Publications by authors named "P Vazakidou"
Article Synopsis
- * In studies using Sprague-Dawley rats, KTZ exposure showed a dose-dependent increase in corticosterone levels, whereas DES did not affect circulating steroid hormone levels across different ages.
- * The findings indicate that circulating steroid hormone profiles may not be adequate for detecting EDC-induced toxicity, suggesting a need for further research to enhance existing steroidogenesis assays for better regulatory use.
Ketoconazole (KTZ) is widely used as a fungicide, but it is also known to target steroid hormone formation which may affect female reproductive health. Our study aims to investigate the effects of KTZ on in vitro matured bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), as a model for female reproductive toxicity. Cumulus cells of in vitro maturing COCs produce progesterone and pregnenolone, but exposure to 10 M KTZ effectively blocked the synthesis of these hormones.
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- The study investigates how exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals affects women's reproductive health by analyzing steroid hormone production (steroidogenesis) in human ovaries across different life stages, including fetal and adult periods.
- A specialized LC-MS/MS method was used to measure levels of 21 steroid hormones in ovarian cultures and follicular fluid, revealing significant differences in hormone profiles between fetal and adult ovaries.
- Findings indicate unique hormone biosynthesis pathways in both fetal and adult tissues, with distinct clusters showing different hormone levels, highlighting the reproductive hormonal dynamics crucial for understanding fertility and development.
Article Synopsis
- There is a lack of comprehensive data on steroid hormones in rat models, especially during early development and in unconventional matrices like the liver.
- The researchers developed a new method using enzymatic solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure 23 steroid hormones in liver and plasma from both adult and neonatal rats.
- Their optimized protocol, featuring a recombinant enzyme mix, allows for efficient sample processing and sensitivity in detecting steroid hormones, providing new reference intervals and enhancing understanding of hormone dynamics in early developmental stages.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are raising concerns about adverse effects on fertility in women. However, there is a lack of information regarding mechanisms and effects in humans. Our study aims to identify mechanisms of endocrine disruption using two EDCs, diethylstilbestrol (DES) and ketoconazole (KTZ).
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