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Biomedical subjects

H Suginami

Publications and source records attributed to H Suginami.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Micro-bead embolization of uterine spiral arteries and changes in uterine arterial flow velocity waveforms in the pregnant ewe.

The aim of the present study was to simulate the pathological uteroplacental circulation observed in complicated human pregnancies in the pregnant ewe and to analyze its velocimetric changes. Four pregnant ewes at 16-17 weeks of pregnancy were used in the study. Micro-beads (Gelfoam) were administered stepwise into the uterine artery and changes in the uterine circulation were assessed by Doppler velocimetry. Gelfoam administration successfully embolized the uterine spiral arteries located in the decidual segment. The Gelfoam embolization decreased the uterine blood flow dose-dependently from 550 +/- 48 ml/min (mean +/- SD) to 142 +/- 12 ml/min and reciprocally increased the uterine vascular resistance from 139 +/- 12 mmHg min l-1 to 540 +/- 46 mmHg min l-1 at 0 mg and 30 mg Gelfoam, respectively. It dose-dependently attenuated the pregnancy-related physiological elevation in diastolic flow velocity, while the systolic flow velocity was unaffected, resulting ina dose-dependent increase in the pulsatility index from 0.5 +/- 0.2 to 3.2 +/- 0.7 at 0 mg and 30 mg Gelfoam, respectively. The pulsatility index linearly correlated with the uterine vascular resistance, giving a high correlation coefficient of r = 0.947. It could be concluded that the uterine arterial pulsatility index is an indicator of uterine vascular resistance.

Animals

The effect of follicular fluid on intracellular free calcium levels in human spermatozoa.

In this study, we demonstrate the effect of follicular fluid (FF) on free cytosolic calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) in human spermatozoa, using a fluorescent indicator "fura 2," and we evaluate the factors that increase [Ca2+]i in FF. A significant and immediate [Ca2+]i increase (656.3 +/- 148.6 nM) was elicited by intact FF. The increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by lipid-stripped FF was only 50% (322 +/- 68.7 nM) of that elicited by intact FF. However, 82% of the [Ca2+]i increase elicited by intact FF was observed when lipid-stripped FF was supplemented with progesterone, but not when it was supplemented with estradiol. Also, progesterone at the concentrations of 1 ng/ml to 1 microgram/ml caused a significant increase in [Ca2+]i by itself, but estradiol produced a small effect, ranging from 3% to 9% of the effect produced by progesterone. These results indicate that progesterone plays a major role in the lipid fraction in FF to elicit the entry of calcium into human spermatozoa.

Calcium

A case of laparoscopic complication: injury of the left common iliac vessels and subsequent acute compartment syndrome of the left leg.

A 45-year-old Japanese woman underwent a laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Insertion of a trocar injured the left common iliac artery and vein, which were repaired within 2.5 hours. Postoperatively the patient presented an acute compartment syndrome of the left leg. Fasciotomy and rehabilitation rescued her from functional disturbances.

Acute Disease

Expression and localization of aminopeptidase N, neutral endopeptidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in the human placenta and fetal membranes.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the distribution of membrane-bound cell surface peptidases, namely aminopeptidase N, neutral endopeptidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in the human placenta and fetal membranes. STUDY DESIGN: Frozen tissue sections of the first-trimester chorionic villi, term placentas, and term fetal membranes were stained by indirect immunofluorescence with specific monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: In the first trimester chorionic villi cytotrophoblasts expressed both neutral endopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV, but syncytiotrophoblasts expressed only neutral endopeptidase. Stromal cells in the chorionic villi expressed the three peptidases at various intensities. In the term placentas villous syncytiotrophoblasts expressed neutral endopeptidase weakly, and the villous stromal cells expressed large amounts of both aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl peptidase IV but neutral endopeptidase weakly or faintly. In the term fetal membranes amniotic epithelial cells and chorion laeve expressed both neutral endopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Decidual cells in the decidua parietalis moderately or highly expressed aminopeptidase N. CONCLUSION: Three peptidases, aminopeptidase N, neutral endopeptidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV, are expressed by different cell populations in the human placenta and fetal membranes, suggesting their respective and important roles at the maternofetal interface.

Aminopeptidases

A new monoclonal antibody (POG-1) detects a differentiation antigen of porcine granulosa and thecal cells and indicates heterogeneity of thecal-stromal cells.

To identify the differentiation antigen of ovarian cells, we raised a murine monoclonal antibody (POG-1 antibody) reactive to porcine granulosa and thecal cells in the ovary. Immunofluorescence staining showed that expression of the POG-1 antigen on granulosa and theca interna cells increased gradually in accordance with follicular development. The thecal cells just outside the basal lamina surrounding the follicles did not express the antigen, whereas some stromal cells around the theca externa layer in the large follicles did express it. These expression profiles indicated the heterogeneity of thecal-stromal cells and that the POG-1 antigen was a differentiation-related antigen of granulosa and thecal cells. Luteal cells also expressed the antigen. In organs other than the ovary, some endocrine and exocrine cells, such as Leydig cells and secretory cells of the breast, expressed the antigen. The POG-1 antigen was purified from granulosa cells by immunoaffinity chromatography. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles showed that the antigen consisted of two specific proteins; the major one had a molecular mass of 77, and the other had a molecular mass of 81 kilodaltons. Analysis of the purified POG-1 antigen may contribute to understanding the differentiation mechanism of granulosa and thecal cells.

Animals

Cytokines stimulate dipeptidyl peptidase-IV expression on human luteinizing granulosa cells.

We have previously reported that dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPPIV) is a differentiation antigen for human granulosa cells that is initially expressed during corpus luteum formation. To investigate the involvement of cytokines in luteal cell differentiation, we examined the expression and activity of DPPIV in human luteinizing granulosa cells cultured in vitro. Human granulosa cells obtained from patients who had undergone in vitro fertilization were cultured for 7 days in the absence (controls) or presence of hCG (1 U/mL), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha; 10 ng/mL), or interleukin 1-alpha (IL-1 alpha; 10 ng/mL). Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of cultured granulosa cells treated with TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha that was positive for DPPIV expression was significantly higher than that in controls (43.7 +/- 5.4% and 43.4 +/- 5.6%, respectively, vs. 21.7 +/- 3.5%; P < 0.01), whereas hCG treatment produced no remarkable difference in DPPIV expression (24.0 +/- 5.2%). The DPPIV activity of cells treated with TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha was also significantly higher than that of controls, whereas hCG treatment produced no significant difference from control values. These findings indicate that TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha stimulate DPPIV expression and activity in human luteinizing granulosa cells in vitro and suggest the involvement of cytokines in the differentiation of granulosa cells during corpus luteum formation.

Adult

A clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen citrate combination therapy: a novel therapy for ovulation induction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a clomiphene citrate (CC) and tamoxifen citrate (CC/tamoxifen) combination therapy in ovulation induction by comparing with a CC alone therapy. DESIGN: A randomized cross-over study with CC alone and CC/tamoxifen combination therapies for 20 normoprolactinemic anovulatory women. Randomly selected 10 of the 20 women (group A) underwent a CC alone therapy (100 mg CC during cycle days 5 to 9) for the initial three consecutive treatment cycles and a CC/tamoxifen combination therapy (50 mg CC and 20 mg tamoxifen during cycle days 5 to 9) for the subsequent three consecutive treatment cycles. The remaining 10 (group B) were treated similarly but with the inverse sequence. Ovulation was documented when a high BBT phase persisted for 11 days or more, when midluteal serum P levels exceeded 7 ng/mL (22.3 nmol/L), or when pregnancy ensued. RESULTS: The rates of ovulatory/treated, pregnant/treated, and pregnant/ovulatory cycles were 42 of 56 (75.0%), 3 of 47 (6.4%), and 3 of 35 (8.6%) for CC/tamoxifen, respectively. Those were 25 of 57 (43.9%), 1 of 48 (2.1%), and 1 of 21 (4.8%) for CC, respectively. Clomiphene citrate/tamoxifen was more effective in ovulation induction than CC. All the pregnancies were normal and single. None of the treatments was accompanied by any remarkable side effects. CONCLUSION: Clomiphene citrate/tamoxifen is a novel treatment modality of ovulation induction with high efficacy.

Adult

The expression of c-kit protein in human adult and fetal tissues.

The c-kit proto-oncogene encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor and is allelic with the dominant white-spotting (W) locus of the mouse. In this study we investigated the expression of human c-kit protein in various adult and fetal human tissues immunohistochemically using anti-human c-kit monoclonal antibody. To discriminate c-kit+ cells from mast cells expressing c-kit, mast cells were identified by staining with Toluidine blue. In oogonia, spermatogonia and skin melanocytes of the fetus and in oocytes of adult ovary, c-kit expression was detected. In adult uterus, c-kit+ cells were widely distributed in the basal layer of the endometrium, myometrium and cervix, the number and distribution being almost identical to those of mast cells. In fetal uterus, c-kit+ non-mast cells clustered beneath the epithelium and a few mast cells were observed in the myometrium and subserosal layer. In both adult and fetus, c-kit+ non-mast cells were detected within smooth muscle layers of the intestine, colon and oesophagus, while mast cells were observed in the mucosal and submucosal layers of these organs. In contrast to mice, no expression of c-kit protein was detected in the human placenta and decidua. Thus, the distribution of c-kit+ cells in various tissues is similar but not identical between adult and fetus and between human and mouse.

Adult

Human leukocyte antigen-DR is a differentiation antigen for human granulosa cells.

We raised a murine monoclonal antibody, OG-3, which reacts with human granulosa cells. Immunohistologically, OG-3 antigen was weakly expressed on the granulosa cells of some growing and atretic follicles, but not on those of preovulatory follicles. After ovulation, the antigen expression rapidly increased on granulosa cells during corpus luteum formation. The antigen expression on granulosa/large luteal cells decreased in the mid-luteal phase, but increased again in the late luteal phase. In early pregnancy, OG-3 antigen expression on large luteal cells increased after 7 wk of gestation. The OG-3 antigen distribution in various organs resembled that of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules. An HLA-class II-positive human B cell line (AKIBA) and a murine L-cell transfectant expressing HLA-DR antigen were positive for OG-3 antigen, whereas an HLA-class II-negative human T-cell line and L-cell transfectants expressing HLA-DP and DQ antigens were negative. The molecular mass of OG-3 antigen purified from AKIBA cells was 32-35 kDa. The staining profiles in ovaries with anti-HLA-DR or anti-HLA-class II antibodies were similar to that with OG-3. These results indicate that OG-3 antigen is identical to HLA-DR, and that HLA-DR is a differentiation antigen for human granulosa cells.

Adult

Endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency as assessed by GnRH/TRH stimulation tests performed in the early follicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

To investigate endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency (LPD), GnRH/TRH stimulation tests were performed in the early follicular (EFP) and midluteal phases (MLP) of the menstrual cycle in 52 infertile women with a history of short luteal phase, in whom pituitary responsiveness to GnRH/TRH and steroidogenic competency of the corpus luteum were analyzed. Twelve women with either elevated basal-LH or exaggerated PRL response to GnRH/TRH in EFP were eliminated, and the remaining 40 women were studied. Basal-FSH in EFP inversely correlated with steroidogenic parameters in MLP, indicating that compromised folliculogenesis causes LPD. In a fraction of LPD women, decreased basal-LH in MLP was associated with decreased basal-progesterone (p), in spite of normal steroidogenic potential of the corpus luteum, suggesting that aberrant LH secretion is another progenitor of LPD. The other group of LPD women showed shortening of high phase period and/or extravagant discrepancy in endometrial dating without apparent abnormal endocrine parameters, suggesting that unknown factors are involved in establishment of LPD. From the diagnostic point of view, they were discriminated into three groups, normal, incomplete LPD and complete LPD groups, with a modified classification of LPD; 1) shortening of high phase period < 11 days, 2) delay in histological to chronological dating of the endometrium > 2 days, and 3) decreased max-P in MLP < 10 ng/ml. Normal (n = 14) and complete LPD (n = 7) groups consisted of women having all the criteria of classification within and out of the cut-off values, respectively. The remainders were enrolled into incomplete LPD group (n = 19). Complete LPD group mainly consisted of women having compromised folliculogenesis as a cause of LPD. In contrast, incomplete LPD group appeared a mixture of heterogeneous populations as to the genesis of LPD. GnRH/TSH stimulation test, especially when performed in MLP, would unveil endocrine pathophysiology of LPD and provide an accurate standard for diagnosis of LPD.

Adult

Immunohistochemical localization of androgen receptor in the human ovary throughout the menstrual cycle in relation to oestrogen and progesterone receptor expression.

In order to elucidate the role of androgen receptors (AR) in human ovaries, we examined their immunohistochemical localization, in comparison with oestrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), at various stages of the menstrual cycle and follicular development. Primordial and primary follicles did not express AR. In granulosa and thecal cells of secondary follicles there was weak nuclear staining for AR. Granulosa cells of dominant follicles showed moderate nuclear staining for AR, which was stronger than that in thecal cells. In the luteal phase, the staining intensity for AR was strongest in the early luteal phase just after ovulation and declined gradually thereafter. Thecal cells of atretic follicles showed moderate nuclear staining for AR, which was a little stronger than that in dominant follicles. There was weak nuclear staining for AR in stromal cells surrounding follicles. Though there was variation in the staining intensity, AR were present at almost all stages of the menstrual cycle. There is a possibility that androgens, mediated by AR, may play an essential role in follicular growth and maturation, atresia and luteinization as autocrine or paracrine agents.

Adult

A reappraisal of the coelomic metaplasia theory by reviewing endometriosis occurring in unusual sites and instances.

Endometriosis occurring in unusual sites and instances was reviewed for the purpose of exploring the pathogenesis of the disease. Endometriosis is frequently observed in the pelves of menstruating women. It occurs in teenagers even before menarche, in women who have never menstruated, and in postmenopausal women. It affects not only the pelvic organs but also the right-sided thoracic organs and rarely the extremities. It occurs in men who are castrated and treated with estrogen. The affected sites in both common and uncommon endometriosis include cells arising from the coelomic membrane and sites exposed to metaplasia-inducing substances such as estrogen and unknown factors liberated from the degenerating endometrium. This appears to strengthen the coelomic metaplasia theory, although additional basic and experimental data must still be accumulated to confirm this theory.

Child

Pregnancy suppression by a platelet activating factor antagonist, ONO-6240, in mice.

Mouse embryos produce an embryo-derived platelet activating factor (EDPAF) during their early developmental stages. The present study was aimed at investigating the physiological significance of EDPAF by using a specific PAF antagonist, ONO-6240. EDPAF-induced platelet decrease was antagonized by ONO-6240 in a dose-dependent manner, although this alone did not affect circulating platelet concentrations. ONO-6240, when administered to maternal mice, increased the proportion of mice conceiving small litter sizes, whereas it did not affect in vivo or in vitro development of embryos. EDPAF was suggested to play an important role in establishing pregnancy in mice by promoting implantation.

Animals

Pregnancy suppression by a structurally related antagonist for platelet activating factor, CV-6209, in mice.

The effects of CV-6209, a structurally related antagonist for platelet activating factor (PAF), on pregnancy were investigated in mice, so that the physiologic significance of PAF production by and secretion from preimplantation embryos could be elucidated. When it was repeatedly administered to pregnant mice during days 1-6 of pregnancy, CV-6209 prevented preimplantation thrombocytopenia and reduced the number of implantation sites dose-dependently, CV-6209 suppression of pregnancy was eliminated by concomitant administrations of PAF. When it was administered on various fractional days of pregnancy, CV-6209 suppressed pregnancy most effectively in mice treated during days 4-5 of pregnancy, the days of implantation. CV-6209 treatment exhibited no apparent effect on embryonic development. Implantation was suppressed when day 4 embryos from saline-treated donor mice were transferred in utero to CV-6209-treated recipient mice. Once implanted, however, their in utero growth was normal. The results indicate that PAF is prerequisite to pregnancy by promoting embryonic implantation.

Animals