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Pseudopregnant Rats (pseudopregnant + rat)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Developing Ovarian Follicles Inhibit the Endotoxin-Induced Glomerular Inflammatory Reaction in Pseudopregnant Rats

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2004
Marijke M. Faas
Problem:, We tested the hypothesis that developing ovarian follicles produce factors inhibiting the endotoxin induced inflammatory response. Method of study:, Pseudopregnant rats were treated with FSH to induced follicular development (FSH-rats). For control we used untreated pseudopregnant rats (PSP-rats) and rats in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle (C-rats). All rats were infused with either saline or endotoxin. Three days after the infusion rats were sacrificed and kidney specimens were snapfrozen. Cryostat kidney sections were stained for the presence of monocytes, granulocytes, CD11a- and CD11b-positive cells and for ICAM-1 expression. Results:, The results show that induction of follicular development in pseudopregnant rats inhibited glomerular infiltration of monocytes and CD11b+ cells, while it did not affect the other parameters, i.e. glomerular granulocyte number, CD11a+ cells and glomerular ICAM-1 expression. Conclusion:, Developing ovarian follicles produce factors inhibiting monocyte responses to endotoxin. [source]

Enhanced Anticonvulsant Activity of Neuroactive Steroids in a Rat Model of Catamenial Epilepsy

EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2001
Doodipala S. Reddy
Summary: ,Purpose: Perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy may in part be due to withdrawal of the endogenous progesterone-derived neurosteroid allopregnanolone that potentiates ,-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor,mediated inhibition. Here we sought to determine whether the anticonvulsant potencies of neuroactive steroids, benzodiazepines, phenobarbital (PB), and valproate (VPA) are altered during the heightened seizure susceptibility accompanying neurosteroid withdrawal in a rat model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy. Methods: Test drugs were evaluated for their ability to alter the convulsant activity of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in young adult female rats, in pseudopregnant rats with prolonged exposure to high levels of progesterone (and its neurosteroid metabolites), and in pseudopregnant rats 24 h after acute withdrawal of neurosteroids by treatment with the 5,-reductase inhibitor finasteride. Test drugs were administered at doses equivalent to twice their ED50 values for protection against PTZ-induced clonic seizures in naive young adult female rats. Results: The anticonvulsant activity of allopregnanolone (5 mg/kg, s.c.), pregnanolone (5 mg/kg, s.c.), allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (15 mg/kg, s.c.), and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (10 mg/kg, s.c.) were enhanced by 34,127% after neurosteroid withdrawal. The anticonvulsant activity of PB (65 mg/kg, i.p.) was also enhanced by 24% in neurosteroid-withdrawn animals. In contrast, the anticonvulsant activity of diazepam (4 mg/kg, i.p.), bretazenil (0.106 mg/kg, i.p.), and VPA (560 mg/kg, i.p.) were reduced or unchanged in neurosteroid-withdrawn animals. Conclusions: The anticonvulsant activity of neuroactive steroids is potentiated after neurosteroid withdrawal, supporting the use of such agents in the treatment of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy. [source]