Fluoride Exposure,Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Polymorphism and Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian Axis Hormones in Chinese Women

The effects of fluoride exposure on thefunctions of reproductive and endocrine systemshave attracted widespread attention in academiccircle nowadays. However, it is unclear whether thegene-environment interaction may modify thesecretion and activity of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian （HPO） axis hormones. Thus, the aim of thisstudy was to explore the influence of fluorideexposure and follicle stimulating hormone receptor（FSHR） gene polymorphism on reproductivehormones in Chinese women. A cross sectionalstudy was conducted in seven villages of HenanProvince, China during 2010-2011. A total of 679women aged 18-48 years were recruited throughcluster sampling and divided into three groups, i.e.endemic fluorosis group （EFG）, defluoridationproject group （DFPG）, and control group （CG） basedon the local fluoride concentration in drinkingwater. The serum levels of gonadotropin releasinghormone （GnRH）, follicle stimulating hormone（FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, and estradiol （E2）were determined respectively and the FSHRpolymorphism was detected by real time PCR assay.The results provided the preliminary evidenceindicating the gene-environment interaction onHPO axishormones in women.

High expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor in testicular tissue of idiopathic azoospermic patients with severe spermatogenic defects

Background Follicle stimulating hormone is necessary for normal reproduction in men.The biochemical actions of follicle stimulating hormone result from binding to the follicle stimulating hormone receptor in the plasma membrane of Sertoli cells.Here,we investigated the expression of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor in different testicular histological phenotypes of patients with idiopathic azoospermia.Methods Fifty-seven cases of idiopathic azoospermia were classified into three groups according to the results of testicular biopsy：patients with hypospermatogenesis,patients with maturation arrest,and patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome.Thirteen azoospermic patients identified by testicular biopsy as being capable of completing spermatogenesis acted as the control group.Immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed in each case,and the serum hormone level was also measured in all patients.Results The serum follicle stimulating hormone level in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome was significantly higher than in patients with hypospermatogenesis,maturation arrest,and complete spermatogenesis （P＜0.01）.The serum follicle stimulating hormone level in patients with maturation arrest was significantly higher than in patients with hypospermatogenesis and complete spermatogenesis （P＜0.05）.There was no difference in serum follicle stimulating hormone levels in patients with hypospermatogenesis and complete spermatogenesis.The follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression level of testicular samples with Sertoli cell-only syndrome was significantly higher than in those with hypospermatogenesis,maturation arrest,and complete spermatogenesis （P＜0.05）,but no significant difference was observed among hypospermatogenesis,maturation arrest,and complete spermatogenesis testicular samples.Conclusions Different serum follicle stimulating hormone levels and follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression were found in the different testicular histology phenotypes in azoospermic patients.Differential follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression in testicular tissue of patients with idiopathic azoospermia may be associated with the degree of spermatogenesis.

Quantification of Porcine Follicle-stimulating Hormone Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid by Reverse Transcription competitive Polymerase Chain Reaction

An easy and reliable method was developed for construction and quantification of competitive templates, which shared the same sequence as the amplified target DNA except for a 20 bp insertion in the middle by recombinant polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the advantages of competitive PCR is that any predictable or unpredictable variable that affects amplification has the same effect on both target and competitor species and that the final ratio of amplified products reflects exactly the initial targets. The utilization of a thermostable reverse transcriptase in the RT step was proposed to overcome the problem of the efficiency of target cDNA synthesis. In addition, to obtain reliable measurements, it was recommended to perform four PCR with amounts of competitive template flanking the concentration of the target mRNA.

Association of Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Gonadotropin Administration during Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation

Objective:This study is to investigate the effect of different single-nucleotide polymorphisms of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor(FSHR)gene on gonadotropin(Gn)administration dosage during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH)protocol of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.Methods:This retrospective study included 184 Chinese infertile women in Center for Reproduction and Genetics of Suzhou Municipal Hospital from June 2012 to 2014.All of the enrolled patients were homogeneous in some basal characteristics,and they all met the eligibility criteria.Blood tests were conducted on day 3 of menstrual cycle or the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration for hormonal profile analysis and DNA extraction.DNA sequencing was performed for polymorphism analysis.The participants were classified into threonine(Thr)/Thr,Thr/alanine(Ala),and Ala/Ala groups according to genotype at position 307,and asparagine/asparagine(Asn/Asn),Asn/serine(Ser),and Ser/Ser groups according to genotype at position 680.Logistic regression and correlation analyses were performed to identify the effect of these two polymorphisms on Gn consumption.Results:The frequency of Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser distribution was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(P>0.05).No significant difference was found in age,basal hormone levels for different genotype groups.Logistic regression analysis results revealed that patients with Ser680Ser genotype have a higher risk of requiring a high dose of Gn compared with patients with Asn680Asn genotype,while polymorphism of Thr307 Ala has no such effect.Conclusion:This study suggested that FSHR genotype Asn680Ser would be helpful in determining the dosage of Gn in COH;patients with Ser680Ser genotype may require higher dose of Gn.

Predictors for partial suppression of spermatogenesis of hormonal male contraception

Aim： To analyze factors influencing the efficacy of hormonal suppression of spermatogenesis for male contraception. Methods： A nested case-control study was conducted, involving 43 subjects, who did not achieve azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia when given monthly injections of 500 mg testosterone undecanoate （TU）, defined as partial suppressors compared with 855 subjects who had suppressed spermatogenesis （complete suppressors）. Sperm density, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone （LH） and follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） concentrations at the baseline and the suppression phase were compared between partial and complete suppressors. Polymorphisms of androgen receptor （AR） and three single nucleotide variants and their haplotypes of FSH receptor （FSHR） genes determined by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and DNA sequencing technique were compared between 29 partial and 34 complete suppressors. Results： Baseline serum LH level was higher and serum LH as well as FSH level during the suppression phase was less suppressed in partial suppressors. Additionally, in a logistic regression analysis larger testis volume, higher serum FSH concentrations alone, or interaction of serum LH, FSH, testosterone and sperm concentrations were associated with degree of suppression. The distribution of polymorphisms of AR or FSH receptor genes did not differ between partial and complete suppressors. In cases with incomplete FSH suppression （FSH 〉 0.2 IU/L）, the chances of reaching azoospermia were 1.5 times higher in the subjects with more than 22 CAG triplet repeats. Conclusion： Partial suppression of spermatogenesis induced by 500 mg TU monthly injections is weakly influenced by hormonal and clinical features but not polymorphism in AR and FSHR genes.

Effects of Bushen Tiaochong Recipe (补肾调冲方) Containing Serum on Ovarian Granulosa Cell Proliferation,Steroidogenesis and Associated Gene Expression in Rats

Objective： To observe the effect of Bushen Tiaochong Recipe （补肾调冲方, BSTCR） on rats＇ ovarian granulosa cell （GC） proliferation, steroidogenesis and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor （FSHR）, and insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） mRNA expression using serum pharmacological method. Methods： Rats＇ GCs were incubated with 10% blank serum （as negative control group）, follicle- stimulating hormone （FSH）-containing serum （S-FSH, as positive control group）, or BSTCR （in different dosages） containing serum （S-BSTCR, as the BSTCR groups） for 48 h. ^3H-TdR incorporation was then performed; DNA was measured to analyze the distribution of GCs in the cell cycle and their proliferation index （PI） using a flow cytometer; estradiol （E2） and progesterone （P） content in the culture fluid were examined by radioimmunoassay; and levels of FSHR and IGF-1 mRNA expression in GCs were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Results： A dose-dependent increase of ^3H-TdR incorporation in GC was shown in the BSTCR groups. Cells in Go/G1 phase had markedly less, while those in S phase had a significantly higher increase in the BSTCR groups compared with the negative control group. A high value of PI was also shown in the BSTCR groups, especially in the high dose group where the influence of cell proliferation was stronger than that in the positive control group. The levels of E2 and P in the BSTCR groups of all dosages were significantly higher than those in the negative control group, and did not show any significant difference compared with those in the positive control group. Levels of FSHR and IGF-1 mRNA expression in the BSTCR groups increased in a dose-dependent manner at levels higher than those in the negative control group. Conclusion： S-BSTCR can obviously stimulate the proliferation and steroidogenesis of ovarian GCs.It is speculated that BSTCR could play a regulatory action on ovarian function through two different pathways of endocrine and autocrine by promoting FSHR and IGF-1 mRNA expression.