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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 536-540 PubMed PMID: 16264404 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antithyroid Agents, Cholesterol:blood, Folic Acid:blood, Homocysteine:blood, Hyperthyroidism:blood, Hypothyroidism:blood, Lipids:blood, Male, Propylthiouracil, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Thyroid Function Tests, Thyroxine, Vitamin B 12:blood,.   

INTRODUCTION: It is claimed in a limited number of studies carried out on human beings that plasma homocysteine levels increased in hypothyroid patients and decreased in hyperthyroid patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine total plasma homocysteine, thyroid function tests, vitamin B12, folic acid and lipid levels and to explore the relations among them in rat models with induced hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with a view to investigating whether hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rat models could represent human hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism models.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included 30 male Wistar Albino species rats with a mean weight of 200 - 250 g. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as 1) hypothyroid group, 2) hyperthyroid group and 3) control group. Hypothyroidism was induced by adding 10 mg/kg/day propylthiouracil to rats' drinking water for 30 days. In order to induce hyperthyroidism, rats were administered 10 microg/100 g L-thyroxin ampule via intraperitoneal route for 10 days.

RESULTS: We found that total plasma homocysteine level of the hypothyroid group was significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05) and the hyperthyroid group (p<0.001). Total plasma homocysteine level of the hypothyroid group was found insignificantly higher than that of the control group (p>0.05) and significantly higher than that of the hyperthyroid group (p<0.001). We established a significant and positive correlation between total plasma homocysteine level and thyroid hormone levels. We did not identify a significant relation between total plasma homocysteine level and serum folic acid and serum vitamin B12 levels.

CONCLUSION: Our findings are different from the findings reported in human hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism studies. We believe that hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rat models cannot represent human hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism models....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 548-554 PubMed PMID: 16264402 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Body Weight:drug effects, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Leptin:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Orchiectomy, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Testosterone:blood, Zinc:blood,.   

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate how zinc-deficiency and testosterone supplementation, both in combination and individually, affect plasma LH, FSH and leptin levels in castrated rats.

DESIGN: Group 1, Control Group. Group 2, Castration Group. Group 3, Testosterone Group. Group 4, Zinc-deficient Group. Group 5, Testosterone, Zinc-deficient Group. Group 6, Zinc-deficient, Castration Group. Group 7, Testosterone, Castration Group. Group 8, Zinc-deficient, Testosterone, Castration Group.

MEASUREMENTS: Plasma zinc, leptin, LH, FSH, free and total testosterone levels were measured.

RESULTS: Group 2 had the highest levels of leptin and LH, besides having the highest FSH levels together with Group 6 (p<0.01). Groups 5 and 8 had the lowest leptin levels (p<0.01). Leptin levels in Groups 4 and 7 were higher than those in Groups 5 and 8, but lower than those in all other groups (p<0.01). LH levels in Group 4 were not different than those in Groups 3, 5 and 8, but significantly lower than those in all other groups (p<0.01). Free and total testosterone levels were higher in Group 4 than in castration groups that were not supplemented testosterone, but were lower in the former than in all others (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Plasma LH may be more effective than testosterone on plasma leptin and zinc can be an important mediator of the effect LH exercises on leptin....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 617-623 PubMed PMID: 16264392 Citation  Keywords:  Cholesterol:blood, Coronary Disease:epidemiology, Diabetes Mellitus:epidemiology, Disease, Endorphins:physiology, Exercise:physiology, Health, Humans, Hyperlipidemias:epidemiology, Hypertension:epidemiology, Mental Health, Osteoarthritis:epidemiology, Ost.   

: It is known for a long time that exercise increases physical adequacy, has beneficial effects on the general health condition as well as a playing preventing role against various disease states. To decrease the risk of disease and maintain good health, the natural defense system of the organism needs to be strengthened. It is thought that in addition to increasing the body's resistance to disease through the strengthening of the immune system, decreases the convalescence time, increases work efficiency and improves the sportive performance of the individual all which would contribute positively to the national economy. The positive effects of regular exercising of aerobic nature such as strengthening of the immune system, protection against diseases as well as its positive effects on quality of life will help to emphasize the importance of physical exercise and improve the general view of sports by society....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 297-300 PubMed PMID: 16136023 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Estradiol:blood, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Glycolysis:physiology, Humans, Leptin:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Menstrual Cycle:physiology, Physical Exertion:physiology, Progesterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: It was aimed to determine whether there was a difference in the leptin levels and short term exercise performance during the menstrual cycle of the young females who had normal menstrual cycle and no pregnancy story.

SETTING AND DESIGN: Fifteen sedentary females aged 19-23 yrs were included. All had regular menstrual cycle of 28-30 days and no pregnancy story. Blood samples were taken for the analysis of serum estradiol, progesterone and leptin levels and Wingate test was applied on a Monark 818E ergometer with 75 g/kg load on the 7th, 14th and 21st cycle days, randomly.

RESULTS: The differences in serum leptin levels and peak power, mean power and fatigue index during these days and the correlations between serum leptin and FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that performance in a short intense exercise which require high motivation is not affected by menstrual cycle and in young females with normal menstrual cycle, serum leptin concentration does not change during the cycle. Further studies constituting more standard groups, controlling food intake, timing the blood sampling, studying more days of menstrual cycle will help to obtain more accurate results....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 347-350 PubMed PMID: 16136011 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Infertility, Male:blood, Leydig Cells:metabolism, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Sperm Count, Stress, Psychological:blood, Testosterone:biosynthe.   

INTRODUCTION: Emotional stress connected with work or, for example, depressive reaction to infertility, is one of frequent causes of decreased quality of semen. An objective examination of this factor is difficult because stress depends also on patient's emotionality. One of the ways to study this problem is evaluating the relation between ACTH level and selected semen parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was based on results of the examination of 83 men from couples treated for infertility in the Gynecology and Infertility Clinic of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Determination of ACTH, FSH, LH, cortisol, testosterone and androstendion was performed using ELISA.

RESULTS: Lower average values of semen volume, sperm cells concentration and A sperm cell mobility and higher value of D sperm cells mobility were identified in the group of men from couples treated for infertility with ACTH level >30 pg/ml in comparison to the WHO standards and the control group with ACTH <30 pg/ml. Higher ACTH and cortisol levels were detected in the group of men with the sperm count <10 mln/mL in comparison to the control group with the sperm count >20 mln/mL. Low and statistically insignificant correlation was observed between androstendion and testosterone levels, what might suggest the reduction of testosterone synthesis in this group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results might indicate that the rise of ACTH and cortisol inhibit the conversion of adrostendion into testosterone in Leydig-cells resulting in the rise of androstendion, drop of testosterone production and lower average values of semen volume, sperm cells concentration and A sperm cell mobility and higher value of D sperm cells mobility....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 355-360 PubMed PMID: 16136009 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aggression:physiology, Female, Hostility, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality:physiology, Reference Values, Stress, Psychological:blood, Testosterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: Many studies assessing the role of sex hormones, like testosterone, on stress and hostility factors have been primarily conducted in selected atypical populations such as violent criminals as well as androgen users and abusers. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to investigate the association between testosterone levels and two psychosocial variables: stress and hostility in a cohort of healthy individuals who were members of a health maintenance organization (HMO).

METHODS: At five quarterly visits, psychosocial scales and blood draws were collected. Psychological stress was measured by using several scales that assessed different types of stress, including daily hassles, major life events and perceived stress. Similarly, different aspects of hostility were measured, among them cynicism, hostile affect and aggressive responding. Plasma collected from each visit was used for testosterone level determinations.

RESULTS: Testosterone levels were significantly associated with stress in both males and females. However, whereas this association exhibited a "threshold effect" in males, it demonstrated a direct and continuous linear relationship between these variables in females. Hostility was not correlated with testosterone levels in neither males nor females.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that testosterone levels in normal males and females may be more reflective of an intricate balance between physiological responding and emotional coping to stressors than the hostility profile of the individual....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(2): 131-135 PubMed PMID: 15855884 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Autoantibodies:analysis, Drug Combinations, Estradiol:therapeutic use, Estriol:therapeutic use, Female, Germ Cells:immunology, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Humans, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate:therapeutic use, Menstruation Disturbances:c.   

INTRODUCTION: To investigate levels of antiovarian autoantibodies in girls and young women with disturbances of menstrual cycle before and during treatment with hormonal therapy. To explain morphological changes in ovarian structure in these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studied group included 39 patients. 18 patients were treated for primary amenorrhoea, 21 for menstrual cycle disorders. Patients included in the study were repeatedly examined at the beginning of the study and after six months during which they were treated by estrogen and gestagen. In all patients we have tested FSH, LH and FSH/LH ratio, presence of antiovarian antibodies. Results were compared with those obtained in control women. 21 antiovarian antibodies positive patients were indicated for laparoscopic biopsy. Bioptic sample was examined using light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Our treatment with hormonal therapy lead to the reduction of ovarian antigens. In 85% of the cases marked decrease of antiovarian autoantibodies levels was observed, while in 28% of the cases the levels were undetectable. From morphological changes of the bioptic sample enhanced atresia of follicules at different developmental stages was frequently observed. It evoked marked reduction of follicular apparatus up to its complete disappearing.

CONCLUSION: The results of our study and mapping of the antiovarian antibodies positivity support our hypothesis that the antiovarian antibodies positivity corresponds with the clinical symptoms. Appropriate treatment with hormonal replacement therapy minimizes ovarian destruction, preserves ovarian hormonal functions and saves healthy ovarian tissue necessary for future fertility....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(2): 121-124 PubMed PMID: 15855882 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Exploratory Behavior:drug effects, Female, Habituation, Psychophysiologic:drug effects, Male, Motor Activity:drug effects, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Rats, Sex Factors, Testosterone:pharmacology, Vocalization, Animal:drug effec.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to characterize the influence of testosterone administered to pregnant females on offsprings postnatal behavioral strategies in the open field.

METHODS: The influence of maternal testosterone on behaviour of 23 day old male and female offsprings was studied in a 20-minute open field test. A total of 9 behavioural events were compared between a control (male n=12, female n=8) and a testosterone group (male n=9, female n=9). Dynamics and patterns of association of these behavioural events were analyzed. The testosterone group was prenatally exposed to testosterone (a single intramuscular injection of 2.5 mg testosteroni isobutyras on gestation day 14).

RESULTS: Male offsprings exposed prenatally to testosterone displayed significantly high levels of ambulation (P<0.05), sniffing (P<0.01), sniffing the air (P<0.05), urination (P<0.05) and significantly lower level of vocalization (P<0.05) than control. Female offsprings exposed prenatally to testosterone displayed significantly higher level of sniffing the air (P<0.05) than control. Significant differences in the dynamics of habituation process were registered only in the group of male. They were from 5 to 10 min in ambulation (P<0.05), from 10 to 15 min in sniffing (P<0.05) and vocalization (P<0.05), from 10 to 15 min and from 15 to 20 min in sniffing the air (P<0.05) and from 0 to 5 min in defecation (P<0.05) and urination (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that maternal testosterone may influence especially male postnatal open field strategies....

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