Effects of Potentilla fulgens on tuba uterina in ovariectomized rats / Efectos de Potentilla fulgens en la tuba uterina de ratas ovariectomizadas

A total of 32 Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups: (I) sham, (II) ischemia, (III) reperfusion and (IV) Potentilla fulgens. In groups I and II, ovary torsion was not performed and no drug was administered. In group III, 1 h of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion were performed and no drug was given. Group IV received 400 mg/kg/day Potentilla fulgens intraperitoneally 5 days before Ischemia-reperfusion. All the parameters were observed to be significantly decreased (P<0.05) in all the experimental groups compared to the control group. In the sections of the ischemia-reperfusion group, degeneration of epithelium, dilation of blood vessels were observed. Potentilla fulgens administration reduced the morphological changes by induced I/R; in particular, infiltration, hemorrhage and vascular dilatation were decreased. Potentilla fulgens application during torsion, it plays an important role in maintaining the epithelial structure with E-cadherin expression. We suggest that PECAM-1(CD31) are a regulator of the microvascular response of the tubal mucosa.

Un total de 32 ratas Wistar fueron divididas en cuatro grupos: (I) Sham, (II) isquemia, (III) reperfusión y (IV) Potentilla fulgens. En los grupos I y II, no se realizó la torsión de ovario y ni se administró ningún tipo de fármaco. En el grupo III, se produjo isquemia por 1 h seguido de reperfusión por 2 h (I/R), sin administracion de fármacos. El grupo IV recibió 400 mg/kg por día de Potentilla fulgens vía intraperitoneal durante cinco días previo al protocolo de isquemia-reperfusión. Se observó que todos los parámetros disminuyeron significativamente (P <0,05) en todos los grupos experimentales en comparación con el grupo control. En las secciones del grupo de isquemia-reperfusión, se observó degeneración del epitelio y dilatación de los vasos sanguíneos. La administración de Potentilla fulgens reduce los cambios morfológicos inducidos por I/R; en particular, la infiltración, la hemorragia y la dilatación vascular. La aplicación de Potentilla fulgens durante la torsión, desempeña un papel importante en el mantenimiento de la estructura epitelial con la expresión de E-cadherina. Sugerimos que PECAM-1 (CD31) es un regulador de la respuesta microvascular de la mucosa tubárica.

Contracepción de emergencia con Levonorgestrel / Emergency contraception with levonorgestrel

La contracepción de emergencia puede evitar el embarazo luego de un coito sin medidas contraceptivas o cuando éstas fallan. Se recomienda el levonorgestrel, un gestágeno sintético, en dosis única de 1.5 mg (alternativamente en dos dosis de 0.75 mg espaciadas 12 h). Su eficacia es moderada, pues impide aproximadamente 80% de los embarazos. La eficacia es mayor cuanto más precozmente se administre, pero puede darse hasta 5 días post-coito. La tolerancia es similar o superior a la de otros preparados empleados con igual propósito. Los efectos adversos comprenden náuseas, vómitos, cefalea, tensión mamaria y alteraciones transitorias en la siguiente menstruación. Se desconoce si el levonorgestrel aumenta la probabilidad de embarazo ectópico cuando el tratamiento fracasa. No se recomienda su empleo como contraceptivo habitual. Cuando se administra antes del pico preovulatorio de LH, el levonorgestrel generalmente bloquea o retrasa la ovulación. Puede asimismo afectar la migración de los espermatozoides en el tracto genital femenino e, indirectamente, la fertilización. Pese a haberse postulado reiteradamente, no existe evidencia de un efecto antiimplantatorio. El conocimiento del método es muy variable en diferentes sociedades, pero aun donde es bien conocido permanece subutilizado. Se ha propuesto proveer levonorgestrel por adelantado para promover su uso. En ensayos clínicos, tal provisión no afectó adversamente el comportamiento sexual ni el empleo de otros contraceptivos, pero tampoco redujo el número de embarazos o abortos. En consecuencia, el empleo de levonorgestrel debe considerarse un método de respaldo que no reemplaza el uso de contraceptivos más eficaces.

Emergency contraception may avoid pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or when regular contraceptive measures fail. Levonorgestrel, a synthetic gestagen, is recommended for emergency contraception as a single 1.5-mg dose or, alternatively, two 0.75-mg doses taken 12 h apart. Its efficacy is moderate, preventing about 80% of pregnancies. Efficacy is higher the earlier after unprotected intercourse the drug is taken, but it may be administered up to 5 days post-coitum. Tolerance is similar to, or better than, those of other oral emergency contraceptives. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness and transient alteration of menstrual bleeding pattern. It is not known whether levonogestrel increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy when the treatment fails. Its use as an ongoing contraceptive method is discouraged. When given before the preovulatory LH peak, levonorgestrel blocks or delays ovulation. It may also affect sperm migration in the female reproductive tract and have an effect on fertilization. Although it has been often postulated, there is no evidence for an anti-implantatory effect. Acquaintance with the method is quite variable among different societies, but it remains underutilized even where it is well known. Advance provision of the drug has been proposed as a way to promote its use. In clinical trials, advance provision did not adversely modify sexual or regular contraceptive behavior, but it did not reduce pregnancy or abortion rate either. Therefore, emergency contraception with levonorgestrel should be regarded as a backup method which is not a substitute for the continued use of more effective contraceptive methods.

Genital Sensory Stimulation Shifts Estradiol Intraoviductal Signaling from Nongenomic to Genomic Pathways, Independently from Prolactin Surges

Estradiol (E2) accelerates oviductal egg transport through nongenomic pathways involving oviductal protein phosphorylation in non-mated rats, and through genomic pathways in mated rats. Here we investigated the ability of cervico-vaginal stimulation (CVS) to switch the mode of action of E2 in the absence of other male-associated components. Pro-estrous rats were subjected to CVS with a glass rod and 12 hours later were injected subcutaneously with E2 and intrabursally with the RNA synthesis inhibitor Actinomycin D or the protein phosphorylation inhibitor H-89. The number of eggs in the oviduct, assessed 24 h later, showed that Actinomycin D, but not H-89 blocked the E2-induced egg transport acceleration. This clearly indicates that CVS alone, without other mating-associated signals, is able to shift E2 signaling from nongenomic to genomic pathways. Since mating and CVS activate a neuroendocrine reflex that causes iterative prolactin (PRL) surges, the involvement of PRL pathway in this phenomenon was evaluated. Prolactin receptor mRNA and protein expression in the rat oviduct was demonstrated by RT-PCR and Western blot, but their levels were not different on day 2 of the cycle (C2) or pregnancy (P2). Activated ST AT 5a/b (phosphorylated) was detected by Western blot on P2 in the ovary, but not in the oviduct, showing that mating does not stimulate this PRL signalling pathway in the oviduct. Other rats subjected to CVS in the evening of pro-estrus were treated with bromoergocriptine to suppress PRL surges. In these rats, H-89 did not block the E2-induced acceleration of egg transport suggesting that PRL surges are not essential to shift E2 signaling pathways in the oviduct. We conclude that CVS is one of the components of mating that shifts E2 signaling in the oviduct from nongenomic to genomic pathways, and this effect is independent of PRL surges elicited by mating.

Effect of estrogen and progesterone on newly synthesised and released human fallopian tube specific proteins.

Current study was carried out to identify the profile of newly synthesized and released proteins by human fallopian tube (hFT). Results indicated that hFT during menopause synthesised and released only 2-3 proteins as against several proteins ranging from molecular weight (MW) approximately 20 to approximately 130 kD during normal menstrual cycle. In vitro addition of estradiol-17 beta (E2) resulted in synthesis and release of a number of proteins including specific protein of MW 110-130 kD. Addition of progesterone (P) however, led to inhibition of protein synthesis and a combination of E2 and P negated the effect of the latter. An alteration in oviductal secretory protein-profile following addition of E2 in vitro were similar to that observed during normal menstrual cycle.

Effect of centchroman and tamoxifen on protein patterns of fallopian tubes of rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta.

To study the effect of centchroman and tamoxifen on estrogen-dependent proteins of fallopian tubes of rhesus monkey, these antiestrogens were given with and without estradiol to ovariectomized monkeys. In absence of estradiol, both the compounds induced the synthesis of 130 and 95 K proteins. Concentration of 85 K protein was also increased markedly. These compounds, however, suppressed the estrogen stimulated synthesis of 130 K protein when administered with estradiol. The results show that both centchroman and tamoxifen possess estrogen agonistic as well as antagonistic properties and 130 K protein can be used as a marker protein to study estrogen action and for screening of antiestrogenic compounds in a primate model.

Coitus induced changes in oviductal motility & effect of progesterone.

Motility of different oviductal segments of conscious rabbits was recorded through permanently implanted sensors using the technique of impedance plethysmography. The implants were around the oviductal wall and therefore did not obstruct its lumen. Pre-ovulatory ampullary motility was always less than the isthmic motility. Coitus induced ovulation produced a characteristic oviductal motility pattern consisting of (i) initial relaxation of both isthmus and ampulla (4-12 h) followed by (ii) increased isthmic motility in the face of a continually relaxed ampulla (36-48 h), and finally phase (iii) leading to restitution of both ampullary and isthmic motility to the base-line at 72-96 h. Estimation of ova positions indicated the presence of fertilized eggs in the ampulla and ampullo-isthmic junction at 48 h and the ova could come to the end of the isthmic segment only at 72 h or after. Increased isthmic motility thus served to counter the transportation of ova and their retention in the ampulla. Rabbits in which oviducts were not taken out for ova positioning achieved normal pregnancy. Administration of progesterone (im, 2.5 mg) produced complete relaxation of both isthmus and ampulla, did not produce increased isthmic contractility on coitus, accelerated the ovum transport rate and inhibited pregnancy, again emphasising the ova retentive role of oviductal motility.

Long-term bromopride treatment induces morphological changes in female rats

There were morphologicaly examined the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and mammary glandss of adult female rats, that were Long-term treated with bromopride. Large corpus Luteum, uterus in a secretory stage and hipertrophiated mammary gland marked morphological changes were correlated to the neuroendocrinal effects of the drug, considering what it is able to black tuberoinfundibular dopamine (DA) receptors Leading to an increase in prolactin Levels

Prostaglandinas: açöes farmacológicas e a fisiologia da reproduçäo / Prostaglandins: pharmacological actions and the physiology of reproduction

Apresentam-se as açöes farmacológicas das prostaglandinas no que concerne à fisiologia da reproduçäo. Estudam as açöes no útero, nas trompas, no sêmen, nos ovários, nos testículos e no ducto arterioso

Effects of prostaglandins F2 alpha and E2 on the contractility of non-pregnant human fallopian tube in vitro.

The effects of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 on the distal part of the isolated non-pregnant human fallopian tubes obtained from known menstrual phases has been investigated. Both PGF2 alpha and PGE2 produced an increased contractility of fallopian tube. However, PGF2 alpha was found to be more potent than PGE2 and also the contractions produced by the former compound showed wave forms of relatively high amplitude and low in frequency than that produced by the latter compound. These two compounds did not show a priming effect on each other. There was no discernible effect of phase of the menstrual cycle upon the contractile response to PG.