| Dissertation |
Thesis (Ph.D.) --NUI, 2005 at Department of Anatomy, UCC. |
| Summary |
In this study physiological and anatomical methods were employed to examine the effects of steroid hormones and xenoestrogens on the structure and function of the human glandular epithelium. Calcium. This study has documented rapid dose and cycle dependent increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to 17β-oestradiol and the xenoestrogen bisphenol A in the glandular epithelium from proliferative and secretory phase biopsies. It also reports similar rapid increases in [Ca2+]i in response to physiological concentrations of the steroid hormone 17β-oestradiol in two different human endometrial epithelial cell lines: RL95-2 and KLE. It demonstrates for the first time a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i in response to the xenoestrogen bisphenol A and diethylstilbestrol. A pilot study which uses an advanced statistical method known as Mixture Modelling is also presented. This methodology allows access to the individual components of the Ca2+ signal which constitute global changes in [Ca2+]i. Microtubules. The present study also documents rapid alterations in the organisation of the cytoskeleton of the KLE cells, following addition of oestradiol, progesterone, bisphenol A and diethylstilbestrol (100nM) for 10 minutes. Theses findings highlight a potential alternate pathway of steroid action, and support the widespread concern that xenoestrogens at relatively low doses have an effect on cells, the implications of which could be profound for reproductive biology. Junctions. Stereological studies were performed on well-timed endometrial biopsies. The present study reveals no significant alteration in surface area of junctions of the glandular epithelium for all days examined. However, there was a significant increase in the surface area of desmosomes on day LH+5. Progesterone receptor blockade with RU486 causes a significant decrease in the surface area of both junctions and desmosomes, compared to control. Administration of the Mirenacoil/levonorgestrel causes a reduction in cell volume and surface area. However, junctional and desmosomal surface area were maintained. |
| Subject |
Endometrium.
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| Collection |
Theses Ph.D.
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Theses Anatomy Department
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| Description |
355 p. : ill., ; 30 cm. |
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