The effects of stress and of ACTH administration in hormone profiles, oestrus and ovulation in pigs.

The involvement of prolactin in the regulation of adrenal cortex function in pigs.

88 patients with advanced breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed to compare (ER) estrogen receptor data with response to cytotoxic chemotherapy. All assays were done in a single laboratory and all patients were cared for at a single institution. 34 patients were treated with chemotherapy 30 of whom were evaluable for response by criteria of the (ECOG) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Of 16 ER+ patients 12 (75%) responded; of 14 ER- patients 6 (43%) responded (P<0.05). The 2 groups did not differ significantly in chemotherapy received menopausal status site of predominant disease stage at diagnosis or disease-free interval. Response to cytotoxic chemotherapy does not appear to correlate with ER status. (Authors modified)

Estrogen receptor status and response to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: The tufts-shattuck-pondville experience

Soy products, commonly used as a protein source in farm animals' diets, contain considerable quantities of non-nutrient constituents such as phytoestrogens. Genistein and daidzein are known to affect the reproductive processes in humans and animals. However, reports concerning phytoestrogens and porcine adrenal steroidogenesis are scarce, and the adrenal mechanism of phytoestrogen action in species other than humans and rodents is poorly recognized. The goal of the present paper was to examine the in vitro effects of genistein and daidzein on the activity of key enzymes for cortisol and corticosterone synthesis in porcine adrenocortical cells harvested during the luteal or follicular phase of the porcine estrous cycle. The cells were treated with genistein or daidzein (10 µM), with or without ACTH (5 nM), in the presence or absence of precursors (1 µM) of cortisol (pregnenolone, P5; progesterone, P4; 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17OH-P4; or 11-deoxycortisol, 11d-cortisol) or corticosterone: (P5 or P4) synthesis. The supplementation of a medium with P5, P4, 17OH-P4 or 11d-cortisol enabled us to measure the activity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3bhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3b-HSD), 17a-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450c17) or 21-hydroxylase (P450c21) and 11b-hydroxylase (P45011b), respectively. We demonstrated that in sexually mature, cyclic pigs, regardless of the phase of the estrous cycle, phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein suppressed basal and ACTH-stimulated in vitro secretion of cortisol and corticosterone via progesterone synthesis inhibition. This indicates that phytoestrogens specifically inhibit the 3b-HSD activity in porcine adrenocortical cells. We suggest that genistein and daidzein present in soy products may negatively affect glucocorticoid synthesis of mature gilts by disrupting adrenal steroidogenesis at the 3b-HSD level.

P.H. Brookes

Papers

Ovarian and adrenal function during the estrous cycle of the sow