Epidermal growth factor stimulates secretion of rat pituitary luteinizing hormone in vitro

1985 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Miyake ◽  
Keiichi Tasaka ◽  
Shirou Otsuka ◽  
Hiroko Kohmura ◽  
Hiroshi Wakimoto ◽  
...  

Abstract. The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) release and on the releases induced by oestradiol (E2) and LH-releasing hormone (LRH) were examined in a sequential double chamber perifusion system. In this system the mediobasal hypothalami (MBH) and/or pituitaries excised from normally cycling female rats in dioestrus were perifused with test media. Perifusion with EGF at 1 ng/ml for 30 min induced significant release (80–100% increase, P <0.05) of LH from hypothalamo-pituitary pairs, but not from the pituitary alone. Perifusion of the pituitary alone with medium containing 1 ng/ml EGF, resulted in significant release of LH (70–140% increase, P < 0.05) after adminnistration of 10−7 m E2, but did not significantly influence LH release in response to 20 ng/ml LRH. These findings suggest that EGF may be involved in the regulation of pituitary gonadotrophin secretion by a direct effect on the hypothalamus and indirectly by increasing the pituitary responsiveness to E2.

1984 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Miyake ◽  
Keiichi Tasaka ◽  
Tetsuro Sakumoto ◽  
Yasuhito Nagahara ◽  
Toshihiro Aono

Abstract. The effect of hydrocortisone on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and LH-releasing hormone (LRH) in response to clomiphene citrate (clomiphene) were examined in a sequential double chamber perifusion system by perifusing the mediobasal hypothalami (MBH) and/or pituitaries excised from normal female rats in dioestrus. When the MBH and the pituitary were perifused in sequence with medium containing 5 × 10−6 m hydrocortisone, a significant release in LH (100– 150% increase, P < 0.01–P < 0.05) was observed 40 min after the administration of 3 × 10−8 mol clomiphene. Clomiphene had no effect on LH release from the pituitary when perifused in series with the MBH without basal hydrocortisone infusion. Administration of clomiphene did not cause a significant increase in LH from the pituitary perifused alone, with or without medium containing hydrocortisone. The concentration of LRH in the efflux was significantly increased 40 min after clomiphene administration when MBH was perifused with medium containing hydrocortisone, whereas clomiphene had no effect when perifused with medium only. These data indicate that hydrocortisone stimulates the effect of clomiphene on LRH release from the hypothalamus, which in turn induces LH release from the pituitary.


1983 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Miyake ◽  
K. Tasaka ◽  
T. Sakumoto ◽  
Y. Kawamura ◽  
Y. Nagahara ◽  
...  

Abstract. The releasing effects of clomiphene citrate (clomiphene) on luteinizing hormone (LH) and LH-releasing hormone (LRH) were examined in a sequential double chamber superfusion system by superfusing the mediobasal hypothalami (MBH) and/or pituitaries excised from normal female rats in dioestrus. When the MBH and the pituitary were superfused in sequence with medium containing 2 × 10−10 m oestradiol (E2), two significant peaks in LH release (60–130% increase, P < 0.05) were observed 40 min and 90 min after the administration of 3 × 10−8 mol clomiphene. Administration of clomiphene in medium without E2 induced a low peak (25–50% increase, P < 0.05) of LH released from the pituitary perfused in series with the MBH. Administration of clomiphene did not cause a marked increase of LH from the pituitary superfused alone, when superfused with or without E2 containing medium. The concentration of LRH in the efflux was significantly increased (50–100%) 40 min and 90 min after clomiphene administration when MBH was superfused with medium containing E2, whereas clomiphene had no effect when superfused with medium alone. These data indicate: 1) that clomiphene induces LRH release from the MBH, that it may induce LH release, in part, by acting directly at the pituitary level; 2) that changes in LH after clomiphene administration coincide with LRH release, and 3) that a certain concentration of E2 may be necessary for the secretion of LRH by clomiphene.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 1628-1639
Author(s):  
Sergi Gómez-Ganau ◽  
Josefa Castillo ◽  
Andrés Cervantes ◽  
Jesus Vicente de Julián-Ortiz ◽  
Rafael Gozalbes

Background: The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane protein that acts as a receptor of extracellular protein ligands of the epidermal growth factor (EGF/ErbB) family. It has been shown that EGFR is overexpressed by many tumours and correlates with poor prognosis. Therefore, EGFR can be considered as a very interesting therapeutic target for the treatment of a large variety of cancers such as lung, ovarian, endometrial, gastric, bladder and breast cancers, cervical adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma and glioblastoma. Methods: We have followed a structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) procedure with a library composed of several commercial collections of chemicals (615,462 compounds in total) and the 3D structure of EGFR obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB code: 1M17). The docking results from this campaign were then ranked according to the theoretical binding affinity of these molecules to EGFR, and compared with the binding affinity of erlotinib, a well-known EGFR inhibitor. A total of 23 top-rated commercial compounds displaying potential binding affinities similar or even better than erlotinib were selected for experimental evaluation. In vitro assays in different cell lines were performed. A preliminary test was carried out with a simple and standard quick cell proliferation assay kit, and six compounds showed significant activity when compared to positive control. Then, viability and cell proliferation of these compounds were further tested using a protocol based on propidium iodide (PI) and flow cytometry in HCT116, Caco-2 and H358 cell lines. Results: The whole six compounds displayed good effects when compared with erlotinib at 30 μM. When reducing the concentration to 10μM, the activity of the 6 compounds depends on the cell line used: the six compounds showed inhibitory activity with HCT116, two compounds showed inhibition with Caco-2, and three compounds showed inhibitory effects with H358. At 2 μM, one compound showed inhibiting effects close to those from erlotinib. Conclusion: Therefore, these compounds could be considered as potential primary hits, acting as promising starting points to expand the therapeutic options against a wide range of cancers.


Author(s):  
Nuria Hernández ◽  
Marta López-Morató ◽  
Mario J Perianes ◽  
Soledad Sánchez-Mateos ◽  
Vanessa Casas-Rua ◽  
...  

Abstract Embryo implantation in the uterus is a critical step to achieve success following ART. Despite favorable uterine conditions, a great number of good quality embryos fail to implant, often for reasons that are unknown. Hence, improving the implantation potential of embryos is a subject of great interest. 4-Hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E2), a metabolic product of estradiol produced by endometrial cells, plays a key role in endometrial–embryonic interactions that are necessary for implantation. Nonetheless, the effects of 4-OH-E2 on embryos obtained in vitro have not been yet described. This study was designed to determine whether culture media enriched in 4-OH-E2 could improve the quality and implantation rate of embryos obtained in vitro, using both in vitro and in vivo models. We also analyzed its effects on the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-binding capability of the embryos. Our results showed that the presence of 4-OH-E2 in the culture media of embryos during the morula to blastocyst transition increases embryo quality and attachment to endometrial cells in vitro. 4-OH-E2 can also improve viable pregnancy rates of mouse embryos produced in vitro, reaching success rates that are similar to those from embryos obtained directly from the uterus. 4-OH-E2 improved the embryos’ ability to bind EGF, which could be responsible for the increased embryo implantation potential observed. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that 4-OH-E2 is a strong candidate molecule to supplement human IVF culture media in order to improve embryo implantation. However, further research is required before these findings can be translated with efficacy and safety to fertility clinics.


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