Effects of ethephon on serum levels of sex hormone, apoptosis, and cell cycle of ovaries in mice.

INTRODUCTION: The effects of ethephon on the reproductive systems of mammalian females are still ambiguous. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of ethephon on the female reproductive system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty female C57 mice were used as experimental subjects and evenly divided into 8 groups, which were fed with mixed ethephon (0, 107.3, 214.5, and 429 mg/kg bw/day) and pure water. After 20 and 40 days of gavage, the mice were weighed and individual organ coefficients of the ovaries were measured. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect the serum levels of serum sex hormones. The cell cycle distribution and rate of apoptosis of mouse ovarian tissues were examined using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Ethephon intoxication significantly decreased serum levels of progesterone (P) and oestradiol (E2) and increased the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased and then increased over time. In addition, ethephon significantly inhibited the apoptosis rate in the ovary and caused G0/G1 and G2/M arrest. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that prolonged exposure to ethephon may have negative effects on the female reproductive system.

Differences in IGF axis-related proteins in amniotic fluid of trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 using a multiple reaction monitoring approach.

OBJECTIVE: Trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 are the two most common chromosomal anomalies in live births. To find new biomarkers for aneuploidies and pathogenesis of fetal malformations, we measured insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis-related proteins in amniotic fluid (AF) of pregnant women carrying trisomies 21 or 18 affected fetuses using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach. METHOD: Eighty-five AF samples from pregnant women carrying either trisomy 21, trisomy 18, or normal fetuses were collected. IGF axis-related proteins in AF after serial treatments were quantitated with MRM method. The differential protein levels were also confirmed by western blot in AF without any treatment. RESULTS: The IGF type I receptor and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in AF of trisomy 21 (1.35 ± 0.32 and 13.36 ± 3.64 µg/mg protein) and trisomy 18 (1.39 ± 0.40 and 12.80 ± 1.84 µg/mg protein) were decreased versus normal controls (2.16 ± 0.59 and 23.77 ± 6.18 µg/mg protein). IGF binding protein 5 was reduced in trisomy 18 (1.47 ± 0.33 vs 2.36 ± 0.77 µg/mg protein). These alterations were confirmed by western blot. The other proteins showed no significant difference between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that MRM can provide a powerful platform for the identification of biomarkers in AF that have crucial developmental effects in the aneuploid fetus.