Adult ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Gonadotrophs ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate how type I diabetes mellitus (T1D) affects the folliculogenesis and oocyte development, fertilization, and embryo development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative animal study was conducted using two different mouse models of T1D, a genetic AKITA model and a streptozotocin-induced diabetes model. Ovarian function was assessed by gross observation, immunoblot, immunohistochemistry, oocyte counting, and ELISA for serum hormones (insulin, anti-Mullerian hormone, estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone). Maturation and developmental competence of metaphase II oocytes from control and T1D animals was evaluated by immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical detection of biomarkers and in vitro fertilization. RESULTS: Animals from both T1D models showed increased blood glucose levels, while only streptozotocin (STZ)-injected mice showed reduced body weight. Folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and preimplantation embryogenesis were impaired in both T1D mouse models. Interestingly, exogenous streptozotocin injection to induce T1D led to marked decreases in ovary size, expression of luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor in the ovaries, the number of corpora lutea per ovary, oocyte maturation, and serum progesterone levels. Both T1D models exhibited significantly reduced pre-implantation embryo quality compared with controls. There was no significant difference in embryo quality between STZ-injected and AKITA diabetic mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that T1D affects folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and embryo development in mice. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying the observed reproductive effects of diabetes need to be further investigated.
Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Corpus Luteum ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Estradiol ; Female ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lutein ; Mental Competency ; Metaphase ; Mice ; Oocytes ; Oogenesis ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; Reproduction ; Streptozocin ; Testosterone

ObjectiveTo screen out an effective substitute in the prescription of Shengjing Capsules (SJC), observe the effects of the redeveloped New SJC (NSJC) with cordyceps cephalosporium mycelia (CCM) substituted for the ingredient cordyceps sinensis in the treatment of spermatogenesis impairment (SI), and provide some experimental evidence for its application in the treatment of male infertility and sexual dysfunction.

METHODSWe equally randomized 192 male mice into 16 groups: normal saline control, SI model, high-, medium- and low-dose fermented cordycepin powder (FCP, 1.60, 0.80 and 0.40 g/kg), high-, medium- and low-dose CCM (1.60, 0.80 and 0.40 g/kg), high-, medium- and low-dose cordyceps mortierella mycelia (CMM, 1.60, 0.80 and 0.40 g/kg), high-, medium- and low-dose fermented cordyceps sinensis (FCS, 1.60, 0.80 and 0.40 g/kg), SJC (0.80 g/kg), and vitamin E (VE, 0.25 g/kg), with the SI model established in all the mice and the normal controls injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide at 60 mg/kg qd for 5 consecutive days. After intragastrical medication with respective drugs, we obtained the body mass index (BMI), sexual organ coefficient, sperm count, sperm motility, and percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm (MAS) of the mice. We also randomly divided 70 male rats into 7 groups of equal number: normal control, SI model, high-, medium- and low-dose NSJC (1.12, 0.56 and 0.28 g/kg), SJC (0.56 g/kg), and VE (0.18 g/kg), the SI model constructed in the latter 6 groups of rats by gavage of adenine at 200 mg/kg qd for 5 consecutive days. After intragastrical medication with respective drugs, we examined the BMI, coefficients of sexual and renal organs, levels of reproductive hormones, testicular morphology, and fertility of the animals.

RESULTSAfter medication, the mice in different groups showed different degrees of improvement in the cyclophosphamide-induced slow growth, significant increases in the testicular and epididymal coefficients, sperm count, motility and viability (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and a remarkable reduction in the percentage of MAS (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The effect was particularly significant in the CCM group and therefore CCM was chosen as the best substitute ingredient in the redeveloped NSJC. Compared with the rats in other groups, those treated with NSJC exhibited significant increases in the BMI, coefficients of sexual and renal organs and levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), improvement of the pathologically damaged testicular morphology, elevation of the pregnancy rate and litter size, and recovery from adenine-induced SI.

CONCLUSIONSThe redeveloped New Shengjing Capsules with cordyceps cephalosporium mycelia substituted for the ingredient cordyceps sinensis can improve fertility and reverse spermatogenesis impairment in male rats. The new prescription may also be applied to the clinical treatment of male infertility and sexual dysfunction.

Acremonium ; Animals ; Capsules ; Cordyceps ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Epididymis ; Estradiol ; blood ; Fertility ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Mycelium ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Species Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; Testosterone ; blood

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of the levels of reproductive hormones and oxidative stress in the seminal plasma with semen parameters in obese males.

METHODSBased on the body mass index (BMI), we divided 138 infertile men into three groups: normal (BMI <24 kg/m2, n = 48), overweight (24 kg/m2≤BMI<28 kg/m2, n = 47), and obesity (BMI ≥28 kg/m2, n = 43). We determined the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in the serum by electrochemiluminescence and measured the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the seminal plasma by ELISA, compared the above indexes among the three groups, and analyzed their correlation with the semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, and percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS).

RESULTSThe semen volume was significantly lower in the obesity than in the normal group (［2.63 ± 0.74］ vs ［3.37 ± 1.00］ ml, P < 0.05), and so was the percentage of PMS in the overweight and even lower in the obesity than in the normal group (［47.91 ± 12.89］ and ［41.27 ± 15.77］ vs ［54.04 ± 13.29］%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, both the overweight and obesity groups showed markedly decreased levels of serum T (［4.83 ± 1.42］ vs ［3.71 ± 1.22］ and ［3.49 ± 1.12］ ng/ml, P<0.05), T/LH ratio (1.53 ± 0.57 vs 1.19 ± 0.54 and 0.97 ± 0.51, P<0.05), SOD (［112.05 ± 10.54］ vs ［105.85 ± 6.93］ and ［99.33 ± 8.39］ U/ml, P<0.05), and GSTs (［31.75±6.03］ vs ［29.54±5.78］ and ［29.02±4.52］ U/L, P<0.05), but remarkably increased seminal plasma ROS (［549.93±82.41］ vs ［620.61±96.13］ and ［701.47±110.60］ IU/ml, P<0.05) and MDA (［7.46 ± 2.13］ vs ［8.72 ± 1.89］ and ［10.47 ± 2.10］ nmol/L, P<0.05). BMI was correlated positively with ROS and MDA, but negatively with the semen volume, PMS, T, T/LH, SOD and GSTs (P<0.05); LH negatively with sperm concentration, total sperm count and GSTs (P<0.05); PRL negatively GSTs (P<0.05); E2 positively with SOD (P<0.05); T positively with SOD (P<0.05) but negatively with MDA (P<0.05); T/LH positively with PMS and SOD (P<0.05) but negatively with ROS and MDA (P<0.05); SOD positively with semen volume, PMS and GSTs (P<0.05) but negatively with ROS and MDA (P<0.05); GSTs negatively with sperm concentration; total sperm count and MDA (P<0.05); ROS positively with MDA (P<0.01) but negatively with PMS (P<0.05); and MDA negatively with semen volume (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent factors influencing the semen volume were BMI and GSTs, those influencing the total sperm count were BMI and T, and those influencing PMS were BMI and MDA.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased BMI induces changes in the levels of male reproductive hormones and seminal plasma oxidative stress and affects semen quality, which may be associated with male infertility.

Body Mass Index ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; classification ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Obesity ; blood ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Prolactin ; blood ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis ; Reproduction ; Semen ; metabolism ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with medication and medication alone for infertility patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSAccording to random number table, a total of 60 infertility patients with PCOS were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with diane-35 from the 3rd day into menstruation, and one menstrual cycle was taken as a session of treatment. At the same time of using diane-35, the patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21) and Ganshu (BL 18) during non-menstruation period; the acupuncture was given once every two days, three treatments per week. The patients in both groups were treated for two sessions. The basic sex hormone and body mass index (BMI) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. After ovulation induction treatment, the endometrial thickness, amount of mature follicle, ovulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, occurrence rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and the number of early spontaneous abortion were compared between the two groups during ovulation.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and BMI reduced in the observation group (all <0.05), while only LH reduced in the control group (<0.05). The reducing of estradiol (E), T and BMI in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (all <0.05). The ovulation rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 80.0% (24/30) in the control group (<0.05). The rate of clinical pregnancy was 43.3% (13/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 33.3% (10/30) in the control group (<0.05). The differences of endometrial thickness, amount of mature follicle, occurrence rate of OHSS and number of early spontaneous abortion were not significant between the two groups (all >0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture as adjunctive treatment could improve BMI, reduce the levels of LH, E and T, increase ovulation reaction and effectively shorten reproduction cycles in infertility patients with PCOS.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Body Mass Index ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyproterone Acetate ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Estradiol ; blood ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture at back- points of five , Geshu (BL 17), Shenmen (HT 7) and regular medication for the treatment of menopausal insomnia.

METHODSA total of 128 female patients of menopausal insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 64 cases in each one. Four patients in the observation group and 2 patients in the control group dropped out during the treatment. The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17) and Shenmen (HT 7), once a day, and there was an interval of 2 days between every 5 days of treatment. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of alprazolam (0.4 mg or 0.8 mg) before sleep. Three-week treatment was taken as one course, and totally three courses were given in the two groups. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), levels of estradiol (E), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were observed before treatment and 30 days after treatment; the efficacy was evaluated 30 days after treatment.

RESULTSEach item score and total score of PSQI 30 days after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05), the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all <0.05). The levels of E 30 days after treatment were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (both <0.05), but the level of FSH and LH 30 days after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups; the level in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (all <0.05). The total effective rate was 98.3% (59/60) in the observation group, which was better than 95.2% (59/62) in the control group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17), and Shenmen (HT 7) has better efficacy for menopausal insomnia than alprazolam.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Alprazolam ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Menopause ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

A rapid decline in egg production of laying hens begins after 480 d of age. Such a rapid decrease results predominantly from the ovarian aging, accompanied by endocrine changes, decreased yolk synthesis and accumulation, and the reduction in follicles selected into the preovulatory hierarchy. In this study, hens at 90, 150, 280, and 580 d old (D90, D150, D280, and D580, respectively) were compared for yolk precursor formation in the liver to elucidate effects of aging on laying performance. The results showed that liver lipid synthesis increased remarkably in hens from D90 to D150, but decreased sharply at D580 as indicated by the changes in triglyceride (TG) levels. This result was consistent with the age-related changes of the laying performance. The levels of liver antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly in D580 hens and the methane dicarboxylic aldehyde in D580 hens was much higher than that at other stages. The serum 17β-estradiol level increased from D90 to D280, but decreased at D580 (P<0.05). The expression of estrogen receptor α and β mRNAs in the liver displayed similar changes to the serum 17β-estradiol in D580 hens. Expressions of the genes related to yolk precursor formation and enzymes responsible for fat acid synthesis were all decreased in D580 hens. These results indicated that decreased yolk precursor formation in the liver of the aged hens resulted from concomitant decreases of serum 17β-estradiol level, transcription levels of estrogen receptors and critical genes involved in yolk precursor synthesis, and liver antioxidant status.
Age Factors ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Chickens ; Egg Yolk ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Liver ; metabolism ; Oviposition ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics

PURPOSE: To characterize the relationship between serum estradiol levels and the expression of glucose transporter type 4 (Glut4) in the pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles in female rats. METHODS: The muscles were excised from virgin rats during the metestrus and proestrus stages of the estrous cycle, and from sham and ovariectomized rats implanted with empty or estradiol benzoate–filled capsules. The expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) was inspected in the muscles at metestrus and proestrus. Relative Glut4 expression, glycogen content, and serum glucose levels were measured. Appropriate statistical tests were done to identify significant differences (P≤0.05). RESULTS: The pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles expressed ERα and ERβ. Glut4 expression and glycogen content in the pubococcygeus muscle were higher at proestrus than at metestrus. No significant changes were observed in the iliococcygeus muscle. In ovariectomized rats, the administration of estradiol benzoate increased Glut4 expression and glycogen content in the pubococcygeus muscle alone. CONCLUSIONS: High serum estradiol levels increased Glut4 expression and glycogen content in the pubococcygeus muscle, but not in the iliococcygeus muscle.
Animals ; Benzoates ; Blood Glucose ; Capsules ; Estradiol* ; Estrous Cycle ; Female ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose Transporter Type 4* ; Glucose* ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metestrus ; Muscles* ; Ovariectomy ; Pelvic Floor* ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; Receptors, Estrogen

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG) on sex hormone in male patients with severe obesity.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed in 31 male patient with severe obese [body mass index(BMI) ≥28 kg/m, obesity group] who underwent LSG in Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University from December 2012 to May 2016. The anthropometric parameters(weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, body fat percentage), glucose metabolic indices [fasting plasma glucose(FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)], and sex hormone parameters [estradiol(E2), total testosterone (TT), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)] were collected preoperatively and 1, 3, 6 months postoperatively. In addition, 31 healthy male volunteers with normal BMI were consecutively recruited in this study as control group. The above-mentioned parameters were also determined in control group. Changes of these variables before and after surgery were analyzed. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation of TT with anthropometric parameters and glucose metabolic indices before and after surgery.

RESULTSThe average age of patients in obesity and control group was (32.9±9.7) (18 to 56) years and (30.7±8.9) (18 to 49) years. Compared to the control group, obesity group had significantly higher anthropometric parameters and glucose metabolic indices before surgery (all P<0.05). In obesity group, the anthropometric and glucose metabolic indices significantly decreased at 1 to 6 months after surgery compared to those before surgery (all P<0.05). At 1 month after surgery, the anthropometric parameters and glucose metabolic indices in obesity group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). At 3, and 6 months after surgery, there were no significant differences in glucose metabolic indices between obesity and control group (all P>0.05), while the anthropometric parameters in obesity group were still significantly higher than those in control group(all P<0.05). The sex hormone parameters in control and obesity group before surgery were as follows: E2: (100.2±23.5) pmol/L and (129.2±81.9) pmol/L; TT: (18.0±4.9) nmol/L and (8.4±4.5) nmol/L; FSH: (4.5±3.1) IU/L and (4.3±2.5) IU/L; LH: (4.4±1.7) IU/L and (5.3±2.6) IU/L. Compared to control group, the TT level of obese patients before surgery significantly decreased(P=0.000), while no significant differences were observed in the levels of E2, FSH, and LH(all P>0.05). The TT levels were significantly increased at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery[(13.1±7.0), (13.6±5.7), (21.0±19.3) nmol/L, respectively, all P<0.05] and the E2 level was significantly decreased at 6 months after surgery [(91.4±44.9) pmol/L, P<0.05], while no significant differences were observed at 1 and 3 months after surgery (all P>0.05). Furthermore, the FSH and LH levels did not exhibit significant change at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery compared to those before surgery (all P>0.05). At 1 month after surgery, no significant correlations were examined in the change value of TT levels (▹TT) with the changes of BMI(▹BMI), FPG(▹FPG), FINS(▹FINS), HOMA-IR(▹HOMA-IR), and E2(▹E2) (all P>0.05). At 3 months after surgery, ▹TT was negatively correlated with ▹BMI (r=-0.441, P=0.015), ▹FINS (r=-0.375, P=0.041), and ▹HOMA-IR(r=-0.397, P=0.030), but not correlated with ▹FPG and ▹E2 (all P>0.05). At 6 months after surgery, ▹TT was negatively correlated with ▹BMI(r=-0.510, P=0.018) and ▹HOMA-IR (r=-0.435, P=0.049), but not correlated with ▹FPG, ▹FINS and ▹E2 (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMale severe obese patients are accompanied with abnormal sex hormone levels. LSG has a significant effect on weight loss and blood glucose improvement, and may ameliorate the sex hormone unbalance by improving the insulin resistance in men with severe obesity.

Adult ; Bariatric Surgery ; Blood Glucose ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weights and Measures ; China ; Estradiol ; blood ; physiology ; Fasting ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; physiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; physiology ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; physiology ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Obesity, Morbid ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood ; physiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight Loss ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the reference ranges of six sex hormones, i.e., luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, and testosterone, for healthy children aged 0-18 years in Shenzhen, China.

METHODSStratified cluster sampling was performed to select 2 178 healthy children aged 0-18 years in the districts of Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, Bao'an, and Longgang in Shenzhen between September 2015 and September 2016. There were 1 219 boys and 959 girls, including 81 neonates, 335 infants, 346 young children, 469 preschool children, 419 school-aged children, and 528 adolescents. The American Beckman DXI800 chemiluminescence meter was used to measure the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, and testosterone.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, and testosterone between different age groups (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the levels of these sex hormones between boys and girls in the same age group (P<0.05). The reference ranges of six sex hormones were established for healthy children aged 0-18 years in Shenzhen based on the levels of these hormones in different age groups.

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant differences in sex hormones between different age groups or sex groups. The reference ranges of six sex hormones established for different sexes or ages have great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases in children.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Luminescent Measurements ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Progesterone ; blood ; Reference Values ; Testosterone ; blood