FLOW CYTOMETRIC DETECTION OF SUBHAPLOID NUCLEI IN HUMAN SPERM AS A MEASURE OF DNA FRAGMENTATION AND APOPTOSIS.

The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is increasing worldwide. In order to predict the rate of pregnancy after ART the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of ejaculated spermatocytes may be a better marker than conventional semen quality parameters. Spermatocytes with fragmented DNA are associated with apoptotic stages and are characterized by a low DNA content.

Anti-Mullerian hormone confirms the novel classification of female functional androgenization including polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Functional androgenization (FA) can be divided into five groups corresponding to the predominant organ pathology as recently shown by our group: functional cutaneous androgenization (FCA, skin) and FA syndrome (FAS) I (ovary, lean individual), II (adrenal gland), III (ovary, fat tissue, pancreas, and hyperinsulinemia), and IV (residual FA dysfunctions). Group-specific clusters are based on primary variables such as LH, testosterone, DHEAS, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), body mass index (BMI), glucose, insulin, and enlarged polyfollicular ovaries. Because anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) positively correlates with the antral follicle count, its relevance as an additional primary variable for classifying FA was investigated.

Transient remnant removal disease in acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Objective: To elucidate the potential role of an altered lipid metabolism in the pathophysiology of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP).

Case Report: We report on two otherwise healthy women in the 34th gestational week who presented with symptoms of AFLP. Besides characteristic symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, highly elevated serum amino transferase levels, and increased creatinine concentrations, the patients' clotting system showed consumption and/or decreased synthesis of coagulation factors.

Expression patterns of CRH, CRH receptors, and CRH binding protein in human gestational tissue at term.

Recent research suggests a significant role for placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in controlling human parturition. This paper describes the expression of CRH, CRH receptors 1 and 2, and CRH binding protein (CRH-BP) in gestational tissue in late pregnancy. Placenta, myometrium, decidua, and fetal membranes were collected after uncomplicated pregnancies at term caesarian section before the onset of labour.

Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are associated with hypertension in preeclampsia.

Disorders of the lipoprotein metabolism are a major cause of endothelial dysfunction that may result in hypertension and proteinuria, clinical hallmarks of preeclampsia (PE). Lipoproteins and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions were investigated in 15 women with severe PE and compared with 23 women with a normal course of pregnancy. Compared with normal pregnancy, in PE apolipoprotein (apo)B in very low-density lipoprotein was increased by 76% (P = 0.

Effects of nitric oxide donors on the contractility and prostaglandin synthesis of myometrial strips from pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent relaxant of smooth muscle and possibly plays a role in maintaining uterine quiescence during pregnancy. Clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of the stable NO donor glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) for the inhibition of pathological myometrial contractility that occurs in preterm labor or dysmenorrhea. Since there are contradictory results regarding the mediation of the relaxing effect of NO, the myometrial prostaglandin synthesis during superfusion with NO donors was studied.

Formation of proinflammatory cytokines in human term myometrium is stimulated by lipopolysaccharide but not by corticotropin-releasing hormone.

Human term myometrium is poorly characterized as a source of proinflammatory mediators involved in parturition. We have investigated the basal expression of cytokines in myometrium, as well as the effects of CRH and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on cytokine release. Explants from term myometrium were challenged with CRH or LPS (1 microg/mL each) in short-term tissue culture.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions during pregnancy: accumulation of buoyant LDL with advancing gestation.

Pregnancy is accompanied by changes in the maternal lipoprotein metabolism that may serve to satisfy the nutritional demands of the fetus. In this study lipoprotein metabolism was investigated in 23 women during normal pregnancy in the first, second, and third trimesters and in 15 healthy nonpregnant women with regular menstrual cycles. Lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations were measured in total plasma, very low density, intermediate density, low density (LDL), and high density lipoproteins, and in each of six LDL subfractions.

Altered lipid metabolism in preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome: links to enhanced platelet reactivity and fetal growth.

Normal pregnancy is a physiological condition of balanced hypercoagulability. However, in preeclamptic pregnancies, the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades are highly activated, accompanied by pathological blood rheology and endothelial dysfunction. This may result in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in human placenta and placental bed after normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

In pre-eclampsia, the ratio of prostacyclin:thromboxane production rate is decreased favouring the vasoconstrictive thromboxane. One of the rate-limiting steps in prostaglandin synthesis is cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Therefore, we investigated the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in human placenta and placental bed.

Isolation of macrophages (Hofbauer cells) from human term placenta and their prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane production.

Placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells) are located close to trophoblast cells and fetal capillaries, which makes them ideal candidates for involvement in regulatory processes within the villous core. Their production of various cytokines and prostaglandin (PG) synthesizing enzymes has previously been shown immunohistochemically. Hofbauer cells were isolated from human placenta after term deliveries by Ficoll and Percoll gradient centrifugation.

Distribution of the A and B forms of the progesterone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid and protein in uterine leiomyomata and adjacent myometrium.

The two forms of the progesterone receptor, PR-A and PR-B, are independently regulated at the transcriptional level, and show distinct responses to progesterone antagonists. We were interested in possible differences in the PR-A to PR-B ratio between uterine myometrium and leiomyomata (fibroid), that might influence the response of fibroids to progesterone agonists and antagonists, and thus have consequences for the treatment of this condition. Fibroid and adjacent normal myometrium were obtained from 11 women undergoing hysterectomy.

Expression of prostacyclin and thromboxane synthases in placenta and placental bed after pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

Prostacyclin and thromboxane are potent antagonistic regulators of vascular tone and platelet aggregation. In pre-eclampsia, the ratio of their metabolites is decreased. Little is known about the local regulation of intrauterine prostacyclin and thromboxane production in this condition.

Arachidonate metabolism in human placenta, fetal membranes, decidua and myometrium: lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 metabolites as main products in HPLC profiles.

Eicosanoids play a key role in pregnancy maintenance and parturition. We investigated the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) in short-term tissue cultures of placenta, fetal membranes, decidua and myometrium. Tissues were obtained from caesarean sections before the onset of labour after uncomplicated pregnancies.

[Prostaglandins and labor onset].

Prostaglandins and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (Eicosanoids) are crucial paracrine regulators of labor. There are many informations about in vitro production and the physiological or pathophysiological role and clinical importance of these substances. However, the all decisive mechanism of the involvement of eicosanoids in birth process is still unknown.

Eicosanoid production by frozen tissue in vitro is markedly changed.

The influence of storing deep frozen human tissue specimens on their eicosanoid production in tissue culture was evaluated. Pieces of placenta and fetal membranes (n = 6) were divided and part processed immediately after obtaining the tissues, part after being kept at -20 degrees C for some days. Eicosanoid production was studied in tissue culture with incubation in oxygenated Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at 37 degrees C for 1 h.

Immunohistochemical localization of thromboxane synthase in human intrauterine tissues.

Uterine tissues are known to be able to synthesize thromboxane A2 (TXA2), but there is little information about the nature of cells actually responsible for its production. In this study human placenta, fetal membranes, umbilical cord and pregnant myometrium were investigated immunohistochemically. The avidin-biotin method for a monoclonal antibody against human thromboxane synthase (Tü 300) was applied on frozen tissue sections.

Eicosanoid production by intrauterine tissues before and after labor in short-term tissue culture.

Prostanoid production by intrauterine tissues from pregnant and non-pregnant women has been studied intensively over the last decade. Little is known about the lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA). The production of prostaglandins and HETEs by pregnancy specific human tissues was investigated in a short-term culture system.

The role of eicosanoids in reproduction.

The central role of eicosanoids in reproduction was studied in areas of important clinical interest. First, their involvement in pregnancy-induced hypertension was investigated. Urine of normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women was analysed for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TXB2 and PGE2 by HPLC/RIA.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The role of eicosanoids.

Pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders are always extremely hazardous for mother and child. In up to 30% of pregnant women this disease is characterized by feto-maternal dysfunction, looking like a kind of "chronic anaphylactoid reaction". As a result of defective genetic control, immunologic events seem to be the central etiologic aspect.