Mixed origin of neovascularization of human endometrial grafts in immunodeficient mouse models.

BACKGROUND: In vivo mouse models have been developed to study the physiology of normal and pathologic endometrium. Although angiogenesis is known to play an important role in endometrial physiology and pathology, the origin of neovasculature in xenografts remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the origin of the neovasculature of endometrial grafts in different mouse models. METHODS: Human proliferative endometrium (n = 19 women) was grafted s.c. in two immunodeficient mouse strains: nude (n = 8) and severely compromised immunodeficient (SCID; n = 20). Mice were also treated with estradiol, progesterone or levonorgestrel. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization using a centromeric human chromosome X probe, immunohistochemistry (von Willebrand factor and collagen IV) and lectin perfusion were performed to identify the origin of the vessels. RESULTS: More than 90% of vessels within xenografts were of human origin 4 weeks after implantation. Some vessels (9.67 +/- 2.01%) were successively stained by human or mouse specific markers, suggesting the presence of chimeric vessels exhibiting a succession of human and murine portions. No difference in staining was observed between the two strains of mouse or different hormone treatments. Furthermore, erythrocytes were found inside human vessels, confirming their functionality. CONCLUSION: This article shows that human endometrial grafts retain their own vessels, which connect to the murine vasculature coming from the host tissue and become functional.

Development of an animal experimental model to study the effects of levonorgestrel on the human endometrium.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to develop an animal model to test the response of endometrium to local progestin delivery. METHODS: Proliferative human endometrium was subcutaneously grafted in two groups of SCID mice that received, 2 days before, a subcutaneous estradiol (E(2)) pellet and, for half of them, an additional implant of levonorgestrel (LNG). Mice were sacrificed 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks after endometrial implantation and grafts were histologically analysed. Proliferation, steroid hormone receptors, blood vessels and stromal decidualization in both groups (E(2) and LNG) were immunohistologically evaluated and compared with proliferative endometrium and endometrium from women with an LNG intrauterine device. RESULTS: Grafts presented normal morphological endometrial characteristics. The expression of progesterone receptors was significantly decreased in glands and stroma of the LNG group as compared with the E(2) group at all times. A significant decrease was also observed in the stromal expression of estrogen receptor-alpha in the LNG group. At 4 weeks, the mean cross-sectional area of vessels was significantly higher after LNG treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics are similar to those observed in women treated with local LNG. This mouse model might facilitate further investigations needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for the breakthrough bleeding frequently observed in progestin users.

Private multiple congenital anomaly syndromes may result from unbalanced subtle translocations: t(2q;4p) explains the Lambotte syndrome.

In 1990, Lambotte syndrome was reported as an apparently autosomal recessive multiple congenital anomaly/mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome observed in 4 of 12 sibs from a probably consanguineous mating [Verloes et al., Am J Med Genet 1990; 37:119-123]. Major manifestations included intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), microcephaly, large soft pinnae, hypertelorism, beaked nose, and extremely severe neurologic impairment, with holoprosencephaly in one instance. After the observation of a further affected child born of one unaffected sister, in situ hybridization analysis and chromosome painting techniques demonstrated a subtle t(2;4)(q37.1; p16.2) translocation in the mother, suggesting a combination of 2q/4p trisomy/monosomy in all of the affected children of the family. Many private sporadic or recurrent MCA/MR syndromes maybe due to similar symmetric translocations, undetectable by conventional banding techniques.

Endogenous glutamate involvement in pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone: evidence from effect of glutamine and developmental changes.

The secretion of GnRH can be stimulated by glutamate (GLU) and GLU agonists, whereas GLU receptor antagonists inhibit GnRH. Using 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON), an inhibitor of glutaminase, we aimed to study the involvement of endogenous GLU in GnRH secretion through the effects of impaired GLU biosynthesis from its precursor glutamine (GLN). GnRH secretion by hypothalamic explants of male rats, aged 15 and 50 days, was compared, because the frequency of spontaneous GnRH secretory pulses showed a 2-fold increase between those two ages. Using explants of 50-day-old rats, GLN elicited GnRH secretion in a similar dose-related manner as GLU. DON prevented GLN-evoked secretion of GnRH, whereas the effect of GLU was not altered. DON also markedly inhibited spontaneous pulsatile secretion of GnRH and the secretory response to veratridine, a Na+ channel opener. The inhibitory effect of DON on veratridine-evoked secretion of GnRH was directly related to the duration of exposure to DON and the frequency of GnRH secretory episodes. Using explants of 15-day-old rats, GLN could elicit GnRH release, although this response was lower than GLU-evoked secretion of GnRH. The DON concentrations required for inhibition of veratridine-evoked secretion of GnRH were lower at 15 days than at 50 days. These data indicate that 1) GLU biosynthesis from GLN is a prerequisite to the physiological mechanism of pulsatile GnRH secretion; and 2) inhibition of veratridine- or GLN-induced secretion of GnRH requires higher DON concentrations after the onset of puberty than before. This suggests that glutaminase, the enzyme controlling GLU biosynthesis from GLN, shows increased activity after the onset of puberty when the frequency of pulsatile GnRH secretion is increased as well.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone inhibitory autofeedback by subproducts antagonist at N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors: a model of autocrine regulation of peptide secretion.

The secretion of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) involves activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Here, we show that pulsatile GnRH secretion from hypothalamic explants is suppressed by 1-5GnRH, an endogenous breakdown product of GnRH, while 2-10GnRH has no effect. GnRH secretion evoked by NMDA is selectively inhibited by 1-5GnRH and this effect is similar to that of AP-5, a competitive antagonist at NMDA receptors. In addition, 1-5GnRH accounts for a dose-related inhibition of tritiated glutamate binding to hypothalamic membrane preparations. Using GnRH secretion as a model of NMDA-receptor controlled system, the effect of different peptides has been studied. Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF), Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and Proinsulin result in inhibition of GnRH secretion. Bioactive subproducts of those peptides (1-29GRF, 4-701GF-I and insulin) do not show any effect, suggesting that their classical receptors are not involved. In contrast, GnRH secretion is inhibited by other subproducts (1-37GRF, 1-31GF-I and C-peptide) all terminating in a glutamate residue. These subproducts selectively suppress the NMDA-evoked secretion of GnRH. Protease inhibitors prevent the inhibitory effects of IGF-I on GnRH secretion. This, breakdown products of different peptide hormones are possible endogenous antagonists at NMDA receptors. This effect could account for an autocrine or paracrine limitation of NMDA-receptor-mediated secretion of peptides.

Acute suppression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion by insulin-like growth factor I and subproducts: an age-dependent endocrine effect.

Using rat hypothalamic explants, we showed previously that activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors was involved in the mechanism of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. (1-3)Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), the N-terminal tripeptide of IGF-I, was suggested to be a possible antagonist at NMDA receptors. Here, we study the effects of IGF-I and its subproducts, (1-3)IGF-I and (4-70)IGF-I, either given in vivo as a single subcutaneous injection or used in vitro, on the secretion of GnRH by hypothalamic explants. At the three ages studied (15, 25 and 50 days), (4-70)IGF-I does not show any effect. At 50 days, the in vivo administration or the in vitro use of IGF-I results in a dose-related inhibition of the GnRH secretion induced by veratridine, a depolarizing agent. In addition, the spontaneous pulsatile secretion of GnRH in vitro is transiently suppressed after the in vivo administration of IGF-I. (1-3)IGF-I results in an inhibitory effect similar to that of IGF-I. At 25 days, IGF-I and (1-3)IGF-I show the same effects as at 50 days though higher concentrations are required. At 15 days, IGF-I does not show any effect whereas a potent inhibition of GnRH secretion is observed using (1-3)IGF-I either in vivo or in vitro. At all ages, the effects of (1-3)IGF-I parallel those of AP-5, a competitive antagonist at NMDA receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Control of pulsatile secretion of gonadotrophin releasing hormone from hypothalamic explants.

We have studied the secretion of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamic explants of male rats at different ages in an attempt to delineate the neuroendocrine mechanism of the onset of puberty. In this paper, we review some of our recent studies and we provide evidence of a dual control played by receptors to neuroexcitatory amino acids. We showed previously that isolated explants of rat hypothalamus could secrete GnRH in a pulsatile manner. The onset of puberty was characterized by a 2-fold increase in frequency of GnRH secretory pulses. This reduction of the interval between GnRH pulses involved an inhibitory autofeedback effect of GnRH on the pulse generator which was shut off following a secretory episode. This period of refractoriness was longer before puberty than after the onset of puberty. Activation of receptors to neuroexcitatory amino acids (N-methyl-D-aspartate; NMDA-type) was involved in the mechanism of pulsatile GnRH secretion. Striking developmental changes in NMDA-receptor-mediated GnRH secretion were demonstrated with a maximal activity around the time of the onset of puberty. Similar changes occurred in orchidectomized animals, indicating that this maturational process was gonad-independent. While evidence accumulated that NMDA receptors were involved in a stimulatory control of GnRH secretion, we found that NMDA receptors mediated an inhibitory effect on GnRH secretion. This inhibitory effect was very potent in the immature hypothalamus and it showed a marked reduction in potency before onset of puberty.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neuroendocrine mechanism of onset of puberty. Sequential reduction in activity of inhibitory and facilitatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

In humans and in several animal species, puberty results from changes in pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the hypothalamus. In particular, the frequency of pulsatile GnRH secretion increases at the onset of puberty, as can be shown by using hypothalamic explants of male rats of 15 and 25 d. Previous observations from us and others suggested that the initiation of puberty could involve a facilitatory effect of excitatory amino acids mediated through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We found that GnRH secretion could be activated through NMDA receptors only around the time of onset of puberty (25 d). The aim of this study was to clarify why this activation did not occur earlier (at 15 d) and could no longer be observed by the end of puberty (at 50 d). We studied GnRH secretion in the presence of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors or AP-5, a competitive antagonist. We showed that, in the hypothalamus of immature male rats (15 d), a highly potent inhibitory control of pulsatile GnRH secretion in vitro was mediated through NMDA receptors. These data were confirmed in vivo because administration of the antagonist MK-801 (0.001 mg/kg) to immature male rats resulted in early pubertal development. Onset of puberty (25 d) was characterized by the disappearance of that NMDA receptor-mediated inhibition, thus unmasking a facilitatory effect also mediated through NMDA receptors. During puberty, there was a reduction in activity of this facilitatory control which was no longer opposed by its inhibitory counterpart. We conclude that a sequential reduction in activity of inhibitory and facilitatory NMDA receptors provides a developmental basis for the neuroendocrine mechanism of onset of puberty.

Cytogenetic changes in hepatocarcinomas from rats treated with chronic exposure to diethylnitrosamine.

Cytogenetic analysis of rat hepatocarcinomas obtained after diethylnitrosamine (DEN) exposure showed a wide variety of numerical and structural chromosomal changes: 53 of 86 hepatocellular carcinomas showed at least one recurrent chromosomal aberration. Some of these recurrent changes occurred in several tumors. Chromosomes 1, 3, 11, and 12 were abnormal in more than 30% of the carcinomas; chromosomes 2, 4, 5, and 10 were abnormal in 10%. Moreover, chromosomes 1 and 10 were generally lost or deleted and chromosome 3, 4, and 11 were very often gained. The most frequent anomaly was loss of chromosome 1 which was observed in 35% of the tetraploid cell populations. The occurrence in several tumors of recurrent chromosomal rearrangements as well as various repeated aneuploidies strongly suggests that these anomalies are implicated in the process of rat hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DEN treatment.

Effects of changes in nutritional conditions on timing of puberty: clinical evidence from adopted children and experimental studies in the male rat.

Among 32 patients with idiopathic central precocious puberty seen during a 3-year period, 1/4 were adopted children from developing countries who showed early sexual maturation during the catch-up process following their arrival in Belgium. To study the possible mechanism accounting for such clinical observations, we used the male rat as a model, and evaluated the effect of variations in early nutritional conditions, by manipulating litter size, on hypothalamic and testicular maturation. We had shown previously that, in the male rat, onset of puberty was preceded, between 15 and 25 days of age, by a transiently increased activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors involved in a facilitatory control of pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. We also showed that the proportion of elongated spermatids in testicular cell homogenates increased between 25 and 45 days of age. When compared to pups of a small litter (6/dam), those of a large litter (14/dam) showed a reduced growth rate (1.9 vs. 3.5 g/day) before weaning (21 days), whereas they grew at a similar rate (5.6 vs. 4.7 g/day) after weaning. At 35 days of age, the animals raised in the large litter showed evidence of delayed hypothalamic and testicular maturation when compared to animals from the small litter. Reduction of litter size at 17 days allowed food-restricted pups of a large litter to resume a normal growth rate before weaning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)