Here, we evaluated the expression of CYP24A1, a protein that inactivates vitamin D in tissues. CYP24A1 expression was increased in advanced-stage endometrial tumors compared to normal tissues. Similarly, endometrial cancer cells expressed higher levels of CYP24A1 than immortalized endometrial epithelial cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to examine CYP24A1 mRNA and protein levels in e...

Oral progestins have been the mainstay in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, their users have been plagued by bothersome side effects such as irritability, mood swings, bloating, and headache (1). These problems contribute to patients discontinuing HRT, thus denying them its long-term benefits. The health care community continues to search for clinically effective alternative progestin...

Menopausal hormone therapy use in breast cancer survivors is controversial, and clinical trials of this issue have proven diffi cult. Eight years ago, two separate randomized trials of this question were begun, but accrual diffi culties led to development of a merger with a joint analysis plans. In 2004 the trials were stopped early after an interim combined analysis of the pooled data found an...

When doses of progestin used commercially are administered to synchronize the stage of the estrous cycle among bovine females, fertility is reduced compared with that of untreated controls. The reduced fertility that results from the use of progestin based estrus synchrony regimens is associated with the development of persistent ovarian follicles. Persistent ovarian follicles develop as a resu...

Differential regulation of gonadotropin hormone production in the pituitary is critical for fertility. Activin and progesterone signaling in gonadotrope cells is important for Fshb gene expression. Previously, we reported that synergy between activin and progestins required the binding of SMAD proteins and the progesterone receptor (PR) to the murine Fshb promoter. In this study, we demonstrate...