Ovarian Vein Blood Research Articles

Ovulation in light-estrous rats induced by darkness.

Adult female rats show continual vaginal cornification and cease ovulation a few weeks after they are exposed to continuous lighting (light-estrous rats). When these rats were placed in the darkness for 10 hr, 80% of the animal ovulated approximately 46 hr later. Peripheral LH increased to a small peak immediately after placing in darkness concomitant with a decrease in pituitary LH content; a large peak, 20 times higher than the basal LH level, was observed at 20 to 22 hr. Progesterone concentration in ovarian vein blood remained at extremely low levels while estrogen levels tended to rise after small LH peak. This estrogen rise appeared to play an important role in inducing the main LH peak. Simulation of the small LH peak by low doses of exogenous LH succeeded in inducing ovulation of light-estrous rats in similar fashion to the exposure of light-estrous rats to 10-hr darkness. Therefore, the small amount of LH secretion observed after the initiation of the darkness-treatment may be considered as a trigger for the whole sequence of hormonal changes leading to ovulation.

PERIPHERAL AND OVARIAN STEROIDS IN OVARIAN HYPERTHECOSIS

Serum levels of cortisol (F), pregnenolone (delta5-P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-delta5-P), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), 5alphadihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEA-S), estrone (E1), and estradiol-17beta (E2) were measure in 2 virilized patients with ovarian hyperthecosis. Daily morning blood samples were obtained for 6 consecutive days. Dexamethasone (Dex) 2 mg/day was administered orally starting after venipuncture on the second day and continued for 5 days. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered intramuscularly on the afternoon of the fourth and fifth days. Following the suppression-stimulation test, both patients underwent abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. At the time of surgery, samples of peripheral and ovarian vein blood were obtained for steroid measurements. Blood samples were also obtained postsurgery to evaluate the effect of ovariectomy on the steroid levels. Of significance were the following observations: 1)Although both patients were eumenorrheic, no corpus luteum or corpus albicans was seen on histologic examination of the ovaries. 2)Of the androgens measured, only peripheral T and DHT were elevated and did not suppress on Dex treatment, but decreased to low levels following ovariectomy, pointing toward the ovary as the source of excess T and DHT. Both patients had elevated T and DHT in the ovarian vein samples. 3)In 1 patient the ovarian vein samples shoed elevated F levels with a significant ovarian-peripheral venous gradient for this steroid, and indication of ovarian secretion of F in this patient. 4)The levels of 17-P were elevated in both patients, did not suppress on Dex, and increased markedly following hCG, suggesting the ovary as the source of excess 17-P. Since A levels were normal and did not increase concomitantly with 17-P levels following hCG, it is likely that the patients had a decreased activity of the ovarian C17-20 desmolase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of 17-P to A.

The source of estradiol-17β in trophoblastic neoplasia

Unconjugated and conjugated estradiol-17β (E2) were measured in the sera of four patients with hydatidiform mole at frequent regular intervals after removal of the mole, in the left and right ovarian vein blood in a patient with hydatidiform mole, in the peripheral sera and serous fluid of the molar vesicles in seven cases of hydatidiform mole, and in the fluid from the left and right theca lutein cyst (TLC) of a molar pregnancy, by a radioimmunoassay method. Patients with highly elevated serum E2 had a rapid clearance of E2 within 24 to 36 hours after removal of the mole; those with minimal E2 elevation had a slower clearance of the hormone from the circulation. Mole vesicle fluid had undetectable E2 but a wide range of unconjugated E2 which was usually lower than in the peripheral blood. Both ovarian vein blood and TLC fluid have higher E2 concentrations than the peripheral blood. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the contribution of the trophoblast and the ovaries to the circulating E2.

Effects of cervical stimulation and anti-LH releasing hormone serum on LH releasing hormone content in the hypothalamus.

Hypothalamic content of LHRH was radioimmunoassayed after cervical stimulation on the morning of day of estrus' LHRH content rose 3-fold by 120 min after the stimulation, reaching a level equivalent to that of day 5 of pseudopregnancy. The increase was not steady as there were two early periods when the content did not increase. Measurement of pituitary LH content revealed a marked increase followed by a sudden decrease which corresponded respectively to the two periods when LHRH levels failed ro tise. These changes in pituitary LH level suggest that both the synthesis and release of LH in the pituitary are promoted by the action of LHRH released from the hypothalamus. LH changes in the pituitary were abolished iv injection of 2 ml LHRH antiserum at the time of cervical stimulation, but pseudopregnancy was still induced and diestrus prolonged 4 days longer than in the control group. Progestin concentrations in ovarian vein blood were comparable between anti-LHRH-treated and control groups. These results suggest that the LH released by cervical stimulation is dispensable for the induction of pseudopregnancy. The marked elevation of LHRH in the hypothalamus observed immediately after cervical stimulation must be related to the regulatory mechanism of the characteristic secretory pattern of LH during the period of pseudopregnancy.

Endocrine function of the postmenopausal ovary: concentration of androgens and estrogens in ovarian and peripheral vein blood.

ABSTRACT The concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, 17β-estradiol, and estrone were measured in peripheral and ovarian vein sera obtained at the time of surgery from 10 postmenopausal women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. A higher ovarian than peripheral vein concentration was found for all hormones studied. The differences between ovarian and peripheral vein concentrations were 15-fold for testosterone (3033 ± 1046 pg/ml vs 198 ± 27 pg/ml, p <0.01); 4-fold for androstenedione (3455 ± 1330 pg/ml vs 754 ± 174 pg/ml, NS) and 2-fold for both 17β-estradiol (31.1 ± 6.3 pg/ml vs 14.6 ± 2.9 pg/ml, p < 0.05); and estrone (71.5 ± 13.3 pg/ml vs 30.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml, p < 0.05). It is concluded that the postmenopausal ovary continues to secrete a large amount of testosterone and a moderate amount of androstenedione. The small magnitude of the peripheral and ovarian vein estrogen differences could account for only minimal ovarian estrogen secretion.

Plasma Testosterone in Adrenal and Ovarian Vein Blood of Hirsute Women

Plasma testosterone was measured in specimens obtained by catheterization from the adrenal, ovarian and hepatic veins of five hirsute women, four female and three male hypertensive patients. Results indicate that the normal ovary does not secrete testosterone but a small amount may be produced by the ovary of hirsute women with normal-sized glands. The adrenal of the normal female does secrete testosterone but this is probably not so in the normal male because of suppression by high output from the testes. High levels of testosterone were recorded in the adrenal vein of four hirsute women indicating that the adrenal may be the main source of the androgen in these patients. There was no evidence of increased formation of testosterone in the liver of hirsute women when assessed by the indirect methods applied in this study.

Steroid studies in a case of ovarian hyperluteinization with virilism in two consecutive pregnancies.

ABSTRACT Studies were performed in a woman, who developed virilism in 2 consecutive pregnancies, presumably on the basis of hyperluteinization of both ovaries but without any distinct luteoma. Both pregnancies were terminated by Casearean section. During the first pregnancy a very high concentration of testosterone in the peripheral plasma was found immediately before delivery. During the second pregnancy the patient was followed regularly with determinations of testosterone and androstenedione in the plasma as well as 17-ketosteroids, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, cortisol, pregnanetriol, pregnanediol and oestriol in the urine. The first 2 trimesters were characterized by a moderate increase in plasma testosterone and androstenedione and of urinary 17-ketosteroids. In the last trimester there was a marked increase in plasma androgens and urinary 17-ketosteroids, corresponding to clinical manifestations of virilism. Thus, at the end of the second pregnancy, the concentration of testosterone and androstenedione in the peripheral plasma was 10 times higher than the values found in normal pregnancy. Even higher values were found in ovarian vein blood and exceedingly high concentrations in ovarian cyst fluid. The administration of chorionic gonadotrophin between the 2 pregnancies resulted in an increase in plasma testosterone and androstenedione whereas menopausal gonadotrophin given in low dosage was without any significant effect.

Relationship between progesterone secretion and peripheral plasma levels of luteinizing hormone during pregnancy and postpartum period in hamsters.

Levels of progesterone in the ovarian vein blood and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the peripheral plasma were measured by respective radioimmunoassays throughout pregnancy and postpartum period in hamsters. The secretion of progesterone or LH showed no significant fluctuations prior to or in association with implantation on Days 3 and 4 of pregnancy. During the second half of gestation, ovarian output of progesterone doubled (4.8 µg/hr/ovary) and the concentration of LH declined to values significantly (p < 0.01) less than those found during the early pregnancy or the diestrous phase of the cycle. During the postpartum period progesterone secretion dropped below values found on Day 1 of pregnancy (2.4 µg/hr/ovary) and LH levels rose severalfold over those found in the prepartum animals (Days 9–16, p < 0.01). The stimulus provided by suckling failed to reduce high LH values (145 ng/ml) to levels present in the second half of pregnancy (12 ng/ml). In general, a negative relationship was observed between the ovarian secretion of progesterone and circulating levels of LH both during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Effect of progesterone and oestrogen on the survival and development of fertilized ova in the ovariectomized ewe.

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the importance of progesterone and oestrogen for the survival and development of fertilized ova in ovariectomized ewes. In experiment 1 ewes were treated with progesterone (P) alone or progesterone and 17 p-oestradiol (P + E2) following ovariectomy on the second (day 2) or sixth day (day 6) after mating to vasectomized rams. Fertilized ova were transferred to the ewes either immediately after ovariectomy or on day 6 after ovariectomy on day 2. In experi-ment 2 ewes that had been given an equine anterior pituitary extract to induce multiple ovulation were ovariectomized on day 2 after mating to fertile rams, and then treated with P or P+E2. On day 18 the uteri of all ewes were flushed to recover embryos. Treatment with P commenced immediately after ovariectomy and E2 was given from day 21-to day 5, to ewes ovariectomized on day 2. Ovarian vein blood was collected just prior to ovariectomy and was assayed for its progesterone and oestrogen contents.

The influence of lactation on luteal function in the rhesus monkey.

Progesterone is detectable in the peripheral circulation of lactating monkeys for several weeks following parturition, but rapidly falls to undetectable levels in postpartum monkeys not allowed to suckle their young. At laparotomy on the 25th postpartum day, unexpectedly large corpora lutea were found and were subsequently shown by carbon marking to be the corpora lutea of pregnancy. In lactating animals these corpora lutea had the histological appearance of active glands and secreted quantities of progesterone into the ovarian vein approximating those observed during the midluteal phase of the cycle. The nonlactating, postpartum animals, on the other hand, had involuted corpora lutea and lower concentrations of progesterone in ovarian vein blood. The postpartum corpora lutea, in contrast to those of the cycle, secreted more estrone than estradiol into the ovarian venous plasma. It is concluded that suckling prolongs the morphological and functional integrity of the postpartum corpus luteum in primates. (...

Plasma estrogens in postmenopausal women

The concentration of plasma estrone and estradiol was measured in different groups of postmenopausal women; including physiologic menopause, castration menopause, and those who in addition to menopause had diabetes, hypertension, or cardiac disease. The mean values for estrone were 41 pg. per milliliter and for estradiol 13 pg. per milliliter. There was no statistical difference in the levels of plasma estrogen in all groups of postmenopausal women studied. In 3 individuals, studies of estrogens in ovarian vein blood suggested a nonovarian origin of estrogen.

Effects of an intrauterine device on ovarian secretion of progestagens and oestrogens in pregnant rats: evidence for local effects.

The study attempted to detect any alterations in the secretory pattern of ovarian steroids on Day 4 of pregnancy (day when spermatozoa found in vaginal smear was Day 1) in the presence of a unilateral IUD in the rat. A silk suture was inserted in the lumen along the entire length of 1 uterine horn. The other horn was sham-inserted. Ovarian vein blood was collected either from the IUD side (8) or from the opposite side (8). Each sample was analyzed in duplicate for progesterone 20-alpha-dihydroprogesterone estrone and estradiol by radioimmunoassay. Both the concentration and output of progesterone were significantly (p less than .001 and p less than .01) lower on the IUD than on the opposite side. Concentration and output of 20-alpha-dihydroprogesterone were slightly increased on the IUD side but nonsignificantly (p less than .1). The ratio of progesterone to 20-alpha-dihydroprogesterone concentrations was significantly less (p less than .01) on the IUD side. The decrease in concentration of estradiol on the IUD side was statistically significant (p less than .02) as was the decrease in ratio of estradiol to estrone concentrations. Ovarian blood-flow rates on the 2 sides were comparable. The steroidal effect of the rat IUD may partially account for the local antifertility action. Perhaps the action of the IUD on steroid secretion is mediated through the secretion of pharmacologically active substances such as prostaglandins.

Oestrone and oestradiol in jugular vein plasma during the oestrous cycle of the cow.

SUMMARY The concentrations of oestrone and oestradiol in jugular vein plasma during the bovine oestrous cycle were measured using a fluorescence assay. The highest levels of both oestrogens were found on the 19th and 20th days of a standardized 21-day cycle, with the peak of oestrone occurring slightly before that of oestradiol. Oestrone values ranged from 23·1 to 226·9 ng/100ml and oestradiol varied between 17·6 and 117·5 ng/100 ml. Relatively high values for oestrone concentrations were found on days 6, 7 and 8. These values are comparable to those observed in the ovarian vein blood of the ewe, using both the present method and radioimmunoassay. The relationship between the oestrogen concentrations reported here and the levels of other hormones during the bovine oestrous cycle is discussed.

Oestradiol content of ovarian venous blood and ovarian tissue in hypophysectomized rats during late pregnancy.

SUMMARY Oestradiol-17β in ovarian venous blood and ovarian tissue was assayed by a competitive protein-binding method. Oestradiol was found in similar amounts in the ovarian vein blood of pregnant rats hypophysectomized on Day 12 and killed on Days 16 and 21 and in pregnant rats sham-hypophysectomized on Day 12 and killed on Day 16. The pituitary therefore plays no part in oestrogen production after mid-pregnancy until some time between Day 16 and Day 21, when it gives rise to an increased ovarian venous blood oestradiol content just before parturition, in intact sham-hypophysectomized rats. It is suggested that this increase is associated with the advent of the post-partum ovulation. The corpus luteum and the extraluteal component of the ovary in hypophysectomized rats autopsied on Days 16 and 21 and in sham-hypophysectomized rats autopsied on Day 16, contain similar amounts of oestradiol within each group. The extraluteal component contains about five times more oestradiol than corpora lutea in sham-hypophysectomized intact rats autopsied on Day 21. The ovaries of these animals also show an increased amount of oestradiol over that of the ovaries in the other three groups. It is suggested that secretion of oestradiol after mid-pregnancy in rats involves concurrently both the corpus luteum and the extraluteal component of the ovary.

Interrelationships between estrogen and progesterone secretion and trauma-induced deciduomata. On causes of uterine refractoriness in the "Parlow rat".

Estrogen, progesterone, and 20αhydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (20α-OH-P) were measured in ovarian vein blood of PMS-HCG-treated immature rats during follicular growth and luteinization. Twenty-four hr after PMS, estrogen increased over the preinjection level [0.22 to 6.56 ng estradiol-17β equivalent (EE)/ml], and a maximum of 16.8 ng/EE/ml was measured 48 hr after PMS. A decrease was evident on the 4th day, and by the 8th day estradiol levels were near preinjection values. Piogesterone and 20α-OH-P, undetectable in 26- to 28-day-old female rats, increased significantly (8.41 and 5.34 μg/ ml, resp.) 6 days after PMS. Decreases were indicated by 8 days. HCG given 60 hr after PMS did not immediately alter the decline of estrogen; however, on the 4th day after HCG, estrogen rose significantly (p <0.005) above the 3rd day level. Thereafter, estrogen declined sharply to plateau at the pre-PMS level by the 6th day after HCG. Prolonged maintenance of high progesterone levels related to HCG administration, but 20α-OH-P f...

ENDOCRINE STUDIES IN POST‐MENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OVARIAN TUMOURS

SummaryAn endocrine assessment was made in 78 post‐menopausal women.The urinary excretion of oestriol was greater than 10 μg. per 24 hours in 14 out of 31 cases with malignant ovarian tumours, in 2 out of 24 cases with benign ovarian tumours, and in 6 out of 23 cases without ovarian tumours. Although the urinary oestriol excretion was increased in all 8 cases with mucinous carcinoma it was raised in only 4 out of 18 cases with serous carcinoma. Some of the greatest amounts of urinary oestriol were found in cases without ovarian tumours.The urinary excretion of pregnanediol was increased in 6 out of 18 cases. These six patients also had increased oestriol excretion.The excretion of steroids was normal after oöphorectomy.Tests of adrenal cortical activity and ovarian vein blood analysis also point to the diseased ovary as the site of increased steroid synthesis.The correlation of increased urinary oestriol with vaginal cornification index was fair, but with vaginal bleeding and endometrial activity was poor.

Plasma progesterone levels in goats during pregnancy measured by competitive protein binding.

ABSTRACT Plasma progesterone concentration at different stages of pregnancy was measured in the blood obtained from the uterine artery (6 goats), the uterine vein (6 goats), and the ovarian vein (11 goats). Progesterone concentration was also measured in the peripheral venous blood before and after extirpation of the ovaries and the uterus (16 goats). The concentration of progesterone was found to rise gradually in the peripheral and ovarian vein blood to reach a maximum at 90 days of pregnancy. This was followed by a gradual decline with consistent low values of about 7 ng prog./ml 3–4 days before parturition. A significant decrease in peripheral progesterone concentration was found 10 minutes after removing the ovaries and the uterus. In two goats sampled before and after parturition, the plasma progesterone concentration was found to decrease before parturition and to remain low for at least three days after parturition.

Effect of vitamin A status on the content of some steroids in the ovarian-vein blood of pregnant rats.

Effect of vitamin A status on the content of some steroids in the ovarian-vein blood of pregnant rats.

Mode of action of oestrogen in maintaining the functional life of corpora lutea in sheep.

Summary. Twice-daily intramuscular injections of 0·5 mg oestradiol benzoate, starting on Day 3 of the cycle, were able to prolong the life of the corpora lutea in sheep, as judged by their weight, their DNA and RNA content, and the progesterone concentration in ovarian vein blood. This luteotrophic effect persisted even when the pituitary stalks of the animals were sectioned, but it was abolished when the animals were hypophysectomized. Four possible sites of oestrogen action were considered; the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the corpus luteum and the uterus. It was concluded that oestrogen is luteotrophic principally because of its action on the uterus, where it seems to interfere with the normal luteolytic mechanism.

Endocrine studies in the arrhenoblastoma

Urinary steroid excretion patterns before and after dexamethasone suppression were studied in a patient with arrhenoblastoma prior to operation, one week, and 5 months after the removal of the tumor. The routine 17-ketosteroid and total fractionated 17-ketosteroid values were elevated. The elevation was primarily in the 11-deoxy-17-ketosteroid fraction, with androsterone and etiocholanolone being prominent contributors. Only the 11-oxygenated 17-ketosteroid and tetrahydrocorticoid fractions were suppressed to undetectable levels with dexamethasone. After the removal of the arrhenoblastoma, all fractionated neutral steroid levels returned to normal limits and were suppressed well with dexamethasone. Studies of peripheral blood obtained prior to and after operation and ovarian vein blood obtained during operation provided evidence of the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, and testosterone by the arrhenoblastoma.