progesterone cream
Progesterone in large amounts has immunosuppressive effect.

[No authors listed]

PIP: The immunosuppressive effect of large amounts of progesterone was studied. Progesterone was placed inside porous Silastic tubes which were wrapped with antigenic substances (cotton thread or hamster skin) and placed in the flanks of female animals. Control implants contained nothing or other steroids such as estrogen. An inflammatory response consisting of the proliferation of granulomatous tissue and adhesions appeared within a week in the controls whereas the experimental implants elicited almost no inflammatory response. In the hamster control skin-wrapped implants, complete destruction of skin occurred within 8-10 days and all the implants containing progesterone survived for more than 2 weeks and as long as 35 or 40 days. Experiments involved in the ability of progesterone to inhibit the human mixed lymphocyte reaction revealed that at levels comparable to those in the human placenta, progesterone exerted marked suppression and inhibition. It is suggested that this effect is mediated at the level of the T lymphocytes and the activity of progesterone in high concentrations appears similar to that of the glucocorticoid hormones in achieving immunosuppression.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12307301&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Luteal support with vaginal micronized progesterone gel in assisted reproduction.

Penzias AS, Alper MM.

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. alan.penzias bostonivf.com

The purpose of this study was to review the rationale for vaginal progesterone treatment as luteal support in IVF, and the clinical experience with vaginal micronized progesterone gel. It was found that luteal support with exogenous progesterone significantly improves implantation and pregnancy rates after IVF. Vaginal administration offers a number of potential advantages over intramuscular injection in terms of tolerability and convenience. The clinical experience with Crinone 8%, a vaginal gel containing 90 mg micronized progesterone in a polycarbophil base, indicates that the use of this preparation is associated with pregnancy rates comparable with those achieved after intramuscular administration of progesterone. Moreover, in studies in which patient preferences have been assessed, significantly higher preferences for vaginal micronized progesterone gel have been reported, compared with intramuscular administration or vaginal suppositories. In conclusion, the vaginal micronized progesterone gel used in this study provided effective and well-tolerated luteal support in women undergoing IVF.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12735861&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Salivary progesterone levels and rate of ovulation are significantly lower in poorer than in better-off urban-dwelling Bolivian women.

Vitzthum VJ, Bentley GR, Spielvogel H, Caceres E, Thornburg J, Jones L, Shore S, Hodges KR, Chatterton RT.

Institute for Primary and Preventative Health Care, and Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13901, USA. vvitzthu nsf.gov

BACKGROUND: Agriculturalists in less-developed countries (LDC) have lower progesterone levels than urban industrialized populations. However, it is unknown if urban LDC populations are also relatively lower. We tested whether urban Bolivia samples-poorer (Bol-p) and better-off (Bol-b)-have lower progesterone than a Chicago (USA) sample, and whether progesterone and rate of ovulation are lower in Bol-p than in Bol-b. METHODS: Serial salivary samples collected from Bolivians, screened according to strict exclusion criteria during two complete menstrual cycles, were radioimmunoassayed for progesterone; anthropometrics were collected at mid-follicular and mid-luteal phases. RESULTS: Progesterone levels are lower in the Bolivia samples, and higher in the Bol-b than Bol-p; ovulation rate is greater in Bol-b than Bol-p. For only ovulatory cycles, mean-follicular-P (pmol/l), mean-luteal-P (pmol/l), and mean-peak-P (pmol/l) are respectively 65, 142 and 208 in Bol-p; 76, 167 and 232 in Bol-b; and 96, 240 and 330 in Chicago. Principal components representing body-size and progesterone level are positively correlated (r = 0.404, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Progesterone levels appear to be influenced by chronic and acute ecological conditions, evidenced by the association with body-size and the probability of ovulation respectively. These findings have implications for understanding cancer aetiology, developing population-appropriate hormonal contraceptives, and modelling the evolution and functioning of the reproductive system.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12093859&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Evidence for serotonergic modulation of progesterone-induced hyperphagia, depression and algesia in female mice.

Kaur G, Kulkarni SK.

Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India.

The acute administration of the neurosteroid precursor, progesterone (10 mg/kg, s.c.) produced significant hyperphagia in female mice as observed at 0.5-, 1-, 2- and 3-h time intervals. At this dose progesterone also produced significant increase in immobility period duration in Porsolt's forced swim test and nociceptive response in hot-plate and tail-flick tests. Treatment with direct (quipazine, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) and indirect (fluoxetine, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) acting serotonergic agents per se produced significant hypophagia, decrease in immobility period and induced analgesic effect in hot-plate and tail-flick test. Further, treatment with both fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and quipazine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed progesterone-induced hyperphagia, depression and algesia in the female mice. Pretreatment with seganserin, a 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed fluoxetine and quipazine-induced antidepressant and analgesic effects. Seganserin reversed quipazine-induced hypophagia but in a replicate study it failed to reverse fluoxetine-induced hypophagia. Further, seganserin, 2 mg/kg, i.p., significantly reversed the suppressive effect of fluoxetine and quipazine on progesterone-induced hyperphagia, depression and algesia in hot-plate test. Seganserin also reversed the suppressive effect of fluoxetine and quipazine on progesterone-induced algesia in hot-plate test. These data suggest that the modulation of progesterone-induced effects by these serotonergic agents possibly involve 5-HT(2) receptor mechanisms. Further, the study underscores the use of serotonergic agents for the treatment of eating and affective disorders caused by the regular changes or disturbances of ovarian steroid levels in females.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12101043&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Suppression of uterine decidualization correlated with reduction in serum progesterone levels as a cause of preimplantation embryonic loss induced by diphenyltin in rats.

Ema M, Miyawaki E.

National Institute of Health Sciences, Osaka Branch, 1-1-43 Hoenzaka, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0006, Japan. ema nihs.go.jp

In our previous study, diphenyltin dichloride (DPTCl) at 16.5 mg/kg and higher on days 0-3 of pregnancy was found to induce preimplantation embryonic loss in rats. In the present study, the effects of DPTCl on uterine decidualization in pseudopregnant rats, effects of ovarian hormones on uterine decidualization in ovariectomized rats, and effects of progesterone on the DPTCl-induced preimplantation embryonic loss in pregnant rats were determined. Female rats were given DPTCl by gastric intubation at 4.1, 8.3, 16.5, or 24.8 mg/kg on days 0-3 of pseudopregnancy and the decidual cell response was induced on day 4 of pseudopregnancy. The uterine weight on day 9 of pseudopregnancy served as an index of uterine decidualization. A significant decrease in uterine weight, which indicates suppression of uterine decidualization, was detected at 16.5 and 24.8 mg/kg. Ovarian weight and number of corpora lutea in the DPTCl-treated groups were comparable to the controls. A significant decrease in the serum progesterone levels was found at 16.5 and 24.8 mg/kg in pseudopregnant rats. The hormonal regimen consisting of progesterone and estrone-supported decidual development in ovariectomized rats given DPTCl. Pregnancy rate and number of implantations were significantly lower in the intact mated groups given DPTCl at 16.5 and 24.8 mg/kg on days 0-3 of pregnancy than in the control group and significantly higher in the groups given DPTCl plus progesterone than in the groups given DPTCl alone. These results show that reduction in serum progesterone levels is correlated with suppression of uterine decidualization and progesterone protects against preimplantation embryonic loss induced by DPTCl.

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progesterone cream
Correlates of pregnancy oestrogen, progesterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in the USA and China.

Wuu J, Hellerstein S, Lipworth L, Wide L, Xu B, Yu GP, Kuper H, Lagiou P, Hankinson SE, Ekbom A, Carlstrom K, Trichopoulos D, Adami HO, Hsieh CC.

University of Massachusetts Cancer Research Center, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, LRB 426, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

The objective of this study is to examine perinatal correlates of oestradiol (E2), oestriol (E3), progesterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) among pregnant women in the USA and China. Three hundred and four Caucasian women in Boston and 335 Chinese women in Shanghai were studied. Levels of E2, E3, progesterone and SHBG were measured in maternal blood at weeks 16 and 27 of gestation, and correlated with maternal, gestational and perinatal characteristics. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy is inversely associated with E2 and SHBG, whereas E3 is inversely associated with height and progesterone is inversely associated with weight and BMI. A previous live birth is associated with lower E2 and SHBG in the index pregnancy. Total gestation duration is inversely associated with E2, E3 and progesterone, whereas weight gain during pregnancy is inversely associated with progesterone and SHBG. In the US, pregnancies with female fetuses are characterized by significantly reduced progesterone. Pregnancy hormones are associated with several maternal, gestational and neonatal characteristics.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12131662&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream



progesterone cream
Progesterone prevents the pregnancy-related decline in protein kinase A association with rat myometrial plasma membrane and A-kinase anchoring protein.

Ku CY, Sanborn BM.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. chun-ying.ku uth.tmc.edu

The presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the plasma membrane compartment and its association with an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP150) is implicated in mediating cAMP regulatory events in the rat myometrium. The association of PKA with purified myometrial plasma membrane declined gradually between Day 16 and Day 21 of gestation, with a decrease of 53% +/- 11% of the catalytic subunit and of 61% +/- 7% of the regulatory subunit at Day 21 compared with Day 19. To determine the role of progesterone in this association, pregnancy was prolonged by administration of progesterone or shortened by administration of the antiprogestin RU486. Progesterone treatment maintained PKA association with plasma membrane at Day 21 at 123% +/- 23% (catalytic subunit) and 92% +/- 4% (regulatory subunit) of Day 19 levels. In contrast, protein phosphatase 1, protein phosphatase 2B, phospholipase Cbeta(3), and AKAP150 concentrations in the plasma membrane did not change over this interval or with progesterone treatment. Changes in PKA coimmunoprecipitated with membrane-associated AKAP150 paralleled those in total plasma membrane on Days 19 and 21 and on Day 21 following progesterone treatment. In contrast, plasma membrane PKA catalytic and regulatory subunits decreased by 20 h after RU486 injection on Day 15 of pregnancy to levels resembling those on Day 21. These data indicate that progesterone prevents the decline in PKA associated with myometrial plasma membrane and with AKAP150 in the pregnant rat. The decrease in membrane-bound PKA between Days 19 and 21 and after RU486 treatment precedes the onset of parturition in both experimental paradigms. The loss of plasma membrane PKA may be critical for the decrease in the inhibitory effect of cAMP on oxytocin-induced phosphatidylinositide turnover that occurs near the end of pregnancy and may contribute to enhanced myometrial contractile responsiveness near term.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12135903&dopt=Abstract progesterone, progesterone cream