Progesterone secretion in the rat in response to an adjuvant arthritis challenge

Celiac sprue presenting during the puerperium: a report of three cases and a review of the literature

We present three patients in whom there was an acute presentation of malabsorption in the puerperium and in whom the final diagnosis was celiac sprue. The reason for the dramatic increase in the symptoms after delivery, as well as the absence of symptoms before this, is unclear but may be related to immunologic changes that occur during pregnancy.

Thyroid stimulating hormone inhibits rat granulosa cell steroidogenesis in primary culture

It is not known why hypothyroidism predisposes the ovary to develop cystic follicles in hCG-treated rats. This study examined the effect of TSH on steroidogenesis in cultured granulosa cells. Granulosa cells were isolated from the ovaries of hCG-treated Long-Evans rats. Cells were cultured in medium with either 0 or 100NM: testosterone or 25(OH)cholesterol and treated with 0, 2.5, 10 or 20 ng/ml of TSH. TSH reduced 3β-HSDI activity in these cells to 12% of control. Progesterone secretion decreased by 72% and estradiol secretion was non-detectable during the second day of treatment with 20 ng/ml of TSH. We conclude that TSH is capable of regulating the secretion of progesterone and estradiol by cultured granulosa cells.

Lack of Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on Blood Lactate

In brief: Some female athletes report that i their performance varies between phases of the menstrual cycle, and some may use oral contraceptives to modify their cycles. To determine if energy metabolism varies across the cycle, the author examined the response of blood lactate to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity, steady-state exercise during the beginning (early follicular phase) and near the end (midluteal phase) of the menstrual cycle. Lactate increased during exercise in both phases, but it did not differ significantly between phases. The author concluded that the menstrual cycle exerts no effect on blood lactate concentration during moderate-intensity, steady-state exercise.