Linda Marshall

The concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2α and prostaglandin E2 in peritoneal fluid of infertile patients with and without endometriosis

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) metabolite (13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were assayed in the cul-de-sac fluid aspirated from 15 patients with endometriosis, in saline peritoneal washings of 5 patients with unexplained infertility, and in 5 control subjects. The fluid from the cul-de-sac of patients with endometriosis showed wide variations in the concentrations of PGF2 alpha metabolite and PGE2. There was no correlation between the concentration of these prostaglandins (PGs) and the stage of the cycle. Saline peritoneal washings from patients with unexplained infertility had significantly higher concentrations of PGF2 alpha metabolite than the control subjects. The concentration of PGE2 in the saline peritoneal washings was higher in the group with unexplained infertility than in the control group; however, the difference was not significant. The concentration of PGF2 alpha metabolite and PGE2 in the peritoneal saline washings from patients with unexplained infertility were no different from the concentrations of these PGs in the peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis. PG concentration in PF of infertile patients with or without endometriosis is a new variable for evaluation in these patients.

A simple rapid assay of estrogens in pregnancy

Abstract A rapid method for determining the estrogen content in pregnancy urine is presented. The estrogen is extracted from 2.0 ml. of a 24 hour specimen by lowering the pH of the urine saturating with sodium chloride, and extracting with ethyl acetate. The method is compared with a modified Brown technique, to determine total estrogen. The assay employed is a modified Ittrich procedure. The method is simple and does not require the use of any special equipment. Since one technician can complete 30 determinations in an 8 hour day, or 1 to 4 determinations in less than 2 hours, the technique is suited for the rapid determination of estrogen in pregnancy urine. The method is not affected by the presence of glucose or protein.

Influence of estradiol-17β on the acetylcholine content of the lung in the rabbit neonate

The influence of estradiol-17 β on the acetylcholine content of the lungs was studied in rabbit neonates born to oophorectomized mothers. It was found that 10μg of crystalline estradiol-17 β administered subcutaneously to newborn rabbits doubled the acetylcholine content of their lungs as compared to littermate controls. These findings suggest a mechanism whereby estradiol-17 β may affect the degree of vasodilatation in the vessels of the lungs.

The effect of cis- and trans-clomiphene citrate on the collagen content of fetal bone

cis- and trans-Clomiphene citrate were administered im to pregnant rabbits from day 21 to day 26 of gestation. Seven rabbits received 15 mg/kg and 6 rabbits 25 mg/kg of the cis-isomer daily. trans-Clomiphene citrate was given to 4 rabbits in a daily dose of 10 mg/kg and to 8 rabbits in a dose of 15 mg/kg; 8 rabbits served as controls. The rabbits were delivered by hysterotomy on day 27, and the fetuses and placentas were weighed. The femurs from liveborns were dissected free of soft tissue, and the wet and fat-free dry weights were recorded. The collagen and total ash of the femurs were determined. The only significant differences between the control and experimental rabbits occurred when trans-clomiphene 15 mg/kg was used. With this dose of trans-clomiphene, fetal weight was decreased from 25.5 ± 2.3 g to 20.2 ± 5.2 g (p = 0.02) and the collagen to dry weight ratio of bone from 18.6 ± 2.0 to 13.9 ± 2.9 (p < 0.01). The collagen to ash ratio in the trans-clomiphene 15 mg/kg treated group was 0.32 ± 0.07 compared to 0.5 ± 0.09 in the controls (p < 0.005). It is suggested that the changes in fetal weight and bone composition under the influence of the trans-isomer are due to its estrogenic properties.

The influence of ethamoxytriphetol on the collagen and calcium contents of the femurs of rabbit fetuses

Ethamoxytriphetol, 1-(P-2-diethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-2-methoxyphenyl ethanol (MER-25), was administered to a group of 6 pregnant rabbits in a daily dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. Eight pregnant rabbits received a daily dose of sesame oil and served as controls. All injections were begun on day 21 of gestation and carried through day 26. All the rabbits were delivered by cesarean section on day 27. The femurs of the liveborn were dissected free of soft tissue and the wet and fat-free dry weights were recorded. The collagen and calcium contents were analyzed. In the treated group receiving the antiestrogen, MER-25, collagen was significantly reduced when expressed as percent of both the wet weight (2.85 ± 0.54 vs. 3.76 ± 0.36) and the fat-free dry weight (16.3 ± 1.3 vs. 18.2 ± 1.1). The calcium to wet weight ratio in the MER-25 treated group was less than that of the controls (2.63% ± 0.49 vs. 3.42% ± 0.50), whereas the calcium as percent of the fat-free dry weight of the bone was not significantly different (15.1 ± 2.1 vs. 16.6 ± 2). It is concluded that ethamoxytriphetol retards fetal bone development and produces a decrease in collagen formation in fetal bone, but no disturbance in bone mineralization.