Clinical Value of Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Inhibin B in Prediction of Ovarian Response in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical value of serum anti-mullerian hormone（AMH） and inhibin B（INHB） in predicting the ovarian response of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome（PCOS）. A total of 120 PCOS patients were enrolled and divided into three groups in terms of the ovarian response： a low-response group（n=36）, a normal-response group（n=44）, and a high-response group（n=40）. The serum AMH and INHB levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The follicle stimulating hormone（FSH）, luteinizing hormone（LH）, and estradiol（E2） levels were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The correlation of the serum AMH and INHB levels with other indicators was analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve was established to analyze the prediction of ovarian response by AMH and INHB. The results showed that there were significant differences in age, body mass index（BMI）, FSH, total gonadotropin-releasing hormone（Gn RH）, LH, E2, and antral follicle counts（AFCs） between the groups（P〈0.05）. The serum AMH and INHB levels were increased significantly with the ovarian response of PCOS patients increasing（P〈0.05）. The serum AMH and INHB levels were negatively correlated with the age, BMI, FSH level, Gn, and E2 levels（P〈0.05）. They were positively correlated with the LH levels and AFCs（P〈0.05）. ROC curve analysis of serum AMH and INHB in prediction of a low ovarian response showed that the area under the ROC curve（AUC） value of the serum AMH level was 0.817, with a cut-off value of 1.29 ng/m L. The sensitivity and specificity were 71.2% and 79.6%, respectively. The AUC value of serum INHB was 0.674, with a cut-off value of 38.65 ng/m L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 50.7% and 74.5%, respectively. ROC curve analysis showed when the serum AMH and INHB levels were used to predict a high ovarian response, the AUC value of the serum AMH level was 0.742, with a cut-off value of 2.84 ng/m L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.7% and 65.9%, respectively; the AUC value of the serum INHB level was 0.551 with a cut-off of 45.76 ng/m L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.3% and 40.2%, respectively. It was suggested the serum AMH and INHB levels have high clinical value in predicting the ovarian response of PCOS patients.

Effects of heterotopic autotransplantation of cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissues on sex hormone level

Objective: The aim of our study was to measure and compare the serum hormone level of transplant group with blank control and castrated control groups after heterotopic autotransplantation of cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissues into back muscles. Methods: A total of 40 SPF-SD female rats(5–6 week-old) were randomly divided into three groups: blank control group(group A), castration control group(group B) and transplant group(group C). Ovaries were removed by surgical procedure, then after cryopreservation and thawing procedures the ovarian tissues were implanted into the back muscles of mice in group C. After 4 weeks of ovarian tissues transplantation, all rats blood sampling were measured for E2, LH and FSH hormone levels by ELISA. Results: E2 level was significantly higher in group C and group A than group B [(38.98 ± 5.66) pg/mL,(8.14 ± 3.24) pg/mL; P < 0.05) and [(36.30 ± 6.90) pg/mL,(8.14 ± 3.24) pg/mL; P < 0.05)]. However, E2 level in group C and group A had no significant difference. FSH level in group B, group A and group C was(18.87 ± 2.54) nmol/L,(7.77 ± 0.87) nmol/L and(9.39 ± 2.12) nmol/L respectively. FSH level increased significantly in group B compared with group A, and the difference had statistical significance(P < 0.05). FSH level was slightly increased in group C compared with group A, and the difference was not statistically significant(P > 0.05), but compared with group B, FSH level was significantly reduced and being statistically significant(P < 0.05). Conclusion: Autotransplantation of cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissue into back muscles can sustain follicular development and re-establish endogenous hormone production by restoring the factors such as angiogenesis and innervations at the graft site.

Influence of Isoflurane Exposure for 15 Consecutive Days on Ovarian Function in Adult Female Mice

Female infertility after occupational exposure to inhaled anesthetic agents has attracted critical attention,but systematic studies focusing on the impact of inhaled anesthetics on the female reproductive system have not been well-established.We used a murine model to study the effect of isoflurane exposure on infertility in female adult mice and investigated the potential underlying mechanism.One hundred adult female C57 mice were randomly allocated into 5 groups exposed in air containing 0,2500,5000,10000 or 20000 ppm isoflurane for 15 consecutive days.Estrous cycle length was measured based on vaginal smear examination,ovarian histopathologic enumeration of follicles,and serum estradiol(E2),anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),and luteinizing hormone(LH)levels to assess the effect of isoflurane on ovarian reserve.Compared to the control group,significant prolongation of the estrous cycle of the adult female mice was observed in the 20000 ppm isoflurane exposure group.Serum AMH was significantly decreased,and FSH and LH levels profoundly increased in the 5000,10000,and 20000 ppm isoflurane exposure groups compared to the control group.The histopathologic examination revealed a reduced number of developing follicles and an increased number of atretic follicles after isoflurane exposure,but the difference was not statistically significant.Thus,exposure to a higher concentration of isoflurane might have an adverse effect on ovarian reserve in sexually-mature female mice.

Ovariectomy at 3 or 10 weeks of age does not affect the ventilatory response to hypoxia in adult rats

Although an ovariectomy is the routine approach used to study the role of ovarian hormones on respiratory control, the results have often been contradictory. We tested the hypothesis that the ventilatory response to hypoxia is modified by the age at which the ovariectomy is performed. Female rats were ovariectomized either atan early (3 weeks old, i.e., prepubertal) or late (10 weeks old, i.e., adult) stage, and ventilation was then assessed at 12 weeks of age using whole-body plethysmography. The control group included sham-operated rats that had undergone the same surgical procedure but were not ovariectomized. Independent of the age at which surgery was performed, ovariectomy significantly decreased circulating progesterone and 17-b-estradiol levels without re-ducing them below their detection threshold. Despite that decrease, there was no difference in baseline minute ventilation or in the ventilatory response to hypoxia (FiO2 = 12%, 20 min;expressed as the percentage of increase from baseline) between ovariectomized and shamoperated rats. These results suggest that ovariectomy at either a young or at an adult age is insufficient to completely suppress circulating hormones and disrupt the regulation of ventilation.

Efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription on autoimmune premature ovarian failure in mice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: After randomization, POF was induced in the model mice by immunization with ZP3. One week later, mice received low(8.1 mg/kg), moderate(16.2 mg/kg) and high(32.4 mg/kg) doses of BSJPP by gastrogavage once daily for 90 days. Premarin(0.03 mg/kg) served as the positive group. Serum samples were collected 1 week after the last dose and stored at-20 ℃ for analysis. After cervical dislocation, the uterus and ovaries were collected aseptically for evaluation by histological assessment, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Serum E2 levels in POF model mice were decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels were dramatically increased. Serum levels of E2,LH and FSH were reduced in POF model mice treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses) and premarin. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP-15) and connexin 43(Cx43) were repressed in autoimmune POF model mice, whereas high expression was observed in control mice and those treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses)and premarin.CONCLUSION: BSJPP is effective in treating ZP3-induced POF in mice and the increase in the expression of BMP-15 and Cx43 may be implicated in the mechanism underpinning the action.

Unique and independent role of the GABAB1 subunit in embryo implantation and uterine decidualization in mice

Embryo implantation and decidualization are crucial for successful pregnancy,which include multiple genes and signaling pathways,while the precise mechanism regarding embryo implantation and decidualization has yet to be explored.The GABA which activates GABA_(A)or GABA_(B)receptors has been found playing an important role in early pregnancy.Here we seek to investigate whether GABA_(B)receptors participate in embryo implantation in mice.This study first characterized the spatiotemporal expression pattern of GABA_(B)receptors in the uterus during the peri-implantation period and found that GABA_(B1)expression was drastically upregulated in stromal cells on days 4e6,a period of embryo implantation and early stages of decidualization.Embryo delayed implantation and oil-induced decidualization models were further used to confirm that the GABA_(B1)was associated with embryo implantation and decidualization.We also found estrogen or progesterone had no directly effect on expression of GABA_(B1)in ovariectomized model.Because we were unable to detect significant GABA_(B2)which couples with GABA_(B1)to form whole GABA_(B)receptors,and the agonist and antagonist of whole GABA_(B)receptors had weak effect on the proliferation and differentiation of stromal cells as well,we excluded the possibility whole GABA_(B)receptors function,and concluded it should be non-classical signals of GABA_(B1)involving in embryo implantation and decidualization.Future studies should focus on investigating the roles and mechanisms of GABA_(B1)during embryo implantation and decidualization.