Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:53:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ronaldo sena e silva.pdf: 758805 bytes, checksum: 50ddd870dfedb208e155053c6ec67166 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-24 / The aim of this study was to verify the use of growth hormone (GH), with or without resisted exercise, the estrous cycle, the dosage of the estradiol and progesterone and Wistar rats endometrium thickness. The rats were divided into four groups (n = 10): CT (Control); Ex (resisted exercise - water jumps with 50% of body weight); GH (0,2UI / kg administered GH); and ExGH (GH and Ex groups combined treatment). The estrous cycle phase of rats were determined by vaginal cytology, daily for 29 days. The rats plasma was used for hormone dosage and the endometrium thicknesses were evaluated by histology. We used the Shapiro-Wilk normality presupposition. For samples that was parametric, ANOVA was used with Tukey, for no parametric samples, Kruskal-Wallis with Student-Newman-Keuls test was used (p<0.05). There are a greater reproductive cycles number in CT than in other groups during the 29 days period (p>0.05), no difference were found between the hormones dosage groups neither endometrial thickness. Therefore, it is concluded that GH and resisted exercises both combined affect females reproductive cycle, they reduced the number of cycles of rats but they do not change the estradiol and progesterone concentrations, neither endometrial thickness. / O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o uso do hormônio do crescimento (GH), associado ou não ao exercício resistido, no ciclo estral, na dosagem do estradiol e progesterona e na espessura do endométrio de ratas Wistar. As ratas foram divididas em 4 grupos (n=10): CT (controle); Ex (exercício resistido - saltos em água com 50% do peso corporal); GH (0,2UI/Kg de GH administrado); e ExGH (tratamento combinado dos grupos GH e Ex). A fase do ciclo estral foi determinada por citologias vaginais nas ratas, diariamente, durante 29 dias. Foi realizado dosagem hormonal nas ratas e as espessuras dos endométrios foram avaliadas por histologia. Utilizou-se o pressuposto de normalidade de Shapiro-Wilk. Para as amostras paramétricas, utilizou-se ANOVA e Tukey e para não paramétricas Kruskal-Wallis e Student-Newman-Keuls (p<0,05). Houve maior número de ciclos reprodutivos no CT que nos demais grupos no período de 29 dias (p<0,05), nenhuma diferença foi encontrada entre os grupos na dosagem hormonal ou na espessura de endométrio. Portanto, conclui-se que o GH, o exercício resistido e os dois combinados interferem na ciclicidade reprodutiva das fêmeas, reduzindo o número de ciclos das ratas, sem alterar a concentração de estradiol e progesterona ou a espessura do endométrio.

Células tronco hematopoéticas (CTH) de sangue de cordão umbilical (SCU) possuem grande potencial em terapia celular. Mesmo sendo bem caracterizadas quanto às suas propriedades funcionais e fenotípicas, a regulação da auto-renovação de CTH e os genes envolvidos são pouco conhecidos. Investigou-se através da curva de crescimento, ensaio clonogênico e citometria de fluxo, a expansão e diferenciação de CTH cultivadas sem e com suplementação dos mitógenos estradiol e LiCl. A expressão da subunidade da telomerase teve aumento significativo em todas as condições, bem como a expressão de Nanog e Oct4 relacionados a pluripotência e auto-renovação. Observou-se também a expressão de Nanog, Oct4, Sox2 e FoxD3 em células CD133, células CD3 de sangue periférico e células de colônias hematopoéticas. Concluiu-se que o meio sem suplementação já é suficiente na expansão de CTH, mantendo suas características, relacionadas à proliferação, auto-renovação e pluripotência celular. / Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) have a great potencial for hematopoietic reconstitution. Although these stem cells have been well characterized by their functional and fenotipics properties, self-renewal regulation and genes involved are still unknown. Analyses of cell growth, clonogenic assay and flow cytometry revealed the expansion and differentiation of HSC grown in medium with or without suplementation of the mitogens estradiol and LiCl. Expression of the subunit of telomerase increased in all treatments. As well as the expression of Nanog and Oct4, related to plutipotency and self-renewal. Nanog, Oct4, Sox2 and FoxD3 expression was also high in CD133 cells, in CD3 cells from peripherical blood and in clonogenic assay derived cells. Conclusion: medium without the suplementation is sufficient for expansion of HSC, keeping their characteristcs, realted to proliferation, self-renewal and pluripotency.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / J. Ernest Minton / Anabolic steroids are used extensively in beef cattle feeding management to take advantage of well-documented improvements in growth performance and efficiency of implanted cattle. In addition to muscle growth, steroids also impact changes in bone and cartilage formation. In general, these effects can be interpreted as hastening bone aging. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that recently-identified peripheral indicators of bone and cartilage turnover could be detected in the peripheral circulation. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that these peripheral markers might reflect accelerated aging effects of the widely used steroidal implants trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol-17β (E2). Circulating IGF-I was measured as a positive marker of steroid-induced enhancement of the somatotropic endocrine axis. Thirty-two crossbred yearling steers were blocked by BW and given one of four treatments: non-implanted controls; 25.7 mg estradiol-17beta (E2); 120 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA); or a combination of 120 mg TBA and 24 mg E2 (T+E). Blood samples were collected on d 0, d 7, d 14 and d 28 and serum was analyzed by ELISA for IGF-I concentrations, as well as osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptides of Type I collagen (CTX-I) and C-terminal telopeptides of Type II collagen (CTX-II), which serve as markers of bone formation, bone resorption and cartilage resorption, respectively. Circulating IGF-I was similar among treatments on d 0 and 28. At d 7 and 14, steers receiving E2 or T+E had greater circulating IGF-I than non-implanted control steers (P < 0.05). In contrast, steers receiving only TBA tended to have elevated IGF-I compared to controls on d 7 and 14 (P = 0.10). Although treatment did not affect serum osteocalcin, concentrations were increased on d 7, 14, and 28 compared to d 0 (P < 0.005 for all). Implant treatment did not affect circulating CTXI, however CTX-II was affected by T+E treatment (P<0.05). The data suggest that, although selected markers of bone and cartilage turnover can be detected in circulation in cattle, implant-induced changes in the concentrations of these markers are not directly evident in the peripheral circulation at least through 28 d following treatment.

Estrogen therapy (ET) is most effective to reduce menopausal symptoms and prevent other disorders associated with estrogen deficiency. However, Women's Health Initiative studies found that hormone therapy (HT) containing estrogen plus progestogen, but not estrogen-alone increases breast cancer (BC) risk. To prevent the increase in BC risk and yet relieve menopausal symptoms, a novel HT with 17β-estradiol (E2) for symptom relief, progesterone (P4) for uterine protection and melatonin (Mel) for both BC and uterine protection was designed. Inclusion of Mel was postulated to offer uterine protection with lower P4 dose and protect against BC. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of E2, P4 and Mel Therapy (EPMT) on mammary cancer (MC) and uterine protection in MMTV-Neu mouse model that mimics HER2 BC. Starting at 2 months age, female mice received Mel in drinking water at night to supplement endogenous Mel surge; while E2 and P4 Therapy (EPT) was provided continuously in diet until 14 months with weekly MC onset and growth monitoring. Normal mammary, uterus and mammary tumors harvested by month 14 were analyzed for potential mechanisms. The results from this study revealed that EPMT delayed tumor onset leading to a decrease in MC incidence. In addition, mice in the EPMT group had no increase in relative uterine weight as opposite to an increase of this parameter in EPT group versus control. The percent tumor-bearing mice with gross metastatic lung lesions were reduced in Mel, EPT and EPMT groups. Mel receptor, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression revealed that all tissues examined have Mel receptors. However, ER and PR expression varied. In normal mammary tissue, both ERα and PR were detected by immunohistochemistry. However, no ERα and PR were detected in mammary tumors of same mice. In uterus, mice given Mel or EPMT had significant decreases in PR expression but no change in ERα expression compared to control suggesting that Mel-mediated inhibition of ER binding to estrogen response elements may be involved in the down regulation of uterine PRs. Overall, this study reveal that EPMT prevents mammary cancer and may protect against uterotrophy. / Mylan School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; / Pharmacology / PhD; / Dissertation;

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to build a mathematical model that describes the binding of 17- -estradiol (E2) to estrogen receptor (ER- ) and the influence the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) has on this interaction. The influence of SHBG on the transactivation of an estrogen response element, via ligand bound ER- , was also studied. COS-1 cells, derived from the kidney of a green african monkey, were used to study the binding of E2 to ER- in the absence of SHBG. The influence of SHBG on the binding of E2 to ER- was studied using Hep89 cells, human hepatacoma carcinoma, which express SHBG endogenously and are stably transfected with the ER- gene. Human pregnancy plasma was used to study the interaction of E2 with SHBG in the absence of ER- . The results of this study have shown that the Kd (E2) for ER- was determined as between 3.4nM and 4.4nM in the absence of SHBG. With respect to the binding of E2 to ER- it was not possible to determine the Kd app and Bmax for ER- using the Hep89 experimental system. The Kd (E2) for SHBG was not determined using the human pregnancy plasma experimental system. With the aid of mathematical modelling, a model of the Hep89 and human pregnancy plasma experimental systems, was built. The results of the numerical modelling, using mathematical modelling, showed that the presence of albumin together with SHBG was the reason that the Kd app (E2) could not be determined in the Hep89 experimental system. With respect to the use of human pregnancy plasma to determine the Kd (E2) for SHBG it was shown that if the plasma was diluted 200 times it would have been possible to determine the Kd app (E2) for SHBG, in the presence of albumin. Ligand independent transactivation of an estrogen response element was shown to be a problem in the COS-1 cell system when promoter reporter gene assays were undertaken. As COS-1 cells were used as a control for the absence of SHBG no further promoter reporter gene assays were undertaken using the Hep89 experimental system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was die bou van ‘n wiskundige model wat die verbinding van E2 met die estrogeenreseptor (ER- ) en die invloed wat die geslagshormoon-verbindingglobulien (SHBG) op hierdie interaksie het, beskryf. Die effek van SHBG op die transaktivering van ‘n estrogeen responselement, via die ligandverbonde ER- , is ook bestudeer. COS-1-selle uit die nier van ‘n groen afrika-aap is gebruik om die verbinding van E2 met ER- in die afwesigheid van SHBG te bestudeer. Die invloed van SHBG op die verbinding van E2 met ER- , is bestudeer deur gebruik te maak van Hep89-selle, die menslike lewergeswelkarsinoom, wat SHBG uitwendig afgee en wat stabiel getransfesteer kan word met die ER- geen. Menslike swangerskapplasma is gebruik om die interaksie van E2 met SHBG in die afwesigheid van ER- te bestudeer. Die uitslag van hierdie studie toon aan dat die Kd (E2) vir ER- vasgestel tussen 3.4nM en 4.4nM in die afwesigheid van SHBG. Met betrekking tot die verbinding van E2 met ER- , was dit nie moontlik om die Kd (E2) en Bmax app vir ER- met die gebruik van die Hep89 eksperimentele stelsel vas te stel nie. Die Kd (E2) vir SHBG is nie vasgestel deur die gebruik van die menslike swangerskapplasma eksperimentele stelsel nie. ‘n Model van die Hep89 en menslike swangerskapplasma eksperimentele stelsels is met behulp van wiskundige modellering gebou. Die uitslag van die numeriese modellering, met gebruik van wiskundige modellering, toon dat die teenwoordigheid van albumien, saam met SHBG, die rede was dat die Kd app (E2) nie in die Hep89 eksperimentele stelsel vasgestel kon word nie. Wat betref die gebruik van menslike swangerskapplasma om die Kd (E2) vir SHBG vas te stel, is daar aangetoon dat, indien die plasma 200 maal verdun was, dit moontlik sou gewees het om die Kd app (E2) vir SHBG in die teenwoordigheid van albumien vas te stel. Promotor verkilkkergeen toetse het ligandonafhanklike transaktiveering van ‘n estrogeen responselement aangetoon as ‘n probleem in die COS-1-selle stelsel. Omdat COS-1-selle gebruik is as ‘n kontrole vir die afwesigheid van SHBG, is geen verdere promotor verkilkkergeen toetse onderneem met die gebruik van die Hep89 eksperimentele stelsel nie.

published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Obstetrics and Gynaecology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

La photodégradation du bêta-estradiol (E2), un perturbateur chimique endocrinien, est réalisée en présence d'un complexe de fer, d'argiles et d'un oxyde de fer. L'impact d'un agent complexant du fer l'acide éthylénediamine-N,N'-disuccinique (EDDS) est aussi étudié. Après la détermination des propriétés physico-chimiques du complexe Fe(III)-EDDS, les rendements quantiques de formation des °OH et de dégradation de E2 ont été évalués en fonction de différents (pH, [O2], [Fe(III)-EDDS], [Fe(III)]. Pour la première fois, les rendements quantiques de production d'°OH ont été mesurés via la photolyse du complexe Fe(III)-EDDS en utlilisant l'acide téréphtalique comme sonde. Dans une seconde partie, les processus d'adsorption et de dégradation photocatalytique de E2 dans des suspensions de Montmorillonite KSF, de Montmorillonite naturel et de Goethite sont étudiés. L'adsorption de E2 sur les minéraux est rapide et faible. La vitesse de photodégradation de E2 est influencée par la concentration en minéraux et le pH. Le processus de dégradation photocatalytique de E2 dans ces systèmes a par la suite été étudié en présence d'EDDS. Dans les trois suspensions et en présence d'EDDS, la photodégradation de E2 augmente significativement dans la zone de pH neutre et basique (de 5,0 à 9,0). Au contraire, sans EDDS le pH optimal est limité aux pHs acides ( entre 3,0 et 4,0). Les cinétiques de dégradation de E2 suivent une loi de vitesse du modèle Langmuir-Hinshelwood pour les trois systèmes. Sur la base de nos résultats, il est possible de conclure que les systèmes EDDS-Fe(III)/minéraux sont photocatalytiquement efficaces pour l'élimination de polluants dans l'eau

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 H66 / Master of Science

Doctor en Bioquímica / Reproduction is regulated through the integration of information that comes from the hypothalamus, hypophysis, and the ovary. There are critical hormone sensitive periods during development during which they are especially vulnerable to exposure to abnormal hormonal levels resulting from metabolic problems or environmental sources. These exposures may permanently alter the differentiation and function of reproductive organs. Several studies performed in humans and animal models have suggested that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) originates during early development due to exposure to abnormal steroidal hormone levels. Supporting this, our group recently reported that the administration of a single dose of estradiol valerate (EV) to newborn rats can irreversibly program the polycystic ovary condition during adulthood. However, there is no information about how this neonatal exposure to a single dose of EV can determine the functional and structural changes seen in the adult ovary. The aim of this research was to determine if there are genes—primarily those most reported to be related to PCOS in humans—with permanently altered expression and if these expression patterns are due to modifications in the methylation pattern in their DNA sequence. A single dose (10 mg/kg) of EV was administered to neonatal rats, and PCR array and real-time PCR analyses were conducted to examine the subsequent gene expression patterns of growth factors, nuclear receptors, and coregulators. Twenty-four hours after the exposure, the EV-exposed rat ovaries expressed more androgen receptor (Ar) than did the control ovaries; in the 60-day old rats, the Ar mRNA levels decreased 6.4-fold relative to the controls. The interstitial tissue and antral follicles from the adult EV-treated rats expressed more Ar than did the control preantral follicles, suggesting a failure of the control mechanism for Ar expression in antral follicles. Using the mass-array technique, the methylation patterns of different transcription factor binding sites were found to be associated with the Ar gene. NBRE, the response element of nerve growth factor-induced B (Ngfi-b), was hypomethylated in the Ar gene from the EV-treated ovaries. There was also an increase in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) expression in adult ovaries (mRNA and protein) that was induced by the neonatal exposure to estradiol. The EV-treated rat ovaries had a higher level of AMH immunoreactivity in the antral follicles than did the controls; however, no significant differences were seen between the preantral follicles of the treated and control groups. The methylation pattern of the Amh gene from the ovaries of EV-treated adult rats showed differential methylation in the CpGs related to the estradiol response element (ERE) in the Amh gene. The neonatal ovary samples had hypermethylated CpGs in comparison to the 30- and 60-day old rats; the samples (granulosa cells) from the 60-day old rats had more methylation of the CpGs than did those from the 30-day old rats; thus, the methylation pattern depended on the stage of development. When we compared the EV-exposed and control rats, we found more methylation of the CpGs in the samples from the 60-day old EV-exposed rats than in those from the controls; there were no differences between the groups for the 2- and 30-day old rats. This work demonstrated that the neonatal exposure to estradiol induces an overexpression of AMH and AR in the rat ovary. The mechanism by which these changes are induced may involve an increase in the methylation of the ERE associated with the Amh gene, suggesting that the change in methylation allows ESR1 to induce Amh expression. The hypomethylation of NBRE associated with the AR gene suggests that AR expression may be induced in response to nerve growth factor or luteinizing hormone. These epigenetic modifications found in the current rat model provide a new framework for understanding the genesis of the polycystic ovary and its maintenance in humans, allowing more focus on the effects due to estrogen exposure / Die Fortpflanzung in Säugetieren wird durch Signale aus dem Hypothalamus, der Hypophyse und der Gebärmutter gesteuert. Während der Anlage der Gebärmutter in der Embryonalentwicklung gibt es ein kritisches Zeitfenster bei dem die Entwicklung durch veränderte Hormonspiegel oder andere äußere Einflüsse gestört werden kann. Dabei kann es zur permanenten Schädigung der reproduktiven Organe kommen. Studien am Menschen und in Tiermodellen legen nahe, dass das sogenannte Polyzystische Ovarialsyndrom durch erhöhte Steroidhormonspiegel verursacht wird. So konnte unsere Arbeitsgruppe kürzlich zeigen, dass bei neugeborenen Ratten die Gabe einer einzigen Dosis Estradiolvalerat (EV) ausreicht um ein Polyzystisches Ovarialsyndrom in den erwachsenen Tieren zu erzeugen. Die zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen sind allerdings bis heute nicht bekannt. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es zu untersuchen, ob die Expression bestimmter Gene in erwachsenen Ratten durch die Estradiolvaleratgabe im neonatalen Stadium permanent verändert wird und ob die veränderte Genexpression mit epigenetischen Veränderungen auf der Ebene der DNA Methylierung einhergeht. Hierzu wurden neugeborene Ratten mit einer einzigen Dosis EV (10 mg/Kg) behandelt um anschließend die Genexpression von Wachstumsfaktoren, nukleären Hormonrezeptoren und ihre Kofaktoren mittels PCR Arrays und quantitativer RT-PCR zu untersuchen. Wir konnten zeigen, dass die Ovarien von EV-behandelten Ratten das Androgenrezeptorgen (Ar) nach 24h stärker exprimierten als die Kontrollen. Nach 60 Tagen ging die ovariale Ar Expression allerdings um das 4-6-fache gegenüber unbehandelten Tieren zurück. Histologisch war die Ar Expression in antralen Follikeln und im Interstitium vom EV-behandelten adulten Tieren stärker als in preantralen Follikeln, was auf eine Störung von Regulationsmechanismen in antralen Follikeln hindeutet. Mittels MassArray-Technologie konnte außerdem gezeigt werden, dass die veränderte Ar Expression in EV-behandelten Tieren mit der verringerten DNA Methylierung einer potentiellen Transkriptionsfaktorbindestelle (NBRE: nerve growth factor-induced B response element) korreliert. Daneben war die Expression des Anti-Müller-Hormons (AMH) in Ovarien von EV-behandelten adulten Tieren sowohl auf mRNA als auch auf Proteinebene erhöht. Immunhistologisch zeigten insbesondere die antralen Follikeln von EV-behandelten adulten Tieren (nicht aber Interstitium und preantrale Follikeln) eine stärkere Färbung für AMH. Auch im Amh Gen konnten entwicklungs- und behandlungsabhängige Veränderungen der DNA Methylierung gemessen werden. Eine Bindungsstelle für den Estrogenrezeptor (ERE: estradiol response element) im Amh Gen zeigte Methylierungsunterschiede in Ovarien von adulten EV-behandelten Ratten. In normalen Tieren war der Methylierungsstatus dieser Region abhängig vom Entwicklungsstadium: im Vergleich zu 30 und 60 Tage alten Ratten war das Element in neugeborenen Ratten hypermethyliert und in Granulosazellpräperaten von 30 Tage alten Ratten weniger methyliert als in Präparaten von 60 Tage alten Tieren. Im Vergleich mit EV-behandelten Tieren zeigten Proben von 60 Tage alten Tieren eine signifikant erhöhte DNA Methylierung, während EV-behandelte neugeborene und 30 Tage alte Tiere sich nicht signifikant von den Kontrollen unterschieden. In dieser Arbeit konnte also gezeigt werden, dass bei Ratten die Gabe von Estradiol im neonatalen Stadium zu einer ovarialen Überproduktion von AMH und AR führt. Die Mechanismen die zu diesen Veränderungen führen könnten mit dem Verlust der DNA Methylierung im ERE des Amh Gens zusammenhängen, was vermutlich zu einer erhöhten ESR1-Bindung und AMH Expression führt. Die Hypomethylierung des NBRE im Ar Gen deutet darauf hin, dass hier NGF (nerve growth factor) oder LH (luteinisierende Hormon) an der veränderten Regulation beteiligt sind. Die im Rattenmodel gefundenen epigenetischen Veränderungen bieten neue Anhaltspunkte um die Entstehung und die Persistenz des Polyzystische Ovarialsyndroms im Menschen besser zu verstehen und zukünftige Forschung wird sich noch gründlicher mit den Effekten der Estrogenexposition auseinandersetzen müssen / Conicyt Mecesup Fondecyt