OBJECTIVE To investigate whether allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid involved in modulating behavioural and neuroendocrine functions, shows episodic secretion in eumenorrheic women, during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, and in women with stress-induced amenorrhea. PATIENTS Six eumenorrheic women and 14 women with hypothalamic amenorrhea were enrolled for the pres...

The development of the corpus luteum requires angiogenesis, and involves the complex interplay between factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). However, the relative role of these factors remains to be elucidated. This study used a new physiologically relevant mixed luteal cell culture system to te...

OBJECTIVE 1. To compare the release of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) by large and small luteal cells of the pig; 2. to test the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) either alone or combined with the cytokine TNFalpha on beta-END-LI secretion by these cells. METHODS Isolated large and small luteal cells on days 8-10 of the cycle (n=7) were incubated in M199 supple...

We previously reported that BRCA1/2-mutated fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) collected during the luteal phase exhibits gene expression profiles more closely resembling that of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) specimens than FTE collected during the follicular phase or from control patients. Since the luteal phase is characterised by high levels of progesterone, we determined whether the expre...

Pyometra is a disease that affects a large proportion of intact bitches, and typically is seen during the latter half of dioestrus. Several factors contribute to the development of pyometra, including genetic factors, an infectious component (most often Escherichia coli), and hormonal factors. Hormones may act directly on the endometrium, and also affect the immune system. In dogs, the phagocyt...

CONTEXT Although adequate luteal hormone production is essential for establishing pregnancy, luteal phase deficiency (LPD) is poorly characterized among eumenorrheic women. OBJECTIVE We assessed the prevalence and overlap of two established LPD diagnostic criteria: short luteal phase duration less than10 days (clinical LPD) and suboptimal luteal progesterone of 5 ng/mL or less (biochemical LP...

OBJECTIVES (1) To describe the progesterone profiles following pituitary down regulation in stimulated IVF cycles with the use of GnRH-a (2) To assess the impact of progesterone supplement and pregnancy on the subsequent luteal phase. STUDY DESIGN A prospective observational study performed in a specialist infertility clinic based at a tertiary centre in the north of England. Subjects were di...

It has been demonstrated elsewhere that circulating renin angiotensin system (RAS) components peak when plasma estrogen levels are highest, during the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle. This phenomenon has been attributed to "activation" of the RAS. The end-organ vasoconstrictive response to this phenomenon has not been well established. In two related experiments, the RAS was studied ...

STUDY QUESTION Can the luteal phase support be improved in terms of efficacy, hormonal profiles and convenience as compared with today's standard care? SUMMARY ANSWER Daily low-dose rhCG supplementation in GnRHa triggered IVF cycles can replace the traditional used luteal phase support with exogenous progesterone. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY A bolus of hCG for final maturation of follicles in con...

BACKGROUND Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common finding in luteal phase of menstrual cycle resulting in several changes in woman life including pain sensation. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the alterations of postoperative pain sensation in those with and without a history of PMS. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 140 women in in postoperative period were assigned to four groups regardin...