Cell-mediated immune response in mice treated with steroidal contraceptives.
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The splenomegaly assay (Simonsen, 1962) was standardized using different strains of rats and mice. Male Wistar rat (donor)-female Swiss mouse (host) was found to be the suitable combination that could be employed in subsequent experiments to study the potential of contraceptive steroids to alter CMIR. The index of splenomegaly appeared to increase in case of mice treated with combination oral contraceptives (Ovulen, Ovral or Enovid). The differences observed, however, neared significance only in the case of Ovral (0-05 less than P less than 0-1). Neither chlormadinone acetate nor megestrol acetate significantly altered the index of splenomegaly. (+info)
Steroid effects on human endometrial glycoprotein biosynthesis.
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Human endometrium from the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle was incubated with 3H- and 14C-labelled glucosamine and [3H]leucine. Incorporation into secreted extracellular glycoprotein and accumulation of the label into the microsomal fraction were measured. When oestradiol or progesterone were added to the medium, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), ethynodiol diacetate and chlormadinone acetate reduced incorporation of glucosamine and MPA reduced incorporation of leucine into glycoprotein. MPA reduced the amount of glucosamine in the microsomal fraction and also had an effect on amino acid transport within the endometrial cells, as indicated by intracellular alpha-aminoisobutyric acid space measurements. These results and the ratios of 3H and 14C in the microsomal fraction and secreted protein suggest that MPA has a primary effect in decreasing amino sugar incorporation and a secondary effect in reducing amino acid incorporation into glycoprotein. (+info)
Intimal thickening in arteries of rats treated with synthetic sex hormones.
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The effect of ethynyl oestradiol and chlormadinone acetate, separately and combined, on the aorta, carotid, mesenteric and renal arteries of female rats was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The hormones were injected daily for either 30 or 90 days. The most constant finding was intimal thickening which consisted mainly of areas of subendothelially located smooth muscle cells. Each artery was given a score from 0 to 3 according to the degree of development of these areas. Ethynyl oestradiol, unlike chlormadinone acetate, was associated with sustained significant enhancement of both incidence and degree of intimal thickening. With the combined treatment, the degree of intimal thickening in the 30-day group was not appreciably different from that obtained with oestrogen alone. However, in the 90-day group it was significantly less in arteries other than the aorta, suggesting that the progestogen inhibited the enhancing effect of the oestrogen on the proliferative process in these arteries. (+info)
Progestogen-related gross and microscopic changes in female Beagles.
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Long-term studies of megestrol acetate and chlormadinone acetate in 100 female dogs are in progress. Doses of zero, one, 10 and 25 times the expected human dose of megestrol acetate and 25 times the expected human dose of chlormadinone acetate (on a milligram per kilogram body weight basis) are being given daily. During the first 4 years, eight dogs from each of the five groups were killed. The principal gross findings included enlarged uteri with mucoid material in the lumina, mammary development in dogs given middle and high doses of megestrol acetate and chlormadinone acetate, and thickened gallbladder walls in dogs given high doses of each. Histologic evaluation showed inhibition of ovulation for progestogen-treated dogs and suppression of ovarian follicular development with the high doses. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia was slight in the low-dose dogs and moderate to severe in most of the high-dose dogs; a few also had ulcerative endometritis and pyometra. The mammary glands of dogs given the middle and high doses produced lobules, acini, and secretion exceeding natural metestrus. Slight to marked cystic mucinous hyperplasia occurred in the gallbladders of most dogs given the high doses. Tow high-dose megestrol dogs had clinical signs and microscopic pancreatic, renal, and ocular changes indicative of diabetes mellitus. (+info)
Binding of chlormadinone acetate to cytosol from human benign prostatic hypertrophy.
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Chlormadinone acetate was bound to cytosol from the human benign prostatic hypertrophy in a high affinity fashion. The kd and number of maximum binding site of the binding were 5.4 +/- 0.7 X 10(-9) M and 67.9 +/- 5.8 fmol/mg protein, respectively. When compared with the binding to dihydrotestosterone, the Kd for chlormadinone acetate was greater. The number of maximum binding site for chlormadinone acetate was observed to be smaller than that for dihydrotestosterone, but these two values were not different statistically. The binding of chlormadinone acetate was inhibited significantly by the addition of R 1881 or cyproterone acetate. However, dihydrotestosterone revealed itself to be a weak inhibitor of the binding. The cytosol prelabelled with chlormadinone acetate was not bound to the nuclei of the human prostate. (+info)
Action of a novel nonsteroidal antiandrogen, AA560.
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The antiandrogenic properties of a new nonsteroidal antiandrogens, AA560 (N-2-chloromethyl-2-hydroxypropionyl)-3, 4, 5-trichloroaniline) were investigated. The ventral prostate, dorselateral prostate and coagulating gland weights in rats given AA560 at 1-9 mg/head were significantly less than those in the intact rats. The seminal vesicle weights in rats given 3-9 mg/head were significantly less than those of the intact group. In intact animals given daily 3 or 9 mg of AA560 there were significantly increases of serum FSH, LH and testosterone concentrations. In the in vivo experiment, the pretreatment with AA560 decreased the uptake of 3H-androgens in the nuclear fraction of the ventral prostate. On the other hand, a significant increase in the uptake of 3H-radioactivity in the cytosol fraction was observed. It was proved by the in vitro displacement study that AA560 inhibited the binding of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone with a receptor protein in the prostatic cytosol. (+info)
Negative feedback effects of chlormadinone acetate and ethynylestradiol on gonadotropin secretion in patients with prostatic cancer and male rats.
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Serum LH and FSH levels were determined before and after LH-RH injection (100 micrograms, i.m.) in patients with prostatic cancer who were chronically treated with either chlormadinone acetate (CMA, 100 mg/day) or ethynylestradiol (EE, 1 mg/day). In patients treated with EE, the levels of serum LH and FSH before and after injection of LH-RH were significantly lower than those in controls. On the other hand in patients treated with CMA, the basal levels of serum gonadotropins did not differ from those in controls, and the increase in gonadotropin after LH-RH injection was comparable to that in controls. To examine the effects of these steroids on the hypothalamo-hypophysial axis in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion, CMA or EE was implanted in castrated male rats. CMA, EE or cholesterol (control) was implanted in the hypothalamic median eminence-arcuate nucleus region through a stainless doublecannula. EE implantation resulted in a 75% decrease in serum LH (p < 0.001) and a 38% decrease in serum FSH (p < 0.05) from the control levels on day 5 of implantation. On the other hand, CMA implantation induced a 33% decrease in serum LH (p < 0.05) from the control level on day 3 of implantation, but no significant change in serum FSH levels. The injection of 2 micrograms/kg of LH-RH on day 7 of implantation induced significant lowering of LH and FSH levels. There was no significant difference between serum levels of the hormones 20 min after LH-RH injection for these two groups and those for the control group. These studies suggest that EE has a potent negative feedback effect on both LH and FSH secretion, and that CMA has a mild negative feedback effect on LH secretion. (+info)
Correlation between catecholamine secretion from bovine isolated chromaffin cells and [3H]-ouabain binding to plasma membranes.
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1 Secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by ouabain, chlormadinone acetate (CMA), phenoxybenzamine (Pbz) and vanadate, four agents known to inhibit Na(+), K(+)-dependent Mg(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity has been studied in suspensions of bovine isolated adrenal medullary cells.2 Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a 5 fold increase of the basal CA secretion from isolated cells suspended in oxygenated Krebs-bicarbonate solution kept at 27 degrees C. Secretion was antagonized by Ca(2+)-deprivation or hexamethonium, indicating good functional viability of the cells.3 Ouabain (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) evoked a progressive, dose-dependent release of CA from cell suspensions. Study of the time course of the secretory response for 2 h allowed the separation of two components in the secretory response at all doses studied: a slow initial component (0.011 pg/min CA) and a second faster component (0.032 pg/min CA).4 CMA evoked a clear-cut CA secretory response. The ED(50) for CMA was 10(-4) M, as compared to 3 x 10(-6) M for ouabain. Pbz and vanadate did not induce CA release.5 [(3)H]-ouabain was taken up and bound to intact isolated cells by a non-saturable binding process. However, in semi-purified plasma membranes from bovine adrenal medulla a saturable specific [(3)H]-ouabain binding process was observed with a K(D) of 8.1 nM. Binding to the membranes was ATP-dependent and antagonized by K(+).6 [(3)H]-ouabain specific binding to membranes was antagonized by ouabain and CMA, but not by Pbz or vanadate; the ID(50) for ouabain and CMA were 10(-6) and 10(-5) M respectively.7 Ouabain partially inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, Na(+), K(+)-Mg(2+) ATPase activity of the semi-purified plasma membranes.8 The results demonstrate a good correlation between the ability of different drugs, known to inhibit ATPase activity, to displace [(3)H]-ouabain binding to adreno-medullary plasma membranes and their capacity to evoke a CA secretory response from isolated chromaffin cells. The data also suggest that the CA secretory effects of ouabain may not be due simply to inhibition of the Na(+) pump and the subsequent ionic redistribution across the plasma membrane; a second mechanism may also be involved. (+info)