Changes in cervical cancer course under the influence of HPV/chlamydia trachomatis co-infection.

e17018 Background: The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of HPV/Chlamydia trachomatis co-infection on the hormonal status of tumor and visually unchanged cervical tissues in cervical cancer patients. Methods: We studied levels of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), free estriol (E3), free (fT) and total (T) testosterone, progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) by the ELISA in tumors and visually unchanged cervical tissues of 49 patients with cervical cancer T1b-2aN0M0 with endophytic (25 patients) and exophytic (24 patients) patterns of tumor growth. 13 patients with endophytic tumors and 12 patients with exophytic ones were infected with HPV and Сhlamydia trachomatis (Ch.tr.). HPV infection was determined by Е7 protein expression, Ch.tr. – by IgG and IgА and antigen/DNA in ELISA and PCR. Intact cervical tissues obtained during hysterectomy from 22 non-infected women with endometrial cancer were used as the control. Results: Tumor tissues of the cervix without infection demonstrated increased levels of all sex steroids: estrogens by 3 times, androgens by 3.1 times and progestins by 1.8 times. Co-infected tissues were characterized by the sex-steroid imbalance. We observed reduced coefficients of estrogens to T and fT by 1.6 and 6 times, respectively, compared to intact tissues (most significant in a tumor with endophytic growth pattern) and an increase in the estrogens to P4 ratio by 1.5 times – only in endophytic growth pattern. Androgenic status in co-infected tumor tissues increased by 1.7 in endophytic and by 3.1 times in exophytic growth pattern. PRL level was increased only in co-infected tumors (by 2.5 times). Unchanged co-infected tissues, unlike non-infected samples, showed E2 increase by 2.6 times in exophytic and by 1.5 times in endophytic growth pattern, T increase by 1.6 times only in endophytic tumors and P4 decrease by 1.5 times and PRL increase by 1.8 times regardless the tumor growth pattern. Conclusions: Hormonal profile of both tumor and unchanged cervical tissues was dependent on HPV/Ch. tr. co-infection and tumor growth patterns. The changes could result from HPV and Ch. tr. interaction triggering malignant processes.

Effects of testosterone and prolactin on steroidogenesis in post-ovulatory cumuli oophori and on in vitro oocyte fertilisation in the rat

The main objective of these studies was to determine the in vitro effects of prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) on steroidogenic function in post-ovulatory cumuli oophori containing unfertilised (ufCOCs) or fertilised (fCOCs) oocytes and to determine the differences between ufCOCs and fCOCs. In vivo, progesterone (P4) content was distinctly higher in isolated ampullae containing ufCOCs than in those containing fCOCs. Moreover, the expression of androgen (ARs) and prolactin (PRL-Rs) receptors was distinctly higher in ufCOCs than in fCOCs. Also, in vitro P4 profiles were generally higher in incubated ufCOCs, which had very high secretion rates of this steroid, especially after treatment with PRL+T. Testosterone significantly increased P4 levels only in incubated fCOCs, while the anti-androgen dihydroxyflutamide (2-Hf) markedly decreased P4 levels in both ufCOCs and fCOCs. Among post-incubation ufCOCs fertilised in vitro, the highest fertilisation rate was observed for oocytes in ufCOCs exposed to PRL+T, while those incubated with 2-Hf or T+2-Hf were not fertilisable. These studies establish differences in steroidogenic function and expression of ARs and PRL-Rs between post-ovulatory ufCOCs and fCOCs, with higher concentrations of P4 being observed in the microenvironment of ufCOCs. PRL+T stimulated P4 production by ufCOCs and increased in vitro fertilisation rate.

In vitro steroid-induced meiosis in Rhinella arenarum oocytes: role of pre-MPF activation

SummaryIn this work we showed the relationship between seasonal periods and the response of R. arenarum follicles and oocytes to different steroids. Using in vitro germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) assays, we demonstrated that P4 is the main steroid capable of inducing maturation in R. arenarum oocytes and follicles. In the second part of this work we showed that androgens can activate pre-maturation promoting factors (pre-MPFs) such as P4, by cytoplasm microinjection experiments. The results indicated that the steroids assayed induced oocyte and follicle maturation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In oocytes, P4 was the most efficient steroid as a maturation inducer (EC50 of the reproductive period, 6 nM, EC50 of the non-reproductive period ≅ 30 nM). Androgens (DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone; T, testosterone; and AD, androstenedione) were less efficient maturation inducers than P4 (EC50 reproductive period ≅ 50, 120 and 600 nM respectively). Similar results were obtained with intact follicles in both seasonal periods. Although the response of follicles to the different androgens was variable, in no case was it above the above the response induced by P4. Independently of the season, oocytes and follicles incubated in P4, P5 and T underwent GVBD after 6–10 h while oocytes and follicles incubated in DHEA and AD matured more slowly. Furthermore, we demonstrated that microinjection of mature cytoplasm from androgen-treated oocytes is sufficient to promote GVBD in immature recipient oocytes (DHEA, 57 ± 12%; AD, 60 ± 8%; T, 56 ± 13%). Thus, androgens such as DHEA, T and AD are as competent as P4 to activate pre-MPF.

Relationship of Hormonal Parameters to Sperm Production in Patients with Varicocele

Idiopathic varicocele is a one of the all too often organic causes of male infertility and may can affect hormonal and spermatogenic function of the testis. We demonstrated relationships of hormonal parameters to sperm production on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), (LH) and testosterone blood concentrations to sperm production. The investigations involved a total of 329 patients with varicocele, at aged from 20 to 48 years, mean age 28.76 ± 0.66 years, divided into three groups: group I – patients with varicocele dextra; group II – patients with varicocele sinistra; and group III – patients with varicocele bilateralis. We established in our investigations that in 65.35% of cases the varicocele was attended coupled by with some disorders in the fertilizing ability, included including oligospermia Gr I-II (groups I and II) in 41.33% of cases, oligospermia (Gr.II-IIIgroups II and III) in 15.5% of cases and azoospermia in 8.52% of cases. In 56.83% of cases, the low sperm concentration was attended by decreasedcoupled with reduced sperm motility and velocity. Our data did not demonstrated a statistically significant increase in blood plasma T testosterone and we noted no significant correlation between the magnitude of the change in serum androgen and improvements in sperm concentration or total sperm motility per ejaculate in patients with varicocele. No significant correlations were noted in mean blood LH and FSH concentrations in patients with varicocele and in controls group.

In vivo und in vitro Hydroxylierung von Androgenen in Ratten nach Leberschädigung und Nahrungskarenz / In vivo and in vitro hydroxylation of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in rats after liver damage and starvation

The in vivo C-2-hydroxylation of testosterone and 5-dihydrotestosterone in rats was measured by labilisation of tritium as HTO after injection of [1α, 2α-T]testosterone or [1 α, 2α-T]5α-dihy- drotestosterone (radiospirometry). After experimental liver damage caused by CCl4 or after starvation for 60 h the hyroxylation of the androgens decreased. Similar results were gained by measuring the C-2-hydroxylation of testosterone, 5 α-dihydrotestosterone and estradiol.

EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE AND NANDROLONE AND SOME OF THEIR ESTERS ON THE PSEUDOCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE LIVER AND SERUM AND ON THE SEMINAL VESICLE AND LEVATOR ANI MUSCLE OF THE RAT

ABSTRACT Testosterone (T), testosterone-propionate (TP), testosterone-phenyl-propionate (TPP), nandrolone (N) (19-nor-testosterone) and nandrolone-phenyl-propionate (NPP) were compared for their effects on the pseudocholinesterase activities in the liver and serum of castrated male rats. In addition changes in the weight of the seminal vesicle and the levator ani muscle were studied. After daily administration of 1 mg of the hormones for ten days, T and TPP showed a more marked depression of the pseudocholinesterase activity and seminal vesicle than the corresponding nor-derivatives. TP and TPP have approximately similar effects, exceeding those of T. On the levator ani N and NPP were more effective than T and TPP. At identical total doses, administration of all hormones with intervals of more than one day, produced less depression of the pseudocholinesterase activity and less seminal vesicle growth than daily administration. The effects on the levator ani were less influenced by varying intervals. At an interval of four days TPP still had a potent effect on the enzyme activity and the seminal vesicle, whereas T was almost without effect. Prolonged administration showed that the effects on the enzyme activity and the seminal vesicle of N and NPP could not reach the maximum effects of T and TPP respectively.