scholarly journals Follistatin concentrations in maternal and fetal fluids during the oestrous cycle, gestation and parturition in Merino sheep

Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 259-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Y Xia ◽  
T O'Shea ◽  
S Hayward ◽  
AE O'Connor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Allantoic Fluid ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Fetal Blood ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Human Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Fetal Fluids

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in follistatin, an activin binding protein, during the oestrous cycle, gestation and parturition in ewes using a radioimmunoassay for total follistatin, which uses dissociating reagents to remove the interference of activin. Follistatin concentrations remained unchanged (2.7 +/- 0.2 ng ml(-1)) during the oestrous cycle and decreased as pregnancy progressed. Follistatin concentrations in allantoic fluid also decreased during gestation, whereas in amniotic fluid follistatin concentrations reached a peak at day 75 of gestation (9.8 ng ml(-1)) and had decreased to 4.4 ng ml(-1) at day 140. Follistatin concentrations in fetal blood (7.0 +/- 0.5 ng ml(-1)) did not change from day 50 to day 140 of gestation but were significantly higher than in matched maternal samples (3.1 +/- 0.3 ng ml(-1)). Circulating follistatin in ewes was significantly increased on the day of parturition (5.6 +/- 0.6 ng ml(-1)) compared with the days before parturition (2.7 +/- 0.4 ng ml(-1)), but had decreased by day 2 after birth. Blood samples from newborn lambs showed that plasma follistatin concentration (13.4 +/- 2.3 ng ml(-1)) was significantly higher than that of the mothers and remained high for at least 7 days after birth. These data support previous studies of the human menstrual cycle indicating that follistatin is not an endocrine signal from the ovary; however, in contrast to human pregnancies, follistatin concentrations in sheep decreased and become high only after or during parturition. This difference observed between species may reflect different physiological effects of follistatin or may be the result of measurement of different isoforms.

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

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 941-947 ◽  
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.

Distribution of relaxin between human maternal and fetal circulations and amniotic fluid

1992 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Johnson ◽  
A. Abbas ◽  
K. H. Nicolaides ◽  
S. L. Lightman
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Placental Transfer ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Fetal Blood ◽  
Maternal Circulation ◽  
Blood Samples

ABSTRACT Relaxin was measured in maternal blood and amniotic fluid samples at 9–40 weeks and in fetal blood samples at 19–41 weeks of pregnancy. In amniotic fluid, concentrations of relaxin rose from 58 ng/1 (geometric mean) at 10 weeks to 142 ng/l at 14 weeks and declined subsequently to 55 ng/l at 22 weeks. In maternal blood, mean relaxin concentrations were ten times greater than in amniotic fluid, and concentrations decreased with gestation. Since there was no significant association between the relaxin concentrations in the two compartments, relaxin in the amniotic fluid may be derived from the decidualized endometrium rather than the maternal circulation, alternatively its metabolism may be different in the two compartments. The absence of detectable concentrations of relaxin in any of the fetal blood samples demonstrates that there is no significant placental transfer or fetal synthesis of this peptide. Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 134, 313–317

PERIPHERAL PLASMA LEVELS OF 17α-HYDROXYPROGESTERONE, PROGESTERONE AND OESTRADIOL DURING NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES IN WOMEN

1972 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tore H:son Holmdahl ◽  
Elof D. B. Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Gel Chromatography ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Menstrual Cycles ◽  
Peripheral Plasma ◽  
Competitive Protein Binding ◽  
Human Menstrual Cycle

ABSTRACT Liquid-gel chromatography on hydroxyalkoxypropyl Sephadex has been used to separate 17α-hydroxyprogesterone* and progesterone from interfering steroids prior to assay by competitive protein binding. During the luteal phase 0.5 ml of plasma was enough for determinations of both steroids. Fifteen samples could be assayed in less than 48 h. Oestradiol in plasma was assayed by radioimmunoassay. Daily blood samples were collected during 10 normal menstrual cycles in young, healthy women. The average cycle length was 29.7±2.0 (sd) days. 17α-hydroxyprogesterone displayed a midcyclic peak averaging 1.86±0.70 (sd) ng per ml coinciding with a midcyclic peak of oestradiol averaging 16.50± 5.95 (sd) ng per 100 ml of plasma. The highest luteal phase level of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was 1.94 ±0.72 (sd) ng per ml. The corresponding levels for oestradiol were 9.1 ±3.8 (sd) ng per 100 ml. Progesterone formed a luteal plateau averaging 12.3±2.3 (sd) days. The highest luteal level of progesterone was 14.6±2.1 (sd) ng per ml. The peripheral plasma pattern of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone seems to mimic that of oestradiol during the human menstrual cycle.

Gestational profile of the stimulatory effects of porcine amniotic and allantoic fluids on prostaglandin G/H synthase activity

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 581
Author(s):  
GE Rice ◽  
MH Wong ◽  
P Christensen ◽  
V Dantzer ◽  
E Skadhauge
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Maximum Dose ◽  
Allantoic Fluid ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Stimulatory Activity ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Fetal Fluids

The effects of porcine fetal fluids (amniotic and allantoic) on microsomal prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS) activity were assessed. Both amniotic and allantoic fluids obtained from late-gestation sows stimulated PGHS activity (as indicated by increased formation of radiolabelled prostaglandin) in a dose-dependent manner. At the maximum dose tested, amniotic and allantoic fluids stimulated prostaglandin (PG) formation by 55.5 +/- 1.5 and 58.5 +/- 4.7%, respectively (n = 3, P less than 0.01). Based upon ED50 values, amniotic fluid was approximately threefold more effective than allantoic fluid in stimulating PG formation. The stimulatory effect of amniotic but not allantoic fluid increased significantly (P less than 0.01) during gestation (Days 47-112). The observed changes in the stimulatory effect of amniotic fluid on microsomal PG formation parallels the in vivo changes that occur in intra-uterine PG synthesis. Amniotic fluid stimulatory activity may contribute to this gestational increase in PG synthesis.

Effect of maternal glucocorticoid treatment on fetal fluids in sheep at 0.4 gestation

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (4) ◽  
pp. R1174-R1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Wintour ◽  
D. Alcorn ◽  
A. McFarlane ◽  
K. Moritz ◽  
S. J. Potocnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Allantoic Fluid ◽  
Urine Flow ◽  
Fluid Volume ◽  
Fluid Composition ◽  
Glucocorticoid Treatment ◽  
Amniotic Fluid Volume ◽  
Fetal Urine ◽  
Fetal Fluids

Treatment of nine pregnant Merino ewes (64.0 +/- 0.4 days of gestation) with dexamethasone (D; 0.76 mg/h for 48 h) resulted in significant alterations in fetal fluids compared with eight saline-infused control animals (S; 63.0 +/- 0.9 days). There was a substantial increase in allantoic fluid volume (177 +/- 18 ml, D vs. 31 +/- 6, S) but no change in amniotic fluid volume (248 +/- 12 ml, D; 305 +/- 24, S). For allantoic fluid there was a significant decrease in osmolality (213 +/- 4 mosmol/kg water, D; 230 +/- 5, S) and alterations in composition. Amniotic fluid osmolality was unchanged (292 +/- 2 mosmol/kg water, D; 293 +/- 1, S), but amniotic fluid composition was affected. In four fetuses in which bladder and amniotic cannulas were inserted at gestational age 68-75 days, fetal urine flow rate increased from a mean of 4.1 +/- 1.1 to 13.8 +/- 2.6 ml/h after 24 h and 11.8 +/- 3.0 ml/h at 48 h for a similar maternal D infusion, whereas no such increase occurred in four control fetuses. All the fetal urine voided during a 3.5- to 4-h infusion of 51Cr-labeled EDTA into the fetal bladder was directed to the allantois. The results suggest that the increase in allantoic fluid volume resulted from increased fetal urine output into the allantoic compartment, although the composition of the excess allantoic fluid differed substantially from that of fetal urine. There was a greater incidence of abnormal cotyledons in the D-infused ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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