Possible new mechanism of cortisol action in female reproductive organs: physiological implications of the free hormone hypothesis

Andersen, Claus Yding

doi:10.1677/joe.0.1730211

Cited by 98 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Thus, in the present study, plasma collected at the cortisol and progesterone peaks were selected to guarantee that plasma composition differed between the ACTH-exposed groups and controls in the assayed hormones. Blood plasma (or serum) and follicular fluid composition are similar, but contain different concentrations of hormones [43]. Nonetheless, some compounds are correlated between plasma and follicular fluid samples and variations in peripheral blood composition will be reflected in the follicular fluid [44] influencing oocyte competence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cortisol is bound with high affinity to the cortisol-binding protein and also circulates bound to other proteins [43,45]. Around 2-5% of total endogenous cortisol corresponds to the free unbound, and thus biologically active, fraction [43,45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Around 2-5% of total endogenous cortisol corresponds to the free unbound, and thus biologically active, fraction [43,45]. By contrast, dexamethasone, a 22 synthetic GC with similar structure to cortisol, has 25-50 times the glucocorticoid potency of cortisol and circulates mainly in the unbound form [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of blood plasma collected after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration during the preovulatory period in the sow on oocyte in vitro maturation

González

2013

Theriogenology

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Reproduction may be affected by stressful events changing the female endocrine or metabolic profile. An altered environment during oocyte development could influence the delicate process of oocyte maturation. Here, the effect of simulated stress by media supplementation with blood plasma from sows after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration during the preovulatory period was assessed. Oocytes were matured for 46 h in the presence of plasma from ACTH-treated sows, or plasma from NaCl-treated control sows, or medium without plasma (BSA group). The plasma used had been collected at 36 h and 12 h (± 2 h) before ovulation (for the first 24 h + last 22 h of maturation, respectively).Subsequent fertilisation and embryo development were evaluated. Actin cytoskeleton and mitochondrial patterns were studied by confocal microscopy both in the oocytes and the resulting blastocysts. Nuclear maturation did not differ between treatments. Subtle differences were observed in the actin microfilaments in oocytes; however, mitochondrial patterns were associated with the treatment (P<0.001). These differences in mitochondrial patterns were not reflected by in vitro outcomes, which were similar in all groups. In conclusion, an altered hormonal environment provided by a brief exposure to plasma from ACTH-treated sows during in vitro oocyte maturation, could induce alterations in actin cytoskeleton and mitochondrial patterns in oocytes. However, these changes might not hamper the subsequent in vitro embryo development.[217 words]

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of blood plasma collected after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration during the preovulatory period in the sow on oocyte in vitro maturation

González

2013

Theriogenology

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“…58: [223][224][225][226][227][228][229][230] 2012) G lucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in many physiological processes [1,2], including female reproductive functions [3] in rabbits [4], ewes [5] and humans [6]. Cortisol, an active GC, is an anti-inflammatory agent that acts to modulate the production and action of cytokines and prostaglandins required for ovulation, luteolysis, embryo implantation, fetal growth and placental development [3,7]. It is synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex and is locally regulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) [8].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cortisol, an active GC, is an anti-inflammatory agent that acts to modulate the production and action of cytokines and prostaglandins required for ovulation, luteolysis, embryo implantation, fetal growth and placental development [3,7]. It is synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex and is locally regulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) [8].…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Cortisol on Pregnancy Rate and Corpus Luteum Function in Heifers: An <i>In Vivo</i> Study

Duong

Piotrowska-Tomala

Acosta

et al. 2012

Journal of Reproduction and Development

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Abstract. To determine whether glucocorticoids affect the function of the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, we examined the effects of exogenous cortisol or reduced endogenous cortisol on the secretion of progesterone (P4) and on pregnancy rate. In preliminary experiments, doses of cortisol and metyrapone (an inhibitor of cortisol synthesis) were established (n=33). Cortisol in effective doses of 10 mg blocked tumor necrosis factor-induced prostaglandin F 2α secretion as measured by its metabolite (PGFM) concentrations in the blood. Metyrapone in effective doses of 500 mg increased the P4 concentration. Thus, both reagents were then intravaginally applied in the chosen doses daily from Day 15 to 18 after estrus (Day 0) in noninseminated heifers (n=18) or after artificial insemination (n=36). Pregnancy was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography between Days 28-30 after insemination. Plasma concentrations of P4 were lower in cortisol-treated heifers than in control heifers on Days 17 and 18 of the estrous cycle (P<0.05). However, the interestrus intervals were not different between control and cortisol-treated animals (P>0.05). Moreover, metyrapone increased P4 and prolonged the CL lifespan in comparison to control animals (P<0.05). Interestingly, in inseminated heifers, cortisol increased the pregnancy rate (75%) compared with control animals (58%), whereas metyrapone reduced the pregnancy rate to 16.7% (P<0.05). The overall results suggest that cortisol, depending on the physiological status of heifers (pregnant vs. nonpregnant), modulates CL function by influencing P4 secretion. Cortisol may have a positive influence on CL function during early pregnancy, leading to support of embryo implantation and resulting in higher rates of pregnancy in heifers. Key words: Cattle, Cortisol, Early pregnancy, Estrous cycle, Progesterone (J. Reprod. Dev. 58: [223][224][225][226][227][228][229][230] 2012) G lucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in many physiological processes [1,2], including female reproductive functions [3] in rabbits [4], ewes [5] and humans [6]. Cortisol, an active GC, is an anti-inflammatory agent that acts to modulate the production and action of cytokines and prostaglandins required for ovulation, luteolysis, embryo implantation, fetal growth and placental development [3,7]. It is synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex and is locally regulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) [8]. The biological action of GCs is mediated through the activation of intracellular GR receptors (GC-R). Two isoforms of GC-R, GC-Rα and GC-Rβ, have been identified [9,10]. Access of GCs to GC receptors in target tissues is regulated by two 11β-HSDs, bidirectional 11β-HSD type 1 (11β-HSD1) that mainly converts cortisone to active cortisol [11] and 11β-HSD type 2 (11β-HSD2) that inactivates cortisol to cortisone [12]. Although both 11β-HSDs and GC receptors are expressed in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) [13,14] and endometrium [8] throughout the estrous cycle and ea...

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Changes in expression of 11β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type‐1, type‐2 and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in porcine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle

Sakumoto

Ito

Okuda

2007

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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The objective of the present study was to determine whether glucocorticoid (GC) and its receptor (GC-R) are expressed in the porcine corpus luteum (CL), and whether GC influences porcine luteal hormone production. The gene expressions of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11-HSD1), type 2 (11-HSD2), GC-R, and the concentrations of GC were determined in the CL of Chinese Meishan pigs during the estrous cycle. Moreover, the effects of GC on progesterone (P(4)), estradiol-17beta (E(2)), and prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha secretion by cultured luteal cells were investigated. Messenger RNAs of the 11-HSD1, 11-HSD2, and GC-R were clearly expressed in the CL throughout the estrous cycle. The 11-HSD1 mRNA level in the CL was higher at the regressed stage than at the other stages (P < 0.05), whereas 11-HSD2 mRNA was lower at the regressed stage than at the other stages (P < 0.05). GC-R mRNA level was higher at the regressed stages than at the other stages (P < 0.01). Concentrations of GC were lower in the regressed CL than in the other stages (P < 0.01). When the cultured luteal cells obtained from mid-stage CL (Days 8-11) were exposed to GC (50-5,000 ng/ml), P(4) and PGF2alpha secretion by the cells were reduced (P < 0.05), whereas GC had no effect on E(2) secretion by the cells. The overall results suggest that GC is regulated locally by 11-HSD1 and 11-HSD2 in the porcine CL. GC inhibits P(4) and PGF2alpha production from luteal cells via their specific receptors, implying GC plays some roles in regulating porcine CL function throughout the estrous cycle.

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Possible new mechanism of cortisol action in female reproductive organs: physiological implications of the free hormone hypothesis

Abstract: The so-called free hormone hypothesis predicts that the biological activity of a given steroid correlates with the free protein-unbound concentration rather than with the total concentration (i.e. free plus protein-bound

Cited by 98 publications

References 30 publications

Effect of blood plasma collected after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration during the preovulatory period in the sow on oocyte in vitro maturation

Effect of blood plasma collected after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration during the preovulatory period in the sow on oocyte in vitro maturation

Effects of Cortisol on Pregnancy Rate and Corpus Luteum Function in Heifers: An <i>In Vivo</i> Study

Changes in expression of 11β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type‐1, type‐2 and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in porcine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle

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