Female sex hormones

CONTEXT: The plasma metabolome is a functional readout of metabolic activity and is associated with phenotypes exhibiting sexual dimorphism, such as cardiovascular disease. Sex hormones are thought to play a key role in driving sexual dimorphism. OBJECTIVE: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a cornerstone of transgender care, but longitudinal changes in the plasma metabolome with feminizing GAHT have not been described. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at baseline and after three and six months of GAHT from transgender women (n = 53)...

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common feature in several cardiomyopathies. We previously reported that loss of ADAM15 (disintegrin and metalloproteinase 15) worsened cardiac hypertrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy following cardiac pressure overload. Here, we investigated the impact of ADAM15 loss in female mice following cardiac pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Female Adam15-/- mice developed the same degree of cardiac hypertrophy, dilation and dysfunction as the parallel female wildtype (WT) mice at 6 weeks post-TAC...

It has now been about a century since a flurry of discoveries identified first the pituitary, then more specifically the anterior pituitary and soon thereafter the central nervous system as components regulating gonadal and downstream reproductive functions. This was an era of ablation/replacement designs using at first rudimentary and then increasingly pure preparations of gonadal and pituitary "activities" or transplanting actual glands, whole or homogenized, among subjects. There was, of course, controversy as is typical of lively and productive scientific debates to this day...

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disease in women, intricately linked to hormonal imbalances. The microbiota composition plays a pivotal role in influencing hormonal levels within the body. In this study, we utilized a murine model to investigate how intestinal and vaginal microbiota interact with hormones in the development of PCOS. METHODS: Twenty female mice were randomly assigned to the normal group (N) and the model group (P), where the latter received daily subcutaneous injections of 0...

Desmoid disease, though technically a benign condition, is nevertheless a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Desmoid disease impacts approximately 30% of FAP patients, with several known risk factors. It runs the gamut in terms of severity-ranging from small, slow-growing asymptomatic lesions to large, focally destructive, life-threatening masses. Desmoids usually occur following surgery, and several patient risk factors have been established, including female sex, family history of desmoid disease, 3' APC mutation, and extraintestinal manifestations of FAP...

Using a three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro culture model, we report the dose dependent effect of 17β-estradiol and testosterone on the adipogenic differentiation and maturation of human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) obtained from female and male patients. Considering sexual dimorphism, we expected male and female adipocytes to respond differently to the sex steroids. Both male and female hASC spheroids were exposed to 100 nM and 500 nM of 17β-estradiol and testosterone either at the beginning of the adipogenic maturation (Phase I) to discourage intracellular triglyceride accumulation or exposed after adipogenic maturation (Phase II) to reduce the intracellular triglyceride accumulation...

In the poultry industry, broiler and layer strains are genetically selected for different purposes (e.g., high meat-yield and high egg-production). Genetic selection for productivity can have unintended consequences on the behavioral repertoire of the birds, including aggression. Alongside the increasing societal concern regarding the welfare of animal in agriculture, the number of countries that are advocating the prohibition of using battery cages for laying hens has resulted in the transition and adoption of cage-free or free-range systems...

After surgical or natural menopause, women face a high risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can be diminished by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The gut microbiota is subject to modulation by various physiological changes and the progression of diseases. This microbial ecosystem coexists symbiotically with the host, playing pivotal roles in immune maturation, microbial defense mechanisms, and metabolic functions essential for nutritional and hormone homeostasis. E2 supplementation effectively prevented the development of NAFLD after bilateral oophorectomy (OVX) in female rats...

The usage of the oral contraceptive pill is widespread among athletes of various levels. However, there is limited knowledge on how the intake of the pill alters the submaximal and maximal endurance parameters between the oral contraceptive phases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine potential differences between the pill intake and withdrawal phase on endurance-related parameters in first-division handball players. In total, 15 female team handball players performed two graded exercise tests until volitional exhaustion on a motorized treadmill...

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of the MC and endogenous sex hormone concentrations on performance-determining variables in three distinct MC phases in endurance-trained females. METHODS: Twenty-one eumenorrheic trained/highly trained endurance athletes completed a standardized test battery during the early follicular phase (EFP), ovulatory phase (OP), and mid-luteal phase (MLP) for either one (n = 7) or two test cycles (n = 14). MC phases were determined using calendar-based counting, urinary ovulation testing, and verified with serum hormone analysis...

Biological sex is a key variable influencing many physiological systems. Disease prevalence as well as treatment success can be modified by sex. Differences emerge already early in life and include pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. The placenta is a critical organ for fetal development and shows sex-based differences in the expression of hormones and cytokines. Epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), may underlie the previously reported placental sexual dimorphism. We associated placental DNAm with fetal sex in three cohorts...

UNLABELLED: Since chronic inflammation is considered to be of key importance in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), we aimed to investigate Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) and Hypericum perforatum (HP), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity have been identified in several pathologies due to their polyphenolic components, on ovarian tissue in rat model of experimental PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 6 groups with 7 animals in each group as listed below; Group 1: Control, Group 2: PCOS, Group 3: PCOS + HP, Group 4: HP only, Group 5: PCOS+ GLP, Group 6: GLP only...

Females are twice as likely to experience PTSD as compared to males. Although sex differences in prevalence are well-established, little is known about why such sex differences occur. Biological factors that vary with sex, including sex hormone production, may contribute to these differences. Considerable evidence links sex hormones, such as testosterone, to PTSD risk though less is known about the shared genetic underpinnings. The objective of the present study was to test for genetic relationships between testosterone and PTSD...

We examined the impact of the puberty blocker, leuprolide acetate, on sex differences in juvenile rough-and-tumble play behavior and anxiety-like behavior in adolescent male and female rats. We also evaluated leuprolide treatment on gonadal and pituitary hormone levels and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-protein mRNA levels within the adolescent amygdala, a region important for both rough-and-tumble play and anxiety-like behavior. Our findings suggest that leuprolide treatment lowered anxiety-like behavior during adolescent development, suggesting that the maturation of GnRH systems may be linked to increased anxiety...

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Marano et al recently published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023; 29 (45): 5945-5952. We focus on the role of gut microbiota (GM) in women's health, highlighting the need to thoroughly comprehend the sex differences in microbiota. Together, the host and GM support the host's health. The microbiota components consist of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and archaea. This complex is an essential part of the host and is involved in neurological development, metabolic control, immune system dynamics, and host dynamic homeostasis...

INTRODUCTION: Endocrine hypertension (EHT) due to pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL), Cushing's syndrome (CS), or primary aldosteronism (PA) is linked to a variety of metabolic alterations and comorbidities. Accordingly, patients with EHT and primary hypertension (PHT) are characterized by distinct metabolic profiles. However, it remains unclear whether the metabolomic differences relate solely to the disease-defining hormonal parameters. Therefore, our objective was to study the association of disease defining hormonal excess and concomitant adrenal steroids with metabolomic alterations in patients with EHT...

Background: Incretins, i.e., glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) promote insulin secretion to reduce postprandial blood sugar. Previous studies found incretins in the salivary glands. However, the role of GLP-1 and GIP in the submandibular gland (SMG) is unclear. This study investigates the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the expression of GLP-1 and GIP throughout the development of rat SMG. Methods: Pregnant 11-week-old Wistar rats were divided into two groups: those fed on a standard diet ( n = 5) and those fed on a HFD ( n = 5)...

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and encompasses Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Women appear to have more severe and recurring symptoms of IBD compared to men, most likely due to hormonal fluctuations. Studies have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the development of inflammation and there is evidence of colon mitochondrial alterations in IBD models and patients. In this study we have identified the presence of sex-specific colon mitochondrial dysfunction in a rat model of IBD...

Fluctuations in androgenic hormonal levels are noticeable through women's menstrual cycle. Changes in estrogen and progesterone have been shown to affect periodontium. Many women report an increase in gingival inflammation and discomfort associated with their menstrual cycle, most commonly before the menstrual period. Approximately 80% of women experience complaints of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 7 to 10 days before menstruation. Therefore, the present study was carried out to check prevalence of PMS and its oral and periodontal manifestations in patients attending dental hospital...

Pryor, JL, Sweet, DK, Rosbrook, P, Qiao, J, Looney, DP, Mahmood, S, and Rideout, T. Endocrine responses to heated resistance exercise in men and women. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-We examined the endocrine responses of 16 (female = 8) resistance trained volunteers to a single bout of whole-body high-volume load resistance exercise in hot (HOT; 40° C) and temperate (TEMP; 20° C) environmental conditions. Thermoregulatory and heart rate (HR) data were recorded, and venous blood was acquired before and after resistance exercise to assess serum anabolic and catabolic hormones...