Progesterone In Blood Samples Research Articles

Oviductal Oxygen Homeostasis in Patients with Uterine Myoma: Correlation between Hypoxia and Telocytes.

Oxygen balance is crucial for angiogenesis, immunity, and tissue repair. The human oviduct is essential for reproductive function, and any imbalance in homeostasis leads to fertility disturbances and might be a reason for ectopic pregnancy development. Uterine myoma is a widespread benign tumour, which is often accompanied by infertility. Telocytes have been discussed in the contexts of motility, fibrosis development, and angiogenesis. We observed the oviducts from patients with and without uterine myoma, comparing the expression of HIF-1, HO, VEGF and its receptor, NOS, oestrogen, and progesterone receptors by immunolabeling. The myometrial and oviductal telocytes were also compared in both groups. Biochemical analyses were conducted for FSH, LH, AMH, sFlt, oestrogen, and progesterone in blood samples. Patients with uterine myoma have different expressions of sex steroid receptors and an increased number of telocytes. The decreasing VEFG expression was compensated by the rise in the HIF-1 and NOS expression. Blood biochemical analyses revealed a higher progesterone level and lower AMH in patients with uterine myoma. No differences in sFlt, FSH, and LF were observed. Uterine myoma impacts oviduct oxygen homeostasis and might cause fertility disturbances (uterine and oviductal infertility factors).

Analysis of the Effect of Propofol on Ovarian Function and the Level of Sex Hormone in Peripheral Blood of Mice

The mechanism of propofol action on mouse placenta time is not clear. The aim of this study was to describe the mechanism of propofol effect on ovary and uterus and to measure the level of sex hormones in peripheral blood of nonpregnant mice. On the 19th and 20th d after luteinizing hormone peak, 14 female mice were allocated to the study group (n=9) and the control group (n=5), respectively and propofol and saline solution were given. On the 26th d after luteinizing hormone peak, hysterectomy was performed, to screen the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in blood samples. Ovary, uterine horn and body were isolated for histological and morphometric diagnosis and immunohistochemical analysis of alpha estrogen and progesterone receptor expression. In the study group, progesterone decreased (p<0.01) and there was no difference in the total estrogen level. There was no significant difference in histomorphology or expression of alpha estrogen and progesterone receptor in ovary. The expression of progesterone receptor was increased (p<0.05) and the expression of estrogen receptor was increased (p<0.01) (p<0.05). The increase of estrogen receptor may increase the sensitivity of tissue to estrogen in the blood and lead to the infiltration of monocyte in endometrium, causing obvious inflammation, hemorrhage and hyperplasia. The cornea and endometrium of female mice were significantly thicker than those of the control group (p<0.05 and p<0.01). In addition, the myometrium of the uterus was thicker than that of the angle (p<0.001), while the expression of progesterone receptor in the uterus was higher (p<0.01). There was no difference between cornea and body. There is no difference between propofol and other anesthetics. The types of anesthetics did not seem to affect the levels of sex hormones in the peripheral blood of mice.

Use of a stair-step compensatory gain nutritional regimen to program the onset of puberty in beef heifers.

It was hypothesized that metabolic programming of processes underlying puberty can be shifted temporally through the use of a stair-step compensatory growth model such that puberty is optimally timed to occur at 11 to 12 mo of age. Forty crossbred beef heifers were weaned at approximately 3.5 mo of age and, after a 2-wk acclimation period, were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 nutritional groups: 1) low control (LC), restricted feed intake of a forage-based diet to promote BW gain of 0.5 kg/d until 14 mo of age, 2) high control (HC), controlled feed intake of a high-concentrate diet to promote BW gain of 1 kg/d until 14 mo of age, 3) stair-step 1 (SS-1), ad libitum feed intake of a high-concentrate diet until 6.5 mo of age followed by restricted access to a high-forage diet to promote BW gain of 0.35 kg/d until 9 mo of age, ad libitum feed intake of a high-concentrate diet until 11.5 mo of age, and restricted intake of a high-forage diet to promote BW gain of 0.35 kg/d until 14 mo of age, and 4) stair-step 2 (SS-2), reverse sequence of SS-1, beginning with restricted access to a high-forage diet. Body weight (every 2 wk) and circulating concentrations of leptin (monthly) were determined throughout the experiment. Concentrations of progesterone in blood samples collected twice weekly beginning at 8 mo of age were used to determine pubertal status. Body weight gain followed a pattern similar to that proposed in our experimental design. Circulating concentrations of leptin increased following distinct elevations in BW but decreased abruptly after feed intake restriction. Survival analysis indicated that the percentage of pubertal heifers in the LC group was lower (P < 0.05) than all other groups throughout the experiment. Although heifers in SS-1 were nutritionally restricted between 6.5 and 9 mo of age, the proportion pubertal by 12 mo of age did not differ (P = 0.36) from that of the HC group, with 80% and 70% pubertal in SS-1 and HC, respectively. In contrast, the proportion of heifers pubertal by 12 mo of age in the SS-2 group (40%) was lower (P < 0.05) than both HC and SS-1. However, by 14 mo of age, 90% of heifers in the SS-2 group had also attained puberty compared to only 40% of the LC group. In summary, these data provide evidence that changes in the nutritional and metabolic status during the early juvenile period can program the onset of puberty that occurs months later, allowing optimal timing of sexual maturation in replacement beef heifers.

Follicular Size and Response to Ovsynch Versus Detection of Estrus in Anovular and Ovular Lactating Dairy Cows

In a commercial dairy herd, 316 lactating Holsteins were studied to determine the percentage of anovular cows, to examine follicular sizes in anovular cows, and to compare synchronized ovulation (Ovsynch) versus detection of estrus on fertility of ovular and anovular cows. Ultrasonography examinations at 47 to 53 d and at 54 to 60 d postpartum were used to measure follicles and to classify cows as ovular or anovular. Anovular cows were identified as those with no detectable luteal tissue by ultrasonography and by low progesterone in blood samples collected weekly. Anovular cows included 28% of 122 primiparous cows and 15% of 194 multiparous cows. Of 64 anovular cows, 20% had follicles ≥25mm that might be considered cystic (4% of total cows), 58% had 15- to 24-mm follicles, and 22% had 9- to 14-mm follicles. Cows identified as ovular and anovular were randomly assigned within cyclic status to one of two artificial insemination (AI) strategies: 1) AI after detected estrus during 21 d, or 2) timed AI after a 10-d Ovsynch protocol. Weekly ultrasonography continued for 21 d to detect ovulations. For the Ovsynch subgroups, 97% of ovular and 94% of anovular cows ovulated after the second GnRH injection. Within 21 d, spontaneous ovulations for the detection of estrus subgroups were 42% of anovular cows vs. 89% of ovular cows. Conception rates were greater for ovular cows regardless of treatment, but conception rates between respective Ovsynch and estrus detection groups for ovular (32%, 35%) or anovular (9%, 11%) cows were similar. Although 20% of lactating cows were not cyclic by about 60 d postpartum, nearly all ovulated following Ovsynch. However, anovular cows had lower conception than ovular cows whether inseminated after detected estrous or after Ovsynch.

Influence of diet and ambient temperature on bovine serum insulin-like growth factor-I and thyroxine: relationships with non-esterified fatty acids, glucose, insulin, luteinizing hormone and progesterone

Multiparous, nonlactating, Hereford cows were fed maintenance (M; n = 11) or restricted (R; n = 11) diets for 41 weeks to evaluate changes in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and thyroxine during the onset of nutritionally induced anoestrus and during realimentation. Cows had a moderate body condition score (BCS = 5.5 ± 0.1; 1 indicating emaciated and 9 indicating obese) at the start of treatment. Cows on M diets maintained body weight (BW) and BCS, and R cows lost 1% of their initial BW weekly until they were anoestrus. When R cows were anoestrus their diets were increased to allow BW gain and resumption of ovarian activity. Relationships among concentrations of IGF-I, thyroxine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone in blood samples were determined. Anoestrus occurred when restricted cows had lost 24 ± 0.9% of their BW, had a BCS of 3.5 ± 0.1, and had nadir concentrations of IGF-I and thyroxine. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and thyroxine were reduced (P < 0.01) in R compared with M cows, except during realimentation when R cows had greater concentrations of thyroxine. Concentrations of IGF-I in M cows were positively correlated with concentrations of insulin (r = 0.31), glucose (r = 0.21) and progesterone (r = 0.24). In R cows, concentrations of IGF-I were positively correlated with insulin (r = 0.39), glucose (r = 0.23) and LH (r = 0.37). Mean weekly ambient temperatures were negatively correlated with IGF-I (r = −0.16), glucose (r = −0.37) and thyroxine (r = −0.40) in M cows. Our data indicate that ambient temperature and nutrient intake may both work to regulate concentrations of hormones and reproductive function in cattle.

Ovarian function following a single administration of depomedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) at different doses

The effects of a single administration of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) at different doses upon ovarian function was studied in a group of healthy ovulating Mexican women. Single doses of DMPA of 25, 50, 100, and 150 mg were intramuscularly administered. Ovarian function was assessed by the measurement of the serum levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone in blood samples drawn twice weekly for 6 months after DMPA administration. The results disclosed that ovulation was inhibited in all cases for at least 3 months following DMPA administration even at the lowest dose, whereas the return of luteal function exhibited a significant positive correlation with the dose of DMPA administered. As expected, follicular activity preceded that of luteal function in all subjects. A correspondence between serum medroxyprogesterone concentrations and ovarian function was found. The overall data indicated that the currently used contraceptive formulation (150 mg) is well above the effective pharmacologic range, and suggested that the dose can be substantially reduced without losing its anovulatory potency.

Reproductive Traits of Holsteins and Jerseys. Effects of Age, Milk Yield, and Clinical Abnormalities on Involution of Cervix and Uterus, Ovulation, Estrous Cycles, Detection of Estrus, Conception Rate, and Days Open

Two hundred and twelve Holstein and Jersey cows were in a study to determine factors that affected reproductive traits. First ovulation occurred about 3 wk postpartum, and interval to first ovulation was greater in cows that had clinical abnormalities postpartum than in normal cows. Jerseys producing more milk ovulated sooner postpartum than lower producing herdmates. Involution of cervix and uterus occurred later postpartum in cows that had clinical problems postpartum. Involution of genital tract occurred later postpartum in older cows and sooner postpartum in cows that had higher milk yields. Duration of first postpartum estrous cycle was 4 days less than for second postpartum cycle. Percentages of estrous cycles detected by standing estrus were 43 and 73% for Holsteins and Jerseys. Estrous detection rates were highest for cows that produced slightly above the mean milk yield and did not differ between cows in highest and lowest milk production quartiles. First detected estrus and days to first insemination occurred later postpartum in Holsteins as milk yield deviation from herdmates increased, regardless of sign. In Jerseys, days to first insemination and days open increased linearly as milk yield increased. Days to first insemination and conception were greater in cows with postpartum clinical problems. Conception rate at first insemination postpartum increased in proportion to concentration of progesterone in blood samples collected during 12 days before first insemination. Overall, clinical problems at parturition and postpartum lowered reproduction performance in both breeds. There was a slight antagonism between milk yield and reproduction performance (days open) in Jerseys but not in Holsteins.

Levels of free and protein-bound progesterone in plasma during late pregnancy.

Using a filter method, levels of free (unbound) and protein-bound progesterone in blood samples were measured serially from the 23rd week of pregnancy until delivery in 16 healthy women. In addition, total estrogen and progesterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The levels of both free and total progesterone increased steadily until the end of pregnancy. Free progesterone increased with advancing pregnancy more in proportion to the total progesterone, as it rose from 6% (of total) at week 24 to 13% at week 40. Both free and total progesterone decreased markedly very soon (2 h) after delivery. However, the corresponding decrease in the level of free progesterone was considerably less, with the result that it rose to 19% of the total, the greatest proportion of free progesterone observed at any time. The levels of both total estrogen and progesterone in plasma increased with advancing pregnancy, and at no time, prior to delivery, was there a significant fall in progesterone or an abrupt rise in estrogen.

The description and evaluation of a simple technique for the determination of plasma progesterone by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography

A relatively simple technique for the determination of progesterone in blood samples is described. The procedure involves the extraction of alkaline plasma after addition of a labelled internal standard; purification by thin-layer chromatography (with autoradiography); acetylation of impurities; rechromatography on thin-layer; the addition of a second (non-labelled) standard and gas-liquid chromatography using a solid injection technique; flame ionisation detection and digital integration. The evaluation includes a consideration of theoretical and practical errors and the method has been applied to ninety-six samples of plasma from the peripheral venous blood of healthy women with regular ovulatory cycles.