progesterone cream
Plasma progesterone kinetics following surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancies.

Gravier A, Descargues G, Voisin F, Mantel A, Legrand A, Lemoine JP, Marpeau L.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pavillon Mere et enfant, Hopital Charles Nicolle, 1 rue de Germont, 76031, Rouen Cedex, France.

OBJECTIVES: Comparative study of plasma progesterone and betaHCG kinetics following surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study involving 62 patients with tubal ectopic pregnancies. Study of the kinetics of plasma progesterone and betaHCG, and the correlation coefficient between plasma progesterone and betaHCG levels during post-operative follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated by salpingostomy and 23 by salpingectomy. Analyzing the betaHCG kinetics according to treatment revealed that both curves were convergent on day 2. Progesterone kinetics differed greatly in that they appeared "parallel and confused". Analyzing the correlation between betaHCG and progesterone levels proved the absence of a significant link. CONCLUSIONS: Studying the kinetics of plasma progesterone after surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancies revealed a fast decrease in progesterone. Statistical analysis of the progesterone concentration showed that post-operative kinetics is fully independent from that of betaHCG. Progesterone therefore cannot be substituted to betaHCG for post-operative follow-up.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11435012&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Tokishakuyakusan directly attenuates PACAP's luteolytic action on luteal function in the rat ovary.

Usuki S, Kotani E.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Cluster of Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. usukisa skyblue.ocn.ne.jp

We investigated the potential direct effects of Tokishakuyakusan (TS) on progestin [progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (20alpha-OH-P)] and cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production in cultured rat luteal cells. In addition, we examined whether TS regulates the inhibitory effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a newly found peptide, on luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated progesterone production. TS significantly stimulated progesterone, but not 20alpha-OH-P, production and cAMP accumulation through 24 hours of culture. PACAP-38 significantly elevated progesterone, 20alpha-OH-P and cAMP levels at all concentrations studied. On the other hand, PACAP-38 inhibited the production of progesterone and the accumulation of cAMP enhanced by LH, while the ratio of progesterone to 20alpha-OH-P was significantly decreased by PACAP-38 + LH. Concomitant treatment with TS and PACAP-38 + LH increased the ratio of progesterone to 20alpha-OH-P more than with PACAP-38 + LH. The present data have demonstrated that TS stimulates progesterone production in rat luteal cells, reconfirming our previous evidence that TS stimulates luteal steroidogenesis. The data further suggest that TS tends to attenuate PACAP's inhibition of LH-stimulated progesterone production, suggesting a luteotrophic effect within the corpus luteum.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12568279&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



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HOXA10 expression is repressed by progesterone in the myometrium: differential tissue-specific regulation of HOX gene expression in the reproductive tract.

Cermik D, Karaca M, Taylor HS.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.

HOX genes are essential regulators of development in all multicellular organisms, including humans. We have previously shown that HOXA10 is expressed in the developing uterus and later in the adult human endometrium. HOX genes regulate endometrial development in response to sex steroids. Here, we demonstrate that HOXA10 is expressed in the myometrium as well. In situ hybridization reveals abundant HOXA10 expression, and Northern analysis demonstrates differential HOX gene expression in the myometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. HOXA10 expression decreases in the midsecretory phase, coinciding with high serum progesterone levels. Treatment of primary myometrial cell cultures with progesterone decreases HOXA10 expression in vitro-paralleling the expression seen in vivo. Despite the presence of progesterone receptors in the endometrium and myometrium, HOXA10 is differentially regulated in each tissue by progesterone. HOXA10 expression is induced in the stroma and decreased in the myometrium by progesterone. The differential tissue-specific response of this gene in response to progesterone is likely mediated by sex steroid receptor coactivators or corepressors. Decreased myometrial expression of developmental regulatory genes such as HOXA10 in the nonpregnant uterus may dedifferentiate the myometrium and allow growth in preparation for pregnancy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11443215&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Immunohistochemical localization of progesterone receptor isoforms in the chick pre-follicular ovary.

Gonzalez-Moran G, Camacho-Arroyo I.

Laboratorio de Biologia de la Reproduccion Animal, Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Mexico. mggm hp.fciencias.unam.mx

The distribution of progesterone receptor A and B isoforms in different cell types of the chick pre-follicular ovary was studied by immunohistochemistry. Newly hatched chicks were killed and the left ovary was removed, fixed and embedded in paraplast. Sections (5 microns thick) were made for the detection of progesterone receptor isoforms, using a technique of indirect immunoperoxidase. The results indicate that progesterone receptors were localized in the nuclei of germinal epithelium and germ cells of the ovarian cortex and in the interstitial and epithelial cells of the lacunar channels of the ovarian medulla. Undifferentiated cells did not present progesterone receptors. In all cell subpopulations progesterone receptor B was the predominantly expressed isoform. These data suggest that progesterone receptor isoforms are differentially expressed in the chick pre-follicular ovary and that progesterone effects in this tissue are mediated by the progesterone receptor B isoform.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11447939&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Regulation of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor (isoform A and B) expression in cultured human endometrial cells.

Prange-Kiel J, Rune GM, Zwirner M, Wallwiener D, Kiesel L.

Institut of Anatomy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany. prange mail.uni-greifswald.de

The effects of RU 486 together with estradiol and progesterone on estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor (isoforms A and B) expression were studied in human endometrial long term cultures at the mRNA and protein level. We asked whether ligand induced receptor regulation, found in mammals in vivo, is also found in human cultured endometrial cells with special regard to the progesterone isoforms A and B. Endometrial cultures were maintained for 27 days. Media were supplemented with progesterone and/or estradiol alone or in combination with RU 486. Receptor expression (estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor isoform A and B) was examined at the mRNA level by RT-PCR and at the protein level by western blot analysis. All receptor types examined were expressed in our culture model. Estradiol led to a general increase of receptor expression whereas treatment with estradiol in combination with progesterone down regulated receptor expression. The receptor down regulation was not found when RU 486 was additionally supplemented into the medium. Activation or inhibition of expression due to these treatments was similar for both PR isoforms. Our results (1) show that in our culture system estradiol induced up regulation of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor A and B and suggest that the estrogen induced up regulation is prevented by progesterone (2) a clear cut antigestagenic effect of RU 486 and (3) suggest that both progesterone isoforms are analogously regulated in our culture model. We conclude that human endometrial cell cultures are suitable for the study of the dynamics of steroid receptor expression.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11453036&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Effects of growth hormone (GH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) on progesterone and estradiol release from cultured rat granulosa cells.

Baranowska B, Chmielowska M, Borowiec M, Roguski K, Wasilewska-Dziubinska E.

Neuroendocrinology Department, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Fieldorfa 40, 04-158 Warsaw, Poland. zncmkp polbox.com

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that GHRH-GH-IGF-1 system plays an important role in the regulation of ovarian follicular development and maturation. METHODS: In order to evaluate the direct effects of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and growth hormone (GH) on steroidogenesis, the effects of GHRH and GH on progesterone and estradiol release from cultured rat granulosa cells were examined. The progesterone and estradiol in supernatants were measured with RIA methods. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the addition of GH to the culture medium produced a marked stimulation of progesterone and estradiol. The stimulating effects were observed after administration of GH in all concentrations: 1, 10, 100 nM during 60 and 120 mins of incubation. During 240 mins of incubation the minimal stimulation of progesterone and estradiol was found. However, GHRH administered in 1, 10 and 100 nM did not change progesterone and estradiol release from cultured granulosa cells. CONCLUSION: Growth hormone (GH) but not GHRH has direct stimulating effects on progesterone release from cultured rat granulosa cells.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11455330&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Progesterone inhibits apolipoprotein-mediated cellular lipid release: a putative mechanism for the decrease of high-density lipoprotein.

Kojima K, Abe-Dohmae S, Arakawa R, Murakami I, Suzumori K, Yokoyama S.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan.

In order to investigate the mechanism for female gonadal hormones to regulate the plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, the effect of 17 beta-estradiol and progestogens was examined in vitro on the assembly of HDL by free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with cellular cholesterol and phospholipid. ApoA-I generated HDL particles by removing cholesterol and phospholipid from human fibroblasts, MRC-5. While 17 beta-estradiol did not influence this reaction, progesterone suppressed the removal by apoA-I of both cholesterol and phospholipid, with the extent of the inhibition more for cholesterol than phospholipid. Three other synthetic progestogens showed the similar inhibitory effect on the cellular cholesterol release. Cellular cholesterol de novo-synthesized from mevalonolactone entered more into the acyl-esterified cholesterol compartment and less to the unesterified compartment in the presence of progesterone. On the other hand, progesterone did not influence the overall mass ratio of free and esterified cholesterol in the cell. Cell-surface cholesterol was also uninfluenced by progesterone when probed by extracellular cholesterol oxidase reaction or by diffusion-mediated cellular cholesterol release to cyclodextrin. Neither caveolin-1 nor ABCA1 expression was influenced by progesterone. Progesterone thus seems primarily to alter the specific intracellular cholesterol compartment that is related to the apoA-I-mediated HDL assembly. This mechanism might contribute to the decrease of plasma HDL by administration of progestogen in women under hormone replacement therapy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11470238&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream