Effects of the progesterone antagonist RU486 on myometrial activity in vivo in early pregnant and pseudopregnant rats

1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
LH Crane ◽  
L Martin
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Pacemaker Activity ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Embryo Abortion ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Video Laparoscopy ◽  
Antagonist Ru486 ◽  
Progesterone Antagonist

Myometrial activity in vivo was quantified by video-laparoscopy in early pregnant rats given doses of RU486 which caused embryo abortion and blocked the action of progesterone on the vagina. All treatments diminished the frequency of circular contractions and abolished the curling movements of the uterus which are characteristic of pregnant, pseudopregnant and progestin-treated rats. The effects of RU486 on circular contractions were similar in pseudopregnant rats, i.e. they were not a consequence of embryo abortion. These results support the thesis that increased myometrial circular contractions in early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy are induced by increasing levels of progesterone. Effects of RU486 on longitudinal contractions were more complex: the highest dose inhibited longitudinal contractions on Day 5 of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy, but increased their frequency on Day 6. The acute inhibition of longitudinal contractions by RU486 was unexpected and the mechanism remains to be elucidated. The later increase in the frequency of longitudinal contractions appears to be due to antagonism of progesterone by RU486. The frequency of caudal longitudinal contractions on Day 6 in mated rats given RU486 was similar to that in unmated oestrous rats, but the frequency of cranial longitudinal contractions was significantly higher. These results support the hypothesis that stimuli received during copulation may have long-term effects on myometrial activity, by increasing pacemaker activity at the cervix.

Effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on myometrial activity in unmated rats: a study in vivo using video-laparoscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 737
Author(s):  
LH Crane ◽  
L Martin
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Pacemaker Activity ◽  
Unmated Female ◽  
Video Laparoscopy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Unmated female rats received medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on the day of oestrus. Myometrial activity in vivo was quantified by video-laparoscopy 24-96 h later. Changes induced by MPA resembled those in early pregnancy/pseudopregnancy, but were not as extreme. There was a significant increase in circular contractions, followed by a decline, as in mated rats. Increases in circular contractions propagating caudally were as large as in mated rats, but increases in those propagating cranially were much smaller and qualitatively different. MPA induced only small increases in the frequency of longitudinal contractions propagating cranially, whereas large increases occurred in pregnancy/pseudopregnancy. We conclude that in early pregnancy/pseudopregnancy, increased circular activity is induced by rising progesterone levels. However, progesterone alone does not account for the increased contractions propagating cranially in mated rats. We suggest that these are induced by increased pacemaker activity in the region of the cervix, possibly activated by stimuli received during copulation.

scholarly journals Long-term effects of carbon containing engineered nanomaterials and asbestos in the lung: one year postexposure comparisons

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (2) ◽  
pp. L170-L182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. Shvedova ◽  
Naveena Yanamala ◽  
Elena R. Kisin ◽  
Alexey V. Tkach ◽  
Ashley R. Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Tumor ◽  
Inhalation Exposure ◽  
Geometric Feature ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Genotoxic Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Exposure ◽  
Pharyngeal Aspiration

The hallmark geometric feature of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF), high length to width ratio, makes them similar to a hazardous agent, asbestos. Very limited data are available concerning long-term effects of pulmonary exposure to SWCNT or CNF. Here, we compared inflammatory, fibrogenic, and genotoxic effects of CNF, SWCNT, or asbestos in mice 1 yr after pharyngeal aspiration. In addition, we compared pulmonary responses to SWCNT by bolus dosing through pharyngeal aspiration and inhalation 5 h/day for 4 days, to evaluate the effect of dose rate. The aspiration studies showed that these particles can be visualized in the lung at 1 yr postexposure, whereas some translocate to lymphatics. All these particles induced chronic bronchopneumonia and lymphadenitis, accompanied by pulmonary fibrosis. CNF and asbestos were found to promote the greatest degree of inflammation, followed by SWCNT, whereas SWCNT were the most fibrogenic of these three particles. Furthermore, SWCNT induced cytogenetic alterations seen as micronuclei formation and nuclear protrusions in vivo. Importantly, inhalation exposure to SWCNT showed significantly greater inflammatory, fibrotic, and genotoxic effects than bolus pharyngeal aspiration. Finally, SWCNT and CNF, but not asbestos exposures, increased the incidence of K-ras oncogene mutations in the lung. No increased lung tumor incidence occurred after 1 yr postexposure to SWCNT, CNF, and asbestos. Overall, our data suggest that long-term pulmonary toxicity of SWCNT, CNF, and asbestos is defined, not only by their chemical composition, but also by the specific surface area and type of exposure.

scholarly journals Metformin decreases hyaluronan synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annele Sainio ◽  
Piia Takabe ◽  
Sanna Oikari ◽  
Henriikka Salomäki-Myftari ◽  
Markku Koulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Long Term Effects

Metformin is the first-line drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes worldwide based on its effectiveness and cardiovascular safety. Currently metformin is increasingly used during pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, even if the long-term effects of metformin on offspring are not exactly known. We have previously shown that high glucose concentration increases hyaluronan (HA) production of cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) via stimulating the expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2). This offers a potential mechanism whereby hyperglycemia leads to vascular macroangiopathy. In this study, we examined whether gestational metformin use affects HA content in the aortic wall of mouse offspring in vivo. We also examined the effect of metformin on HA synthesis by cultured human VSMCs in vitro. We found that gestational metformin use significantly decreased HA content in the intima-media of mouse offspring aortas. In accordance with this, the synthesis of HA by VSMCs was also significantly decreased in response to treatment with metformin. This decrease in HA synthesis was shown to be due to the reduction of both the expression of HAS2 and the amount of HAS substrates, particularly UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. As shown here, gestational metformin use is capable to program reduced HA content in the vascular wall of the offspring strongly supporting the idea, that metformin possesses long-term vasculoprotective effects.

scholarly journals In Vivo Delivery of Recombinant Viruses to the Fetal Murine Cochlea: Transduction Characteristics and Long-Term Effects on Auditory Function

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey C. Bedrosian ◽  
Michael Anne Gratton ◽  
John V. Brigande ◽  
Waixing Tang ◽  
Jessica Landau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Function ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
In Vivo Delivery

scholarly journals Melanopsin+RGCs Are fully Resistant to NMDA-Induced Excitotoxicity

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 3012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Vidal-Villegas ◽  
Johnny Di Pierdomenico ◽  
Juan A Miralles de Imperial-Ollero ◽  
Arturo Ortín-Martínez ◽  
Francisco M Nadal-Nicolás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intravitreal Injection ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pou Domain ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Sd Oct

We studied short- and long-term effects of intravitreal injection of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) on melanopsin-containing (m+) and non-melanopsin-containing (Brn3a+) retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In adult SD-rats, the left eye received a single intravitreal injection of 5µL of 100nM NMDA. At 3 and 15 months, retinal thickness was measured in vivo using Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Ex vivo analyses were done at 3, 7, or 14 days or 15 months after damage. Whole-mounted retinas were immunolabelled for brain-specific homeobox/POU domain protein 3A (Brn3a) and melanopsin (m), the total number of Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs were quantified, and their topography represented. In control retinas, the mean total numbers of Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs were 78,903 ± 3572 and 2358 ± 144 (mean ± SD; n = 10), respectively. In the NMDA injected retinas, Brn3a+RGCs numbers diminished to 49%, 28%, 24%, and 19%, at 3, 7, 14 days, and 15 months, respectively. There was no further loss between 7 days and 15 months. The number of immunoidentified m+RGCs decreased significantly at 3 days, recovered between 3 and 7 days, and were back to normal thereafter. OCT measurements revealed a significant thinning of the left retinas at 3 and 15 months. Intravitreal injections of NMDA induced within a week a rapid loss of 72% of Brn3a+RGCs, a transient downregulation of melanopsin expression (but not m+RGC death), and a thinning of the inner retinal layers.

Testicular oxytocin: effects of intratesticular oxytocin in the rat

1991 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Nicholson ◽  
S. E. F. Guldenaar ◽  
G. J. Boer ◽  
B. T. Pickering
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Epididymal Sperm ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Sperm Counts ◽  
Term Administration

ABSTRACT The long-term effects of oxytocin administration on the testis were studied using intratesticular implants. Adult male rats had an Accurel device containing 20 μg oxytocin (releasing approximately 200 ng/day) implanted into the parenchyma of each testis; control animals received empty devices. The animals were killed at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Some animals were perfused and the testes processed for light and electron microscopy. Blood was collected from the remaining animals for the measurement of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, LH, FSH and oxytocin; epididymal sperm counts were measured and the testes were extracted and radioimmunoassayed for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and oxytocin. Long-term administration of oxytocin resulted in a significant reduction in testicular and plasma testosterone levels throughout the 4-week period examined and, after 14 days of treatment, lipid droplets were seen in the Leydig cells of treated but not control animals. Concentrations of dihydrotestosterone in the plasma and testes of the oxytocin-treated animals, however, were significantly elevated after 7 and 14 days and at no time fell below control values. Plasma FSH levels were also lower in the oxytocin-treated animals. Intratesticular oxytocin treatment did not affect LH or oxytocin concentrations in the plasma, epididymal sperm counts or the number of Leydig cells in the testis. Empty Accurel devices had no effect on testicular morphology. This study provides the first evidence that oxytocin in vivo can modify steroidogenesis in the testis. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 130, 231–238

Long-term effects of a high-dose methamphetamine regimen on subsequent methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in vivo

2001 ◽  
Vol 892 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.E. Sabol ◽  
J.T. Roach ◽  
S.L. Broom ◽  
C. Ferreira ◽  
M.M. Preau
Keyword(s):  
Dopamine Release ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Long Term Effects

scholarly journals BDNF-induced TrkB activation down-regulates the K+–Cl− cotransporter KCC2 and impairs neuronal Cl− extrusion

2002 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 747-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Rivera ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
Judith Thomas-Crusells ◽  
Hannele Lahtinen ◽  
Tero Viitanen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Slice ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Epileptic Activity ◽  
Signaling Cascades ◽  
Gabaergic Inhibition ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Mouse Hippocampus

Pathophysiological activity and various kinds of traumatic insults are known to have deleterious long-term effects on neuronal Cl− regulation, which can lead to a suppression of fast postsynaptic GABAergic responses. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increases neuronal excitability through a conjunction of mechanisms that include regulation of the efficacy of GABAergic transmission. Here, we show that exposure of rat hippocampal slice cultures and acute slices to exogenous BDNF or neurotrophin-4 produces a TrkB-mediated fall in the neuron-specific K+–Cl− cotransporter KCC2 mRNA and protein, as well as a consequent impairment in neuronal Cl− extrusion capacity. After kindling-induced seizures in vivo, the expression of KCC2 is down-regulated in the mouse hippocampus with a spatiotemporal profile complementary to the up-regulation of TrkB and BDNF. The present data demonstrate a novel mechanism whereby BDNF/TrkB signaling suppresses chloride-dependent fast GABAergic inhibition, which most likely contributes to the well-known role of TrkB-activated signaling cascades in the induction and establishment of epileptic activity.

Prenatal programming of adult blood pressure: role of maternal corticosteroids

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (4) ◽  
pp. R955-R962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori L. Woods ◽  
Douglas A. Weeks
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Glucocorticoid Administration ◽  
Blood Pressures

Both maternal glucocorticoid administration and maternal dietary protein or food restriction in pregnancy cause fewer nephrons and hypertension in the adult offspring. The purpose of these studies was to determine the extent to which nutritional factors contribute to programming of offspring hypertension by maternal glucocorticoids. Pregnant rats were treated with dexamethasone (100 μg·kg−1·d−1sc) on days 1–10 (ED) or days 15–20 (LD) of pregnancy. Additional groups of pregnant animals were pair fed to the early (EDPF) and late (LDPF) dexamethasone-treated groups, and another group was untreated or given vehicle (C). The dams treated with dexamethasone reduced their food intake and lost or failed to gain a normal amount of weight during treatment; body weights of ED dams caught up to normal after the treatment period, whereas those of LD dams did not. In adulthood (∼21 wks), chronically instrumented male offspring of ED had normal blood pressures (125 ± 2 mmHg vs. 126 ± 1 mmHg in C), whereas LD offspring were hypertensive (136 ± 3 mmHg). However, LDPF offspring were equally hypertensive (134 ± 2 mmHg). Glomerular filtration rates normalized to body weight were not significantly different among groups. Qualitatively similar results were found in female offspring. Thus the long-term effects of maternal glucocorticoid administration at this dose on offspring’s blood pressure may, in large part, be accounted for by the reduction in maternal food intake. These data suggest that maternal glucocorticoids and maternal food or protein restriction may, at least in part, share a common mechanism in programming offspring for hypertension. The window of sensitivity of future offspring blood pressure to either maternal insult coincides with nephrogenesis in the rat, suggesting that impaired renal development could play an important role in this programming.

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