Quantification of Immune Cells in the Primate Corpus Luteum During the Menstrual Cycle; Increases During the Late Luteal Phase Indicate a Potential Role in Luteolysis.

SUMMARY The concentration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), progesterone, pregnenolone, oestradiol-17β, oestrone, androstenedione and testosterone was measured in corpora lutea obtained from 40 women at various stages of the menstrual cycle. The concentration of PGF2α was significantly higher in corpora lutea immediately after ovulation (26·7 ± 3·9 (s.e.m.) ng/g, P < 0·005) and in corpora albicantia (16·3 ± 3·3 ng/g, P < 0·005) than at any other time during the luteal phase. There was no correlation between the concentration of PGF2α and that of any steroid. The progesterone concentration was highest in corpora lutea just after ovulation (24·9 ± 6·7 μg/g) and in early luteal groups (25·7 ± 6·8 μg/g) but declined significantly (P < 0·05) to its lowest level in corpora albicantia (1·82 ± 0·66 μg/g). The concentration of oestradiol-17β in the corpus luteum and luteal weight were significantly greater during the mid-luteal phase than at any other stage (concentration 282 ± 43 ng/g, P < 0·05; weight 1·86 ± 0·18 g, P < 0·005). The results indicate that regression of the human corpus luteum is not caused by a rise in the ovarian concentration of PGF2α in the late luteal phase of the cycle.

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Expression of Estrogen Receptor α and β in the Rhesus Monkey Corpus Luteum during the Menstrual Cycle: Regulation by Luteinizing Hormone and Progesterone*

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endo.141.5.7477 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 141 (5) ◽

pp. 1711-1717 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Diane M. Duffy ◽

Charles L. Chaffin ◽

Richard L. Stouffer

Keyword(s):

Estrogen Receptor ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

Messenger Rna ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Estrogen Receptor Α ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Late Luteal Phase

Abstract There are conflicting reports on the presence or absence of estrogen receptor (ER) in the primate corpus luteum, and the discovery of a second type of estrogen receptor, ERβ, adds an additional level of complexity. To reevaluate ER expression in the primate luteal tissue, we used semiquantitative RT-PCR based assays and Western blotting to assess ERα and β messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in corpora lutea (n = 3/stage) obtained from adult female rhesus monkeys at early (days 3–5), mid (days 6–8), mid-late (days 10–12), and late (days 14–16) luteal phase of the natural menstrual cycle. ERα mRNA levels did not vary across the stages of the luteal phase, and ERα protein was not consistently detected in luteal tissues. However, ERβ mRNA and protein levels were detectable in early and mid luteal phases and increased (P < 0.05) to peak levels at mid-late luteal phase before declining by late luteal phase. To determine if ERβ mRNA expression in the corpus luteum is regulated by LH, monkeys received the GnRH antagonist antide either alone or with 3 daily injections of LH to simulate pulsatile LH release. Treatment with antide alone or concomitant LH administration did not alter luteal ERβ mRNA levels. When monkeys also received the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor trilostane to reduce luteal progesterone production, luteal ERβ mRNA levels were 3-fold higher (P < 0.05) than in monkeys receiving antide + LH only. Replacement of progestin activity with R5020 reduced luteal ERβ mRNA levels to those seen in animals receiving antide + LH. Thus, there is dynamic ERβ expression in the primate corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle, consistent with a role for estrogen in the regulation of primate luteal function and life span via a receptor (ERβ)-mediated pathway. Increased ERβ expression in the progestin-depleted corpus luteum during LH exposure suggests that the relative progestin deprivation experienced by the corpus luteum between LH pulses may enhance luteal sensitivity to estrogens during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

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Altered Serotonergic Activity in Women with Dysphoric Premenstrual Syndromes

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine ◽

10.2190/j2w0-rtgd-nykk-ff77 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 1-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Uriel Halbreich ◽

Henry Tworek

Keyword(s):

Treatment Outcome ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Symptomatic Treatment ◽

Gonadal Hormones ◽

Interactive System ◽

Library Search ◽

Serotonergic Activity ◽

Late Luteal Phase

Objective: Dysphoric Premenstrual Syndromes (PMS) are quite prevalent and in some women they are severe enough to warrant treatment. Their pathophysiology is still unknown, despite increased interest and research. Here we review the possible role of serotonin in the multidimensional interactive pathophysiology of PMS. Method: Over 170 articles are reviewed. An extensive library search has been conducted and articles are included because of their relevance to: 1) the phenomenology of PMS; 2) the putative association of serotonergic (5-HT) activity with syndromes that occur premenstrually; 3) changes in 5-HT activity along the menstrual cycle, especially the late luteal phase; 4) influence of gonadal hormones on serotonergic functions; 5) endocrine strategies for assessment of 5-HT abnormalities; and 6) treatment studies of PMS with serotonergic agonists. Results and Conclusions: The data presented here suggest that post-synaptic serotonergic responsivity might be altered during the late-luteal-premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. Some serotonergic functions of women with PMS might be altered during the entire cycle and be associated with a vulnerability trait. It is hypothesized that gonadal hormones might cause changes in levels of activity of 5-HT systems as part of a multidimensional interactive system. Strategies to evaluate 5-HT activities in the context of the menstrual cycle are discussed—leading to the conclusion that the most promising approach is active stimulation with specific post-synaptic serotonin agonists. Treatment outcome studies of some imperfect compounds that are currently applied as a symptomatic treatment of PMS support the notion that 5-HT is involved in the pathophysiology of these syndromes.

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Prostaglandin Synthesis, Metabolism, and Signaling Potential in the Rhesus Macaque Corpus Luteum throughout the Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2008-0500 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 149 (11) ◽

pp. 5861-5871 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Randy L. Bogan ◽

Melinda J. Murphy ◽

Richard L. Stouffer ◽

Jon D. Hennebold

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

Rhesus Macaque ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Prostaglandin Synthesis

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Delayed effect of low progesterone concentrations on bovine uterine PGF(2alpha) secretion in the subsequent oestrous cycle

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.0.1220643 ◽

2001 ◽

pp. 643-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

A Shaham-Albalancy ◽

Y Folman ◽

M Kaim ◽

M Rosenberg ◽

D Wolfenson

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Oestrous Cycle ◽

Delayed Effect ◽

Plasma Progesterone ◽

Progesterone Secretion ◽

Progesterone Treatment ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Subsequent Cycle ◽

Concentration Curves

Low progesterone concentrations during the bovine oestrous cycle induce enhanced responsiveness to oxytocin challenge late in the luteal phase of the same cycle. The delayed effect of low progesterone concentrations during one oestrous cycle on uterine PGF(2alpha) secretion after oxytocin challenge on day 15 or 16 of the subsequent cycle was studied by measuring the concentrations of the major PGF(2alpha) metabolite (13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF(2alpha); PGFM) in plasma. Two experiments were conducted, differing in the type of progesterone treatment and in the shape of the low progesterone concentration curves. In Expt 1, progesterone supplementation with intravaginal progesterone inserts, with or without an active corpus luteum, was used to obtain high, or low and constant plasma progesterone concentrations, respectively. In Expt 2, untreated cows, representing high progesterone treatment, were compared with cows that had low but increasing plasma progesterone concentrations that were achieved by manipulating endogenous progesterone secretion of the corpus luteum. Neither experiment revealed any differences in plasma progesterone concentrations between the high and low progesterone groups in the subsequent oestrous cycle. In both experiments, both groups had similar basal concentrations of PGFM on day 15 (Expt 1) or 16 (Expt 2) of the subsequent oestrous cycle, 18 days after progesterone treatments had ended. In both experiments, the increases in PGFM concentrations in the low progesterone groups after an oxytocin challenge were markedly higher than in the high progesterone groups. These results indicate that low progesterone concentrations during an oestrous cycle have a delayed stimulatory effect on uterine responsiveness to oxytocin during the late luteal phase of the subsequent cycle. This resulting increase in PGF(2alpha) secretion may interfere with luteal maintenance during the early stages of pregnancy.

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Patients with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder have Increased Startle Response Across both Cycle Phases and Lower Levels of Prepulse Inhibition During the Late Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1038/sj.npp.1301599 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 33 (9) ◽

pp. 2283-2290 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Kristiina Kask ◽

Maria Gulinello ◽

Torbjörn Bäckström ◽

Mark A Geyer ◽

Inger Sundström-Poromaa

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Prepulse Inhibition ◽

Startle Response ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ◽

Late Luteal Phase

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Follicular Fluid Treatment during the Follicular Versus Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle: Effects on Corpus Luteum Function*

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jcem-58-6-1027 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 1027-1033 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

RICHARD L. STOUFFER ◽

GARY D. HODGEN ◽

ANN C. OTTOBRE ◽

C. DONALD CHRISTIAN

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

Follicular Fluid ◽

Luteal Phase

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Systematic Determination of Differential Gene Expression in the Primate Corpus Luteum during the Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/me.2007-0484 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 1260-1273 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Randy L. Bogan ◽

Melinda J. Murphy ◽

Richard L. Stouffer ◽

Jon D. Hennebold

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

Differential Gene Expression ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Systematic Determination ◽

Differential Gene

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Plasma bradykininogen and reproductive cycles: studies during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy in the rat, and in the human menstrual cycle

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z76-107 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 941-947 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. McDonald ◽

A. M. Perks

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Oestrous Cycle ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Human Menstrual Cycle ◽

Reproductive Cycles ◽

In Pregnancy

Plasma bradykininogen levels have been shown to rise about threefold late in pregnancy in the rat. However, they declined sharply 1–2 days before delivery.Plasma bradykininogen levels remained relatively unchanged through most the oestrous and menstrual cycles (rat, man). However, they showed a fall at two similar periods, in both cycles. A smaller decline occurred in metoestrus in the rat, and (probably) in the late luteal phase in the human. The largest fall took place around the time of ovulation in both the oestrous and the menstrual cycles. The decline was about 59% in the rat and 42% in the human. Bradykininogen showed no similar changes in the blood of male human controls. The suggestion that bradykinin could be involved in ovulation is discussed.

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EFFECT OF POST-OVULATORY ADMINISTERED OESTROGENS ON CORPUS LUTEUM FUNCTION

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0790329 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 329-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

F. Lehmann ◽

I. Just-Nastansky ◽

B. Behrendt ◽

P.-J. Czygan ◽

G. Bettendorf

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Plasma Samples ◽

Plasma Progesterone ◽

Lh Surge ◽

The Third ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Fourth Cycle ◽

Normal Menstrual Cycle ◽

The Mean

ABSTRACT The effect of orally given diethylstilboestroldiphosphate (DES) and 17α-ethinyl-oestradiol-3-methylether (EEM) on plasma progesterone levels was studied. Both compounds were administered for 5 days to 5 women in daily doses of 60 mg (DES) and 30 mg (EEM). The fully informed volunteers were found to have a normal menstrual cycle before the study. The mean corpus luteum phase (corpus luteum phase = days between LH surge and onset of menstruation) of all control cycles lasted 12.8 days. Daily plasma samples were collected for radioimmunoassay (RIA) of progesterone, immunoreactive oestrogens and LH. After a control cycle the first treatment was carried out with DES. The third and the fifth cycle were control cycles again. The EEM-treatment was done in the fourth cycle. Although the effect of the two compounds was different, a dependence of the age of the corpus luteum (CL) could be demonstrated for both. DES-treatment lowered plasma progesterone levels during administration. This effect was only demonstrable if the treatment was begun on the day of the LH-peak. The length of the CL-phase remained unaltered. EEM-treatment if started on the day of the LH surge, suppressed corpus luteum function in the late luteal phase. If the treatment was started later, the effect was less pronounced. The administration of both compounds did not shorten the time between ovulation and the next bleeding. After DES-treatment this interval was not altered. After EEM-treatment the subsequent bleeding was even delayed depending on slowly decreasing levels of plasma oestrogens.

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