Follicle-stimulating Hormone Levels Research Articles

Parameters affecting the success rate of microscopic testicular sperm extraction in male patients with a solitary testis and non-obstructive azoospermia.

We aimed to compare the success rate of spermatozoa retrieval through microscopic testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) in non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with a solitary testis with that of mTESE in NOA men with bilateral testes and the parameters affecting these rates. A retrospective cross-sectional study of factors contributing to infertility in NOA patients with a solitary testis and men with bilateral testes was carried out. In this multicenter study, 74 patients with NOA with a solitary testis were matched with 74 patients with bilateral testes in terms of age, duration of infertility, and volume of the solitary testis from 2770 patients with NOA with bilateral testes. Hormonal parameters, presence of varicocele, history of varicocelectomy, history of undescended testis and karyotype analysis results were compared. Spermatozoa were obtained from 40 (54.1%) patients with a solitary testis and 42 (56.76%) patients with bilateral testes. No differences were found regarding age, duration of infertility, or mean testicular volume between patients with a solitary testis and patients with bilateral testes. When serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were compared regardless of sperm retrieval status, it was observed that both levels were greater in the group of patients with a solitary testis (p < 0.01). Patients with solitary and bilateral testes from whom spermatozoa were obtained had larger testes than those from whom spermatozoa could not be obtained (p < 0.05). Similarly, the serum levels of FSH and LH were significantly greater in patients with a solitary testis than in those with bilateral testes (p < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature to evaluate the parameters that influence mTESE outcome in NOA patients with a solitary testis and NOA patients with bilateral testes. Greater testicular volume was found to positively affect spermatozoa retrieval for patients with a solitary testis. The higher levels of FSH and LH in patients with a solitary testis than in patients with bilateral testes of similar testicular volume may be due to a compensatory mechanism developed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The fact that these hormones are higher in patients with a solitary testis does not mean that the number of spermatozoa obtained through mTESE will be decreased.

Preliminary investigation into long-term stress by isolated captivity-related changes of reproduction hormones in Cynomolgus monkey.

Stress profoundly affects physical and emotional well-being, extending its physiological influence to the female menstrual cycle, impeding the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and affecting fertility by suppressing sex-stimulating hormones. In this study, we meticulously analyzed menstrual cycles and corresponding hormonal fluctuations in three female Cynomolgus monkeys. The preliminary findings indicated lower-than-normal levels of cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol. Anovulatory bleeding occurred in one monkey, which could be linked to stress. In contrast to cortisol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which is correlated to cortisol levels, was consistently elevated in menstruating monkeys, suggesting its potential as a stress indicator. The non-menstruating group exhibited stress-related weight loss, emphasizing the observed ALP trends. Non-menstruating monkeys may experience more stress than menstruating monkeys. The implications of this study extend beyond the confines of primate studies and offer a valuable method for enhancing the welfare of female Cynomolgus monkeys.

Changes in Reproductive Hormones Levels Following Administration of Hydroethanolic Extract of Azanza garckeana Fruit in Cadmium Chloride Exposed Female Wistar Rats

There have been many claims of aphrodisiac and other beneficial attributes of Azanza garckeana fruit by both tradomedicinal practitioners and some early scientific investigations; the present study, thus, set out to investigate the changes in reproductive hormones following administration of hydroethanolic extract of azanza garckeana fruit (HEAGF) in cadmium chloride exposed female Wistar rats. Thirty five (35) female Wistar rats weighing 230±10 grams were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 served as negative control that received 1ml of distilled water; Group 2 served as positive control and received oral dose of 10mg/kg body weight of CdCl2 (or Cd); Group 3 had Clomiphene citrate (0.3mg/ml) + Cd; Group 4 received Vitamin E (0.3mg/ml) + Cd; Group 5 received 250mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd; Group 6 received 500mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd and Group 7received 1000mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd. All treatments were done orally and daily for 28 days. Blood samples were collected, and serum levels of reproductive hormones including estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured using ELISA and spectrophotometric technique. The results showed that CdCl2 exposure significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased FSH level but non-significantly (P&gt;0.05) decreased LH level while increasing oestrogen and progesterone levels compared to the negative control group. However, administration of HEAGF, especially the 250mg/kg bw dose most appreciably restored the hormonal balance towards normal levels. In conclusion, although, the findings of the present study highlights the potential therapeutic value of HEAGF in improving the adverse effects of an environmental toxin―CdCl2 on female reproductive health indicators, further studies may be necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action prior to its clinical exploration and possible recommendation for supplementation in reproductive disorders associated with a heavy metal toxicity.

The association between levels of Follicle stimulating hormone and Glomerular filtration rate in peri- and postmenopausal women

The association between levels of Follicle stimulating hormone and Glomerular filtration rate in peri- and postmenopausal women

Repair effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles on ovarian injury induced by cisplatin.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) secreted by human umbilical cord have therapeutic effects on various degenerative diseases. However, the characteristics and potential functions of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (huMSCs)-derived sEVs, especially the role of premature ovarian failure (POF), are poorly understood. Here, we isolated and characterized huMSCs and their sEVs. huMSCs highly expressed CD73, CD90, and CD105. huMSC-sEVs showed typical exosomal features, highly expressing CD9, TSG101, and CD63. It was shown that huMSC-sEVs could be taken up by granulosa cells (GCs) and damaged ovarian tissue, which increased the levels of hormone secretion and reduced GCs apoptosis. We further confirmed that the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone in rat serum decreased dramatically, while the levels of estrogen (E2）and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) increased significantly with the treatment of huMSC-sEVs. Meanwhile, huMSC-sEVs treatment greatly reduced cell apoptosis and autophagy, while increased the phosphorylation levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt. Therefore, treatment with huMSC-sEVs significantly inhibited GCs apoptosis, improved ovarian morphology, promoted follicular development, inhibited follicular over-atresia, and improved ovarian reserve capacity in POF rats. Our study verified that activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and regulation of cellular autophagy, thus reducing GCs death, are the mechanisms by which huMSC-sEVs restore ovarian tissue function.

Assessing the Impact of Onion Juice on the Levels of Leutinizing Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Female Mice Exposed to Transfluthrin Smoke

Aim: Transfluthrin is a fast-acting insecticide used in household mainly against mosquites. Its uses have not been without health risk to humans. The study aims at evaluating the effect of onion juice on follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone levels in mice exposed to transfluthrin smoke. Study Design: This is an animal study conducted in the Animal House, College of Medical Science in Rivers State University. Materials and Methods: Thirty( 30) female mice were used in this study. They were divided into six groups of five mice each; Group 1(negative control, exposed to normal environmental air), Group 2(exposed to 6g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke and given 0.2ml of onion juice), Group 3(exposed to 6g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke only), Group 4(exposed to 12g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke and given 0.2ml of onion juice), Group 5(exposed to 12g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke only), Group 6(given 0.2ml of onion juice only) through the oral gavage method daily. The smoke inhalation lasted for 15minutes daily for 28 days using the already formulated packaged transflutrin coated insecticide papers in the market. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean values of Follicle Stimulating Hormone in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 &amp; 6 when compared to group 1 (P=0.004). There was no significant difference observed in the mean values of Leutinizing Hormone in the various groups (P=0.068). The ovaries in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 &amp; 6 showed several distortion and fluid congestion, which could be attributed to auto regulatory mechanisms leading to biochemical derangement. Conclusion: This study shows that the exposure significantly altered the hormonal levels and the ovarian cyto architecture of the mice. It also reveals that exposure to transfluthrin is detrimental to the reproductive functions of female mice however, the Onion juice administered to the mice in this study showed no ameliorative effect on the ovarian distortion, hence not improving the reproductive status of the mice.

Effects of herbal dregs supplementation of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Isatidis Radix residues improved production performance and gut microbiota abundance in late-phase laying hens

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Chinese medicinal residues (CMRs) consisting of Salvia miltiorrhiza residues (SMR) and Isatidis Radix residues (IRR) on productive performance, egg quality, serum lipid and hormone levels, liver and blood antioxidant capacity, oviduct inflammation levels, and gut microbiota in the late-laying stage. A total of 288 fifty-four-week-old BaShang long-tailed hens were divided into four groups. The feed trial period was 8 weeks. The control group was fed the basic diet as a CCMR group, supplemented with 3, 4, and 6% for the experimental groups LCMR, MCMR, and HCMR. The egg production rate of the MCMR group was 8.1% higher than that of the CCMR group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Serum triglyceride (TG) levels of hens of the CMR-supplemented group were significantly decreased than those of the CCMR group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The group supplemented with different levels of CMR had significantly higher serum HDL-C levels compared with the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were remarkably increased for the LCMR and MCMR groups and significantly decreased for the HCMR group compared to CCMR (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Serum and liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities were significantly increased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in the MCMR group compared to the CCMR group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The expression levels of tubal inflammatory factor markers (IL-4, IL-1β, TNF-α) in the MCMR and HCMR groups were consistent with the pathological findings of the sections. As for cecal microbiota, supplementation with CMR affected the alpha diversity of the cecum microbiome at the genus level. The Shannon index was significantly higher in the MCMR group than in the CCMR and HCMR groups (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Supplementation with different levels of CMR mainly regulated the ratio of intestinal Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and the abundance of phyla such as Proteobacteria. In addition, CMR supplementation at different levels in the diet enriched lipid-metabolizing bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Ruminococcus_gnavus_group. Furthermore, according to linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis, the MCMR group showed an increase in the number of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria Romboutsia and fiber-degrading specialized bacteria Monoglobus. Therefore, supplementation of appropriate amounts of CMR to the diet of laying hens enhanced reproductive hormone levels, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism, alleviated the levels of oviductal inflammatory factors, and modulated the abundance structure of bacterial flora to improve the late-laying performance and egg quality. The results of the current study showed that CMR is a beneficial feed supplement for chickens when added in moderation.

Effects of flowing water stimulation on hormone regulation during the maturation process of Conger myriaster ovaries

Conger eel (Conger myriaster) is an economically important species in China. Due to the complex life history of the conger eel, achieving artificial reproduction has remained elusive. This study aimed to explore the effect of water stimulation on hormonal regulation during the artificial reproduction of conger eel. The experiment was divided into four groups: A1 (no hormone injection, still water), A2 (no hormone injection, flowing water), B1 (hormone injection, still water), and B2 (hormone injection, flowing water). The flowing water group maintained a flow velocity of 0.4 ± 0.05 m/s for 12 h daily throughout the 60-day period. Steroid hormone levels in the serum and ovaries of conger eels were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and ELISA on the 30th and 60th days of the experiment. The relative expression levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHβ) and luteinizing hormone (LHβ) in the pituitary were determined by quantitative PCR. The results showed a significantly lower gonadosomatic index (GSI) in B2 compared to B1 (p &amp;lt; 0.05) on the 30th day. FSH was found to act only in the early stages of ovarian development, with water stimulation significantly enhancing FSH synthesis (p &amp;lt; 0.05), while FSHβ gene was not expressed after hormone injection. Conversely, LH was highly expressed in late ovarian development, with flowing water stimulation significantly promoting LH synthesis (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Serum cortisol (COR) levels were significantly higher in the flowing water group than in the still water group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Furthermore, estradiol (E2) content of B2 was significantly lower than that of B1 on the 30th and 60th day. Overall, flowing water stimulation enhanced the synthesis of FSH in early ovarian development and LH in late ovarian development, while reducing E2 accumulation in the ovaries. In this study, the effect of flowing water stimulation on hormone regulation during the artificial reproduction of conger eel was initially investigated to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing artificial reproduction techniques.

Photothermal tissue reconstruction and the use of phytoestrogens in the treatment of genitourinary menopausal syndrome

Introduction. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a complex of symptoms resulting from changes to the vulvovaginal region, urethra and bladder due to estrogen and other sex steroid deficiency. Vulvovaginal atrophy is one of its manifestations, and vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, burning and itching are the most common symptoms.Aim. To analyse 20 clinical cases of the use of innovative laser procedures combined with phytoestrogens in patients with vulvovaginal atrophy as a symptom of GSM vs the standard systemic protocol for menopausal hormone therapy.Materials and methods. A clinical case-control study was conducted among 20 postmenopausal women. The age of the subjects ranged from 50 to 65 years with amenorrhea for at least 1 year, a follicle-stimulating hormone level of &gt;30 IU/L and various presentations of GSM. The women were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 10) received laser therapy combined with phytoestrogens, group 2 (n = 10) received systemic menopausal hormonal therapy. To evaluate the results, a survey with a specialized international vulvovaginal symptom questionnaire (VSQ) was carried out to determine the vaginal health index scores before and after treatment.Results. After treatment, both groups showed significant improvement in the form of the reduction or disappearance of symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy. The prescription of phytoestrogens provided an additional positive effect after 3 sessions of carbon dioxide laser treatment.Conclusion. The carbon dioxide laser exposure resulted in the reduction or disappearance of the local symptoms of climacteric syndrome in the form of GSM, and the use of phytoestrogens as part of Mense BAA supplemented the treatment of psychoemotional and neurovegetative changes, which allowed us to make a conclusion about the feasibility, high efficiency and safety of the complex treatment for women, who do not wish to take menopausal hormone therapy and (or) have absolute contraindications. However, further research on the laser technologies and other non-hormonal techniques to treat GSM is required to carry out a more complete and accurate assessment of the effectiveness and safety of these treatments.

Beneficial effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUCMSC) transplantation on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) in Tibetan miniature pigs

BackgroundPremature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, is a common endocrine disease in young women. The emergence of regenerative medicine using stem cells may improve ovarian function and structure, and represents a promising prospect for POF treatment. In his study, we explored the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUCMSC) transplantation in a Tibetan miniature pig model of cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced POF. MethodsWe cultured and identified HUCMSCs, labeled them with DiR iodide red dye, and implanted them into a CTX-induced model of POF in Tibetan miniature pigs. The daily weight changes were recorded, and the levels of estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured on days 0, 7, and 14. At the end of the 21-day observation period, in vivo imaging of the bilateral ovaries was performed, and the ovarian index was measured. Ovarian tissue morphology and follicles were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay was employed to assess cell apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the levels of p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, BAX, and BCL2 expression. ResultsOur analysis indicated successful delivery of HUCMSCs to the ovaries of the POF pig model. Significant increases were observed in body weight, E2 levels, ovarian index, and number of normal follicles (all p < 0.05). Moreover, FSH levels reduced and ovarian tissue morphology improved following HUCMSCs transplantation (all p < 0.05). Importantly, upregulated p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, and BCL2 expression were observed, whereas the expression of BAX was suppressed (all p < 0.05), suggesting the inhibition of ovarian cell apoptosis. ConclusionOur study highlights the significant therapeutic effects of HUCMSC transplantation on CTX-induced POF in a Tibetan miniature pig model.

Betulinic acid protects against ovarian impairment by decreasing F-2 toxin-induced oxidative stress and inflammation associated with the downregulation of p38 expression in mice

F-2 toxin is an estrogenic mycotoxin that causes reproductive disorders in animals. Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural pentacyclic lupane-structure triterpenoid that has diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of BA and its underlying mechanism are explored in F-2 toxin-triggered mouse ovarian damage. We found that BA alleviated the F-2 toxin-induced ovarian impairment by stimulating follicle growth, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, repairing damaged mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Simultaneously, BA not only reversed F-2 toxin-induced reduction of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the serum, but also restrained the protein expression of the estrogen receptors α (ERα) and ERβ. Moreover, BA restored the balance of F-2 toxin-induced ovarian redox system disorders. Subsequently, we found that 0.25 mg/kg BA played an anti-inflammatory role in the F-2 toxin-induced ovarian impairment by decreasing interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression, as well as inhibiting p38 protein expression. These data demonstrated that BA exerts its protective effect on F-2 toxin-induced ovarian oxidative impairment and inflammation by inhibiting p38 expression, which implies a natural product-based medicine to ameliorate F-2 toxin-caused female reproductive toxicity and provides a detoxifying method for food contaminated by mycotoxin.

Effectiveness of the triptorelin stimulation test compared with the classic gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in diagnosing central precocious puberty in girls.

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard for diagnosing central precocious puberty (CPP). Gonadorelin (Relefact) is used for the test but is not always readily available; triptorelin is used as an alternative. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of the triptorelin test compared with the GnRH test in the diagnosis of CPP in girls. This retrospective study included 100 girls with premature thelarche (PT) who underwent a hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis evaluation. In the overall group, 50 girls were tested with intravenous gonadorelin (Relefact) and 50 girls were tested with subcutaneous triptorelin acetate (Decapeptyl). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured at baseline and 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes after gonadorelin injection or 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after triptorelin injection. Clinical characteristics of age, height, weight, body mass index, and bone age were similar between the 2 groups. The highest LH level was reached 60 minutes after stimulation in both groups. Approximately 20% of the gonadorelin group and 24% of the triptorelin group were diagnosed with CPP (P=0.52). Among those diagnosed with CPP, the mean peak LH concentrations were 8.15 mIU/mL and 9.73 mIU/mL in the gonadorelin and triptorelin groups, respectively. The triptorelin test showed similar trends of LH elevation and diagnostic rate compared with the traditional GnRH test for diagnosing CPP. This suggests that the triptorelin test may be a valid alternative to the GnRH test for differentiating CPP from self-limiting PT. Our study also demonstrated that a triptorelin stimulation test for up to 120 minutes was sufficient to diagnose CPP.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Nicotinamide Riboside Reverse Ovarian Aging in Rats Via Rebalancing Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion Mechanisms.

This study examined the effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) on folliculogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion mechanisms) in ovaries of middle-aged female rats. Experimental groups were young, middle-aged (control), middle-aged + NMN and middle-aged + NR. NMN was administered at a concentration of 500mg/kg intraperitoneally but NR at a concentration of 200mg/kg by gavage. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were analyzed by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin staining sections were used for histopathological examination and follicles-counting. Expression levels of mitochondrial fission (Drp1, Mff and Fis1) and fusion (Mfn1, Mfn2, Opa1, Fam73a and Fam73b) genes as well as Sirt1 gene were analyzed by RT-PCR. Expression levels of fission-related proteins (DRP1, MFF, FIS1 and SIRT1) were analyzed by Western Blot. Higher ovarian index, more corpus luteum and antral follicles were detected in NMN and NR groups compared to the control. NMN or NR could rebalance LH/FSH ratio. The control group was determined to possess higher expression levels of fission genes and lower expression levels of fusion genes when compared the young group. In comparison with the control group, both NMN and NR group were found to exhibit less mitochondrial fission but more mitochondrial fussion. Higher gene and protein levels for Sirt1 were measured in NMN and NR groups compared to the control group. This study reveals that NMN alone or NR alone can rebalance mitochondrial dynamics by decreasing excessive fission in middle-aged rat ovaries, thus alleviating mitochondrial stress and correcting aging-induced folliculogenesis abnormalities.

Yu Linzhu alleviates primary ovarian insufficiency in a rat model by improving proliferation and energy metabolism of granulosa cells through hif1α/cx43 pathway

BackgroundYu Linzhu (YLZ) is a classical Chinese traditional formula, which has been used for more than 600 years to regulate menstruation to help pregnancy. However, the mechanism of modern scientific action of YLZ needs to be further studied.MethodsThirty SD female rats were divided into three groups to prepare the blank serum and drug-containing serum, and then using UHPLC-QE-MS to identify the ingredients of YLZ and its drug-containing serum. Twenty-four SD female rats were divided into four groups, except the control group, 4-vinylcyclohexene dicycloxide (VCD) was intraperitoneally injected to establish a primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) model of all groups. Using vaginal smear to show that the estrous cycle of rats was disturbed after modeling, indicates that the POI model was successfully established. The ELISA test was used to measure the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the serum of rats. HE stain was used to assess the morphology of ovarian tissue. The localization and relative expression levels of CX43 protein were detected by tissue immunofluorescence. Primary ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) were identified by cellular immunofluorescence. CCK8 was used to screen time and concentration of drug-containing serum and evaluate the proliferation effect of YLZ on VCD-induced GCs. ATP kit and Seahorse XFe24 were used to detect energy production and real-time glycolytic metabolism rate of GCs. mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF1α, CX43, PEK, LDH, HK1 were detected by RT-PCR and WB.ResultsUHPLC-QE-MS found 1702 ingredients of YLZ and 80 constituents migrating to blood. YLZ reduced the FSH while increasing the AMH and E2 levels. In ovarian tissues, YLZ improved ovarian morphology, follicle development, and the relative expression of CX43. In vitro studies, we found that YLZ increased the proliferative activity of GCs, ATP levels, glycolytic metabolic rate, HIF1α, CX43, PEK, HK1, LDH mRNA, and protein levels.ConclusionsThe study indicated that YLZ increased the proliferation and glycolytic energy metabolism of GCs to improve follicular development further alleviating ovarian function.

Irisin combined index to diagnose central precocious puberty in girls: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTo investigate serum irisin levels in girls at different developmental status and explore the significance of irisin for the diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study 111 girls were enrolled, including 43 cases of CPP, 44 cases of peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) and 24 cases of girls with normal sexual development as controls. The data on age, weight and height, measured blood levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and irisin were collected. Pelvic Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate uterine length, transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter. The girls were divided into non-CPP group and CPP group according to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test.ResultsSerum irisin levels were significantly higher in CPP group than in PPP group and normal control group. Serum irisin level was positively correlated with basal LH level, basal FSH level, peak LH level, peak LH /FSH ratio, uterine volume, bone age, and bone age index. The area under the curve, cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of serum irisin were 0.958, 219.255 pg/ml, 100% and 80.6%. The combined diagnosis of CPP in girls by serum irisin and serum basal LH combined with uterine volume had an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.994, 97.6%, and 100%, superior to that of the single index.ConclusionsSerum irisin level in girls with CPP is significantly increased. An irisin combined index could help the diagnosis of CPP in girls.

Long-term effect of exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) on male mouse reproduction.

Our study investigated the impact on male mouse fertility and reproduction of long-term (14 weeks) exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), a co-monomer of resin-based compounds, at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10ppm. Test and control mice were then paired with sexually mature untreated female mice and their fertility evaluated. Females paired with males exposed to all TEGDMA doses exhibited a significant decline in pregnancy rates, and significant increases in the total embryonic resorption-to-implantation ratio, except for males exposed to 0.01ppm TEGDMA. Males in the highest dose group (10ppm) showed significant increases in seminal vesicle and preputial gland weights. They also had significantly higher serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) than the controls, and the 0.01ppm dosage group for FSH levels. TEGDMA exposure resulted in notable histopathological alterations in the testis, with detachment of germ cells and shedding of germinal epithelium into the tubule lumen. These results strongly indicate that TEGDMA exposure has detrimental consequences on the reproductive abilities and functions in male mice through disruption of the standard hormonal regulation of the reproductive system, leading to changes in spermatogenesis and ultimately leading to decreased fertility.

Relationship between circulating FSH levels and body composition and bone health in patients with prostate cancer who undergo androgen deprivation therapy: The BLADE study.

Among its extragonadal effects, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has an impact on body composition and bone metabolism. Since androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has a profound impact on circulating FSH concentrations, this hormone could potentially be implicated in the changes of fat body mass (FBM), lean body mass (LBM), and bone fragility induced by ADT. The objective of this study is to correlate FSH serum levels with body composition parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone turnover markers at baseline conditions and after 12 months of ADT. Twenty-nine consecutive non-metastatic prostate cancer (PC) patients were enrolled from 2017 to 2019 in a phase IV study. All patients underwent administration of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist degarelix. FBM, LBM, and BMD were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 12 months of ADT. FSH, alkaline phosphatase, and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. For outcome measurements and statistical analysis, t-test or sign test and Pearson or Spearman tests for continuous variables were used when indicated. At baseline conditions, a weak, non-significant, direct relationship was found between FSH serum levels and FBM at arms (r = 0.36) and legs (r = 0.33). Conversely, a stronger correlation was observed between FSH and total FBM (r = 0.52, p = 0.006), fat mass at arms (r = 0.54, p = 0.004), and fat mass at trunk (r = 0.45, p = 0.018) assessed after 12 months. On the other hand, an inverse relationship between serum FSH and appendicular lean mass index/FBM ratio was observed (r = -0.64, p = 0.001). This is an ancillary study of a prospective trial and this is the main limitation. FSH serum levels after ADT could have an impact on body composition, in particular on FBM. Therefore, FSH could be a promising marker to monitor the risk of sarcopenic obesity and to guide the clinicians in the tailored evaluation of body composition in PC patients undergoing ADT. This research was partially funded by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The funder had no role in design and conduct of the study, collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data and in preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. clinicalTrials.gov NCT03202381, EudraCT Number 2016-004210-10.

Serum gonadal hormones levels and hypogonadism in ART naïve newly diagnosed HIV infected adult males in Mwanza, Tanzania

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is an endemic chronic disease which is characterized with progressive depletion of CD4 T cells and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Previous studies have associated HIV infection with increased hypogonadism. However, the prevalence of hypogonadism remained poorly defined and widely ranging in various studies. This study aims to evaluate the serum gonadal hormonal levels and hypogonadism in antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve newly diagnosed HIV infected-males in Mwanza, Tanzania.MethodsThis was a comparison study involving 81 ART naïve newly diagnosed HIV-infected adult males as study group and 81 apparently healthy HIV-negative males as comparison group. The participants in the study group and comparison group were matched by body mass index and age. Serum hormones [Total testosterone (TT), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E) were estimated. Serum testosterone < 300 ng/dl, or testosterone > 300 ng/dl with high LH and FSH (compensatory hypogonadism) were taken as markers of hypogonadism. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15.ResultsThe median serum testosterone level among ART naïve newly diagnosed HIV-infected adult males was significantly lower as compared to their comparison group (447 [259–534] versus 517 [396–605]; p = 0.0074) and shown to decrease with decreasing CD4 level. The median [IQR] serum FSH level among ART naïve newly diagnosed HIV-infected adult males was significantly higher than among their comparison group (3.8 [2.1–6.5] versus 2.6 [1.8–4.2]; p = 0.0086). The differences in serum LH and Estradiol were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the proportion of hypogonadism was significantly higher among ART naïve newly diagnosed HIV-infected adult males than in their comparison group (37.0% [30/81] versus 14.8% [12/81]; p = 0.0006). Out of these 30, 24 HIV-infected males had secondary hypogonadism, one had primary, and the remaining five had compensatory hypogonadism.ConclusionSerum testosterone was lower and follicle stimulating hormone was higher among ART naïve HIV-infected males as compared to the HIV negative controls. Hypogonadism, mainly secondary, is common endocrine abnormality among ART naïve HIV-infected male patients in this study. HIV is associated with variations in gonadal hormones which may lead to sexual dysfunction in infected individuals.

The impact of internal iliac artery ligation on hormonal and functional ovarian reserve parameters: A case-control study in patients with postpartum hemorrhage in sub-Saharan Africa.

The study aims to evaluate the long-term impact of internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) on ovarian hormonal and functional changes in women. The procedure is often used for postpartum hemorrhage and is considered uterus-sparing. However, its effects on ovarian reserve and fertility preservation remain controversial. This is a retrospective, case-control study involving consecutive female patients aged 17-47 years. These patients underwent successful bilateral IIAL due to severe postpartum hemorrhage between January 2022 and December 2022. The control group included women of matching age, parity, and body mass index (BMI) who did not undergo IIAL. Both groups were followed for 6 months to measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, antral follicle counts, and ovarian volume. The study comprised 62 patients in the IIAL group and 86 in the control group. No significant differences were found in FSH and LH levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the numbers of antral follicles in both the right and left ovaries were significantly lower in the IIAL group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Ovarian volume did not show a significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). The findings suggest that IIAL leads to a significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles at 6 months post-operation. However, it does not significantly impact FSH and LH levels or ovarian volume.

Apigetrin ameliorates doxorubicin prompted testicular damage: biochemical, spermatological and histological based study.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective, commonly prescribed, potent anti-neoplastic drug that damages the testicular tissues and leads to infertility. Apigetrin (APG) is an important flavonoid that shows diverse biological activities. The present research was designed to evaluate the alleviative role of APG against DOX-induced testicular damages in rats. Forty-eight adultmale albino rats wererandomly distributed into 4 groups, control, DOX administered (3 mgkg-1), DOX + APG co-administered (3 mgkg-1 of DOX; 15 mgkg-1 of APG), and APG administered group (15 mgkg-1). Results of the current study indicated that DOXtreatment significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while increasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). DOX treatment also reduced the sperm count, viability, and motility. Moreover, DOX significantly increased the sperm morphological anomaliesandreduced the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The administration of DOX significantly increased the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3, as well asthe levels of inflammatory markers. Additionally, DOXtreatment significantly downregulated theexpressions of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) and Bcl-2. Furthermore, DOXadministration provoked significant histopathological abnormalities in the testicular tissues. However, APG supplementation significantly reversed all the testicular damages due to its androgenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nature. Therefore, it is concluded that APG may prove a promising therapeutic agent to treatDOX-induced testicular damages.