Midcycle Phase Research Articles

Impact of BRACTS exercises on muscular strength in eumenorrheic women

The sex steroid hormones significantly impact women’s physiology. Therefore, recently developed integrated exercises consisting of Bending, Roll-ups, Arm swings with loads, Crunches, Tandem walks, and Squats (BRACTS) were formulated. It was the exercise approach that required minimal equipment and was cost-effective and practical for implementation across a broad spectrum of women. So, this study aims to evaluate the effects of BRACTS exercises on strength during different phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women. This is a two-armed parallel design, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial following Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, and the study protocol is based on Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines. Participants were randomly allocated with a 1:1 ratio into Group A (control group) and Group B (treatment group). Group A was given an educational program related to menstrual hygiene and active lifestyle maintenance with 20 min walk 3 times a week for 16 weeks, while group B was given an educational program related to menstrual hygiene along with BRACTS exercises of 50 min for 3 times per week for 16 weeks. Assessments were done at baseline, midline, and end of the therapy using SPSS version 25. The experimental group demonstrated a notable improvement in muscular strength in follicular, mid-cycle, and luteal phases, with Cohen’s d values for left and right hand grip strength to be maximum in follicular phase while for left and right quadriceps, left and gastro-soleus showed maximum Cohen’s d value in mid-cycle phase of menstrual cycle. The mixed model ANOVA indicates statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two groups, with influence from menstrual cycle phases. So, the BRACTS exercise protocol significantly improves muscular strength across different phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women, demonstrating its efficacy as a cost-effective and practical approach. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov for registration with ID: NCT05460741 on 05/31/2022 and was last released on 04/29/2024.Trial registration number: NCT05460741.

Impact of menstrual cycle or combined oral contraception on elite female cyclists' training responses through a clustering analysis of training sessions.

(i) To classify training sessions of elite female cyclists according to an intensity index based on a longitudinal follow-up using multiparametric data collected in situ (ii) to measure the effect of estimated menstrual cycle (MC) phases and oral contraceptive pills (OC) phases on the athletes' training responses on each type of training identified. Thirteen elite French cyclists were followed up over 30 months and 5,190 training sessions were collected and 81 MC/OCs full cycles analyzed. Power sensors and position devices captured training data in situ, which was summarized into 14 external load variables. Principal Component Analysis and K-means clustering were used to identify cycling sessions according to an intensity load index. The clusters were then verified and categorized through the analysis of heart rate and rate of perceived effort. A calendar method was used to estimate 3 phases of the MC: menstruation, mid-cycle phase (MP) and late-cycle phase (LP). Two phases were defined among monophasic OC users: pills' taking/withdrawal. Four main types of training effort were identified: Intensive, Long, Medium and Light. In the MC group (n = 7; 52 cycles), the intensity index is 8% higher during the mid-cycle (vs. menstrual phase, p = 0.032) in the Intensive effort sessions. No differences were observed in Long, Medium or Light effort, nor between the phases of pills' taking/withdrawal among OC users. The clustering analyses developed allows a training classification and a robust method to investigate the influence of the MC/OC in situ. A better training response during the mid-cycle when the sessions are the most intense suggest an impact of the MC when the athletes approach their maximal capacity.

Effects of menstrual cycle phase and ovulation on the salivary cortisol awakening response

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is influenced by several state and trait variables, one of which might be the menstrual cycle in women. Previous results suggested that the CAR is enhanced around ovulation, which is why it has been recommended to avoid sampling during the ovulatory phase. In two separate studies, we aimed to replicate previous findings that reported the CAR’s modulation across the menstrual cycle, especially during ovulation. In Study 1, a group of 27 healthy naturally cycling women collected saliva at 0, 30, 45, and 60 min post-awakening on two days during their follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases in a repeated measures design. In Study 2, CAR samples were collected from 30 healthy naturally cycling women on seven consecutive days around the expected ovulation. To increase reliability of CAR measurements, participants' compliance of saliva sampling times was monitored, ovarian steroids (estradiol and progesterone) were collected, and ovulation was confirmed with specific test kits. Contrary to our expectations, we detected no differences in the CAR over the menstrual cycle, and no significant association with variations in estradiol and progesterone. In addition, we excluded confounding effects such as compliance and validated the cycle phase. These results suggest that the CAR is largely robust against hormonal variations across the menstrual cycle, including the mid-cycle phase around ovulation. However, further research is needed to understand the potential ovarian steroid-induced modulation of HPA axis functioning and the menstrual cycle’s effects on salivary cortisol levels in psychobiological studies.

Determination of Half-lives of Circulating FSH and LH Glycoforms in Women During GnRH Receptor Blockade.

Both FSH and LH circulate as 2 glycoforms, differing in number of glycans: low-N-glycosylated glycoforms, FSHtri and LHdi, and fully N-glycosylated glycoforms, FSHtetra and LHtri. To determine the half-lives of endogenous circulating gonadotropin glycoforms in women during GnRH receptor blockade. Serum samples were collected in 8 healthy women before and up to 20 hours after administration of the NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist. Three women were in early follicular phase, 2 at mid-cycle phase, and 3 were postmenopausal. The half-life of each glycoform was estimated by monoexponential decay for FSH (n = 8) and LH (n = 5). Data were analyzed using paired t tests. Half-lives in the circulation of low-N-glycosylated glycoforms of both FSH and LH were shorter than those of the fully N-glycosylated glycoforms (mean; range, FSHtri 343; 116-686 minutes vs FSHtetra 757; 436-1038, minutes, P = 0.0003; LHdi 125, 84-198 minutes vs LHtri 164, 107-235 minutes, P = 0.004). The half-lives of low-and fully N-glycosylated forms of LH were shorter than the corresponding half-lives of FSH glycoforms, P = 0.0008. For both FSH and LH, low-N-glycosylated glycoforms disappeared from the circulation faster than the fully N-glycosylated. The half-lives of low and fully N-glycosylated forms of LH were shorter than the corresponding half-lives of FSH. The estimated values for half-life in the circulation of total FSH and total LH will depend on the relative amounts of the 2 glycoforms of each hormone and their individual disappearance rates in circulation.

Regulatory T Cell Proportion and Phenotype Are Altered in Women Using Oral Contraception.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a specialized CD4+ T cell subpopulation that are essential for immune homeostasis, immune tolerance, and protection against autoimmunity. There is evidence that sex-steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone modulate Treg cell abundance and phenotype in women. Since natural oscillations in these hormones are modified by hormonal contraceptives, we examined whether oral contraception (OC) use impacts Treg cells and related T cell populations. T cells were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry in peripheral blood collected across the menstrual cycle from healthy women either using OC or without hormonal contraception and from age-matched men. Compared to naturally cycling women, women using OC had fewer Treg cells and an altered Treg cell phenotype. Notably, Treg cells exhibiting a strongly suppressive phenotype, defined by high FOXP3, CD25, Helios, HLADR, CTLA4, and Ki67, comprised a lower proportion of total Treg cells, particularly in the early- and mid-cycle phases. The changes were moderate compared to more substantial differences in Treg cells between women and men, wherein women had fewer Treg cells—especially of the effector memory Treg cell subset—associated with more T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and CD8+ T cells and lower Treg:Th1 cell and Treg:CD8+ T cell ratios than men. These findings imply that OC can modulate the number and phenotype of peripheral blood Treg cells and raise the possibility that Treg cells contribute to the physiological changes and altered disease susceptibility linked with OC use.

Sex differences in serum levels of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol, and androstenediol in the young adults: A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry study

Animal experiments have consistently shown that estrogen receptor β (ERβ)-selective ligands have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. In humans, endogenous ligands for ERβ include 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol (3βAdiol) and androstenediol (Δ5-diol). We determined, for the first time, the exact serum levels of 3βAdiol and Δ5-diol in young healthy volunteers using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). We investigated the effect of the menstrual cycle on the levels of these steroids in women; then, we performed a gender comparison. Blood samples were collected from 48 subjects: 23 women (mean age = 28.4±7.8 years) and 25 men (mean age = 31.4±7.8 years). We collected the blood samples of women at three time-points in the menstrual cycle: the early follicular phase, ovulatory or mid-cycle phase, and mid-luteal phase. A total of 92 blood samples were analyzed using LC–MS/MS. The levels of two well-studied steroids, namely dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 17β-estradiol (E2), were simultaneously measured. Depression rating scale (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Beck Depression Inventory-II and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology) scores were also recorded at the time of blood sampling. Significant differences in the levels of 3βAdiol and E2 and in the depression rating scale scores were observed over the duration of the menstrual cycle of the women. The levels of 3βAdiol and Δ5-diol were significantly lower in women than in men. E2 levels were higher in women than in men, and DHEA levels did not differ significantly between men and women. Further, women had higher scores than men on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Sex differences in depressive symptoms can be explained by 3βAdiol and Δ5-diol levels, and the effect of the menstrual cycle on mood can be explained by 3βAdiol and E2 levels, not by Δ5-diol level.

Facial Emotion Recognition and Emotional Memory From the Ovarian-Hormone Perspective: A Systematic Review.

BackgroundWe review original papers on ovarian-hormone status in two areas of emotional processing: facial emotion recognition and emotional memory. Ovarian-hormone status is operationalized by the levels of the steroid sex hormones 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), fluctuating over the natural menstrual cycle and suppressed under oral contraceptive (OCs) use. We extend previous reviews addressing single areas of emotional processing. Moreover, we systematically examine the role of stimulus features such as emotion type or stimulus valence and aim at elucidating factors that reconcile the inconsistent results.MethodsWe followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and included papers published until September 2020 indexed in PubMed and Web of Science databases. Search terms were MeSH terms (emotional OR emotion) AND (X) AND (estrogen OR progesterone OR menstrual cycle OR oral contraceptives) with (X) representing our separately searched areas, resulting in (processing OR recognition OR empathy), and (memory OR recall). To be included, articles had to (1) be written and published in English, (2) examine healthy, non-pregnant adult women in their reproductive age, and (3) measure or at least estimate levels of E2 and P4. In PubMed, the search was (4) limited to humans and (5) to the search term present in the title or abstract.ResultsFeatures of the provided stimulus material (emotion type and/or valence) constitute a relevant influence that interacts with E2- and P4-related ovarian-hormone status. For instance, recognition of basic emotions appears to be more related to P4- than E2-levels. Quite consistent, OC intake (vs. natural menstrual cycling) was accompanied by impaired recognition accuracy of basic and also complex emotions, although not in a recent large-sample study assessing complex emotions. Memory recall of negative content was mainly enhanced by P4, especially after having been stressed.Discussion and ConclusionWe document the methodological diversity in the field, presumably contributing to the heterogeneity of results. More studies explicitly contrasting the early follicular phase, mid-cycle phase, mid-luteal, and OC intake while standardizing tasks are needed. Research would take advantage of using within-subject designs and accounting for the recognition of complex emotions.

Phasic modulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by theta rhythm.

Theta rhythm and long-term potentiation (LTP) are 2 remarkable discoveries. The theta rhythm is an oscillatory neural activity of 3-10 Hz in the hippocampus. LTP is implicated as a cellular basis of memory, but the function of theta oscillation in memory is not clear. This review suggests that theta rhythm bestows optimal conditions for hippocampal LTP and memory encoding. Theta rhythm in hippocampal CA1 is generated mainly by 2 oscillating dipoles-somatic-inhibition and phase-shifted, distal dendritic excitation, with a smaller contribution by rhythmic proximal (CA3) excitation and distal inhibition. Our recent study showed that LTP of the excitatory synapses on the basal or apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells peaked twice in a theta cycle, at the rising (R) and the midcycle (M) phase of the theta rhythm recorded at the distal apical dendrites. In contrast, evoked population spike excitability peaked at a single phase near the midcycle. We infer that R and M peaks of LTP correspond to maximal dendritic depolarization and maximal somatic depolarization of CA1 pyramidal cells, respectively. A ∼50° phase shift between LTP-versus-theta-phase functions suggests independent LTP at the basal and apical dendrites. It is argued that theta phase-dependent LTP occurs under physiological conditions, by pairing presynaptic activity with oscillating postsynaptic depolarization. Place cells, showing intrinsic membrane potential oscillations, are ideal LTP participants. It is suggested that theta phase-dependent LTP contributes to memory encoding, and disruption of either theta oscillation or LTP may disrupt memory in various neurological disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN CARDIORESPIRATORY FUNCTIONS DURING DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN YOUNG WOMEN

Introduction: Menstrual cycle or menstruation involved discharge of sanguinous fluid and a sloughing of uterine wall. In women menstruation occurs at regular intervals on an average of 28 days, although most women gave a history of regular intervals of 28 to 30 days. About 10% -15% of women showed cycle at the precise 28 ± 2 days intervals when menstrual calendar was utilized. Normally in young women in different phases of ovarian cycles the plasma levels of estrogen vary. Ovulation occurs in the first 12-13th day of menstrual cycle, which is termed estrogen surge and second occurs in mid-luteal phase. During mid cycle or follicular phase of menstrual cycle the plasma concentration of progesterone is very low about 0.9 ng/mL. its level starts rising owing to secretion from the granulose cells. During luteal phase progesterone level reaches its peak value of 18 ng/mL and its level fall to a minimum value toward the end of the cycle. Estrogen affects local and systemic vasodilation. The menstrual cycle envelops two fundamental stages, the follicular stage (FP) and the luteal stage (LP). The follicular stage can part advance into two substages; the early FP, which is characterised with moo concentrations of both the key hormones estrogen and progesterone; and the mid FP where estrogen is tall autonomously from progesterone. The LP is epitomized by tall concentration of both estrogen and progesterone. These two fundamental stages are isolated by a soak surge in luteinizing hormone activating ovulation. These recurrent changes are said to be frequency unsurprising while long time. Aim: The main aim of this study is to evaluate the Cardiorespiratory functions changes during different Phases of Menstrual Cycle. &#x0D; Material and methods: In this study, 20 with normal weight, 20 with obese and 20 with overage were included and taken them as a sample size. In this study all the young women those were recruited as a sample size are unmarried, undergraduate female student with the between the age group of 18-22years, having regular 28+6 days menstrual cycle for at least last 6months prior to this study. For the collection of data all the participants were instructed to attend the physiology lab department during each of three different phases. Day-2 during menstrual phase, Day-7, during follicular phase and Day-22 during luteal phase and the following parameters were recorded as Anthropometric measurements, measuring of pulse rate and blood pressure and cardiac efficiency test.&#x0D; Result: In general, work out proficiency changed essentially amid the distinctive stages of the menstrual cycle with the most elevated amid luteal stage and least amid menstrualo stage. There was no critical contrast in impact test amid menstrual stage, follicular stage and luteal stage of menstrual cycle among three bunches of people.&#x0D; Conclusion: We have watched noteworthy increment in cardiac and respiratory proficiency within the luteal stage of the menstrual cycle in ordinary weight people. Lower wellness levels were watched in overweight and stout females. In this manner hone of customary work out and admissions of solid slim down which offer assistance in lessening the weight and in turn the BMI will offer assistance in improving the physical wellness of the people.&#x0D; Keywords: Cardiorespiratory, Menstrual cycle, expiratory blast test

Women with high estradiol status are protected against declarative memory impairment by pre-learning stress.

Stress is a potent modulator of learning and memory. Factors contributing to whether stress aids or impairs memory are timing of the stressor, memory stage, form of memory studied, and sex of the subjects. The female sex hormone 17-beta-estradiol (E2) has widespread effects in the brain and affects hippocampus-dependent memory in animals. In humans, the interaction between stress effects and E2 has not been widely studied. We report data from a healthy sample divided into 3 hormone-status groups: free-cycling women in the early follicular phase (EF: low E2, low progesterone [P4]), or during midcycle (MC: high E2, low P4), and men. Participants within each hormone-status group were randomly assigned to a psychosocial stressor or a control treatment 37 min before encoding a short story of neutral content. We found a Hormone status × Stress × Time (immediate, 35-min, 24-h delayed recall) interaction. Irrespective of time, hormone status mattered only after stress treatment: stressed early follicular women had poorer recall compared to stressed men and midcycle women. Only in the early follicular group, recall was negatively correlated with increases in salivary cortisol, but not with blood levels of E2 and P4. To uncover changes beyond immediate recall, we computed the individual percent change relative to immediate recall and repeated the analysis for these adjusted 35-min and 24-h data. Despite the lack of a stress effect in raw data, memory in stressed men was more stable over time (35-min and 24-h delay) than in unstressed men. In contrast, stressed EF-women (vs. control) recalled less at the 35-min and (as a trend) at the 24-h delay. Stressed MC-women (vs. control) showed less recall only at the 35-min delay while compensating this stress effect after a 24-h consolidation interval. Overall, results suggest that women in high-E2 midcycle phase could be less vulnerable to effects of pre-learning stress on declarative memory encoding and consolidation.

Low-glycosylated forms of both FSH and LH play major roles in the natural ovarian stimulation

Background: The natural ovarian stimulation is mediated by four gonadotrophin glycoforms: FSHtri with three, FSHtetra with four, LHdi with two, and LHtri with three N-glycans. The aim of the study was to determine the serum concentrations of the four glycoforms and their contents of anionic monosaccharides (AMS), i.e. sialic acid (SA) and sulfonated N-acetylgalactosamine (SU) residues throughout the menstrual cycle.Methods: Serum samples were collected from 78 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. The serum glycoform molecules were identified by their distributions at electrophoreses. Analyses were also performed after removal of terminal SA. The hormones were measured with time-resolved sandwich fluoroimmunoassays.Results: The concentration profiles of the four glycoforms were markedly different. FSHtri, which had a 3-fold higher biopotency than FSHtetra, had peak levels on cycle day 5 and at midcycle and nadirs on cycle days 9 and 21–23. FSHtetra had a raised level on cycle days 5–12, followed by a decrease. LHdi and LHtri had similar patterns, but the peak/nadir ratio was much more pronounced for LHdi than for LHtri, 18 versus 4. The numbers of SA residues per molecule were at a maximum around midcycle when the corresponding numbers of SU were at a minimum. The SU/SA ratio was at a minimum on cycle day 12.Conclusion: The results indicate that the LHdi and the FSHtri molecules play major roles in the natural ovarian stimulation. The SU/SA ratios per molecule favoured a prolonged circulatory half-life of all glycoforms at the midcycle phase. The observations may lead to more successful inductions of ovulation in anovulatory women.

Women’s emotional and sexual attraction to men across the menstrual cycle

There is ongoing debate about how and why the menstrual cycle affects women’s attraction to men. According to the dual sexuality hypothesis, women form pair-bond relationships with men who provide care but also obtain genetic benefits by biasing mating effort towards men with high-fitness genes during the fertile phase. By contrast, the commitment hypothesis proposes that attachment bonds with primary partners function to strengthen pair-bond relationships by enhancing in-pair attraction at the fertile phase, rather than extrapair attraction. We tested these hypotheses by measuring women’s daily sexual and emotional attraction towards men over the whole menstrual cycle. We employed 1) a urinary luteinizing hormone test to determine the day of ovulation, 2) a 5-part classification of menstrual cycle that identifies a distinct peri-ovulatory phase, and 3) individualized phase identification for each participant. There was a mid-cycle rise in extrapair sexual desire. Women gave and received more care from partners during the menstrual than the mid-cycle phases. Partner’s sexual attractiveness and mutual commitment did not moderate these findings. The results do not support either the dual sexuality or commitment hypotheses, and imply that female self-reported sexual desire is not strictly dependent on cyclic hormonal changes. Our results are more consistent with a recently proposed `spandrel’ hypothesis, positing cycle phase effects as a nonfunctional by-product of raised estradiol. Additionally, we found that, with the date of ovulation estimated by luteinizing hormone tests, 45% of ovulations were misclassified by the backward counting method, which urges caution in interpreting results based on counting methods.

How to Use CA-125 More Effectively in the Diagnosis of Deep Endometriosis.

Deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) is a severe form of the disease. The median time interval from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis of endometriosis is around 8 years. In this prospective study patients were divided into two groups: cases (34 DIE patients) and control (20 tubal ligation patients). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of CA-125 measurement in the menstrual and midcycle phases of the cycle, as well as the difference in its levels between the two phases, for the early diagnosis of DIE. Area Under the Curve (AUC) of CA-125 in menstrual phase and of the difference between menstrual and midcycle phases had the best performance (both with AUC = 0.96), followed by CA-125 in the midcycle (AUC = 0.89). The ratio between menstrual and midcycle phases had the worst performance. CA-125 may be useful for the diagnosis of deep endometriosis, especially when both are collected during menstruation and in midcycle. These may help to decrease the long interval until the definitive diagnosis of DIE. Multicentric studies with larger samples should be performed to better evaluate the cost-effectiveness of measuring CA-125 in two different phases of the menstrual cycle.

Crying, oral contraceptive use and the menstrual cycle

BackgroundCrying, a complex neurobiological behavior with psychosocial and communication features, has been little studied in relationship to the menstrual cycle. MethodsIn the Mood and Daily Life study (MiDL), a community sample of Canadian women aged 18–43 years, n=76, recorded crying proneness and crying frequency daily for six months along with menstrual cycle phase information. ResultsCrying proneness was most likely during the premenstruum, a little less likely during menses and least likely during the mid-cycle phase, with statistically significant differences although the magnitude of these differences were small. By contrast, actual crying did not differ between the three menstrual cycle phases. Oral contraceptive use did not alter the relationship between menstrual cycle phase and either crying variable. A wide range of menstrual cycle phase – crying proneness patterns were seen with visual inspection of the individual women's line graphs. Limitationstiming of ovulation was not ascertained. Using a three phase menstrual cycle division precluded separate late follicular and early luteal data analysis. The sample size was inadequate for a robust statistical test of actual crying. Conclusionsreproductive aged women as a group report feeling more like crying premenstrually but may not actually cry more during this menstrual cycle phase. Individual patterns vary substantially. Oral contraceptive use did not affect these relationships. Suggestions for future research are included.

Relationships between paranoid thinking, self-esteem and the menstrual cycle.

This study aimed to investigate whether paranoid experiences and levels of self-esteem fluctuate over the menstrual cycle and whether levels of self-esteem are lower when perceived persecution is felt to be deserved. Measures of anxiety, depression, persecution, deservedness and self-esteem were completed on-line by 278 women over their menstrual cycle. Responses were compared at the paramenstrual (3 days before and after menses onset) and mid-cycle phase. At the paramenstrual phase persecution, negative self-esteem, anxiety and depression were higher and positive self-esteem was lower than at mid-cycle. A greater proportion of women experienced persecution as deserved at the paramenstrual phase. This was associated with higher depression and negative self-esteem scores. Increased levels of deservedness significantly strengthened the relationship between persecution and negative, but not positive, self-esteem. These findings suggest that the paramenstrual phase is a time of vulnerability to increased paranoid experiences, an increased likelihood that feelings of persecution will feel deserved and lowered self-esteem. The findings support the view that interpersonal sensitivities may be key to menstrual cycle symptoms and have an impact on relationships. Further, the study illustrated that ideas developed for psychosis could make a valuable contribution to understanding and managing this aspect of menstruation-related distress.

172 RELATIONSHIPS AMONG GRANULOSA CELL FGF9 mRNA, FOLLICLE SIZE, AND APOPTOSIS IN CATTLE

Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) has been suggested to act as a dedifferentiation factor during bovine folliculogenesis, reducing steroidogenesis and increasing cell proliferation in granulosa (GC) and theca (TC) cells, but whether endogenous GC production of FGF9 change during bovine folliculogenesis and atresia/apoptosis is unknown. The objective of these studies was to investigate the relationship between FGF9 mRNA, follicle size, and health status of follicles. Ovaries (n = 10 cows) from a local abattoir classified visually as in midcycle phase (i.e. presence of corpus luteum and large follicles) were collected and categorized as small (1–5 mm), medium (5.1–8 mm) or large (8.1–22 mm) in size (Experiment 1). Follicular fluid (FFL) was aspirated for measurement of oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) via radioimmunoassay and GC collected for RNA extraction. Abundance of mRNA for FGF9 and Caspase-3 (CASP3), an effector of apoptosis, were measured by real-time PCR (qPCR). Data were analysed via factorial ANOVA with main factors: follicle size, follicle estrogenic status, and their interaction. The abundance of GC FGF9 mRNA was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in large E2-inactive (E2P4 concentrations) follicles (10.5 ± 22). The abundance of GC CASP3 mRNA was greater (P &lt; 0.01) in small E2-inactive follicles than in large and medium E2-active and E2-inactive follicles. FGF9 mRNA abundance was not correlated with E2/P4 ratio in FFL, but it was positively correlated with CASP3 mRNA abundance (r = 0.35; P &lt; 0.05). GC CASP3 mRNA abundance was negatively correlated with E2/P4 ratio (r = –0.48; P &lt; 0.01). To investigate the relationship between FGF9 and CASP3 mRNA abundance during experimentally-induced apoptosis, GC from large and small follicles were collected (Experiment 2) and GC were plated in medium containing 10% FCS. GC (n = 3 independent pools for small and large follicles) were then treated with or without 10% FCS for an additional 24 h or 48 h followed by RNA extraction and qPCR for measurement of abundance of FGF9 and CASP-3 mRNA. Statistical analyses with ANOVA included main factors: treatment, duration of treatment, and their interaction. In small-follicle GC, FGF9 and CASP3 mRNA abundance were not correlated and were not affected by treatments. In large follicles, FGF9 mRNA abundance was greater in GC treated without FCS (27.5 ± 2.7) than in GC treated with 10% FCS (6.6 ± 2.7) and tended to differ (P &lt; 0.08) between 24 h (22.5 ± 2.7) and 48 h (11.6 ± 2.7). CASP3 mRNA abundance was greater in GC treated without FCS (310 ± 36) than in GC treated with 10% FCS (140 ± 36) but did not differ (P &gt; 0.10) between 24 h and 48 h. In Experiment 2, there was no significant correlation between FGF9 and CASP3 mRNA (r = 0.28; P = 0.2). These results indicate that FGF9 mRNA abundance is greater in GC from large E2-inactive than from E2-active follicles and its production may be increased in large follicles undergoing apoptosis.

Lipidomic analysis of plasma samples from women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder affecting between 5 and 18 % of females of reproductive age and can be diagnosed based on a combination of clinical, ultrasound and biochemical features, none of which on its own is diagnostic. A lipidomic approach using liquid chromatography coupled with accurate mass high-resolution mass-spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used to investigate if there were any differences in plasma lipidomic profiles in women with PCOS compared with control women at different stages of menstrual cycle. Plasma samples from 40 women with PCOS and 40 controls aged between 18 and 40 years were analysed in combination with multivariate statistical analyses. Multivariate data analysis (LASSO regression and OPLS-DA) of the sample lipidomics datasets showed a weak prediction model for PCOS versus control samples from the follicular and mid-cycle phases of the menstrual cycle, but a stronger model (specificity 85 % and sensitivity 95 %) for PCOS versus the luteal phase menstrual cycle controls. The PCOS vs luteal phase model showed increased levels of plasma triglycerides and sphingomyelins and decreased levels of lysophosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines in PCOS women compared with controls. Lipid biomarkers of PCOS were tentatively identified which may be useful in distinguishing PCOS from controls especially when performed during the menstrual cycle luteal phase.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11306-014-0726-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Stress exposure prior to fear acquisition interacts with estradiol status to alter recall of fear extinction in humans.

Classical fear acquisition and extinction are important models for the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Women are at a higher risk for PTSD than men. Levels of circulating 17-β estradiol (E2) in women have been linked to deficits in fear extinction and extinction recall. In PTSD, fear learning coincides with acute traumatic stress. However, little is known about the possible interaction between stress exposure and hormone status on fear acquisition and extinction learning. In a 2-day, 2×3 between-subjects design with healthy participants, we examined the effects of stress (psychosocial stressor vs. control, placed 45 min prior to conditioning) and natural E2-status on differential fear conditioning, covering fear acquisition, immediate extinction (Day 1), and 24h-delayed extinction recall (Day 2). To operationalize E2-status, we compared women in the early follicular phase (EF) of their menstrual cycle (low E2, low progesterone plasma levels), women in the midcycle phase (MC, high E2, low progesterone), and men. Conditioning was indicated by differential skin conductance responses. We found an interaction between stress exposure and natural E2-status in women only: In MC-women, extinction recall on Day 2 (24h after initial extinction training) was better when fear acquisition had been preceded by stress. In EF-women, the inverse was true. We show that extinction recall of conditioned fear acquired after stress depends on estrogen status in women. Therefore, extinction-based exposure therapy in free-cycling female anxiety patients should take cycle status into account.

P.1.027 The role of FKBP5 in mechanisms linking stress and aging

Classical fear acquisition and extinction are important models for the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Women are at a higher risk for PTSD than men. Levels of circulating 17-β estradiol (E2) in women have been linked to deficits in fear extinction and extinction recall. In PTSD, fear learning coincides with acute traumatic stress. However, little is known about the possible interaction between stress exposure and hormone status on fear acquisition and extinction learning. In a 2-day, 2 × 3 between-subjects design with healthy participants, we examined the effects of stress (psychosocial stressor vs. control, placed 45 min prior to conditioning) and natural E2-status on differential fear conditioning, covering fear acquisition, immediate extinction (Day 1), and 24 h-delayed extinction recall (Day 2). To operationalize E2-status, we compared women in the early follicular phase (EF) of their menstrual cycle (low E2, low progesterone plasma levels), women in the midcycle phase (MC, high E2, low progesterone), and men. Conditioning was indicated by differential skin conductance responses. We found an interaction between stress exposure and natural E2-status in women only: In MC-women, extinction recall on Day 2 (24 h after initial extinction training) was better when fear acquisition had been preceded by stress. In EF-women, the inverse was true. We show that extinction recall of conditioned fear acquired after stress depends on estrogen status in women. Therefore, extinction-based exposure therapy in free-cycling female anxiety patients should take cycle status into account.

Diagnostic value of susceptibility-weighted imaging of abdominal wall endometriomas during the cyclic menstrual changes: A preliminary study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to investigate the value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for the evaluation of cyclic morphological and hemorrhagic changes in abdominal wall endometriomas (AWE). Materials and methodsFourteen patients with a total of 17 lesions who were admitted with complaints of abdominal wall mass and cyclic pain were evaluated by MRI. Patients were scanned during the first three days of the menstrual cycle and during the mid-cycle phase (day 13–15). In addition to conventional images SWI was performed. The signal changes within the lesions on SWI were compared and graded on both studies. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the size of the lesions in the early days of the menstruation compared to the mid-menstrual period. The SWI taken on mid-cycle phase showed that the center was hyperintense and the peripheral zone was hypointense in all lesions. A signal void related to increased blood and the shrinkage of complete disappearance of hyperintensity in the venter of the lesion was seen 15 (88%) of the 17 cases on the SWI series performed during the menstrual phase scan. ConclusionSWI is a sensitive technique and has the capability to show hemorrhage and deposition of hemosiderin within the lesions. For patients suspected with AWE, valuable diagnostic findings may be obtained if the MRI examination including SWI is performed during the early and mid phase menstrual cycle.