Serum concentrations of deoxycorticosterone in women during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle are not suppressed by dexamethasone treatment

Elevated uterine blood flow is associated with increases in local estrogen-to-progesterone ratios during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle and late pregnancy. Because protein kinase C (PKC) activation increases arterial tone, decreased PKC activity may mediate vasodilation. Therefore, we determined uterine (UA) and systemic artery (SA, omental) PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular (n = 6), early luteal (n = 4), and late luteal (n = 3) phases of the sheep ovarian cycle, and at 110 +/- 3 (n = 4) and 130 +/- 1 (n = 8) (+/- SE) days of ovine gestation. The stage of the ovarian cycle was verified by the presence of follicles (high estrogen) or corpora lutea (high progesterone) on the ovary and by plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations. UA-PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular phase was 100 +/- 18 and increased progressively to 155 +/- 28 during the early luteal phase and to 219 +/- 37 (P less than 0.05) during the late luteal phase; SA-PKC activity was unchanged. A local utero-ovarian relationship was observed, i.e., UA-PKC activity was lower (P less than 0.001) in UA ipsilateral to ovaries with only follicles (105 +/- 14) when compared with UA adjacent to ovaries with corpora lutea (224 +/- 26), which was similar to SA-PKC activity (184 +/- 35). UA-PKC activity fell from 344 +/- 70 at 110 days to 109 +/- 12 at 130 days gestation (P less than 0.05); SA-PKC activity was unchanged. During the ovarian cycle and latter one-third of ovine pregnancy, increased estrogen production is associated with decreased UA-PKC activity; thus local ovarian and placental steroids may alter PKC activity, thereby regulating UA tone and blood flow.

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Serum concentrations of thyrotropin, thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyroxine binding globulin in female endurance runners and joggers

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1140041 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 114 (1) ◽

pp. 41-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

H. Hohtari ◽

A. Pakarinen ◽

A. Kauppila

Keyword(s):

Endurance Training ◽

Anterior Pituitary ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Endurance Running ◽

Thyroxine Binding Globulin ◽

Trh Stimulation ◽

Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽

Thyroid Axis ◽

Serum Tsh

Abstract. The effects of endurance training and season on the function of the anterior pituitary-thyroid axis were studied in 18 female runners and their 12 controls, and in 13 joggers and their 11 controls in Northern Finland, with a large seasonal difference in environmental factors. The serum concentrations of thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and oestradiol (E2) were measured during one menstrual cycle in the light training season (autumn) and in the hard training season (spring). The responses of TSH to intravenous TRH stimulation were also measured in the luteal phase of the cycle during the hard training season. Endurance running did not affect the basal or TRH-stimulated serum TSH concentrations, while those of T4 and fT4 in runners were lowered in both seasons and that of T3 in the light training season in relation to control subjects. The serum concentrations of TBG were also significantly lower in runners than their controls in the luteal phase in both seasons. The effect of jogging on thyroid hormones was less pronounced. Serum concentrations of TSH, T4, fT4, T3 and TBG were generally slightly higher in spring than in autumn. Strenuous endurance training seems to have minor changes on the function of the thyroid gland. Depressed T4 levels in runners may rather be due to lowered TBG levels than due to direct effect of training. In spring the function of anterior pituitary-thyroid axis is more active than in autumn.

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Ovarian Cycle-Specific Regulation of Adipose Tissue Lipid Storage by Testosterone in Female Nonhuman Primates

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2013-1428 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 154 (11) ◽

pp. 4126-4135 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Oleg Varlamov ◽

Michael P. Chu ◽

Whitney K. McGee ◽

Judy L. Cameron ◽

Robert W. O'Rourke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Sex Hormones ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Fatty Acid Uptake ◽

Ovarian Cycle ◽

Lipid Storage ◽

Hormone Sensitive Lipase ◽

Acid Uptake ◽

Hormone Sensitive

Previous studies in rodents and humans suggest that hyperandrogenemia causes white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction in females, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In light of the differences in the length of the ovarian cycle between humans and rodents, we used a nonhuman primate model to elucidate the effects of chronic hyperandrogenemia on WAT function in vivo. Female rhesus macaques implanted with testosterone capsules developed insulin resistance and altered leptin secretion on a high-fat, Western-style diet. In control visceral WAT, lipolysis and hormone-sensitive lipase expression were upregulated during the luteal phase compared with the early follicular (menses) phase of the ovarian cycle. Hyperandrogenemia attenuated elevated lipolysis and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in visceral WAT during the luteal phase but not during menses. Under control conditions, insulin-stimulated Akt and Erk activation and fatty acid uptake in WAT were not significantly affected by the ovarian cycle. In contrast, testosterone treatment preferentially increased fatty acid uptake and insulin signaling at menses. The fatty acid synthase and glucose transporter-4 genes were upregulated by testosterone during the luteal phase. In summary, this study reveals ovarian stage-specific fluctuations in adipocyte lipolysis and suggests that male sex hormones increase and female sex hormones decrease lipid storage in female WAT.

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Progesterone ensures full-length luteal phases during the breeding season in ewes

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1290371 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 129 (3) ◽

pp. 371-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S. J. Legan ◽

H. I'Anson ◽

P. Neiser

Keyword(s):

Serum Concentration ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Gnrh Agonist ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Full Length ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Phase Increment ◽

End Of Treatment ◽

Prostaglandin F ◽

Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone

ABSTRACT To test the hypothesis that each luteal-phase increase in the serum concentration of progesterone throughout the breeding season prevents a short luteal phase in the next cycle, 22 ewes were treated with an i.v. injection of 10 μg gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist every 12 h for 33 days beginning on day 12 of a cycle synchronized with prostaglandin F2α. Six days after the last injection of GnRH agonist, ten of the ewes were treated s.c. for 14 days with progesterone-containing silicone elastomer implants to generate luteal-phase serum concentrations. Twenty ewes stopped cycling during GnRH agonist treatment and 16 of these, eight controls and eight treated with progesterone, resumed cycling after the end of treatment. In the control ewes, oestrous cycles began 25·0±7·5 (s.e.m.) days after the end of GnRH agonist administration, a short luteal phase preceding initiation of cycles in six ewes. In contrast, all eight progesterone-treated ewes resumed cycling synchronously 22·0 ±0·2 days after the end of GnRH agonist treatment and all began with full-length luteal phases. These results support the hypothesis that each luteal-phase increment in the serum concentration of progesterone throughout the breeding season prevents a short luteal phase in the next cycle. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 129, 371–379

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Effects of an LH-releasing hormone antagonist on the secretion of LH, FSH, prolactin and ovarian steroids at different stages of the luteal phase in the stumptailed macaque (Macaca arctoides)

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1110083 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 111 (1) ◽

pp. 83-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

H. M. Fraser ◽

M. Abbott ◽

N. C. Laird ◽

A. S. McNeilly ◽

J. J. Nestor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

High Amplitude ◽

High Serum ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Luteal Function ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Lhrh Antagonist ◽

Lh Releasing Hormone

ABSTRACT The role of the pituitary gonadotrophins in controlling luteal function in the stumptailed macaque has been investigated by examining profiles of serum concentrations of LH, FSH, progesterone and oestradiol in daily blood samples from 13 monkeys during the menstrual cycle, and in blood samples taken at hourly intervals between 09.00 and 21.00 h on different days of the luteal phase in 13 cycles. The effects of acute withdrawal of gonadotrophins was investigated by administering a single injection of 300 μg LHRH antagonist/kg body weight at different stages of the luteal phase during 28 cycles. Although there were high basal values and marked fluctuations of bioactive LH during the first 4 days after the LH peak, progesterone profiles showed no corresponding short-term changes, there being a slow and steady rise in progesterone concentrations during the sampling periods. After day 5, basal LH secretion decreased, but high amplitude LH pulses were identified which were associated with episodes of progesterone secretion. Administration of the LHRH antagonist caused a suppression of bioactive LH and progesterone concentrations at all stages of the luteal phase, although some basal secretion of progesterone was maintained through the 24-h period of effective antagonist gonadotroph blockade. Luteal function recovered apparently normally in all monkeys treated in the early–mid-luteal phase. Serum concentrations of FSH and oestradiol fluctuated comparatively less during the 12-h sampling periods, and the antagonist had less suppressive effects on the concentrations of these hormones. The LHRH antagonist had no apparent effect on prolactin release. It appears that the corpus luteum is relatively unresponsive to the high serum LH concentrations during the early luteal phase, but that responsiveness increases as the corpus luteum develops. The corpus luteum is, however, susceptible to withdrawal of LH not only in the mid–late luteal phase when the relationship with LH is apparent, but also during the early luteal phase. J. Endocr. (1986) 111, 83–90

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Luteal phase after conventional stimulation in the same ovarian cycle might improve the management of poor responder patients fulfilling the Bologna criteria: a case series

Fertility and Sterility ◽

10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.09.012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (1) ◽

pp. 121-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Alberto Vaiarelli ◽

Danilo Cimadomo ◽

Alessandro Conforti ◽

Mauro Schimberni ◽

Maddalena Giuliani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Luteal Phase ◽

Case Series ◽

Poor Responder ◽

Ovarian Cycle ◽

Bologna Criteria

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Reply: ‘Second stimulation in the same ovarian cycle’, probably a terminology more appropriate than ‘luteal phase stimulation’ in the DuoStim protocol

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/deab018 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alberto Vaiarelli ◽

Danilo Cimadomo ◽

Laura Rienzi ◽

Filippo Maria Ubaldi

Keyword(s):

Luteal Phase ◽

Ovarian Cycle

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Immunoneutralization and immunocytochemical localization of inhibin α subunit during the mid-luteal phase in the stump-tailed macaque

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1330341 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 133 (3) ◽

pp. 341-NP ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. M. Fraser ◽

K. B. Smith ◽

S. F. Lunn ◽

G. M. Cowen ◽

K. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Treatment Cycle ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Α Subunit ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Early Follicular Phase

ABSTRACT The putative endocrine role of inhibin in the control of FSH secretion during the luteal phase in the primate was investigated by immunoneutralization. Antisera against the 1–23 amino acid sequence of the N-terminus of the human inhibin α subunit were raised in a ewe and three macaques. Antisera (10–20 ml) were administered to macaques on day 8/9 of the luteal phase and serum samples collected during the treatment cycle and post-treatment cycle for determination of FSH, oestradiol and progesterone. In addition, localization of inhibin within the macaque ovary at this stage of the luteal phase was investigated using the ovine antiserum. Intense immunostaining was localized within the granulosa-lutein cells of the corpus luteum with absence of staining in the thecalutein cells or other ovarian compartments. Administration of antisera was without significant effect on serum concentrations of FSH when compared with control animals, either during the first 24 h of detailed observation or for the following 10-day period of the late luteal phase and subsequent early follicular phase. These results provide further evidence that the corpus luteum is the major source of inhibin immunoreactivity during the primate menstrual cycle, but fail to support an endocrine role for inhibin in the suppression of FSH secretion. Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 133, 341–347

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Similar miRNomic signatures characterize the follicular fluids collected after follicular and luteal phase stimulations in the same ovarian cycle

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics ◽

10.1007/s10815-019-01607-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 149-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Danilo Cimadomo ◽

Ramona Carmelo ◽

Elvira Immacolata Parrotta ◽

Stefania Scalise ◽

Gianluca Santamaria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Luteal Phase ◽

Ovarian Cycle ◽

Follicular Fluids

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Demonstration of 2-unsaturated C19-steroids in the urine of female Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, and their dependence on ovarian activity

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.0.1210475 ◽

2001 ◽

pp. 475-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M Dehnhard ◽

M Heistermann ◽

F Goritz ◽

R Hermes ◽

T Hildebrandt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Relationships ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Additional Data ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Ovarian Cycle ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Cycle Duration ◽

Asian Elephants ◽

Volatile Substances

Air-borne volatile substances have been demonstrated to signal oestrus, induce ovulation and synchronize ovarian activity in different mammals. An oestrous-related pheromone of the female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is known to induce behavioural responses in elephant bulls. Additional data revealed that timing of oestrus in females with close social relationships tends to be synchronized. Therefore, urine from female Asian elephants might be expected to contain luteal phase-dependent volatile substances, which may function as additional chemical signals in this species. The aim of the present study was to identify such compounds and to investigate their pattern of excretion throughout the ovarian cycle. Urine samples were collected three times a week during the follicular phase and one to three times a week during the luteal phase from five adult female Asian elephants from a total of 13 non-conception cycles and one conception cycle, including the first 72 weeks of pregnancy. A simple headspace solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for quantification of urinary volatile substances and analysis was performed by gas chromatography. The comparison of urine collected during the follicular and the luteal phase indicated the presence of two luteal phase-dependent substances. Mass spectrometry was used to identify one substance as 5alpha-androst-2-en-17-one and a second substance as the corresponding alcoholic compound 5alpha-androst-2-en-17beta-ol. The 5alpha-androst-2-en-17beta-ol and -17-one profiles reflected cyclic ovarian activity with clear (10-20-fold) luteal phase increases. Furthermore, measurements of both compounds were correlated positively with the concentration of urinary pregnanetriol and indicated cycle duration (15.1 +/- 1.2 weeks) similar to that obtained from pregnanetriol measurements (15.2 +/- 1.6 weeks). The results demonstrate the presence of two luteal phase-specific steroidal volatile compounds in elephant urine. One of the substances, 5alpha-androst-2-en-17-one, has been demonstrated in human axillary bacterial isolates. The measurement of both volatile substances in elephant urine can be used for rapid detection of the stage of the ovarian cycle, as the analysis can be completed within 2 h.

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