Pre-implantation mouse embryo movement under hormonally altered conditions

Precise regulation of embryo movement is crucial to successful implantation, but the role of ovarian hormones in this process is not understood. We ascertain the effects of altered hormonal environment on embryo movement using two delayed implantation models: Natural lactational Diapause (ND), a naturally occurring alternate model of pregnancy, and Artificially induced Diapause (AD), a laboratory version of ND. Our previous work suggests that embryos in a natural pregnancy (NP) first display unidirectional clustered embryo movement, followed by bidirectional scattering and spacing movement. In contrast, in the ND model, embryos are present as clusters near the oviductal-uterine junction for ~24-hours longer than NP, followed by locations consistent with a unidirectional scattering and spacing movement. Intriguingly, the AD model closely resembles embryo location in NP and not ND. Further, unlike the popular paradigm of reduced estrogen (E2) levels in diapause E2 levels are comparable across NP, ND, and AD, while progesterone (P4) levels are reduced in ND and highly increased in AD when compared to NP. Exogenous administration of E2 or P4 modifies the unidirectional clustered embryo movement, while E2 treatment causes a reduction in P4 and affects the bidirectional phase of embryo movement. Taken together, our data suggest embryo movement can be modulated by both P4 and E2. Understanding natural hormonal adaptation in diapause provides an opportunity to determine key players regulating embryo movement and implantation success. This knowledge can be leveraged to understand pregnancy survival and implantation success in hormonally altered conditions in the clinic.

Catastrophe at menarche

Menarche, the beginning of menstrual function occurs as a result of complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovarian hormones and is an important event in any girl’s life as it signifies the beginning of fertility. Rarely some diseases like migraine, epilepsy, inherited bleeding disorders can manifest at menarche and cause significant anxiety to the parents and the adolescent girl. A 13-year-old girl presented with convulsions following 8 days of excessive bleeding at the time of menarche. She had altered sensorium, severe anaemia with Respiratory alkalosis and needed ICU Care. She needed multiple transfusions of blood and blood products. She showed features of sepsis on haemogram at admission later manifested respiratory findings. Her bleeding per vaginum did not respond to antifibrinolytics and progesterones and stopped only after evacuation of contents on day 5 under GA. No organism could be isolated and she recovered on Day 6 of higher broad spectrum antibiotics. Her parents were counselled to watch for occurrence of seizures in later life as this catastrophe may signify onset of epilepsy in later life.

Little evidence for sex or ovarian hormone influences on affective variability

Women were historically excluded from research participation partly due to the assumption that ovarian hormone fluctuations lead to variation, especially in emotion, that could not be experimentally controlled. Although challenged in principle and practice, relevant empirical data are limited by single measurement occasions. The current paper fills this knowledge gap using data from a 75-day intensive longitudinal study. Three indices of daily affective variability—volatility, emotional inertia, and cyclicity—were evaluated using Bayesian inferential methods in 142 men, naturally cycling women, and women using three different oral contraceptive formulations (that “stabilize” hormone fluctuations). Results provided more evidence for similarities between men and women—and between naturally cycling women and oral contraceptive users—than for differences. Even if differences exist, effects are likely small. Thus, there is little indication that ovarian hormones influence affective variability in women to a greater extent than the biopsychosocial factors that influence daily emotion in men.