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In order to investigate the role of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in human ovulation, we evaluated the concentrations of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in human follicular fluid (FF). The concentrations of IGFBP-1 in the FFs of 15 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were measured and related to those of 17beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone and androstenedione in the FFs. IGFBP-1 levels in the FFs were positively correlated with those of E2 and progesterone. No correlation was found between the IGFBP-1 and androstenedione levels in FFs. The concentrations of IGFBP-1 were significantly increased in the FFs which contained mature oocytes compared with those of immature oocytes, whereas IGFBP-3 in FFs tended to decrease as oocytes matured. It is suggested that IGFs may play important roles in human preovulatory processes, and that IGFBP-1 may be a valuable biochemical marker in the evaluation of oocytes.

In order to investigate the roles of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-α in ovulation, we studied the production of interleukin (IL)-8 and growth-regulated oncogene (GRO)-α in cultured human granulosa-lutein cells.Granulosa-lutein cells obtained from the follicular fluids of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer patients were cultured and treated with EGF, TGF-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). An immortalized granulosa cell line (GC1a) was also cultured and treated with EGF, TGF-α or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor. The supernatants were collected, and IL-8 and GRO-α were measured by ELISA.The levels of IL-8 and GRO-α were significantly increased after treatment with EGF, TGF-α, TNF-α and TPA by primary cultured granulosa-lutein cells. The levels of IL-8 and GRO-α were also significantly increased after treatment with EGF or TGF-α in a dose-dependent manner by GC1a. When GC1a was treated with EGF, TGF-α or U0126, the levels of IL-8 and GRO-α were significantly decreased.Our data indicate that the production of IL-8 and GRO-α is upregulated by EGF and TGF-α. It is suggested that EGF and TGF-α may play an important role in luteinization processes involving IL-8 and GRO-α production.

Background: Metallothionein (MT) is known to bind to metals with high affinity. The potential for MT-1 mRNA expression in endometrial stromal cells (ESC) and amniotic cells in response to cytokines and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was evaluated. Methods: Human ESC were cultured and treated with interleukin-1α, 12-O-tetradecanoylphobol 13-acetate (TPA), forskolin, transforming growth factor-β, and CdCl2. Amnion-derived (WISH) cells were also cultured and treated with the same reagents. The levels of MT mRNA were evaluated by Northern blot analysis in ESC and WISH cells. Results: In response to treatment with CdCl2 (0.01–10 µM), the expression of MT mRNA markedly increased in ESC and WISH cells in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the expression of MT mRNA did not increase after treatment with interleukin-1α (1 nM), TPA (10 nM), forskolin (1 µM) or transforming growth factor-β (1 nM) in these cells. Conclusion: These findings indicate that MT expression in ESC and WISH cells is sensitive to the CdCl2 concentration, which is known to be evaluated in cigarette smokers. The present results suggest that increased levels of MT may affect metal metabolism at the feto-maternal interface.

A case of mucin-producing adenocarcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the right ovary is reported in a 67-year-old multiparous Japanese woman. The patient underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy containing cisplatin, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide with the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, probable stage Ic. Treatment was successful even though the tumor extended through the cyst wall.

We evaluated the effect of transferrin on the regulation of granulosa cell function in humans by evaluating the production of progesterone (P) in the preovulatory phase in vivo, and in cultured porcine granulosa cells in vitro. Twenty-five women treated for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer had their serum levels of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and P determined on the day of administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. Transferrin concentrations were also determined in ovarian follicular fluid. In an in vitro study, porcine granulosa cells were cultured in the presence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and transferrin. Serum levels of P showed a significant negative correlation with those of transferrin (r = -0.53, p0.01), whereas serum levels of E2 did not (r = 0.14). When the subjects were divided into two groups by serum P concentration (low P1 ng/ml, high Por = 1 ng/ml) serum concentrations of transferrin were significantly increased in the group with the low versus the high level of p (p0.01). Production of P by porcine granulosa cells was suppressed by transferrin in the presence of various concentrations of FSH. Increasing the dose of transferrin significantly suppressed the production of P by those cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The production of P during the preovulatory phase may be suppressed by transferrin in the granulosa cells.

A transverse vaginal septum is the most common congenital anomaly of the vagina. Vaginal atresia is seen less frequently. There have been some variations in cases of transverse vaginal septum and vaginal atresia. This is the first report of a patient with retrohymenal vaginal atresia and perforate transverse vaginal septum.