Identification of sex pheromone of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii and exploration of the chemosensory mechanism of their antennae

Red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is a globally invasive species, which has caused great damage to biodiversity, agriculture, and fishing. Therefore, the development of effective management methods, such as pheromone control, is necessary for biological control and biodiversity protection. However, the components of P. clarkii sex pheromones have not yet been explored, and the chemosensory mechanism of the P. clarkii antennae after stimulation by sex pheromone also remains unknown. In this study, we isolated and identified the candidate bioactive component of the female P. clarkii sex pheromone using ultrafiltration centrifugation, semi-preparative liquid phase separation and omics technologies and conducted bioassays to determine its attraction ability. Meanwhile, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the potential chemosensory mechanism of antennae. Our results indicated that the male P. clarkii were uniaxially attracted to the female crude conditioned water (FCW), medium fraction (MF, isolated by ultrafiltration centrifugation), and preparative fragment 6 of females (PFF6, isolated by semi-preparative liquid phase separation). Metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of 18 differential metabolites between the PFF6 and PFM6 samples, among which 15 were significantly upregulated in the PFF6 sample. Bioassay test also showed that mestranol, especially at concentrations of 10-5-10-2 mol∙l-1, could significantly attract P. clarkii males; therefore, mestranol was identified as the candidate sex pheromone component of P. clarkii females. Furthermore, RNA-Seq results showed that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in lipid metabolism and signal transduction pathways were up-regulated in P. clarkii males. In addition, high expressions of Ca2+-binding protein and ion transporting ATPases may enhance the sensitivity of the antennae of P. clarkii males towards sex pheromones. Our study provides data on P. clarkii sex pheromone composition and reveals the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone response in P. clarkii. Moreover, our study provides a referable method for the isolation of candidate bioactive molecules from the P. clarkii sex pheromone.

Colorimetric method for the estimation of norethynodrel in tablets containing mestranol

The colour method proposed for the estimation of norethynodrel in tablets with mestranol utilises a reaction similar to the well known Zimmerman reaction, the reagents employed being m-dinitrobenzene and benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solution and a solvent mixture consisting of ethyl acetate and ethanol. Maximum extinction was at a wavelength of 510 mμ and Beer’s law is obeyed for a concentration range 5 to 20μg norethynodrel per ml final solution.

Metabolic Effects of Contraceptive Steroids 1. Observations of Blood Lipids

Semilongitudinal observations on fasting blood sugar, total lipids, cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lipoproteins were carried out on 116 women taking combination type oral contraceptives for 3-42 cycles. The changes observed differed with each constituent. Total lipids showed significant increase throughout the period of observation. Cholesterol and phospholipds showed significant increases after about 12 cycles of administration whereas triglycerides showed an increase after 6 cycles of medication. NEFA showed significant decrease in the 1st-3rd cycles. The alpha and beta lipoprotein ratios showed significant changes after 13-24 cycles of treatment. The general trend of change observed is similar to that reported during pregnancy.

Metabolic Effects of Contraceptive Steroids III. Intravenous Glucose Tolerance - Short Term Observations

Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were carried out in women taking 2 types of estrogen/progestogen combination oral contraceptives. Each subject had the test done on days 18-21 in a control cycle before the medication was begun and 3 consecutive cycles during administration of the drug. Fasting blood glucose levels and K values showed no significant changes with a combination of megestrol acetate (4 mg) with 0.05 mg of ethinyl estradiol. A significant decline in glucose tolerance was observed by the change in K values during all 3 cycles of medication with a combination of 2.5 mg lynestrenol and 0.075 mg mestranol. Tests repeated 2 months after stoppage of the medication in 5 subjects showed that blood sugar levels and K values had returned to pretreatment levels.

Suppressive effect of neonatal treatment with a phytoestrogen, coumestrol, on lordosis and estrous cycle in female rats

The neural control systems for the ovulatory cycle and lordosis behavior are sexually differentiated by estrogen during the perinatal period in rats. In the present study, the effects of a single neonatal injection with the phytoestrogen, coumestrol, on female reproductive functions were investigated. Female rats were injected subcutaneously with 1 or 3mg coumestrol (CM1, CM3), 1mg genistein (GS1), 1mg estradiol (E2), or oil at day 5 after birth (birth day=day 1) and an estrous cycle check and lordosis behavior test were performed. As a result, vaginal opening was advanced in CM1-, CM3- or E2-treated females. A vaginal smear check indicated that oil- or GS1-treated females showed a constant 4- or 5-day estrous cycle, whereas CM1-, CM3- or E2-treated rats showed a persistent or prolonged estrus. Ovariectomy was performed in all females at 60 days of age. The ovary weights in the CM1-, CM3- or E2-treated groups were lower than those in the oil- and GS1-treated groups and no corpora lutea were found in any rats of these three groups, except for two E2-treated rats. Behavioral tests were carried out after implantation of E2-tubes. All rats in the CM1-, GS1-treated groups showed a high lordosis quotient (LQ), being comparable to that in the oil-treated females. On the other hand, LQs in the CM3, E2 or male groups were lower than that in the control female group. These results suggest that a single neonatal injection of 3 mg coumestrol was effective in suppressing the functions of ovulation-inducing mechanisms and the induction of lordosis, but 1mg coumestrol was effective in only the estrous cycle of female rats.

New observations on endometrial physiology after transcervical injection of methylene blue dye

We describe the in vivo features of endometrium stained with methylene blue dye and observed via microhysteroscopy, showing the patterns of endometrial glands and superficial cell changes during the midproliferative, periovulatory, and midluteal phases. These preliminary observations have allowed us to identify a series of changes occurring in the different phases of the ovulatory cycle of potential value in reproductive medicine for specific groups of infertile patients.

Endometrial response to the use of a sequential oral contraceptive

Belgium is 1 of the few countries where sequential oral contraceptives are still commercially available. The authors investigated the endometrial effect of Ortho-Novum SQ (14 tablets of 100 mcg mestranol and 7 tablets of 100 mcg mestranol + 2 mg norethisterone) in 222 biopsy specimens obtained from 184 asymptomatic Caucasian women (mean +or- s.d, age and parity, 34.6 +or- 6.7 and 2.0 +or- 1.0, respectively) who had used this sequential OC during an average of 52.5 months. Notwithstanding predominantly longterm use of Ortho-Novum SQ, 43% of the tissue samples had normal proliferative or luteal endometrium. The data suggest a positive correlation between the endometrial response and the duration of pill use. No premalignant or malignant changes were found. In 15 of 24 subjects for whom multiple biopsy specimens were available, the histological picture was static; 7 showed regression and only in 2 were the changes progressive, although never more severe than minor 'class 2' lesions. These results, which are at variance with those reported for users of other sequential brands (mainly Oracon), suggest that prolonged use of Ortho-Novum SQ does not enhance the risk of endometrial cancer in premenopausal women having no additional risk factors for the development of this type of neoplasia.

The effect of fluconazole on circulating ethinyl estradiol levels in women taking oral contraceptives

OBJECTIVE

This open-label, two-period, crossover study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a single 150 mg dose of fluconazole on the pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol in healthy female subjects.

STUDY DESIGN

Ten subjects regularly taking Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 (Ortho Pharmaceutical, Raritan, N.J.) and 10 subjects regularly taking Triphasil (Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia), which contain ethinyl estradiol 35 microg and 30 microg during days 1 to 6, respectively, were randomly assigned to receive a single 150 mg dose of fluconazole 2 hours before the oral contraceptive, on pill day 6 of one of two menstrual cycles. Ethinyl estradiol serum concentrations were measured at baseline and up to 24 hours after oral contraceptive intake. No fluconazole was administered during the other menstrual cycle, which served as the control.

RESULTS

Mean serum concentrations of ethinyl estradiol were increased after fluconazole administration in both oral contraceptive groups. Maximum observed serum concentration and area under the concentration-time curve values were significantly (p < 0.05) greater during the fluconazole regimens (vs regimens without fluconazole) for both oral contraceptive groups and for combined values of the two oral contraceptive groups. The mean time to reach the maximum concentration was not altered by concomitant fluconazole administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that there is a potential for a clinically significant interaction between coadministration of fluconazole and ethinyl estradiol in oral contraceptives.

INFLUENCE OF SEX HORMONES ON THROMBOSIS OF LEFT ATRIUM IN SYRIAN (GOLDEN) HAMSTERS

Spontaneous thrombosis of the left atrium is common in aged male and female Syrian (golden) hamsters in our laboratory and occurs at a younger age in females. At necropsy, the thrombus almost completely occludes the swollen atrium and is widely attached to the endocardium Endocrine manipulations unexpectedly influenced the occurrence of these thrombi. Following gonadectomy, development of such thrombi was hastened in male hamsters but was uninfluenced in female hamsters. Testosterone propionate given subcutaneously inhibited left atrial thrombosis in male and female gonadectomized hamsters. Norethynodrel with mestranol given subcutaneously to adult male hamsters was followed by an increased incidence of left atrial thrombosis. This increase may have been due to suppression of endogenous androgen production or action, or both. Microbiological studies of left atrial thrombi were negative. There was no correlation between the occurrence of left atrial thrombi and platelet numbers, prothrombin time, glass-tube clotting time, plastic-tube clotting time, or Russell viper-venom time. Partial thromboplastin time was lengthened in female but not in male hamsters with a left atrial thrombus.

Dirithromycin increases ethinyl estradiol clearance without allowing ovulation

OBJECTIVE

To use a novel, sensitive study design to detect a potential oral contraceptive (OC) and dirithromycin drug interaction by assessing the pharmacokinetics of the ethinyl estradiol (E2) component of a common OC and the potential failure of OC effectiveness.

METHODS

In this nonblinded study, 20 healthy women using Ortho Novum 7/7/7-28 were selected for a three-OC-cycle study. Baseline measures included E2 and progesterone serum levels on days 21, 23, 25, and 27 of cycle one and days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of cycle two. During cycle two, 24-hour blood sampling and radioimmunoassay analysis for ethinyl E2 pharmacokinetics were performed on day 8 and pelvic ultrasound on day 13. Oral dirithromycin 500 mg/day for 14 days began on day 21 of cycle 2. After starting dirithromycin, cycle two and three serum E2, progesterone, and serial ethinyl E2 levels and pelvic ultrasound replicated the baseline schedule. Ovulation was assumed if E2 concentration was greater than 50 pg/mL, progesterone concentration was greater than 3 ng/mL, or if an ovarian cyst greater than 10 mm was present on ultrasound.

RESULTS

Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated a small (7.6%) but statistically significant decrease (P = .03) in the mean ethinyl E2 24-hour area under the curve and an increase in apparent oral clearance. No woman ovulated, based on E2 levels and progesterone concentrations or ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

Dirithromycin increased the apparent oral clearance of ethinyl E2. The clinical importance of the interaction may be negligible because no woman ovulated or had compromised OC effectiveness in this small series.

Pressor responsiveness in rats with hypertension induced by mestranol

The aim of this study was to determine if pressor hyper-responsiveness is associated with the hypertension that results from the ingestion of the synthetic estrogen, mestranol. Rats were fed a diet containing mestranol for 6 months, while control rats were fed the same diet without mestranol. Catheters were then placed in the carotid artery and jugular vein of all rats, under halothane anesthesia. When the rats had recovered from the anesthesia, blood pressure was measured through the carotid catheter in conscious rats. Each rat received IV injections of norepinephrine (NE) at 2, 4, 8, and 16 ng per 100 gm body weight, and the pressor responses were recorded. The rats fed mestranol had significantly higher arterial pressures than did the control rats. However, the pressor responses to NE were significantly less in the mestranol-treated rats than in the controls, indicating that pressor hyper-responsiveness does not contribute to this form of hypertension.

Reduced plasma oestrogen stimulated neurophysin and delayed response to oestrogen challenge in Alzheimer's disease

Plasma concentrations of oestrogen stimulated neurophysin (ESN) were reduced in 28 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared with 14 age-matched controls, 16 patients with other presenile dementias and 12 patients with major depressive disorder. The ESN response to oestrogen challenge was delayed in 10 AD patients compared with 7 age-matched controls. Reduced basal and oestrogen stimulated plasma ESN may be related to impaired responsiveness of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial neurons and/or a reduction in the amount of pituitary ESN available for release. Plasma ESN measurements may be of value for excluding the diagnosis of AD in patients with dementia who present before the age of 65.

Oral contraceptives and intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma having an increased level of estrogen receptor

We report a case of intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma in a young woman who had no prior history of liver disease and who had taken oral contraceptives for one year. A 27-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a firm epigastric mass. At laparotomy, a large cystic mass was resected from the left hepatic lobe, and diagnosed as biliary cystadenoma. In the tumor tissue, the estrogen receptor content was 14.0 fmol/mg cytosol protein, which was much higher than the 3.0 fmol/mg cytosol protein in the surrounding liver tissue. This is the first case of biliary cystadenoma in which the estrogen receptor content was increased.

Body fluid volumes in rats with mestranol-induced hypertension

Because estrogens have been reported to produce sodium retention, this study investigated the possibility that hypertension in rats resulting from the ingestion of an estrogen used as an oral contraceptive could be due to increases in body fluid volumes. Female rats were given feed containing mestranol for 1, 3, and 6 mo; control rats were given the feed without mestranol. The mestranol-treated rats had higher arterial pressures than the controls only after 6 mo of treatment. Plasma volume, extracellular fluid volume, and total body water were measured in each rat by the distribution volumes of radioiodinated serum albumin, 35SO4, and tritiated water, respectively. Values for blood volume, interstitial fluid volume, and intracellular fluid volume were derived from these measurements. These body fluid volumes, expressed per 100 g of body weight, were not different between the mestranol-treated rats and their controls at any of the three treatment times. Due to differences in body weight and lean body mass between the mestranol-treated and the control rats, these volumes also were expressed per 100 g of lean body mass. Again, no differences were observed between the mestranol-treated rats and the control rats for any of these body fluid compartments at any of the treatment times. These studies, therefore, were unable to provide evidence that increases in body fluid volumes contributed to the elevated arterial pressure in this rat model of oral contraceptive hypertension.

Effect of peer counselors on adolescent compliance in use of oral contraceptives

Poor compliance with contraceptive regimens has been shown to be an important antecedent of adolescent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test prospectively the effect of a peer v nurse counseling program on adolescent compliance with the use of oral contraceptives. Fifty-seven females aged 14 to 19 years from a lower socioeconomic background were randomly assigned to a peer (n = 26) or nurse (n = 31) group. At the initial visit and at 1-, 2-, and 4-month follow-up visits, subjects received Ortho-Novum 1/35 combined with a tablet marker and were counseled by a nurse or peer. Noncompliance was measured using a Guttman scale consisting of: (1) avoidance of pregnancy, (2) appointment adherence, (3) pill count, and (4) urinary fluorescence for riboflavin. At the first and second follow-ups, the adolescents counseled by a peer had a significantly (P less than or equal to .038) lower noncompliance level than the nurse-counseled group. Adolescents with more frequent sexual activity (P less than or equal to .027), with one sexual partner (P less than .04), and who worried that they might become pregnant (P less than or equal to .01) had significantly lower levels of noncompliance when counseled by a peer than by a nurse. At the fourth month follow-up, adolescents who expressed feelings of hopelessness about the future had significantly (P less than or equal to .036) higher levels of noncompliance when counseled by a nurse than when counseled by a peer. These results suggest that incorporating a peer counselor into the health care team may be an effective method of increasing adolescent compliance.

Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology PIACT. New packaging specifications prompt OC shelf life study

when a major donor of contraceptives changed the packaging specifications of norethindrone/mestranol oral contraceptives (OCs), the change raised some questions as to product shelf life. The new specifications called for the OCs to be packaged in bulk with 100 blister packs/aluminum/plastic overpack. These revised packaging specifications would lead to removal of the blister pack from the protective overpack at an earlier point in the supply chain, and therefore to earlier potential exposure to high temperatures and humidity. However, stability trials conducted by Kabalikat ng Pamilyang Pilipino in Manila have shown no significant deterioration in norethindrone or mestranol content, content uniformity, tablet hardness, disintegration time or blister pack integrity after blister packs without the protective overpack were exposed for 6 months to high humidity and temperatures as high as 60 degrees Celsius. Stability for longer than 6 months remains speculative and should be tested in actual field conditions. Within the limits of the study, however, these results suggest that OCs remain stable with or without the aluminum overpack.

Familial central diabetes insipidus: vasopressin and nicotine stimulated neurophysin deficiency with subnormal oxytocin and estrogen stimulated neurophysin

Five members of a family with dominantly inherited diabetes insipidus were diagnosed and treated with deamino-d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), a vasopressin analogue given intranasally. All subjects demonstrated subnormal levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) by radioimmunoassay in response to cigarette smoke inhalation, a standardized nicotine stimulation test. Levels of oxytocin (OT) were found to be normal and unstimulated after cigarette inhalation in two subjects, but when two affected male siblings ingested Ovulen, OT and ESN were stimulated to subnormal levels. After twelve months of DDAVP treatment, the low AVP response to nicotine was preserved whereas the carrier protein, nicotine stimulated neurophysin (NSN) remained undetectable.

Effect of oral contraception by progesterone pill on lipids and glucose metabolism

The influence of oral contraception with 0.5 mg ethynodiol diacetate (Femulen) on blood lipid and glucose tolerance test (GTT) was studied in a group of 14 nulliparous women ages 17-24 years before and 3 months after treatment. In another group of 13 women of matched age, contraception was managed by providing a combined pill (estrogen and progesterone). The continuous treatment of ethynodiol diacetate did not result in the increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and did not affect the GTT, as observed when the combined pill was administered. Femulen had no side effects, except for 2 cases of vaginal spotting. Ethynodiol diacetate does not induce the decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels which is an anti-risk factor for the prevention of accelerated atherosclerotic disease. Oral contraception with this pill is indicated for all women, especially when there is an absolute contraindication for the use of combined pills