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Objective To explore the effect of melatonin ( MLT) on the initiation of puberty in female mice and on the expression level of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases ( PI3K)/protein kinase B ( Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the frypothalamus. Methods Seventy-eight 20-day-old female KM mice were randomly divided into melatonin (MLT) group and normal saline (NS) group, with 39 mice in each group. Starting at 22 days of age, the MLT group was given a subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg melatonin and the NS group was given an equal volume of saline. Thirty-two days of age were selected as the sampling point before puberty initiation and 13 mice were executed in each of the two groups, while 37 and 42 days of age were selected as the sampling point after puberty initiation and 13 mice were executed in each of the two groups. Observation of vaginal opening time in mice, weighing of ovaries and uterus to calculate organ indices. HE staining to observe the number of ovarian corpora lutea. The levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH)were determined by ELISA. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in frypothalamus were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results Compared with the normal saline group, mice in the melatonin group had significantly delayed vaginal opening time ( P < 0. 05 ) , decreased significantly ovarian and uterine volume and index (P<0. 05) , decreased significantly serum LH levels (P<0. 05) , and decreased significantly mRNA and protein expression levels of the frypothalamic PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway (P<0. 05). Conclusion Melatonin delays puberty initiation in mice by a mechanism that ma)' be related to inhibition of the hypothalamic PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway.
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Objective@#To investigate the effect of long-term deep slow-wave sleep deprivation on the gonad axis, sperm abnormality rate, and structure of the testis in male rats and possible mechanisms.@*Methods@#A total of 30 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats aged 5 weeks were randomly divided into slow-wave sleep deprivation group 1 (SD1 group) , slow-wave sleep and sleep time deprivation group 2 (SD2 group) , and control group, with 10 rats in each group. The flower pot method was used to establish a model of sleep deprivation. In addition to 12-hour sleep deprivation at night, the rats in the SD1 group were given interference once every 24 minutes, and those in the SD2 group were deprived of sleep for 8 minutes every 24 minutes; the rats in the control group were given 12-hour light illumination and then placed in dark environment for 12 hours. All rats were sacrificed by exsanguination from the femoral artery, and the testis, the epididymis, and blood were collected for analysis. Sperm abnormality rate and sperm motility rate were measured, and cauda epididymal sperm counting was performed. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of testosterone (T) , follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , and luteinizing hormone (LH) .@*Results@#Compared with the control group, the SD2 group had a significant increase in organ coefficient of the epididymis (P<0.05) and a significant reduction in sperm motility rate (P<0.05) . There were significant differences between the SD1 group and the SD2 group in the increase in sperm abnormality rate (P<0.05) and the reduction in cauda epididymal sperm count (P<0.05) . The levels of FSH and T tended to increase, and the level of LH tended to decrease. Pathological examination showed degeneration and vacuolization of a small amount of spermatogenic cells in the SD1 group; in the SD2 group, there were significant degeneration, edema, and vacuolization of most spermatogenic cells, some spermatogenic cells were observed in the lumen, and there were no sperms in the lumen.@*Conclusion@#Long-term deep slow-wave sleep deprivation impairs the structure of the testis, affects sperm motility rate and sex hormones, and increases the risk of sperm abnormality.
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Objective The purpose of this study was to construct a rat model of luteal phase defect ( LPD) with mifepristone ( RU486 ) and investigate the improving effect of Bushen Zhuyun Recipe ( BZR ) on the gonad axis morphology of the LPD rat . Meth ods We established rat models of LPD by giving RU486 at 1 mL/100 g followed by treatment with BZR at 0.4 (medium dose) or 1.2 mL/100g ( high dose ) .Then we observed the changes of morphology of the hypothalamus pituitary ovary uterus . Results Electron microscopy revealed hypothalamic mitochondria vacuolization , degranulation of rough endoplasmic reticulum , dissolved nuclear membrane , and decreased secretory granules , while light microscopy exhibited slightly reduced density of pituitary cells , karyopyknosis of some of the cells ,and cytoplasmic vacuolization in the model rats .Electron microscopy also showed obvious shrinkage of cell nuclei , chromatin condensation , disordered cell arrangement , swelling mitochondrial cavity , and formation of vacuoles in the pituitary anterior lobe, while light microscopy also manifested increased ovarian follicular atresia , reduced granule cell layers and corpora lutea , thinned endometrial layers , decreased uterine glands of the tube wall , reduced glandular cavity , and increased interstitial collagen fibers .After BZR treatment, the number and volume of corpora lutea were increased , the granulosa cell layer and endometrial layer thickened , the number of uterine glands increased , and the gland cavity expanded . Conclusion The axes of the hypothalamus , pituitary, uterus,and o -varian were morphologically changed in the RU 486-induced rat models of LPD, while BZR could improve these changes .
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From ancient times to the present,acupuncture has made tremendous contributions to women' s reproductive health.Based on traditional Chinese medicine of kidney-menstruation-Chong and Ren-uterus axis and Western medicine of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis comparative analysis study,try to explore possible ways from the acupuncture point to molecular changes in the process of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.
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Aim To study the effects of Metformin (MF) on endocrine function of pituitary-gonad axis in rats. Methods The serum hormone concentration was measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the morphology of gonad endocrine cells was observed with electron microscope. Results MF(135 mg?kg-1?d-1,ig,14 d)decreased serum T concentration in male rats and serum LH concentrations in female rats significantly(P
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Objective To study the variations of hypothalamus pituitary-gonad axis in Tibetan male patients with hepatic diseases and to understand the serum levels of gonadal hormone in different hepatic diseases.Methods We randomly selected 93 Tibetan male hepatic patients from Tibet Autonomous Region.The types of hepatic diseases included hepatitis A,hepatitis B,alcoholic hepatitis,cirrhosis and serious hepatitis.Meanwhile we selected 19 healthy Tibetan males as controls from the same region.We detected the serum levels of testoid (T),estradiol (E 2),follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),luteinizing hormone (LH),prolactin (PRL) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH).Statistical analysis was performed by double t-test.Results The serum levels of E 2,PRL and LHRH were all significantly different in patients with hepatic disease compared with the control.(P
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Aim To study effects of metfomin(MF) on calmodulin(CaM) mRNA exprssion of the pitutary-gonad axis in rats.Methods The CaM mRNA expression of the pitutary-gonad axis in rats was measured with the real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results MF (270 mg?kg-1?d-1,ig,21 d) significantly inhibited the CaM mRNA expression in testes (P