label: url

en: 当院における精巣内精子採取術・顕微授精(testicular sperm extraction-intracytoplasmic sperm injection: TESE-ICSI)の治療成績と周産期予後の検討

en: Modern Trends in Obstetrics & Gynecology

ja: 現代産婦人科


en: A novel PCOS rat model and an evaluation of its reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral phenotypes.

en: Although animal models of PCOS have been used in many studies, none of them can reproduce both the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS. In addition, behavioral parameters have not been evaluated in PCOS animal models. We tried to produce an improved rat model of PCOS, and the reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral phenotypes of the model rats were evaluated. Female rats were implanted with silicon tubes containing oil-dissolved dihydrotestosterone (Oil-DHT) as a new PCOS model. Their phenotypes were compared with those of conventional PCOS model rats (DHT), into which tubes containing crystalline DHT were implanted, and non-DHT-treated rats (control). Both the Oil-DHT and DHT rats showed greater body weight gain, food intake, and fat depot weight than the control rats. Furthermore, these groups showed fewer estrous stages and increased numbers of cystic follicles. The DHT rats exhibited lower ovarian and uterine weights than the control rats, whereas no such changes were observed in the Oil-DHT rats. The Oil-DHT and DHT rats showed less locomotor activity in the light phase than the control rats. Our proposed PCOS model reproduced both the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS and may have potential for PCOS research.

en: Reproductive Medicine and Biology

ja: Reproductive Medicine and Biology


en: Oxytocin treatment reduced food intake and body fat and ameliorated obesity in ovariectomized female rats.

en: Recent studies have shown that oxytocin reduces food intake and body weight gain and promotes lipolysis in some species, including humans. Interestingly, these effects of oxytocin are more marked in obese individuals. Although the menopausal loss of ovarian function induces increased visceral adiposity and some metabolic disorders, no safe medical interventions for these conditions have been established. In this study, we evaluated the effects of oxytocin on appetite, body weight, and fat mass in ovariectomized rats. Six-day oxytocin treatment attenuated cumulative food intake and body weight gain, and reduced visceral and subcutaneous fat weight and adipocyte cell area in ovariectomized rats. Blood examinations indicated that 6-day oxytocin treatment did not alter renal or hepatic functions. Instead, it might prevent ovariectomy-induced liver damage. In addition, acute oxytocin treatment did not affect body temperature or locomotor activity. These results indicate that oxytocin might be useful for treating or preventing menopause-induced metabolic disorders, without causing any adverse effects.

en: Neuropeptides

ja: Neuropeptides


en: Current status of chromosomal analysis in couples with recurrent miscarriage at Tokushima University Hospital

ja: 徳島大学病院産科婦人科における不育症患者に対する染色体検査の実施状況


en: Intra-follicular kisspeptin levels are related to oocyte maturation and gonadal hormones in patients who are undergoing assisted reproductive technology.

en: To assess the kisspeptin concentrations in follicular fluid and their relationship with clinical outcomes during assisted reproductive technology. Thirty-nine patients who were aged 24-40 years and underwent oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection participated in this study In 65 follicular fluid samples that had been obtained from 30 patients and their blood samples, the kisspeptin levels were measured in order to investigate the correlations with their gonadal hormone levels. Venous blood samples were collected from 14 patients to investigate their plasma kisspeptin levels across different phases of assisted reproductive technology. The follicular fluid kisspeptin level was significantly higher than that of the plasma level and was positively associated with the follicular fluid estradiol concentration and with the serum estradiol and number of mature oocytes. In the plasma, the maximum concentration of kisspeptin was observed on the day of ovum pick-up and on the day of embryo transfer during ovarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology. Kisspeptin was present in the follicular fluid and the plasma kisspeptin concentration was affected by ovarian stimulation. Kisspeptin appears to affect oocyte maturation and ovulation.


en: Development-related changes in the expression of the ovarian Kiss1 and Kiss1r genes and their sensitivity to human chorionic gonadotropin in prepubertal female rats.

en: Kisspeptin, which is encoded by the Kiss1 gene, and its receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor 54 (Kiss1r), play important roles in the regulation of reproductive functions in mammals. Several studies have shown that the Kiss1 and Kiss1r genes are expressed in the rat, primate, and human ovaries, and that the ovarian kisspeptin system plays a pivotal role in ovulation at the proestrous stage in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate development-related changes in the expression of ovarian Kiss1 and Kiss1r genes and in kisspeptin levels, and to identify the regulatory factors for these genes during the prepubertal period. The serum kisspeptin level was also measured to examine whether ovarian kisspeptin affects serum kisspeptin levels. Variations in the ovarian Kiss1 and Kiss1r mRNA levels were observed during the prepubertal period in female rats, with levels peaking around postnatal days 20 and 15, respectively. Nevertheless, the ovarian kisspeptin content per total protein level was stably maintained. Serum kisspeptin levels at postnatal days 30 and 35 were higher than those at earlier postnatal days. The pattern of the ovarian Kiss1 mRNA levels was similar to that of the serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and the ovarian Kiss1 mRNA level increased after injection with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on postnatal day 20, but not on postnatal days 10 and 30. These data indicate that ovarian Kiss1 and Kiss1r mRNA levels are increased on postnatal days 20 and 15, respectively, and that changes in the serum LH level and the ovarian sensitivity to LH may be involved in the alteration of ovarian Kiss1 mRNA levels.

en: The Journal of Reproduction and Development


en: Expression of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant suppresses tumor necrosis factor alpha expression and thereby prevents the follicles from undergoing atresia and apoptosis.

en: Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC/gro) is a CXC family chemokine, similar to interleukin-8 in rats, and is one of the factors that regulates ovulation. However, the mechanism that regulates atresia of the ovaries postovulation is not clearly defined. Whether antibody-blocking of CINC/gro can alter the number of ovulated oocytes and modulate neutrophil infiltration was investigated. The effect of the antibody on the level of inflammatory cytokine production and follicular atresia was examined. Apoptosis was measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and via analysis of the messenger RNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl2-associated X (Bax). The anti-CINC/gro antibody treatment decreased the number of ovulated oocytes. The messenger RNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-1 beta were decreased by the antibody treatment, whereas that of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha was increased. The TUNEL analysis revealed a larger number of apoptotic cells in the antibody group, compared with those in the control group, as well as a significant increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio 24 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin administration. These findings suggest that ovulation is accelerated by neutrophil infiltration into the theca layer. The CINC/gro appears to synergize with interleukin-1 beta for ovulation. By contrast, the data suggest that CINC/gro expression suppresses TNF alpha expression and that CINC/gro expression therefore prevents the follicles from undergoing atresia and apoptosis.


en: 骨盤内膿瘍に対する腹腔鏡手術の有用性

ja: 骨盤内膿瘍に対する腹腔鏡手術の有用性

en: 骨盤内膿瘍に対する治療は，抗生剤による薬物療法が主体であるが，抗生剤無効例や，消化管から発生した膿瘍との鑑別を要する症例では外科的アプローチが必要となる．骨盤内膿瘍の場合，炎症による癒着が強いことが多く，手術は比較的難易度が高い．しかし，高度の炎症で疲弊した患者の負担を軽減するために，近年では腹腔鏡手術が積極的に導入されており，当院でも可能な限り腹腔鏡手術で対応している．抗生剤による治療が無効であった付属器膿瘍に対して腹腔鏡下手術を施行した4症例について報告する．4例とも輸血を要するような出血はなく，また他臓器損傷もなかった．術後は，速やかに炎症所見が改善し特に問題なく経過した． 骨盤内膿瘍に対する腹腔鏡手術は，ドレナージによりすみやかな炎症軽減が可能であり，かつ低侵襲であることから有用性は高い．一方で，(汎発性腹膜炎などで，)腸管麻痺を伴う症例では，腸管の膨隆のため腹腔鏡下の視野確保が困難であり，腹腔鏡手術の適応は慎重であるべきであると考える．


en: 子宮内膜癌・子宮内膜異型増殖症に対する妊孕性温存治療の治療効果と妊娠成績，周産期予後