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K Matt

Publications and source records attributed to K Matt.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Autoantibody studies of female patients with reproductive failure.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and character of autoimmune derangements in women with reproductive failure. A total of 108 females (age range 17-43, mean 27.5 years), including 16 with primary menstrual cycle disturbances and polycystic ovaries (PCO), 20 with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 38 with endometriosis (E), and 34 with chronic anovulation, luteal phase insufficiency, subfertility or unexplained infertility (INF) were investigated. A control group of 392 women was formed from an unselected population sample (age range 17-43, mean 31.0 years). All sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence method to assess common autoantibodies: nuclear (ANA), smooth muscle (SMA), parietal cell (PCA), thyroid microsomal (TMA), reticulin (ARA), mitochondrial (AMA) and liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies (LKMA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibodies against beta2-glycoprotein I (anti-beta 2GPI) and carbonic anhydrase (anti-CA). Our results showed that 40.7% of patients' sera and 14.8% of control sera contained one or more common autoantibodies, ANA and SMA were most frequently detected (difference between two groups P<0.005). Anti-beta 2GPI were found in eight cases (7.4%), including two patients with INF but without other autoantibodies. Anti-CA were revealed in nine cases (8.3%) including patients' PCOS, E and INF. A comparison of patients' clinical data with antibody assay results did not reveal any significant associations. Our results indicate a high prevalence of autoimmune reactions in women with reproductive failure due to the most common causes PCO, PCOS and E as well as in unexplained infertility. This might reflect the propensity to develop autoimmune reactions in such patients, including pathogenic autoimmune reactions to specific target antigens.

Adolescent↗

Effects of physiological and abnormally elevated prolactin levels on the pituitary-testicular axis.

Prolactin can influence testicular function both directly, and indirectly via altering release of gonadotropins from the pituitary. Although numerous effects of prolactin on male reproductive functions have been described, only a few were demonstrated in more than one species. These include effects on male accessory reproductive glands, on testicular luteinizing hormone receptors, on the release of gonadotropins and on sexual behavior. In rodents, prolactin appears to play a physiological role in the pituitary regulation of testicular function. This is especially pronounced in the golden hamster. In this seasonally-breeding species, alteration of prolactin release is one of the mechanisms mediating the effects of photoperiod on the testis. In the hamster, prolactin is required for the maintenance of luteinizing hormone and prolactin receptors in the testis and treatment with prolactin can completely reverse testicular atrophy induced by exposure to short photoperiod. In both men and rats, excessive release of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) leads to suppression of sexual behavior and gonadotropin release. These effects appear to be due to the action of prolactin on the central nervous system. Most, if not all, of the effects of prolactin exhibit striking variability among species. Moreover, prolactin can exert differential effects on the same target tissue in the same species, depending primarily on the dose.

Animals↗

Neuroendocrine regulation of seasonal reproductive activity in the male golden hamster.

Golden (Syrian) hamsters are seasonal breeders. Under natural photoperiodic conditions, their reproductive systems are functional during spring and summer and atrophic during the fall and winter. This reproductive cycle can be duplicated in the laboratory by exposing the animals to artificially-created photoperiods. The endocrine correlates of photoperiod-induced changes in reproductive activity of the male hamster are fairly well characterized, but the neural control of seasonal reproductive activity has not been as extensively studied. Recent studies indicate that short day (less than 12.5 hr light/day) exposure leads to complex changes in central neurotransmitter metabolism, as well as neurotransmitter and hormonal receptor content, which, in turn, are reversed by exposure to long days or during the period of spontaneous testicular recrudescence. Many of these endocrine and neuroendocrine changes are dependent on the presence of the pineal gland, but photoperiod-induced changes in neurotransmitter metabolism have also been described in pinealectomized hamsters. Further studies of the neuroendocrine transduction of photoperiodic signals will not only provide a better understanding of seasonal reproductive and metabolic activities, but will increase our basic understanding of the neural control of the endocrine system.

Animals↗

[Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in women receiving estrogen, gestagen and estrogen-gestagen-contraceptives (author's transl)].

Eight femal subjects received a contraceptive with a low estrogen content (Neogynon), the estrogen component (50 mug ethinylestradiol) and consecutively the gestagen component (250 mug D-Norgestrel) of the contraceptive. Each treatment cycle was followed by a control cycle. At various times of the control and therapy cycles several coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were investigated. Statistical analyses were performed by multivariate two-factorial analysis of variance. Plasminogen exhibities a statistically significant increase during the treatment with ethinylestradiol and the combination of this steroid with D-norgestrel. No significant changes were found for all other parameters, including partial thromboplastin time, fibriogen, factors X, IX, VIII, factor VIII-related antigen, antithrombin III and fibrin(ogen)degradation products.

Adult↗

[Gynecological, hematological and metabolic studies during therapy with an estrogen-gestagen combination preparation].

Twenty women after menopause were submitted to substitution treatment with a biphasic hormone combination (Cyclacur¿). Nine of these had undergone hysterectomy + ovarectomy. Through 11 days each of the women was administered a daily dose of 2 mg estradiol-valerianate as estrogen. Subsequently, for another 10 days each was given the identical dose of estrogen plus 0.5 mg DL-norgestrel as gestagen. Upon this followed an intermission of 7 days without any medication. After 1 cycle of placebo, 7 cycles of medication were followed by 1 cycle of placebo again with regular controls. Climacteric signs and symptoms were eliminated entirely. In those women without hysterectomy withdrawal-menorrhagia occurred promptly 2--3 days after discontinuing medication. During the entire period of investigation there was no significant change in serum lipids, blood sugar values, or serum enzyme tests used as parameter of hepatic function. As far as hematology is concerned there was a moderate rise of hematocrit. No change of serum protein-bound iodine was observed.

Alanine Transaminase↗