Degradation of 4-nitrobenzoate via 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate in Comamonas acidovorans NBA-10

Comamonas acidovorans NBA-10 was previously shown to degrade 4-nitrobenzoate via 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate. Washed cells, grown on a mixture of 4-nitrobenzoate and ethanol, stoichiometrically produced ammonium and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate from 4-nitrobenzoate under anaerobic conditions provided ethanol was present. In cell extracts 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate was degraded to ammonium and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, but this activity was lost upon dialysis. No requirement for a cofactor was found, but rather reduced incubation conditions were necessary to restore enzyme activity. The 4-hydroxylamino-degrading enzyme was purified and the role of this novel type of enzyme in the degradation of nitroaromatic compounds is discussed.Abbreviation 4-ABA 4-aminobenzoate - 4-NBA 4-nitrobenzoate - 4-HABA 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate - 3,4-diHBA 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate     

雄貉睾丸宽度和血清睾酮水平的季节性变化及其与某些繁殖特性的关系

作者测定并分析了43只雄貉睾丸宽度、血清睾酮水平的季节性变化。结果表明:睾丸宽度和血清睾酮水平呈明显的年周期季节性变化(p<0.01)。秋分(9月)时,睾丸宽度开始增大(p<0.05 );血清睾酮水平在10月开始升高(p<0.05)。各月雄貉的平均睾酮水平与平均睾丸宽度是极显著的正相关(r=0.83,p<0.01 n=11)。雄貉繁殖季节初期,血清睾酮水平与其首、末次的交配日期呈显著负相关(r=-0.525和r=-0.476,p<0.05,n=19)。     

Effects of prenatal morphine on hypothalamic metabolism of neurotransmitters and gonadal and adrenal activities,during the early postnatal period in the rat

It is noteworthy that exposure to opiates during fetal development results in permanent changes in adults related to morphological, behavioral and biochemical measures; however little is known concerning the effects of such drugs in early postnatal life. We investigated in newborn rats the effects of prenatal morphine-exposure on both—the hypothalamic metabolism of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5 HT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)—the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal and adrenal axes. In a previous study performed in newborns of untreated mothers, we reported some sex-dependent changes in the metabolism of NE, 5 HT and NPY in the hypothalamus and an early activation of the gonadostimulating function and of the corticostimulating one. In control newborns from saline-treated mothers, a slight increase in the hypothalamic metabolism of NE (males) and 5 HT (males and females) was observed and it was comparable in both sexes. On the other hand, the hypothalamic content of NPY was unaffected in early postnatal period in newborn males as well as in females. These changes observed on hypothalamic metabolisms are temporally correlated with the early postnatal activation of the corticostimulating function in neonates of both sexes and that of the gonadostimulating one, mainly in males. Prenatal morphine exposure altered the hypothalamic metabolism of 5 HT which was increased mainly in newborn females but did not affect either the metabolism of NE or the NPY content of the hypothalamus. The more drastic effect of the prenatal morphine treatment is the atrophy and hypoactivity of the adrenals in newborns of both sexes at birth time and during the early postnatal period. In contrast morphine did not impair postnatal surge of the plasma testosterone level in male pups as well as late and slight increase of plasma estradiol in female ones.     

Sex steroid effects on the development and functioning of the growth hormone axis

Summary 1. The secretory pattern of growth hormone (GH) is sexually dimorphic in the adult rat. However, this difference between the sexes does not become apparent until after the onset of puberty, suggesting that pubertal sex steroids play an important role in the manifestation of this phenomenon.2. We have addressed the question as to whether there exists a sexual dimorphism in the hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate GH release from the anterior pituitary,i.e., somatostatin (SS) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). In addition, we have investigated whether the developmental changes in the GH secretory pattern are correlated with changes in these neuropeptides. The effect of testosterone treatment on SS and GHRH neurons during both the neonatal period and adulthood have also been studied.3. We have found that the synthetic capacity, as reflected in relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, of both SS and GHRH neurons changes throughout development in both male and female rats. These mRNA levels are sexually dimorphic at certain times during maturation and can be modulated by changes in testosterone levels, suggesting that sex steroid modulation of these two neuropeptide systems could at least partially account for the sexual dimorphism seen in the adult GH secretory pattern.4. The neonatal steroid environment has also been suggested to be involved in the generation of the final adult GH secretory pattern, although the mechanisms underlying this effect are even less well understood. In support of the hypothesis that the neonatal steroid environment plays an important role in organizing the GH axis, we have found that the number of GHRH neurons in the adult brain, as well as their sensitivity to adult steroids, is modulated by neotatal testosterone treatment. The number of SS neurons in the periventricular and paraventricular nuclei were not modulated by neonatal steroids; however, the synthetic capacity of these neurons does appear to be influenced by the neonatal steroid environment.5. These studies suggest that both the neonatal and adult sex steroid environments influence the adult GH secretory pattern by modulating GHRH and SS neurons.     

Growth Hormone Secretion after Testosterone Administration to Men with Visceral Obesity

Visceral obese men were characterized by a decreased total GH secretion and diminished peak amplitude, size, and number. T-substitution was followed by elevation of IGF-I levels. The IGF-I increase correlated with the elevation of T-concentration, and was most pronounced in men with the lowest concentrations of free T from the outset. There were no detectable changes in total quantity, amplitude, size or number of peaks of GH secretion. Glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides as well as diastolic blood pressure decreased. There were no changes in thyroid or hematology variables. Visceral obesity in men has been reported to be characterized by low testosterone (T) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations, the latter suggesting a relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Since T and GH-secretions are interrelated, men with visceral obesity were substituted with T for 14 days, and diurnal secretion pattern of GH as well as IGF-I concentrations, and metabolic variables were followed. T-substitution of visceral obese men is followed by an elevation of IGF-I concentrations. It is suggested that this might be due either to minor, non-detectable increases in GH secretion, or to direct effects of T on IGF-I concentrations. The regulatory mechanisms by which T-administration are leading to metabolic and anthropometric improvements, might be direct effects of T, with or without mediation via GH secretion.     

Differential effects of dihydrotestosterone and estrogen on the development of motoneuron morphology in a sexually dimorphic rat spinal nucleus

The rat lumbar spinal cord contains a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus, the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB), whose motoneurons innnervate perineal muscles involved in copulatory reflexes. Dendritic development of SNB motoneurons is biphasic and androgen dependent. During the first 4 postnatal weeks, SNB dendrites grow exuberantly, and subsequently retract to mature lengths by 7 weeks of age. After early postnatal castration, SNB dendrites fail to grow, and testosterone replacement restores this growth. In other systems, testosterone and its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone and estrogen, are important for somatic and neural sexual differentiation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of castration and dihydrotestosterone or estrogen replacement on the growth of SNB motoneuron somata and dendritic arbors. Male rat pups were castrated on postnatal (P) day 7 and treated daily with either dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP; 2 mg) or estradiol benzoate (EB; 100 μg) until P28 or P49. By using cholera toxin horseradish peroxidase (BHRP) histochemistry, the soma size, dendritic length, dendritic extent, and arbor area of BHRP-labeled SNB motoneurons were measured and analyzed. Both DHTP and EB treatment supported the initial exuberant growth of SNB dendrites through P28, but EB treatment was ineffective in maintaining mature, adult lengths at P49. The possible sites of hormone action and functional implications of these hormonal treatments are discussed. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bisphenol S induces oxidative stress-mediated impairment of testosterone synthesis by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an environmental endocrine disruptor widely used in industrial production. BPS induces oxidative stress and exhibits male reproductive toxicity in mice, but the mechanisms by which BPS impairs steroid hormone synthesis are not fully understood. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/HO-1 signaling is a key pathway in improving cellular antioxidant defense capacities. Therefore, this study explored the effects of exposure to BPS on testosterone synthesis in adult male mice and its mechanisms with regard to the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to BPS (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg BW) with sesame oil as a vehicle (0.1 ml/10 g BW) per day for 28 consecutive days. The results showed that compared with the control group, serum testosterone levels were substantially reduced in the 20 and 200 mg/kg BPS treatment groups, and testicular testosterone levels were reduced in all BPS treatment groups. These changes were accompanied by a prominent decrease in the expression levels of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes (STAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3B1, and HSD17B3) in the mouse testis. In addition, BPS induced oxidative stress in the testis by upregulating the messenger RNA and protein levels of Keap1 and downregulating the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and downstream antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD1, and Gpx4). In summary, our results indicate that exposure of adult male mice to BPS can inhibit Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and antioxidant enzyme activity, which induces oxidative stress and thereby may impair testosterone synthesis in testicular tissues, leading to reproductive damage.     

Selenium in combination with a tomato lipid extract as a therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia and its alterations in rats with induced BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common adenoma in old men. Tomatoes are a rich source of bioactive compounds that, as well as selenium (Se), possess antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. The aim was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Se in combination with a tomato extract in aged rats with BPH. Aged male Wistar rats were divided in the following groups (n = 10 rats/group): Control (C), BPH, BPH + Finasteride (BPH + F), BPH + Tomato Lipidic Extract (BPH + E), BPH + Selenium (BPH + S) and BPH plus E plus S (BPH + E + S). After 4 weeks of treatment, prostate weight, diuresis, antioxidants enzymes, prooxidants and inflammatory markers, growth factors and androgens were determined. BPH + E + S reduced prostate weight by 59.29% and inhibited growth by 99.35% compared to BPH + F which only decreased weight and inhibited growth by 15.31% and 57.54%, respectively. Prooxidant markers were higher with BPH + F (49.4% higher vs. BPH), but BPH + E + S decreased these markers (94.27% vs. BPH) and increased antioxidant activity. Finally, diuresis was higher with the BPH + E + S combination and markers of inflammation and growth factors were significantly lower with respect to BPH + F. Our findings provide a beneficial and protective therapeutic option of E + S directed against androgens, oxidative stress and inflammation that regulates cell proliferation in the prostate gland.     

游离睾酮指数联合血清GnSAF、SHBG对多囊卵巢综合征不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨游离睾酮指数（FAI）联合血清促性腺激素平抑因子（GnSAF）、性激素结合球蛋白（SHBG）对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）不孕患者体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）治疗妊娠结局的预测价值。方法：选取2020年1月～2022年6月湖南省妇幼保健院生殖医学中心收治的197例PCOS不孕患者为PCOS组,根据IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局分为妊娠失败组和妊娠成功组,另选取同期68名体检健康妇女为对照组。收集PCOS不孕患者临床资料,计算FAI并检测血清GnSAF、SHBG水平。采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局的影响因素,采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析FAI和血清GnSAF、SHBG对PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局的预测价值。结果：PCOS组FAI和血清GnSAF水平高于对照组,SHBG水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）。197例PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠成功率为51.27%（101/197）。单因素分析显示,妊娠失败组体质指数、黄体生成素（LH）、LH/促卵泡生成素（FSH）、睾酮、抗苗勒管激素（AMH）、FAI、GnSAF高于妊娠成功组,FSH、受精率、优胚率、SHBG低于妊娠成功组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,体质指数增加和LH、LH/FSH、AMH、FAI、GnSAF升高为PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠失败的独立危险因素,SHBG升高为其独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,FAI和血清GnSAF、SHBG联合预测PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局的曲线下面积大于FAI、GnSAF、SHBG单独预测。结论：FAI和血清GnSAF、SHBG水平联合预测PCOS不孕患者IVF-ET治疗妊娠结局的价值较高。