To assess the effects of a single supraphysiological postnatal administration of a progestogen on uterine glands in dogs, 10 females were randomly assigned to a medroxyprogesterone acetate 35 mg (MPA; n = 6) or placebo (n = 4) group within the first 24 h of birth. The safety of the treatment was also evaluated. A transient mild clitoris enlargement appeared in MPA-treated females. Microscopic postpubertal uterine assessment revealed the presence of uterine glands in all cases without significant differences in the area occupied by the glands per µm2 of endometrium nor in the height of the uterine epithelium.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Clitoris/drug effects ; Dogs ; Epithelium/*drug effects ; Female ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate/*pharmacology ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Sexual Maturation/drug effects ; Uterus/*drug effects

This study was performed to determine the action mode of oxytocin antagonist. In Study 1, the duration of in vivo action of oxytocin antagonist I (AI) was examined. After infusing AI, oxytocin was given and repeated every hour for 5 hr. Uterine activities were monitored with a polygraph. Study 2 determined the effect of AI on uterine oxytocin receptor number (Rn) and binding affinity (Kd). AI treated rats were sacrificed at 0.5 and 4 hr later for receptor assay. In Study 1, the uterine contractile response to oxytocin was significantly inhibited (p>0.05) compared to controls at five min, 1 and 2 hr after injection of AI. No differences in response were detected compared to controls (p>0.05) at later hours. In Study 2, no differences (p>0.05) between the AI and control animals in either oxytocin receptor number or binding affinity was found. These data suggest that the major mode of AI action is via competitive inhibition at the uterine oxytocin receptor and not by altering receptor number or binding affinity. AI is suggested to have the potential of being a potent and specific tocolytic agent for prevention of preterm labor in human.
Animal ; Female ; Oxytocin/pharmacology ; Oxytocin/metabolism ; Oxytocin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Rats ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism ; Uterus/physiology ; Uterus/drug effects*

This study was performed to determine the action mode of oxytocin antagonist. In Study 1, the duration of in vivo action of oxytocin antagonist I (AI) was examined. After infusing AI, oxytocin was given and repeated every hour for 5 hr. Uterine activities were monitored with a polygraph. Study 2 determined the effect of AI on uterine oxytocin receptor number (Rn) and binding affinity (Kd). AI treated rats were sacrificed at 0.5 and 4 hr later for receptor assay. In Study 1, the uterine contractile response to oxytocin was significantly inhibited (p>0.05) compared to controls at five min, 1 and 2 hr after injection of AI. No differences in response were detected compared to controls (p>0.05) at later hours. In Study 2, no differences (p>0.05) between the AI and control animals in either oxytocin receptor number or binding affinity was found. These data suggest that the major mode of AI action is via competitive inhibition at the uterine oxytocin receptor and not by altering receptor number or binding affinity. AI is suggested to have the potential of being a potent and specific tocolytic agent for prevention of preterm labor in human.
Animal ; Female ; Oxytocin/pharmacology ; Oxytocin/metabolism ; Oxytocin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Rats ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism ; Uterus/physiology ; Uterus/drug effects*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cadmium (Cd) on estrogen receptor and to assess its endocrine disrupting action.

METHODSThe estrogen receptor rich supernatant was prepared from the ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of cadmium on estrogen binding were performed using a sing-dose ligand-binding assay. Extract from uterus were treated with various concentrations of cadmium (0, 10(-3), 10(-5) or 10(-7) mol/L) for various pre-incubation time (0, 30, 60, 90 min) by means of orthogonal experimental design with orthogonal layout of L16(4(5)) (the experiment was repeated for 5 times). In addition to the radioinert competitor, each assay included a zero tube and a DES standard curve for quality control purpose. Data for cadmium and the DES standard curve were plotted as percent [3H]-E2 bound versus log (molar concentration), and the IC50 for cadmium was determined. The RBA for cadmium was calculated by dividing the IC50 of DES in terms of the IC50 of cadmium.

RESULTSCadmium could not block the binding of estradiol to the receptor because hormone binding did not change with increasing cadmium concentration or increasing preincubation time. The results showed that the binding of [3H]-estradiol to uterine cytosols was not significant (P > 0.05). The Bmax (its unit is pmol/mg protein) of various concentrations of cadmium (0, 10(-3), 10(-5) or 10(-7) mol/L) for pre-incubating 0 min is 203.15 +/- 75.16, 203.41 +/- 22.78, 220.82 +/- 45.35, 209.10 +/- 49.66 respectively; The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 30 min is 215.67 +/- 92.97, 139.79 +/- 53.78, 205.27 +/- 23.60, 172.63 +/- 55.09 respectively. The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 60 min is 197.11 +/- 50.68, 203.24 +/- 66.33, 183.92 +/- 31.89, 183.33 +/- 32.70, respectively. The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 90 min is 229.69 +/- 76.88, 175.70 +/- 70.28, 164.26 +/- 24.46, 150.78 +/- 65.97 respectively. Mean IC50 for cadmium is 10(-4) - 10(-3) M. If the affinities of DES binding to estrogen receptors was taken to be 100%, the relative binding affinities of cadmium was 10(-6) - 10(-7). The results indicated that cadmium had only a very poor affinity with estrogen receptor.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro assay cadmium did not have distinct disrupting effect on binding of estradiol to estrogen receptors from rat uterine.

Animals ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Oviductus Ranae (OR) capsules on the reproductive organs in an aged mouse model established by D-galactose injection.

METHODSForty-eight female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 equal groups, namely the high- and low-dose OR groups, diethylstilbestrol (DT) group, and model group. The mice received subcutaneous injection of D-galactose for 6 weeks to establish aging models. Another 12 mice were injected daily with normal saline (NS) to serve as the normal control group. From the third week of the experiment, the mice were given oral OR at low or high doses (in the OR groups) or vegetable oil (in the model or control groups) till the sixth week. In the last two weeks, the vaginal smears were obtained from the mice for evaluating the changes of the vaginal keratinocytes and counting the days of estrus. After completion of drug administration, all the mice were sacrificed and the serum content of estradiol (E(2)) was detected by radioimmunoassay, with the ovarian and uterine indices determined. The ovarian and uterine pathologies were observed using HE staining, and SOD and MDA activities in the ovary and uterus were also assessed.

RESULTSOR obviously increased E(2) level and the ovarian and uterine indices in the aged mice, also alleviating the pathological change of the ovary and uterus. OR substantially depressed MDA content and enhanced SOD activity in the ovary and uterus.

CONCLUSIONOR has definite antioxidative effects and ameliorates the degenerative changes of the reproductive organs in mouse models of aging.

Aging ; Animals ; Capsules ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Ovary ; drug effects ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Uterus ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the in vivo effect of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue (SGLX) decoction on estrogen in vivo in mice.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into control, tamoxifen (TAM), SGLX and SGLX + TAM groups. After SGLX decoction had been given to mice for 21 days, the serum hormone level of mice was tested by radioimmunological method, uterine weight index was obtained by uterine weight divided by body weight. Endometrial change was pathologically observed.

RESULTSSGLX decoction reduced the level of serum estrogen more than the control with significant difference (P < 0.001). Uterine weight index was more lowered in the SGLX group than the control giving a difference but not significant. The endometrium in the SGLX group showed no change when compared with that of the control, but the SGLX + TAM group showed slightly more endometrial hyperplasia than the TAM group.

CONCLUSIONSGLX decoction, having synergistic effect on TAM, can reduce serum hormone level and alleviate the endometrial hypertrophy side effect of TAM.

Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; pathology ; Estrogens ; blood ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; Uterus ; drug effects

The present study was to investigate the effect of kinetin on ovary and uterus of D-galactose-induced female mouse model of aging. Aging female mice model caused by D-galactose were used as model group, the aging model mice intragastrically administered with kinetin solution (daily 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) were used as kinetin groups, and the mice with solvent as normal group (n = 20). To detect the effects of kinetin, estrous cycle, estradiol content, ovarian and uterine wet weight and organ index, SOD and GSH-Px activities, MDA and total protein contents, as well as the reserve function of ovaries were examined. The results showed that, kinetin-induced changes in two kinetin groups were observed, compared with the model group: (1) the estrous cycle was shortened; (2) serum estradiol content was significantly increased; (3) the wet weights of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (4) SOD and GSH-Px activities of ovary and uterus were significantly higher; (5) the MDA contents of the ovary and uterus were reduced significantly; (6) total protein contents of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (7) the numbers of mature oocytes in fallopian tubes were increased significantly. The results show that kinetin can protect ovary and uterus against oxidative damage, prevent low estrogen secretion caused by ovarian oxidative damage, shorten the estrous cycle in mice, and eventually maintain ovarian and uterine vitalities.
Aging ; Animals ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Estrous Cycle ; drug effects ; Female ; Galactose ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Organ Size ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a commonly used phenolic environmental estrogen. Long-term exposure of female mammalians to BPA can lead to endocrine disorders, followed by the morphological and functional changes in ovary, uterus, vagina, and oviducts. The interactions of BPA with various target molecules or tissues will cause different effects. To further elucidate the effects of BPA on female reproductive system, we review the changes in the structure and functions of female reproduction system after BPA exposure and their possible mechanisms.
Benzhydryl Compounds ; toxicity ; Endocrine Disruptors ; toxicity ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Phenols ; toxicity ; Uterus ; drug effects ; Vagina ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the bio-activity of Qinlian Siwu decoction on in vitro uterus contraction model and exploit the relationship between chemical components and the bio-activity.

METHODThe samples were prepared by macroporous adsorptive resins. The in vitro uterus contraction model was adopted to appraise the bio-activities of Qinlian Siwu decoction and its different separated fractions. HPLC-DAD- ESI -MS method was applied to analyze and identify the components in the fraction QL-3.

RESULTIt was found that five active fractions (QL-1, QL-3, QL-5, QL-7 and QL-11) were separated from Qinlian Siwu decoction, mainly contributed to the observed antagonismto the contraction of the mouse uterus. 28 compounds in the fraction QL-3 were identified as malic acid, gallic acid, catalpol, protocatechuic acid, aucubin, chuanxiongzine hydrochloridum, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, paeoniflorin, berberastine, albiflorin, tetrahydropalmatine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, leonuride, worenine, ferulic acid, palmatine, berberine, scutellarin, baicalin-7-0-glucoside, baicalin, rehmannioside C, wogonoside, chrysin-7-glucuronide, ttetuin, baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin-A.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro inhibiting the contraction of the isolated mouse uterine of Qinlian Siwu decoction was mainly attributed to the fraction QL-1 and QL-3. The active fractions (QL-5, QL-7 and QL-11) were obtained from QL-3 on the macroporous adsorptive resins by the gradient elution using ethanol.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; physiology ; Statistics as Topic ; methods ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects ; physiology

AIM: To evaluate the antifertility activity of Artemisia vulgaris leaves on female Wistar rats. METHOD: The plant extract was tested for its effect on implant formation at two dose levels, 300 and 600 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The effective methanolic plant extract was further studied for estrogenic potency on ovariectomised immature female Wistar rats. RESULTS: The data presented in this study demonstrate the antifertility potential of Artemisia vulgaris methanolic leaf extract, which shows a strong and significant decrease in implant formation (100%), and a strong estrogenic effect resulting in a significant increase in uterine weight in immature ovariectomised rats. These observations suggest that the methanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves has strong anti-implantation activity and estrogenic activity. CONCLUSION The methanolic plant extract of A. vulgaris has antifertility activity.
Animals ; Artemisia ; Contraceptive Agents ; pharmacology ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Organ Size ; Ovariectomy ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; drug effects