17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 improves survival in serous epithelial ovarian tumors.

The incidence of ovarian cancer has been epidemiologically related to female reproductive events and hormone replacement therapy after menopause. This highlights the importance of evaluating the role of sexual steroid hormones in ovarian cancer by the expression of enzymes related to steroid hormone biosynthesis in the tumor cells. This study was aimed to evaluate the presence of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD1), aromatase and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the tumor cells and their association with the overall survival in 111 patients diagnosed with primary ovarian tumors.

Simultaneous expression of steroid sulfatase and androgen receptor reduced overall survival of patients with epithelial ovarian tumors.

Background: Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage due to its early asymptomatic course and late-stage non-specific symptoms. This highlights the importance of researching the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian carcinogenesis as well as the discovery of novel prognostic markers that could help improve the survival outcome of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the steroid sulfatase (STS) in 154 samples of primary ovarian tumors.

Expression of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 is associated to the presence of androgen receptor in epithelial ovarian tumors.

Background: The current study evaluated the metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in epithelial cells and the surrounding stroma in ovarian tumors and the association of MMPs with the histological subtypes, the clinical stage and the presence of steroid hormone receptors. Tumor samples were obtained from 88 patients undergoing surgical cytoreduction of primary ovarian tumors in Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, from México City. The formalin fixed and paraffin embedded samples were processed in order to demonstrate the presence of androgen receptor,estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, MMP-2,MMP-9 and collagen IV by immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence.

Progesterone reduces cell survival in primary cultures of endometrioid ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies. The relationship between sexual steroids receptors and ovarian cancer progression has been largely evaluated. The presence of progesterone receptors has been associated with an increase of a disease-free period and overall survival in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Sexual steroid hormone receptors profiles of ovarian carcinoma in Mexican women.

The significance of the presence of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in ovarian cancer patient survival has been a matter of numerous studies. This study was aimed to describe the expression profile of the three sexual steroid receptors in high-grade serous, endometrioid, mucinous and low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and its association to the proliferation index in patients with primary ovarian carcinoma diagnosis, before any treatment. Eighty-one samples were obtained from the National Institute of Cancerology in Mexico City and were evaluated for the presence of AR, ER, PR and Ki67 by immunohistochemistry.

Androgen receptor is expressed in mouse cardiomyocytes at prenatal and early postnatal developmental stages.

Background: Previous studies show that androgens are involved in hypertrophy and excitability of cardiomyocytes and that their effects are mediated through their receptor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of androgen receptor (AR) in mouse heart during prenatal and early postnatal stages.

Results: The expression of AR and related genes, alpha myosin heavy chain -Myh6-, beta myosin heavy chain -Myh7- and atrial natriuretic factor -Nppa- was simultaneously evaluated by semiquantitative RT-PCR.

High levels of pretreatment CA125 are associated to improved survival in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

Background: Serum levels of CA125 measured before any treatment have been evaluated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) as a predictor of patient survival; however, results in survival index are controversial, as CA125 levels are influenced by several variables. Taking this into consideration, the present study evaluated the association of pretreatment levels of CA125 serum with the clinical stage, histology and differentiation grade of the tumor and the survival rate in a group of patients from an oncology referral center in Mexico, all of them diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma. This retrospective study consisted of 1009 patients with EOC, diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 at the National Cancerology Institute (Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-INCan), considering only those with CA125 measurements before any chemotherapy or surgical cytoreduction.

Estrogen and androgen receptor expression in surface epithelium and inclusion cyst in the ovary of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Background: The importance of surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts in the ovary arises from studies demonstrating that these structures are susceptible to epithelial ovarian cancer development. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), androgen receptor (AR), in epithelial cells of the ovary from premenopausal and postmenopausal women is interesting because sexual steroid hormones are involved in cell growth and differentiation.

Methods: The presence of ER alpha, AR, and the orphan G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in ovaries obtained from 79 pre and postmenopausal patients, undergoing histero-salpingo-oophorectomy for proliferative gynecological diseases.

Transforming growth factor β mRNA and protein expression in the ovary of the chicken embryo.

The expression pattern of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) isoforms in chicken embryo gonads was studied at 6-10 days of incubation. TGFβ2 mRNA was expressed predominantly in the cortex of the left ovary from day 8 of incubation onwards. TGFβ3 mRNA was not detected at any of the stages studied.

Local expression and distribution of growth hormone and growth hormone receptor in the chicken ovary: effects of GH on steroidogenesis in cultured follicular granulosa cells.

Preovulatory follicular development (PFD) is mainly regulated by gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and steroids, although other intraovarian factors are also involved. We analyzed the local expression of growth hormone (GH) in the hen ovary and the role that this hormone may play on the regulation of steroidogenesis in granulosa cells (GCs). Ovarian follicles from sexually mature hens were studied at different developmental stages.

Gonadotropins regulate cadherin expression in the ovary of the chicken embryo (Gallus gallus).

Cadherins are adhesion molecules that play a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis. Studies on N-cadherin and E-cadherin in the ovary of fetal hamster suggest that these adhesion molecules are involved in primordial follicle formation. In chicken embryo, present results demonstrate that N-cadherin is located on the surface epithelium and in the cortical cords of the ovary.

Analysis of different cell death processes of prepubertal rat oocytes in vitro.

The processes of cell death were studied in vitro in populations of oocytes isolated from prepubertal rats. In order to identify apoptosis, the externalized phosphatidylserine was recognized with Annexin-V coupled to FITC and the fragmentation of DNA was demonstrated by means of electrophoresis. Oocytes were tested for autophagy by means of the incorporation of monodansylcadaverine and monitoring Lc3-I/Lc3-II by western blot.

Androgen receptor in the neural tube of the mouse and chicken embryo.

Androgen effects, mediated by the androgen receptor, regulate important cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The presence of androgen receptor has been described in structures of the central nervous system, mainly in advanced fetuses, newborns, and adult animals. This study describes the presence and location of androgen receptor in early developmental stages of the nervous system.

Follicle-stimulating hormone treatment reverses the effect of hypophysectomy on cell proliferation in the chicken embryo ovary.

The present study evaluated the effect of FSH treatment on ovarian cell proliferation in the hypophysectomized chicken embryo. Hypophysectomy (Hx) was performed by the partial decapitation technique. Two series of experiments were performed: (a) Hx embryos were treated at 8 days of development with recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) and evaluated at 9 days by measuring BrdU incorporation; (b) Hx embryos were injected with rhFSH and rhCG at 9 days of development and the proliferation rate was measured at 13 days.

Transforming growth factor beta inhibits proliferation of somatic cells without influencing germ cell number in the chicken embryonic ovary.

The gonadal development of chicken embryo is regulated by hormones and growth factors. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) isoforms may play a critical role in the regulation of growth in chicken gonads. We have investigated the effect of the TGF-beta isoforms on the number of germ and somatic cells in the ovary of the chicken embryo.

Heterogeneity of growth hormone immunoreactivity in lymphoid tissues and changes during ontogeny in domestic fowl.

Growth hormone (GH) expression is not confined to the pituitary and occurs in many extrapituitary tissues. Here, we describe the presence of GH-like moieties in chicken lymphoid tissues and particularly in the bursa of Fabricius. GH-immunoreactivity (GH-IR), determined by ELISA, was found in thymus, spleen, and in bursa of young chickens, but at concentrations <1% of those in the pituitary gland.

Adenohypophysis regulates cell proliferation in the gonads of the developing chick embryo.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of hypophysectomy on cell proliferation in the left ovary and the left testis of 8- to 14-day-old chick embryos. Hypophysectomy was performed by the partial decapitation technique. At 44-46 h of incubation, chick embryo heads were sectioned at the mesencephalic level and the prosencephalic region removed.

Follicle-stimulating hormone increases cell proliferation in the ovary and the testis of the chick embryo.

Previous studies have demonstrated that FSH stimulates cell proliferation in the ovary and the testis of the chick embryo. This study analyzed the presence of FSH receptor and the cell subpopulations that proliferate in response to FSH in chick embryo gonads. FSH receptor mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the male and female gonads of the 6 to 14-day-old chick embryo.

Follicle-stimulating hormone regulates steroidogenic enzymes in cultured cells of the chick embryo ovary.

This investigation addresses the potential regulation of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones during early stages of gonadal development by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Gonadal cells of 10-day-old chick embryo and cells of the left ovary of 18-day-old chick embryo were cultured for 60 h in a defined medium with or without the addition of FSH (2.0 IU/ml).

The P450 aromatase (P450 arom) gene is asymmetrically expressed in a critical period for gonadal sexual differentiation in the chick.

Steroid hormones appear to play an important role in gonadal sex differentiation of birds. Here we studied the steady-state level of the P450 arom mRNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the left and the right presumptive ovary and testis of developing chicken embryos. The gonads were evaluated every hour during the undifferentiated period, at 144-156 h of incubation (h/i), and every 24 h after sexual differentiation at 168 and 192 h/i.

Proliferative and steroidogenic effects of follicle-stimulating hormone during chick embryo gonadal development.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) on cellular proliferation and steroid hormone secretion in the left ovary, the right ovary, and the testis of the chick embryo. Gonads from 8- to 18-day-old chick embryo were cultured in a defined medium during 60 h under basal and hFSH-stimulated conditions (0.5 IU/ml of culture medium).

Evidence for estrogen receptor expression in germ cell and somatic cell subpopulations in the ovary of the newly hatched chicken.

Estrogens are involved in the gonadal morphogenesis of vertebrates, and almost all hormonal effects of 17beta-estradiol are mediated through specific receptors. At the time of sexual differentiation in the chicken, or even before, there is evidence of the presence of estrogen receptors and the secretion of 17beta-estradiol. However, no information is available regarding the cellular types that express the estrogen receptor in the immature chick ovary.

[Physiopathologic bases for preeclampsia: a hypothesis].

Preeclampsia represents the main medical complication of pregnancy and one of the most important causes of maternal mortality around the world. At this time, the etiology of the illness is unidentified and there is not sure predictors for early identification. The objective of this article was to provide an integrative hypotheses that suggests the possibility of to relate an increment of placental lactogen, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and risk of preeclampsia.

Steroid metabolism in granulosa and theca interna cells from preovulatory follicles of domestic hen (Gallus domesticus).

The capability of granulosa and theca interna cells, from preovulatory follicles of the domestic hen, to metabolize steroid precursors was evaluated. Granulosa and theca interna cells were isolated from ovarian preovulatory follicles at three different developmental stages: F1, F3 and F5. Tritiated pregnenolone (P5), progesterone (P4), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T) were employed as precursors and their metabolic products were evaluated.

Follicle stimulating hormone increases somatic and germ cell number in the ovary during chick embryo development.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) on cellular proliferation in the chick embryo ovary. Chick embryos (Babcock B300) were injected on chorioallantoic membrane with a single dose of hFSH (2.0 IU/ embryo) at Days 7, 9, or 13 of incubation or with hCG (2.