The relationship between plasma levels of the endocannabinoid, anandamide, sex steroids, and gonadotrophins during the menstrual cycle

ABSTRACT In an attempt to analyze the multiple changes and interactions in circulating steroid levels in the peri-ovulatory and peri-menstrual periods, the plasma levels of immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and unconjugated pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, oestradiol and oestrone were assayed daily during a complete cycle in 17 normally menstruating women. In 14 of the 17 subjects studied androstenedione and unconjugated dihydrotestosterone were also estimated. The day of the LH-peak and the first day of menstruation, respectively, were used to synchronize the peri-ovulatory and peri-menstrual plasma levels of the various steroids. With the exception of dehydroepiandrosterone and dihydrotestosterone, the plasma levels of all steroids exhibited significant, but different changes during the cycle. Testosterone levels showed a slight but significant increase around the LH-peak, whereas the levels of pregnenolone and androstenedione were higher in the post-ovulatory than in the pre-ovulatory periods. The levels of oestradiol and oestrone, as well as the ratios of oestradiol to oestrone gradually increased from the low values observed in the early proliferative phase to pre-ovulatory peak values. The relationship between peaks of oestradiol and oestrone and that of LH exhibited great individual variation. The same was true for the individual oestradiol to oestrone ratios. The combination of several steroidal signals did not improve the predictive value of the analyses. However, an increase of individual progesterone values by at least 0.35 ng/ml from the day preceding the LH-peak to the day of the LH-peak was observed in 13 of the 17 subjects. It is suggested that for the early detection of the LH surge and prediction of the subsequent ovulation daily assays of plasma progesterone are of more value than the assay of the other steroids investigated.

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Relationship between ovarian steroids, gonadotrophins and relaxin during the menstrual cycle

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1290121 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 129 (2) ◽

pp. 121-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

MR Johnson ◽

G Carter ◽

C Grint ◽

SL Lightman

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Early Morning ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Common Mechanism ◽

Intramuscular Dose ◽

The Relationship ◽

Circulating Levels

The circulating levels of relaxin have been measured and their relationship with the plasma levels of oestradiol (E2), progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) have been investigated during the normal menstrual cycle. In addition, the effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on plasma relaxin levels has been studied. In the first part of the study, blood samples were obtained on days 5, 10 and 15 of the follicular phase and on alternate days from the day of the LH surge (detected in early-morning urine and confirmed by circulating levels of LH) until day 6 of the following follicular phase in nine normally cycling female volunteers. In the second part of the study, a single intramuscular dose of hCG (10 000 IU) was given on day 11 of the menstrual cycle. Relaxin was detectable from the mid-luteal phase until the onset of menstruation. The plasma levels of relaxin on days 10 and 12 of the luteal phase were significantly greater than on day 6. Positive associations between the circulating levels of relaxin and E2 and negative associations between the plasma levels of FSH and those of both relaxin and E2 were found on days 8, 10 and 12 of the luteal phase. The relationship between E2 and FSH was stronger than that between relaxin and FSH. Exogenous hCG had no effect on plasma relaxin levels. The pattern of the relationship between E2 and relaxin suggests that a common mechanism may regulate their release or that plasma relaxin levels are determined by those of E2. Furthermore, the absence of any relationship between endogenous LH levels and those of relaxin and the lack of effect of exogenous hCG on plasma relaxin levels suggest that LH does not influence the circulating levels of relaxin directly. The negative relationship between FSH and relaxin is probably indirect, mediated by E2, although it is possible that relaxin influences FSH release directly.

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Adrenal androgen concentrations in endometrium and plasma during the menstrual cycle

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1010181 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 101 (2) ◽

pp. 181-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

R. C. Bonney ◽

M. J. Scanlon ◽

D. L. Jones ◽

M. J. Reed ◽

V. H. T. James

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Premenopausal Women ◽

Similar Increase ◽

Adrenal Androgen ◽

Secretory Phase ◽

Tissue Concentrations ◽

Perimenopausal Women ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACT Concentrations of 5-androstene-3β, 17β-diol (androstenediol), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and DHA sulphate (DHAS) were measured in endometrium and plasma from normal premenopausal and perimenopausal women (average ages 37 and 48 years respectively) at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Plasma levels did not vary with the stage of the cycle for any of the three steroids. Mean plasma levels of androstenediol ranged between 2·03 and 2·92 nmol/l for premenopausal women and 1·38 and 1·58 nmol/l for perimenopausal women while mean concentrations of DHA were 20·80–36·41 nmol/l (premenopausal women) and 13·87–19·07 nmol/l (perimenopausal women). The values for DHAS were more variable and ranged between 3·20 and 4·56 and 2·94 and 4·25 μmol/l for pre- and perimenopausal women respectively. In premenopausal women endometrial tissue concentrations of androstenediol and DHA increased three to fourfold in the secretory phase while no increase was observed in DHAS. There was a similar increase in androstenediol but not DHA or DHAS during the secretory phase for perimenopausal women. A significant positive correlation was found for tissue androstenediol and DHA in both groups of women but the relationship between DHAS and the other androgens was significant only for perimenopausal women. We suggest that the increase in androstenediol and DHA concentrations could be due to an increase in a receptor or binding protein, possibly progesterone dependent, present in secretory phase endometrium. J. Endocr. (1984) 101, 181–188

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SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PREGNANEDIOL EXCRETION DURING THE NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.024s207 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 24 (3_Suppl) ◽

pp. S207

Author(s):

A. Klopper

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

New Method ◽

Menstrual Bleeding ◽

Normal Menstrual Cycle ◽

The Relationship ◽

New View

Abstract The changes in view on the significance and amount of urinary pregnanediol in the menstrual cycle are reviewed; in particular the effects of the discovery that the adrenals in both sexes normally contribute to the urinary pregnanediol. Pregnanediol excretion during the menstrual cycle was studied by means of a new method of assay (Klopper et al., 1955) and the results applied to present day concepts of the growth and duration of the corpus luteum. The relationship between pregnanediol excretion and ovulation or the onset of menstrual bleeding was studied. A new view is put forward on the influence of age and parity on the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum.

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Association of Urinary and Plasma Levels of Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) with Foods

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051426 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1426

Author(s):

Mauro Lombardo ◽

Giovanni Aulisa ◽

Daniele Marcon ◽

Gianluca Rizzo ◽

Maria Grazia Tarsisano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Cooking Methods ◽

Saltwater Fish ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mediator Role ◽

Fish And Shellfish ◽

The Relationship

Introduction: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) may play a key mediator role in the relationship between the diet, gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in people with kidney failure. The aim of this review is to evaluate which foods have a greater influence on blood or urinary trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels. Methods: 391 language articles were screened, and 27 were analysed and summarized for this review, using the keywords “TMAO” AND “egg” OR “meat” OR “fish” OR “dairy” OR “vegetables” OR “fruit” OR “food” in December 2020. Results: A strong correlation between TMAO and fish consumption, mainly saltwater fish and shellfish, but not freshwater fish, has been demonstrated. Associations of the consumption of eggs, dairy and meat with TMAO are less clear and may depend on other factors such as microbiota or cooking methods. Plant-based foods do not seem to influence TMAO but have been less investigated. Discussion: Consumption of saltwater fish, dark meat fish and shellfish seems to be associated with an increase in urine or plasma TMAO values. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between increased risk of cardiovascular disease and plasma levels of TMAO due to fish consumption. Interventions coupled with long-term dietary patterns targeting the gut microbiota seem promising.

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Endocannabinoid reactivity to acute stress: Investigation of the relationship between salivary and plasma levels

Biological Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 159 ◽

pp. 108022

Author(s):

Luke Ney ◽

Caleb Stone ◽

David Nichols ◽

Kim Felmingham ◽

Raimondo Bruno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Levels ◽

Acute Stress ◽

The Relationship

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Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid inflammation and the blood-brain barrier in older surgical patients: the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study

Journal of Neuroinflammation ◽

10.1186/s12974-021-02145-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarinnapha M. Vasunilashorn ◽

◽

Long H. Ngo ◽

Simon T. Dillon ◽

Tamara G. Fong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Blood Brain Barrier ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Brain Barrier ◽

Markers Of Inflammation ◽

Blood Brain ◽

Csf Levels ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Our understanding of the relationship between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) remains limited, which poses an obstacle to the identification of blood-based markers of neuroinflammatory disorders. To better understand the relationship between peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) markers of inflammation before and after surgery, we aimed to examine whether surgery compromises the blood-brain barrier (BBB), evaluate postoperative changes in inflammatory markers, and assess the correlations between plasma and CSF levels of inflammation. Methods We examined the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study of adults aged ≥ 65 who underwent elective hip or knee surgery under spinal anesthesia who had plasma and CSF samples collected at baseline and postoperative 1 month (PO1MO) (n = 29). Plasma and CSF levels of three inflammatory markers previously identified as increasing after surgery were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and chitinase 3-like protein (also known as YKL-40). The integrity of the BBB was computed as the ratio of CSF/plasma albumin levels (Qalb). Mean Qalb and levels of inflammation were compared between baseline and PO1MO. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the correlation between biofluids. Results Mean Qalb did not change between baseline and PO1MO. Mean plasma and CSF levels of CRP and plasma levels of YKL-40 and IL-6 were higher on PO1MO relative to baseline, with a disproportionally higher increase in CRP CSF levels relative to plasma levels (CRP tripled in CSF vs. increased 10% in plasma). Significant plasma-CSF correlations for CRP (baseline r = 0.70 and PO1MO r = 0.89, p < .01 for both) and IL-6 (PO1MO r = 0.48, p < .01) were observed, with higher correlations on PO1MO compared with baseline. Conclusions In this elective surgical sample of older adults, BBB integrity was similar between baseline and PO1MO, plasma-CSF correlations were observed for CRP and IL-6, plasma levels of all three markers (CRP, IL-6, and YKL-40) increased from PREOP to PO1MO, and CSF levels of only CRP increased between the two time points. Our identification of potential promising plasma markers of inflammation in the CNS may facilitate the early identification of patients at greatest risk for neuroinflammation and its associated adverse cognitive outcomes.

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