Our library of drug research abstracts drawn from the medical literature is updated on a regular schedule, and you can be assured that new progesterone research articles will be listed here shortly after becoming available to us.
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Medical research on progesterone
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2008 Jun 27;
González SL, López-Costa JJ, Labombarda F, Deniselle MC, Guennoun R, Schumacher M, De Nicola AF
(1) Following acute spinal cord injury, progesterone modulates several molecules essential for motoneuron function, although the morphological substrates for these effects are unknown. (2) The present study analyzed morphological changes in motoneurons distal to the lesion site from rats with or without progesterone treatment. We employed electron microscopy to study changes in nucleus and cytoplasm and immunohistochemistry for the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) for changes in cytoskeleton. (3) After spinal cord injury, the nucleoplasm appeared more finely dispersed resulting in reduced electron opacity and the nucleus adopted an eccentric position. Changes of perikarya included dissolution of Nissl bodies and dissociation of polyribosomes (chromatolysis). After progesterone treatment for 3 days, the deafferented motoneurons now presented a clumped nucleoplasm, a better-preserved rough endoplasmic reticulum and absence of chromatolysis. Progesterone partially prevented development of nuclear eccentricity. Whereas 50% of injured motoneurons showed nuclear eccentricity, only 16% presented this phenotype after receiving progesterone. Additionally, injured rats showed reduced immunostaining for MAP2 in dendrites, pointing to cytoskeleton abnormalities, whereas progesterone treatment attenuated the injury-induced loss of MAP2. (4) Our data indicated that progesterone maintained in part neuronal ultrastructure, attenuated chromatolysis, and preclude the loss of MAP2, suggesting a protective effect during the early phases of spinal cord injury.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008 Jun 26;
Yatkin E, Bernoulli J, Lammintausta R, Santti R
The anti-inflammatory and anti-estrogenic action of fispemifene, a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), was tested on the Noble rat model of chronic nonbacterial prostatic inflammation with cellular composition and inflammation patterns similar to those described in human prostatitis. Inflammation was assessed by counting perivascular and stromal infiltrates and the number of inflamed acini. Furthermore, the aggressiveness of inflammation was assessed on the basis of the relation of lymphocytes to the acinar epithelium. The immunohistochemical expression of progesterone receptor (PR) and fos related antigen-2 (Fra2), prolactin concentration in serum, and the weights of the seminal vesicles and pituitary glands were used as endpoints of estrogen action. Fispemifene significantly attenuated the glandular form of inflammation induced in the dorsolateral prostatic lobes (DLP) in the hormonal milieu of the decreased androgen-to-estrogen ratio. The anti-inflammatory action was seen in the decreased number of acini containing intraluminal neutrophils. As signs of anti-estrogenic action, fispemifene blocked estrogen-induced expression of PR and Fra2 in the acinar epithelium of the DLP and it decreased prolactin concentration in serum and the relative weights of the seminal vesicles and pituitary glands. Since fispemifene exhibited both anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory action in the prostate, this experimental study suggests that SERMs could be considered as a new therapeutic option in the treatment and prevention of prostatic inflammation.
Mol Hum Reprod. 2008 Jun 26;
Matsumoto H, Sakai K, Iwashita M
Progesterone is known to induce decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Decidualized stromal cells produce insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) as well as prolactin (PRL). In this study, we tested the possibility that IGFBP-1 directly stimulates endometrial stromal cell decidualization. Endometrial stromal cells were obtained from normal menstruating patients with uterine myoma at hysterectomy. Stromal cells were cultured for up to 4 weeks with estradiol (E2) and/or medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA) in the presence or the absence of IGFBP-1 and, LR(3)-IGF-I (an IGF-I analogue) that binds to the IGF-I receptor but has reduced affinity for IGFBPs. Decidualization of endometrial stromal cells was evaluated by morphological changes and PRL release into culture media. The binding of IGFBP-1 to endometrial cells was analyzed using a biosensor. MPA and E2 induced decidualization of stromal cells, while LR(3)-IGF-I inhibited decidualization by MPA and E2 as well as PRL and IGFBP-1 secretion into medium. IGFBP-1 induced decidualization of stromal cells in the absence of MPA and E2 in the medium. IGFBP-1-induced decidualization was not inhibited by the addition of LR(3)IGF-1 but was inhibited by the addition of an RGD peptide, however, the RGD peptide had no effect on decidualization when added alone. The binding analysis showed that IGFBP-1 bound to the surface of endometrial stromal cells and an anti-alpha5beta1 integrin antibody inhibited its binding. These results suggest that IGFBP-1 produced by endometrium can mediate progesterone-induced decidualization possibly by interacting with alpha5beta1 integrin on the surface of endometrial stromal cells.
Endocrinology. 2008 Jun 26;
López-García C, López-Contreras AJ, Cremades A, Castells MT, Marín F, Schreiber F, Peñafiel R
Polyamines play an essential role in murine development, as demonstrated by both gene ablation in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)-deficient embryos and pharmacological treatments of pregnant mice. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ODC inhibition affects embryonic development during critical periods of pregnancy are mostly unknown. Our present results demonstrate that the contragestational effect of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a suicide inhibitor of ODC, when given at days 7-9 of pregnancy, is associated with embryo growth arrest and marked alterations in the development of yolk sac and placenta. Blood island formation was markedly decreased in the yolk sac, as well as the transcript levels of embryonary globins Hbax and Hbby. At the placental level, abnormal chorioallantoic attachment, absence of the spongiotrophoblast layer and a deficient development of the labyrinthine zone were evident. Real time RT-PCR analysis showed that transcript levels of the steroidogenic genes StAR, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase VI and 17alpha-hydroxylase were markedly decreased by DFMO treatment in the developing placenta at days 9 and 10 of pregnancy. Plasma values of progesterone and androstenedione were also decreased by DFMO treatment. Transcriptomic analysis also detected changes in the expression of several genes involved in placentation and in the differentiation of trophoblastic lineages. In conclusion, our results indicate that ODC inhibition at day 8 of pregnancy is related to alterations in yolk sac formation and trophoblast differentiation, affecting processes such as vasculogenesis and steroidogenesis.
Hum Reprod. 2008 Jun 25;
Bosch E, Vidal C, Labarta E, Simon C, Remohi J, Pellicer A
BACKGROUND Highly purified hMG (hp-hMG) has recently shown better cycle outcome than the recombinant FSH (rFSH) when compared in GnRH agonist long protocol cycles. However, they have not yet been compared in GnRH antagonist cycles. METHODS A RCT comparing the ongoing pregnancy rate (primary end-point) in 280 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI after stimulation with hp-hMG or rFSH controlled with a GnRH antagonist. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between hp-hMG and rFSH in terms of the ongoing pregnancy rate per started cycle (35.0 versus 32.1%, respectively; P = 0.61); relative risk: 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 0.78-1.51; risk difference: 2.9%). No differences were observed for implantation, clinical pregnancy and pregnancy loss rates. More oocytes were obtained from patients receiving rFSH then hMG (14.4 +/- 8.1 versus 11.3 +/- 6.0, respectively; P = 0.001). Estradiol was higher at the end of stimulation in the hp-hMG group (P = 0.02), whereas progesterone was higher in patients stimulated with rFSH (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A similar outcome was observed for hp-hMG and rFSH when used for stimulation in GnRH antagonist cycles. However, some differences were found in ovarian response in terms of oocyte yield and hormonal profile. Clinical Trials.gov Trial registration number: NCT00669786.
Female gonadal hormones, mild restraint, and male preference.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 Jun 7;
Uphouse L, Hiegel C, Sarkar J, Hurlburt J, Templeton C, Guptarak J, Maswood N
The partner preference paradigm was used to test the hypothesis that mild restraint reduced sexual motivation of female rats. Ovariectomized rats were primed with 10 microg estradiol benzoate or estradiol benzoate and 500 microg progesterone. Additional rats were injected with sesame seed oil. These three groups of rats (oil-oil, estradiol benzoate-oil, or estradiol benzoate-progesterone; OO, EO, EP) were placed for 10 min in an arena, the ends of which enclosed either a sexually active male or an ovariectomized, unprimed female. Time spent near the sexually active male relative to time spent near either stimulus animal was used as the index of male preference. As expected, hormonal treatment significantly increased male preference. After this first 10 min interval, females were returned to the home cage or restrained for 5 min in a Decapicone(R). Thereafter, male preference was recorded for another 10 min. Consistent with the first 10 min period, EP rats spent significantly more time near the male than did OO rats while EO rats were intermediate. There was no effect of restraint, but there was a significant increase in self-grooming. These findings contrast with previous studies and allow the suggestion that a brief, mild restraint fails to influence the female's sexual motivation. The implications of these findings are discussed.
BMC Vet Res. 2008 Jun 26; 4(1): 22
Bell A, Rodriguez OA, de Castro E Paula LA, Padua MB, Hernandez-Ceron J, Gutierrez CG, De Vries A, Hansen PJ
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Results regarding the use of bovine somatotropin for enhancing fertility in dairy cattle are variable. Here, the hypothesis was tested that a single injection of a sustained-release preparation of bovine somatotropin (bST) during the preovulatory period would improve pregnancy success of lactating dairy cows at first service. RESULTS: The first experiment was conducted in a temperate region of Mexico. Cows inseminated following natural estrus or timed artificial insemination were given a single injection of bST or a placebo injection at insemination (n=100 cows per group). There was no significant difference between bST and control groups in the proportion of inseminated cows diagnosed pregnant (29 vs 31% pregnant). The second experiment was performed during heat stress in Florida. Cows were subjected to an ovulation synchronization regimen for first insemination. Cows treated with bST received a single injection at 3 days before insemination. Controls received no additional treatment. As expected, bST did not increase vaginal temperature. Treatment with bST did not significantly increase the proportion of inseminated cows diagnosed pregnant although it was numerically greater for the bST group (24.2% vs 17.8%, 124-132 cows per group). There was a tendency (p = 0.10) for a smaller percent of control cows to have high plasma progesterone concentrations (> or = to 1 ng/ml) at Day 7 after insemination than for bST-treated cows (72.6 vs 81.1%). When only cows that were successfully synchronized were considered, the magnitude of the absolute difference in the percentage of inseminated cows that were diagnosed pregnant between bST and control cows was reduced (24.8 vs 22.4% pregnant for bST and control). CONCLUSION: Results failed to indicate a beneficial effect of bST treatment on fertility of lactating dairy cows.
Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2008; 35(2): 147-8
Katsoff B, Check JH
PURPOSE: To determine if normal ovulation is possible despite amenorrhea in the absence of any obvious uterine abnormalities or adhesions. METHODS: The study was conducted on a 17-year-old virgin with normal sexual development and normal secondary sexual characteristics whose menarche was at age 12 but whose menses ceased after two menstruations. She was first treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg x ten days and then a cycle of oral contraceptives. RESULTS: She failed to get menses following progesterone (P) withdrawal and following a cycle of oral contraceptives. All of her pituitary function studies were normal. Her serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was 3 mIU/ml, luteinizing hormone (LH) 9 mIU/ml, estradiol (E2) was 107 pg/ml and the serum P was 3.9 ng/ml. These values were consistent with recent ovulation. However menses failed to ensue. CONCLUSIONS: This case confirms that in humans, similar to some non-primates, ovulation is possible without shedding the endometrium. Possibly she lacked spiral arterioles similar to ovulating mammals. Her virginal introitus and lack of any serious febrile illness made Asherman's syndrome highly unlikely. Her normal menstrual cycle at age 12 not only excluded a mullerian abnormality or imperforate hymen but led to speculation as to whether anovulatory bleeding from unopposed estrogen was possible but that somehow the presence of P inhibited the endometrial shedding process. In contrast to a previously reported study, this young woman almost had primary amenorrhea whereas the former case had more menses during her life but they ceased shortly after age 30.
Sex hormones affect the production of recombinant Factor IX in CHO and HEK-293 cell lines.
Biotechnol Lett. 2008 Jun 26;
Dadehbeigi N, Ostad SN, Faramarzi MA, Ghahremani MH
Recombinant human Factor IX (rFIX) was cloned in a mammalian expression vector and transfected into CHO and HEK-293. Treatment with 10(-9) M methyl testosterone increased rFIX production by 30-50% in CHO and HEK clones. However, 10(-9) M 17beta-oestradiol increased production of rFIX by ~50% in CHO-F7 clone and decreased production by 48% and 37% in CHO-F8 and HEK-F2-6, respectively. Progesterone treatment inhibited rFIX production in both cell lines. Production of rFIX can thus be increased by sex hormone treatment and therefore used to enhance biotechnological production in mammalian cells.
Am J Surg Pathol. 2008 Jun 19;
Kurihara S, Oda Y, Ohishi Y, Iwasa A, Takahira T, Kaneki E, Kobayashi H, Wake N, Tsuneyoshi M
Classification and terminology of non-low-grade endometrial sarcomas, which show significant nuclear atypia, have been controversial. Currently, these tumors seem to be classified all together into "undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (UES)." However, it remains unclear whether these non-low-grade sarcomas are universally "undifferentiated." We divided these sarcomas morphologically into undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma with nuclear uniformity (UES-U) and undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma with nuclear pleomorphism (UES-P), and compared their molecular genetic and immunohistochemical profiles. Eighteen low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS-LG), 7 UES-U, and 6 UES-P were examined. All the patients with ESS-LG were still alive, either with or without disease, whereas 4 of the 5 patients with advanced stage UES-U and all 3 of the patients with advanced stage UES-P had died of the disease. JAZF1-JJAZ1 fusion transcript was detected in 6 (50%) out of 12 ESS-LG and in 1 (33%) of 3 UES-U, whereas it was not detected in any of the cases of UES-P. ESS-LG and UES-U frequently showed positive immunoreaction for estrogen receptor (ESS-LG: 94%, UES-U: 57%) and progesterone receptor (ESS-LG: 94%, UES-U: 57%), whereas all the UES-P were negative for these receptors. Nuclear beta-catenin expression was more frequently recognized in ESS-LG (47%) and UES-U (85%), compared with UES-P (33%). Moreover, nuclear accumulation of p53 and TP53 gene missense mutations were limited to 3 UES-P cases. Our data suggest that UES-U shares some molecular genetic and immunohistochemical characteristics with ESS-LG, but UES-P considerably differs from ESS-LG.