thromboxane-b2 and Infertility--Female

Intrauterine retention of fetal bone is a rare complication of abortion that can cause secondary infertility by an unknown mechanism. We report such a case in which menstrual fluid prostanoids were measured to elucidate the possible pathophysiology. The pattern of prostanoid increases was similar to that seen in intrauterine device users.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Abortion, Induced; Adult; Bone and Bones; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Menstruation; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins; Thromboxane B2; Ultrasonography; Uterus

Peritoneal fluid from 35 women with endometriosis and from 34 control women was aspirated at laparoscopy and analyzed. No differences in prostanoid levels were found. The peritoneal fluid volume, macrophage concentration, macrophage content, and content of activated macrophages as measured by acid phosphatase staining were all significantly elevated in the endometriosis patients. The macrophages were incubated and the medium was added to the zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay. This medium caused a significant decrease in the percentage of ova penetrated in this assay. It is postulated that one of the mechanisms of infertility in women with endometriosis may involve the increased number of activated macrophages and their ability to interfere with sperm-egg interaction.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Acid Phosphatase; Ascitic Fluid; Cell Count; Dinoprost; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Ibuprofen; Infertility, Female; Laparoscopy; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Male; Menstrual Cycle; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Radioimmunoassay; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; Thromboxane B2

Elevated prostaglandin (PG) levels in peritoneal fluid have been implicated as playing a role in infertility associated with endometriosis. This study was designed to measure peritoneal fluid levels of PG and other hormones that may influence PG release. Specific hormones measured included PGF2 alpha, PGE2, TxB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, estrogen, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor. Peritoneal fluid volume and levels of estrogen, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor were significantly (P less than .05) increased during the secretory, as opposed to the proliferative, phase in both groups of patients, but no significant differences in these parameters were found between patients with and without endometriosis during either the proliferative or secretory phases. Although PG levels did not vary during the menstrual cycle in either group of patients, all four prostanoids were present in significantly (P less than .05) higher concentrations in patients with endometriosis as compared with patients without endometriosis. Furthermore, increased PG levels in patients with endometriosis appear to be due primarily to an increase in PG levels during the secretory phase of the cycle.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Ascitic Fluid; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Endometriosis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Menstrual Cycle; Pelvic Neoplasms; Progesterone; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Radioimmunoassay; Thromboxane B2

Peritoneal fluid levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TxB2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were measured in 62 infertile women undergoing coelioscopy. In 10 patients with mild endometriosis, the levels of all prostanoids were significantly enhanced as compared to control group (15 infertile patients without pelvic lesion). In 5 patients with moderate endometriosis, only PGF2 alpha exhibited a significant enhancement. The results confirmed the prostanoid component alteration of peritoneal fluid in infertile women with mild or moderate endometriosis, which however not has been found by all authors. In 6 patients with chronic salpingitis, no difference was found in prostanoid levels as compared to control group. The 26 patients with pelvic adhesions were distributed in 3 groups on the criterion of easy lysed or not adhesions. In group I (not lysed adhesions, 7 patients), no difference was found in prostanoid levels as compared to control group. In group II (mixed adhesions, 13 patients), the levels of all prostanoids, particularly 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, were significantly higher than that found in control group. In group III (easy lysed adhesions, 6 patients), the levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TxB2 and particularly PGF2 alpha were significantly enhanced as compared to control group. The results of this study suggest that prostanoids are implicated in physiopathology of endometriosis and pelvic adhesions and perhaps in mechanism of the associated infertility.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Peritoneal Cavity; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Salpingitis; Thromboxane B2

To elucidate the roles of prostaglandins in peritoneal fluid and sex steroids in patients with endometriosis (N = 29), tubal disorders (N = 15), and unexplained infertility (N = 13), assays were performed using 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) (a metabolite of prostacyclin), thromboxane B2 (a metabolite of thromboxane A2), estradiol, and progesterone. Women with normal pelvic anatomy (N = 25) served as controls. Peritoneal fluid 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations in patients with endometriosis (742 +/- 104 pg/ml, mean +/- SE), tubal disorders (987 +/- 211 pg/ml), and unexplained infertility (1659 +/- 770 pg/ml) were higher than those in the control women (515 +/- 77 pg/ml). The thromboxane B2 levels in the peritoneal fluid in endometriosis (554 +/- 73 pg/ml), tubal disorders (614 +/- 107 pg/ml), and unexplained infertility (668 +/- 161 pg/ml) were higher than the levels in the control subjects (333 +/- 23 pg/ml). There was no relationship between 6-keto-PGF1 alpha/thromboxane B2 in peritoneal fluid and day of menstrual cycle. The concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were normal in all patient groups and were not related to the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 levels. The authors suggest that these prostanoids, which may contribute to infertility, may originate mainly from the peritoneum as a result of irritation by endometriotic implants, tubal adhesions, and scarring.

Topics: Adult; Ascitic Fluid; Endometriosis; Estradiol; Fallopian Tube Diseases; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Laparoscopy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins F; Radioimmunoassay; Thromboxane B2

Elevated peritoneal fluid thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha have been reported in patients with biopsy-proved endometriosis. In this paper these peritoneal fluid prostanoids were measured in patients with unexplained infertility and a fertile control group matched for age and day of the menstrual cycle. A subgroup of the women with unexplained infertility demonstrated a marked elevation of both prostanoids (p less than 0.01). These elevations may serve to identify women in whom undetected endometriosis or some other peritoneal irritant is associated with infertility.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascitic Fluid; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Prostaglandins F; Thromboxane B2; Thromboxanes

An anatomic basis for the infertility associated with endometriosis is often lacking. The present study measured peritoneal fluid levels of two of the stable products of prostaglandin endoperoxides (thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha) in patients with and without endometriosis. Both compounds were significantly elevated in the endometriosis group (n = 15, p less than 0.05). This suggests an increase in the peritoneal fluid levels of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, both of which could act on tubal smooth muscle and interfere with tubal function. Such altered tubal function might explain the phenomenon of endometriosis-induced infertility when there is no direct damage to the reproductive organs.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Ascitic Fluid; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Prostaglandins F; Thromboxane B2; Thromboxanes