Expression of nucleophosmin in glandular epithelium of non-pregnant human endometrium during the menstrual cycle / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Nucleophosmin plays a critical role in embryonic development. This study aimed to examine the expression pattern of nucleophosmin in glandular epithelium of human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Endometrial tissues used for this study were obtained from 46 non-pregnant patients who underwent hysterectomy which had been performed to treat benign diseases. Nucleophosmin expression was assessed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the early-, mid- and late-proliferative phase, nucleophosmin mRNA was highly expressed in glandular epithelium of human endometrium. At the secretory phase, the expression of nucleophosmin mRNA was reduced in glandular epithelium in early-secretory phase, and the expression in mid- and late-secretory phases was not detected. Similarly, nucleophosmin protein was strongly expressed in endometrial glands throughout the proliferative phase, but was gradually reduced during secretory phase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nucleophosmin mRNA and protein are expressed in glandular epithelium of human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.</p>

Effect of zuoguiyin on the expression of ovarian follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in rats during peri-menopausal period / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect and mechanism of Zuoguiyin (ZGY, a Chinese medical remedy for regulating qi and nourishing yin) on expression of ovarian follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in rats during peri-menopausal period (PMP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PMP rats were administered with low (13.78 g/kg), middle (20.67 g/kg) and high (31.00 g/kg) dose ZGY respectively by gastrogavage for eight weeks. FSHR mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Besides, granulosa cells, collected from pregnant mare serum treated nonage rats, were incubated, and the level of FSHR mRNA expression in the cultured cells were detected after various disposals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Ovarian levels of FSHR mRNA and protein expressions in PMP rats were significantly lower than those in young rats (P<0.01), but were up-regulated significantly by ZGY treatment (P<0.01). (2) As compared with the control, FSHR mRNA expression increased in cultured granulosa cells after treated by ZGY extract; the increasing effect of ZGY was enhanced by combined treatment with Forskolin and attenuated by Genistein (a tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZGY could improve the ovarian functions during PMP by up-regulating the expression of FSHR and raise the ovarian responsibility to FSH, which may be possibly realized by activating cAMP-protein kinase and tyrosine protein kinase signal pathway.</p>

The expression of a novel estrogen receptor, GPR30, in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and its correlation with MMP-9 / 生理学报

The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of a novel estrogen receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Ovary tissues were obtained from 39 female patients, including 30 cases of EOC and 9 cases of benign ovarian tumor. Four normal ovary tissues were used as control. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of GPR30 and MMP-9. Chi square test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that GPR30 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than those in benign ovarian tumor and normal ovary cases. Whereas MMP-9 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than that in normal ovary cases, without any difference to that in benign ovarian tumor cases. To demonstrate the relationship between GPR30 and clinicopathological variables of EOC, we further analyzed the pathology type, FIGO stage and age of patients sampled in our study. The analysis showed there were significant differences of GPR30 overexpression rate among various pathology types and different FIGO stages (P<0.05), and no significant difference of both GPR30 and MMP-9 among three age groups (P>0.05). Moreover, GPR30 expression was positively correlated with MMP-9 (r(s)=1.000, P=0.002). These results suggest that GPR30 may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of EOC, being a potential index of EOC early diagnosis and malignancy grade prediction.

Effects of yikunning on the expressions of bcl-2 and bax in rat ovaries during perimenopausal period / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Yikunning (YKN, Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the expressions of bcl-2 and bax in rat ovaries during perimenopausal period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty female Wistar rats during perimenopausal period were selected by unforced aging. Then the rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: YKN group, Livial control group and Aged control group. Ten young female Wistar rats were selected as young control group. Intragastric administrations were conducted for 4 weeks once daily continuously. The expressions of Bcl-2 Bax mRNAs and proteins in rat ovaries were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of Bcl-2, Bax mRNAs and proteins in rat ovaries in YKN group were higher than those in Aged control group, which showed differences among them (P < 0.01). The Bcl-2/Bax mRNA rate and protein rate in rat ovaries in YKN group were higher than those in Aged control group, which showed differences among them (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YKN could increase the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax mRNAs and proteins and up-regulate the Bcl-2/Bax mRNA rate, protein rate in rat ovaries during perimenopausal period, which might be one of the molecular mechanisms of YKN postponed the ovarian failure and cured perimenopausal syndrome.</p>

Effects of Yikunning on the apoptotic rate and expression of caspase-3 in rat ovaries during perimenopausal period / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Yikunning (compound of Chinese traditional Medicine, YKN) on the apoptotic rate and expression of caspase-3 in rat ovaries during perimenopausal period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty female Wistar rats during perimenopausal period were selected by unforced aging. Then the rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: YKN group, livial control group and aged control group. Ten young female rats were selected as young control group. Intragastric administrations were conducted for 4 weeks once daily continuously. The apoptotic rate in rat ovaries were detected by TUNEL. The expression of caspase-3 mRNA and protein in rat ovaries were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptotic rate in rat ovaries in YKN group was lower than that in aged control group, which showed difference between them (P < 0.01). The levels of caspase-3 mRNA and protein in rat ovaries in YKN group were lower than those in aged control group, which showed differences among them (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YKN can decrease the apoptotic rate and down-regulate the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and protein in rat ovaries of during perimenopausal period. It may be one of the molecular mechanisms of YKN postponed the ovarian failure and cured perimenopausal syndrome.</p>

Role of platelet-activating factor in progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rat luteal cells / 生理学报

The present study aimed to investigate the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rat luteal cells. Immature (25-28 days old) female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with 50 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), and 25 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 48 h later, to induce follicular development and luteum formation. On day 6 after hCG administration (the day of hCG administration was the first day), the rats were killed by guillotine and the ovarian luteal cells were collected. After incubation for 24 h, luteal cells were incubated without or with different doses (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL) of PAF at 37 °C (5% CO(2)) for 24 h, and then progesterone concentration was evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA); apoptotic rate and VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells were assessed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively. The results showed that PAF promoted progesterone production, with a maximal effect at 1 μg/mL (P<0.05); PAF increased apoptotic rate but not in a dose-dependent manner, and 10 μg/mL PAF enhanced apoptotic rate significantly (P<0.05); furthermore, PAF stimulated VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells, especially at 1 μg/mL (P<0.01). It is suggested that PAF regulates progesterone synthesis and VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells to mediate corpus luteum formation in rat ovary.

Effects of soy isoflavones on the expression of Bax mRNA and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in ovaries of perimenopause rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effects of soy isoflavones (SI) on the expression of Bax mRNA and Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries of perimenopause rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The animal model of perimenopause rats was established by unforced aging. 12 month-old presenilins female Wistar rats were administered by intragastric (ig) with low (500 mg/kg), middle (158 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) does of SI for 8 weeks. The expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries were detected by RT-PCR. Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and MDA content and SOD activity in serum were detected by chemi-chromatometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intervention of SI could significantly decrease the expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries and MDA content in serum, increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and SOD activity in serum of presenilins rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Soy isoflavones could down-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA and increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in aged ovaries. It is probably one of the mechanisms to improve the function of aged ovaries in perimenopause rats.</p>