• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1454-1459
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects that water temperature and the administration of estradiol-17${\beta}$ (E2) had on the sex ratio and growth of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Glass eels (total length${\fallingdotseq}$6.5 cm) were differentiated into an E2 group and an E2-free group and then they were reared for about four months at three water temperature levels of $20^{\circ}C$, $24^{\circ}C$, and $28^{\circ}C$. The results showed that the young eels survived normally at the rearing water temperature of ${\geq}24^{\circ}C$, and grew to a mean size of 20 cm (total length). In the E2-free group, temperature was not found to increase the sex ratio (feminizing rates); however, the sex ratio of the E2-administrated group was found to be a little higher at a high temperature ($28^{\circ}C$). The growth of the E2 group was lower than the growth of the E2-free group at $24^{\circ}C$ and the E2 concentration levels in the plasma at $24^{\circ}C$ were found to be significant after the end of the E2 administration period (178 days). Therefore, we thought that long-term administration of E2 must be considered to be the reason for growth decline in spite of the prominent sex ratio effect. Our results indicate that temperature was not related to an increase in the feminizing rate (sex ratio) in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, and other environmental factors (rearing density, salinity, etc.) that have the possibility of inducing ovarian differentiation must be investigated.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.452-457
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• 2011

The Egr-1 is an immediate early response gene encoding a transcription factor that functions in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Estrogen has diverse physiological effects, including cellular proliferation and neuroprotection against brain injury. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. $ER{\alpha}$-induced Egr-1 expression has been extensively studied; however, the role of $ER{\beta}$ is yet not known. In the present study, we investigated whether or not $ER{\beta}$ induces Egr-1 expression in C6 rat glioma cells, which express $ER{\beta}$ but not $ER{\alpha}$. Our results show that $ER{\beta}$ promoted up-regulation of Egr-1 expression via a non-genomic mechanism involving the Raf/MEK1/Erk/Elk-1 signaling cascade.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Hybrid materials were obtained modifying the bentonite (BC) and local clay (LC) using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) or the clay were pillared with aluminum followed by modification with HDTMA. The materials were characterized by the SEM, FT-IR and XRD analytical tools. The batch reactor data implied that the uptake of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) by the hybrid materials showed very high uptake at the neutral pH region. However, at higher and lower pH conditions, slightly less uptake of E2 was occurred. The uptake of E2 was insignificantly affected changing the sorptive concentration from 1.0 to 10.0 mg/L and the background electrolyte (NaCl) concentrations from 0.0001 to 0.1 mol/L. Moreover, the sorption of E2 by these hybrid materials was fairly efficient since within 30 mins of contact time, an apparent equilibrium between solid and solution was achieved, and the data was best fitted to the PSO (pseudo-second order) and FL-PSO (Fractal-like-pseudo second order) kinetic models compared to the PFO (pseudo-first order) model. The fixed-bed column results showed that relatively high breakthrough volume was obtained for the attenuation of E2 using these hybrid materials, and the loading capacity of E2 was estimated to be 75.984, 63.757, 58.965 and 49.746 mg/g for the solids BCH, BCAH, LCH and LCAH, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

Objective: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. Materials of Methods : The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. Results: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were $43.1{\pm}5.6$ and $40.6{\pm}7.2$ years, the weights were $63.4{\pm}7.3$ and $59.4{\pm}8.1\;kg$, and their heights were $155.4{\pm}4.8$ and $159.3{\pm}4.8\;cm$ respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy An, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, a-cortolone, a-cortol, $\beta$-cortol, $11{\beta}$-OH Et/$11{\beta}$-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. $17{\beta}$-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. $17{\beta}$-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). Conclusion: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.465-470
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• 1997

The human cDNA clone UDPGTh2, encoding a liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), was isolated from a .gamma.gt 11 cDNA library by hybridization to mouse transferase cDNA clone, UDPGTm1. The two clones had 74% nlicleotide sequence identities in the coding region. UDPGTh2 encoded a 529 amino acid protein with an amino terminus membrane-insertion signal peptide and a carboxyl terminus membrane-spanning region. In order to establish substrate specificity, the clone was inserted into the pSVL vector (pUDPGTh2) and expressed in COS 1 cells. Sixty potential substrates were tested using cells transfected with pUDPGTh2. The order of relative substrate activity was as follows: 4-hydroxyestrone > estriol >2-hydroxyestriol > 4-hydroxyestradiol > $6{\alpha}$-hydroxyestradiol >$5{\alpha}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$, $11{\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol=5${\beta}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$ ${\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol. There were only trace amounts of gulcuronidation of 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestrone, and in contrast to other cloned transferase, no gulcuronidation of either the primary estrogens and androgens (estrone, $17{\beta}$estradiol/testosterone, androsterone) or any of the exogenous substrates tested was detected. A lineweaver-Burk plot of the effect of 4-hydroxystrone concentration on the velocity of glucuronidation showed an apparent Km of $13{\mu}M$. The unique specificity of this transferase might play an important role in regulating the level and activity of these potent and active estrogen metabolites.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2013

Recent study showed that T cells in the immune organs and peripheral blood are influenced by estradiol, leading to a dysfunction of the immune system. However, little is known about the thymic-gonadal relationship during the estrous cycle in mouse. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which a change in estradiol levels during the estrous cycle regulates the development of T cells in the mouse thymus. Six-week-old ICR mice were used and divided into four groups, including diestrous, proestrous, estrous, and metestrous. We first confirmed that ER-${\alpha}$ and - ${\beta}$ estrogen receptors were expressed in thymic epithelial cells, showing that their expression was not different during the estrous cycle. There was also no significant difference in thymic weight and total number of thymocytes during the estrous cycle. To determine the degree of thymocyte differentiation during the estrous cycle, we analyzed thymocytes by flow cytometry. As a result, the percentage of CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells was significantly decreased in the proestrous phase compared to the diestrous phase. However, CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ (SP) T cells were significantly increased in the proestrous phase compared to the diestrous phase. In addition, the percentage of CD44+CD25- (DN1) T cells was significantly decreased in the estrous phase compared to other phases, whereas the percentages of CD44+CD25+ (DN2), CD44-CD25+ (DN3), and CD44-CD25- (DN4) were not changed during the estrous cycle. These results indicate that the development of thymocytes may arrest in the DP to SP transition stage in the proestrous phase displaying the highest serum level of estradiol. This study suggests that a change in estradiol levels during the estrous cycle may be involved in the regulation of thymocyte differentiation in the mouse thymus.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2012

To verify the sex steroids which are involved in oocyte maturation of the blacktip grouper, $Epinephelus$ $fasciatus$, we incubated vitellogenic oocytes (0.41 and 0.50 mm in average diameter) in the presence of exogenous steroid precursor ($[^3H]17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone). Steroids were extracted, separated and identified by thin layer chromatography. The major metabolites produced were androstenedione, estradiol-$17{\beta}$, estrone and progestogens. Progestogen metabolites in the oocytes of 0.50 mm were more abundant than those of 0.41 mm. Also, we investigated the $in$ $vitro$ effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG; 5, 50 and 500 $IU/m{\ell}$), $17{\alpha},20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$) and $17{\alpha},20{\beta}$-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}21P$; 5, 50 and 500 $ng/m{\ell}$, respectively) on oocyte maturation. In the oocytes of 0.41 mm, treatment with 50 IU HCG stimulated GVBD ($55.30{\pm}1.20%$) compared with controls ($32.41{\pm}3.13%$, $p$<0.05). In the oocytes of 0.50 mm, treatment of $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ (50 and 500 $ng/m{\ell}$) stimulated GVBD ($50.13{\pm}2.52$ and $51.77{\pm}5.91%$, respectively) compared with controls ($36.81{\pm}2.89%$, $p$<0.05). Treatment with 500 IU HCG also stimulated GVBD ($49.59{\pm}5.15%$) compared with controls ($p$<0.05). Taken together, these results suggested that both HCG and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ were effective on in vitro oocyte maturation and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ may act as a maturation inducing hormone in blacktip grouper.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.192-196
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• 2004

The in vitro effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on ovarian steroidogenesis of the longchin goby (Chasmichthys dolichognathus) was investigated. Oocytes taken during the maturing phase (vitellogenic, fully vitellogenic or germinal vesicle breakdown stage) were incubated with BPA (100 ng/mL) in the presence of exogenous precursor $^{3}H-17\alpha\;hydroxyprogesterone\;(^{3}H-17\alphaOHP).$ Steroids were extracted from the media and the isolated oocytes, and the extracts were separated and identified by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identities of the major metabolites were progestogens $[17{\alpha}-hydroxy,20{\alpha}-dihydroprogesterone\;(17{\alpha}20{\alpha}OHP)\;and\;17{\alpha}-hydrxy,20{\beta}-dihydroprogesterone\;(17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP),$ androgens [androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T)] and estrogens [estrone $(E_1)\;and\;estradiol-17{\beta}(E_2)].$ BPA treatment inhibited production of estrogens in all the maturing phases and progestogens in the germinal vesicle migrating stage. Percentage yield of estrogens was decreased with increased yield of androgens. In conclusion, BPA had an inhibitory effect on the conversion of $^3H-17\alphaOHP$ to estrogens and progestogens. These results demonstrate that BPA can act either estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 1993

This study was taken to examine external changes, behavioral changes, and endocrine changes such as estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone, T4 and T3 of female Oreochromis niloticus living in 0$\textperthousand$, 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$, and 30$\textperthousand$ salt concentrations, respectively. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows. In seawater obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows. In seawater challenge test, any fish didn't die in each group such as 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, external body color of fish changed from dark-striped to light-grey color. At the same time, thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations significantly(P<0.05) increased, and then were at the highest level in 30 salinity. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, feed intake of fish started from the fourth day. From 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, estradiol-17$\beta$ levels were increased gradually. When fish was adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, the levels of each progesterone didn't show significant change, and especially showed the lowest peak in 20$\textperthousand$. The greatest thyroxine activity(T4) was observed in 30$\textperthousand$. The levels of and triiodothyronine(T3) significantly changed in all salinities, and its level was at the highest peak in 30$\textperthousand$ salinity. Correlation coefficients between serum progesterone and triiodothyronine in 10$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$ were ＋0.677 and ＋0.843, respectively. Correlation coefficient of serum thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3) individuals in 10$\textperthousand$ was ＋0.768, and ＋0.843, respectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Estrogens, a group of steroid compounds functioning as the primary female sex hormone, play an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. In this study, using a novel annealing control primer-based GeneFishing PCR technology, five differentially expressed genes (DEGs), expressed using 10nM mitogenic estrogens, $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) and $16{\alpha}$-hydroxyestrone ($16{\alpha}$-OHE1), were selected from the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The DEGs, MRPL42, TUBA1B, SSBP1, KNCT2, and RUVBL1, were identified by comparison with the known genes via direct sequencing and sequence homology search in BLAST. Quantitative real-time PCR data showed that two DEGs, tubulin ${\alpha}1b$ and kinetochore associated 2, were greater than 2-fold upregulated by E2 or $16{\alpha}$-OHE1. Both genes could be new biomarkers for the treatment and prognosis of cancers, and further study may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying development and progression of breast cancer.