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Ovarian folliculogenesis is regulated by the gonadotrophins, but in recent years other peptides have been found to serve as local regulators of ovarian function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of NPY, galanin and VIP on pituitary and gonadal hormone release. Effects of NPY, galanin and VIP on progesterone, estradiol production by cultured rat granulosa and effects of these peptides on pituitary hormone release by cultured pituitary cells were examined according to methods previously described. Maximal effects of NPY, galanin and VIP on pituitary hormone release and on gonadal steroids were observed after administration of 10 nM of these peptides during 60 mins incubation. VIP and NPY, but not galanin, stimulated PRL release from cultured pituitary cells. VIP increased also LH release whenever NPY and galanin did not change LH release from pituitary cells. Galanin, but not NPY and VIP, leads to an increase of GH production. VIP, NPY and galanin did not change TSH and FSH release. NPY, galanin and VIP markedly stimulated progesterone release from cultured granulosa cells. NPY, galanin and VIP did not change estradiol and testosterone release. Conclusions. Direct effects of NPY, galanin and VIP on pituitary hormone release may indicate their role in the mechanism of pituitary hormone release. A marked increase of progesterone from cultured granulosa cells after VIP, NPY and galanin suggests that these peptides may be involved in the local ovarian steroidogenesis.

Advances in molecular biology techniques allowed for introduction of PCR-based methods for HLA typing. In routine HLA typing for organ transplantation serological method is still being used as a standard, although molecular techniques are applied more and more often. The aim of our study was to compare HLA-DR typing using traditional serological method and PCR-SSP methodology in routine clinical laboratory. HLA-DR typing was performed using standard microcytotoxicity assay and PCR-SSP method in 28 patients referred to our Transplantation Immunology Unit for HLA typing. Comparison of results obtained by both methods revealed no discrepancies in 5 patients, in 12 patients the PCR-SSP typing showed additional DR antigens or splits of antigens. In 11 patients serological typing turned out to be impossible because of technical problems. Molecular PCR typing allowed for precise antigen determination in all the patients. Comparing both methods we found PCR-SSP HLA typing method very useful in routine HLA-DR determination, especially valuable in patients, in whom some problems in serological testing are expected.