• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제30권1호
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2003

Objective : Clomiphene citrate is one of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of infertility, but the pregnancy rate achieved with clomiphene citrate is significantly lower than the ovulation rate due to its antiestrogenic effect on the endometrium. Endometrial prolactin is considered to be a marker and an inducer of predecidualization that is characteristic of secretory endometrium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of clomiphene citrate and unsatisfactory endometrial differentiation to secretory endometrium by examining the endometrial expression of prolactin in clomiphene citratetreated infertile women with luteal phase defect. Methods : The endometrial samples from infertile women with luteal phase defect (n=27) were examined. Five cases during secretory phase and six cases during proliferative phase were obtained by biopsy. Sixteen cases were obtained by biopsy during secretory phase after clomiphene citrate treatment. By immunohistochemical staining for prolactin, all obtained endometrial tissues were examined. The differences in the endometrial expression of prolactin were evaluated between proliferative phase and secretory phase, and between clomiphene citrate treated group and no treatment group during secretory phase. Results: The staining of endometrial prolactin was significantly more intense in the glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells in the secretory endometrium than in the proliferative endometrium. The glandular expression of prolactin in the secretory endometrium was not significantly different between the clomiphene citrate-treated group and no treatment group (p=0.719), but the staining of prolactin in the stromal cells was significantly less intense in the clomiphene citrate-treated group than no treatment group (p=0.019). Conclusion: In this investigation, we demonstrated that the endometrial stromal expression of prolactin in the secretory phase was significantly lower in the clomiphene citrate-treated group campared with no treatment group in infertile women with luteal phase defect. And our finding suggests that clomiphene citrate may have an adverse effect on the endometrial predecidualization in infertile women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2006

목 적: 본 연구를 통해 $TGF-{\beta}1$에 의해 유도된 인간자궁내막의 탈락막화 과정에서 ERK와 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 역할을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 자궁내막 기질세포는 DMEM/F12 (10% FBS, 1 nM E2 and 100 nM P4) 조건에서 배양하였다. 연구 목적에 따라 $TGF-{\beta}1$ (5 ng/ml), Rosiglitazone (50 nM)와 PD98059 ($20{\mu}M$)를 배양액에 첨가하였다. Trypan-Blue와 hematocytometer를 이용하여 현미경하에서 세포의 개수를 측정하였다. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)와 western blotting 방법을 사용하여 단백질의 발현 정도를 관찰하였다. 결과 및 결론: 배양액에 $TGF-{\beta}1$을 첨가하여 세포의 증식 정도를 측정한 결과 $TGF-{\beta}1$이 세포의 증식을 억제하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 배양된 세포로부터 PGE2 및 prolactin의 발현을 유도하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 $TGF-{\beta}1$의 작용은 Smad 및 ERK의 활성화를 통하여 일어남을 알 수 있었다. $PPAR{\gamma}$의 기질인 rosiglitazone을 배양액에 첨가한 결과 $TGF-{\beta}1$에 의한 세포 증식의 억제가 역전되는 것을 알 수 있었다. 뿐만 아니라, 세포 내 ERK의 활성 역시 억제 시켰으며 이 결과 PGE2와 prolactin의 발현이 억제 되는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 $TGF-{\beta}1$에 의한 자궁내막 기질세포의 탈락막화는 Smad와 ERK의 활성화를 통하여 이루어지며 이러한 과정은 $PPAR{\gamma}$에 의해 억제됨을 알 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제30권1호
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 2003

Objectives: To investigate the role of TGF (Transforming growth factor-$\beta$) involved in the paracrinic communication during decidualization between UEC (uterine epithelial cells) and USC (uterine stromal cells), we have employed a co-culture system composed of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in defined hormonal conditions. Design: In the co-culture, endometrial epithelial cells cultured in the matrigel-coated cell culture insert are seeded on top of the endometrial stromal cells cultured within a collagen gel. The co-culture was maintained for 48 hours under the following hormonal conditions: progesterone dominant condition (100 nM P4 and 1 nM E2) or estrogen-dominant condition (100 nM E2 and 1 nM P4). 10 ng/ ml HGF and/or 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$1 are added. Methods: RT-PCR is utilized to detect mRNAs quantitatively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining are utilized to detect proteins in the tissue. Results: Prolactin mRNA is expressed in the co-cultured stromal cells under the progesterone dominant condition. TGF-$\beta$1 and its receptors are expressed in both the co-cultured epithelial and stromal cells irrespective of the steroid present, which is in contrast with no or negligible expression of TGF-$\beta$1 or its receptor in cells separately cultured. Both estrogen and progesterone significantly elevate the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the conditioned medium of the co-culture with the value of 4, 325 pg/ml in E2-dominant and 2, 000 pg/ml in P4-dominant condition compare to 150 pg/ml in no hormone. In separately cultured stromal cells, administration of HGF induces the expression of TGF receptor 1 in both hormonal conditions, but induction of TGF receptor 2 is only manifest in the P4-dominant condition. Administration of TGF-$\beta$ and HGF directly induce the decidualization marker prolactin mRNA in separately cultured stromal cells. Conclusion: It is likely that steroid hormones induces prolactin mRNA indirectly by promoting the cell to cell communication between the stromal and the epithelial cells. TGF-$\beta$ and HGF are two possible paracrine mediators in the human endometrial decidualization.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2008

목 적: 자궁내막조직에서 분리한 상피세포와 기질세포를 삼차원 공배양을 통한 탈락막화 유도에서 성호르몬과 TGF-${\beta}1$의 역할을 알아보고 2-세포기 생쥐배아와 탈락막화가 유도된 자궁내막세포와의 공배양을 통하여 포배형성율, 부화율, 포배기배아의 내세포괴와 영양막세포수 및 부착율을 알아보기 위해 시행되었다. 연구방법: 인간 자궁내막조직에서 분리된 기질세포와 상피세포의 표지인자인 cytokeratin과 vimentin에 대한 면역조직 화학염색을 실시하여 분리를 확인하였으며, 성호르몬 우세환경 (progesterone, estrogen)에서 분리된 세포를 단일배양 혹은 3차원 공배양을 통하여 RT-PCR법으로 TGF-${\beta}1$, 수용체-1, -2, integrin-${\beta}3$, prolactin의 발현을 조사하였다. 배양액군을 대조군으로 하여 2-세포기 생쥐배아와 탈락막화 유도와 유도하지 않은 인간 자궁내막세포와의 공배양을 통하여 포배형성율, 부화율, 부착율과 부화된 포배의 영양막세포와 내세포괴수를 비교하였다. 결 과: 상피세포 표지인자인 cytokeratin과 기질세포 표지인자인 vimentin을 이용하여 면역조직화학염색을 한 결과 각각 95% 이상에서 양성반응을 나타내어 자궁내막조직으로부터 상피세포와 기질세포가 성공적으로 분리되었음을 확인하였다. 분리된 상피세포와 기질세포를 단일배양에서는 성호르몬의 조건에 관계없이 TGF-${\beta}1$과 수용체 type-1, type-2, integrin-${\beta}3$, prolactin mRNA가 발현되지 않았다. 공배양에서는 progesterone 우세환경일 경우 TGF-${\beta}1$ 수용체 type-2를 제외한 모든 mRNA가 발현하였으나 estrogen 우세환경에서는 TGF-${\beta}1$ 수용체 type-2와 prolactin이 발현되지 않았다. 2-세포기 생쥐배아를 배양액군, 비탈락막군 및 탈락막군으로 나누어 공배양하였을 때 포배기 발달율은 차이가 없었으나 부화율 (92%)과 부착율 (82%)은 탈락막군이 유의하게 높았으며 (p<0.05), 비탈락막군의 공배양에서 다수의 영양막세포가 투명대를 완전히 빠져나오지 않은 상태로 부착한 비정상형태를 보였다. 부화된 생쥐 포배기배아의 내세포괴수는 탈락막화에 관계없이 공배양한 포배의 내세포괴수가 유의하게 많았으며 (p<0.05), 영양막세포수는 탈락막군에서 배양액군과 비탈락막군보다 유의하게 많았다 (p<0.05). 결 론: 자궁내막조직에서 상피세포와 기질세포를 분리하여 다시 삼차원적 공배양을 통하여 progesterone (100 nM), estrogen (1 nM)과 TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 ng/ml)을 첨가하면 체외에서 탈락막화를 유도할 수 있으며, 탈락막화를 유도한 자궁내막 세포와 2-세포기 생쥐배아를 공배양하였을 때 탈락막화가 부화율, 부착율 및 영양막세포수에 유효한 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2010

목 적: Small interfering RNA (siRNA)를 이용하여 homeobox (HOXA) 10 유전자의 발현이 억제된 일차배양 자궁내막 세포를 이용하여 자궁내막 탈락막화 (decidualization)에 HOXA유전자를 포함한 세포 내 신호전달기전을 분석하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 본원 산부인과에서 자궁내막 질환 이외의 이유로 전자궁 적출술을 받은 환자의 자궁내막 조직을 채취한다. $37^{\circ}C$에서 20분간 Trypsin-EDTA를 처리하여 단일세포로 분리한 후 10% fetal bovine serum이 첨가된 DMEM/F12 배지를 이용하여 24시간 동안 $37^{\circ}C$ 5% $CO_2$ 배양기 안에서 배양한다. 배양된 자궁내막 세포를 HOXA10 siRNA로 첨가한 후 TGF-${\beta}1$을 10 ng/mL 농도로 48시간 첨가하여 탈락막화를 유도한다. 배양된 자궁내막 세포에서 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction을 이용하여 HOXA10, prolactin, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-$\gamma$ 및 wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt)의 발현을 관찰하였다. 결 과: HOXA10의 경우 transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\bata}1$과 HOXA10 siRNA를 처리하지 않은 대조군에 비하여 TGF-${\beta}1$을 처리한 군에서 약 1.8배 가량 발현양의 증가를 보였다. 자궁내막 탈락막 표지인자로 알려져 있는 prolactin의 경우 TGF-${\beta}1$을 처리한 경우 대조군에 비하여 유의한 발현의 증가를 보였으며 HOXA10 siRNA를 처리한 군에 있어서는 TGF-${\beta}1$을 첨가하더라도 prolactin mRNA의 발현양의 증가를 관찰할 수 없었다. 또한 자궁내막 세포의 분화인자로 알려져 있는 COX-2의 발현 역시 HOXA10 siRNA를 처리한 군에 있어서 mRNA 발현양이 유의하게 감소하였으며 TGF-${\beta}1$을 처리하여도 발현의 증가를 관찰할 수 없었다. Wnt4의 경우 HOXA10 siRNA를 이용하여 HOXA10의 발현을 억제한 경우 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 mRNA의 발현양이 감소하였으며 이러한 발현양의 감소는 TGF-${\beta}1$을 처리하여도 증가됨을 관찰할 수 없었다. PPAR$\gamma$의 발현은 HOXA10 siRNA의 처리와 관계없이 TGF-${\beta}1$에 의하여 감소하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결 론: Progesterone에 의하여 자궁내막 상피세포에서 분비되는 것으로 알려져 있는 TGF-${\beta}1$에 의한 자궁내막 기질세포의 분화 (탈락막화)는 HOXA10 및 Wnt에 의하여 조절되는 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.30-45
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of pregnancy-related four herbal medicines (Samul-tang, Onkyung-tang, Chokyungjongok-tang and Moutan Radicis Cortex) on the endometrial and placental cells. Methods: In this study, we examined viability and decidualization of telomerase immortalized human endometrial stromal cell lines (T-HESCs) and viability and invasion ability of human first trimester trophoblast cell lines Sw.71 by four herbal medicines (Samul-tang, Onkyung-tang, Chokyungjongok-tang and Moutan Radicis Cortex) Results: In the study, we showed that Samul-tang, Onkyung-tang, Chokyungjongok-tang increased decidualization marker prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) in T-HESCs. Moutan Radicis Cortex decreased the mRNA level of PRL and IGFBP1, and the protein level of PRL and IGFBP1 had no significant effect. Moreover, four herbal medicines reduced invasion ability of Sw.71 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that Samul-tang, Onkyung-tang, and Chokyungjongok-tang have beneficial effects on successful embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance by increasing decidualization markers such as PRL and IGFBP1. Moutan Radicis Cortex reduces the mRNA levels of PRL and IGFBP1, which may adversely affect pregnancy. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the significance of the decreased invasive ability of Sw.71 cells induced by four herbal medications.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2021

Methods: We investigated the ability to induce decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells and invasive ability of human trophoblast cells by water extract of three types herbal medicines (Dangguijakyak-san, Siryung-tang, Antae-eum) and ethanol extract on Scutellariae Radix. Results: In the process of decidualization of endometrial stromal cells, three herbal medicines including Dangguijakyak-san, Siryung-tang, and Scutellariae Radix increased the production of decidual markers such as prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1). However, Antae-eum increased mRNA levels of PRL and IGFBP and secretion of IGFBP in decidual stromal cells, but not PRL. Four herbal medicines inhibited the invasion of trophoblast cells. Conclusions: Four herbal medicines may play a role in implantation in women with reproductive failures. However, further studies are warranted to elucidate whether these medications are helpful in the maintenance of pregnancy.

• 한국가축번식학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.365-369
• /
• 1999

Interferon tau (IFN$\tau$), the pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants, suppresses transcription of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in the endometrial luminal (LE) and superficial glandular epithelium (sGE) to prevent oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression and pulsatile release of luteolytic prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ (PGF), Interferon regulatory factors one (IRF-l) and two (IRF-2) are transcription factors induced by IFN$\tau$ that activate and silence gene expression, respectively. Available results suggest that IFN$\tau$ acts directly on LE and sGE during pregnancy to induce sequentially IRF-l and then IRF-2 gene expression to silence transcription of ER and OTR genes, block the luteolytic mechanism to maintenance a functional corpus luteum (CL) and, signal maternal recognition of pregnancy. The theory for maternal recognition of pregnancy in pigs is that the uterine endometrium of cyclic gilts secretes PGF in an endocrine direction, toward the uterine vasculature for transport to the CL to exert its luteolytic effect. However, in pregnant pigs, estrogens secreted by the conceptuses are responsible, perhaps in concert with effects of prolactin and calcium, for exocrine secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen where it is sequestered to exert biological effects and / or be metabolized to prevent luteolysis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2002

Objective: To assess the difference of baseline hormonal status and pathophysio logy, and confirm the risk factors for long term complication according to Body Mass Index in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Materials and Methods: Serum level of LH, FSH, Estradiol, Prolactin, Testosterone, DHEA-S, fasting insulin were measured and 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test and endometrial biopsy were performed in total 75 chronic anovulation patients and 20 normal cycling infertility patients. 95 evaluated patients were divided into 3 groups including patients with chronic anovulation having BMI below 25, BMI beyond 25.1, normal cycling infertility patients, Group 1 (n=39), Group 2 (n=36), Group 3 (n=20), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed respect to relationship between BMI and measured hormone level, sum of glucose level during 100 gm OGTT, insulin resistance using t-test, ANOVA test, Post Hoc test, Mann-Whitney test. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Serum LH level and LH/FSH ratio was significantly higher in Group 1, compared than Group 2 or 3 (p<0.05), BMI and LH, LH/FSH ratio was negatively correlated (r=-0.351, r=-0.318). There was no significant difference according to BMI in FSH, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, DHEA-S level. Fasting insulin and sum of glucose level during 100 gm OGTT were significantly higher in Group 2 compared than Group 1 or Group 3 (p<0.05), there was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3. Insulin resistance was more frequently identified in Group 2 compared than Group 1 (p=0.001). Conclusions: BMI and LH, LH/FSH ratio were negatively correlated, so clinical significance of LH, LH/FSH ratio in diagnosis of PCOS may be attenuated by increasing body weight. Overweight patients with chronic anovulation may be the risk group for developing insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, later type 2 DM. Hyperinsulinemia may operate mainly in overweight chronic anovulation patients in development of hyperandrogenism.