Prostaglandin E regulates the plasminogen activator pathway in human endometrial endothelial cells: a new in vitro model to investigate heavy menstrual bleeding.

Objective: To study the role of PGE in regulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in human primary endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) from women with normal menstrual bleeding (NMB) and heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

Design: In vitro study using endometrial endothelial cells.

Setting: Research laboratory setting.

Novel Plasma Membrane Androgen Receptor SLC39A9 Mediates Ovulatory Changes in Cells of the Monkey Ovarian Follicle.

Follicular androgens are important for successful ovulation and fertilization. The classical nuclear androgen receptor (AR) is a transcription factor expressed in the cells of the ovarian follicle. Androgen actions can also occur via membrane androgen receptor SLC39A9.

Neurotensin modulates ovarian vascular permeability via adherens junctions.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a 13-amino acid peptide which is highly expressed in the mammalian ovary in response to the luteinizing hormone surge. Antibody neutralization of NTS in the ovulatory follicle of the cynomolgus macaque impairs ovulation and induces follicular vascular dysregulation, with excessive pooling of red blood cells in the follicle antrum. We hypothesize that NTS is an essential intrafollicular regulator of vascular permeability.

Neurotensin expression, regulation, and function during the ovulatory period in the mouse ovary†.

The luteinizing hormone (LH) surge induces paracrine mediators within the ovarian follicle that promote ovulation. The present study explores neurotensin (NTS), a neuropeptide, as a potential ovulatory mediator in the mouse ovary. Ovaries and granulosa cells (GCs) were collected from immature 23-day-old pregnant mare serum gonadotropin primed mice before (0 h) and after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; an LH analog) across the periovulatory period (4, 8, 12, and 24 h).

Luteinizing hormone receptor promotes angiogenesis in ovarian endothelial cells of Macaca fascicularis and Homo sapiens†.

Angiogenesis within the ovarian follicle is an important component of ovulation. New capillary growth is initiated by the ovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), and angiogenesis is well underway at the time of follicle rupture. LH-stimulated follicular production of vascular growth factors has been shown to promote new capillary formation in the ovulatory follicle.

Neurotensin: A novel mediator of ovulation?

The midcycle luteinizing hormone (LH) surge initiates a cascade of events within the ovarian follicle which culminates in ovulation. Only mural granulosa cells and theca cells express large numbers of LH receptors, and LH-stimulated paracrine mediators communicate the ovulatory signal within the follicle. Recent reports identified the neuropeptide neurotensin (NTS) as a product of granulosa cells.

Neurotensin: a neuropeptide induced by hCG in the human and rat ovary during the periovulatory period†.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a tridecapeptide that was first characterized as a neurotransmitter in neuronal cells. The present study examined ovarian NTS expression across the periovulatory period in the human and the rat. Women were recruited into this study and monitored by transvaginal ultrasound.

Granulosa cell proliferation is inhibited by PGE2 in the primate ovulatory follicle.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key paracrine mediator of ovulation. Few specific PGE2-regulated gene products have been identified, so we hypothesized that PGE2 may regulate the expression and/or activity of a network of proteins to promote ovulation. To test this concept, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to predict PGE2-regulated functionalities in the primate ovulatory follicle.

Neurotensin stimulates the sperm acrosome reaction and reduces percentages of fertilization in vitro.

Objective: To determine the impact of neurotensin (NTS), a naturally occurring peptide, on the function of human and nonhuman primate sperm.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: University-based research laboratory.

Progesterone Receptor Serves the Ovary as a Trigger of Ovulation and a Terminator of Inflammation.

Ovulation is triggered by the gonadotropin surge that induces the expression of two key genes, progesterone receptor (Pgr) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2), in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. Their gene products PGR and PTGS2 activate two separate pathways that are both essential for successful ovulation. Here, we show that the PGR plays an additional essential role: it attenuates ovulatory inflammation by diminishing the gonadotropin surge-induced Ptgs2 expression.

How complementary feeding in infants affects allergies, chronic disease, and neurodevelopment.

Recommendations for the timing and type of complementary foods to introduce to infants have recently changed. These changes are due to increased understanding of how these foods affect the development of food allergies, risk for obesity and other chronic diseases, and infant neurodevelopment. This article brings the current recommendations and recent research together and organizes them for clinicians in pediatrics to enable them to understand and convey this information to parents of infants.

Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) Promotes Follicular Angiogenesis, Luteinization, and Ovulation in Primates.

Angiogenesis is essential to both ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum. The thrombospondin (THBS) family of glycoproteins plays diverse roles in regulation of angiogenesis, but the role of these vascular regulators in ovulation and luteinization remain to be elucidated. Using the cynomolgus macaque as a model for human ovulation, we demonstrated that levels of THBS1 mRNA and protein in preovulatory follicle granulosa cells increased after the ovulatory gonadotropin surge, with peak levels just before the expected time of ovulation.

PAEA End of Rotation™ Exams Accurately Identify Students at Risk of Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam Failure.

Purpose: Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) End of Rotation™ exams are used by programs across the country. However, little information exists on the predictive ability of the exams' scale scores and Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate End of Rotation exam scores and their relationship with poor PANCE performance (PPP).

Ovulation: Parallels With Inflammatory Processes.

The midcycle surge of LH sets in motion interconnected networks of signaling cascades to bring about rupture of the follicle and release of the oocyte during ovulation. Many mediators of these LH-induced signaling cascades are associated with inflammation, leading to the postulate that ovulation is similar to an inflammatory response. First responders to the LH surge are granulosa and theca cells, which produce steroids, prostaglandins, chemokines, and cytokines, which are also mediators of inflammatory processes.

Ovulatory Induction of SCG2 in Human, Nonhuman Primate, and Rodent Granulosa Cells Stimulates Ovarian Angiogenesis.

The luteinizing hormone (LH) surge is essential for ovulation, but the intrafollicular factors induced by LH that mediate ovulatory processes (e.g., angiogenesis) are poorly understood, especially in women.

Placental Growth Factor Is Required for Ovulation, Luteinization, and Angiogenesis in Primate Ovulatory Follicles.

Placental growth factor (PGF) is member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of angiogenesis regulators. VEGFA is an established regulator of ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum. To determine whether PGF also mediates aspects of ovulation and luteinization, macaques received gonadotropins to stimulate multiple follicular development.

Vascular endothelial growth factors C and D may promote angiogenesis in the primate ovulatory follicle.

Angiogenesis in the ovary occurs rapidly as the ovarian follicle transforms into a mature corpus luteum. Granulosa cells produce vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in response to the ovulatory gonadotropin surge. VEGFA is established as a key mediator of angiogenesis in the primate ovulatory follicle.

Mapping PTGERs to the Ovulatory Follicle: Regional Responses to the Ovulatory PGE2 Signal.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key intrafollicular mediator of ovulation in many, if not all, mammalian species. PGE2 acts at follicular cells via four distinct PGE2 receptors (PTGERs). Within the ovulatory follicle, each cell type (e.

The Effect of a Summer Camp Intervention on the Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behavior of Adolescent Girls.

The purpose of this study was to design a rewards-based nutrition intervention program to improve knowledge and dietary behaviors of adolescent girls. Our participants consisted of eight girls ages 11 to 13 years. Nutritional knowledge was assessed before and after intervention program through a "Jeopardy" style quiz game and posttest questionnaires.

Prostaglandin E2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A mediate angiogenesis of human ovarian follicular endothelial cells.

Study Question: Which receptors for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) mediate angiogenesis in the human follicle around the time of ovulation?

Summary Answer: PGE2 and VEGFA act via multiple PGE2 receptors (PTGERs) and VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) to play complementary roles in follicular angiogenesis.

What Is Known Already: Production of PGE2 and VEGFA by the follicle are prerequisites for ovulation. PGE2 is an emerging regulator of angiogenesis and has not been examined in the context of the human ovulatory follicle.

Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1) Rapidly Inhibits Complement Activation after Intravascular Injection in Rats.

The complement system has been increasingly recognized to play a pivotal role in a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, therapeutic modulators of the classical, lectin and alternative pathways of the complement system are currently in pre-clinical and clinical development. Our laboratory has identified a peptide that specifically inhibits the classical and lectin pathways of complement and is referred to as Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1).

Novel contraceptive targets to inhibit ovulation: the prostaglandin E2 pathway.

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an essential intrafollicular regulator of ovulation. In contrast with the one-gene, one-protein concept for synthesis of peptide signaling molecules, production and metabolism of bioactive PGE2 requires controlled expression of many proteins, correct subcellular localization of enzymes, coordinated PGE2 synthesis and metabolism, and prostaglandin transport in and out of cells to facilitate PGE2 action and degradation. Elevated intrafollicular PGE2 is required for successful ovulation, so disruption of PGE2 synthesis, metabolism or transport may yield effective contraceptive strategies.

Estrogen promotes luteolysis by redistributing prostaglandin F2α receptors within primate luteal cells.

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) has been proposed as a functional luteolysin in primates. However, administration of PGF2α or prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors in vivo both initiate luteolysis. These contradictory findings may reflect changes in PGF2α receptors (PTGFRs) or responsiveness to PGF2α at a critical point during the life span of the corpus luteum.

Angiogenesis in the primate ovulatory follicle is stimulated by luteinizing hormone via prostaglandin E2.

Rapid angiogenesis occurs as the ovulatory follicle is transformed into the corpus luteum. To determine if luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) regulates angiogenesis in the ovulatory follicle, cynomolgus macaques received gonadotropins to stimulate multiple follicular development and chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) substituted for the LH surge to initiate ovulatory events. Before hCG, vascular endothelial cells were present in the perifollicular stroma but not amongst granulosa cells.

Ovarian membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases: induction of MMP14 and MMP16 during the periovulatory period in the rat, macaque, and human.

An intrafollicular increase in proteolytic activity drives ovulatory events. Surprisingly, the periovulatory expression profile of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs), unique proteases anchored to the cell surface, has not been extensively examined. Expression profiles of the MT-MMPs were investigated in ovarian tissue from well-characterized rat and macaque periovulatory models and naturally cycling women across the periovulatory period.