Respiratory Mitochondrial Efficiency and DNA Oxidation in Human Sperm after In Vitro Myo-Inositol Treatment.

Semen samples are known to contain abnormal amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen free radicals; therefore, the identification of antioxidant molecules able to counteract the oxidative damage caused by ROS is foresight. Indeed, improving semen quality in terms of motility and reduction in DNA damage, can significantly improve the fertilization potential of sperm in vitro. To this regard, myo-inositol, based on its antioxidant properties, has been reported to be effective in improving sperm quality and motility in oligoasthenozoospermic patients undergoing assisted reproduction techniques when used as a dietary supplementation.

PCOS and pregnancy: a review of available therapies to improve the outcome of pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility affecting multiple aspects of a women's health.

Areas Covered: The aim of this review is to summarize the existing evidence on the treatment of PCOS patients and to examine the actual available therapies to overcome the problem of infertility and improve the outcome of pregnancy. We analyse different treatment strategies such as lifestyle modification, bariatric surgery, insulin sensitizing agents, inositol, clomiphene citrate (CC), aromatase inhibitors, gonadotrophins, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, and assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

Ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation in women with different polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.

Controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) in PCOS is a challenge for fertility expert both ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and oocytes immaturity are the two major complication. Ovarian response to COH vary widely among POCS patients and while some patients are more likely to show resistance to COH, other experienced an exaggerated response. The aim of our study is to investigate a possible correlation between PCOS phenotypes and the variety of ovarian response to COH and ART outcomes in patients with different PCOS phenotypes.

In vitro effect of myo-inositol on sperm motility in normal and oligoasthenospermia patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

It is a known fact that abnormal seminal liquid specimens contain abnormal amounts of oxygen free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and that the use of antioxidant molecules both in vivo and in vitro leads to improvement of semen quality in terms of motility, reduction in DNA damage, with obvious consequences on the fertilization potential. Myo-inositol has been observed to have anti-oxidant properties and be present in much greater concentrations specifically in seminal liquid than in the blood. Moreover, there seems to be a direct relationship between myo-inositol and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and sperm motility.

Different stimulation protocols for oocyte cryropreservation in oncological patients: a retrospective analysis of single university centre.

Objective: To analyze the results obtain in cancer patients who receive the same controlled ovarian stimulation protocol, started in two different moments of the menstrual cycle, follicular or luteal phase. The stimulation is performed before cancer treatment in order to preserve fertility through oocytes cryopreservation.

Study Design: The study is a retrospective analysis about 25 cancer patients at our centre, Department of Reproductive Medicine of University of Pisa, in order to preserve their fertility before cancer treatment.

Diurnal Variation of Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is strongly related to hormonal networks and is modulated by hypothalamic activity.

Objective: To evaluate plasma BDNF concentration in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), with reference to the BDNF circadian rhythm and its relation with the cortisol (F) rhythm, and to assess whether the duration of amenorrhea might influence the BDNF:F ratio in FHA.

Design: This was an observational study evaluating 36 amenorrheic and 30 eumenorrheic women.

Effect of estetrol on Beta-Endorphin level in female rats.

Introduction: Estetrol (E4), a naturally occurring estrogen produced exclusively by human fetal liver, is currently being evaluated for potential use in contraception and menopausal care in humans. The present study was designed to profile E4 effects on the central nervous system, to assess the in vivo effects of E4 administration on Beta-Endorphin (β-END) release in specific brain structures and to evaluate whether E4 has synergic or antagonistic effects on estradiol-mediated β-END synthesis.

Experimental: Intact female adult rats received different doses of E4 and ovariectomized (OVX) rats received different doses of E4 or E2V or combinations of both drugs.

Effect of estetrol administration on brain and serum allopregnanolone in intact and ovariectomized rats.

Introduction: Estetrol (E4), a naturally occurring estrogen only produced by the human fetal liver, is being evaluated in human studies for potential use in contraception and menopausal care. The present study was designed to profile E4 in the central nervous system, to assess the in vivo effects of E4 administration on allopregnanolone (AP) synthesis in specific brain structures and to evaluate whether E4 has synergic or antagonistic effects on estradiol-mediated AP synthesis.

Material And Methods: Intact female adult rats received different doses of E4, and ovariectomized OVX rats received different doses of E4 or E2V or combinations of both drugs.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels in patients with Turner syndrome.

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in neural development and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is known to circulate in plasma and its levels are strictly linked to the sex hormones.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the plasma BDNF concentration in patients with Turner syndrome (TS).

Advances in neurosteroids: role in clinical practice.

The steroidogenic endocrine glands and local synthesis both contribute to the pool of steroids present in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Although the synthesis of neurosteroids in the nervous system is now well established, the spectrum of respective functions in regulating neuronal and glial functions remains to be fully elucidated. From the concept of neurosteroids derives another treatment strategy: the use of pharmaceutical agents that increase the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids within the nervous system.

Decreased plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Introduction: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is a non organic, secondary amenorrhea related to gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile secretion impairment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family of survival-promoting molecules, plays an important role in the growth, development, maintenance and function of several neuronal systems.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was the evaluation of plasma BDNF concentrations in patients with the diagnosis of FHA.

Compensatory feto-placental upregulation of the nitric oxide system during fetal growth restriction.

Background: Fetal Growth Restriction is often associated with a feto-placental vascular dysfunction conceivably involving endothelial cells. Our study aimed to verify this pathogenic role for feto-placental endothelial cells and, coincidentally, demonstrate any abnormality in the nitric oxide system.

Methods: Prenatal assessment of feto-placental vascular function was combined with measurement of nitric oxide (in the form of S-nitrosohemoglobin) and its nitrite byproduct, and of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma and follicular fluid levels.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. Features of PCOS are hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries on ultrasonography. Follicle development is a complex and carefully orchestrated phenomenon, involving gonadotropins and a rapidly expanding list of other intraovarian regulators, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Effect of 1-year, low-dose DHEA therapy on climacteric symptoms and female sexuality.

Background: Sexual desire is affected by endocrine and psychosocial factors. Menopausal hormonal changes are relevant to the causes of sexual dysfunction during reproductive aging.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of different types of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) on sexual function, frequency of sexual intercourse, and quality of relationship in early postmenopausal women.

Estrogen-like effects of wine extracts on nitric oxide synthesis in human endothelial cells.

Endothelial dysfunction frequently ensues during the climacteric due to hormonal and metabolic changes. Non-pharmacological interventions such as lifestyle and dietary modifications are emerging as valuable strategies to counteract the cardiovascular consequences of ageing. A number of chemical components of wine, including alcohol and some polyphenols, are known to be active on the vessels.

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations in children and adolescents.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a mediator of neuronal plasticity influencing learning, memory and cognitive behavior. The aim of this study is to assess plasma BDNF variations according to pubertal status.

Methods: A total of 110 subjects were included in the study.

Female infertility related to thyroid autoimmunity: the ovarian follicle hypothesis.

Problem: The aim of this study was to verify whether anti-thyroid antibodies are present in the follicular milieu of euthyroid infertile women with thyroid autoimmunity undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and whether IVF outcome is different in affected women with respect to negative controls. A secondary endpoint was to check whether there are changes in thyroid hormone levels during the IVF cycle.

Method Of Study: Anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroperoxidase levels were measured in both follicular fluid and serum on the day of oocyte retrieval in women with thyroid autoimmunity.

Circulating levels of allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid, and leptin during treatment with valproic acid in children with epilepsy.

Weight gain is a well-known unwanted effect of valproic acid (VPA) therapy. Studies on VPA-associated changes of homeostatic hormones remain limited and controversial. Allopregnanolone (AP) is a circulating neuroactive steroid involved in modulation of behavioral activities whose serum levels are increased in obese children.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma variation during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a cluster of psychological and somatic symptoms that begin during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and disappear after the onset of menses. Since PMS might be caused by an alteration in the cyclical hormonal modifications and ovarian steroids are directly involved in the regulation of mood, affective and cognitive functions and influence neurotrophins expression, in particular the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we aimed to evaluate whether plasma BDNF levels in women with PMS differ from those of normally menstruating women without PMS. Sixty-two women were divided into two groups: one group of women (n=35) with PMS and one group (n=27) composed by normally menstruating women.

Metformin administration restores allopregnanolone response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation in overweight hyperinsulinemic patients with PCOS.

Objective: To investigate the adrenal response in terms of allopregnanolone secretion in a group of hyperinsulinemic patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Controlled clinical study.

Setting: Patients with PCOS in a clinical research environment.

Allopregnanolone levels decrease after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog stimulation test in girls with central precocious puberty.

Background: Allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid mainly secreted by adrenals and gonads, is a hormone that seems to play a role in precocious puberty, as demonstrated by its high baseline levels found in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). Allopregnanolone concentrations significantly increase after GnRH and ACTH stimulation test suggesting both its ovarian and adrenal production.

Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate allopregnanolone concentrations after GnRH and GnRH agonist analog stimulation test in girls with CPP to better establish its secretion source.

Paroxetine increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor in postmenopausal women.

Objective: Menopause is marked by a decline in ovarian function resulting in one or more climacteric symptoms. In the last few years, attention has been focused on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopausal transition. Thanks to the recent findings on the interaction between the serotoninergic system and neurotrophins, it has been suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could contribute to the activity of SSRIs.

Selective effect of chlormadinone acetate on brain allopregnanolone and opioids content.

Background: Synthetic progestins may have different biological actions depending on the target tissue, the dose administered or the coadministration of an estrogen molecule. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroendocrine effect of chlormadinone acetate (CMA) administration, analyzing the brain content of allopregnanolone (ALLO), an endogenous neurosteroid gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist with anxiolytic properties, and the brain level of beta-endorphin (beta-END), an endogenous opioid implicated in pain mechanism, emotional state and autonomic control.

Study Design: Seven groups of Wistar ovariectomized (OVX) rats received one of the following treatments: oral CMA at a dose of 0.

Daily variation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cortisol in women with normal menstrual cycles, undergoing oral contraception and in postmenopause.

Background: Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are associated with the hormonal status of women. Moreover, the suprachiasmatic nucleus appears to be implicated in the modulation of BDNF central levels. We aimed to investigate whether BDNF circadian rhythms exist in women and if there is a relationship with cortisol circadian rhythmicity.