Pregnancy-induced ß-cell adaptations in <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice.

<p>A, Pancreatic insulin content was measured after a 16-h fasting period (n = 5–7). B, ß-Cell mass was calculated as the relative percentage area of ß-cells (defined as the percentage area of pancreatic sections that stained positive for insulin) multiplied by the weight of the pancreas (n = 3). C, The average number of ki-67-positive ß-cells per ß-cells (n = 3). D, The percentage of serotonin-positive ß-cells per islet (n = 3). Open squares: <i>Gcg^+/+</i> and <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i>; closed squares: <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i>. Values are expressed as means±SEM. *<i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01, ***<i>p</i><0.001. E, Immunohistochemical-autofluorescent analyses for GFP (green), insulin (blue) and Ki 67 (red). Islets in non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i> (a), pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (b), non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i> (c) and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (d) pancreas. F, Immunohistochemical-autofluorescent analyses for GFP (green), insulin (blue) and serotonin (magenta). Islets in non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i> (a), pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (b), non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i> (c) and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (d) pancreas. Scale bars: 100 µm.</p

Blood glucose and serum insulin levels in pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice.

<p>Blood glucose levels (A) (n = 49–51) and serum insulin levels (C) (n = 8–14) in <i>ad libitum</i>-fed <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice during pregnancy. Fasting blood glucose levels (B) (n = 9–11) and serum insulin levels (D) (n = 6–14) in non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice. Open squares: <i>Gcg^+/+</i> and <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i>; closed squares: <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i>. Values are expressed as means±SEM. *<i>p</i><0/05, **<i>p</i><0.01, ***<i>p</i><0.001.</p

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in non-pregnant and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice.

<p>Blood glucose levels in non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice (A) and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice (B) and the area under the curve for blood glucose levels(C) during OGTT. Serum insulin levels in non-pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice (D) and pregnant <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice (E) from 0 to 30 minutes following OGTT. Open squares: <i>Gcg^+/+</i> and <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i> (n = 3–4); closed squares: <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (n = 3–5). Values are expressed as means±SEM. *<i>p</i><0.05.</p

Fertility, litter size and survival of fetuses/pups in <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> mice.

<p>(A) Pregnancy rate in the control (open squares: <i>Gcg^+/+</i> and <i>Gcg^gfp/+</i>) and <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (closed squares) mice. Numbers in brackets indicate mating. The rate was not affected by genotype of the male (data not shown). ***p<0.01 by the chi-square test. (B) Litter size in the control and <i>Gcg^gfp/gfp</i> (closed squares) mice at postnatal day 0 and 21. Numbers in brackets indicate litters analyzed. Values are expressed as means±SEM. ***p<0.01 by one-way ANOVA and t-test. (C–E) Survival of fetuses. Female mice were sacrificed at gestational day 9.5 and 15.5. Numbers in brackets indicate number of pregnant females analyzed. Numbers of viable fetuses (C), resorbed fetuses (D) and % resorption (E) are shown. Values are expressed as means±SEM. ***p<0.01 by one-way ANOVA and t-test. (F) Rate of losing litters within 36 hours after delivery. Values are expressed as means±SEM. ***p<0.01 by one-way ANOVA and t-test.</p

Genotype of offspring from multiple matings analyzed at P0.

<p>Data were compared by the chi-square test.</p>a<p>Values are expressed as means±SEM.</p

Body weight and blood glucose levels of neonates at P0.

<p>Data were compared by one-way ANOVA.</p><p>Values are expressed as means±SEM.</p>a,b,c,<p>Data in the same column with the same letter denote a significant difference between groups (<i>p</i><0.01).</p

Serum pentraxin 3 as a possible marker for mature cystic teratomas

<p>Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an inflammatory mediator that is released by a wide range of tissues and cells. Elevated PTX3 levels may represent a useful diagnostic and/or prognostic marker for a number of diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum PTX3 levels in benign gynecological conditions including mature cystic teratomas (MCTs), endometriomas, and uterine leiomyomas. Serum PTX3 levels of the MCT group were found to be significantly higher compared to those of the other groups, including healthy controls (<i>p </i>= 0.001), although carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) did not exhibit a significant difference. Serum PTX3 levels of the MCT, but not the endometrioma group, were also found to have significantly decreased post-operatively (mean ± standard deviation, 4.98 ± 2.10 to 3.61 ± 1.53 ng/mL). Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated positive staining for PTX3 protein in the sebaceous glands, epidermal tissues, and hair roots of MCT specimens. PTX3 is expressed by MCTs and is associated with increased serum concentrations compared to healthy controls and patients with either endometriomas or uterine leiomyomas. We conclude that serum PTX3 levels could be used as a potential diagnostic marker for MCTs, especially helpful in differentiating them from endometriomas with elevated expression of CA19-9.</p