The rapid development of ultrasonographic equipment now permits instantaneous assessment of follicles and endometrium. The sonographic appearance of the endometrium has been discussed in relation to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. However, a generally agreed view of the relationship of the sonographic appearance to fecundity in IVF cycles has not emerged. We have studied the relationship between steroid receptors and the sonographic appearance of the preovulatory endometrium in natural cycles and ovulation induction cycles. Preovulatory endometrial thickness was not found to be indicative of fecundity, although a preovulatory endometrial thickness of <9 mm related to an elevated miscarriage rate. The preovulatory endometrial echo pattern did not predict fecundity. No relationships were found among endometrial appearance, endometrial steroid receptors and steroid hormone concentrations in serum. Oestrogen or progesterone receptor concentrations were not related to endometrial thickness or to concentrations of serum oestradiol, the only significant correlation being found between the endometrial concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. The ratio of progesterone:oestrogen receptor concentration was somewhat less in echo pattern B (not triple line) endometrium compared with pattern A (triple line) endometrium. Oestrogen and progesterone receptor concentrations appeared stable on gonadotrophin induction, though fewer numbers were found during clomiphene cycles than in natural cycles. With regard to the distribution of receptor concentration between clomiphene and natural cycles, most women using clomiphene had very low oestrogen receptor populations. Pregnancy rates were low, in spite of high ovulatory rates during clomiphene treatment and were mainly related to low oestrogen receptor concentrations in preovulatory endometrium.

Estradiol 17-sulphate is readily converted to 2-OH or 4-OH estradiol 17-sulphate. The latter two strongly antagonize lipid peroxidation, which may play certain roles during pregnancy, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension. Serum estradiol 1 7-sulphate during mid and late pregnancy was measured using a direct radioimmunoassay without hydrolysis, and the level increased as pregnancy progressed. The levels in the sixth (20\p=n-\23 weeks) and tenth months (36\p=n-\39 weeks) of gestation were 1.42\m=+-\0.04nmol/l (mean\m=+-\sd)and 3.43\m=+-\1.09nmol/l, respectively. The maternal venous levels before and at delivery and in the umbilical veins and artery were 3.38\m=+-\0.83,3.48\m=+-\1.53, 4.11 \ m=+-\ 1.40 and 4.30\m=+-\1.81 nmol/l, respectively. The latter two values were slightly higher than the former two. Estradiol 1 7-sulphate in maternal venous blood began to decrease around delivery. Serum lipid peroxides were measured using the method of Yagi. Estradiol 17-sulphate and lipid peroxides showed a simple regression slope (r= \m=-\0.548,p<0.05) during late pregnancy. These results suggest that estradiol 1 7-sulphate may be converted to 2-OH or 4-OH estradiol 1 7-sulphate, which act as lipid peroxide scavengers during pregnancy.Estrogen sulphates have been shown to be quantitatively the most important estrogens in the peripheral blood ( 1, 2), and may have physiological and pathological roles in humans. Estrone sulphate (E]-S) and sulphatase activity showed the possibility of some roles stimulating human breast cancer and endometrial cancer (3).Estradiol 17-sulphate (E2-17-S) is a unique estrogen sulphate derived from testosterone sulphate and not from estradiol-17 ß (E2) in humans (4, 5). It shows three peaks in human urine during the menstrual cycle (6). It is readily converted to 2-OH E2-l 7-S and/or 4-OH E2-l 7-S (7, 8), both of which are stable (7) and strongly antagonize lipid peroxidation (9). However, E2-l 7-S has not yet been measured in the peripheral circulation of humans. In this study, serum E2-17-S during mid and late pregnancy, at delivery and after delivery was measured by a direct radioimmunoassay (RIA). The serum E2-l 7-S and lipid peroxides were then compared in late pregnancy. Patients and methods ReagentsPreparation of E2-17-S (10) and [6, 7-sH] E2-17-S (32.5 Ci/mmol) (11) was carried out as described previously. Unlabelled conjugated and free steroids were purchased from Sigma (St Louis, MO). Organic solvents and chemicals were of analytical grade. AntiserumThe antiserum used was obtained from a rabbit immu¬ nized with E2-17-S-fC-61-bovine serum albumin conju¬ gate (12). The antibody has a high specificity for E2-17-S, exhibiting no more than 0.2% of cross reactivites for other steroids (Table 1). Collection of samplesBetween 9.00 and 13.00 peripheral venous blood samples were collected from pregnant women. Several hours prior to delivery, maternal peripheral venous blood samples were obtained. Matched samples of umbilical arterial and venous blood and maternal peripheral venous blood were o...

Fetal heart rate and beat-to-beat variability during fetal breathing movements were investigated by abdominal fetal electrocardiography. The mean (M-RR) and the standard deviation (SD-RR) of R-R intervals and the percentage of absolute beatto-beat differences below 2 msec (2 msec %) were measured by computerized quantification, Fetal breathing movements were associated with a significant increase in SD-RR (from 8.73 k 5.59 during apnea t o 16.7 f 5.67 during breathing) and a significant decrease in 2 msec % (from 44.1 f 12.4 during apnea t o 27.9 k 8.65 during breathing). According t o discriminant analysis, the 2 msec % was the best coefficient for classifying fetal breathing episodes. Thus the determination of 2 msec % is useful in assessing fetal heart rate variability by abdominal fetal electrocardiography.

To examine antiestrogenic effects of danazol through the receptor system and to clarify its direct effects on the endometrium in vivo, we applied danazol jelly directly into the rabbit uterine cavity and measured uterine estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors (ER, PR and AR, respectively). Danazol significantly reduced ER, PR and AR (p < 0.05). Treatment with receptor-blocking agents (RU 486 and oxendolone) showed that the decrease in the ER level showed a closer association with that in PR than with AR. These results indicate that danazol directly administered into the uterine cavity is absorbed by the endometrial tissue and exerts its antiestrogenic effects possibly through PR in the cells.

Danazol, an isoxazole derivative of 17 alpha-ethinyl-testosterone, has various effects on the female reproductive system. To examine its anti-estrogenic effects through the receptor system and clarify its direct effect on the endometrium in vivo, we applied danazol jelly into the rabbit uterine cavity. Recent studies performed in our laboratory using the ligand-binding assay have shown that danazol administered directly into the uterine cavity is absorbed by the endometrial tissue and exerts its anti-estrogenic effects possibly through progesterone receptors (PR) in the cells. In the present study we examined the variations in endometrial PR content during 7 days after the intrauterine administration of danazol into the rabbit uterine cavity. Immature female white rabbits were used. They were given daily subcutaneous injections of estradiol-17 beta (E2) for 3 days after which their abdomens were opened, and danazol gel was infused into the lumen of the right horn and HPC-jelly was infused into the lumen of the left horn, as the control. Thereafter and until they were killed, the same daily dose of E2 was injected. They were killed 6h, 24h, 3 days, 5 days or 7 days after intrauterine infusion of danazol and PRs were studied immunohistochemically using a specific antireceptor monoclonal antibody (PR-AT 4.14). Six hours after danazol infusion, the PR staining in the glandular epithelium and part of the stroma surrounding the epithelium had declined. On day 3, PR staining declined to its lowest level in the glandular epithelium and stroma. On Day 5, PR staining had been restored in the glandular epithelium but stayed low in the stroma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)