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P F Kraicer

Publications and source records attributed to P F Kraicer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Identification of a rat protein similar to the human decidua-associated protein (hDP) 200.

The possibility of using the rat as an experimental model for the further research of human decidua-associated protein (hDP) 200 was examined. A rat protein similar to the hDP 200 was identified and immunoaffinity purified, using a monoclonal antibody recognizing hDP 200. The protein was named rat decidua-associated protein (rDP) 200. The abundance of rDP 200 in endometrial tissue extracts and in uterine washings was measured throughout the oestrous cycle and on consecutive days, starting the day after the rats mated until the day after the blastocyst implantation. The results indicate that the highest concentration of rDP 200 in uterine washings may be related to oestrogen control and probably to the implantation process. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Rheumatoid factor-associated high-molecular-weight complexes in the menstrual and amniotic fluids.

We have previously described the identification of the human decidua-associated protein hDP200 as a rheumatoid factor [1]. Assuming that rheumatoid factor binds to Fc of immunoglobulins, the existence of high-molecular-weight complexes was studied in decidual extract, pooled uterine fluid from proliferative and early secretory phase, menstrual fluid and amniotic fluid. High-molecular-weight complexes containing hDP200 and other immunoglobulins were found only in menstrual and amniotic fluids and not in decidual extract or uterine fluid. It is possible that complexing of the immunoglobulins by hDP200 serves as one of the mechanisms that ensure suppression of the immune response to fetal antigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Human decidua-associated protein hDP200 in menstrual fluid: comparison between fertile women and women after failed in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer treatment.

The concentration of human decidua-associated protein (hDP) 200 was measured in 238 menstrual fluid samples obtained from normal fertile women and in 26 menstrual fluid samples obtained from infertile women who failed to conceive and menstruated following in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer treatment. A significant association was observed between the concentration of hDP200 and the age of the women. A maximal concentration of hDP200 was observed in women aged 28-30 years, with significantly lower concentrations in those aged 18-20 and 39-41 years. The presence of an intra-uterine device had no effect on menstrual fluid hDP200 concentrations. A significantly lower mean concentration of hDP200 (82 U/ml) was measured in menstrual fluid samples obtained from failed IVF/embryo transfer patients as compared with that in menstrual fluid samples from normal fertile women (191 U/ml). These findings support the concept that adequate endometrial function, as evaluated by menstrual fluid concentration of hDP200, is important for the success of the fertility process.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cryopreservation of rat blastocysts: a comparative study of different cryoprotectants and freezing/thawing methods.

Cryopreservation has proved to be a highly successful method for long-term storage of viable embryos. The objective of this study on rat blastocysts was to define conditions for their cryopreservation. Three cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, and propanediol/sucrose, were compared in two cooling programs (to -30 or -80 degrees C) and two thawing protocols. The cooling was followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen. Programmed thawing was at the rate of 8 degrees C per minute; fast thawing consisted of direct exposure of the frozen embryos to the ambient laboratory temperature. The survival after the freeze/thaw was assessed from the post-thaw embryo morphology and ability to develop into apparently normal offspring in uteri of foster mothers (embryonic survival). The best method for preservation of rat blastocysts proved to be programmed cooling to -80 degrees C followed by fast thawing with glycerol as cryoprotectant (embryonic survival of 28.1%). In all the experimental groups, the proportion of embryos with good to excellent preservation of morphology was high. With dimethyl sulfoxide, after programmed cooling to -80 degrees C, embryonic survival was 9.9% (programmed thawing) and 17.5% (fast thawing). No embryos survived after programmed cooling to -30 degrees C. However, when the cryoprotectant was propanediol/sucrose, no difference was observed between programmed cooling to -80 degrees C with either method of thawing and programmed cooling to -30 degrees C and fast thawing (12.3, 6.2, and 8.0%, respectively).

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of decidual induction in rats by clomiphene and tamoxifen.

The objective of this study was to characterize the estrogen action that confers endometrial sensitization to nontraumatic deciduogenic stimuli by use of antiestrogens. Tamoxifen, ethamoxytriphetol, and clomiphene and its two component enantiomers inhibited decidual induction in pseudopregnant rats when administered 17 h before pyrathiazine. Unexpectedly, clomiphene (250 micrograms/rat) and tamoxifen (25 micrograms/rat) proved inhibitory at all times up to and including the time of induction. Clomiphene, administered in the hours preceding decidual induction, inhibited the increase of ornithine decarboxylase activity, which normally marks the end of the induction phase. Clomiphene had no inhibitory effect on the availability or receptor binding of progesterone. Clomiphene also inhibited implantation of blastocysts when administered at the time of their adherence to the uterus. The inhibition by antiestrogens of decidual induction could not be explained on the basis of the current understanding of mechanisms of estrogen action. The discrepancies were that no latent period between the time of antiestrogen administration and decidual induction was observed and no difference was observed in the inhibitory activities of the isomers of clomiphene.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Desmin as an immunochemical marker of human decidual cells and its expression in menstrual fluid.

The expression of intermediate filament proteins in human endometrial tissue was examined. Desmin was selectively expressed in decidualized stroma, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis and positive response with a monoclonal antibody specific for desmin in ELISA and in western blot analysis. The same monoclonal antibody specifically stained human decidual cells in decidualized endometrium (secretory endometrium) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections prepared from diagnostic curettage samples. Desmin was also detected in menstrual fluid. Therefore, desmin might serve as a biochemical and histochemical marker of human decidualized endometrium.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and initial characterization of a novel 71 kD human decidua associated protein by use of specific monoclonal antibodies.

This study is part of an ongoing attempt to identify and characterize proteins associated with the human decidual tissue. A novel decidual-associated glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 71 kD named hDP71 (human decidual-protein 71), has been identified and purified by immunoaffinity technique using monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies recognizing the hDP71 were raised against a partly purified preparation of decidual associated proteins, which was obtained by immunoabsorption of serum proteins from crude decidual extract. Although the hDP71 was copurified with another decidual-associated glycoprotein, the previously described hDP200 (Halperin et al., 1989), evidence is presented showing that the monoclonal antibodies described above are specific for hDP71.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and partial characterization of a human decidua-associated protein.

A crude extract of pooled early-pregnancy decidual tissue was enriched for soluble decidual proteins by exhaustive affinity absorption with antibodies to human serum proteins immobilized on Eupergit C. The partly purified extract was used to prepare monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody was obtained recognizing an antigen present in extract of decidual tissue and not in extract of proliferative endometrium. The monoclonal antibody was used for immunoaffinity purification of the decidua-associated protein. By SDS-PAGE analysis, under reducing conditions it yielded 2 bands at apparent molecular weights of 55,000 and 25,000. Under non-reducing conditions a single protein band at apparent molecular weight of 200,000 was observed. The Mr 200,000 protein was named hDP200 and the Mr 55,000 protein was named hDP55. It is suggested that hDP55 is a subunit of the hDP200. The hDP200 did not react with polyclonal antibodies specific for PP12 and PP14. PP14 has been shown to be immunologically indistinguishable from PEP and alpha 2-PEG. Our data therefore suggest that hDP200 is a novel human decidua-associated protein.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1988

A new and simple method of measuring menstrual blood loss.

Although it is difficult for women to make reliable judgments about their menstrual blood loss, the direct measurement of such blood loss is useful in diagnosis and in evaluation of therapy. We developed a new and simple procedure for measuring blood on sanitary materials. The procedure is a modification of previous alkaline hematin methods but overcomes some of their major drawbacks. The method involves the separate extraction of blood using a detergent solution and color development of sample aliquots with sodium carbonate. The standard curves obtained for four products tested--regular maxi pads, thin maxi pads and two brands of tampons--were significantly linear over the range of 1-10 mL of blood. The extraction efficiency varied with the four products; tampons exhibited the highest extraction efficiency and thin maxi pads the lowest. Blood loss in normally menstruating women was estimated to be 41.8 +/- 3.9 mL, which correlates well with other estimates reported. Furthermore, the procedure can be used to measure both very low and very concentrated levels of blood on pads or tampons and thus can be used to assess both functional and dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Female↗
PubMed1981

The male factor in fertilization of rat eggs in vitro.

Both epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa give usable rates of fertilization of superovulated oocytes in vitro. The epididymal sperm gave higher rates, but ejaculated sperm were preferred because intra-donor variation was lower than inter-donor variation. A selected population of 14 male donors had normally distributed fertilizing capacity with a mean and standard deviation of 77 +/- 14% (2,823 eggs). Successive ejaculates usually gave similar rates of fertilization. An attempt was made to eliminate dead and agglutinated cells from the ejaculated sperm by filtration through a column of glass beads. Despite the expected marked improvement in the average motility, the eluted spermatozoa were incapable of fertilizing. We concluded that the preferred source of spermatozoa for fertilization in vitro is ejaculated sperm. In the rat, motility and cell morphology are not adequate criteria for fertilizing capacity of treated spermatozoa.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The effect of a combination of prostatic massage and antibiotic plus anticongestive drugs on human semen quality and fertility.

A total of 123 patients suffering from chronic prostatitis and infertility were included in this study. No significant improvement in sperm quality was found following prostatic massage with (90 patients) or without (33) antiobiotic plus anticongestive therapy. There was no apparent change in the relative contribution on the prostate and seminal vesicle of the ejaculate, as judged by the concentration of calcium and fructose. Nor was the pregnancy rate increased. It is concluded that prostatic massage is of little or no therapeutic value in treatment of infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The effect of LH on the fertilizability and developmental capacity of rat oocytes matured in vitro.

The effect of adding LH (10 microgram NIH-LH-B8/ml) to the medium in which oocytes were undergoing maturation in vitro was studied. The fertilizability of the oocytes was evaluated in the sterile oviduct of a unilaterally ovariectomized, mated recipient. Freshly ovulated oocytes, used as a control of the method, were fertilized at a rate of 72%. Only 14% of oocytes matured in culture (without LH) were penetrated by spermatozoa, and 11% were fertilized normally. Addition of LH to the medium increased these proportions to 43 and 33% respectively. Oocytes matured in the presence of LH were able to develop into apparently normal rats. It is concluded that, although oocytes can mature in vitro spontaneously, and that these matured oocytes can be fertilized, addition of LH increases the numbers 3-fold. LH therefore has a direct maturation-promoting action on the rat oocyte-cumulus complex in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Ethanol and sulfamethoxazole for functional evaluation of male accessory glands.

The secretory function of male accessory glands was tested with two chemical markers, ethanol and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). Fifty-eight men ingested 70 ml of 40% ethanol; ethanol reached a peak in the blood and prostatic fluid within 0.5 hr, which was sustained for 2 hr. Twenty-one men ingested 1.6 g of SMZ; SMZ reached a peak in serum and semen 4 hr after ingestion and was sustained in semen for 24 hr. Ethanol and SMZ were excreted equally by the prostate and seminal vesicle. Pathologies of the prostate were not correlated with either ethanol or SMZ secretion.

Adult↗