Search results for "ovary"
showing 10 items of 341 documents
Uterine Receptivity and the Ramifications of Ovarian Stimulation on Endometrial Function
2007
Controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is widely used in assisted reproduction techniques (ART). However, hormonal treatment induces endometrial alterations that may alter implantation rates compared with natural cycles. Endometrial alterations have been observed by histological and biochemical techniques. The recent developments in functional genomics have provided objective tools to analyze the endometrium in natural cycles and evaluate the impact of COS protocols in endometrial development. This article describes the fundamental aspects of endometrial receptivity in natural cycles and reports how COS affects the morphology, biochemistry, and the genomic pattern of the endometrium.
Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis
2013
This literature review on pseudocyesis or false pregnancy aims to find epidemiological, psychiatric/psychologic, gynecological and endocrine traits associated with this condition in order to propose neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms leading to the emergence of pseudocyetic traits. Ten women from 5 selected studies were analyzed after applying stringent criteria to discriminate between cases of true pseudocyesis (pseudocyesis vera) versus delusional, simulated or erroneous pseudocyesis. The analysis of the reviewed studies evidenced that pseudocyesis shares many endocrine traits with both polycystic ovarian syndrome and major depressive disorder, although the endocrine traits are more akin…
Cloning of two melanocortin (MC) receptors in spiny dogfish
2004
We report the cloning and characterization of two melanocortin receptors (MCRs) from the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) (Sac). Phylogenetic analysis shows that these shark receptors are orthologues of the MC3R and MC5R subtypes, sharing 65% and 70% overall amino acid identity with the human counterparts, respectively. The SacMC3R was expressed and pharmacologically characterized in HEK293 cells. The radioligand binding results show that this receptor has high affinity for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-derived peptides while it has comparable affinity for alpha- and beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), and slightly lower affinity for gamma-MSH when compared with the human ortho…
Diagnosis, phenotype, and prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome.
2006
New diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suggested three main phenotypes: classic (hyperandrogenism and anovulation), ovulatory, and normoandrogenic. However, it is unclear whether the normoandrogenic phenotype actually represents PCOS. Overall, 6% to 8% of reproductive-aged women suffer from PCOS, making this disorder one of the most common endocrine abnormalities.
Inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis by cyclic-GMP in a fly
2003
1479-6805 0022-0795; Previous investigations in the female blowfly Phormia regina have shown that 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a broad spectrum inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), fails to mimic the steroidogenic effects of cAMP on ovaries, although it efficiently increases the concentrations of this second messenger. In this study, experiments carried out to clear up this contradiction demonstrated that IBMX, besides its effect on cAMP, also increased cGMP concentrations in blowfly ovary and that these two cyclic nucleotides controlled ovarian steroidogenesis antagonistically. In particular, a selective inhibitor of cGMP-specific PDEs, unlike IBMX, had a very strong negative eff…
Association between Periodontal Diseases and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review
2020
Background: A convergent association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and periodontal disease, in particular chronic periodontitis (CP), has recently been proposed. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this association are not fully understood, though it is thought that chronic inflammation is responsible. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between periodontal disease—gingivitis and CP—and PCOS. Materials and Methods: The PICO (Participants, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes) question was as follows: “Is there an association between PCOS and CP?” A systematic review of three databases—PubMed, Embase and Scopus—was performed following PRISMA (Preferr…
Fresh cell therapy followed by fatal coma
1986
A 60-year-old woman received a 3-day course of nine injections of “fresh” cells from fetal lamb ovary, placenta, brain (hypothalamus) and liver. There were no immediate complications, but a few days later she developed headache, fever and hemiparesis. She subsequently fell into a coma and died 3 weeks after her fresh cell therapy and 2 weeks after the onset of her clinical symptoms. Autopsy revealed perivenous leucoencephalopathy with a probably steroid-treatment-induced paucity of perivascular inflammation. Fresh cell therapy, clinical symptomatology and morphological findings suggest, though do not prove, that this patient's monophasic and probably immune-mediated disease is a rare and fa…
Viability and function of the cryopreserved whole rat ovary: comparison between slow-freezing and vitrification
2011
Objective To investigate four different protocols for cryopreservation of the whole rat ovary with intact vasculature to evaluate whether differences exist in post-thawing viability of the ovary after either vitrification or slow freezing. Design Experimental study. Setting Obstetrics and gynecology department. Animal(s) Immature Sprague-Dawley female rats. Intervention(s) Ovaries were isolated with the vascular tree intact up to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta and were subsequently cannulated. The ovaries were flushed with increasing concentrations of the cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to either 1.5 or 7 M. The ovaries underwent cryopreservation by vitrification or passive…
Physical Activity Differentially Affects the Cecal Microbiota of Ovariectomized Female Rats Selectively Bred for High and Low Aerobic Capacity
2015
The gut microbiota is considered a relevant factor in obesity and associated metabolic diseases, for which postmenopausal women are particularly at risk. Increasing physical activity has been recognized as an efficacious approach to prevent or treat obesity, yet the impact of physical activity on the microbiota remains under-investigated. We examined the impacts of voluntary exercise on host metabolism and gut microbiota in ovariectomized (OVX) high capacity (HCR) and low capacity running (LCR) rats. HCR and LCR rats (age = 27 wk) were OVX and fed a high-fat diet (45% kcal fat) ad libitum and housed in cages equipped with (exercise, EX) or without (sedentary, SED) running wheels for 11 wk (…
Cardiovascular risk and events in polycystic ovary syndrome
2009
Young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) present a high risk for cardiovascular disease because of the presence of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and androgen excess. In addition, they present with endothelial dysfunction and early signs of atherosclerosis (increased carotid intima-media thickness and increased coronary calcium). However, the evidence of increased cardiovascular events during the postmenopausal age is relatively small, although some recent studies have indicated a slight increase in the severity of cardiovascular disease in women who had PCOS during their fertile age. The discrepancy between cardiovascular risk in young age and postmenopausal cardiovascular …