Marginal growth increase, altered bone quality and polycystic ovaries in female prepubertal rats after treatment with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane.

BACKGROUND: Aromatase inhibition has been proposed as a potential approach for growth enhancement in children with short stature, but detailed animal studies are lacking. AIM: To assess the effect and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition on growth in female rats. METHODS: Prepubertal Wistar rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week (E10, E30, E100) for 3 weeks. A control group was ovariectomized (OVX). Weight and length gain, tibia and femur length, growth plate width, organ weights, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels, and histology of the ovaries, uterus and brain were analyzed. X-ray microtomography of femora was performed. RESULTS: E100 significantly increased weight gain and growth plate width, but less prominently than OVX. Trabecular number and thickness were decreased in E100 and OVX in the metaphysis and epiphysis. E100 significantly decreased ovarian weight and multiple cysts were seen upon histological evaluation. No significant effects were found on IGF-I levels and brain morphology in E100. E10 and E30 had no effects on growth. CONCLUSION: A high dose of exemestane marginally increases axial and appendicular growth in female rats, at the expense of osteopenia and polycystic ovaries.

Ovarian follicular cysts in dairy cows: an abnormality in folliculogenesis.

Ovarian follicular cysts are a major reproductive problem in lactating dairy cows. The primary physiological defect leading to the formation of ovarian follicular cysts is a failure of the hypothalamus to trigger the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) in response to estradiol. The factor responsible for this hypothalamic defect may be progesterone. Intermediate levels of progesterone have been shown to prevent ovulation and promote persistence of dominant follicles in normal cycling cows. Recently, we found that 66% of cows with ovarian follicular cysts had progesterone concentrations in an unusual, intermediate range (0.1-1.0 ng/mL) at the time of their detection. A majority of new follicles (76%) that develop in the presence of these intermediate progesterone concentrations became cysts. Only 10% ovulated. Based on these observations, a novel model for the formation and turnover of ovarian follicular cysts is proposed.

Physiological classification of anovulatory conditions in cattle.

Evaluation of follicular growth patterns by ultrasound combined with measurement of circulating reproductive hormones has allowed designation of three functionally critical follicular sizes during the final stages of follicular growth: emergence (-4 mm), deviation (-9 mm), and ovulation (variable from 10 to 20 mm). Classification of anovulatory conditions on the basis of these three critical points is logical and provides for rational diagnosis and treatment of the underlying physiological condition. In extreme undernutrition, there is growth of follicles to emergence but not to deviation; however, the underlying pathophysiology is not defined because of relatively few scientific investigations of this condition. Anovulatory conditions with growth of follicles to deviation but not to ovulatory size have been extensively studied. Undernutrition and/or suckling can cause this anovulatory condition. It is characterized by a greater negative feedback effect of estradiol on GnRH/LH pulses than found in normally cycling cows. Another anovulatory condition that is common in high producing lactaing dairy cows is characterized by growth of follicles to larger than ovulatory size, such as is observed in cows with follicular cysts. This condition is characterized by an insensitivity of the hypothalamus to the positive feedback effects of estradiol. Thus, these last two common anovulatory conditions appear to be primarily due to changes in the responsiveness of the hypothalamus to estradiol. Treatments that increase circulating progesterone concentrations can help in the treatment of these two conditions by potentially altering GnRH/LH pulses and allowing the final stages of follicular growth or resetting the hypothalamic responsiveness to the positive feedback effects of estradiol.

The concentration of GnRH in hypothalamus, LH and FSH in pituitary, LH, PRL and sex steroids in peripheral and ovarian venous plasma of hypo- and hyperthyroid, cysts-bearing gilts.

The aim of this work was to investigate the hormonal pattern in hypo- and hyperthyroid gilts with experimentally induced cystic ovarian disease (COD). A total of 70 adult, nulliparous gilts divided into six groups were used for the experiment. Group I was euthyroid and control. Group II was made hypothyroid by oral administration of methylthiouracyl for 24 days. Group III represented euthyroid gilts injected with gonadotropins (PMSG and hCG). Group IV consisted of hypothyroid gilts injected with gonadotropins. Group V was treated with L-thyroxine for 24 days and Group VI with thyroxine and with gonadotropins for the last 10 days of the test. The treatment of all groups was terminated on the 4th-5th day of the next estrous cycle. The peripheral blood of the gilts was collected on Day 0, and on Day 24. On the 25th day the gilts were laparotomized and cannulas were inserted into utero-ovarian veins of each ovary for blood collection. Simultaneously, peripheral blood samples were collected during 1 to 3 consecutive days. The animals were then slaughtered and the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries were frozen and preserved for further analyses. In hypothalamic tissue the content of GnRH: in the pituitary the concentration of LH and FSH; and in peripheral and ovarian blood plasma the level of LH, PRL, E1, P4, A4, T and cortisol (Cl) were estimated by RIA procedure. The level of GnRH in the hypothalamus, and LH and FSH in the pituitary showed a tendency to parallel with thyroid function which may indicate a role of this gland in their production or secretion. In hypothyroid animals an increase of LH and PRL and a slight decrease of secretory function of the ovaries were noted. Injections of gonadotropins in euthyroid or hypo- and hyperthyroid gilts intensified the function of the ovaries, which was manifested by numerous follicular cysts and corpora lutea. The hormonal milieu of gilts from these groups showed a low level of LH, PRL and an increased content of sex steroids in peripheral and ovarian blood. The ovarian steroidogenesis of cyst-bearing gilts was disturbed, which was indicated by an increased level of E1, P4, A4, T, and Cl, but a low level of E2. These disturbances in steroidogenesis in cystic gilts may be caused by a deficiency in LH secretion as the consequence of the pituitary gonadotropin suppression by the used gonadotropins. The steroid hormone pattern of cyst-bearing gilts strongly resembles the endocrine profile noted in polycystic ovarian disease in women.

Quistes y tumores del ovario en la infancia / Cysts and tumor of the ovary in chilhood

Se revisa la casuística de los quistes y tumores del ovario operados en el Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica del Hospital Juárez de México, de la Secretaría de Salud, en los últimos seis años. Se analizan la edad, el tamaño y el tipo de tumor, los signos y síntomas principales; los análisis de laboratorio, los estudios de gabinete, el diagnóstico preoperatorio y el tratamiento quirúrgico y su estadificación. Se encontraron 41 neoplasias del ovario (16 quistes funcionales y 25 tumores primarios). El 72 por ciento fueron tumores de células germinales y el 28 por ciento epiteliales benignos. El teratoma quístico benigno fue el tumor más frecuente (44 por ciento). En 93 por ciento de los casos se hizo el diagnóstico preoperatorio correcto. 28 por ciento de las pacientes tuvieron tumores malignos, que fueron tratados con cirugía y referidos a otros hospitales para su tratamiento complementario

[Clinical study of the treatment of endometriosis with promoting blood circulation and stasis removing method].

The treatment of endometriosis by blood circulation promoting and stasis removing method is based on the experience carried in the "Ji Yin Gang Mu" and the fact that this disease belongs to the category of pelvic stagnant blood. The study group consisted of 53 women with endometriosis. They were manifested as dysmenorrhea, menoxenia, ovarian chocolate cysts and enlarged uterus. The control group consisted of ten women with normal regular menstrual cycle. This article deals with the method of using the hemodynamic index of uterus arterial blood flow. After treatment the blood flow amount of uterus arteries of 53 cases (study group) obviously decreased and their uterus arterial blood flow speed reduced markedly as compared with pretreatment status, (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) respectively, while pre-treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.001). After medical treatment for 3.5 months, symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and menstrual disorder basically disappeared. 22 ovarian chocloate cysts became smaller and 16 disappeared. The pregnancy rate was 45%. The data of this study suggest that the mechanism of treatment of promoting blood circulation to remove stasis might be closely related to the regulation of physico-chemical characteristics of blood and the adjustment of the function of hemodynamics.

Assessment of electric differential treatment (EDiT) and Endosan treatment for ovarian cysts and concomitant symptoms.

The mechanisms of action and clinical applications of electric differential treatment (EDiT) and Endosan in the treatment of ovarian cysts and concomitant symptoms are reviewed. Possible mechanisms of action include an increased level of cyclic AMP, stimulation of endorphin release, anti-inflammatory action, and steroidogenesis resulting from normalization of intercellular communication. Favorable results in the clinical setting were achieved in the treatment of ovarian cysts. Treatment success was reflected in a significant reduction in overall cyst size as well as amelioration of various concomitant symptoms, including fever, chills, inflammation, and abdominal pain. EDiT and Endosan were shown to have potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. No adverse effects have been reported.

Hypothalamic-pituitary function in chronically cystic and regularly cycling dairy cows.

Studies were conducted to characterize, in detail, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles 1) before and at various times after ovariectomy (OVX) in chronically cystic (CC) and regularly cycling (control) cows and 2) after injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) to OVX CC and control cows. Blood samples were drawn from follicular-phase control cows and CC cows (pre-OVX) for 8 h at 15-min intervals. Cows were bilaterally OVX, and blood samples were collected for 8 h at 15-min intervals at 1, 2, and 4 wk after OVX. Five weeks after OVX, cows were challenged with 20 micrograms LHRH i.m. Six weeks after OVX, cows were challenged with 1 mg E2 i.m. Pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, and interpulse interval were not different (p less than 0.05) before or after OVX in CC and control cows. Peak LH, time to the peak, and area under the curves were not different (p greater than 0.05) after LHRH administration in CC and control cows. After injection of E2, peak LH levels were higher (p less than 0.05) in CC cows than in control cows. However, the time to the peak or the area under the curves were not different (p greater than 0.05) between groups. It appears that the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to circulating estrogen levels is altered as a result of the cystic condition.

Hormone secretion by euthyroid and hypothyroid rat ovaries during the early stages of hCG-induced ovarian cyst development.

This study was undertaken to examine ovarian steroid production during the early stages of hCG-induced ovarian cyst formation in the hypothyroid rat. Rats were placed into two groups with one group made hypothyroid by adding thiouracil to their diet. After 10 days, each group was divided into two subgroups with one subgroup receiving daily injections of hCG for 2 days and the other subgroup receiving saline. On the morning of Day 13, ovaries were removed and incubated for 2 hr. No significant difference in progesterone secretion was observed. However, ovaries from hypothyroid, hCG-treated rats secreted significantly more testosterone and estradiol than ovaries from vehicle-treated, hypothyroid rats and euthyroid, hCG-treated rats. In a second experiment, ovaries from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats treated with hCG were incubated in medium supplemented with 100 nM androstenedione and 0 or 100 ng FSH/ml. FSH failed to affect progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol secretions by ovaries from euthyroid, hCG-treated rats. In contrast, FSH significantly enhanced testosterone and estradiol secretion by ovaries from hypothyroid, hCG-treated rats. These results support the hypothesis that increased levels of testosterone and estradiol secretion have a central role in the induction of polycystic ovaries by hCG in the hypothyroid rat.