BACKGROUND Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is the principal enzyme in the conjugation pathway for hydroxylated estrogens. We hypothesize that blood 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and estrone (E(1)) levels in postmenopausal women receiving an oral E(2) preparation are dependent on the enzyme activity of COMT. METHODS To determine the influence of this enzyme on E(2) serum levels three groups of 1...

BACKGROUND Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), one of the initial embryonic signals, is probably a major regulator of the embryo-endometrial relationship. This study aims to assess the advantage of HCG supplementation during the secretory phase of hormonally prepared cycles for the transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was a randomized clinical trial. Infe...

BACKGROUND Endometrial integrin expression changes might be a reason for implantation failure in polycystic ovarian syndromes (PCOS). Objective : Assessment of integrin genes and proteins expression upon endometrium in the PCOS experimental mouse model was the main goal of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS 30 NMRI female mice were equally divided into control, experimental (PCOS; received est...

Two once-a-month preparations cyclo provera (Depo-medroxy Progesterone Acetate 25 mg and Estradiol Cypionate 5 mg) and HRP-102 (Norethisterone enanthate 50 mg and Estradiol Valerate 5 mg) were tried in two groups of women by random allocation, and their effectiveness, complaints and reasons for discontinuation were studied. A total of 206 women were admitted (104 on cyclo provera and 102 on HRP...

To study the mechanisms of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering by peroral and transdermal estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), 79 hysterectomized postmenopausal women aged 48 to 62 years were randomized in a double-blind double-dummy trial to receive either peroral estradiol valerate (2 mg/d) or transdermal estradiol gel (1 mg/d) for 6 months. Plasma LDL cholesterol decreased from...

Previous binding and contractility studies indicate that oxytocin (OT) receptors are present in rabbit epididymis. To investigate the effect of changing endocrine milieu on OT responsiveness, we induced hypogonadism (hypo) in rabbits with a single administration of a long-acting GnRH analog, triptorelin, and we replaced hypogonadal rabbits with different sex steroids. After 2 months from tripto...

The incidence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reduced during pregnancy. Estradiol-17beta and relaxin (RLX), hormones of pregnancy, are implicated in decreased immune responsiveness. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of estrogen and RLX, alone or in combination, on the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in ovariectomized (OVX) Lewis rats. Arthritis was...