The changes in serum hCG observed in this study indicated the spontaneous degeneration of the placenta. Such changes might be similar to those reported to occur during treatment with methotrexate. In contrast, the PI of the uterine arteries did not reflect degeneration of the placenta.
A total of 206 nongravid patients with various gynecologic problems underwent pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) examinations that included both sagittal T2-weighted and contrast agent-enhanced T1-weighted images. MR images were retrospectively reviewed to identify changes in endometrial configuration on serial images obtained during the same MR examination. In 20 MR examinations (all in women of reproductive age), endometrial distortion due to myometrial bulging was noted on T2-weighted or contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. It was absent on other MR images obtained at different times. Myometrial bulging exhibited low signal intensity in 18 examinations. The finding resembled adenomyosis or leiomyoma on T2-weighted or contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. These results evidence the presence of transient myometrial bulging and transient low-intensity myometrium in the nongravid uterus. This phenomenon is thought to represent uterine contraction. Clinicians should be aware of the potential presence of transient low-signal-intensity myometrial bulging that could present diagnostic problems in the normal uterus.
Interleukin-1(IL-1), a cytokine predominantly produced by activated macrophages, has been shown to possess a wide range of biological functions as well as to play a role as an immune mediator. As it has been reported that homogenates of peritoneal macrophages contained substances which stimulated progesterone production by luteinized granulosa cells of mice, we examined whether IL-1 could modulate the steroidogenic functions of granulosa cells. Porcine granulosa cells obtained from medium-sized follicles were cultured with IL-1 in the presence or absence of LH, and the effects of IL-1 on LH-stimulated as well as basal progesterone production by these cells were examined. Contrary to our expectation, IL-1 markedly inhibited the LH-stimulated progesterone production in a dose-dependent manner. The morphological luteinization of the granulosa cells induced by LH was also inhibited by IL-1. In addition to effects on LH-induced differentiation, IL-1 exhibited an inhibitory effect on basal (unstimulated) progesterone production as well. The ovarian granulosa cell was identified as one of the possible targets for IL-1, and it was shown for the first time that IL-1 can modulate steroidogenic functions of mammalian cells in culture.
We have reported that the cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and interferon (IFN) alpha, beta, and gamma modulate the steroidogenic function of human luteinized granulosa cells in culture. In the present study we examined the interactions between these cytokines in modulating progesterone and oestradiol production by these cells. Neither IL-1 nor TNF alpha had significant effects on human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-stimulated progesterone production, whereas IFN gamma (1-10 ng/ml) significantly reduced HCG-stimulated progesterone production by 26-37%. Concomitant treatment with IL-1 (1 ng/ml) did not further enhance the inhibitory effect of IFN gamma on HCG-stimulated progesterone production. In contrast, the combination of TNF alpha (1 ng/ml) and IFN gamma (10 ng/ml) acted synergistically to markedly inhibit HCG-stimulated progesterone production by 81%. In addition, IL-1 and TNF alpha, neither of which was effective alone, acted synergistically to reduce significantly HCG-stimulated progesterone production by 30%. The combination of TNF alpha and IFN gamma also markedly inhibited follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated oestradiol production by 97%, a significantly greater inhibition than that obtained with either cytokine alone. These results suggest that the cytokines may interact to modulate the steroidogenic function of luteal cells in the developing corpus luteum.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.