The clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates in study group were comparable to those in control group. Therefore, PPOS with dydrogesterone is a reasonable option to provide COH.

The class 1 phytoglobin, LjGlb1-1, is expressed in various tissues of the model legume Lotus japonicus, where it may play multiple functions by interacting with nitric oxide (NO). One of such functions is the onset of a proper symbiosis with Mesorhizobium loti resulting in the formation of actively N 2 -fixing nodules. Stable overexpression lines (Ox1 and Ox2) of LjGlb1-1 were generated and phenotyped. Both Ox lines showed reduced NO levels in roots and enhanced nitrogenase activity in mature and senescent nodules relative to the wild-type (WT). Physiological and cytological observations indicated that overexpression of LjGlb1-1 delayed nodule senescence. The application to WT nodules of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) or the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) repressed nitrogenase activity, induced the expression of three senescence-associated genes, and caused cytological changes evidencing nodule senescence. These effects were almost completely reverted by the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide. Our results reveal that overexpression of LjGlb1-1 improves the activity of mature nodules and delays nodule senescence in the L. japonicus-M. loti symbiosis. These beneficial effects are probably mediated by the participation of LjGlb1-1 in controlling the concentration of NO that may be produced downstream in the phytohormone signaling pathway in nodules.

To evaluate the safety of dihydrocapsiate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl 8-methylnonanoate; CAS No. 205687-03-2), a 13-week gavage toxicity study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats (10/sex/group). Test subjects received either dihydrocapsiate, 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day, or vehicle by gavage and were observed for antemortem and postmortem signs of toxicity, which included changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis), tissue findings (macroscopic and microscopic examination), as well as organ weights. No changes attributable to the test article were observed in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, or histopathology. A number of sporadic blood chemistry differences were observed at the high dose between treated and controls, but were not of toxicological significance and were not attributable to the test article. These included increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in males; increased total protein in males and females; increased calcium, percentage of albumin fraction, and A/G (albumin/globulin) ratio and decreased percentage of gamma-globulin fraction in female rats. An effect, which was attributable to the test article, was increases in both absolute and relative liver weights in the high dose (both sexes). In the absence of histopathological changes attributable to the test article, the liver weight changes were considered adaptive (physiological) in nature and not of toxicological significance. It was concluded that the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of dihydrocapsiate was 1000 mg/kg/day for both male and female rats in this 13-week gavage study.

A single-dose oral toxicity lethal-dose study was conducted to examine the toxicity of capsinoids contained in CH-19 Sweet extract. CH-19 Sweet extract was administered once by gavage to SPF (Crl:CD(SD)) Sprague-Dawley male and female rats at dose levels of 0 (vehicle), 5, 10, or 20 ml/kg of body weight (BW). The concentration of capsinoids in the CH-19 Sweet extract was 71.25 mg/ml; this resulted in administered dose levels of capsinoids of 356.25, 712.5, and 1425 mg/kg BW, respectively. The toxicity of CH-19 Sweet extract by single oral administration was low; only transient salivation or decreased spontaneous movement was observed on the day of administration at > or =10 ml/kg BW. It was concluded that the lethal dose of CH-19 Sweet extract was estimated to be higher than 20 ml/kg (1425 mg/kg as capsinoids) for both males and females since no deaths were observed at any dose in this study. A bacterial reverse mutation test of CH-19 Sweet extract was performed employing Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli and using the preincubation method. Treatment with CH-19 Sweet extract did not increase the number of revertant colonies compared with negative controls either in the presence (+S9) or absence (-S9) of metabolic activation. An in vitro chromosome aberration test was conducted using Chinese hamster lung cultured cells (CHL/IU). Treatment with CH-19 Sweet extract failed to induce chromosome aberrations in either short-term or continuous treatment scenarios, with or without metabolic activation (-S9, +S9). In an in vivo micronucleus test using BDF(1) male mice, CH-19 Sweet extract failed to increase the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) or decrease the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest the absence of mutagenicity as well as in vitro and in vivo clastogenicity of capsinoids contained in CH-19 Sweet extract.

A 26-week oral toxicity study of capsinoids-containing CH-19 Sweet extract was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats (20 males and 20 females per group) at 6 weeks of age. The test substance was administered by gavage for 26 weeks at dose levels of 0 (vehicle), 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 ml/kg/day. The concentration of capsinoids in the CH-19 Sweet extract employed was 71.25 to 73.15 mg/ml, resulting in dose levels of capsinoids of 89.06 to 91.44, 178.13 to 182.88, and 356.25 to 365.75 mg/kg, respectively. Adverse test article-related changes were only observed in males, not in females, and within the males, only at the high dose (5.0 ml/kg). Within that group (high-dose males), increases were observed in the numbers of segmented neutrophils, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, liver weights, and in the incidence and severity of hepatocellular focal necrosis. No test substance-related changes were detected in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, or urinalysis. No adverse test article-related changes were observed in low- or mid-dose males or in females at any dose. Based on the results of this chronic gavage study, the target organ was the liver and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for CH-19 Sweet extract in the rat was 2.5 ml/kg/day in males and 5.0 ml/kg/day in females (178.13 to 182.88 mg/kg and 356.25 to 365.75 mg/kg as capsinoids, respectively).