The causes of luteal phase progesterone deficiency in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are not known. To determine the possible involvement of hyperinsulinemia in luteal phase progesterone deficiency in women with PCOS, we examined the relationship between progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin during the luteal phase and studied the effect of metformin on luteal progesterone levels...

OBJECTIVES To determine the levels of progesterone in plasma, red cells and saliva as well as pregnanediol-3-glucuronide excretion in postmenopausal women using transdermal progesterone creams. METHODS A double-blind placebo controlled study was carried out using 24 postmenopausal women. Creams (placebo, 20 or 40 mg progesterone/g) were applied twice daily for 3 weeks followed by 1 week witho...

Background The best time of final oocyte maturation triggering in assisted reproduction technology protocols is unknown. This time always estimated by combined follicular size and blood progesterone level. Objective The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of delaying oocyte maturation triggering by 24 hr on the number of mature oocytes (MII) and other in vitro fertilization cycle c...

Prostaglandins (PGs) cause uterine contraction to initiate labor at term. We investigated the effect of progesterone and 17beta-estradiol on the production of PGE2 in rabbit uterine cervical fibroblasts. When the cervical fibroblasts were treated with interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), the level of PGE2 was augmented in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IL-1alpha-augmented PGE2 level was almo...

We investigated the effect of progesterone on the nerve during lengthening of the limb in rats. The sciatic nerves of rats were elongated by leg lengthening for ten days at 3 mm per day. On alternate days between the day after the operation and nerve dissection, the progesterone-treated group received subcutaneous injections of 1 mg progesterone in sesame oil and the control group received oil ...

Spontaneously occurring spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and serum concentrations of ovarian steroid hormones were investigated before, during and after pregnancy in WAG/Rij rats, a rat strain with genetically determined absence seizures. Eight groups of rats were included in the assays of progesterone and estradiol: rats at diestrus, at various days of pregnancy and at lactating days. The number o...

Mental rotation task (MRT) incorporates elements of spatial abilities, important in many professions, with people of both genders involved. Importantly, these are the areas where spatial tasks might be performed for long time periods; thus adverse effects of mental fatigue are highly unwanted. Substantial variation of MRT performance in relation to estrogen levels has been observed in many stud...

Neurosteroids are steroids that are produced in the central nervous system (CNS). While progesterone and dehydroepiandostendione (the precursors of testosterone) are among the identified neurosteroids, it is not clear that testosterone could be considered as a neurosteroid. The testosterone synthesis has been demonstrated in the brain of castrated frog, but not in the rat brain. In the present ...

The aim of present studies was to examine the interrelationships between reproductive events, age, body mass and steroid hormones in roe deer females (Capreolus capreolus). For this purpose we compared seasonal changes in body mass, blood levels of progesterone and estradiol (1) in young (1 year) and adult (2-4 years old) does and (2) in pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Monthly during 12 mont...