effect of oral feeding of Tribulus terrestris L. on sex hormone and gonadotropin levels in addicted male rats

Opioids can exert adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid drug, reduces hormone levels and fertility, and causes sexual activity disorders. Tribulus terrestris [TT] is a traditional herbal medicine used to enhance sexual activities. This study investigates the possible role of TT on sex hormones and gonadotropins with the intent to show its usefulness in treating fertility disorders in opioid users. In this experimental study, we randomly divided 48 rats into four groups: i. control, ii. TT-treated, iii. addicted and iv. TT-treated addicted. Watersoluble morphine was administrated orally for 21 days to induce addiction, after which the treated groups 2 and 4 received plant-mixed pelleted food [6.25%] orally for four weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of all rats' sera were determined by radioimmunoassay and Elisa kits. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance, followed by post-hoc Tukey test. P<0.05 was considered significant. The addicted group had a significantly lower luteinizing hormone [LH] level than the control group [p<0.027]. LH levels increased significantly in the TT-treated addicted group [p<0.031]. The testosterone level in the treated addicted group was lower than the treated control group. The addicted group had a significantly low testosterone level [p<0.001]. The estrogen level was significantly [p<0.002] lower in the addicted group than in the control group. In addition, there was a significant difference between the treated addicted group and the treated control group [p<0.048]. The treated control group had a significant increase in its progesterone level [p<0.002]. Overall, except for follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], morphine reduced most of the gonadotropins and sexual hormones. Whereas TT caused a considerable increase [p<0.05] in the hormones in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated control group. Oral consumption of TT could markedly antagonize the reduction of sex hormones and gonadotropins [except for FSH] due to morphine addiction

Hormônios pré-natais e a idéia de sexo cerebral: uma análise das pesquisas biomédicas sobre gênero e sexualidade / Prenatal hormones and the brain sex: an analysis of gender and sexuality in biomedical research

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar concepções de gênero e sexualidade na produção biomédica contemporânea e no processo de construção do conhecimento científico. Para isso, analisamos artigos científicos contemporâneos selecionados a partir de um levantamento na base de dados PubMed. Focamos em pesquisas sobre a teoria dos hormônios pré-natais, que propõe que comportamentos e características consideradas "femininas" ou "masculinas" são determinados, de modo inato, pelo "sexo" cerebral dos indivíduos, e que homossexuais e transexuais – por exemplo – possuiriam cérebros com um sexo discordante ao seu sexo biológico, sendo uma espécie de "hermafrodita" cerebral. Assim, através da análise dessas publicações, procuramos refletir sobre a relação entre ciência e senso comum, além dos ideais em torno da "masculinidade", "feminilidade" e "heterossexualidade" subjacentes ao conhecimento científico. Buscamos refletir também sobre a relação entre gênero, orientação sexual e desvio, e a importância concedida ao "biológico" e "inato" na sociedade contemporânea.

The aim of this study was to analyze the conceptions surrounding gender and sexuality in contemporary biomedical research and in the construction of scientific knowledge. We performed a PubMed search, focusing on papers that discussed the theory of pre-natal hormones. According to this theory, some behaviors and characteristics considered as "female" or "male" are innately determined by the individual‘s brain "sex", and homosexuals and transsexuals, for instance, have a different brain sex than their biologic sex, being a kind of a brain hermaphrodite. Therefore, through the analysis of these publications, we reflected on the relationships between science and common sense, and on the ideals of "masculinity", "feminility" and "heterossexuality" that form the basis of scientific knowledge. We also discussed the relationship between gender, sexual orientation and deviation, and the importance of the "biological" and "innate" given by contemporary society.

Efecto de esteroides sexuales sobre la función endocrina adipocitaria e insulinosensibilidad periférica / Effect of sexual steroids over the adipocyte and outlying insulin sensitivity

Es conocido que las hormonas esteroideas sexuales modulan la composición corporal y otras funciones endocrinas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el impacto de la administración de esteroides sexuales sobre la insulinosensibilidad periférica y la función secretora adipocitaria. Grupos de ratas hembra recibieron vehículo (C) o valerato de E2 o propionato de T. Se monitoreó el peso corporal y la ingesta de alimento hasta el día experimental, que fueron sacrificados en condición basal o sometidos a un test de sobrecarga con glucosa. Se evaluaron las concentraciones de leptina, E2, T, glucosa, triglicéridos e insulina (INS). Se ponderó el tejido adiposo parametrial y se aislaron los adipocitos e incubaron con o sin INS. E2 indujo una temprana (p < 0,05) hipofagia, contrariamente, T indujo una moderada (p < 0,05) hiperfagia. Los animales E2 resultaron con menor peso y masa adiposa parametrial que los C (p < 0,05). Los niveles plasmáticos no se modificaron en los animales E2 ni T, salvo el desarrollo de hiperleptinemia en el grupo E2 (p < 0,05). El test de tolerancia a la glucosa mostró (p < 0,05) aumento y disminución en la insulinosensibildad en los animales E2 y T, respectivamente. Finalmente, los adipocitos aislados de animales E2 como los T desarrollaron una disminuida (p < 0,05 vs. C) respuesta a INS. Nuestro estudio pone en evidencia los efectos de E2 y T sobre la sensibilidad a insulina y la función adipocitaria.

Sex hormones are known to modulate body composition and endocrine functions. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of sexual steroids administration on the outlying insulin-sensibility and adipocyte secretory function. Groups of female rats received either vehicle (C), E2 valerate, or T propionate. Daily food intake and body weight were recorded until sacrifice under basal conditions or after high glucose load test. Plasma concentrations of leptin, E2, T, glucose, triglycerides, and insulin (INS) were evaluated. The parametrial adipose tissue was pondered and adipocytes were isolated and then incubated with or without INS. E2 induced early hypophagia (p< 0,05); contrarily, T induced moderate hyperphagia (p<0,05). Weight and fatty parametrial mass values were lower for E2- than C-treated animals (p<0,05). Plasma levels remained unmodified either for E2 or T groups, though E2 animals developed hyperleptinemia (p<0.05). The high glucose load test showed increased and decreased insulin-sensitivity (p<0.05) in E2 and T groups, respectively. Finally, E2 and T isolated adipocytes were less sensitive to insulin-induced leptin secretion than C cells (p<0.05 vs. C). Our study reveals that E2 and T hormones affect sensibility to insulin as well as adipocyte functions.

In vitro modulation of alkaline phosphatase activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in low or high phosphate medium

Our objective was to characterize the modulation of the activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) by classic inhibitors of ALP activity, cholesterol and steroid hormones, in order to identify catalytic similarities between yeast and mammalian ALPs. S. cerevisiae expresses two ALPs, coded for by the PHO8 and PHO13 genes. The product of the PHO8 gene is repressible by Pi in the medium. ALP activity from yeast (grown in low or high phosphate medium) homogenates was determined with p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate, pH 10.4 (lPiALP or hPiALP, respectively). Activation of hPiALP was observed with 5 mM L-amino acids (L-homoarginine _ 186 percent, L-leucine _ 155 percent and L-phenylalanine - 168 percent) and with 1 mM levamisole (122 percent; percentage values, in comparison to control, of recovered activity). EDTA (5 mM) and vanadate (1 mM) distinctly inhibited hPiALP (2 and 20 percent, respectively). L-homoarginine (5 mM) had a lower activating effect on lPiALP (166 percent) and was the strongest hPiALP activator. Corticosterone (5 mM) inhibited hPiALP to 90 percent, but no effect was observed in low phosphate medium. Cholesterol, ß-estradiol and progesterone also had different effects on lPiALP and hPiALP. A concentration-dependent activation of lPiALP minus hPiALP was evident with all three compounds, most especially with ß-estradiol and cholesterol. These results do not allow us to identify similarities of the behavior of S. cerevisiae ALPs and any of the mammalian ALPs but allow us to raise the hypothesis of differential regulation of S. cerevisiae ALPs by L-homoarginine, ß-estradiol and cholesterol and of using these compounds to discriminate between S. cerevisiae lPiALP and hPiALP.

Hormone-Dependent Aging Problems in Women

One of the major social issues nowadays is the aging society. Korea is already an aging society, and 63 cities and districts are ultra-aged societies where the rate of people older than 65 yr exceeds 20%. Among them, more than 67% are women. These statistics reveal the importance of healthcare for older women. Disease and disability of older women are very closely related to the loss of female sex hormones after menopause. Major hormone-dependent aging problems in women such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease (AD), urinary incontinence, and coronary atherosclerosis were surveyed in this review, and the key role of hormones in those diseases and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were summarized. We expect that this review would provide some understanding of factors that must be considered to give optimal care to older women for healthy lives.

Galanin stimulates hCG induced testicular steroidogenesis in adult but not in immature male rats.

The present study was undertaken to understand the role of galanin on testosterone secretion. Leydig cells from adult (60-80 days old) and immature (21-30 days old) rat testis were incubated with galanin (100 nM), galantide (100 nM) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG, 25 I.U.) alone or in combinations and testosterone release was measured. It was observed that in adults, galanin failed to alter the basal testosterone release from the dispersed Leydig cells but potentiated the hCG induced testosterone release significantly. While galantide, prevented this galanin potentiating effect, but it did not alter the hCG alone induced testosterone release. On the other hand, the Leydig cells obtained from immature male rats were sensitive to hCG alone but not to galanin or galantide, both of which failed to alter the hCG induced testosterone release from these cells. Based on these results it can be postulated that galanin's role at the level of the male gonad is age dependent since its potentiating effects on hCG induced testosterone release were visible only in the adult and not in the immature male rats.

Insuficiência androgênica na mulher e potenciais riscos da reposicão terapêutica / Female androgen insufficiency and potencial risks of therapeutic replacement

Na mulher, os androgênios decrescem lenta e progressivamente a partir da quarta década e por toda a vida. O declínio dos androgênios pode gerar um estado de deficiência que se manifesta insidiosamente por diminuicão da funcão sexual, bem estar e energia, alteracões na composicão corporal e perda de massa óssea. Se há história de ooforectomia bilateral, pan-hipopituitarismo, supressão da androgênese adrenal e/ou os níveis séricos de testosterona biodisponível se encontram reduzidos, é provável que estes sinais e sintomas sejam aliviados pela administracão criteriosa de androgênios, cuja prática tem se difundido. Nas doses atualmente preconizadas, parece que os benefícios sobre massa óssea, sexualidade e qualidade de vida são alcancados sem importantes efeitos colaterais de virilizacão. Entretanto, trabalhos bem controlados são necessários para validar a hipótese de que a administracão terapêutica de androgênios em mulheres não tem, a longo prazo, repercussões significativas na incidência sobre câncer de mama ou conseqüências metabólicas indesejáveis.

Uterine mast cells: a new hypothesis to understand how we are born

Birth is the result of complex, well-defined, and coordinated events, that are tightly regulated by endocrine, nervous, and immune responses, and take place primarily in the female reproductive tract. Various mechanisms and mediators involved in pregnancy, labor, and delivery, are highly conserved among different mammalian species and mast cells emerge as potential and crucial participants in these processes, as it is discussed in this review.

Relationship of sexuality with psychological and hormonal features in the menopausal period

Women may experience some mental and sexual problems between the ages of 40 years and 60 years due to serious changes in the hormonal system. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the changes in sex hormones, sexual behaviours, depression and anxiety levels of women who were in either the premenopausal, perimenopausal or postmenopausal period. The subjects of this cross-sectional study consisted of 324 women who attended the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Out-Patient Ward of Celal Bayar University Hospital. Of this group, 37.0 (n = 124) were postmenopausal, 27.2 (n = 84) perimenopausal and 35.8 (n = 116) premenopausal. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI-I and II) and a questionnaire on sexual behaviour which was prepared for this study by the authors, were applied to all of the attendees and serum sex hormone levels were analyzed. Beck Depression Anxiety, STAI-I and STAI-II scores and sexual behaviours did not show any statistically significant difference among these three groups. The frequency of sexual intercourse was lower in women with high BDI scores. The rate of painful intercourse was higher in women with high STAI-I scores. The frequency of sexual intercourse, sexual desire and orgasm decreased and painful intercourse increased in women with high STAI-II scores. The frequency of sexual intercourse decreased significantly as the age or follicle stimulating hormone level of women increased. These findings have revealed that the menopausal state did not affect the sexual behaviour, and psychological state of women between the ages of 40 and 60 years, but the increase in anxiety and depression scores affected the sexual life in a negative manner

Hacia el conocimiento molecular del metabolismo óseo: una revisión del actual estado del arte / Toward the molecular understanding of bone metabolism: a review of the state-of-the-art

El tejido óseo posee características propias, tanto histológicas como fisológicas, que lo diferencian como un tejido altamente complejo, por sus propiedades de regulación mediante el mecanismo de formación-reabsorción; está comandado por hormonas como la paratiroidea, el péptido relacionado con la hormona paratiroidea, la vitamina D3, estrógenos, andrógenos, glucocorticoides, hormonas tiroideas y del crecimiento, entre otras. La matriz ósea está compuesta por dos constituyentes principales: la matriz orgánica y las sales inorgánicas. La matriz orgánica tiene como componente principal el colágeno tipo I, así como los tipos II y III, y por lo menos 12 proteínas no colágenas, a cuyas mutaciones se les atribuye la causa de algunos sindromes. Se han estudiado la glicoproteína acídica ósea, la osteocalcina, osteopontina, osteonectina, sialoproteína ósea, con propiedades y formaciones específicas para la síntesis y metabolismo del tejido óseo. La matriz inorgánica se compone de cantidades de citrato, carbonato e hidroxiapatita. La interacción molecular de estos componentes conduce a la mineralización del tejido con el concurso de componentes celulares como el osteoblasto y el osteoclasto. La proliferación y la maduración de la matriz preceden a la etapa de mineralización que se regula por actividades esencialmente hormonales. Los procesos de osteoclastogénesis y osteoblastogénesis se modulan molecularmente por la osteoprotegerina, que inhibe el desarrollo de osteoclastos bloqueando la molécula RANKL, factor de diferenciación osteoclástica con un importante papel en la reabsorción ósea. El aspecto molecular de la osteoblastogénesis es menos conocido, y hasta el momento sólo se conocen las proteínas morfogenéticas que participan en la diferenciación osteoblástica

Effects of cyclosporin A on sex hormone and estrogen receptor in male rat with special reference to cyclosporin A-induced osteoporosis

The mechanisms of high turnover bone loss induced by Cyclosporin A (CsA) are not clearly understood. Deficiencies in sex hormones result in high turnover osteoporosis, and not only androgen but also estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone mass in men. To study whether or not there are any changes in the levels of sex hormones, aromatization, and the expression of estrogen receptors in CsA-induced osteoporosis, we treated 39 rats with vehicle, low-dose CsA (5 mg/kg) and high dose CsA (15 mg/kg) for 28 days, and measured sex hormone levels by radioimmunoassay. Aromatase activities in ROS cells and 3T3-L1 cells were determined by measuring the conversion rate of 3H-androstenedione into 3H-estrone. ER and ER mRNA were measured by competitive RT-PCR in collected marrow cells and ROS cells. The levels of free testosterone in the serum in low-dose CsA-treated rats were unchanged, but the levels were significantly decreased in those treated with high-dose CsA as previously reported. The levels of total estradiol in the serum were significantly increased in the low-dose CsA-treated group (5 mg/kg) and were comparable to levels of the control group in the high-dose CsA-treated group (15 mg/kg). CsA increased the conversion of 3H-androstenedione to 3H-estrone in ROS cells, but not in 3T3-L1 cells. Meanwhile, CsA treatment did not change the rates of ER or ER mRNA expression in ROS cells or in collected bone marrow cells. In conclusion, CsA treatment decreased the level of free testosterone in the serum, but did not decrease the level of serum estradiol by enhancing aromatization. High-turnover osteoporosis induced by clinical dosage CsA treatment may not be caused by lowering the levels of circulating estrogen or by decreasing the expression of estrogen receptors.

Diferencas na secrecao diaria de leptina em homens e mulheres: possiveis implicacoes na neuroendocrinologia dos transtornos alimentares / Daily secretion differences of leptin in men and women: neuroendocrinology possible implications of eating disorders

Introducao: alteracoes de cortisol e hormonios sexuais sao frequentes em transtornos alimentares. Leptina atua no sistema adrenal/gonadal e sinaliza saciedade para o cerebro. Estudos recentes demonstraram alteracoes de leptina em mulheres com anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa. Objetivos: 1) verificar se ha uma diferenca no padrao de secrecao diaria de leptina entre sexos; 2) comparar hormonios sexuais e leptina em mulheres. Metodo: a leptina plasmatica foi medida em oito homens e seis mulheres normais. Series temporais compostas de valores plasmaticos de leptina, LH (hormonio luteinizante) e estradiol foram avaliados por testes de deteccao de pulsos, analise espectral e cross-correlation. Resultados: a leptina diaria e a amplitude dos pulsos de leptina sao duas vezes maiores nas mulheres que nos homens...

Endocrinologia do ovário no climatério perimenopáusico / The ovarian endocrinology in the perimenopausal period

O climatério, período de transiçäo entre o menacme e a senectude, compreende uma série de fenômenos clínicos, biológicos e endocrinológicos, que se iniciam muito antes da instalaçäo da menopausa e prosseguem por anos após a mesma. A endocrinologia de transiçäo menopáusica, compreendida nesse período, é o objetivo do presente trabalho de revisäo da literatura. Observa-se, inicialmente, diminuiçäo na secreçäo de Inibina, um polipeptídeo produzido pelas células da granulosa, responsável por modulaçäo da secreçäo de FSH. Há aumento do FSH, seguido de aumento do LH e diminuiçäo da esteroidogênese ovariana, resultando em hipoestrogenismo e diminuiçäo dos níveis de progesterona, o que concorre para a série de alteraçöes que caracterizam esse período.

Consideraciones patogenicas actuales acerca del hiperandrogenismo en la mujer / Current pathogenic considerations on female hyperandrogenism

Se revisan los conocimientos actuales sobre hiperandrogenismo en la mujer. La aparicion de signos de exceso de actividad de las hormonas androgenicas es motivo de consulta frecuente en la clinica ginecologica y endocrinologica. Con independencia de la causa, las mujeres con hiperandrogenismo notumoral, en lo fundamental, no difieren entre ellas desde el punto de vista clinico. El hirsutismo es un signo frecuente en estos estados, en ocasiones no es posible determinar su causa ni el mecanismo por el cual se produce. Recientemente se han publicado articulos en los que se estudia el efecto que sobre el metabolismo tienen las hormonas sexuales y viceversa, uno de los aspectos lo constituyenlas consecuencias de la obesidad sobre la esfera reproductiva; tambien se ha sugerido que la elevacion de los androgenos en la mujer aumenta el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular debido a alteraciones de los lipidos y de las lipoproteinas,aunque no todos los androgenos tienen el mismo efecto sobre el metabolismo de los lipidos. La asociacion entre la insulinorresistencia y el hiperandrogenismo esun fenomeno conocido; pero aun resulta un dilema determinar la relacion causa/efecto sobre ellos

Variación en la ingestión de energía y sus fuentes durante el ciclo mestrual / Variation in energy intake and sources during menstrual cycle

Diez mujeres mexicanas sanas (18-25 años), estudiantes de nutriología, registraron su ingestión de alimentos durante 2 ciclos mestruales consecutivos. Se midió la concentración de estradiol y progesterona de 16 muestras de sangre de cada voluntaria (8 por ciclo) y se dividió el ciclo en 5 fases. Se obtuvo el promedio de la ingestión de energía y sus fuentes por Kg de peso corporal para cada fase. El consumo de energía (31.5 ñ 1.4 y 31.6 * 1.6 kcal/kg) para ada ciclo fue significativamente menor (por < 0.05) en la fase ovulatoria comparado con las demás y coincidió con el pico mñaximo de estradiol observado (219.8 ñ 27.8 y 238.3 ñ 19.4 pg/ml en cada ciclo respectivamente); este resultado apoya la hipótesis derivada de modelos animales en que se plantea que losestrógenos son supresores del hambre, se concluye que las variaciones hormonales del ciclo menstrual influyen en la ingestión de alimentos.

Modulacao hormonal do clearance mucociliar / Hormonal modulation of mucociliary clearance

Nesta revisao sao apresentados alguns aspectos da influencia dos hormonios sexuais sobre os epitelios, com enfase para o transporte mucociliar do aparelho respiratorio. A modulacao hormonal do epitelio das vias aereas pode ser um dos fatores capazes de explicar as diferentes taxas de morbidade e mortalidade por doencas respiratorias entre homens e mulheres.

Metabolismo de las hormonas sexuales en la obesidad / Metabolism of sexual hormones in obesity

Se señala el aumento de la producción de andrógenos en la obesidad, aún sin signos de virilización en la mujer, y su doble origen suprarrenal y gonadal, y con niveles plasmáticos frecuentemente normales, debido al aumento de la depuración. Esta depuración extrahepática se produce entre otros, haci la piel y sistema piloso, y hacia el tejido adiposo. Entre los andrógenos, los más activos como la testosterona, la 5 alfa dihidrotestosterona y el 5 alfa 3 alfa-androstanodiol, se unen más ávidamente a la globulina ligante de andrógenos y estadiol, cuanto mayor su actividad androgénica. El tejido adiposo transforma ciertos andrógenos en otras más activos como la dehidrestosterona en 5 alfa-3 alfa-androstanodiol, y de la disminución de la globulina ligante de andrógenos y estrógenos resulta una mayor cantidad de andrógenos biodisponibles. También el tejido adiposo transforma andrógenos en estrógenos gracias a su alto contenido en aromatasa. Este aumento de estrógenos con nivel constante, puede tener efectos nocivos como el estímulo de cáncer de endometrio y mama y las alteraciones de la regulación hipófiso-ovárica capaces de determinar mayor producción de andrógenos ováricos. El aumento de andrógenos favorece la acumulación de tejido adiposo en el abdomen y la hipertrofia de los adipocitos, con consiguientes peturbaciones metabólicas que determinan una intolerancia a la carga de hidratos de carbono con hiperinsulinemia reactiva. En cambio de los estrógenos favorece la acumulación adiposa especialmente en caderas y muslos con hiperplasia de los adipocitos de tamaño normal. La progesterona no parece ejercer un efecto directo sino a través de sus acciones antiandrogénicas y antiestrogénicas