Biomedical subjects

Anna-Maria Andersson

Publications and source records attributed to Anna-Maria Andersson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Primary testicular failure in Klinefelter's syndrome: the use of bivariate luteinizing hormone-testosterone reference charts.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of androgen deficiency is based on clinical features and confirmatory low serum testosterone levels. In early primary testicular failure, a rise in serum LH levels suggests inadequate androgen action for the individual's physiological requirements despite a serum testosterone level within the normal range. The combined evaluation of serum LH and testosterone levels in the evaluation of testicular failure has not been widely advocated. PATIENTS: Seven hundred and six healthy males and 39 patients with known primary hypogonadism due to Klinefelter's syndrome and SRY-positive 46,XX karyotypes were included in the study. DESIGN: Testosterone, oestradiol and LH serum concentrations were measured in all individuals. Based on the 706 healthy males two-dimensional bivariate LH-testosterone reference charts were constructed. RESULTS: Despite a median serum total and free testosterone and oestradiol levels being reduced (P < 0.001) and LH levels elevated (P < 0.001) in Klinefelter's syndrome and 46,XX-males, many subjects (69%) had total testosterone within the reference range. However, using the bivariate charts all subjects lay outside the 97.5 percentile. CONCLUSION: Bivariate LH and testosterone charts are useful in the evaluation of men with known primary testicular failure due to sex chromosomal aneuploidy in whom evaluation based on testosterone measurement in isolation underestimates the prevalence of hypogonadism. It is, however, important to emphasize that isolated use of the bivariate evaluation should not form the basis for androgen substitution therapy. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the use of bivariate LH and testosterone charts in the assessment of any younger man with possible primary testicular failure.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Serum insulin-like factor 3 levels during puberty in healthy boys and boys with Klinefelter syndrome.

CONTEXT: Levels of the Leydig cell-specific hormone insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) are incompletely characterized in boys during pubertal development. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to characterize changes in INSL3 levels during spontaneous puberty in healthy boys, boys with aromatase inhibitor-induced hypergonadotropic hyperandrogenism, and boys with Leydig cell dysfunction. DESIGN: This was a prospective clinical study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a university hospital pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: Patients included 30 healthy boys with idiopathic short stature (ISS) aged 9.0-14.5 yr and 14 boys with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) aged 10-13.9 yr. INTERVENTION: In ISS boys, intervention included aromatase inhibitor letrozole or placebo for 24 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum INSL3 levels in relation to bone age, Tanner pubertal stages, and LH and testosterone levels were measured. RESULTS: Onset of puberty was associated with a significant increase in INSL3 levels from 0.06 +/- 0.01 ng/ml at Tanner G1 to 0.32 +/- 0.16 ng/ml at G2 (P < 0.0001). Adult INSL3 levels (> or = 0.55 ng/ml) were attained at bone age 13-14 yr. ISS boys with letrozole-induced hypergonadotropic hyperandrogenism had, after 12 months of therapy, higher INSL3 levels than did placebo treated (0.85 +/- 0.54 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.17 ng/ml, P < 0.01). In KS boys during spontaneous puberty, after an initial increase similar to that in healthy boys, INSL3 concentrations leveled off despite hyperstimulation by LH. Positive correlations occurred between serum INSL3 and LH and between INSL3 and testosterone levels in all three groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In boys, the Leydig cell-specific hormone INSL3 may serve as a new marker for onset and progression of puberty. Pubertal increase in INSL3 levels seems to depend on LH. In KS subjects, INSL3 concentrations indicate Leydig cell dysfunction from midpuberty onward.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

The sensitivity of the child to sex steroids: possible impact of exogenous estrogens.

The current trends of increasing incidences of testis, breast and prostate cancers are poorly understood, although it is assumed that sex hormones play a role. Disrupted sex hormone action is also believed to be involved in the increased occurrence of genital abnormalities among newborn boys and precocious puberty in girls. In this article, recent literature on sex steroid levels and their physiological roles during childhood is reviewed. It is concluded that (i) circulating levels of estradiol in prepubertal children are lower than originally claimed; (ii) children are extremely sensitive to estradiol and may respond with increased growth and/or breast development even at serum levels below the current detection limits; (iii) no threshold has been established, below which no hormonal effects can be seen in children exposed to exogenous steroids or endocrine disruptors; (iv) changes in hormone levels during fetal and prepubertal development may have severe effects in adult life and (v) the daily production rates of sex steroids in children estimated by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 and still used in risk assessments are highly overestimated and should be revised. Because no lower threshold for estrogenic action has been established, caution should be taken to avoid unnecessary exposure of fetuses and children to exogenous sex steroids and endocrine disruptors, even at very low levels.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

The effects of gonadotropin suppression and selective replacement on insulin-like factor 3 secretion in normal adult men.

CONTEXT: Gonadotropic regulation of the testicular Leydig cell hormone insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is incompletely characterized. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of gonadotropin suppression and induced or spontaneous recovery on serum INSL3. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Serum samples from 15 men enrolled in a short-term study of gonadotropin stimulation, suppression, and recovery and 11 men in a long-term study of gonadotropin suppression and spontaneous recovery were analyzed for INSL3. INTERVENTION: Gonadotropins were suppressed by exogenous testosterone and progestin. Recovery was spontaneous or induced with exogenous gonadotropins. OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome measure was serum INSL3 in relation to other reproductive hormones. RESULTS: Serum INSL3 was not acutely sensitive to gonadotropins. In both studies, INSL3 declined markedly with gonadotropin suppression (6-13.5% of baseline; P < 0.05). In the short-term study, human chorionic gonadotropin partially restored suppressed serum INSL3 within 4 d of administration (from 7.5 to 38.3% baseline; P < 0.05); the increase correlated with the corresponding increase in serum pro-alphaC (r = 0.82; P < 0.01). FSH did not stimulate the suppressed INSL3. In the long-term study, serum testosterone recovered significantly better (80% baseline) compared with serum INSL3 (38.9% baseline; P < 0.01) in the presence of fully recovered serum LH. CONCLUSIONS: INSL3 is not sensitive to gonadotropin stimulation in normal men, but declines markedly in response to gonadotropin deprivation. After suppression, INSL3 was responsive to hCG 4 d after administration. After long-term suppression, INSL3 did not recover to the same degree as testosterone, suggesting that INSL3 is more sensitive to Leydig cell impairment than testosterone.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Testicular dysgenesis syndrome: possible role of endocrine disrupters.

The testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) hypothesis proposes that the four conditions cryptorchidism, hypospadias, impaired spermatogenesis and testis cancer may all be manifestations of disturbed prenatal testicular development. The TDS hypothesis is based on epidemiological, clinical and molecular studies, all suggestive of an interrelation between the different symptoms. The aetiology of TDS is suspected to be related to genetic and/or environmental factors, including endocrine disrupters. Few human studies have found associations/correlations between endocrine disrupters, including phthalates, and the different TDS components. However, for ethical reasons, evidence of a causal relationship between prenatal exposure and TDS is inherently difficult to establish in human studies, rendering the recently developed animal TDS model an important tool for investigating the pathogenesis of TDS. Clinically, the most common manifestation of TDS is probably a reduced sperm concentration, whereas the more severe form may include a high risk of testis cancer. Clinicians should be aware of the interconnection between the different features of TDS, and inclusion of a programme for early detection of testis cancer in the management of infertile men with poor semen quality is recommended.

Cryptorchidism↗

PubMed2006

Serum levels of activin A and inhibin A are not related to the increased susceptibility to pre-eclampsia in type I diabetic pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: Activin A and inhibin A have been found to be elevated in women without diabetes subsequently developing pre-eclampsia. The aim was to investigate whether activin A and inhibin A in serum were elevated in type I diabetic women after developing pre-eclampsia and, if so, were they clinically useful as predictors of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: In a prospective study, maternal serum was analyzed for activin A and inhibin A in 115 women with type 1 diabetes at 10, 14, 22, 28, and 33 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Fourteen women (12%) developed pre-eclampsia (26-37 weeks of gestation) and 101 did not. The two groups were comparable regarding age, body mass index, and diabetes duration. There was no difference between serum concentrations of activin A and inhibin A in women developing pre-eclampsia and women who did not at any gestational period. CONCLUSIONS: Serum concentrations of activin A and inhibin A could not predict preeclampsia in type I diabetes.

Activins↗

PubMed2006

Is human fecundity declining?

Summary The decreasing trends in fertility rates in many industrialized countries are now so dramatic that they deserve much more scientific attention. Although social and behavioural factors undoubtedly play a major role for these trends, it seems premature, and not based on solid information, to conclude that these trends can be ascribed to social and behavioural changes alone. There is evidence to suspect that changing lifestyle and increasing environmental exposures, e.g. to endocrine disrupters, are behind the trends in occurrence of male reproductive health problems, including testis cancer, undescended testis and poor semen quality. These biological factors may also contribute to the extremely low fertility rates. However, the necessary research is complex and requires non-traditional collaboration between demographers, epidemiologists, clinicians, biologists, wild life researchers, geneticists and molecular biologists. This research effort can hardly be carried out without major support from governments and granting agencies making it possible to fund collaborative projects within novel research networks of scientists.

Environmental Pollutants↗

PubMed2006

Human breast milk contamination with phthalates and alterations of endogenous reproductive hormones in infants three months of age.

UNLABELLED: Phthalates adversely affect the male reproductive system in animals. We investigated whether phthalate monoester contamination of human breast milk had any influence on the postnatal surge of reproductive hormones in newborn boys as a sign of testicular dysgenesis. DESIGN: We obtained biologic samples from a prospective Danish-Finnish cohort study on cryptorchidism from 1997 to 2001. We analyzed individual breast milk samples collected as additive aliquots 1-3 months postnatally (n = 130; 62 cryptorchid/68 healthy boys) for phthalate monoesters [mono-methyl phthalate (mMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (mEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (mBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (mEHP), mono-isononyl phthalate (miNP)]. We analyzed serum samples (obtained in 74% of all boys) for gonadotropins, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, and inhibin B. RESULTS: All phthalate monoesters were found in breast milk with large variations [medians (minimum-maximum)]: mMP 0.10 (< 0.01-5.53 microg/L), mEP 0.95 (0.07-41.4 microg/L), mBP 9.6 (0.6-10,900 microg/L), mBzP 1.2 (0.2-26 microg/L), mEHP 11 (1.5-1,410 microg/L), miNP 95 (27-469 microg/L). Finnish breast milk had higher concentrations of mBP, mBzP, mEHP, and Danish breast milk had higher values for miNP (p = 0.0001-0.056). No association was found between phthalate monoester levels and cryptorchidism. However, mEP and mBP showed positive correlations with SHBG (r = 0.323, p = 0.002 and r = 0.272, p = 0.01, respectively); mMP, mEP, and mBP with LH:free testosterone ratio (r = 0.21-0.323, p = 0.002-0.044) and miNP with luteinizing hormone (r = 0.243, p = 0.019). mBP was negatively correlated with free testosterone (r = -0.22, p = 0.033). Other phthalate monoesters showed similar but nonsignificant tendencies. CONCLUSIONS: Our data on reproductive hormone profiles and phthalate exposures in newborn boys are in accordance with rodent data and suggest that human Leydig cell development and function may also be vulnerable to perinatal exposure to some phthalates. Our findings are also in line with other recent human data showing incomplete virilization in infant boys exposed to phthalates prenatally.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Determination of phthalate monoesters in human milk, consumer milk, and infant formula by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS).

Daily exposure of humans to phthalates may be a health risk because animal experiments have shown these compounds can affect the differentiation and function of the reproductive system. Because milk is the main source of nutrition for infants, knowledge of phthalate levels is important for exposure and risk assessment. Here we describe the development and validation of a quantitative analytical procedure for determination of phthalate metabolites in human milk. The phthalate monoesters investigated were: monomethyl phthalate (mMP), monoethyl phthalate (mEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP), monobenzyl phthalate (mBzP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (mEHP), and monoisononyl phthalate (mNP). The method is based on liquid extraction with a mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane (95:5) followed by two-step solid-phase extraction (SPE). Detection and quantification of the phthalate monoesters were accomplished by high-pressure liquid chromatography using a Betasil phenyl column (100 mmx2.1 mmx3 microm) and triple tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Detection limits were in the range 0.01 to 0.5 microg L(-1) and method variation was from 5 to 15%. Analysis of 36 milk samples showed that all these phthalates were present, albeit at different concentrations. Median values (microg L(-1)) obtained were 0.11 (mMP), 0.95 (mEP), 3.5 (mBP), 0.8 (mBzP), 9.5 (mEHP), and 101 (mNP). We also analysed seven samples of consumer milk and ten samples of infant formula. Only mBP and mEHP were detected in these samples, in the ranges 0.6-3.9 microg L(-1) (mBP) and 5.6-9.9 microg L(-1) (mEHP).

Chromatography, Liquid↗

PubMed2005

Inhibin A and B as markers of menopause: a five-year prospective longitudinal study of hormonal changes during the menopausal transition.

OBJECTIVES: A more direct and precise hormonal marker of the menopause has been required for some time. The aim of this study was to identify the most accurate marker of the menopause, based on analyses of inhibin A and B, FSH, LH and estradiol (E(2)), among 59 healthy women without hormonal treatment during the perimenopause and early postmenopause. METHODS: Fifty-nine women, aged 46-56 years (mean age 51.2 years), were examined annually for 5 years during the menopausal transition and had venous blood drawn simultaneously for later analyses of the above-mentioned hormones. RESULTS: Inhibin A showed a steady decline from at least 4 years before the final menstrual period (FMP) until 1 year before menopause, whereas inhibin B had a shorter lasting decline from year 3 to year 2 before menopause, concomitant with a rise in FSH and LH. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed previous observations that inhibin A had a continuous decline starting before the decline of inhibin B, suggesting that an increasing part of the cycle was anovulatory. The fall in inhibin B and the increase in FSH constitute markers of ovarian aging. One year prior to menopause neither inhibin A nor inhibin B could be detected. The disappearance of these peptide hormones is an important predictor of the approaching menopause.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2004

Alcohol consumption at the time of conception and spontaneous abortion.

The authors studied the association between female and male alcohol intakes at the time of conception and the risk of spontaneous abortion, including early pregnancy loss detected by urinary human chorionic gonadotropin. After a nationwide mailing to about 50,000 members of four trade unions in Denmark in 1992-1994, 430 couples without previous pregnancy attempts were enrolled when birth control was discontinued, and they were followed until a clinically recognized pregnancy or for six menstrual cycles. Alcohol intake and potential confounding factors were reported in monthly questionnaires. Women collected morning urine for 10 days from the first day of vaginal bleeding in each cycle. The authors detected 186 pregnancies: 131 resulted in childbirth, and 55 resulted in spontaneous abortion (34 detected by urinary human chorionic gonadotropin). Depending on the intake in the cycle of conception and the adjustment factors, female alcohol intake was associated with 2-3 times the adjusted risk of spontaneous abortion compared with no intake, and male alcohol intake was associated with 2-5 times the adjusted risk. Only the adjusted relative risks for 10 or more drinks/week compared with no intake were statistically significant. Both male and female alcohol intakes during the week of conception increased the risk of early pregnancy loss.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2004

Effects of ejaculatory frequency and season on variations in semen quality.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the intraindividual variation in semen parameters. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven healthy men, followed monthly for 16 months. INTERVENTION(S): Monthly semen samples were collected, as well as information regarding duration of abstinence, febrile episodes, and ejaculatory frequency. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm concentration, percentage immotile spermatozoa, and percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa. RESULT(S): There were no significant seasonal variations in sperm concentration, motility, or morphology. The ejaculatory frequency was significantly higher during spring compared with winter months. There was a significant difference in sperm concentration with respect to having one, two, or more than two ejaculations during a 7-day period before the abstinence period. Sperm motility and morphology were not affected by ejaculatory frequency. Duration of abstinence, ejaculatory frequency, and fever accounted only little for the high intraindividual variation in individual semen parameters. Three semen samples compared with two reduced the intraindividual variations as follows: sperm concentration from 41% to 33.5%, percentage normal spermatozoa from 6.9% to 5.7%, and percentage immotile spermatozoa from 19% to 15.5%. CONCLUSION(S): Ejaculatory frequency but not season significantly affected sperm concentration. Most of the intraindividual variations in semen parameters could not be explained by duration of abstinence, fever, or ejaculatory frequency.

Ejaculation↗

PubMed2004

Systemic absorption of the sunscreens benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor after whole-body topical application and reproductive hormone levels in humans.

Recent in vitro and animal studies have reported estrogen-like activity of chemicals used in sunscreen preparations. We investigated whether the three sunscreens benzophenone-3 (BP-3), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), and 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC) were absorbed and influenced endogenous reproductive hormone levels in humans after topical application. In this 2-wk single-blinded study 32 healthy volunteers, 15 young males and 17 postmenopausal females, were assigned to daily whole-body topical application of 2 mg per cm(2) of basic cream formulation without (week 1) and with (week 2) the three sunscreens at 10% (wt/wt) of each. Maximum plasma concentrations were 200 ng per mL BP-3, 20 ng per mL 4-MBC, and 10 ng per mL OMC for females and 300 ng per mL BP-3, 20 ng per mL 4-MBC, and 20 ng per mL OMC for men. All three sunscreens were detectable in urine. The reproductive hormones FSH, LH were unchanged but minor differences in testosterone levels were observed between the 2 wk. A minor difference in serum estradiol and inhibin B levels were observed in men only. These differences in hormone levels were not related to sunscreen exposure.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2004

Estradiol levels in prepubertal boys and girls--analytical challenges.

Increasing evidence points at an important function of low concentrations of estradiol (E2) in prepubertal boys and girls. E2 serum levels in prepubertal children are, however, often immeasurable in conventional E2 assays. This strongly hampers further investigation of the physiological relevance of E2 in children. In addition, there is an increasing concern of the potential effect of exposure to endocrine disrupters with estrogenic or antiandrogenic activity on pubertal development. A requirement of assessing the instance for this concern, adds further to the demands for applicable methodologies for the evaluation of the sensitivity of the organism to low E2 concentrations. Traditionally, E2 is measured by use of the radioimmunoassay (RIA). As an ultrasensitive alternative to the RIA, a recombinant cell bioassay has been developed. In this review, methodological aspects for these methods of analysis are examined and their applicability for evaluation of low E2 serum concentrations in children is estimated. Furthermore, available data on E2 levels in prepubertal boys and girls are evaluated and discussed, taking into consideration the limitations of the methods of analysis. In conclusion, there is a pronounced demand for new and improved methods of analysis for accurate and sensitive evaluation of low concentrations of E2.

Child↗

PubMed2004

Serum inhibin B and follicle-stimulating hormone levels as tools in the evaluation of infertile men: significance of adequate reference values from proven fertile men.

Inhibin B and FSH levels in 289 idiopathic infertile men were compared with reference materials consisting of 303 proven fertile men (reference group 1) and 307 healthy men from the general population with unknown fertility status (reference group 2). The diagnostic power of these two serum markers of spermatogenesis was evaluated by the use of receiver operating characteristic plot analysis, and an example of how both markers can be used simultaneously in a bivariate reference chart is presented. Inhibin B levels were significantly lower and FSH levels were significantly higher in the infertile men, compared with either reference group, but with significant overlap, especially with reference group 2. Nevertheless, approximately 50% of the infertile men had an inhibin B or FSH, respectively, below the 2.5 percentile or above the 97.5 percentile of reference group 1, whereas only approximately 25% of the infertile men had an inhibin B or FSH, respectively, below the 2.5 percentile or above the 97.5 percentile of reference group 2. Fourteen and 11% of reference group 2 had an inhibin B or FSH, respectively, below the 2.5 percentile or above the 97.5 percentile of reference group 1, suggesting that a significant number of individuals from the general population with unknown fertility but otherwise healthy may actually be subfertile. In conclusion, 1) proven fertile men constitute the most appropriate reference group in the evaluation of the FSH-inhibin B axis; the sensitivity of these markers to identify infertility increased by approximately 20% when fertile men rather than men from the general population were used as control group; 2) FSH alone had a slightly higher positive predictive value than inhibin B alone, but the positive predictive value were highest when both markers of spermatogenesis were used in an inhibin B/FSH ratio; and 3) a bivariate reference chart is a valuable objective tool in the simultaneous evaluation of FSH and inhibin B as two interrelated markers.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Leydig cell micronodules are a common finding in testicular biopsies from men with impaired spermatogenesis and are associated with decreased testosterone/LH ratio.

To assess the biological significance of Leydig cell 'hyperplasia' in man, Leydig cell distribution, volume, and function were studied in patients with infertility or testicular cancer and in suddenly deceased controls. A total of 156 biopsies from 95 patients and 18 necropsies from 13 controls were examined using a semi-quantitative stereological method. In patients, serum concentrations of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol and inhibin-B were correlated with the findings on histological examination. Leydig cell clusters of more than 15 cells in a cross-section, for which we proposed the name 'micronodules', were frequently seen in testicles exhibiting Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCO), a mixed pattern of impaired spermatogenesis, or complete spermatogenesis in combination with elevated FSH. Median numbers of micronodules per 1.77 mm(2) (four fields of vision) in these three histological patterns were 6, 4, and 3.5, respectively. In contrast, micronodules were only occasionally observed in testicular biopsies from patients with complete spermatogenesis and normal gonadotrophin levels (median 1), and were rare in testes from controls (median = 0, p = 0.02). The proportion of testicular tissue occupied by Leydig cells increased with decreasing spermatogenic capacity. In contrast, the total volume of Leydig cells per testis was roughly comparable irrespective of the histological pattern, with the exception of testes with bilateral micronodules, which had significantly increased Leydig cell volume compared to those without micronodules. The number of micronodules correlated positively to LH (r = 0.577, p < 0.01) and FSH (r = 0.595, p < 0.01) and the presence of micronodules was most pronounced in the hyperstimulated testes, as reflected by an increased LH/testosterone ratio. In conclusion, Leydig cell micronodules were more frequent in biopsies with impaired spermatogenesis and associated with decreased ratios of testicular hormones to gonadotrophins. The presence of micronodules thus seems to be a histological marker of testicular failure in man.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Increase in maternal placental growth hormone during pregnancy and disappearance during parturition in normal and growth hormone-deficient pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate placental growth hormone levels in maternal circulation throughout pregnancy in normal and growth hormone-deficient women with the use of a specific assay and to determine the clearance of placental growth hormone from maternal circulation after birth. STUDY DESIGN: Seventeen healthy pregnant women and 1 patient with growth hormone deficiency substituted with recombinant growth hormone during pregnancy participated in a longitudinal study from early pregnancy until birth with repetitive blood sampling and measurement of placental growth hormone levels throughout pregnancy. Furthermore, serial blood samples were drawn before, during, and after elective caesarean deliveries in 5 healthy women to calculate the half-life of placental growth hormone. Placental growth hormone was measured with the use of two monoclonal antibodies in a commercially available solid-phase iodine 125-labeled immunoradiometric assay (Biocode, Liège, Belgium). RESULTS: Placental growth hormone levels were detectable from as early as 8 weeks of gestation in some of the women and increased throughout gestation, with a maximum at approximately 35 to 36 weeks of gestation (13.7 ng/mL; range, 5.9-24.4 ng/mL) and large interindividual variations. Placental growth hormone levels did not correlate with birth weight or placental weight. In the patient with isolated growth hormone deficiency, placental growth hormone levels were detectable from 11 weeks of gestation (3.4 ng/mL) and increased throughout pregnancy to 13.9 ng/mL, which is similar to values that are obtained in the healthy pregnant women. Substitution therapy with recombinant human growth hormone did not suppress the increase in placental growth hormone. We found a mean half-life of placental growth hormone of 13.8 minutes (range, 11.5-15.2 minutes) in healthy pregnant women and an apparently similar half-life of placental growth hormone (15.8 minutes) in the growth hormone-deficient patient, assuming a monoexponential disappearance of placental growth hormone during the first 30 minutes after the delivery. After the initial 30 minutes, approximately 75% (range, 65%-89%) of the placental growth hormone had been cleared from the maternal circulation. CONCLUSION: Levels of placental growth hormone in maternal circulation increase throughout pregnancy from as early as 8 weeks of pregnancy, with maximum levels around the week 35 of gestation. The pregnancy-induced rise in placental growth hormone levels in the growth hormone-deficient patient was comparable to the rise seen during normal pregnancies and was not suppressed by the concurrent human growth hormone treatment. We speculate that maternal serum levels of placental growth hormone reflect placental function and fetal growth. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the potential clinical use of placental growth hormone determinations.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

History of febrile illness and variation in semen quality.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of a history of febrile illness on semen quality. METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy men (median age 24.4 years) were followed with monthly semen samples and a daily record of the occurrence of experienced febrile episodes over a 16 month period between March 1998 and June 1999 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Semen samples were analysed for semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage immotile sperm and percentage morphologically normal sperm. RESULTS: Sperm concentration significantly decreased by 32.6% (95% confidence interval -49.9; -9.2) following fever during meiosis and by 35.0% (-50.5; -14.6) following fever during the postmeiotic period of spermatogenesis (spermiogenesis). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was decreased by 7.4% (-11.6; -3.0) and the percentage of immotile sperm was increased by 20.4% (6.0; 36.8) by fever during spermiogenesis. The number of days the men experienced fever significantly affected their semen parameters. Thus fever during meiosis and spermiogenesis reduced sperm concentration with respectively 7.1% (-12.9; -0.9) and 8.5% (-13.6; -3.0) per day of fever. The percentage of morphologically normal sperm decreased 1.6% (-2.5; -0.6) and the percentage of immotile sperm increased 4.5% (1.7; 7.3) per day of fever during spermiogenesis. There was, however, a large variation in the individual response to fever. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm concentration, morphology and motility in a semen sample are adversely affected by a febrile episode during the postmeiotic period of spermatogenesis (spermiogenesis). Sperm concentration was also adversely affected by fever during the period of meiosis, whereas fever at other time points during spermatogenesis did not seem to significantly affect these sperm parameters. The adverse effect seemed to be dependent upon the number of days with fever.

Adult↗