Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-110). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-110). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 62-71.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Leipzig.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-95).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005. / "May 2005." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-147). Also issued on the Internet.

Increased HIV susceptibility has been associated with the progesterone-dominant luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and the use of progesterone-only contraceptives, yet the mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we performed mass spectrometry-based analyses of cervicovaginal fluids collected from women with differing ovarian hormone levels as demonstrated by menstrual cycle phase or exogenous progesterone-only contraceptive use. We found that proteins associated with maintaining the integrity of epithelial barrier were enriched during times of high estradiol, whereas during times of high progesterone, there was a loss of barrier integrity proteins and an enrichment of proteins with known roles in inflammatory processes including leukocyte infiltration. Progesterone-based proteomic profiles were also strongly associated with neutrophil signatures with some evidence of CD4+ T cell signatures. This study generates new hypotheses about the potential mechanisms of hormone-associated HIV susceptibility including a weakened epithelial barrier and increased HIV target cell recruitment during times of increased progesterone. / February 2016

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-09T12:28:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-08-01Bitstream added on 2015-04-09T12:48:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000814060.pdf: 794603 bytes, checksum: 9a85e2256b59e942660cd575057c9fb8 (MD5) / Foram identificados re ceptores de estrógeno em neurônios localizados no Núcleo Mediano da Rafe (NMR). Tem sido apresentado que este esteróide no NMR é hábil para potencializar a ação da serotonina sobre receptores 5 - HT 1A , inibindo a atividade de neurônios serotonérgicos e causa ndo ansiólise. Com o objetivo de avaliar a interação entre a ação estrogênica e a via serotonérgica que se origina no NMR sobre a aquisição da informação aversiva, ratas Wistar foram ovariectomizadas e posteriormente receberam microinjeção direta de Benzoa to de Estradiol (BE) (1200ng) diretamente no NMR, precedida pela microinjeção de salina ou de WAY 100.635 (100ng), um antagonista de receptores 5 - HT 1A . Imediatamente após as duas microinjeções, as ratas ovariectomizadas foram submetidas a sessões de choque s elétricos nas patas, na caixa de Skinner. Vinte e Quatro horas depois, foram expostas ao mesmo contexto por 5 minutos para avaliação comportamental: congelamentos, levantamentos, deslocamentos, auto - limpeza e respostas autonômicas (bolos fecais e elimina ção urinária). A microinjeção de BE previamente à exposição aos estímulos aversivos, (choques elétricos nas patas) não alterou o comportamento na sessão de condicionamento, mas neutralizou a associação entre a experiência aversiva ao contexto: houve um dec réscimo na expressão do congelamento e aumento da atividade motora na sessão teste. Este efeito foi revertido pela microinjeção prévia de WAY 100.635. Em conclusão, o BE agiu sobre neurônios serotonérgicos em ratas ovariectomizadas, prejudicando a associaç ão da experiência aversiva ao contexto, por co - modular a funcionalidade de receptores... / Estrogen receptors were identified in neurons originated in the Median Raphe Nucleus (MRN). It is presented that estrogen, in this structure, is able to potentiate the action of serotonin on somatodendritic 5 - HT 1A receptors, inhibiting the function of serotonergic neurons and causing anxiolysis. This study was performed to evaluate interaction between estrogen action and the serotonergic pathway that originates in the MRN on the acquisition o f aversive information. Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and received direct microinjection of Estradiol Benzoate (EB) (1200ng) into the MRN, preceded by microinjection of saline or WAY 100.635 (100ng), a 5 - HT 1A receptor antagonist. Immediately after the two microinjections, the ovariectomized rats were submitted to a foot shock session in the Skinner box. Twenty four hours later, they were exposed to the same context for 5 minutes for behavioural assessment: freezing, rearing, displacement, grooming and autonomic responses (faecal boluses and micturition). The EB microinjection in the MRN prior to the exposure of animals to the aversive event (foot shock) did not alter their behaviour in the aversive conditioning session, but neutralized the associati on of the aversive experience with the context: there was a decrease in the expression of freezing and increased motor activity in the test session. This effect was reversed by previous microinjection of WAY 100.635. In conclusion, the EB acted on serotone rgic neurons in the MRN of ovariectomized rats, impairing the association of the aversive experience to the context, by co - modulating the functionality of somatodendritic...

Resumo: Objetivos: Avaliar a interferência da ovariectomia (OVX) e seu tratamento com estrógeno (E2) ou com raloxifeno (RLX) no balanço entre RANKL/OPG na cronologia do processo de reparo alveolar em diferentes períodos (7, 14, 21 e 42 dias) através da imunofluorescência por co-localização e análise histomorfométrica. Materiais e Métodos: Os grupos estudados foram: sham, OVX, OVX+E2, OVX+RLX. Após obtenção dos cortes histológicos corados em hematoxilina e eosina e as reações de co-localização por imunofluorescência de RANKL/OPG, os resultados foram avaliados quantitativamente. Resultados:Aos 7 dias: menor neoformação de trabéculas ósseas,o grupo OVX+RLX apresentou menor valor médio. O grupo OVX apresentou o maior turnover ósseo representado pelas co-localizações de OPG e RANKL. Aos 14 dias o grupo OVX+RLX apresentou menor formação óssea. O grupo sham apresentou intensa atividade celular representada pela alta imunorreatividade à OPG e RANKL observada nas células. Aos 21 dias os grupos experimentais apresentaram maiores níveis de ossificação; não apresentaram diferença estatística. O grupo OVX apresentou o menor turnover ósseo. Aos 42 dias houve diferença estatística na quantidade de formação óssea entre o grupo sham comparado aos demais grupos (p<0,05) e o grupo OVX apresentou o maior turnover ósseo. Conclusão: A ovariectomia atrasou o processo de reparo alveolar e alterou o turnover ósseo. A reposição do estrógeno e o tratamento com raloxifeno melhoraram as respostas, mas não restabeleceram completamente os valores da histometria e da colocalização do grupo sham. / Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the ovariectomy (OVX), and its treatments with estrogen (E2) or with raloxifene (RLX) on the RANKL/OPG balance during the periods in the chronology of the alveolar wound healing process (7, 14, 21 end 42 pos operative days) in female rats by means of immunocolocalization and histomorphometric analysis. Methods: The studied groups were: sham, OVX, OVX with E2 replacement, OVX with (RLX) treatment. After obtaining the histological tissue pieces colored in hematoxilin and eosin and the immunocolocalization reaction for RANKL and OPG, the results were quantitatively evaluated. Results: At 7 days, was observed lesser neoformed trabeculae bone, the smaller medium value was observed to the OVX+RLX group. The OPG and RANKL immunocolocalization showed larger bone tunover to OVX group. At 14 days there was a larger quantity of neoformed trabeculae bone, the smaller medium value was observed to the OVX+RLX group, the sham group presented an intense cellular activity. At 21 days the experimental groups had a greater ossification levels; no statistical significance was observed. The OVX group had the lowest bone turnover. At 42 days there were statistically differences on the quantity of ossification within sham group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The OVX group showed the largest bone turnover. Conclusions: Ovariectomy delays the alveolar wound healing process and interferes with the bone turnover. The E2 replacement and the RLX treatment improved the healing but not enough to reach histomorphometric and immunocolocalization valours of the sham group. / Orientador: Roberta Okamoto / Coorientador: Rita Cássia Menegati Dornelles / Banca: Wilson roberto Poi / Banca: Teresa Lucia Lamano Carvalho / Mestre

Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control demonstrates that African American women, in particular young people between the ages of 14-25, have an increased incidence of infection with the sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Estradiol is a key regulatory hormone in female reproductive function. It has been studied extensively in the cardiovascular field, and has been linked to breast and endometrial cancers in women. However, its impact on infectious diseases is largely unknown. Given what is known about the effect of estradiol on immunologic and inflammatory disorders in women, I hypothesize that estradiol alters the infectivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the female reproductive tract by altering the host inflammatory immune response. This may explain a risk factor for increased rates of infection in some populations. I sought to develop a relevant in vitro model. After screening a number of candidate cell lines, I selected the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, Ishikawa. These cells express specific estrogen receptors and respond to exogenous estrogen stimulation. Estrogen treatment of Ishikawa cells did not have an impact on the invasion of N. gonorrhoeae, nor did it impact bacterial growth. However, gonococcal induced chemokine secretion was reduced by estrogen, as measured by interleukin-8 secretion. I conclude that estrogen blunts the inflammatory response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae without altering bacterial infectivity.