Genetic investigation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase function in Drosophila development

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) has been shown to mediate the vast majority of cellular responses to the intracellular second messenger, cAMP, in eukaryotes. To study the role of cAMP signal transduction in Drosophila development, we have isolated and molecularly characterized mutations of varying severity in the Drosophila PKA gene, DC0. Biochemical measurements indicate that DC0 is either the sole or the major PKA catalytic subunit gene in Drosophila. Adult females heterozygous for a strong and a weak DC0 allele fail to lay eggs and show a striking and novel defect in oogenesis that includes the formation of egg chambers containing multinucleate nurse cells. Females heterozygous for two weak DC0 alleles are fertile but produce offspring showing a variety of defects in embryogenesis, including preblastoderm arrest and alterations in cuticular patterning. Animals zygotically null for DC0 die as morphologically normal first-instar larvae, implying that maternally encoded protein, which perdures for at least 12 hr, suffices for embryogenesis. Animals hemizygous for weak DC0 alleles survive for several days as larvae but grow slowly. Mitotic recombination experiments in the adult eye indicate that the DC0 gene is not required autonomously either for cell viability or normal growth rates. These results argue that cAMP-mediated signal transduction is essential at a variety of stages during the development of a metazoan.

[The content of sex steroid receptors and the activity of marker enzymes of estrogenic action in the uterus of androgen-sterile rats]

In rats with preserved ovaries, both in normal and in neonatally androgenized, the activity of enzymes kreatinphosphokinase and peroxidase cannot serve as the marker of the estradiol effect upon the uterus. In ovariectomised animals, the dynamics of activity of these enzymes corresponds to uterotropic responses to estradiol. but not to the dynamics of hormone receptor complexes. The data obtained makes doubtful the participation of the hormone receptor complexes in realisation of the estrogens effect upon the uterus.

Acid phosphatase activity in human uterine fluid in relation to infertility

In the luminal fluid of parous women the acid phosphatase activity was found to be very low and remained virtually unchanged throughout the cycle (10.60 to 18.14 mgp/hr/100 ml). In the infertiles, the activity was generally high with a maximum of 54.37 mgp/hr/100 ml at late follicular phase. It was argued that increased enzyme level in infertiles could have adversely affected the sperm capacitation power as well as the implantation of the fertilized ovum.

Enzymes of human cervical mucus: a comparative study on fertile and infertile mucus and on the endocervical epithelium

We report a comparative study on protein and enzyme content of human periovulatory cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium. The salient results of our investigation are summarized in the following three points: 1) The method of taking of cervical mucus samples may markedly affect the results of protein and enzyme assays. It is warmly advisable to collect mucus samples from the endocervical canal. 2) Cervical mucus from women diagnosed as having cervical-factor infertility is oligoproteic and lacks some enzyme activities always present in normal cases. 3) Human cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium are very similar as for the enzyme distribution, but show quite different LDH-isoenzyme patterns. In the latter tissue, the H subunits constitute about 77 per cent of the whole LDH, suggesting that this enzyme here is functioning to produce pyruvate rather than lactate.

The nature of the intraperitoneal exudate associated with infertility: peritoneal fluid and serum lysozyme activity

An intraperitoneal inflammatory process has been associated with infertility in women without anatomic distortion of the pelvic viscera, particularly with endometriosis. This phenomenon was investigated by measuring peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum levels of a major secretory product of the macrophage, lysozyme, in fertile and infertile women undergoing laparoscopy. Serum lysozyme levels were in the normal range and did not correlate with total PF lysozyme. Regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between adnexal adhesions and PF volume (P less than 0.05), PF leukocyte number (P less than 0.05), and total PF lysozyme (P less than 0.05). Significant correlations were found between total PF lysozyme and PF volume (r = 0.72, P less than 0.0001) and leukocyte number (r = 0.67, P less than 0.0001). These results suggest that a localized intraperitoneal inflammatory reaction is associated with infertility in the absence of anatomic distortion of the pelvic viscera.

Activity in the corpora lutea resulting from sterile matings in Clethrionomys glareolus: a histochemical study

The capacity for steroid production in the corpora lutea (CL) of bank voles was examined by enzyme histochemistry for 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The results revealed similar activity in the CL resulting from sterile matings and the CL of pregnancy 2 days after mating. Six days after mating, the CL of pregnancy showed a strong reaction, while there was almost no reaction in the CL from sterile matings, which were clearly regressed at this time. It is suggested that the CL from sterile matings produce progesterone before regression and that this progesterone may prime the luteotrophic complex, increasing fertility of subsequent matings.

The partial adrenocortical hydroxylase deficiency syndrome in infertile women

Eighteen infertile women desiring conception were selected for additional diagnostic studies on the basis of clinical evidence of hyperandrogenism characterized by acne and/or facial hirsutism. These 18 patients underwent stimulation tests with adrenocorticotropic hormone which demonstrated the presence of partial adrenocortical hydroxylase deficiences. All patients were then placed on glucocorticoid suppression therapy. Ten patients conceived and, of these, six required no therapy other than prednisone. Four conceived using a combination of prednisone and clomiphene therapy. Of othe eight patients who did not conceive, seven had other significant infertility factors. Therefore, of the patients without other significant fertility factors, 91% conceived. This study demonstrates that partial adrenocortical enzyme defects play a significant role in some women with clinical evidence of hyperandrogenism, and, in such women, either glococorticoid therapy alone or in combination with clomiphene is indicated.

A study of endometrial RNA polymerase activity in infertile women

Endometrial RNA polymerase activity, which is sensitive to oestrogens and progesterone, has been measured in normal and infertile patients. One-third of the infertile patients studied had abnormal values. An analysis of the relationship of abnormal RNA polymerase activity to clinical abnormalities and to pregnancies occurring without treatment suggests that this assay may detect a biochemical fault in the endometrium which is related to the failure to conceive.

A comparison of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and plasma estradiol measurements in the monitoring of clomiphene and gonadotropin therapy

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) and plasma estradiol (E2) were measured in 56 infertile women treated with clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and in 21 infertile women treated with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and hCG. Plasma LAP scores were found to correlate significantly with plasma E2 levels in both clomiphene- and hMG-stimulated patients, reflecting the depdence of LAP on the level of circulating plasma estrogens. However, the plasma LAP score failed to distinguish the difference between normal stimulated and hyperstimulated cycles following hMG administration. We conclude that plasma LAP measurements have little value in monitoring ovulation induction therapy.

Thymidylate synthetase in mutants of Drosophila melanogaster

Thymidylate synthetase has been examined with respect to the normal pattern of activity throughout the development of the Oregon-R strain of Drosophila melanogaster. Large amounts of the enzyme are present in both the unfertilized and the fertilized eggs. A comparison of the ovarian thymidylate synthetase activity of the Oregon-R strain and the female sterility mutants, fs(2)B, fu, and fs(1)N, indicates variations in the activity of this enzyme in each strain. At four days of age, the ovarian-specific activity of the female sterility mutants is comparable to or less than that of the Oregon-R strain, but it is reduced at fifteen days of age. The enzyme activity per ovary is low in the fs(2)B strain but is similar in the Oregon-R, fu, and fs(1)N strains. When expressed as activity per organism, thymidylate synthetase declines after six to eight hours of development until the minimal level is reached in the late embryonic stage. Enzyme activity rises throughout the larval instars, reaching a maximum immediately after puparium formation. The activity decreases during pupation, but rises again during the first four days of adult life.