Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons^™

Update - January 2007, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Stem Cells, Embryos, and Ethics: Is There a Way Forward?
-- Editorial
-- 2006 Contributor's Convocation "Present Day Health Care: Collaborate or Close the Door"

The Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide Inhibits Cromakalim-Activated K+ Currents In Follicle-Enclosed Xenopus Oocytes, Murat Oz, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Meral Dinc, Toni S. Shippenberg

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The effect of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide on K+ currents activated by the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel opener cromakalim was investigated in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Anandamide (1–90 μM) reversibly inhibited cromakalim-induced K+ currents, with an IC50 value of 8.1 ± 2 μM. Inhibition was noncompetitive and independent of membrane potential. Coapplication of anandamide with the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboximide hydrochloride (SR 141716A) (1 μM), the CB2 receptor antagonist N-[(1S)endo-1,3,3-trimethyl bicyclo heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528) (1 μM), or pertussis toxin (5 μg/ml) did not alter the inhibitory effect of anandamide, suggesting that known cannabinoid receptors …

An In Vitro Model Of Ovarian Cancer: Studying The Effects Of Talc And Pycnogenol®, Amber Renée Buz'zard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society has suggested that poor diet, talc and industrial pollutants may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Talc is ubiquitous and concern is raised about its safety, role as a possible carcinogen and known ability to cause irritation and inflammation. Due to the silent nature of ovarian cancer, chemoprevention is a high priority. The most useful chemopreventive compounds will inhibit, delay or reverse carcinogenesis, and can be taken for long periods of time with …

Gene Expression In The Mouse Placenta: Developmental And Stress Responses, Ciprian P. Gheorghe

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Successful placental development is crucial for optimal growth, maturation, and survival of the embryo/fetus. Placental failure and placental pathology contributes to both morbidity and mortality of the fetus. We sought to understand normal placental development and also placental responses to stress using oligonucleotide microarray technology. To examine genetic aspects of normal placental development, we investigated gene expression patterns in the murine placenta at embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5), E12.5, E15.5, and E17.5. Hypoxia has been identified as a major stressor in placental and fetal development. In order to comprehend more completely hypoxic stress responses we sought to measure gene expression changes …

Cell-Cycle Regulatory Proteins In The Podocyte In Collapsing Glomerulopathy In Children., Tarak Srivastava, Robert E. Garola, H K. Singh

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Podocyte is a terminally committed cell in G1 arrest of cell cycle, and is unable to overcome G1/S transition phase in children with minimal change disease (MCD) and classic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), in contrast to dysregulated proliferative phenotype of idiopathic collapsing glomerulopathy (CGN) in adults. Forty-two kidney biopsies, MCD (14), FSGS (12), CGN (4), and normal (CON) (12), were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using dual staining for expression of p27, p21, and p57, and cyclins D and A, in podocytes of children with CGN. On light microscopy, all podocytes expressed p27, whereas p21 and p57 expression was seen in a …

Prenatal Stress And Stress Physiology Influences Human Fetal And Infant Development, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Calvin J. Hobel, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn, Pathik D. Wadhwa

Psychology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"Prenatal stress has been proposed as a risk factor that may have developmental consequences persisting throughout the lifespan. Exposing rodents to stress during pregnancy has consequences for brain development, stress regulation, learning, emotionality (increased anxiety), and social behavior (increased withdrawal) of the offspring (Weinstock, 2001; Chapillon et al., 2002). Additionally, non-human primates who experience stress during pregnancy have offspring with enhanced behavioral reactivity to stressors later in life (Clarke et al., 1994), lowered levels of motor behavior (Schneider, 1992), compromised neuromotor responses (Schneider and Coe, 1993), irritable temperament (Schneider et al., 1992), and attentional problems (Schneider et …

The Effect Of Antioxidant Supplementation On Human Sperm Cryopreservation, Katrina E. Taylor

Theses : Honours

Semen cryopreservation has an important role in assisted reproductive technology however, the cooling, freezing and thawing processes often result in a significant loss of sperm motility, viability and nuclear integrity. The destructive effects of cryopreservation are significantly exacerbated in samples exhibiting low sperm number and poor morphological characteristics. Recent research into infertility has focused on the correlation between excessive oxidation and subfertility, in particular radical induced lipid peroxidation within the phospholipid bilayer of the spermatozoon plasma membrane and the promotion of cellular damage as a result of antioxidant insufficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of …

Differential Expression Of Toll-Like Receptors 2 And 4 In Tissues Of The Human Female Reproductive Tract, Patricia A. Pioli, Eyal Amiel, Todd M. Schaefer, John E. Connolly, Charles R. Wira, Paul M. Guyre

Dartmouth Scholarship

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signal transduction is a central component of the innate immune response to pathogenic challenge. Although recent studies have begun to elucidate differences in acquired immunity in tissues of the human female reproductive tract, there is a relative paucity of work regarding innate defense mechanisms. We investigated TLR mRNA and protein expression in tissues of the human female reproductive tract. Constitutive mRNA expression of TLRs 1 to 6 was observed in fallopian tubes, uterine endometrium, cervix, and ectocervix. Furthermore, transcripts of the signaling adapter MyD88 and the accessory molecule CD14 were also detected in all tissues assayed. Quantitative …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding: An Introduction For Health Educators, Sheila G. J. Clark, Timothy J. Bungum

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Currently 16% of Americans breastfeed their children for at least 12 months as recommended by the AAP, which is well below the HP 2010 goal of 25%. Breastfed infants receive benefits that can improve their health throughout their lives. The benefits of breastfeeding for children include increased resistance to infectious diseases, such as gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, and ear infections. Breastfed children also display lower rates of chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, asthma, and leukemia. The choice to breastfeed results in economic benefits from lower health care costs and from reduced spending on infant formula. The Healthy People 2010 targets …

Cell-Cycle Regulatory Proteins In Podocyte Cell In Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome Of Childhood., Tarak Srivastava, Robert E. Garola, J M. Whiting, Uri S. Alon

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The podocyte cell is believed to play an important role in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) of childhood. In adults with cellular and collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), the expression of cell-cycle regulatory proteins such as p27, p57, and cyclin D is decreased and expression of cyclin A, Ki-67, and p21 is observed in podocyte cells suggestive of a dysregulated podocyte phenotype. We investigated for alterations in the expression of cyclin kinase inhibitors, p27, p57, p21, and cyclins D and A in the podocyte cell of children with INS.

METHODS: Forty-two kidney biopsies were investigated; 14 with minimal-change disease (MCD), …

A Mechanistic Study In The Nephrotoxicity Of P-Aminophenol, R. Christopher Harmon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The acetaminophen metabolite, p-aminophenol (PAP), is a known nephrotoxicant. The current study is directed at understanding the mechanism of this nephrotoxicity. Renal cortical slices isolated from F344 rats were incubated with 0 – 0.5 mM PAP with or without pretreatments. Renal slices exposed to PAP showed toxicity as measured by increased lactate dehydrogenase leakage (LDH), decreased pyruvate-stimulated gluconeogenesis, and decreased total adenine nucleotides. There was, however, an increase in ATP as percent of total, implying maintained mitochondrial function. These data show that PAP is directly toxic to renal cortical slices. Pretreatment with EDTA or EGTA provided protection from PAP- induced …

Histological Evaluation Of Cryopreserved Ovaries In Autologous Abdominal Transplant To NaïVe, Outbred, Cd1, Mice, Wentia Elissa Ford

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This study showed that fresh and frozen-thawed mouse ovaries would maintain viable primordial or primary follicles post-autologous transplantation. Furthermore, with appropriate hormonal stimulation, these early-stage follicles were shown to develop into Graafian follicles containing a metaphase II antral ovum. Partially sliced ovaries were transplanted into the abdominal cavity of naive, outbred, CD1, white mice. Hormonal stimulation with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) one week after the autologous transplantation stimulated variable degrees of follicle and ovum maturation within the ovarian tissue. There were no major morphological differences observed between the four groups, three treatment and one …

Characterization Of Host-Bacteria Interactions Contributing To Group B Streptococcus Colonization, Jennifer Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening bacterial infections during the first three months of life. GBS is also a frequent cause of maternal postpartum infections. Both types of infections stem from maternal vaginal and/or rectal colonization with GBS in the perinatal period. Limited information is available concerning how the colonization process occurs and what role the host immune system may play in the establishment of persistent colonization by GBS. The complex interactions between the immune system and GBS normally should end in clearance of the bacteria. However, since colonization by GBS occurs in a large number …

Map Kinases In Cynomolgus Monkey Sperm Hyperactivation, Emily Nicole Haynes

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Mammalian sperm exhibit characteristic motility patterns, termed hyperactivated (HA) motility, associated with completion of capacitation. In cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) sperm, this HA motility is dependent in vitro upon the addition of exogenous cyclic nucleotide mediators, caffeine and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP). Previous reports have shown protein tyrosine phosphorylation to be an integral component of this caffeine- and cAMP-stimulated HA motility. This study investigated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-signaling cascade. Semen specimens were collected in Talp-HEPES medium from proven breeders via electroejaculation. After washing, sperm were incubated in the presence and absence of the MAP …

Age Related Changes In Contractile Sensitivity To Cyclic Gmp And Intracellular Calcium Compartmentalization In Ovine Arteries, Surya Margono Nauli

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The study examines the hypothesis that maturation changes the ability of cGMP to produce cerebral vasodilatation and alters the relative intracellular calcium pool sizes in ovine arteries. In ovine basilars taken from near-term fetal and young adult sheep, 8- pCPT-cGMP relaxed potassium- and serotonin-induced tone with pD2 values of 4.4±0.1 and 4.9±0.1 (fetal basilar) and 4.0±0.1 and 4.7±0.1 (adult basilar), respectively. In fura-2 loaded arteries, 8-pCPT-cGMP significantly lowered increases in cytosolic calcium concentration induced by serotonin but not potassium regardless of age. When calcium sensitivity was calculated in the same arteries as the slope of the relation between calcium concentration …

Update - July 1998, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Christianity and Human Cloning - A Seventh-day Adventist Declaration of Ethical Principles
-- Cloning: Dolly's Mother is Her Sister!?
-- Hello, Dolly! Dolly! Dolly!

Molecular And Cellular Biology Of Prostate Cancer, El-Nasir Lalani, Marc Elie Laniado, Paul David Abel

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Prostate cancer is an enigmatic disease. Although prostatic-intraepithelial neoplasia appears as early as the third decade and as many as 80% of 80 year old men have epithelial cells in their prostate that fit the morphological criteria for cancer, only about 10% of men will ever have the clinical disease and less than 3% will die from it. There have been no significant proven interventions which have altered the natural history of the disease since hormone down regulation was introduced in the 1940s and new research has been poorly supported. There is however an urgent need to develop new criteria …

Update - February 1996, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Adventism and Assisted Procreation: Excerpts from a panel discussion at LLU
-- Adventist Guidelines on Assisted Procreation
-- LLU offers Masters of Arts in Biomedical and Clinical Ethics

Update - March 1995, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Cabbages and Condoms: Population Control in a Crowded World
-- On Conundrums, Condoms and Cabbages: "Prior Questions" on the Subject of Population Control
-- LLU offers Masters of Arts in Biomedical and Clinical Ethics

Update - September 1994, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Ritualized Genital Mutilation the Procedure
-- A Cultural Perspective
-- Female Genital Mutilation: A Question of Fundamental Human Rights
-- Ethics When Cultures Clash
-- Ethics Consultation (Review)

Update - March 1993, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- Loma Linda offers Masters of Arts in Biomedical and Clinical Ethics and assists Claremont with Theological degree

[ Depo-Provera: Contraceptive Dream or Nightmare? ]
-- A Gynecologist's Perspective
-- Some Catholic Moral Reflections

-- Doctor of Philosophy at Claremont

Catecholamines And The Regulation Of Uterine Contractions In The Pregnant Rhesus Macaque, Cahleen Mae Mcnutt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that: 1) maternal and/or amniotic fluid catecholamines or prostaglandins display nocturnal activity rhythms similar to those of the myometrial contractility in the pregnant rhesus macaque and, 2) catecholamines stimulate prostaglandin production by fetal membranes. Paired maternal arterial blood and amniotic fluid samples were collected at 0900 h (AM) and 2100 h (PM) from chronically catheterized rhesus macaques until delivery and analyzed for prostaglandin metabolites (PGFM and PGEM-II) and catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine). Uterine activity data was continuously recorded. A rhythm in uterine contractility was observed, with peak activity between 1900 and …

Progesterone And 17 Α-Hydroxyprogesterone: Novel Stimulators Of Calcium Influx In Human Sperm, Peter F. Blackmore, Stephen J. Beebe, Douglas R. Danforth, Nancy Alexander

Bioelectrics Publications

Progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (but not other steroids such as testosterone, corticosterone, beta-estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 20 alpha-hydroxypregnen-3-one, androstenedione, and pregnenolone) were shown to cause an immediate increase, in free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) in both capacitated and noncapacitated human sperm, using the fluorescent indicator fura 2. Significant increases in [Ca2+]i were observed with 10 ng/ml progesterone, while maximum effects were seen with 1 microgram/ml progesterone. Two other steroids 11 beta-hydroxyprogesterone and 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione exhibited significant activity to increase [Ca2+]i. This increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by progesterone was entirely due to Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium since the increase in [Ca2+]i …

Production From Heifers And First Calvers, G J. Sawyer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Heifers and first calvers present the major problems of the beef breeding herd. Reproduction rates, calf growth and survival of first calvers are generally much poorer than those of adult breeders.

Early successful reproductive performance is important in beef herds because of the high overhead cost of keeping breeding beef heifers or cows, Where possible, beef producers should aim to join heifers at 14 to 15 months of age. To achieve this goal, producers should set production targets for those animals. These targets will differ from farm to farm depending on when calves are turned off and the seasonal feed …

Intimations Of Life: Extracorporeality And The Law, George P. Smith Ii

Scholarly Articles

This article will study and evaluate the efforts of the state and the federal government to approach the problem of procreational autonomy and to resolve the perimeters of its recognition and application. In order to posit a framework for principled decision making, an analysis of the Australian and British efforts to deal with this problem, respectively, through their Waller and Warnock Commissions, will be undertaken together with a consideration of the famous case of Melbourne's "orphan" Rios embryos where, for the very first time, the issue of excess fertilized embryos was presented.

The thesis to be postulated here is simple: …

Effect Of Menstrual Cycle On Hedonic Response To Gustatory Stimuli, Laurie Ann O'Toole

Dissertations and Theses

The present experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between the human menstrual cycle and gustatory hedonic response. Hedonic response was defined as the perceived pleasantness or unpleasantness of a taste stimulus. Gender differences in taste hedonic have been observed; these may be due to differences in endocrine systems. Animal taste preferences are altered when reproductive hormonal status is experimentally manipulated. Previous researchers report that human females' hedonic responses to sucrose vary systematically with phase of menstrual cycle.

Strange Males Block Pregnancy In Lactating Pine Voles, Microtus Pinetorum, And Reduce Survival And Growth Of Nursing Young, Margaret H. Schadler

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Strange (unfamiliar) males affect survival of progeny of reproductive female rodents in a variety of ways. In mice, strange males block pregnancy before implantation of embryos (Bruce, 1959) but only in females that are not lactating (Bruce and Parkes, 1961). In voles these males can block pregnancy both before and after implantation (Stehn and Richmond, 1975; Marks and Schadler, 1979; Schadler, 1981). Strange males have also been shown to kill nursing pups in lemmings (Mallory and Brooks, 1978) and mice (Labov, 1980 and vom Saal and Howard, 1982).

The present study in pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) examines the …

The Effects Of 712-Dimethylbenz (A) Anthracene On Ovarian Steroidogenesis And Uterine Growth In The Mouse, Jeffrey Lynn Clark

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

It has been previously demonstrated that 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) is an initiator of ovarian granulosa cell tumors. It is also known that DMBA leads to destruction of primordial oocytes, and that tumor induction may involve the interaction of pituitary gonadotropins. However, the effects of DMBA on ovarian steroidogenesis and uterine growth in relation to the tumorigenic process have not been investigated. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine these parameters using adult C57Bl/6N mice treated in proestrus and diestrus II with 0.1 ml corn oil with or without 1.5 mg DMBA and killed 44 hours later. The uteri and …

The Association Of Semen Factors With The Recovery Of Ureaplasma Urealyticum, Rebecca D. Cintron

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Fifty-six semen samples from males under examination for suspected subfertility were examined to determine if alterations in specific semen parameters could be associated with the presence or absence or Ureaplasma urealvticum. Twenty-seven (48.2%) of the specimens cultured positive for U· urealyticum in U9B urease broth and A-7 differential agar. Both positive and negative specimens have a normal average motility rating. Overall sperm counts (millions per ml) were slightly lower and ejaculate volumes higher in U. urealvticum positive samples. Morphological abnormalicies were not found more frequently in U. urealyticum positive samples. No statistically significant difference between seminal parameters of U. …

Sex Education For Christians?, Al Mennega

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.