Comparison of syncytiotrophoblast generated from human embryonic stem cells and from term placentas.

Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) readily commit to the trophoblast lineage after exposure to bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) and two small compounds, an activin A signaling inhibitor and a FGF2 signaling inhibitor (BMP4/A83-01/PD173074; BAP treatment). During differentiation, areas emerge within the colonies with the biochemical and morphological features of syncytiotrophoblast (STB). Relatively pure fractions of mononucleated cytotrophoblast (CTB) and larger syncytial sheets displaying the expected markers of STB can be obtained by differential filtration of dispersed colonies through nylon strainers. RNA-seq analysis of these fractions has allowed them to be compared with cytotrophoblasts isolated from term placentas before and after such cells had formed syncytia. Although it is clear from extensive gene marker analysis that both ESC- and placenta-derived syncytial cells are trophoblast, each with the potential to transport a wide range of solutes and synthesize placental hormones, their transcriptome profiles are sufficiently dissimilar to suggest that the two cell types have distinct pedigrees and represent functionally different kinds of STB. We propose that the STB generated from human ESCs represents the primitive syncytium encountered in early pregnancy soon after the human trophoblast invades into the uterine wall.

Complete and unidirectional conversion of human embryonic stem cells to trophoblast by BMP4.

Human ES cells (hESC) exposed to bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) in the absence of FGF2 have become widely used for studying trophoblast development, but the soundness of this model has been challenged by others, who concluded that differentiation was primarily toward mesoderm rather than trophoblast. Here we confirm that hESC grown under the standard conditions on a medium conditioned by mouse embryonic fibroblasts in the presence of BMP4 and absence of FGF2 on a Matrigel substratum rapidly convert to an epithelium that is largely KRT7(+) within 48 h, with minimal expression of mesoderm markers, including T (Brachyury). Instead, they begin to express a series of trophoblast markers, including HLA-G, demonstrate invasive properties that are independent of the continued presence of BMP4 in the medium, and, over time, produce extensive amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, placental growth factor, and placental lactogen. This process of differentiation is not dependent on conditioning of the medium by mouse embryonic fibroblasts and is accelerated in the presence of inhibitors of Activin and FGF2 signaling, which at day 2 provide colonies that are entirely KRT7(+) and in which the majority of cells are transiently CDX2(+). Colonies grown on two chemically defined media, including the one in which BMP4 was reported to drive mesoderm formation, also differentiate at least partially to trophoblast in response to BMP4. The experiments demonstrate that the in vitro BMP4/hESC model is valid for studying the emergence and differentiation of trophoblasts.

Predictive factors for oocyte retrieval failure in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols: a retrospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Oocyte retrieval failure following an ovarian hyperstimulation protocol is uncommon in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. We analyzed the predictive factors for oocyte retrieval failure following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist protocols in ART programs. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort observational study. In total, 744 cycles from 361 patients who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH agonist long protocol or antagonist protocol were analyzed. Treatment cycles with oocyte retrieval failure and with one or more oocytes retrieved were compared to determine predictive factors for oocyte retrieval failure using univariate and multilevel multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Oocyte retrieval failure occurred in 38 cycles (5.1%). The oocyte retrieval failure rate of the GnRH antagonist protocol (8.1%) was significantly higher than that of the GnRH agonist long protocol (3.7%). On multilevel multivariate logistic analysis, cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol (odds ratio [OR] 3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-8.96), estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection (OR 0.997, 95% CI 0.996-0.998), and luteinizing hormone (LH) level on the day of hCG injection (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.33) were independent predictive factors for oocyte retrieval failure. The efficacy of estradiol and LH levels on the day of hCG injection for predicting oocyte retrieval failure was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. In all cycles, the areas under the curve (AUCs) for estradiol and LH were 0.84 and 0.63, respectively, for all cycles; 0.84 and 0.52, respectively, for cycles with GnRH agonist long protocol; and 0.81 and 0.82, respectively, for cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol, the levels of estradiol and LH on the day of hCG injection might be predictive factors for oocyte retrieval failure. This relationship may provide useful information to both patients and physicians for developing better COH protocols in ART programs.

Differentiation of trophoblast cells from human embryonic stem cells: to be or not to be?

It is imperative to unveil the full range of differentiated cell types into which human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can develop. The need is twofold: it will delimit the therapeutic utility of these stem cells and is necessary to place their position accurately in the developmental hierarchy of lineage potential. Accumulated evidence suggested that hPSC could develop in vitro into an extraembryonic lineage (trophoblast (TB)) that is typically inaccessible to pluripotent embryonic cells during embryogenesis. However, whether these differentiated cells are truly authentic TB has been challenged. In this debate, we present a case for and a case against TB differentiation from hPSCs. By analogy to other differentiation systems, our debate is broadly applicable, as it articulates higher and more challenging standards for judging whether a given cell type has been genuinely produced from hPSC differentiation.

Effects of different trehalose concentrations in a warming medium on embryo survival and clinical outcomes in vitrified human embryos.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the present study, we examined the effects of different concentrations of trehalose in a warming medium on both embryo survival and clinical outcomes in vitrified-warmed embryo transfer cycles. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 209 vitrified-warmed cycles from 177 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer. Embryos were cryopreserved by the vitrification method and warmed in solutions containing either 0.5 or 1.0 M trehalose. We compared the 0.5 and 1.0 M trehalose warming solution groups with respect to the embryo survival rate after warming and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The embryo survival rate in the 1.0 M trehalose group (96.5%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 M trehalose group (57.0%). The percentage of embryo transfers after warming in the 1.0 M trehalose group (94.3%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 M trehalose group (83.7%). The clinical pregnancy rate in the 1.0 M trehalose group (25.0%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 M trehalose group (11.1%). CONCLUSION: Embryo survival and clinical pregnancy rates were higher when a 1.0 M trehalose solution was used than when a 0.5 M trehalose solution was used during the embryo warming process.

Molecular mechanism of poor embryo development in postovulatory aged oocytes: mini review.

Oocyte quality is a key factor in determining embryo development; however, we have a poor understanding of what constitutes oocyte quality or the mechanisms governing it. Postovulatory aging of oocytes that have not been fertilized for a prolonged time after ovulation is known to significantly impair oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development after fertilization. Embryos derived from postovulatory-aged oocytes are prone to undergo apoptosis due to the decreased Bcl-2 expression. Postovulatory aging of oocytes changes the patterns of Ca(2+) oscillations at fertilization as a result of impaired Ca(2+) regulation in the endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, postovulatory aging of oocytes impairs mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate production as a result of increasing oxidative stresses. Oxidative stresses also affect intracellular Ca(2+) regulation and impair embryo development after fertilization. Collectively, the mechanism of postovulatory oocyte aging might be involved in reactive oxygen species-induced mitochondrial injury followed by abnormal intracellular Ca(2+) regulation in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Novel therapeutic strategies for injured endometrium: intrauterine transplantation of menstrual blood­derived cells from infertile patients.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual blood-derived cells show regenerative potential as a mesenchymal stem cell and may therefore be a novel stem cell source of treatment for refractory infertility with injured endometrium. However, there have been few pre-clinical studies using cells from infertile patients, which need to be addressed before establishing an autologous transplantation. Herein, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic capacity of menstrual blood-derived cells from infertile patients on endometrial infertility. METHODS: We collected menstrual blood-derived cells from volunteers and infertile patients and confirmed their mesenchymal stem cell phenotype by flow cytometry and induction of tri-lineage differentiation. We compared the proliferative and paracrine capacities of these cells. Furthermore, we also investigated the regenerative potential and safety concerns of the intrauterine transplantation of infertile patient-derived cells using a mouse model with mechanically injured endometrium. RESULTS: Menstrual blood-derived cells from both infertile patients and volunteers showed phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. In vitro proliferative and paracrine capacities for wound healing and angiogenesis were equal for both samples. Furthermore, the transplantation of infertile patient-derived cells into uterine horns of the mouse model ameliorated endometrial thickness, prevented fibrosis, and improved fertility outcomes without any apparent complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our pre-clinical study, intrauterine transplantation of menstrual blood-derived cells may be a novel and attractive stem cell source for the curative and prophylactic therapy for injured endometrium. Further studies will be warranted for future clinical application.

Trehalose Suppresses Lysosomal Anomalies in Supporting Cells of Oocytes and Maintains Female Fertility.

Supporting cells of oocytes, i.e., cumulus cells, control oocyte quality, which determines fertilization success. Therefore, the transformation of mature and immature cumulus cells (MCCs and ICCs, respectively) into dysmature cumulus cells (DCCs) with dead characteristics deteriorates oocyte quality. However, the molecular basis for this transformation remains unclear. Here, we explored the link between autophagic decline and cumulus transformation using cumulus cells from patients with infertility, female mice, and human granulosa cell-derived KGN cell lines. When human cumulus cells were labeled with LysoTracker probes, fluorescence corresponding to lysosomes was enhanced in DCCs compared to that in MCCs and ICCs. Similarly, treatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine elevated LysoTracker fluorescence in both mouse cumulus cells and KGN cells, subsequently suppressing ovulation in female mice. Electron microscopy analysis revealed the proliferation of abnormal lysosomes in chloroquine-treated KGN cells. Conversely, the addition of an autophagy inducer, trehalose, suppressed chloroquine-driven problematic lysosomal anomalies and ameliorated ovulation problems. Our results suggest that autophagy maintains the healthy state of the supporting cells of human oocytes by suppressing the formation of lysosomes. Thus, our results provide insights into the therapeutic effects of trehalose on female fertility.

Bezafibrate restores the inhibition of FSH-induced follicular development and steroidogenesis by tumor necrosis factor-alpha through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma pathway in an in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture.

We recently reported that bezafibrate, a lipid-lowering drug of the fibrate class, administered in addition to clomiphene citrate (CC) successfully induced ovulation in CC-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. We hypothesized that bezafibrate may directly affect ovarian follicle development. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are important for the pathogenesis of PCOS. In this study, we first examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), which plays a role in insulin resistance, on follicle development by using the follicle culture system. TNF significantly inhibited follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced follicle development, 17beta-estradiol (E2) secretion, and ovulation rate in a dose-dependent manner. We then examined whether bezafibrate treatment could rescue the inhibition of FSH-induced follicle development and steroidogenesis by TNF. Bezafibrate treatment rescued inhibition of follicle development, secretion of E2, and ovulation rate by TNF. We examined the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes in mouse preantral follicles. As the protein expression of only PPARG was observed in mouse preantral follicles, we examined whether bezafibrate could affect follicle development and steroidogenesis through PPARG pathways. Treatment with GW1929, a selective PPARG agonist, restored inhibition of FSH-induced follicle development and steroidogenesis by TNF, whereas treatment with GW9662, a selective PPARG antagonist, canceled the restorative effects of bezafibrate. Collectively, the results in this study suggest that bezafibrate may directly exhibit a restorative effect on the inhibition of ovarian follicle development and steroidogenesis by TNF through the PPARG pathway.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of various types of oocyte aging.

It is well established that age-related decline of a woman's fertility is related to the poor developmental potential of her gametes. The age-associated decline in female fertility is largely attributable to the oocyte aging caused by ovarian aging. Age-associated oocyte aging results in a decrease in oocyte quality. In contrast to ovarian aging, there is a concept of postovulatory oocyte aging. Postovulatory aging of oocytes, not being fertilized for a prolonged time after ovulation, is known to significantly affect the development of oocytes. Both categories of oocyte aging have similar phenotypes of reproductive failure. However, the mechanisms of the decline in oocyte quality are not necessarily equivalent. An age-dependent increase in aneuploidy is a key determinant of oocyte quality. The reduced expression of molecules regulating cell cycle control during meiosis might be involved in the age-dependent increase in aneuploidy. The mechanism of age-associated oocyte aging might be involved in mitochondrial dysfunction, whose etiologies are still unknown. Alternatively, the mechanism of postovulatory oocyte aging might be involved in reactive oxygen species-induced mitochondrial injury pathways followed by abnormal intracellular Ca2+ regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum. We suggest that future research into the mechanism of oocyte aging will be necessary to develop a method to rescue the poor developmental potential of aged oocytes.

Usefulness of bezafibrate for ovulation induction in clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome patients with dyslipidemia: a prospective pilot study of seven cases.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is commonly observed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Bezafibrate is a drug for dyslipidemia acting through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. We investigated the effects of bezafibrate for ovulation induction in patients with PCOS with dyslipidemia who were resistant to clomiphene citrate (CC). METHODS: This was a prospective pilot study. Seven infertile, CC-resistant, PCOS patients with dyslipidemia were enrolled in this study. The participants received bezafibrate at 400 mg/day from day 1 of menses and CC at 100 mg/day from day 5 of menses simultaneously until one follicle measuring at least 18 mm in diameter was found by transvaginal ultrasound. The main outcome was ovulation rate. RESULTS: Five of 7 patients successfully ovulated. The mean number of days of menses until the follicle reached 18 mm in diameter was 16 ± 3 (range 13-20). Monofollicular development was observed in all patients that ovulated. One woman became pregnant and delivered a healthy baby. CONCLUSION: Bezafibrate may be effective for ovulation induction in CC-resistant PCOS patients with dyslipidemia.

Successful Pregnancy in a Case of Behçet's Disease after Treatment with Prednisolone.

A 34-year-old woman (gravida 1, para 0) visited the Division of Reproductive Medicine/National Center for Child Health and Development due to infertility; she had also been suffering from incompletely treated genital ulcers and stomatitis for 10 years. This case was diagnosed as an incomplete-type Behçet's disease (BD) at the Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology/National Center for Child Health and Development. Since no apparent abnormality was found in the general infertility test, artificial insemination with the husband's semen (AIH) was performed for the patient with unexplained infertility, which failed. However, after treating BD with prednisolone, chronic inflammation (stomatitis and genital ulcer) and immunological abnormalities (Th2 and NK cell activity) improved, and conception was possible by AIH. Thus, prednisolone administration may have induced immune tolerance in the patient with BD, which may have contributed to the success of AIH.

Prognostic factors for patients undergoing vitrified-warmed human embryo transfer cycles: a retrospective cohort study.

We examined the prognostic factors for pregnancy in 210 vitrified-warmed embryo transfer (ET) cycles in 121 patients. The univariate analysis showed that age, gravida, the number of cycles associated with infertility caused by endometriosis, the number of previous assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment cycles, and the number of ICSI procedures were significantly lower in pregnant cycles compared with non-pregnant cycles. The percentages of ET using at least one intact embryo and of ET using at least one embryo that had developed further after warming were significantly higher in pregnant cycles compared with non-pregnant cycles. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous ART treatment cycles, ET with at least one intact embryo, and ET using at least one embryo that had developed further were independent prognostic factors for pregnancy in vitrified-warmed ET cycles. We conclude that fewer previous ART treatment cycles, ET using at least one intact embryo, and ET with embryos that have developed further after warming might be favourable prognostic factors for pregnancy in vitrified-warmed ET cycles.

Clomiphene citrate down-regulates estrogen receptor-α through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in a human endometrial cancer cell line.

We examined how clomiphene citrate (CC) reduces estrogen receptor-α (ERα) in a human endometrial cancer cell line. Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells were treated with ERα ligands such as 17ß-estradiol (E2), CC, and the pure antiestrogen, ICI 182,780 (ICI). Thereafter, the expression levels of ERα protein and mRNA were analyzed by western blot and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively, and those of ubiquitinated ERα were analyzed by immunoprecipitation of ERα followed by immunoblotting with an anti-ubiquitin antibody. The expression levels of ERα protein after treatment with E2, CC, and ICI were significantly decreased compared to pre-treatment levels without a corresponding decrease in ERα mRNA. These ligands significantly increased the levels of ubiquitinated ERα compared to vehicle treatment. Co-treatment with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, abrogated the decrease in ERα levels caused by treatment with the ligands only. We demonstrated, for the first time, a CC-induced decrease in ERα mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in human endometrial cancer cells.

Brachial-to-ankle pulse wave velocity as an independent prognostic factor for ovulatory response to clomiphene citrate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has a risk for cardiovascular disease. Increased arterial stiffness has been observed in women with PCOS. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the brachial-to-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a prognostic factor for ovulatory response to clomiphene citrate (CC) in women with PCOS. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study of 62 women with PCOS conducted from January 2009 to December 2012 at the university hospital, Yamagata, Japan. We analyzed 62 infertile PCOS patients who received CC. Ovulation was induced by 100 mg CC for 5 days. CC non-responder was defined as failure to ovulate for at least 2 consecutive CC-treatment cycles. The endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular parameters between CC responder (38 patients) and non-responder (24 patients) groups were analyzed. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, waist-to-hip ratio, level of free testosterone, percentages of patients with dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus, blood glucose and insulin levels at 60 min and 120 min, the area under the curve of glucose and insulin after 75-g oral glucose intolerance test, and baPWV were significantly higher in CC non-responders compared with responders. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, both waist-to-hip ratio (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-14.1; P=0.04) and baPWV (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.8; P=0.03) were independent predictors of ovulation induction by CC in PCOS patients. The predictive values of waist-to-hip ratio and baPWV for the CC resistance in PCOS patients were determined by the receiver operating characteristic curves. The area under the curves for waist-to-hip ratio and baPWV were 0.76 and 0.77, respectively. Setting the threshold at 0.83 for waist-to-hip ratio offered the best compromise between specificity (0.65) and sensitivity (0.84), while the setting the threshold at 1,182 cm/s for baPWV offered the best compromise between specificity (0.80) and sensitivity (0.71). CONCLUSIONS: Both metabolic and cardiovascular parameters were predictive for CC resistance in PCOS patients. The measurement of baPWV may be a useful tool to predict ovulation in PCOS patients who receive CC.

Pioglitazone counteracts the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibition of follicle-stimulating hormone-induced follicular development and estradiol production in an in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture system.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and is characterized by chronic anovulation. Insulin resistance may be a key component of the pathogenesis of this disorder. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione derivative that acts by improving insulin resistance via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) pathway. Reportedly, pioglitazone improves the anovulation status in patients with PCOS. In the present study, we examined whether pioglitazone directly affects ovarian follicular development and steroidogenesis using in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture system. METHODS: An isolated individual in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture was used to test the effects of pioglitazone on the follicle development and steroidogenesis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which plays a role in insulin resistance, has been reported to inhibit the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced follicular development and steroidogenesis in an in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture system. Therefore, we examined whether pioglitazone counteracts these effects by TNF-α. We assessed the follicle diameter and follicle survival and antral-like cavity formation rates, the 17ß-estradiol (E2) levels in the culture medium, and the ovulation rate using the in vitro preantral follicle culture. RESULTS: Pioglitazone treatment counteracted the inhibition of TNF-α in FSH-induced follicle development in a dose-dependent manner. Pioglitazone, at a concentration of 5 µM, which was the minimum effective concentration, significantly counteracted the inhibition of TNF-α in FSH-induced follicle survival (29 versus 56%, P < 0.05), antral-like cavity formation (29 versus 48%, P < 0.05), E2 concentration in the culture medium (mean ± SEM = 21 ± 1 versus mean ± SEM = 27 ± 1 pg/mL, P < 0.05), and human chorionic gonadotropin-induced ovulation rate (9 versus 28%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone counteracted the inhibition by TNF-α on FSH-induced follicle development and steroidogenesis in the in vitro mouse preantral follicle culture. The results suggest that pioglitazone may directly affect the follicular development and steroidogenesis.

Inhibition of the Rho/ROCK pathway enhances the efficacy of cisplatin through the blockage of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in human ovarian cancer cells.

Rho, a Ras-related small GTPase, and Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase (Rho kinase, ROCK1 and ROCK2) are key regulators of focal adhesion, actomyosin contraction, and thus cell motility. Rho/ROCK kinases also play roles in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and oncogenic transformation. In the present study, we have shown that Rho/ROCK pathway inhibition by fasudil, an orally administered inhibitor of Rho kinases, enhanced cisplatin-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cell lines. Fasudil inhibited hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein expression. Knockdown of RhoA, ROCK1 or ROCK2 also attenuated the expression of HIF-1α. Furthermore, knockdown of HIF-1α using small interfering RNA enhanced cisplatin-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis as did inhibition of the Rho/ROCK pathway by fasudil, the Rho/ROCK inhibitor Y27632, or by Rho/ROCK knockdown. Therefore, the Rho/ROCK pathway may modulate HIF-1α signal transduction and blockade of Rho/ROCK enhances the efficacy of cisplatin by inhibiting HIF-1α in ovarian cancer cells. Our findings suggested that the Rho/ROCK pathway may be a new target for molecular targeting therapies against ovarian cancer.

Molecular mechanism of the inhibition of estradiol-induced endometrial epithelial cell proliferation by clomiphene citrate.

We examined the molecular mechanisms of the antiestrogenic effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) in the endometrium using two types of cell lines, Ishikawa and EM-E6/E7/hTERT cells. CC or ICI182780 inhibited 17beta-estradiol (E2)-induced endometrial cell proliferation and transcriptional activation of the estrogen response element (ERE) gene. We directly visualized the ligand-estrogen receptor (ER)alpha interaction using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged ER alpha in a single living cell. Whereas E2 changed the nuclear localization of GFP-ER alpha to a punctate distribution within 5 min, CC or ICI182780 changed the slower and less mobilization of GFP-ER alpha compared with E2. Pretreatment with CC or ICI182780 partly prevented the E2-induced nuclear redistribution of GFP-ER alpha. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that GFP-ER alpha mobility treated with E2 was more rapid than that treated by CC or ICI182780. As coactivator recruitment to the ER is essential for ER-dependent transcription, we examined the interaction between ER alpha and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1). The complex formation between ER alpha and SRC-1 was significantly increased by E2 but was prevented in the presence of CC or ICI182780 by coimmunoprecipitation. Moreover, the E2-induced colocalization of GFP-ER alpha and SRC-1 was prevented in the presence of CC or ICI182780 according to an immunofluorescence assay. We also observed that the reduction of SRC-1 using small interfering RNA for SRC-1 resulted in the inhibition of E2-induced cell proliferation and transcriptional activation of the ERE gene. Collectively, these results suggest that CC may inhibit E2-induced endometrial epithelial cell proliferation and ERE transactivation by inhibiting the recruitment of SRC-1 to ER alpha.

Effect of dienogest on estrogen-induced nitric oxide production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of dienogest (DNG), which has a profile similar to that of natural progesterone (P4), on the favorable effects of estrogen in endothelial function. METHODS: (1) Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), DNG, or P4 with or without estradiol (E2), and then we examined nitric oxide (NO) production, phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, and endothelial NO synthase. (2) Twenty women with surgical menopause were randomly allocated to four groups: control (no treatment), E2 alone, E2 + MPA, and E2 + DNG. The treatment groups were treated with transdermal E2 (0.72 mg) for 2 days or E2 + MPA (2.5 mg/d) or E2 + DNG (2 mg/d) for a week starting 1 week after the operation; the control group did not use hormone. We examined the changes in the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery using ultrasonography. RESULTS: (1) Although MPA attenuated E2-induced NO production and phosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and endothelial NO synthase, neither DNG nor P4 inhibited E2 effects. (2) A significant decrease in FMD was observed 1 week after the operation in all groups. E2 significantly ameliorated endothelial impairment (FMD, 3.4% +/- 0.9% to 7.6% +/- 1.3%) in the E2-alone group (P < 0.05), but E2 + MPA could not ameliorate endothelial impairment (3.3% +/- 1.1% to 3.5% +/- 1.0%). However, FMD in the E2 + DNG group significantly increased (2.9% +/- 0.5% to 8.7% +/- 1.0%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that DNG did not inhibit the restoration of vasodilatation by E2. DNG may have an advantage compared with MPA on the endothelial function in postmenopausal women receiving hormone therapy.

Poor embryo development in mouse oocytes aged in vitro is associated with impaired calcium homeostasis.

We examined whether impairment of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis is related to poor embryo development in in vitro-aged oocytes. We found that in vitro aging of mouse oocytes affected the patterns of Ca(2+) oscillations at fertilization: these Ca(2+) oscillations were lower in amplitude and higher in frequency compared with oocytes without in vitro aging. We also observed that the intracellular Ca(2+) store was decreased in in vitro-aged oocytes. A decrease in the Ca(2+) store induced by thapsigargin, a specific endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, resulted in a lower fertilization rate and in poorer embryo development. The frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations was significantly increased at fertilization, whereas their amplitude was decreased in thapsigargin-treated oocytes. These results suggest that impairment of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis (such as a decrease in the ER Ca(2+) store) caused an alteration in Ca(2+) oscillations and the poor embryo development in in vitro-aged oocytes. Because embryo fragmentation is closely related to apoptosis, we examined expression of BAX (a proapototic protein) and BCL2 (an antiapoptotic protein) in in vitro-aged oocytes. Although BCL2 was strongly expressed in oocytes without in vitro aging, expression of BCL2 was significantly reduced in oocytes of other culture conditions and treatments such as those in in vitro aging and those that were pretreated with H(2)O(2) or thapsigargin. Acting together, alteration in Ca(2+) oscillations and decrease in BCL2 expression in in vitro-aged oocytes may lead to poor embryo development.