SUMMARY: The present study was performed to analyze the expression of LH genes in the rat ovary. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat ovary was demonstrated by amplification of ovarian RNA by RT-PCR. The ovarian LHbeta transcripts contained at least two parts of the published cDNA structure, the pituitary exons 1, 2 and 3 and the part of testicular exon 1 in the major trancripts form in rat testis. Using RIA, significant amount of LH-like molecules were detected in crude ovarian extracts, and the competition curves with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the ovarian immunoreactive LH-like material is similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. The administration of PMSG to immature rats resulted in a sharp decrease of the ovarian LH contents after 24 h post-injection. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat ovary, and suggest that LH can play a central role in regulation of female reproduction with both endocrine (by pituitary LH) and auto- and/or para-crime (by ovarian LH) manner.
Animals ; DNA, Complementary ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Lutein ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Ovary ; Rats ; Reproduction ; RNA ; Testis ; Tissue Extracts

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence for the expression of rat LH gene in several extrapituitary sites including testis and ovary. We also have demonstrated that the local LH expression in the rat epididymis and uterus, the major accessory sex organs in male and female reproductive system, respectively. DESIGN: The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the gene for LH receptor is expressed in rat uterus and whether the expression of uterine LH and its receptor are differentially regulated during estrous cycle. Presence of the transcripts for rat LH receptor in the rat uterine tissue were confirmed by touchdown reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In LHbeta semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the highest expression level was shown in estrus stage. The level of LH receptor transcripts was also fluctuated during estrous cycle. In ovariectomized rats (OVX + Oil), the expressions of both uterine LH and LH-R were markedly reduced when compared to those from normal rats. Supplement with estradiol 17beta to the ovariectomized rats (OVX + E2) restored the expression levels of LH and its receptor to the levels in uteri from normal rats. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that 1) LH and its receptor gene are expressed in the rat uterus from cycling rats, 2) the expression of uterine LH and its receptor is mainly, if not all, under the control of ovarian sex steroid(s). These results suggested that the uterine LH may act as a local regulator with auto and/or paracrine manner, though the posibility that the pituitary LH may act directly on the regulation of uterine functions could not be discarded.
Animals ; Epididymis ; Estradiol ; Estrous Cycle ; Estrus ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Lutein ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Ovary ; Rats ; Receptors, LH ; Testis ; Uterus

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies, including our own, demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in rat gonads and uterus, indicating that the local production and action of the LH-like molecule. In the present study, we investigated whether human uterus also expresses the LH gene. DESIGN: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified the cDNA fragments coding LHbeta polypeptide from human endometrium but not from myometrium. Presence of the transcripts for the alpha-subunit in human endometrium was also confirmed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Transcripts for LHbeta subunit were detected in endometrial samples from women with endometriosis. The gene for LH/hCG receptor was expressed in both endometrium and myometrium, showing good agreement with previous studies. Increased level of LHbeta transcript was determined in the endometrium from follicular phase compared to that from luteal phase. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings demonstrated that 1) the gense for LH subunits and LH/hCG receptor are expressed in human uterus, 2) the uterine LH expression was changed during menstrual cycle, suggesting that the uterine LH may play a local role in the control of uterine physiology and function(s).
Animals ; Clinical Coding ; DNA, Complementary ; Endometriosis ; Endometrium ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Gonads ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Lutein ; Menstrual Cycle ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Physiology ; Rats ; Uterus

No abstract available.

Total exchangeable sodium and plasma volume were measured to evaluate role of sodium in hypertension by radioisotope 24 Na and Evans blue in 25 patients with essential hypertension, 10 with malignant hypertension, 5 with renal hypertension and 15 normal controls. The results obtained are as follows. 1. The total exchangeable sodium content was 35.8+/-3.5mEq/kg in normal controls, 35.6+/-2.7mEq/kg in essential hypertension and 36.2+/-3.5mEq/kg in renal hypertension revealing no statistical significance in difference. In malignant hypertension, it was 44.9+/-2.0mEq/kg and it was markedly elevated than in normal controls. 2. Plasma volume in normal controls was 44.0+/-4.7ml/kg. In essential hypertension there was two groups, one (group II, 35.2+/-5.6ml/kg) was slightly lower than the other (group I, 43.2+/-4.8ml/kg). In malignant hypertension, it was 56.9+/-7.5ml/kg revealing significant increase than in normal controls. 3. Changes of the total exchangeable sodium content was observed after the administration of hydrochlorothiazide 50mg in normal controls and essential hypertension. In normal controls there was no statistical significance in reduction. In essential hypertension, initially low salt group (group II) showed no significant reduction and the other group (group I) showed significant reduction with depression on blood pressure. 4. Long term therapy with hydrochlorothiazide 50mg for 2~3 months in the group of hypertension who responded well with short term therapy (group I), the contents of exchangeable sodium reduced significantly than normal controls and the antihypertensive effect was sustained. 5. The reduction of plasma volume with hydrochlorothiazide in essential hypertension are similar as changes of total exchangeable sodium. 6. In cases of low salt diet 4gm of daily salt intake, there was similar results as diuretic therapy in exchangeable sodium. 7. In patients who responded well to antihypertensive effect of hydrochlorothiazide or low salt diet (group I), salt loading of 10gm daily showed an increase of total exchangeable sodium and an elevation of blood pressure with statistical significance.
Blood Pressure ; Depression ; Diet ; Evans Blue ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Hypertension, Renal ; Plasma Volume ; Plasma ; Sodium

Statistical observation was made on the 1949 patients with cardiovascular diseases who had been treated in Dept. of Internal Medicine, Seoul national University Hospital during the period of four years, from jan. 1972 to Dec. 1975. 1) The patients wth cardiovascular diseases accounted for 20.2% out of total 9,638 medical inpatients. The incidence for the consecutive years was not apparently variable. 2) The diseases occured most frequently in the sixth decades and the incidence decreased in the order of fifth and seventh decades. 3) The disease was more prevalent in male than female with ratio of 1.3 of 1. 4) The hypertension was the most common disease among cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 67.5% of patients with cardiovascular diseases and 13.6% of total medical inpatients. The disease occurred most frequently in the sixth decades and the incidence decreased in the order of fifth and seventh decades with male preponderance. 81.8% of patients with hypertension was essential hypertension and 18.2% was secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension was caused by parenchylmal renal diseases in most patients and there were only several patients with renovascular and endocrine hypertension. 40.2% of patients with essential hypertension had no complications, 38.6% had cerebral vascular accidents, 12.1% had uremia and 9.1% had congestive heart failure. The patients with malignant hypertension was 9.6% of total patients with hypertension. 5) Rheumatic heart disease was 14% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, being second in incidence. It was more prevalent in female than male with ratio of 1 male to 1.3 female and affected the mitral valve in most of the cases, whereas involvement of aortic valve was rare. 6) The coronary heart disease was 5.3% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, being third in incidence. It occured most frequently in seventh and sixth decades and affected male two times more frquently than female. 7) The congenital heart disease was 2.9% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, of which atrial septal defect was highest in incidence. 8) The cor-pulmonale was 1.4%, pericarditis 1.4%, endocarditis 0.9%, postpartum heart disease 1.2%, myxedematous heart disease 0.2%, arrhythmia 2.1%, peripheral vascular disease 1.1% and miscellaneous 0.6% of patients with cardiovascular diseases. 9) Postpartum heart failure and endocarditis was remarkably decreased in incidence recently and there were one patients with beriberi heart disease and one patient with syphilitic heart disease during those years of this study.
Aortic Valve ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Beriberi ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Disease ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Pericarditis ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Postpartum Period ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Seoul ; Uremia

Statistical observation was made on the 1949 patients with cardiovascular diseases who had been treated in Dept. of Internal Medicine, Seoul national University Hospital during the period of four years, from jan. 1972 to Dec. 1975. 1) The patients wth cardiovascular diseases accounted for 20.2% out of total 9,638 medical inpatients. The incidence for the consecutive years was not apparently variable. 2) The diseases occured most frequently in the sixth decades and the incidence decreased in the order of fifth and seventh decades. 3) The disease was more prevalent in male than female with ratio of 1.3 of 1. 4) The hypertension was the most common disease among cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 67.5% of patients with cardiovascular diseases and 13.6% of total medical inpatients. The disease occurred most frequently in the sixth decades and the incidence decreased in the order of fifth and seventh decades with male preponderance. 81.8% of patients with hypertension was essential hypertension and 18.2% was secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension was caused by parenchylmal renal diseases in most patients and there were only several patients with renovascular and endocrine hypertension. 40.2% of patients with essential hypertension had no complications, 38.6% had cerebral vascular accidents, 12.1% had uremia and 9.1% had congestive heart failure. The patients with malignant hypertension was 9.6% of total patients with hypertension. 5) Rheumatic heart disease was 14% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, being second in incidence. It was more prevalent in female than male with ratio of 1 male to 1.3 female and affected the mitral valve in most of the cases, whereas involvement of aortic valve was rare. 6) The coronary heart disease was 5.3% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, being third in incidence. It occured most frequently in seventh and sixth decades and affected male two times more frquently than female. 7) The congenital heart disease was 2.9% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, of which atrial septal defect was highest in incidence. 8) The cor-pulmonale was 1.4%, pericarditis 1.4%, endocarditis 0.9%, postpartum heart disease 1.2%, myxedematous heart disease 0.2%, arrhythmia 2.1%, peripheral vascular disease 1.1% and miscellaneous 0.6% of patients with cardiovascular diseases. 9) Postpartum heart failure and endocarditis was remarkably decreased in incidence recently and there were one patients with beriberi heart disease and one patient with syphilitic heart disease during those years of this study.
Aortic Valve ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Beriberi ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Disease ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Pericarditis ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Postpartum Period ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Seoul ; Uremia

The serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured and the lipoprotein patterns by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane were observed in 30 normal Koreans, 26 patients with cerebrovascular accident, and 18 patients with coronary heart disease. Similar measurements and observations were made in normal Koreas, surgical patients, the patients with cerebrovascular accident and hyperlipidemia in an attempt to examine the effects of body weight, surgical operations, cerebrovascular accident and the administration of clofibrate on serum lipids. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The mean values of serum cholesterol and triglyceride, which shows moderately significant correlation to the body weight in normal Koreans, were markedly higher in the patients with cerebrovascular accident and coronary heart disease than those of control. 2. Serum pre-beta- and beta-lipoprotein patterns in the densitometry of the serum lipoprotein electropherogram of the patients with coronary heart disease were larger than those of control, but the densitometric patterns of the patients with cerebrovascular accident were similar to those of control. Serum pre-beta- and beta-lipoprotein-cholesterol levels of the patients with cerebrovascular accident and coronary heart disease were higher than those of control. 3. Serum hyperlipoproteinemic type IIa and IIb were more frequently observed than type IV in the patients with cerebrovascular accident and coronary heart disease. 4. Serum cholesterol levels decreased to 74.9% of preoperation levels on the 1st postoperative day and recovered to 97.8% of preoperation levels on the 7th day. Serum triglyceride levels started to increase on the 3rd postoperative day, and reached to 115.3% of preoperation levels on the 7th day. After attack of cerebrovascular accident, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased slowly to 121.7% and 133.7% of the each 1st day levels on the 7th day. 5. Serum lipid lowering effect of clofibrate was most conspicuous in the hypertriglyceridemic patients, especially during the 1st and 2nd weeks after initiation of medication, and moderately in the mixed hyperlipidemic patients. Serum pre-beta- and beta-lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were decreased after 8 weeks of clofibrate therapy, but alpha-lipoprotein-cholesterol levels did not change significantly.
Body Weight ; Cellulose ; Cholesterol ; Clofibrate ; Coronary Disease ; Densitometry ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Membranes ; Stroke ; Triglycerides

The serum lipids level of healthy Koreans, including 306 normal adults, 15 overweight persons, 25 faculty members and 40 vegetarians (monks) were studied in 1973. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean serum liplids values of normal Korean adults were 188.7+/-33.7mg% for total cholesterol, 176.9+/-47.0mg% for phospholipid and 78.0+/-28.9mg% for triglyceride. 2. It was observed that the serum level of normal Koreans were influenced only by age and were not influenced statistically by sex, weight and socioeconomic state. 3. The mean serum lipids level of Korean vegetarians (monks) were 188.0+/-44.0mg% for total cholesterol, 158.5+/-35.6mg% for phospholipid and 64.8+/-21.4mg% for triglyceride and not influenced by sex and duration of altered eating habit. 4. The serum lipids level of Korean vegetarian (monks) were significantly low in phospholipid and triglyceride but not in cholesterol. 5. No significant difference in serum total cholesterol level between normal and vegetarian were observed all the role of diet of general population were discussed.
Adult ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Overweight ; Triglycerides

The serum lipids level of healthy Koreans, including 306 normal adults, 15 overweight persons, 25 faculty members and 40 vegetarians (monks) were studied in 1973. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean serum liplids values of normal Korean adults were 188.7+/-33.7mg% for total cholesterol, 176.9+/-47.0mg% for phospholipid and 78.0+/-28.9mg% for triglyceride. 2. It was observed that the serum level of normal Koreans were influenced only by age and were not influenced statistically by sex, weight and socioeconomic state. 3. The mean serum lipids level of Korean vegetarians (monks) were 188.0+/-44.0mg% for total cholesterol, 158.5+/-35.6mg% for phospholipid and 64.8+/-21.4mg% for triglyceride and not influenced by sex and duration of altered eating habit. 4. The serum lipids level of Korean vegetarian (monks) were significantly low in phospholipid and triglyceride but not in cholesterol. 5. No significant difference in serum total cholesterol level between normal and vegetarian were observed all the role of diet of general population were discussed.
Adult ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Overweight ; Triglycerides