Sex steroid receptors in human myometrium and fibroids: changes during the menstrual cycle and gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment

The content of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) is higher in fibroid tissue than in homologous myometrium, and both receptors seem to be regulated by the levels of circulating sex steroids. Myometrial and fibroid tissues were recovered from women undergoing gynecological operations during different phases of the menstrual cycle and during treatment with an analogue of GnRH (GnRHa). Contents of ER and PR in the tissue cytosol were determined by enzyme immunoassay. The ER levels were significantly higher in fibroid tissue than in homologous myometrium in all the endocrine conditions. During the secretory phase, when luteal progesterone production is prominent, the ER levels in the myometrium and fibroids were lower than during the proliferative phase. During GnRHa treatment, the ER levels in both tissues were similar to those in the proliferative phase but significantly higher than in the secretory phase. The PR levels were also significantly higher in fibroids than in myometrium in all the different endocrine conditions. In both tissues, the PR levels were lower in the secretory phase and during GnRHa treatment, compared with the proliferative phase. Our data suggest that, in these categories of women, both ER and PR are overexpressed in fibroid tissue. Apparently, high progesterone levels down-regulate the ER in both fibroids and myometrium, whereas estrogen mediates the up-regulation of the PR during the proliferative phase. Increased knowledge about the mechanisms by which sex steroids regulate their own receptors in uterine tissues might provide a basis for development of new treatment strategies for women with fibroid disease.

Microbial flora of the cervix assessed at the time of embryo transfer adversely affects in vitro fertilization outcome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the presence of cervical microorganisms, as detected on catheters used for ET, alters the outcome of IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Prospective analysis.

SETTING

The assisted reproduction unit of a hospital in Clamart, France.

PATIENT(S)

Two hundred seventy-nine controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles performed for IVF-ET. Inclusion criteria were a patient age of < or =38 years, a morphologically normal uterus, and > or =2 good-quality embryos transferred.

INTERVENTION(S)

The tips of catheters used for ruling out possible cervical obstruction before ET were subjected to quantitative (> or =10 colonies = positive culture group; <10 colonies = negative culture group) and qualitative microbial assessment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Pregnancy and implantation rates.

RESULT(S)

In 143 (51%) of 279 ETs, cultures were positive, predominantly for Escherichia coli (64%) and Streptococcus species (8%). Although data on patients, COH, and embryology were similar in both culture groups, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates as well as implantation rates were significantly lower in the positive culture group than in the negative culture group (24% versus 37%; 17% versus 28%; and 9% versus 16%, respectively).

CONCLUSION(S)

The presence of microbial flora of the cervix on ET catheters is associated with poor IVF-ET outcome.

Neonatal exposure to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl: changes in spontaneous behaviour and cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the adult mouse

We have previously reported that 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) affects muscarinic cholinergic receptors (MAChR) in the neonatal mouse brain when given to suckling mice at the age of 10 days. As shown in the present study, such early exposure to TCB may also lead to a permanent change in the MAChR and disturbed behaviour of the mice as adults. Male NMRI mice were given two single oral doses of TCB, 0.41 or 41 mg/kg body wt, and a 20% fat emulsion vehicle (10 ml)/kg body wt. The behavioural test at adult age of 4 months indicated a significant change in spontaneous motor behaviour in the TCB-treated mice. In mice receiving the highest dose of TCB there was also a minor increase (5%), although significant, in the density of MAChR in the hippocampus, assayed by using the tritium-labeled muscarinic antagonist, quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB). As previously reported, this part of the brain was affected in the neonatal mouse, which shows that the cholinergic system during rapid development in the neonatal mouse brain is sensitive to disturbance. This may lead to permanent changes in the animals as adults, accompanied by behavioural changes.

Clinical and reproductive effects of Clophen A50 (PCB) administered during gestation on pregnant guinea pigs and their offspring

Female and male guinea pigs exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in utero and via mother's milk showed growth retardation and signs of delayed onset of sexual maturation. In female young exposed to PCBs first vaginal opening occurred at a significantly older age and was of shorter duration compared with control females. The age at the first ovulation did not differ significantly between PCB-exposed females and control females. Male young exposed to PCBs had significantly lower absolute and relative testis weights at 3 months of age compared with control males. No differences in plasma testosterone concentrations were observed.

Plasma concentrations of 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF-2 alpha, oestrone sulphate, oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone in pregnant guinea-pigs treated with polychlorinated biphenyls

Guinea-pigs treated by gavage with a total dose of 100 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB: Clophen A50) during Days 17-61 of gestation had higher plasma concentrations of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F-2 alpha, oestrone sulphate and oestradiol-17 beta during the later stages of gestation than did vehicle-treated guinea-pigs. No changes were observed in plasma progesterone concentrations. Our results provide no support for the hypothesis that an enzyme-induced decrease in progesterone concentrations is the main cause of the fetal death observed in PCB-treated guinea-pigs.

Effects of pseudopregnancy on immunoglobulin-secreting cells in mice

Pregnant mice characteristically show elevated numbers of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in their enlarged spleen and para-aortic lymph nodes. A comparative study of pseudopregnancy and syngeneic pregnancy in CBA/Ca mice was made to evaluate the role of maternal hormones in the induction of these changes. To induce pseudopregnancy, CBA/Ca female mice were mated with vasectomized males, the duration of pseudopregnancy induced in this way is 8-10 days. Serum progesterone levels were monitored periodically throughout pseudopregnancy using RIA technique. Changes were recorded in weight of the thymus, spleen and para-aortic lymph nodes, levels of serum IgG and IgM (ELISA-technique), and content of splenic IgG- and IgM-secreting cells (protein A plaque assay). Thymus involution was observed in pregnant and pseudopregnant mice. Patterns of change in the weight of the spleen and the para-aortic lymph nodes (PALN) were similar in pregnant and pseudopregnant mice until day 8. Ig-secretion in the spleen increased slightly day 5-8 in both pregnant and pseudopregnant mice, but to a lesser extent in the latter. No differences were observed in serum Ig levels between the two groups until day 8. A marked decrease in serum IgG levels and, to some extent, IgM levels between days 8 and 12 was observed in pregnant animals.

Urinary levels of estrone sulfate and 11-ketotetranor prostaglandin F metabolite in pregnant guinea pigs given Clophen A50 (polychlorinated biphenyls)

The urinary levels of estrone sulfate and 11-ketotetranor prostaglandin F metabolite (11-ketotetranor PGF metabolite) during gestation in guinea pigs were measured by radioimmunoassays. Vehicle and Clophen A50 (polychlorinated biphenyls)-treated animals were compared. Gestation was arbitrarily divided into four periods, and the mean hormone levels during each period were compared between the two treatment groups. The Clophen A50 treatment (100 mg total, during Days 16-60), which causes fetal death, was correlated to significantly higher levels of estrone sulfate (p less than 0.05) and 11-ketotetranor PGF metabolite (p less than 0.01) during Days 47-60 (Period IV) of gestation.

Studies of foetal death and foetal weight in guinea pigs fed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)

Pregnant guinea pigs were fed a total dose of 100 mg of the commercial PCB preparation Clophen A50 during days 16 to 60 of gestation. This treatment caused severe foetal, but no maternal, death. Contrarily, a total dose of 25 mg or 100 mg of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) did not cause foetal death in the guinea pig. The prenatal growth rate was increased by a total dose of 25 mg, but not by 100 mg, of HCB.

Two variants of ragweed allergen Ra3

Two disc electrophoretic forms of Ra3 (I and II) were isolated by column chromatography in yields of 30 and 10 mg/kg pollen, respectively. On the basis of 8% carbohydrate content (determined for Ra3I and assumed for Ra3II), the major and minor forms had essentially identical molecular weights (12,300 daltons). Although their amino acid compositions were similar, a number of single residue differences were found, some of which were confirmed in separate studies on the complete amino acid sequences of Ra3I and Ra3II. In limited assays, no differences were observed in their antigenic and allergenic specificities.

Human antibodies to bovine alpha-globulin

Antibodies to bovine gamma-globulin (anti-BGG antibodies) were detectable by a radio-immunoassay in 70% of healthy blood donors but, generally, the titres were low. Significantly increased concentrations of anti-BGG antibodies were found in patients lacking IgA but not in patients with allergic disorders. The anti-BGG antibodies were shown to give rise to falsely high IgE values in the radio-immunosorbent test for IgE determination (RIST) when a sheep anti-IgE antiserum was used. Furthermore, falsely positive results can sometimes be caused by such antibodies in the determination of cow-dander- or cow's-milk-specific IgE by the radio-allergosorbent test (RAST). When a rabbit anti-IgE antiserum was used instead of the sheep anti-IgE, normal IgE levels and negative RAST results were obtained. The difference is explained by the higher degree of cross-reactivity between the anti-BGG antibodies and sheep alpha-globulin than between anti-BGG antibodies and rabbit alpha-globulin.

Effect of non-ionic polymers on the formation of immuno-precipitates in single radial immunodiffusion techniques

The effect of some non-ionic polymers on immunoprecipitin ring formation (in the assay of IgE in serum by simple radial immunodiffusion (SRD)) was investigated. Polymers were either added to the antigen well after the antigen and/or they were included together with the antibodies in the gel. A considerable enhancement of ring width was found when the low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, Carbowax 200, was added to the antigen well following antigen addition. On the other hand, incorporation of Carbowax 200 or other non-ionic polymers into the gel before antigen delivery caused a decrease in precipitin ring width. The presence of Carbowax 6000 in the gel improved the visualization of the precipitate although its presence slightly diminished the ring width of the precipitate.

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay of insulin

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay of insulin was developed using the plastic tube technique in which the inner walls of the tubes were coated with insulin antibodies. The binding of 125I-insulin to the adsorbed antibody was shown to be quantitatively inhibited with the non-radioactive insulin present in the samples tested.

The optimal conditions were determined for a) labelling of small amounts (3 μg) of insulin with radioactive iodine, b) coating of plastic tubes with insulin antisera and γ-globulin fractions, c) the stability of coated tubes with insulin antibodies and d) radioimmunoassay of insulin. The reproducibility of the coated test tube technique for insulin determination is adequate from a clinical point of view and the ease with which this test is performed is advantageous from a practical point of view.

Immunochemical characterization of submicrosomal rat liver membranes

Rat liver microsomes were separated into three subfractions by means of ultracentrifugation through sucrose media of different densities and in the presence of different cations. Detergent extracts of these preparations were analysed by double diffusion in agar gel and immunoelectrophoresis with rabbit antisera against each of the subfractions.

One subfraction was derived from the `rough' and another from the `smooth' part of the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver parenchymal cells. Their extracts contained at least thirteen soluble antigens in common. However, fraction-specific antigens were also present. Thus, the extracts of the rough (R) membranes contained at least one typical antigen, not found in any of the other fractions. An antiserum against this component also precipitated a non-migrating antigen present only in the extracts of smooth (Sa) membranes. These two antigens may represent different molecular forms of a substance involved in binding of the ribosomes or in the assembly of membrane subunits.

At least eleven of the antigens common for the two fractions exhibited enzymatic activities when assayed after precipitation with antibody in the immunoelectrophoretic plates. Six immunologically and electrophoretically distinct antigens had esterase activity with α-naphthyl propionate as substrate. Two of these esterases also split indoxyl acetate. Three other antigens with acid phosphatase activity split both α-naphthyl acid phosphate and β-glycerophosphate. Three antigens had nucleoside diphosphatase activity when tested with uridine- or inosine-diphosphate. Preliminary experiments also suggested that two additional antigens possessed NADH-diaphorase activity and thus could belong to the microsomal electron transport systems.

The third subfraction consisted of electron-microscopically smooth membranes (Sb), enzymatically different from those of the endoplasmic reticulum. The antigens typical for the latter were either absent or present only in minor and variable concentrations. Its extracts contained at least two typical antigens. One of these was identified as contaminating ferritin. The nature and origin of the other antigen has not yet been established.

All antigens described in this paper were immunologically different from the common rat serum proteins.

Immunochemical Studies of Submicrosomal Membranes from Liver of Normal and Phenobarbital-Treated Rats

Rabbit antiserums were prepared against three submicrosomal fractions from liver of normal or phenobarbital-treated rats. The two membrane fractions originating from the rough- and smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum were characterized by the same soluble antigens, with the exception of a highly basic coinponent present only in extracts of rough membranes. The third fraction, whose subcellular origin is unknown, was different. It contained at least two typical marker antigens not present in the other fractions. Of eight tissue antigens common for the endoplasmic reticulum, five displayed nonspecific esterase activity. Some of these esterases were also found in other organs, but none was seen in rat serum. Phenobarbital treatment of the rats led to a rise in activity and characteristic changes in the esterase patterns of all these submicrosomal liver fractions.