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| 2. |
- Hildenbrand, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Aquaporin 1 is expressed in the human endometrium during normal cycle and increases after mifepristone treatment.
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Medicine. - 1107-3756 .- 1791-244X. ; 22:1, s. 49-53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is involved in the angiogenesis and structural modifications of microvessels and possibly also in the pathogenesis of idiopathic menhorrhagia, where a reduced AQP1 expression is seen in the endometrium. Mifepristone treatment induces reduced menstrual bleeding and amenorrhea and also has a direct effect on endometrial arterioles. Administered with gestagen-only contraceptive methods, antiprogestins improve the bleeding pattern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the AQP1 expression in endometrial blood vessels during normal cycle and after mifepristone treatment. Localization and expression of AQP1 was determined using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 43 biopsies from human endometrium taken during a normal cycle and after mifepristone treatment. AQP1 expression in human endometrial vessels is not cycle dependent and is stronger in capillaries and arteries than in veins. After mifepristone treatment the staining intensity was increased, but not the number of stained vessels. The presence of AQP1 was also confirmed using RT-PCR. The changes in AQP1 expression could contribute to the reduced bleeding seen following mifepristone treatment and could be an effect of either antagonizing progesterone or cortisol.
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| 3. |
- Lalitkumar, P. G. L, et al.
(författare)
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Mifepristone, but not levonorgestrel, inhibits human blastocyst attachment to an in vitro endometrial three-dimensional cell culture model
- 2007
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Ingår i: Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0268-1161 .- 1460-2350. ; 22:11, s. 3031-3037
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The use of fertility regulating drugs is limited among various socio-ethnic groups due to limited knowledge about their mechanism of action. This study investigates the effect of levonorgestrel and mifepristone on attachment of human embryos to an in vitro endometrial construct. METHOD: Three-dimensional endometrial constructs were established by co-culturing early luteal phase human endometrial stromal and epithelial cells. Expression of endometrial receptivity markers in this construct were examined by immunohistochemistry. Effects of mifepristone and levonorgestrel on viability and attachment of human blastocysts were investigated. RESULTS: Endometrial constructs expressed the factors involved in endometrial receptivity: estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, interleukin-1, COX-2, MUC-1 and integrin-alpha(V)beta(3). None of the 15 embryos cultured with mifepristone attached to the endometrial construct (P < 0.01), whereas 10/17 in control, and 6/14 in levonorgestrel, groups attached. The attachment was confirmed by the positive expression of cytokeratin 7 at the attachment site. CONCLUSION: Mifepristone inhibits blastocyst attachment. Levonorgestrel did not impair the attachment of human embryos to the in vitro endometrial construct. This model could be used to understand endometrial receptivity and embryo-endometrial dialog and to develop new fertility regulating substances.
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- Shao, Linus Ruijin, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Clomiphene citrate causes aberrant tubal apoptosis and estrogen receptor activation in rat fallopian tube: implications for tubal ectopic pregnancy.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biology of reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 80:6, s. 1262-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clomiphene citrate (CC) therapy for disorders of anovulatory infertility has been linked to an increased frequency of tubal ectopic pregnancy. Although CC enhances apoptotic processes in the ovaries, villi, and decidual tissues, its effect on apoptosis in the fallopian tube is unknown. Here, we show that chronic treatment with CC induces tubal apoptosis, but not necrosis, through an intrinsic mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway in vivo. The apoptosis was specific to epithelial cells in the isthmus, and the damage was reversed with 17beta-estradiol (E2); however, pretreatment or concomitant treatment with E2 did not protect against tubal apoptosis induced by chronic treatment with CC. Chronic treatment activated estrogen receptors (ESRs), particularly cilia-localized ESR2A (formerly ERbeta2). In contrast to E2, acute treatment of superovulating rats with a high dose of CC or the ESR2-selective agonist 2,3-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN) significantly delayed the transport of oocyte-cumulus complexes through the fallopian tube. Our findings suggest that in response to chronic CC therapy, isthmus-specific apoptosis of epithelial cells and activation of cilia-ESR2A act in parallel to block gamete and embryo passage through the fallopian tube, eventually resulting in tubal ectopic pregnancy.
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| 5. |
- Thorsén, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Perceptions of contraception, non-protection and induced abortion among a sample of urban Swedish teenage girls : Focus group discussions
- 2006
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Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 11:4, s. 302-309
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To explore the attitudes of teenage girls towards contraception and induced abortion in order to better understand underlying reasons for non-protection. Methods Four focus group discussions with urban teenage girls aged 15-18 years (n = 16). Results Attitudes towards abortion were generally positive despite some degree of misinformation and lack of knowledge about the subject. Knowledge about methods of birth control was accurate. The use of alcohol was often cited as a factor contributing to risk-taking behaviour. Sexual abuse was mentioned as a common phenomenon, and all participants knew someone who had been sexually abused. Participants agreed that sexual partners were reluctant to use condoms and that it was difficult to negotiate with them about this use. The increased rate of abortion was felt to be mainly due to initiation of sexual activity at a younger age. A need for easily available and inexpensive contraception was expressed along with improvement in the quality of sexual education in school. Conclusion Qualitative sexual education with single-sex sessions and gender related messages as a recurrent activity in the school curricula may help to empower young women and promote avoidance of risk-taking during sexual activity thus helping to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies. In addition, access to cheap condoms could provide a stimulus to increased use of condoms.
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