Interstitial Cells in the Pineal Gland of Pregnant and Nonpregnant Viscachas (Lagostomus maximus maximus): A Morphometric and Biochemical Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 205 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-250
Author(s):  
Fabricio Ivan Busolini ◽  
Luis Ezequiel Gallol ◽  
Graciela Beatríz Rodríguez ◽  
Verónica Palmira Filippa ◽  
Fabian Heber Mohamed

The pineal gland of mammals undergoes morphological and biochemical changes throughout the gestation period. In viscachas, a seasonal breeding rodent, pregnancy lasts approximately 154 days and 3 stages can be defined, i.e., early, mid, and late pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to analyze morphometric variations in the expression of S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and vimentin in the interstitial cells (IC) in pregnant and nonpregnant viscachas by immunohistochemistry (IHC). We also aim to evaluate a probable relation between glandular activity and pregnancy. The immunopositive percentage area (%IA) for the studied proteins and the number of immunoreactive cells against the S-100 protein with a visible nucleus (nº IC-S-100) were analyzed. Estradiol and progesterone serum levels were also determined by RIA. Variations in the expression of the S-100 protein and GFAP, as well as changes in the nº IC-S-100 related to serum hormone levels, were found between pregnant and nonpregnant viscachas. Viscachas in mid pregnancy exhibited the highest values of %IA for the analyzed proteins, followed by females in late and early pregnancy, while the nonpregnant ones showed the lowest values for all of the groups studied. Likewise, the nº IC-S-100 also varied following the same pattern. Thus, these variations seem to indicate a direct relationship between glandular activity and gonadal hormone levels. On these grounds, we may conclude that IC undergo changes in relation to ovarian hormone levels and participate in the regulation of glandular activity during pregnancy. However, further research is necessary to elucidate this relationship.

1996 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-47
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Dalski ◽  
Max Görlich

Antiestrogens, particularly tamoxifen, are effective in the treatment of pre- and postmenopausal women suffering from all stages of breast cancer. Unfortunately, many patients become resistant to tamoxifen during therapy, which allows the tumor to progress. Thus, a preclinical recognition of tumor progression, i.e. by monitoring serum hormone levels, could be worthwhile. The serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and estradiol of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer treated by the new antiestrogen droloxifene were therefore checked. However, only non-significant changes in the hormone levels during droloxifene therapy were observed, and no relation was found between hormone levels and the course of the disease, success or exhaustion of droloxifene application, or development of tumor progression. Our data do not confirm earlier findings reported in the literature that measurement of hormones seems to be suitable for an early indication of tumor progression during an antiestrogen therapy before its clinical manifestation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Wu ◽  
Shao-Wu Chen ◽  
Wei-Lan Su ◽  
Hong-Ying Zhu ◽  
Shu-Yuan Ouyang ◽  
...  

Hormones (progesterone and estradiol) change greatly during pregnancy; however, the mechanism of hormonal changes on gingival inflammation is still unclear. This study is to evaluate the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gingival inflammation and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). 30 periodontally healthy pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second, and third trimesters. 20 periodontally healthy nonpregnant women were evaluated twice (once per subsequent month). Clinical parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding index (BI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque index (PLI) were recorded. GCF levels of IL-1βand TNF-αand serum levels of progesterone and estradiol were measured. From the data, despite low PLI, BI and GI increased significantly during pregnancy; however, no significant changes in PLI, CAL, IL-1β, or TNF-αGCF levels were observed. Although IL-1β, not TNF-α, was higher in pregnant group than in nonpregnant group, they showed no correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. GI and BI showed significant positive correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. This study suggests that sex hormone increase during pregnancy might have an effect on inflammatory status of gingiva, independent of IL-1βand TNF-αin GCF.


1983 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Cheung Wong ◽  
Klaus-D. Döhler ◽  
Michael J. Atkinson ◽  
Heinz Geerlings ◽  
Rolf-Dieter Hesch ◽  
...  

Abstract. The influence of age, strain and season on the diurnal pattern of serum hormone levels from the pituitary-thyro-parathyroid complex was studied in male laboratory rats. Distinct 24 h periodicity in the serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) was observed in all groups of rats. There was no influence of age (40, 60 and 90 days old Sprague-Dawley rats), but a significant influence of strain (Sprague-Dawley vs. BH/Ztm rats) and season (summer vs. winter) on the diurnal pattern of serum TSH and T3 levels. Significant 24 h periodicity in serum thyroxine (T4) levels existed during winter in BH/Ztm rats, but not in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of any age. Adult SD rats demonstrated 24 h periodicity in serum levels of T4 only in summer. No diurnal periodicity in serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was observed in any group of rats. There were significant changes in 24 h mean serum levels of TSH and T3 throughout pubertal development. Twenty-four h mean serum levels of T3 and T4 were significantly higher in summer than in winter. Twenty-four h mean serum levels of T4 were significantly lower in BH/Ztm rats than in SD rats. Significant correlation was observed between serum concentrations of T3 and T4, TSH and T4, and between TSH and T3 in some groups of rats, but not in all. The results indicate that 24 h periodicity of serum hormone levels from the pituitary-thyroid complex of male laboratory rats may vary with age and strain of the animals and with the season of experiment performance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096452842110566
Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Zhijie Wang ◽  
Ting Guo ◽  
Lixing Zhuang ◽  
Xiao Gao

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of hot flushes and its impact on serum hormone levels in menopausal women. Methods: A total of 10 databases were searched from their inception to August 2018. Reference lists of reviews and included articles were also hand-searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture, or acupuncture versus hormone therapy (HT), as treatment for menopausal hot flushes were included. Outcomes included hot flush frequency, hot flush severity and serum hormone levels of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: Thirteen RCTs including 1784 patients were selected, seven of which were available for meta-analysis. Compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture significantly decreased hot flush frequency (mean difference (MD) −0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.64, −0.05], I2 = 54%) from baseline to the end of study, but did not impact end scores of hot flush frequency (MD 0.19, 95% CI [−0.61, 0.99], I2 = 0%) or severity (MD 0.02, 95% CI [−0.13, 0.17], I2 = 0%). No differences were found between acupuncture and HT in serum levels of E2 (MD 6.56, 95% CI [−3.77, 16.89], I2 = 76%), FSH (MD 1.06, 95% CI [−1.44, 3.56], I2 = 0%) or LH (MD −3.36, 95% CI [−13.37, 6.65], I2 = 89%). Conclusion: Acupuncture may not decrease hot flush frequency, but yet appears to have similar effects on serum hormone levels as HT, that is, increased E2 and decreased FSH and LH. Considering that no firm conclusions could be drawn due to the low quality and limited number of included trials included, further high-quality RCTs need to be conducted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 106633
Author(s):  
Catheryne Chiang ◽  
Diana C. Pacyga ◽  
Rita S. Strakovsky ◽  
Rebecca L. Smith ◽  
Tamarra James-Todd ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Cote ◽  
Russell Butler ◽  
Vincent Michaud ◽  
Eric Lavallee ◽  
Etienne Croteau ◽  
...  

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