progesterone cream
Differential effects of activin A on basal and gonadotrophin-induced secretion of inhibin A and progesterone by granulosa cells from preovulatory (F1-F3) chicken follicles.

Lovell TM, Gladwell RT, Groome NP, Knight PG.

School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, UK.

Previous work has shown that activin A is expressed selectively within the theca rather than the granulosa layer of preovulatory chicken follicles. In the present study, this finding was verified and the potential paracrine actions of activin A on basal and gonadotrophin-induced secretion of inhibin A, inhibin B and progesterone by granulosa cells from the three largest preovulatory follicles (F1-F3) were investigated. Treatment with activin A (0, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 ng ml(-1)) alone increased inhibin A secretion markedly in a follicle- and time-dependent manner, with the greatest response (up to 15-fold increase; P < 0.0001) in F1 follicles after 3 days of treatment. In contrast, activin A alone had no effect on progesterone output at any time. Cells from F3 follicles were more responsive to FSH than were F1 cells in terms of both inhibin A (P < 0.02) and progesterone (P < 0.01) secretion. Furthermore, activin A greatly enhanced FSH-induced secretion of both inhibin A (up to tenfold; P < 0.0001) and progesterone (up to sixfold; P < 0.0001). In terms of LH-induced inhibin A and progesterone secretion, cells from F1, F2 and F3 follicles showed similar responses. Co-treatment with activin A enhanced LH-induced secretion of inhibin A markedly (up to ninefold; P < 0.0001) but had only a marginal effect on LH-induced progesterone secretion (up to twofold; P < 0.001). The presence of activin receptor subtypes IA, IB, IIA and IIB in cultured granulosa cells from F1, F2 and F3 follicles was demonstrated using immunocytochemistry. These findings support the hypothesis that activin A secreted by the theca layers of avian preovulatory follicles exerts a local paracrine action on granulosa cells to modulate 'basal' inhibin A secretion and to upregulate gonadotrophin-induced secretion of both inhibin A and progesterone. However, the extent to which this local role of activin A contributes to the generation of the preovulatory LH-progesterone surge remains to be established.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12417003&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Oxytocin stimulates secretion of prostaglandin F(2alpha) from endometrial cells of swine in the presence of progesterone.

Carnahan KG, Uzumcu M, Hu J, Sample GL, Braileanu GT, Mirando MA.

Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6353, USA.

Oxytocin (OT) stimulates endometrial secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F(2 alpha) during corpus luteum regression in swine but there is differential responsiveness to OT among endometrial cell types. To determine if progesterone influenced responsiveness of luminal epithelial, glandular epithelial, and stromal cells to 100 nM OT during luteolysis in swine, cells were isolated from endometrium of 15 gilts by differential enzymatic digestion and sieve filtration on day 16 postestrus and cultured continuously in the presence of 0, 10 or 100 nM progesterone. For phospholipase C (PLC) activity and PGF(2 alpha) secretion, stromal cells were most responsive to OT (P<0.01) in the absence of progesterone, whereas luminal epithelial cells were unresponsive and glandular epithelial cells displayed an intermediate response to OT (P<0.09). Progesterone enhanced PLC activity linearly in glandular epithelial cells (P<0.05) and influenced it quadratically in stromal cells (P=0.05). The effect of OT and progesterone on PLC activity in luminal epithelial cells was not significant, and progesterone did not increase PLC activity in response to OT in any cell type. Culture in the presence of progesterone, enhanced PGF(2 alpha) secretion in response to OT in luminal epithelial cells (P<0.05) but not in glandular epithelial or stromal cells. Progesterone also increased overall PGF(2 alpha) release from glandular epithelial (P<0.05) and stromal cells (P<0.06) across both levels of OT treatment. These results indicate that progesterone enhanced PGF(2 alpha) secretion from luminal epithelial cells in response to OT and increased basal PGF(2 alpha) release from glandular epithelial and stromal cells.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12206876&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Assessment of cabergoline as a reproductive inhibitor in coyotes (Canis latrans).

DeLiberto TJ, Seglund A, Jochle W, Kimball B.

United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Predation Behavior and Ecology Field Station, Logan, UT 84322-5295, USA. ThomasJ.DeLiberto aphis.usda.gov

The efficacy of three oral formulations (gelatin capsule, tablet, oil base) and five dosages (50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 microg) of cabergoline to disrupt reproduction in coyotes (Canis latrans) was evaluated. The type of formulation used had no effect on plasma progesterone and prolactin concentrations or on mean litter size. No adverse side effects (for example, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea) were observed despite the use of doses of up to 20 times the therapeutic dose used for domestic dogs and cats. All coyotes treated with 50, 100, 250 and 500 microg cabergoline whelped, but plasma progesterone concentrations in these coyotes were lower (P < or = 0.07) than in control animals at day 7 after treatment. Ten of 11 females treated with 1000 microg cabergoline whelped, but progesterone concentrations in these coyotes were lower than in control animals up to day 14 after treatment (P < or = 0.04). Dosages of 1000 microg cabergoline decreased blood serum prolactin (P < or = 0.10) and progesterone (P < or = 0.06) concentrations, but apparently failed to decrease progesterone below the threshold necessary to maintain pregnancy in all but one animal. However, progressive inhibition of prolactin and progesterone with increasing doses of cabergoline indicated that higher dosages might be effective in coyotes. Survival of pups born to cabergoline-treated females was not different (P < 0.001) from that of pups born to control females, but mean litter size was smaller for females treated with cabergoline (P < or = 0.073) than for the control females. Although all cabergoline treatments in this study were ineffective at preventing reproduction in coyotes, progressive inhibition of prolactin and progesterone with increasing dosages of cabergoline indicates that higher doses might be effective in preventing reproduction in coyotes. However, the physiological differences from other canine species in dopamine D2 receptors and mechanisms of luteal support may ultimately prevent the use of cabergoline for reproductive control in coyotes.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12220164&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Effects of alpha-MSH on progesterone and nitric oxide release by cultured ovarian granulosa cells in experimental rat autoimmune oophoritis.

Casalino-Matsuda SM, Durando PE, Celis ME.

Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina.

The peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) occurs within the pituitary, brain, skin, ovary and other tissues, and has potent anti-inflammatory activity. For this reason, we examined its effects on an autoimmune disease: the experimental autoimmune-oophoritis (EAO). We analyzed the effect of the peptide on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and progesterone from cultured ovarian granulosa (GL) cells at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after sensitization of the rats. On day 0 the progesterone levels were higher in estrous rats than those in proestrus and diestrus. The NO amount did not differ among the diverse days of the cycles. The administration of alpha-MSH induced a decrease of NO in estrus and diestrus, but did not affect progesterone release. The EAO rats showed a period of constant diestrus ranging from about 7 to 14 days after immunization. At the onset (day 7) and the end of this period (day 14), the NO significantly increased in estrous rats which was correlated with a reduction in progesterone concentration. This effect was reverted by alpha-MSH. At 21 and 28 days, progesterone release increased only when the rats were in proestrus, while NO production was similar to that on day 0. Administration of alpha-MSH reduced progesterone release when the rats were in proestrus and these results were correlated with an increase in NO only at day 14. The results obtained suggest that alpha-MSH could act as a modulator of EAO, specially when the rats are in estrus.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12222744&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Akt as a possible intracellular mediator for decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells.

Yoshino O, Osuga Y, Hirota Y, Koga K, Yano T, Tsutsumi O, Taketani Y.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.

To gain an insight into intracellular mechanisms involved in differentiation of human endometrial cells into decidual cells, we examined the presence of Akt, an emerging intracellular mediator in human endometrial stromal cells (ESC). We explored the mechanisms regulating Akt phosphorylation during the process of progesterone-induced decidualization using a primary cell culture system of ESC. Both Akt and phosphorylated Akt (phospho-Akt) were present in ESC. The total Akt level in ESC cultured for 12 days in the absence of ovarian hormones was similar to ESC treated with estradiol (E(2)) at 10 ng/ml, progesterone at 100 ng/ml or E(2) plus progesterone (E(2)progesterone), whereas the levels of phospho-Akt were markedly decreased with progesterone or E(2) progesterone, compared to control cells. Notably, phospho-Akt levels increased during 12 days of culture in parallel with an increase in total Akt in untreated cells. An increase of phospho-Akt in the E(2) progesterone-treated cells was marginal. The level of phospho-Akt in E(2) progesterone-treated cells was markedly reduced compared to control cells at all time points examined. Treatment of the cells with 8-bromo-cAMP decreased the amount of phospho-Akt in ESC in as short a period as 15 min, while no discernible change was observed in the untreated cells. Conversely, H89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), significantly increased the amount of phospho-Akt. The addition of H-89 reversed the decrease in the level of phospho-Akt seen in the cells treated with E(2) progesterone. Thus, we demonstrated the presence of Akt and its phosphorylated form in human ESC. We further suggest that Akt phosphorylation through the cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathway may regulate cellular functions coupled with decidualization.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12728019&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
[Effect of progesterone and 17beta-estradiol on proinflammatory cytokine costimulatory proliferative activity]

[Article in Ukrainian]

Hrekova SP, Vodianyk MO, Chernyshov VP.

Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy of Medical Sciences, Kiev.

The lymphocyte proliferation is multicomponent mechanism of immune system reactivity. Many costimulatory factors take part in this process. Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1 alpha and beta) enhance proliferation of activated lymphocytes. Female steroid hormones inhibit proliferation of mitogen and alloantigen-activated lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol on the costimulatory proliferative activity of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. Female steroid hormones inhibit lymphocyte response to antiCD3 antibody. Progesterone had a stronger effect than 17 beta-estradiol (64 and 13% of inhibition respectively). 17 beta-estradiol enhanced the TNF costimulatory effect on the lymphocyte proliferation. Progesterone neutralized this TNF-induced effect and reverted it (inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation was enhanced in the presence of TNF). We found dominant inhibitory effect of progesterone on the TNF costimulatory activity when progesterone and estrogen were added simultaneously. Progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol downregulated costimulatory proliferative activity of IL-1 alpha or beta. Thus female steroid hormones had suppressive effect on the antiCD3-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. They downregulated costimulatory proliferative activity of IL-1 alpha/beta and had opposite effect on TNF costimulatory activity. Our results suggest possible roles female steroid hormones as regulators on activity of proinflammatory cytokines and their functions in lymphocyte proliferation.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12226929&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
An antiprogesterone, onapristone, enhances the gene expression of promatrix metalloproteinase 3/prostromelysin-1 in the uterine cervix of pregnant rabbit.

Imada K, Sato T, Hashizume K, Tanimoto A, Sasaguri Y, Ito A.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Japan.

Using a progesterone receptor antagonist, onapristone/ZK 98.299, we examined the in-vivo effects of progesterone on the function of uterine cervix during pregnancy. Onapristone was intravenously administered to pregnant rabbits on day 20 post coitum. After 24 h, the antiprogesterone increased the wet weight of the uterine cervix and decreased the DNA concentration in the cervix. In-situ hybridization also indicated that antiprogesterone augmented the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3/stromelysin-1 mRNA in the uterine cervix. These changes are very similar to those observed and reported thus far in ripened and dilated uterine cervix. These results suggest that during pregnancy, progesterone closely participates in the maintenance of the function of uterine cervix by preventing the production of MMPs and thereby destruction of extracellular matrix, and thus add support to the theory that antiprogesterone has the potential to accelerate for the uterine cervical ripening and dilatation.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12230124&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream