An inhibitor of 11-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (PF915275) alleviates nonylphenol-induced hyperadrenalism and adiposity in rat and human cells.

Background: Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) detected in human cord blood and milk. NP exposure in developmental periods results in hyperadrenalism and increasing 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase I (11β-HSD1) activity in an adult rat model. Alleviating 11β-HSD1 activity is therefore a logical and common way to treat hyperadrenalism.

Enhanced Inflammatory Transcriptome in the Granulosa Cells of Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Context: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive-aged women, is associated with systemic low-grade inflammation.

Objective: We propose that increased or altered intrafollicular inflammatory reactions also occur in periovulatory follicles of PCOS patients.

Design: Gene profiling and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses in granulosa-lutein cells (GCs) collected from PCOS and non-PCOS women undergoing in vitro fertilization were compared with serum and follicular fluid (FF) levels of cytokines and chemokines.

Nonylphenol-induced hyperadrenalism can be reversed/alleviated by inhibiting of 11-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.

We previously observed that nonylphenol (NP) exposure during development resulted in increases in body weight and hyperadrenalism in adult male offspring. The mechanism of hyperadrenalism includes the primary activation of the adrenal gland and the conversion of inactive glucocorticoids to active glucocorticoids by 11β-HSD1. The inhibition of 11β-HSD1 is investigated as a new therapeutic approach.

Recovery from developmental nonylphenol exposure is possible for female rats.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been detected in human cord blood and milk. Developmental exposure to NP is unavoidable and can lead to hyperadrenalism, a syndrome that resembles Cushing's disease and has a life-long impact on the affected individual. In this study, we investigated the recovery of female rats from developmental exposure to NP and the effects of such exposure on future generations.

In utero and neonate exposure to nonylphenol develops hyperadrenalism and metabolic syndrome later in life. I. First generation rats (F(1)).

Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine disruptor (ENDR). It is a chemical associated with the production and degradation of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE). NPE is widely used as nonionic surfactants.

Effects of nonylphenol on aldosterone release from rat zona glomerulosa cells.

Alkylphenol ethoxylate, which consists of approximately 80% nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE), is a major nonionic surfactant. Nonylphenol (NP), the primary degradation product of NPE, has been reported to interfere with reproduction in fish, reptiles, and mammals by inducing cell death in the gonads and by affecting other reproductive parameters. However, the effects of NP on rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells (ZG) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Reprogramming of human somatic cells using human and animal oocytes.

There is renewed interest in using animal oocytes to reprogram human somatic cells. Here we compare the reprogramming of human somatic nuclei using oocytes obtained from animal and human sources. Comparative analysis of gene expression in morula-stage embryos was carried out using single-embryo transcriptome amplification and global gene expression analyses.

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on aldosterone release in rat zona glomerulosa cells.

The present study was to investigate the effects and action mechanisms of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on steroidogenesis in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells (ZG). ZG cells were incubated with DHEA in the presence or absence of angiotensin II (AngII), a high concentration of potassium, 8-Br-cAMP, forskolin, 25-OH-cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, A23187, or cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) at 37 degrees C for 1 h. The concentration of aldosterone or pregnenolone in the culture medium was then measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

Mechanisms of inhibition of dehydroepiandrosterone upon corticosterone release from rat zona fasciculata-reticularis cells.

We have demonstrated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) acts directly on rat zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZFR) cells to diminish corticosterone secretion by an inhibition of post-cAMP pathway, and decreases functions of steroidogenic enzymes after P450(scc) as well as steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression. However, the mechanisms by which DHEA engages with environmental messenger signals which translate into interfering StAR protein expression are still unclear. This study explored the effects of DHEA on the phosphorylation/activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs).

Prostacyclin receptor signaling and early embryo development in the mouse.

Background: Prostacyclin (PGI(2)) plays an important role in mouse embryo development and implantation. However, it is unclear whether its action is mediated via the I prostaglandin receptor (IP).

Methods: We compared the preimplantation development of IP deleted (IP-/-) embryos and wild-type (WT) embryos.

Effects of S-petasin on cyclic AMP production and enzyme activity of P450scc in rat zona fasciculata-reticularis cells.

Petasites hybridus is used in Chinese herbal medicine. S-petasin is a bioactive compound isolated from leaves or roots of P. hybridus, which has been used to relieve gastrointestinal pain, lung disease, and spasms of urogenital tract.

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on corticosterone release in rat zona fasciculata-reticularis cells.

The decline of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and maintenance of glucocorticoid levels with increasing age contribute to excess body fat accumulation, hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and cancer. Although opposing actions of DHEA and corticosterone have been proposed in a rat model, the effects and action mechanisms of DHEA on rat adrenal zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZFR) cells are still unclear. This study addressed the effects of DHEA on corticosterone release, cellular cAMP production, the functions of steroidogenic enzymes and the expression levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc).

Effects of S-petasin on corticosterone release in rats.

Petasites hybridus is used in Chinese herbal medicine. S-petasin is a bioactive compound isolated from leaves or roots of Petasites hybridus. S-petasin has been used to relieve gastrointestinal pain, lung disease, and spasms of the urogenital tract.

Effects of fasting on corticosterone production by zona fasciculata-reticularis cells in ovariectomized rats.

Background: To investigate the function and mechanism of fasting on the production of corticosterone in vitro by zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZFR) cells from ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Methods: Female rats were OVX for 4 days before decapitation. Rats were fed or fasted for 1 day before experiment.