The production and metabolism of steroid hormones by the mammalian preimplantation embryo and their physiological significance in implantation are presently controversial. The objectives of the proposed research are aimed at these two fundamental concepts. We have recently shown that rabbit blastocysts have considerable aromatase activity (estrogen forming capacity). However, only 28% of this activity is expressed as estradiol-17Beta (E2), suggesting formation of other estrogens. One such candidate could be catechol estrogen. Recent reports indicate that catechol estrogens have uterotrophic as well as positive and negative feedback effects upon the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis and are more potent than E2 in stimulating prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in the rat uterus in vitro. PGs are considered to participate in implantation. Therefore, we propose to investigate whether primary estrogens, can be converted to catechol estrogens in the embryo and/or the endometrium and whether these catechol estrogens can stimulate PG synthesis in the embryo and/or the endometrium. Experimental methods to be employed include culture of embryos, biochemical assays of enzymes and radioimmunoassay of PGs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD012122-05
Application #
3311788
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1980-07-01
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kansas
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
016060860
City
Kansas City
State
KS
Country
United States
Zip Code
66160
Chakraborty, C; Davis, D L; Dey, S K (1990) The O-methylation of catechol oestrogens by pig conceptuses and endometrium during the peri-implantation period. J Endocrinol 127:77-84
Paria, B C; Chakraborty, C; Dey, S K (1990) Catechol estrogen formation in the mouse uterus and its role in implantation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 69:25-32
Chakraborty, C; Davis, D L; Dey, S K (1990) Estradiol-15 alpha-hydroxylation: a new avenue of estrogen metabolism in peri-implantation pig blastocysts. J Steroid Biochem 35:209-18
Chakraborty, C; Huet-Hudson, Y M; Dey, S K (1990) Catecholoestrogen synthesis and metabolism in the rabbit uterus during the periimplantation period. J Steroid Biochem 35:39-46
Chakraborty, C; Dey, S K; Davis, D L (1989) Pattern and tissue distribution of catechol estrogen forming activity by pig conceptuses during the peri-implantation period. J Anim Sci 67:991-8
Chakraborty, C; Sen, M; Johnson, D C (1988) The estrogen 2-hydroxylase activity of the gonadotropin-stimulated hypophysectomized immature rat ovary. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 189:189-95
Chakraborty, C; Davis, D L; Dey, S K (1988) Characteristics of estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase in pig blastocysts: inhibition by steroidal and nonsteroidal agents. J Steroid Biochem 31:231-5
Long, S; Dey, S K; Johnson, D C (1987) 2-Fluoro-oestradiol does not cause uterine refractoriness but inhibits oestradiol-induced implantation in rats. J Reprod Fertil 80:649-52
Andrews, G K; Huet, Y M; Lehman, L D et al. (1987) Metallothionein gene regulation in the preimplantation rabbit blastocyst. Development 100:463-9
Dey, S K; Johnson, D C (1986) Embryonic signals in pregnancy. Ann N Y Acad Sci 476:49-62

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications