Biomarkers for assessing human female reproductive health, an interdisciplinary approach.

Identification of environmental hazards to reproductive health and characterization of the adverse outcomes necessitate a multidisciplinary approach. Epidemiologic studies are required for the identification of adverse health effects in human populations and then to confirm that specific exposures are responsible. Clinical studies are required to develop assays for reproductive biomarkers and to validate these assays prior to their application in the field. Assays for field use must be formatted and streamlined for large-scale applications and, whenever possible, computer algorithms should be developed to interpret biomarker data. Appropriate animal models must be identified, biomarker assays validated for that model, and animal experiments conducted to identify the mode of action and target organ of a putative reproductive toxicant. Finally, in vitro studies at the level of the cell and cell organelle are essential for mechanisms for toxicity to be clearly identified and understood. In this article we describe the interdisciplinary approach that we have developed for study of the effects of environmental agents on female reproductive functions. This effort requires specific skills of toxicologists, epidemiologists, physicians, biochemists, and physiologists

When is it time to get married? Or when should the assay user and the assay developer collaborate?

Hormone assays are being developed in the laboratory to detect specific molecular markers in nonclinical populations. Epidemiology is increasingly using these assays to improve the precision with which disease processes and exposures can be defined. This growing body of molecular epidemiology requires a high degree of cooperation between the assay developer and the assay user. We draw on our experience in using a sensitive hormone assay for the detection of early pregnancy via urinary human chorionic gonadotropin to illustrate these points. We conclude that this collaborative effort, in addition to making this study possible, has provided unexpected rewards

Alteration of the estrous cycle of swine with exogenous pituitary gonadotrophins

Digitized 2007 AES.Includes bibliographical references (page 10)

Heritabilities and heterosis of some economic traits in swine

In cooperation with the Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory, A.H.R.D., A.R.S., U.S. Department of Agriculture.Digitized 2007 AES.Includes bibliographical references (pages 26-27)

Improvement of swine through breeding

Cover title

A study of the circulating leucocytes in swine : including the leucocytic response to adrenalin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone

This bulletin reports on Department of Animal Husbandry research project 276, 'Endocrine Secretions'--P. [2].Digitized 2007 AES.Includes bibliographical references (page [12])

Enhanced response to ozone exposure during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

Exposure to ozone (O3), a toxic component of photochemical smog, results in significant airway inflammation, respiratory discomfort, and pulmonary function impairment. These effects can be reduced via pretreatment with anti-inflammatory agents. Progesterone, a gonadal steroid, is known to reduce general inflammation in the uterine endometrium. However, it is not known whether fluctuations in blood levels of progesterone, which are experienced during the normal female menstrual cycle, could alter O3 inflammatory-induced pulmonary responses. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that young, adult females are more responsive to O3 inhalation with respect to pulmonary function impairment during their follicular (F) menstrual phase when progesterone levels are lowest than during their mid-luteal (ML) phase when progesterone levels are highest. Nine subjects with normal ovarian function were exposed in random order for 1 hr each to filtered air and to 0.30 ppm O3 in their F and ML menstrual phases. Ozone responsiveness was measured by percent change in pulmonary function from pre- to postexposure. Significant gas concentration effects (filtered air versus O3) were observed for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75; p < .05). More importantly, the pulmonary function flow rates, FEV1 and FEF25-75, showed a significant menstrual phase and gas concentration interaction effect, with larger decrements observed in the F menstrual phase when progesterone concentrations were significantly lower. We conclude that young, adult females appear to be more responsive to acute O3 exposure during the F phase than during the ML phase of their menstrual cycles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS

Genetic aspects of reproduction in swine

This bulletin reports on Department of Animal Husbandry Research Project 222, 'Swine improvement' and Department of Agricultural Chemistry, 223, 'Reproductive Physiology'--P. [2].Digitized 2007 AES.Includes bibliographical references (pages 33-35)

Hormonal modification of the intra-uterine environment in swine and its effect on embryonic viability

This bulletin is a report of research under project 223, 'Physiology of Reproduction, ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Project 222, 'Swine Improvement'--P. [2].Includes bibliographical references (pages 30-31)