Chorionic Gonadotropin (chorionic + gonadotropin)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences48%
Life Sciences37%

Kinds of Chorionic Gonadotropin

  • human chorionic gonadotropin
    		•

    Selected Abstracts

    Functional reconstruction and synthetic mimicry of a conformational epitope using CLIPSÔ technology,

    JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 5 2007
    Peter Timmerman
    Abstract This paper describes immunization studies with CLIPS-constrained peptides covering only the major part (,3-loop) of a structurally complex antigenic site on human Follicle Stimulating Hormone , -subunit (FSH- ,). In cases where linear and SS-constrained peptides fail, the CLIPS-constrained peptides generate polyclonal antibodies with high neutralizing activity for hFSH. The sera were shown to be specific for hFSH over human Luteinizing Hormone (hLH) and human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). ELISA-competition studies and circular dichroism (CD)-measurements illustrate clearly that activity of the peptides in antibody binding and generation relates directly to precise and appropriate fixation of the peptide conformation. Design of the CLIPS-peptides was entirely based on epitope mapping studies with two neutralizing anti-hFSH mAbs. Both mAbs were shown to bind to a conformational epitope located at the top of the ,1,,3-loop covering the amino acid sequences Y58 -P77 (,3-loop). The results described in this paper show that CLIPS-constrained peptides covering the Y58 -P77 sequence provide the minimally required structural entity necessary to generate reproducibly sera with high hFSH-neutralizing activity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Effect of Weaning to Oestrus Interval and Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin on Vaginal Electrical Impedance During Peri-oestrus in Sows

    REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2009

    Contents The influence of weaning to oestrus interval, its interaction with parity and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on changes of vaginal impedance in sows after weaning was examined. The impedance measurements were carried out by a four-terminal method. Sows were monitored for oestrus via exposure to a sexually mature boar. The interval from weaning to oestrus was longer in primiparous than multiparous sows (p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between the interval from weaning to oestrus and parity. Repeated measures analysis showed that the interval from weaning to oestrus and parity and their interactions had a significant effect on the vaginal impedance in peri-oestrus. The vaginal impedance during pro-oestrus gradually decreased in all groups of sows with the weaning to oestrus interval from 4 to 8 days (p < 0.05). In the subsequent period, the vaginal impedance increased and was significantly lower from 1 to 3 days after oestrus onset in sows with the weaning to oestrus interval 7,8 days than 4,6 days. Similarly, the vaginal impedance during pro-oestrus gradually decreased in all groups of sows with parity 1,5 (p < 0.01). In the next period, the vaginal impedance increased and was significantly lower from 2,3 days after oestrus onset in sows of parity 1 than parity 2,5. Repeated measures analysis showed that eCG treatment had a significant effect on the vaginal impedance in peri-oestrus. Sows treated with eCG displayed the decrease and increase of vaginal impedance due to oestrus onset earlier than untreated sows. The results indicate that the weaning to oestrus interval, its interaction with parity and eCG markedly affect the vaginal impedance in sows during peri-oestrus. [source]

    The analysis of immunophenotype of gastrin-producing tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract

    CANCER, Issue 9 2003
    Larissa Gurevich M.D., Ph.D.
    Abstract BACKGROUND Gastrinomas are located more frequently in the pancreas, which normally has no cells that can produce gastrin. They have a more aggressive course than other pancreatic endocrine tumors and extrapancreatic gastrinomas associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 1 syndrome. The current study analyzed immunophenotypes of gastrinomas and compared them with other pancreatic endocrine tumors. METHODS Twenty-one formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (15-tumors in the pancreas, 1 in the duodenum, 1 in the stomach, 1 in the liver, and 3 of unknown primary location) accompanied by Zollinger,Ellison syndrome and 17 other pancreatic endocrine tumor specimens were investigated. They were stained immunohistochemically for gastrin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, calcitonin, serotonin, chorionic gonadotropin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and cytokeratin 19. RESULTS Gastrinomas coexpressed neuroendocrine and exocrine markers, including chromogranin A, synaptophysin, carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 19, and epithelial membrane antigen. Carcinoembryonic antigen was found in all 17 gastrinomas (100%), cytokeratin 19 was found in 15 of 17 (88.2%) gastrinomas, and epithelial membrane antigen was found in 16 of 18 (88.9 %) gastrinomas. Cytokeratin 19, epithelial membrane antigen, and carcinoembryonic antigen were not found to be present in the pancreatic endocrine tumors, but chromogranin A and synaptophysin were. Chorionic gonadotropin was found in 16 gastrinomas (100%), but only in 2 of 17 other pancreatic endocrine tumors (11.8 %). CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic gastrinomas were characterized by the coexpression of neuroendocrine markers, exocrine markers, and chorionic gonadotropin. Therefore, pancreatic gastrinomas made a special intermediate group of tumors, which phenotypically combined features of neuroendocrine and exocrine neoplasms. These findings suggested that sporadic pancreatic gastrinomas and other pancreatic endocrine tumors are different phenotypically and are possibly of different origin. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society. [source]

    Mechanism of malsegregations at meiosis: premature centromere separation and precocious division in female Chinese hamsters stimulated with gonadotropic hormones

    CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 3 2000
    Shin-ichi Sonta
    ABSTRACT, Using female Chinese hamsters stimulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), we investigated the influence of hormonal stimulation upon meiotic segregation in oocytes. In 1,576 oocytes ovulated spontaneously from 197 non-treated mature females, the number (percentage) of hyperhaploid oocytes with more than 12 (12,14) chromosomes was 16 (1.0%). These cells had no extra single chromatids, but all had extra chromosomes. Single chromatids were seen in 7 (0.4%) cells with a haploid chromosome set. On the other hand, a total of 1,329 and 1,198 second meiotic (MII) oocytes from 64 mature females and 61 immature females stimulated with PMSG and hCG, respectively, were subjected to chromosomal analysis. Single chromatids were seen in 34 (2.6%) and 62 (5.2%) of these oocytes, respectively. Since these chromatids were mostly paired and the sister chromatids existed near each other in many cells, they may have separated from some chromosomes of haploid cells. Compared with the non-treated females, the frequency of cells with single chromatids was significantly greater in oocytes from both mature and immature females stimulated with PMSG and hCG. The number (percentage) of hyperhaploid cells from mature and immature PMSG-hCG-stimulated females, respectively, was 15 (1.1%) and 14 (1.2%), which was not significantly greater than that in non-treated females. Most of these cells had extra whole chromosomes but one oocyte from mature females and one from immature females had an extra single chromatid. These findings indicate that such hormonal stimulation induces premature centromere separation in MII oocytes and precocious division at anaphase I, which can be assumed by the presence of MII cells with extra single chromatids. Considering that no or less hyperhaploid MII oocytes with an extra single chromatid were seen in oocytes from spontaneous ovulation and from artificial ovulation on hormonal stimulation, these findings suggest that the major mechanism of malsegregations at first meiotic (MI) division is not a precocious division but rather, errors such as nondisjunction of homologous chromosomes (dyads). [source]

    Sex differences in and hormonal regulation of Kv1 potassium channel gene expression in the electric organ: Molecular control of a social signal

    DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
    W. Preston Few
    Abstract Electric fish communicate with electric organ (EO) discharges (EODs) that are sexually dimorphic, hormone-sensitive, and often individually distinct. The cells of the EO (electrocytes) of the weakly electric fish Sternopygus possess delayed rectifying K+ currents that systematically vary in their activation and deactivation kinetics, and this precise variation in K+ current kinetics helps shape sex and individual differences in the EOD. Because members of the Kv1 subfamily produce delayed rectifier currents, we cloned a number of genes in the Kv1 subfamily from the EO of Sternopygus. Using our sequences and those from genome databases, we found that in teleost fish Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 exist as duplicate pairs (Kv1.1a&b, Kv1.2a&b) whereas Kv1.3 does not. Using real-time quantitative RT-PCR, we found that Kv1.1a and Kv1.2a, but not Kv1.2b, expression in the EO is higher in high EOD frequency females (which have fast EO K+ currents) than in low EOD frequency males (which have slow EO K+ currents). Systemic treatment with dihydrotestosterone decreased Kv1.1a and Kv1.2a, but not Kv1.2b, expression in the EO, whereas treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increased Kv1.2a but not Kv1.1a or Kv1.2b expression in the EO. Thus, systematic variation in the ratios of Kv1 channels expressed in the EO is correlated with individual differences in and sexual dimorphism of a communication signal. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007 [source]

    Cerebral hemiatrophy with superficial siderosis and PLEDs due to a germ cell tumor of the basal ganglia

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2006
    N. Kumar
    The diagnosis of basal ganglia germ cell tumors may be delayed due to slow progression and minimal early changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cystic nature of some tumors may lead to non-diagnostic biopsies. We describe the clinical, imaging, laboratory, and postmortem findings of a basal ganglia germ cell tumor in a 19-year-old man. Clues to an early antemortem diagnosis based on MRI findings and determination of tumor markers are discussed. An early diagnosis and accurate characterization of basal ganglia germ cell tumors is essential for optimal therapy. The presence of cerebral hemiatrophy and hemorrhagic or cystic components is suggestive. Measurement of serum and cerebrospinal fluid markers such as human chorionic gonadotropin may suggest the diagnosis. [source]

    Effects of supra-physiological changes in human ovarian hormone levels on maximum force production of the first dorsal interosseus muscle

    EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
    Kirsty Jayne Elliott
    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supra-physiological changes in ovarian hormone levels on maximum force production in two conditions, one physiological (pregnancy) and one pseudo-physiological (in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment). Forty IVF patients were tested at four distinct stages of treatment and 35 women were tested during each trimester of pregnancy and following parturition. Maximum voluntary isometric force per unit cross-sectional area of the first dorsal interosseus muscle was measured. Plasma concentrations of total and bioavailable oestradiol and testosterone were measured, in addition to the total concentrations of progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin. Despite significant changes in the concentrations of total progesterone, 17,-oestradiol, bioavailable oestradiol and testosterone between phases, strength did not change significantly throughout IVF treatment (1.30 ± 0.29, 1.16 ± 0.38, 1.20 ± 0.29 and 1.26 ± 0.34 N mm,2, respectively, in the 4 phases of IVF treatment). Force production was significantly higher during the second trimester of pregnancy than following childbirth (1.33 ± 0.20 N mm,2 at week 12 of pregnancy, 1.51 ± 0.42 N mm,2 at week 20, 1.15 ± 0.26 N mm,2 at week 36 and 0.94 ± 0.31 N mm,2 at week 6 postnatal) but was not significantly correlated with any of the hormones measured. These data suggest that extreme changes in the concentrations of reproductive hormones do not affect the maximum force-generating capacity of young women. [source]

    Preoperative hCG, and CA 72-4 are prognostic factors in gastric cancer

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2004
    Johanna Louhimo
    Abstract In gastric cancer, the role of tumour markers in assessment of prognosis is unconfirmed. In our study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of serum tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 72-4, CA 242 and free , subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG,) in gastric cancer. Preoperative serum samples were obtained from 146 patients with gastric cancer, including 29 with stage I, 11 with stage II, 42 with stage III and 64 patients with stage IV cancer. Quantitation of CEA, CA 19-9, CA 72-4 and CA 242 in serum was performed with commercial assays. HCG, was measured with an in-house immunofluorometric assay based on monoclonal antibodies specific for the free ,-subunit of hCG. Survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier life-tables and log-rank test, and with multivariate Cox regression analysis. Disease-specific cumulative 2-year survival rate was 40%. Serum levels of CEA, CA 72-4, CA 242 and hCG, showed significant correlation with stage (p<0.027); for CA 19-9 the association was of borderline significance (p=0.056). Of the studied markers, CA 19-9, CA 72-4, CA 242 and hCG, were found to be prognostic factors in univariate analysis (p< 0.022). In multivariate analysis, stage had the statistically most significant association with prognosis followed by hCG,, tumour histology according to the Laurén classification and by CA 72-4. In gastric cancer, tumour markers hCG, and CA 72-4 are independent prognostic factors in addition to stage and histological type of the tumour. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Recent trends in the treatment of testosterone deficiency syndrome

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 11 2007
    Bum Sik Hong
    Abstract: Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is defined as a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and is characterized by typical symptoms and deficiency in serum testosterone levels. TDS is a result of the interaction of hypothalamo-pituitary and testicular factors. Now, treatment of TDS with testosterone is still controversial due to a lack of large, controlled clinical trials on efficacy. The risks of treatment with testosterone appear to be minimal, although long-term studies on the safety of testosterone therapy are lacking. The aim of the therapy is to establish a physiological concentration of serum testosterone in order to correct the androgen deficiency, relieve its symptoms and prevent long-term sequelae. All of the available products, despite their varying pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, are able to reach this goal. Newer testosterone patches seem not to cause severe skin irritation. Testosterone gels minimize the skin irritation while providing flexibility in dosing and a low discontinuation rate. Oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) is free of liver toxicity. Recent formulation of oral TU markedly increased shelf-live, a major drawback in the older preparation. Producing swings in testosterone levels rising rapidly to the supraphysiological range is not the case with the new injectable long-acting preparation of TU. To be able to rapidly react and stop treatment in cases where side-effects and contraindications are detected, the short-acting transdermal and oral delivery modes have certain advantages. However, there is no evidence that the use of an injectable long-acting TU in men with TDS has limitations in clinical application for this reason. The use of dehydroepiandrosterone is still controversial because of a lack of well designed long-term trials, although some recent studies suggest positive effects on various body systems. Only a few studies have been carried out to investigate the effect of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in TDS with some positive results on various body systems. [source]

    Risk prediction for Down's syndrome in young pregnant women using maternal serum biomarkers: determination of cut-off risk from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis

    JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2007
    Hsiao-Lin Hwa MD PhD
    Abstract Objective, The aim of this study was to establish a predictive model for Down's syndrome using maternal age as well as maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and to identify an optimal cut-off risk in women under the age of 35 years to improve sensitivity. Methods, Logistic regression models were utilized to predict fetal Down's syndrome as a function of maternal age and logarithm of levels of AFP as well as hCG using training data of 20 pregnancies with fetal Down's syndrome and 9730 unaffected pregnancies. Validation was performed using data of another nine affected pregnancies and 3496 unaffected pregnancies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. Results, Based on the newly established logistic regression equations, the optimal cut-off risk from the ROC curve analysis was at 1:499, with a 17.8% false-positive rate and a 90.0% sensitivity. A suboptimal cut-off risk was estimated at 1:332, with a 12.0% false-positive rate and an 80% sensitivity. Conclusion, A predictive model for Down's syndrome was developed using logistic regression. By ROC curve analysis and clinical consideration, the cut-off risk for young pregnant women could be determined. [source]

    Urinary steroids, FSH and CG measurements for monitoring the ovarian cycle and pregnancy in the chimpanzee

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
    Keiko Shimizu
    Abstract: Non-invasive methods for monitoring reproductive status of chimpanzee based on the measurement of urinary steroids and gonadotropins were examined. A typical pre-ovulatory urinary estrone conjugate (E1C) surge and post-ovulatory increase in pregnandiol glucuronide (PdG) were seen during the menstrual cycle. Urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) showed two peaks over the infertile menstrual cycle. The earliest changes indicating pregnancy were a coincident rise in E1C and chorionic gonadotropin (CG) levels and a concomitant fall in FSH levels. Urinary PdG levels showed a prolonged rise. Urinary E1C in the pregnant chimpanzee was higher than during the menstrual cycle and increased with advancing gestation, with maximum levels occurring near term. In the case of stillbirth, E1C and CG levels from mid- through late-pregnancy were low and the prepartum progressive increase in E1C was not shown. The data presented here are of great practical value in captive breeding management of chimpanzees. [source]

    Single Chain Variants of the Glycoprotein Hormones and Their Receptors as Tools to Study Receptor Activation and for Analogue Design

    JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 2 2004
    D. Ben-Menahem
    Abstract One of the crucial steps in the biosynthesis of multisubunit proteins is their assembly. The glycoprotein hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and chorionic gonadotropin, are noncovalent heterodimers. Their assembly is critical for bioactivity because the heterodimers, but not the monomeric subunits, efficiently bind to and activate the cognate heptahelical receptor. Occasionally, mutated subunits cannot combine into a functional hormone, or the bioactivity of the assembled, yet modified, heterodimer is suboptimal. [source]

    Surgery-related shedding of breast cancer cells as determined by RT-PCR assay

    JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
    Xi-Chun Hu MD
    Abstract Background and Objectives Surgery could result in the shedding of cancer cells into the circulation. These cells were investigated with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and ,-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (,-hCG). Patients and Methods Peripheral blood was sampled from 49 patients with breast cancer before operation (d,1), 1 day after operation (d1), and 7 days after operation (d7). Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, followed by RT-PCR assay. The products for ,-hCG were digested with Sty I endonuclease. The patients were followed up for a median of 33 months for signs of recurrence and metastasis. Results The results for CK19 at d,1, d1, and d7 were 8.2, 20.4, and 10.2%, respectively. For ,-hCG, the corresponding results were 12.2, 26.5, and 16.3%, respectively. There was a higher positive rate in d1 samples than in d,1 samples for CK19 and ,-hCG (P,<,0.05 and P,=,0.092, respectively). Conversions of signals from being negative to positive were found in all stages. These did not demonstrate a statistical correlation with prognostic factors associated with a poor prognosis. Only two of the five recurrence occurred in the 15 patients with the signal conversions, while the other three occurred in the patients showing no signals in all samples. Conclusions Cancerous breast cells that enter into the blood circulation as a result of an operation are unlikely to be involved in the formation of metastatic deposits. J. Surg. Oncol. 2003;82:228,232. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Regulation of prostaglandin synthesis in ovaries of sexually-mature zebrafish (Danio rerio)

    MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 11 2009
    Andrea L. Lister
    This study investigates the regulation of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in the ovaries of sexually-mature zebrafish (Danio rerio). We examined the ovarian expression of genes within the arachidonic acid (AA) pathway, and the ovarian levels of 17,,20,-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,,20,-P), 17,-estradiol (E2), and PGF2, in spawning and nonspawning fish during the ovulatory cycle. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cpla2) and cyclooxygenases (COX)-2 (ptgs2) in ovarian fragments and in isolated full-grown follicles of spawning fish were highest at 6:00 when ovulation was expected to occur. In nonspawning fish, cpla2 expression levels declined over time while ptgs2 expression displayed the same temporal pattern as in spawning fish. Elevated levels of 17,,20,-P in the spawning fish occurred at 3:30, but there were no changes in the nonspawning fish. In other studies conducted to investigate the hormonal regulation of AA pathway genes, fish exposed via the water for 24 or 96,hr to 17,,20,-P or E2 exhibited reduced ovarian expression levels of COX-1 (ptgs1) and PG E synthase-2 (ptgsl), and E2 reduced the expression of cpla2. Injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (100,IU) led to increased expression levels of cpla2 and ptgs2 at 2 and 18,hr post-treatment, but consistently reduced ptgs1 and ptgsl expression. In these fish, ovarian levels of 17,,20,-P were elevated at all time points and PGF2, levels in the hCG-treated group were significantly higher than the control fish at 18,hr. Collectively, these in vivo results suggest that gonadotropins and steroids are involved in the regulation of the AA pathway in ovarian follicles of zebrafish. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 1064,1075, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Impaired cytotrophoblast cell,cell fusion is associated with reduced Syncytin and increased apoptosis in patients with placental dysfunction

    MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2008
    Manuela Langbein
    Abstract Preeclampsia (PE), Hemolysis Elevated Liver Enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP)-syndrome, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are associated with abnormal placentation. In early pregnancy, placental cytotrophoblasts fuse and form multinuclear syncytiotrophoblasts. The envelope gene of the human endogenous retrovirus-W, Syncytin, is a key factor for mediating cell,cell fusion of cytotrophoblasts. This study investigated clinical parameters of PE and HELLP-associated IUGR and analyzed the cell,cell fusion index and ,-human chorionic gonadotropin (,-hCG) secretion of cytotrophoblasts isolated and cultured from placentas of these patients. In addition, we performed absolute quantitation of Syncytin and determined the apoptosis rate in both cultured cytotrophoblasts and placental tissues. Cultured cytotrophoblasts from PE and HELLP-associated IUGR correlated with a pronounced lower cell,cell fusion index, 1.8- and 3.6-fold; less nuclei per syncytiotrophoblast, 1.4- and 2.0-fold; a significantly decreased ,-hCG secretion, 4.3- and 17.2-fold and a reduction of Syncytin gene expression, 8.1 (P,=,0.019) and 222.7-fold (P,=,0.011) compared with controls, respectively. In contrast, a significantly 2.3-fold higher apoptosis rate was observed in cultured PE/IUGR cytotrophoblasts (P,=,0.043). Importantly, Syncytin gene expression in primary placental tissues of PE/IUGR was 5.4-fold lower (P,=,0.047) and in HELLP/IUGR 10.6-fold lower (P,=,0.019) along with a 1.8- and 1.9-fold significant increase in the apoptosis rate compared with controls, respectively. Low Syncytin expression in both cultured cytotrophoblasts and primary tissues from pathological placentas supports an intrinsic placenta-specific deregulation of cell,cell fusion in the formation of syncytiotrophoblasts leading to increased apoptosis. These processes could contribute to the development and severity of PE and HELLP-associated IUGR. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 175,183, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Reduced oxygen concentration improves the developmental competence of mouse oocytes following in vitro maturation

    MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 7 2007
    Kimberly A. Preis
    Abstract Reduced atmospheric oxygen concentration is beneficial to embryo development; however, optimal oxygen concentration for oocyte maturation remains undetermined. Likewise, there is no consensus of appropriate medium supplementation during maturation. The objective of this study was to determine whether oxygen tension (20% or 5% O2) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) affect oocyte metabolism and subsequent embryo development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 28-day-old equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) primed or unprimed F1 (C57BL/6xCBA) mice. COCs were matured in defined medium in one of four groups: 20% O2, 20% O2,+,EGF, 5% O2, 5% O2,+,EGF. In vivo matured COCs were also collected for analysis. COCs from unprimed mice, matured in 5% O2,±,EGF or 20% O2,+,EGF had higher metabolic rates than COCs matured in 20% O2 (P,<,0.05). COCs from primed mice had higher metabolic rates when matured in the presence of EGF, regardless of oxygen tension (P,<,0.01). Oxygen uptake and mitochondrial membrane potential were higher for in vivo matured oocytes and oocytes matured under 5% O2 compared to oocytes matured under 20% O2 (P,<,0.05). Blastocyst formation was not different between maturation groups (primed or unprimed); however, embryo cell numbers were 20,45% significantly higher when COCs were matured at 5% O2 (P,<,0.05). Results suggest that oocytes matured in physiological concentrations of oxygen have improved development and metabolic activity, more closely resembling in vivo maturation. These findings have implications for oocyte maturation in both clinical and research laboratories. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 893,903, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Induction of alpha-caveolin-1 (,CAV1) expression in bovine granulosa cells in response to an ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotropin

    MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 11 2006
    Mame Nahé Diouf
    Abstract Caveolins are implicated in endocytosis, cholesterol trafficking and signal transduction. A cDNA fragment corresponding to caveolin-1 (CAV1) was identified in a mRNA profiling expression study in bovine granulosa cells (GC) following human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced ovulation. Thus, we have characterized CAV1 cDNA and studied its spatio-temporal expression pattern in bovine ovarian follicles. The full-length bovine ,CAV1 cDNA was cloned and encodes a putative 22 kDa protein. Expression of ,CAV1 was studied in bovine GC obtained from follicles at different developmental stages: small follicles (SF: 2,4 mm), dominant follicles (DF), ovulatory follicles (OF: 24 hr post-hCG), and corpus luteum (CL). Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed a 6.5-fold increase in ,CAV1 mRNA in GC of OF versus DF (P,<,0.0001), whereas CAV2 mRNA was increased by only twofold (P,<,0.0007). Temporal expression of ,CAV1 mRNA from OF recovered at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hr after hCG injection showed an 8.5-fold increase of ,CAV1 mRNA after 24 hr compared to 0 hr (P,<,0.0018) whereas no significant variation was detected for CAV2. Immunoblot demonstrated an initial increase in ,CAV1 protein level 12 hr post-hCG, reaching a maximum at 24 hr. Immunohistochemical localization of CAV1 was observed in GC of OF isolated 18 and 24 hr after hCG injection, whereas no signal was detected in GC of DF and SF. The induction of ,CAV1 in GC of OF suggests that ,CAV1 likely contributes to control the increase in membrane signaling that occurs at the time of ovulation and luteinization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1353,1360, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Effects of meiosis-inhibiting agents and equine chorionic gonadotropin on nuclear maturation of canine oocytes

    MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2003
    N. Songsasen
    Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of meiosis-inhibiting-agents and gonadotropins on nuclear maturation of canine oocytes. The culture medium was TCM199,+,10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor supplemented with 25 ,M ,-mercaptoethanol, 0.25 mM pyruvate, and 1.0 mM L-glutamine (Basal TCM). Initially, oocytes were cultured in Basal TCM alone or in Basal TCM,+,dibutylryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (0.5, 1, 5, or 10 mM dbcAMP) for 24 hr. Dibutylryl cAMP inhibited resumption of meiosis in a dose-dependent manner; 60% of oocytes remained at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage after being cultured for 24 hr in 5 mM dbcAMP. The meiosis-inhibitory effect of dbcAMP appeared to be reversible, as the oocytes resumed meiosis and completed nuclear maturation after being cultured for an additional 48 hr in its absence. Oocytes were then cultured in Basal TCM alone or in Basal TCM,+,roscovitine (12.5, 25, or 50 ,M) for 24 hr. Although ,60% of oocytes cultured in 25 ,M roscovitine remained at the GV stage, this percentage was not significantly different from the 48% that also remained at the GV stage when cultured in its absence. Oocytes were cultured in Basal TCM,+ 25 ,M roscovitine for 17 hr, exposed briefly to equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), and then cultured in Basal TCM for 48 hr. Short exposure of oocytes to eCG was beneficial, as it significantly increased the proportion of oocytes developing beyond germinal vesicle breakdown (P,<,0.05) with ,20,30% of these were metaphase I (MI) oocytes. Study of the kinetics of nuclear maturation demonstrated that large numbers of oocytes remained at MI even after being cultured for 52 hr following brief exposure to eCG. This study showed that in vitro maturation of canine oocytes can be somewhat improved by short exposure of oocytes to eCG. However, further studies are still required to derive effective methods to mature canine oocytes in vitro. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 65: 435,445, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor of the uterus: Cytological and immunohistochemical observation of a case

    PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2002
    Seiryu Kamoi
    Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is a new entity of trophoblastic tumor and 14 such cases were reported by Shih and Kurman in 1998. However, only three subsequent cases supporting ETT have been reported. Recently, we experienced a case of ETT in a 37-year-old woman whose preoperative endometrial brushings showed atypical mononucleate giant cells and who underwent hysterectomy with the diagnosis of a uterine fibroid. The specimens revealed a 2.5 × 3.0 cm yellow,tan intramural nodule located in the lower uterine segment, which was composed of a neoplastic proliferation of intermediate trophoblasts in epithelioid arrangements. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for cytokeratin and inhibin- ,, and focally positive for human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen. She presented an uneventful clinical course as of September 2001. [source]

    Effect of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf.) hull extracts on testosterone release from rat Leydig cells

    PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009
    Shih-Min Hsia
    Abstract Adlay has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of many diseases. However, few studies have reported the effects of adlay seeds on the endocrine system. In the present study, the effects of methanol extracts of adlay hull (AHM) on testosterone synthesis were studied. Rat Leydig cells were incubated with different reagents including human chorionic gonadotropin, 8-bromo-adenosine-3,,5,-cyclic monophosphate, forskolin, A23187, progesterone and androstenedione in the presence or absence of AHM. The rat anterior pituitary (AP) gland was treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in vitro in the presence or absence of AHM, and the concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the media were measured. AHM decreased testosterone release via the inhibition of (1) the PKA and PKC signal transduction pathways, (2) 17, -HSD enzyme activity in rat Leydig cells, and (3) in vitro GnRH-induced LH secretion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Recombinant anti-hCG antibodies retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of transformed plants lack core-xylose and core-,(1,3)-fucose residues

    PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004
    Rajan Sriraman
    Summary Plant-based expression systems are attractive for the large-scale production of pharmaceutical proteins. However, glycoproteins require particular attention as inherent differences in the N-glycosylation pathways of plants and mammals result in the production of glycoproteins bearing core-xylose and core-,(1,3)-fucose glyco-epitopes. For treatments requiring large quantities of repeatedly administered glycoproteins, the immunological properties of these non-mammalian glycans are a concern. Recombinant glycoproteins could be retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to prevent such glycan modifications occurring in the late Golgi compartment. Therefore, we analysed cPIPP, a mouse/human chimeric IgG1 antibody binding to the ,-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), fused to a C-terminal KDEL sequence, to investigate the efficiency of ER retrieval and the consequences in terms of N-glycosylation. The KDEL-tagged cPIPP antibody was expressed in transgenic tobacco plants or Agrobacterium -infiltrated tobacco and winter cherry leaves. N-Glycan analysis showed that the resulting plantibodies contained only high-mannose (Man)-type Man-6 to Man-9 oligosaccharides. In contrast, the cPIPP antibody lacking the KDEL sequence was found to carry complex N-glycans containing core-xylose and core-,(1,3)-fucose, thereby demonstrating the secretion competence of the antibody. Furthermore, fusion of KDEL to the diabody derivative of PIPP, which contains an N-glycosylation site within the heavy chain variable domain, also resulted in a molecule lacking complex glycans. The complete absence of xylose and fucose residues clearly shows that the KDEL-mediated ER retrieval of cPIPP or its diabody derivative is efficient in preventing the formation of non-mammalian complex oligosaccharides. [source]

    Population screening for fetal trisomy 21: easy access to screening should be balanced against a uniform ultrasound protocol

    PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 11 2005
    Wilfried J. A. Gyselaers
    Abstract Objectives To evaluate the performance of a first-trimester fetal aneuploidy screening program, with a documented underestimation of nuchal translucency thickness measurements (NT) compared to the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) reference range. Methods We analysed the data of Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium (AML) in Antwerp, Belgium, on combined screening with pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free ,-human chorionic gonadotropin (FB-hCG) and NT. NT-multiples of the median (MoM), relative to the FMF reference range, were used for risk calculations. Results The proportion of first-trimester screening tests in the total of serum screening tests increased from 1.3% (125/9424) in 2000 to 53.1% (6577/12 377) in 2003. Only 11.4% (1514/13 267) of NT measurements were performed according to FMF criteria. The 80.8% (21/26) trisomy 21 (T21) detection rate (DR) at cut off 1:300 resulted from maternal serum screening. NT measurements did not add to this DR, but reduced the false-positive rate from 16.8% (2212/13181) to 8.6% (1130/13181). Only 23.8% (5/21) of T21 detections were by FMF trainees. Conclusion Easy access to screening and maternal serum parameters accounted for the majority of T21 detections in our first-trimester combined screening program. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Maternal serum,integrated screening for trisomy 18 using both first- and second-trimester markers

    PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 3 2003
    Glenn E. Palomaki
    Abstract Objectives To estimate the prenatal screening performance of an integrated serum test for detecting trisomy 18, which combines measurements of first- and second-trimester markers with maternal age to assign patient-specific risks. Methods Published and new observations of maternal serum marker levels in trisomy 18 and unaffected pregnancies are used to derive population parameters. These parameters are then combined in a multivariate Gaussian model to assign patient-specific risks for trisomy 18. Results The best combination of serum markers includes pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in the first trimester and alpha-fetoprotein, unconjugated estriol and human chorionic gonadotropin in the second trimester. At a second-trimester risk cutoff of 1 : 100, these 4 markers, in combination with maternal age, detect 90% of trisomy 18 pregnancies at a false-positive rate of 0.1%. The odds of a trisomy 18 pregnancy among screen-positive women are 1 : 4. Without the first-trimester marker, detection is reduced to 67% at about the same false-positive rate. Conclusion The algorithm described here is highly efficient for detecting trisomy 18 and should be considered by programs that offer serum-integrated screening for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Effect of Weaning to Oestrus Interval and Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin on Vaginal Electrical Impedance During Peri-oestrus in Sows

    REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2009

    Contents The influence of weaning to oestrus interval, its interaction with parity and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on changes of vaginal impedance in sows after weaning was examined. The impedance measurements were carried out by a four-terminal method. Sows were monitored for oestrus via exposure to a sexually mature boar. The interval from weaning to oestrus was longer in primiparous than multiparous sows (p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between the interval from weaning to oestrus and parity. Repeated measures analysis showed that the interval from weaning to oestrus and parity and their interactions had a significant effect on the vaginal impedance in peri-oestrus. The vaginal impedance during pro-oestrus gradually decreased in all groups of sows with the weaning to oestrus interval from 4 to 8 days (p < 0.05). In the subsequent period, the vaginal impedance increased and was significantly lower from 1 to 3 days after oestrus onset in sows with the weaning to oestrus interval 7,8 days than 4,6 days. Similarly, the vaginal impedance during pro-oestrus gradually decreased in all groups of sows with parity 1,5 (p < 0.01). In the next period, the vaginal impedance increased and was significantly lower from 2,3 days after oestrus onset in sows of parity 1 than parity 2,5. Repeated measures analysis showed that eCG treatment had a significant effect on the vaginal impedance in peri-oestrus. Sows treated with eCG displayed the decrease and increase of vaginal impedance due to oestrus onset earlier than untreated sows. The results indicate that the weaning to oestrus interval, its interaction with parity and eCG markedly affect the vaginal impedance in sows during peri-oestrus. [source]

    No Change Detected in Body Weight, Scrotal Circumference, Semen Characteristics and Sexual Behaviour during the Development of Prepubertal Milchschaf Lambs after Weekly Administration of eCG

    REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 4 2008
    R Ungerfeld
    Contents To study the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on pubertal development, 38 Milchschaf spring born male lambs fathered by the same ram and grazing over native pasture as a single mob during all the experiment were divided into three groups as follows: group 100 (100 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 11), group 400 (400 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 12) and group 0 (controls, n = 15). Lambs were weighed and scrotal circumference was registered every 2 weeks since birth until 170 days of age (end of experiment). On days 125 and 167 semen was collected using an electroejaculator. Semen volume and concentration, mass and individual sperm motility (scale 0 to 5) and total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate were recorded. The sexual behaviour of the lambs was evaluated twice, on days 127 and 170 in a pen test with oestrous ewes. There were no significant effects of treatment on body weight or scrotal circumference, semen characteristics or sexual behaviour. At least in the administration regimens tested, eCG treatment has no effect on prepubertal reproductive development of male lambs. [source]

    Litter Size and Vagina,cervix Catheter Penetration Length in Gilts

    REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2001
    S Martín Rillo
    As in other species, the reproductive tract in pigs increases in size with age and body weight, and the development of the reproductive tract depends on a balance between development of the pituitary,ovarian axis and the influence of metabolic hormones. Two experiments were conducted in prepubertal Duroc gilts, 150,180 days of age, to determine whether litter size is related to vaginal,cervix catheter penetration length during insemination. In experiment 1, oestrus was induced in 452 gilts with a combined dose of 400 IU Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophine (PMSG) + 200 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The gilts were classified into three catheter penetration length groups: Ih, , 21 cm; IIh, > 21 and < 28 cm; IIIh, > 28 cm. The litter size was lowest in group Ih (7.35 ± 0.15) compared with groups IIh (7.81 ± 0.12; p < 0.05) and IIIh (10.0 ± 0.36; p < 0.001). In experiment 2, first oestrus was induced in 162 gilts by boar exposure. The gilts were classified into three catheter penetration length groups at insemination during their second oestrus: In, , 24 cm; IIn, > 24 and < 26 cm; IIIn, > 26 cm. As in experiment 1, the litter size was lowest in the group with the shortest catheter penetration length (8.32 ± 0.19). The litter size was not different among gilts of groups IIn and IIIn (8.84 ± 0.35 and 9.56 ± 0.46, respectively), but litter size was lower (p < 0.05) in group In than in group IIn. Based on the combined data from both experiments, the correlation between the catheter penetration length and total number of piglets born was expressed as: y=5.346 ± 0.104x; r=0.361 (p < 0.05). Fertility rate was not different among the groups of gilts induced into oestrus by hormone treatment or inseminated in the second oestrus; however, the total fertility rate of boar-exposed gilts was higher (p < 0.0001) than PMSG/hCG treated animals. Thus, it is possible to conclude that litter size at first farrowing is associated with vaginal,cervix catheter penetration length during insemination of the gilt. [source]

    Breast Carcinomas With Choriocarcinomatous Features: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

    THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 4 2002
    Yildiz Erhan MD
    Breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features is rare. This report describes four cases of breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features. The tumor cells were positive for human placental lactogen (hPL) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by immunohistochemistry. The cases reported in the literature had a poor prognosis and the patients died within a few months after the diagnosis. In this series, two cases were lost to follow-up, but the other two have had disease-free survival for 2 and 4 years, respectively. [source]

    Comparison of chorionic gonadotropin expression in human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) trophoblasts

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
    Jason A. Wilken
    Abstract We have designed novel DNA primers that allow us to detect the expression of the subunits of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) from a variety of species of the order Primates. Using these primers, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and standard cloning techniques, we detected the expression of a single gene for the common glycoprotein hormone (GPH) ,-subunit and at least two genes for the CG ,-subunit in trophoblasts of Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgous macaque (cm)) at gestational day (GD) = 26 (± 2d). No cmCG expression was detected at GD = 35,40. When sequences of cmGPH-, and cmCG-, genes were compared to the corresponding genes of other primates, we found that the ,-subunit of M. fascicularis was highly conserved compared to other primate species. However, cmCG ,-subunits appeared to be less conserved, residing between those of human CG-, and baboon CG-, when analyzed phylogenetically. Of particular interest was a three amino acid stretch in one of the expressed cmCG-, genes that is distinct from all other primates studied. Our findings imply that not only does the expression of multiple CG ,-subunit genes appear to be common to Old World monkeys, but that the presented methodology will greatly facilitate our ability to understand primate evolution. Am. J. Primatol. 56:89,97, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Impact of Female Sex Hormones on the Maturation and Function of Human Dendritic Cells

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
    Sabine E. Segerer
    Problem, During pregnancy, the immune and the endocrine system cooperate to ensure that the fetal allograft develops without eliciting a maternal immune response. This is presumably in part achieved by dendritic cells (DCs) that play a dominant role in maintaining peripheral tolerance. In this study, we investigated whether female sex hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone (Prog), and estradiol (E2), which are highly elevated during pregnancy, induce the differentiation of DCs into a tolerance-inducing phenotype. Methods/Results, Immature DCs were generated from blood-derived monocytes and differentiated in the presence of hCG, Prog, E2, or Dexamethasone (Dex) as a control. Unlike Dex, female sex hormones did not prevent the upregulation of surface markers characteristic for mature DCs, such as CD40, CD83, and CD86, except for hCG, which inhibited HLA-DR expression. Similarly, hCG, Prog, and E2 had any impact on neither the rearrangement of the F-actin cytoskeleton nor the enhanced chemokine secretion following DC maturation, both of which were strongly altered by Dex. Nevertheless, the T-cell stimulatory capacity of DCs was significantly reduced after hCG and E2 exposure. Conclusion, Our findings suggest that the female sex hormones hCG and E2 inhibit the T-cell stimulatory capacity of DCs, which may help in preventing an allogenic T-cell response against the embryo. [source]

    SHORT COMMUNICATION: Interleukin-17 Increased Progesterone Secretion by JEG-3 Human Choriocarcinoma Cells

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
    Sutatip Pongcharoen
    Problem, JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line has previously been reported to express a receptor for interleukin (IL)-17. The involvement of IL-17 in the production of progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin by placental trophoblast has not been investigated. Method of study, The present study investigated the in vitro effect of IL-17 on progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion by JEG-3 cells. Both hormones were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results, The results showed that IL-17 significantly increased progesterone secretion at 6 (P < 0.001) and 24 (P < 0.01) hr, while this cytokine had no effect on hCG secretion. Conclusion, Interleukin-17 may regulate the function of JEG-3 cells through increased progesterone secretion. [source]