Clinical significance of vit D and AMH and its correlation with polycystic ovarian parameters in obese and non-obese Egyptian women.

Women of reproductive age are frequently affected by the heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic conditions recognized as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Moreover, FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone), steroidogenesis, and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) are suppressed by the anti-Mullerian hormone, a good indicator of ovarian reserve, that is generated from granulosa cells. In the past ten years, vitamin D (VD) has attracted and maintained great interest in human health and biomedical research, particularly those about female reproductive-metabolic problems. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the correlation of VD and AMH with PCOS parameters in Egyptian women. Assessments were done on 35 control women and 45 PCOS sufferers. Utilizing the updated Rotterdam criteria, PCOS was identified. After recording anthropometric data, fasting serum levels of VD, follistatin (FST), insulin, FSH, LH, total testosterone (TT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), as well as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and the free androgen index (FAI) were measured in both groups. Compared to the control group, the PCOS group had a greater prevalence of hypovitaminosis D but serum levels of follistatin, LH, TT, AMH, insulin, and FPG, were considerably higher. Besides, there was a substantial inverse relationship between VD and the levels of follistatin, FPG, LH, TT, and AMH and a positive correlation with FSH in PCOS women's blood. This study revealed that hypovitaminosis D, elevated AMH, and FST may be regarded as alarming risk factors for PCOS in Egyptian women.

The effect of aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)/aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulate the expression of target genes, including drug transporter genes which harbor xenobiotic response element (XRE) in their promoter regions. Thus, PAHs/AhR could alter the toxicokinetic profile of many nephrotoxic drugs, including aminoglycosides. In the current study, we investigated the expression and localization of AhR and megalin in rat kidney. Furthermore, we investigated whether AhR and its ligands could modulate the expression of megalin and consequently the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (GN) in rats. Both megalin and AhR receptors are expressed in the proximal tubules of the rat kidney. Treatment with AhR agonist benzo(a)pyrene aggravated GN as indicated by a significant increase in serum creatinine, BUN, KIM1, NAGL, CD-86, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. On the other hand, treatment with AhR antagonist resveratrol ameliorated GN as manifested by a pronounced decrease in the aforementioned parameters. The effects of AhR ligands on GN were associated with altered expression of megalin receptor.