Analysis of testosterone pulsatility in women with ovulatory menstrual cycles / Análise da pulsatilidade da testosterona em mulheres com ciclos menstruais ovulatórios

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of the pulsatile secretion of testosterone in normal menstrual cycle. METHODS: Eight healthy women with ovulatory menstrual cycles were enrolled. Blood samples were collected at ten-minute intervals for six hours, starting between 7 and 8 am, after a ten-hour fasting, in three phases: mid-follicular (Day 7), late follicular (Day 12) and mid-luteal phase (Day 21). Samples were assayed for testosterone, LH and the baseline also for SHBG. RESULTS: Testosterone pulse frequency, mean amplitude pulse, percentage of increment in pulse amplitude, mean duration of pulses and pulse interval were similar in the three phases. LH pulsatility was statistically different among the three phases (p < 0.001) representing normal ovulatory cycles. CONCLUSIONS: These data increase the knowledge about the testosterone secretion profile in the human menstrual cycle and can be used as a contribution to clinical investigation in both hyperandrogenism and androgen insufficiency syndrome.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão pulsátil da secreção da testosterona em mulheres normais. MÉTODOS: Oito mulheres saudáveis com ciclos ovulatórios foram selecionadas. Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas a cada dez minutos durante seis horas, começando entre 7 e 8 h da manhã, após dez horas de jejum, nas três fases do ciclo menstrual: folicular média (Dia 7), folicular tardia (Dia 12) e lútea (Dia 21). Foram mensurados: testosterona, LH e, no basal, também SHBG. RESULTADOS: A frequência dos pulsos de testosterona, média da amplitude do pulso, porcentagem do incremento da amplitude, duração e intervalos dos pulsos foram similares nas três fases (p > 0,05). A pulsatilidade do LH foi estatisticamente diferente entre as três fases (p < 0,001), caracterizando padrão característico do ciclo ovulatório normal. CONCLUSÕES: Esses dados aumentam o conhecimento sobre o padrão de secreção da testosterona no ciclo menstrual humano e representam uma contribuição para a investigação clínica, tanto no hiperandrogenismo como na síndrome de insuficiência androgênica.

Blood leukocyte profile in different phases of menstrual cycle.

The optimal availability of immune cells in the peripheral blood stream of women plays a critical role in their response to disease and therapeutic interventions. Interaction between the reproductive and immune system plays an important immunoregulatory role. This study was designed to examine the impact of different phases of menstrual cycle on the blood leukocytes. Twenty-four healthy women in their reproductive age group and having regular menstrual cycle were studied during menstrual, proliferative and secretary phases of menstrual cycle. Total leukocyte count, absolute and differential counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes and mixed cells (includes eosinophils, basophils and monocytes) were analyzed. Results showed that the variations in the different types of leukocytes during different phases of menstrual cycle were not statistically significant. No significant inter group difference, except for the significant decrease in differential lymphocyte percentage in proliferative phase as compared to menses were observed.

Detection of MMP-11 from menstrual blood using immunohistochemistry / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To prove the feasibility of detecting menstrual blood as well as its cellular localization with rabbit-anti-human matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) polyclonal antibody.@*METHODS@#MMP-11 in menstrual blood, peripheral blood, vaginal liquid, aged menstrual bloodstain, and endometrium sections were assayed with SAP immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#MMP-11 was found only in menstrual samples within stroma and epithelium cells.@*CONCLUSION@#MMP-11 polyclonal antibody may be applied in the distinction between menstrual blood and venous blood.

Percepção da dor isquêmica e a pressão em mulheres jovens durante o ciclo menstrual: associação entre estados de humor e níveis de cortisol / Perception of ischemic and pressing pain in young women during menstrual cycle. Association with humor and cortisol levels

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the modulation of pain perception, estimate by both threshold and tolerance to ischemic and pressure stimuli, by cortisol and humor states across the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Threshold and tolerance pain to ischemic and pressure stimuli were determined in eighteen healthy young women. The menstrual cycle phases were determined using oral temperature, documentation of the first and last day of menstruation and plasma levels of progesterone and estradiol. Statistical analysis using linear regression model (R2) indicate which hormonal variables (estradiol, progesterone and cortisol) and/or variables obtained from the questionnaire Profile of Mood States (POMS) (fatigue, tension, anger, vigor, confusion and depression) explain, isolated or together, each one of the pain parameters during the five phases of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: In the follicular, periovulatory, early-to-middle luteal and menstrual phases hormones and subjective variables from POMS explained the responses for pain threshold and tolerance to ischemic and pressure stimulus. Estradiol (during follicular, peri-ovulatory and menstrual phases) and cortisol (during follicular, early-to-mid luteal and mestrual phases) explain only the pain perception to pressure. The differential participation of the hormones in the two types of pain suggests that estradiol, and probably cortisol, modulate the pathways related to pressure but not those related to ischemic pain. On the other hand only the mood states variables explained pain perception during late luteal phase. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of hormonal and subjective variables (POMS) together, associated to detailed characterization of the menstrual cycle suggest that participation of estradiol and cortisol modulate pain perception to pressure stimulus but not to ischemic one. Indeed, suggest that in healthy women with regular menstrual cycles, only subjective variables explained pain perception during late luteal phase of menstrual cycle.

Serum calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorous levels during various phases of menstrual cycle.

Serum Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Inorganic phosphorous (Pi) were investigated serially during menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases of menstrual cycle in 25 healthy medical student volunteers. The result shows significant cyclic variations within physiological limits in all parameters. Ca level was highest during ovulation (P < 0.001) and lowest during luteal phase (P < 0.001) compared to other phases. Exactly opposite result was observed for Ca level. It is lowest during ovulation (P < 0.001) and highest during the luteal phase (P < 0.001). However, the highest level of Pi was seen during menstrual phase (P < 0.001) and lowest during the luteal phase (P < 0.001). These changes are probably brought about under the influence of cyclic variations of the ovarian hormones.

Histologic changes in fibrocystic breast disease before and after treatment with bromocriptine

Twenty-five women with fibrocystic breast disease were investigated in a double-blind study using treatment with bromocriptine (5 to 7.5 mg/day for 3 months) or placebo. Estradiol and progesterone measurements did not show any changes before, during or after treatment. Serum prolactin levels were reduced during the use of bromocriptine. Histologic evaluation demonstrated a decrease of epithelial hyperplasia and arrest of the cystic dilation picture after treatment with bromocriptine