction in ovarian secretory activity, and 3) transgenesis can affect the response of ovarian cells to hormonal regulators., A. V. Sirotkin, P. Chrenek, K. Darlak, F. Valenzuela, Ž. Kuklová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
In order to assess whether intratesticular hormone content may be helpful for prediction of successful conception in men with fertility problems, five sex steroids, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and, for the first time epitestosterone, were measured in testicular tissue obtained by surgical retrieval from total 84 men. The group consisted of non-obstructive azoospermic men, aged 21-67 years who attended the centre for in vitro fertilization. Steroids after ether extraction and solvent partition were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and then measured by specific radioimmunoassays. The values varied considerably with means ± S.D. 2.43±2.47, 0.27±0.24, 0.080±0.13, 0.071± 0.089 and 0.31±0.27 for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and epitestosterone, respectively., L. Zamrazilová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The brain is widely responsive to gonadal hormones. The functional significance of ovarian hormones in the brain is evident from biochemical studies indicating that estradiol or progesterone treatment of testectomized rats produces changes of antioxidant enzyme activities. The effect of estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) in the control of antioxidant (AO) enzyme activities was studied in the brain of adult male Wistar rats. The activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in appropriate subcellular fractions, prepared from brains of animals belonging to various experimental groups. These groups were designed with the intention to follow changes in enzyme activities 2 h or 24 h after systemic administration of 5 g EB or 2 mg P to testectomized (TX) animals. The obtained results show that both EB and P increase CAT activity, whereas EB decreases GSH-Px, GST and GR activities. These findings clearly show the modulatory role of EB and P in the control of enzymes responsible for the protection of rat nerve cells against oxidative damage caused by free oxygen radicals., S. B. Pajović, Z. S. Saičić, M. B. Spasić, V. M. Petrović., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Neuroprotective effects of estrogens and progesterone have been widely studied in various experimental models. The present study was designed to compare possible neuroprotective effects of 17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, and progesterone on oxidative stress in rats subjecte d to global cerebral ischemia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced in ovariectomized female rats by four vessel occlusion for 10 min. Following 72 h of reperfusion, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, oxidative stress marker), and reduced glutathione (GSH, major endogenous antioxidant) were assessed in hippocampus, striatum and cortex of rats treated with either 17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, progesterone or estradiol + progesterone beforehand. Steroid administration ameliorated ischemia-induced decrease in GSH and increase in MDA levels. Our data offers additional evidence that estrogens and progesterone or combination of two exert a remarkable neuroprotective effect reducing oxidative stress., V. H. Ozacmak, H. Sayan., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Isoflavones are a subgroup of phytoestrogens, natural plant substances with structure similar to 17-β-estradiol and capable of binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). Isoflavones possess higher affinity to ERβ than to ERα and may have a potency to activate both genomic and non-genomic estrogen signaling pathways. In addition, isoflavones interact with the metabolism of steroid hormones. Therefore, the actions of isoflavones are rather complex and may be related to large number of factors, which are not satisfactorily identified yet. Recently, isoflavones have come into focus of interest due to several reports about their positive effect on human health, in particular prevention of hormone-dependent cancers, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, adverse menopausal manifestations and agerelated cognitive decline. Isoflavones may bring new insights into the mechanisms of physiological regulations and increase the possibilities of medical interventions., L. Pilšáková, I. Riečanský, F. Jagla., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy