Ovarian reserve and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in mothers of dizygotic twins

This study aimed to explore if natural dizygotic (DZ) twinning is associated with earlier menopause and lower anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) values. We investigated if advanced biological reproductive aging, which can be responsible for the multiple follicle growth in familial twinning, is similar to mechanisms that occur in normal ovarian aging, reflected by earlier menopause in mothers of DZ twins and lower levels of AMH. A total of 16 mothers of DZ twins enrolled with the Netherlands Twin Register (average age at first assessment: 35.9 +/- 3.0 years) and 14 control mothers (35.1 +/- 3 years) took part in a prospective study. Fifteen years after entry into the study, which included follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) assessment, AMH was measured in stored serum samples and menopause status was evaluated. Average AMH levels were not significantly different between DZ twin mothers and controls (2.1 +/- 2.4 mu g/L vs. 1.9 +/- 1.9 mu g/L). Among the 16 mothers of twins, 7 had an elevated (FSH) value over 10 U/L at first assessment. Their AMH levels were lower than the nine twin mothers with normal FSH values: 0.6 +/- 0.4 versus 3.4 +/- 2.6 mu g/L (p = .01). Of the mothers of twins, eight mothers had entered menopause at the second assessment compared with only one control mother (p = .07). Thus, slightly more DZ mothers were in menopause than the control mothers, although this difference was not significant. The subgroup of DZ twin mothers who had an increased FSH concentration 15 years ago had a limited ovarian reserve as reflected by lower AMH levels. These data indicate that advanced ovarian aging can be a feature in familial DZ twinning, particularly with elevated early follicular phase FSH

Heritability of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Dutch Twin-family study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. There is evidence for a genetic component in PCOS based on familial clustering of cases. Objective: In the present study, the heritability of PCOS was estimated. Design/Participants: Data from 1332 monozygotic twins (genetically identical) and 1873 dizygotic twins/singleton sisters of twins (who share on average 50% of their segregating genes) registered with The Netherlands Twin Register were used. PCOS was defined as less than nine menstrual cycles and acne or hirsutism in agreement with the 2003 Rotterdam consensus. Results: Results point to a strong contribution of familial factors to PCOS. The resemblance in monozygotic twin sisters (tetrachoric correlation 0.71) for PCOS was about twice as large as in dizygotic twin and other sisters (tetrachoric correlation 0.38). Univariate analyses point to strong contributions of genetic factors to the variance in PCOS. Next, a trivariate genetic analysis of oligomenorrhea, acne, and hirsutism was carried out. This analysis confirmed that the familial component in PCOS is due to genetic factors. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a large influence of genetic factors to the pathogenesis of PCOS, justifying the search for susceptibility genes. Copyright © 2006 by The Endocrine Society

Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women from Opposite-Sex Twin Pairs

Introduction: Intrauterine androgens of a male fetus may influence the female fetus in opposite-sex twin pairs. Because female intrauterine overexposure to androgens could lead to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the prevalence of PCOS should be higher in women from opposite-sex twin pairs. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of PCOS in women from opposite-sex twin pairs compared to women from same-sex twin pairs, sisters, and female spouses of twins. Subjects and Methods: Data from 1325 monozygotic twins, 1191 dizygotic twins (711 women from same-sex twin pairs and 480 women from opposite-sex twin pairs), 745 sisters of twins, and 218 spouses of male twins were evaluated. PCOS was defined as less than nine natural menstrual cycles a year combined with either hirsutism or acne. The prevalence of PCOS was compared using a ±2 test. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to test for confounding effects of smoking, age, and body mass index. Results: No significant differences in PCOS prevalence were found between women from same-sex twin pairs (either monozygotic or dizygotic), opposite-sex twin pairs, sisters, and spouses. Conclusion: The prevalence of PCOS is not different in women from opposite-sex and same-sex twin pairs, singleton sisters, or spouses. This indicates that possible androgen exposure of the female fetus, caused by a shared intrauterine environment with a male fetus, does not result in PCOS-like traits. Copyright © 2009 by The Endocrine Society

Heritability of reproductive hormones in adult male twins

Background: Proper functioning of the male reproductive axis depends on complex feedback systems between several hormones. In this study, the genetic contribution of various endocrine components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis is evaluated and previously observed differences in FSH and inhibin B levels between mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins are re-investigated. Methods: Inhibin B, FSH, LH, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone levels were assayed in 128 adult males (20 MZ twin pairs, 7 single MZ twins, 10 DZ twin pairs, 27 single DZ twins and 34 siblings of twins, constituting 10 sibling pairs), aged 15.6-68.7 years. Hormone levels were compared across zygosity groups and heritability estimates were obtained using maximum likelihood variance component analysis. Results: Heritability estimates ranged from 56% (testosterone) to 81% (inhibin B and SHBG). For LH and FSH, the heritability was estimated at 68% and 80% respectively. No mean differences in hormone levels were observed across groups. Conclusions: All measured hormones are highly heritable. A difference in the FSH-inhibin B feedback system between DZ twin males and MZ twin males could not be confirmed. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved

Опыт применения криохирургии в гинекологии

Приведены результаты применения низких температур для лечения ряда гинекологических заболеваний и обоснована необходимость широкого внедрения криогенного метода лечения в клиническую практику.The results of low temperature application in treatment of a number of gynecological diseases are presented, the necessity of wide introduction of cryogenic treatment into clinical practice is substantiated

Familial twinning and fertility in Dutch mothers of twins.

We studied twinning and fertility indices in mothers with spontaneous monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins and in mothers who conceived their twins after the use of assisted reproduction techniques (ART). Participants in this study consisted of 8,222 and 5,505 women with spontaneous DZ and MZ offspring and 4,164 and 250 women with ART DZ and MZ twin pairs, respectively. Women were compared with respect to the number of sibs and offspring, the presence of other relatives with twins and the time it took to conceive the twins. We also compared familial twinning between a younger and an older age group. Women with spontaneous DZ twins more often reported female relatives with twins than those with spontaneous MZ twins. The proportion of DZ versus MZ twin offspring in relatives was also larger in women with spontaneous DZ offspring than in women with MZ offspring. The first group of women reported a shorter time to conceive. Women with ART twins had fewer sibs and offspring and less often reported relatives with twins. We did not observe that DZ twinning was more familial in women who had their twins before age 36 years compared to older women. Familial DZ twinning is clearly present in mothers of spontaneous DZ twins. The mechanisms underlying spontaneous and non-spontaneous DZ twinning are different and fertility treatment should be taken into account in any study of twinning. Twinning is not more familial in women who have their twins at a younger age

Evidence that the TRH-like peptide pyroglutamyl-glutamyl-prolineamide in human serum may not be secreted by the pituitary gland

Recent studies have revealed that TRH-like immunoreactivity (TRH-LI) in human serum is predominantly pGlu-Glu-ProNH2 (< EEP-NH2), a peptide previously found in, among others tissues, the pituitary gland of various mammalian species. In the rat pituitary, < EEP-NH2 is present in gonadotrophs and its pituitary content is regulated by gonadal steroids and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Hence, we reasoned that < EEP-NH2 in human serum may also arise, at least in part, from the pituitary, and that its secretion may correlate with that of gonadotrophins. Therefore, blood was simultaneously sampled from both inferior petrosal sinuses, which are major sites of the venous drainage of the pituitary gland, and a peripheral vein from seven patients with suspected adrenocorticotrophin-secreting pituitary tumours. In addition, in six postmenopausal and six cyclic women, peripheral vein blood was collected at 10-min intervals for 6 h, then a standard 100 micrograms GnRH test was performed. In the sera, TRH-LI was estimated by RIA with antiserum 4319, which binds most tripeptides that share the N- and C-terminal amino acids with TRH (pGlu-His-ProNH2). In addition, LH and FSH were measured in these sera b

Increased levels and pulsatility of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in mothers of hereditary dizygotic twins

According to the endocrine model of hereditary dizygotic twinning, high FSH is responsible for multiple ovulation and pregnancy. Our study explored the underlying neuroendocrine causes

Endometrial stromal cells of women with recurrent miscarriage fail to discriminate between high- and low-quality human embryos

Background The aetiology of recurrent miscarriage (RM) remains largely unexplained. Women with RM have a shorter time to pregnancy interval than normally fertile women, which may be due to more frequent implantation of non-viable embryos. We hypothesized that human endometrial stromal cells (H-EnSCs) of women with RM discriminate less effectively between high-and low-quality human embryos and migrate more readily towards trophoblast spheroids than H-EnSCs of normally fertile women. Methodology/Principal Findings Monolayers of decidualized H-EnSCs were generated from endometrial biopsies of 6 women with RM and 6 fertile controls. Cell-free migration zones were created and the effect of the presence of a high-quality (day 5 blastocyst, n = 13), a low-quality (day 5 blastocyst with three pronuclei or underdeveloped embryo, n = 12) or AC-1M88 trophoblast cell line spheroid on H-ESC migratory activity was analyzed after 18 hours. In the absence of a spheroid or embryo, migration of H-EnSCs from fertile or RM women was similar. In the presence of a low-quality embryo in the zone, the migration of H-EnSCs of control women was inhibited compared to the basal migration in the absence of an embryo (P<0.05) and compared to the migration in the presence of high-quality embryo (p<0.01). Interestingly, the migratory response H-EnSCs of women with RM did not differ between high- and low-quality embryos. Furthermore, in the presence of a spheroid their migration was enhanced compared to the H-EnSCs of controls (p<0.001). Conclusions H-EnSCs of fertile women discriminate between high- and low-quality embryos whereas H-EnSCs of women with RM fail to do so. H-EnSCs of RM women have a higher migratory response to trophoblast spheroids. Future studies will focus on the mechanisms by which low-quality embryos inhibit the migration of H-EnSCs and how this is deregulated in women with RM