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Biomedical subjects

W G Wiest

Publications and source records attributed to W G Wiest.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Free testosterone concentration in serum: elevation is the hallmark of hirsutism.

A simple, reliable procedure for quantitating the concentration of free (not protein bound and thus biologically active) testosterone in serum has been applied to normal and hirsute patients. Each of 32 hirsute women studied had a significantly elevated level of free testosterone (that is, more than two standard deviations above the mean of that found in normal women), although half of them had a total serum testosterone level within normal limits. Suppression of free testosterone to within normal limits could be accomplished by dexamethasone alone in 47 per cent of the hirsute group. In the remainder of the hirsute group, suppression of free testosterone to within normal limits could be accomplished by addition of Enovid-E. Use of free serum testosterone concentration is clearly superior to the use of total serum testosterone concentration for the identification and rational therapy of simple hirsutism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Luteotropic regulation of dispersed rat luteal cells in early pregnancy.

Viable and functional luteal cells were prepared, using a combination of hyaluronidase, collagenase, and a low concentration of trypsin in a Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 0.5% bovine serum albumin and 3.3 mM Ca++, from corpora lutea taken from 2-day pregnant rats. The viability and functional capacity of the dispersed cells were evaluated by electronmicroscopy and by measuring steroidogenic capicity during perifusion. Dispersed luteal cells previously exposed in vivo to biphasic prolactin (PRL) surges were found to respond during perifusion to as little as 0.5 ng/ml LH by increased steroid secretion. The net progesterone synthesis and secretion remained elevated over a time course of 2 1/2 hours perifusion, and the magnitude of the luteotropic stimulation was dose dependent on LH. However, luteotropic stimulation of LH could not be maintained beyond 2 1/2 h without renewed (in vitro) PRL exposure. PRL by itself maintained the low initial secretion rate of progesterone but demonstrated no stimulatory effect. Different steroidogenic responses were noted during the in vitro administration of LH alone and the administration of LH plus PRL. In the former case, the decreasing rate of progesterone secretion was accompanied by an increasing 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone secretion, suggesting that luteal 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was not suppressed. In the latter case, progesterone secretion was maintained and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone secretion fell suggesting an inhibitory action by PRL against 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. Dispersed luteal cells, preincubated at 36 C in medium containing only PRL, retained viability and functional capacity in response to LH-PRL stimulation for periods of time up to 48 h. Preincubation with LH alone did not prolong cell viability.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗
PubMed1975

Function of the male sex organs in heroin and methadone users.

The function of the secondary sex organs was found to be markedly impaired in 29 participants in a methadone maintenance program. The ejaculate volume and seminal vesicular and prostatic secretions were reduced by over 50 per cent in methadone clients, as compared to 16 heroin addicts and 43 narcotic-free controls. Serum testosterone levels were also approximately 43 per cent lower in methadone clients than in controls or heroin users. Although the sperm count of methadone clients was more than twice the control levels, reflecting a lack of sperm dilution by secondary-sex-organ secretions, the sperm motility of these subjects was markedly lower than normal. On all measures of secondary-sex-organ and testicular function, heroin addicts appeared to fall between the methadone and control subjects, but, with the exception of sperm motility, the deviation from control values did not reach statisitcal significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Progestational function of perifused rat corpora lutea.

Corpora lutea (CL) from synchronously ovulated, prepubertal rats remained viable in perifusing Eagle medium (Dulbecco modified) flowing at a rate of 1 ml/hr. As an index of viability, progesterone (P) and 20alpha-hydroxypreng-4-ene-3-one (20alpha-OH-P) were determined by radioimmunoa-say in effluent media. Corpora lutea removed on the 2nd day of diestrus (D-2) or the 2nd day of pseudopregnancy (PP-2) showed fatigue by a continuous decline in the concentrations of effluent progestins. P decreased from 2 to 0.2 ng/ml/CL during an interval of 5 hr, while 20alpha-OH-P decreased from 2.2 to about 0.7 ng/ml/CL. In contrast corpora lutea taken on PP-4 maintained higher progestin levels in the effluent media. P present initially at 2.2 ng/ml/CL decreased to 0.73 ng/ml/CL; 20alpha-OH-P, initial concentration 0.84 ng/ml/CL, decreased to 0.41 ng/ml/CL. The greater functionality of PP-4 CL indicated by the continued predominance of , suggested an in vivo imposition of a luteotropic stimulus occurring after PP-2. Addition of bovine LH (NIH-LH-B8, 20 mug/ml) to the perifusing medium stimulated steroidogenesis by PP-2 CL during which 20alpha-OH-P levels remained between 2.3 and 3.2 ng/ml/CL throughout perifusion, while P secretion decreased from 2.9 to 0.9 ng/ml/CL. Prolactin (NIH-P-B3, 20 mug/ml), did not significantly alter the original secretion pattern of PP-2 CL. During combined prolactin (20 mug/ml) and LH (2 to 10 mug/ml) perifusion, P secretion predominated, decreasing from 3.9 to 1.0 ng/ml/CL; 20alpha-OH-P decreased from 1.2 to 0.7 ng/ml/CL.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effects of chronic morphine administration on the reproductive system of the male rat.

The effects of chronic morphine administration on a variety of rat organs were examined. Only the prostates and seminal vesicles were affected by a 3-day period of morphine pellet implantation. In these organs, particularly the seminal vesicles, morphine produced a marked decrease in both the wet and dry tissue weight and a reduction in their secretory activity. This apparent morphine-induced atrophy of these important accessory sex organs was not due to a change in the nutritional status of the animals but rather appeared to be associated with a pronounced (87 percent) reduction in the serum testosterone levels of morphine-treated rats when compared to control levels. The effect of morphine on the secondary sex organs was reversed by withdrawing the animals from morphine administration for a period of 7 days. These data suggest that the role of physiological and endocrinological factors in the narcotic addict's sexual difficulties be examined.

Animals↗