
Henning Martin BeierRWTH Aachen University · Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy
Henning Martin Beier
o.Prof.em. Dr.med. Dr.rer.nat.
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360
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Introduction
Henning Martin Beier currently works at the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University. Henning does research in Embryology, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences, with particular interest on hormones and hormone receptor antagonists. Further Research is performed on ethics of modern biomedicine and reproduction, which leads into the special situation in Germany. Germany lacks an appropriate regulatory system for Reproductive Medicine, because the Embryo Protection Law from 1990 is no longer up to date. Consequently, the current project is in a working Group of the National Academy of Sciences 'Leopoldina Task Force on Legislation in Reproductive Medicine in Germany'.
Additional affiliations
January 2009 - December 2016

Leopoldina - Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften
Position
- Member of Task Force on Life Sciences
Description
- Consulting of German Parliament and other political institutions
Publications
Publications (360)
Die rechtliche Regelung der Fortpflanzungsmedizin ist dringend reformbedürftig. Das Embryonenschutzgesetz von 1990 erfasst die neuesten technischen Entwicklungen nicht, ist in manchen Bereichen unstimmig und lückenhaft, setzt die betroffenen Frauen, Paare und Kinder unnötigen gesundheitlichen Risiken aus, erschwert paradoxerweise die Durchsetzung v...
Die ZES veröffentlicht für jedes Jahr ihrer Arbeit seit Inkrafttreten des Stammzellgesetzes der Bundesrepublik Deutschland einen Arbeitsbericht, für 2017 ist es der fünfzehnte Bericht.
Es werden Forschungsanträge für Projekte mit humanen embryonalen Stammzellen besprochen und das Ergebnis der ZES, wenn die Forschung empfehlenswert ist, publiziert....
Die rechtliche Regelung der Fortpflanzungsmedizin ist dringend reformbedürftig. Das Embryonenschutzgesetz von 1990 erfasst die neuesten technischen Entwicklungen nicht, ist in manchen Bereichen unstimmig und lückenhaft, setzt die betroffenen Frauen, Paare und Kinder unnötigen gesundheitlichen Risiken aus, erschwert paradoxerweise die Durchsetzung v...
Die rechtliche Regelung der Fortpflanzungsmedizin ist dringend reformbedürftig. Das Embryonenschutzgesetz von 1990 erfasst die neuesten technischen Entwicklungen nicht, ist in manchen Bereichen unstimmig und lückenhaft, setzt die betroffenen Frauen, Paare und Kinder unnötigen gesundheitlichen Risiken aus, erschwert paradoxerweise die Durchsetzung v...
Die rechtliche Regelung der Fortpflanzungsmedizin ist dringend reformbedürftig. Das Embryonenschutzgesetz von 1990 erfasst die neuesten technischen Entwicklungen nicht, ist in manchen Bereichen unstimmig und lückenhaft, setzt die betroffenen Frauen, Paare und Kinder unnötigen gesundheitlichen Risiken aus, erschwert paradoxerweise die Durchsetzung v...
Immune competent cell populations are a basic part of the functionally active cells in the endometrium. They are an important component for a biologically normal establishment of a decidua and the placenta. The most significant cells are the uterine NK cells (Uterine Natural Killer Cells), which contribute to the acceptance of the embryonic trophob...
Vor dem Hintergrund der weltweiten Genome editing Forschung erfasst alle kritischen Wissenschaftler die Sorge, dass spezielle gewünschte Gene in die Keimbahn des Menschen eingeschleust werden könnten. Das vor 18 Monaten vorgeschlagene Moratorium scheint auf internationaler Ebene nicht zu halten. Der Bericht der US National Academies of Sciences, En...
The 5th Mannheim Workshop on Reproductive Medicine took place on May 21st, 2014 at the University of Mannheim, Germany. The workshop focused on the legal issues of preimplantation diagnosis (PID) and embryo donation. Since the Preimplantation Diagnosis Act came into force on December 8th, 2011, the PID has been regulated by section (sec.) 3a of the...
Der am 21. Mai 2014 durchgeführte V. Mannheimer Workshop zur Fortpflanzungsmedizin befasste sich mit der Präimplantationsdiagnostik sowie der Embryonenspende.In den Blick genommen wurden dabei vor dem Hintergrund aktueller reproduktionsmedizinischer Erkenntnisse vor allem juristische Gesichtspunkte.br Ein grundlegendes Verständnis der menschlichen...
Antiprogestins have displayed a special "political chemistry" from their discovery in 1981 up to the turn of the century. Today, there are new compounds,like Ulipristal Acetate, ready for clinical use, which had been discovered also during the nineties, however, have achieved permission for application in treatment of myomata currently, and possibl...
The human endometrium as fertility determining factor: Endocrine control of the endometrium, becoming receptive for the Implantation of the blastocyst, is dominantly performed by progesterone. There is an important embryo-maternal dialogue, started by hCG originating from the trphoblast of the blastocyst. The endometrium provides immunocompetent ce...
Geschichte der In-vitro-Fertilisation.
Sir Robert G Edwards war einer der großen Forscher und genialen Naturwissenschaftler des 20.Jahrhunderts (1925-2013). Zusammen mit dem britischen Gynäkologen Patrick Steptoe und mit der medizinisch-technischen Assistentin Jean Purdy entwickelte Edwards die reproduktions-medizinische Technik der In-vitro-Fertil...
Aims:
The secretoglobin mammaglobin 1 (MGB1) is strongly expressed in breast tumours, and is therefore used to detect breast cancer metastases, although it has also been detected in other tissues. The aim of this study was to examine MGB1 expression and its hormonal regulation in human endometrium to further investigate the use of MGB1 as a marker...
Patente auf embryonale Stammzellen verboten. Europäischer Gerichtshof entscheidet: Forschen? Ja! - Patentieren? Nein! Patentrechtlich gesehen gilt jede menschliche Eizelle - befruchtet oder in die ein Zellkern aus einer ausgereiften menschlichen Zelle transplantiert wurde oder die durch Parthenogenese zur Weiterentwicklung angeregt worden ist - als...
The usefulness of sodium ethoxide as an agent for flattening thick sections (0.5-2.0μm) of epoxy-embedded material was studied. It was found that sodium ethoxide conditioned by its resin-resolving properties leads to elimination of folds and crumples known to be present to various degrees in sections of resin-embedded tissue. Two minutes of incubat...
Die vorliegende Abhandlung untersucht, ob der embryologische Begriff der „Totipotenz“ eine entscheidende Funktion in der deutsche Gesetzgebung – zugleich in zwei wichtigen Gesetzen zur Regelung der medizinischen und biotechnologischen Forschung – erfüllen kann. Totipotenz wird auf den Prüfstand gestellt, ob es sich dabei um ein präzises, eindeutige...
To compare the assessment of endometrial maturation parameters in endometrial secretion samples obtained by a novel minimally invasive technique with those assessed in tissue biopsies.
Prospective study.
University Hospital.
Healthy female volunteers attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic.
Endometrial secretion fluid and tissue sampling 5 day...
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ovarian stimulation for IVF on endometrial secretion and tissue markers of receptivity in the mid-luteal phase. In 10 oocyte donors, endometrial secretions and biopsies were sampled 5 days after spontaneous ovulation and oocyte retrieval in consecutive cycles. Four subjects received proge...
Die hier dokumentierte interdisziplinäre Podiumsdiskussion hat die aktuelle öffentliche Debatte zum Stammzellgesetz (StzG) aufgenommen und diese zu der eher unter Spezialisten geführten Diskussion um das Embryonenschutzgesetz (ESchG) ins Verhältnis gesetzt. Aus Sicht der humanen embryonalen Stammzellforschung (hES-Forschung) ist die Durchführung ei...
Class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) and acetylases (HATs) are members of transcriptional pre-initiation complexes assembled by steroid hormone receptors. Recently, HDAC inhibitors were shown to enhance differentiation of endometrial fibroblasts and endometrial adenocarcinomas. However, there is only rare information on HDAC and HAT expression in t...
This study describes three proteins that are regulated by progesterone in their production and release into the uterine secretion of mares. The proteins appear as predominant fractions in the uterine secretion during the luteal phase of the cycle. Ovariectomized mares do not release these proteins in considerable amounts; however, progesterone repl...
The semi-allogeneic fetus has to be tolerated by the maternal immune system. In mice, it has been shown that inhibiting indoleamine-dioxygenase (IDO) leads to fetal rejection, suggesting a central significance for IDO in establishing maternal tolerance. Consequently, we have analyzed IDO expression in human endometrium and decidua to determine whet...
To study the mRNA expression of the two leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptors LGR-4 and LGR-5 and the mRNA and protein expression of LGR-7, the relaxin receptor, in the human cyclic endometrium.
Retrospective study.
Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germ...
To examine immune cell phenotypes in viable tubal pregnancies (VTP) and in tubal abortions (TA).
Paraffin-embedded specimens of VTP (n=7) and ongoing TA (n=6) were double-stained for cytokeratin for trophoblast as well as for CD45, CD3, CD8, CD68 and CD20 for immune cell phenotypes. In all cases, the amniotic sac was detected by ultrasound. Histolo...
Objectives: The two orphan receptors LGR4 and LGR5 as well as the relaxin receptor LGR7 belong to the family of Leucin rich repeat G-Protein coupled receptors. Although LGR4 and 5 are still orphan receptors, expression data and results of knock-out mice imply that they are possibly involved in fertility control as it is already discussed for the LG...
To develop a method of freezing small amounts of spermatozoa in polymerized alginic acid drops, which can be liquified after thawing for recovery of the spermatozoa.
Prospective clinical study.
Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen Germany.
None.
Validation of the encapsulation method with bovine sperm; cryopreservation of human spermatozoa in algini...
Uteroglobin (UG) is a conserved protein which is induced by progesterone and secreted by the epithelia of various mammalian reproductive and respiratory organs. Recombinant bovine uteroglobin (recbUG), consisting of 80 amino acids with a C-terminal His6 tag, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The protein was crystallized in two geo...
Many mammary tumors express estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), and there is increasing evidence that progestins influence gene expression of breast tumor cells. To analyse the impact of progestins on breast cancer cells, we compared (a) the expression of two cytokines, involved in tumor progression, and searched (b) for differ...
Impaired histone acetylation was recognized to be involved in carcinogenesis. Furthermore, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors induce differentiation of breast cancer cells and inhibit tumour growth. These results prompted us to study HDAC-1 and -3 expression in breast tumours to establish their potential therapeutic and prognostic significance....
Im internationalen Diskurs über die Forschung mit menschlichen embryonalen Stammzellen und die Perspektiven, regenerative Therapien zu entwickeln, fanden sich in jüngster Zeit bemerkenswerte Beiträge, auf die wir hier zurückgreifen. In den aufstrebenden Forschungsnationen Südkorea, Taiwan, Singapur und China läuft ein enormer Wettbewerb um die umfa...
During the international discussions on human embryonic stem cell research and on the perspectives to develop regenerative therapies, excellent contributions were recently found in Science and other leading journals. At times, when catching-up nations as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and China have started to compete on gigantic resources and actu...
Cellular turnover may be involved in remodeling of the cervix during parturition. Therefore, the number and localization of apoptotic and proliferating cells during cervical dilatation at term were determined.
Biopsy specimens from the lower uterine segment of 36 women undergoing cesarean section with a cervical dilatation of < 2 cm (n = 10), 2- <...
Evidence is emerging that haptoglobin, an acute phase protein with immunomodulatory properties, is expressed by the endometrium of various species. The present study describes an in-depth investigation of haptoglobin expression and release in the rabbit reproductive tract and in preimplantation embryos.
The full-length cDNA sequence of rabbit hapto...
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VegF) plays a pivotal role in pituitary endocrine function by influencing fenestration and blood vessel growth. Folliculostellate (Fs) cells, which represent only a small number of pituitary cells, are recognized to produce VegF. tissue sections and primary pituitary cell cultures from rat pituitary glands were p...
Embryo implantation and subsequent decidualization, trophoblast invasion and formation of a functional placenta are crucial for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Interleukin-11 signalling has been shown to be obligatory for adequate decidualization and trophoblast invasion in mice. Defects in IL-11 signalling in mice result in trophoblast...
Beunruhigende Tagesnachrichten der jüngsten Zeit über sprunghaft ansteigende Zahlen von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen bei sehr jungen Mädchen und jungen Frauen veranlassen uns, das klassische Thema der oralen Kontrazeption, die "Pille", zum aktuellen Thema in diesem Beitrag zu erklären. Diese Problematik wirft weiterreichende als lediglich endokrinolog...
The transmembrane protein gp130 plays a central role in cytokine action as a signal transducing receptor subunit common to all interleukin-6 type cytokines. Endometrial tissue obtained from women with a normal menstrual cycle and decidua obtained from women in the first or second trimester of pregnancy were assessed for gp130 by western blotting, i...
Recently frightening news arrived that teenagers and very young women are performing legal abortions in increasing numbers (yearly statistics of Germany: about 4,700 abortions in 1996; about 7,800 abortions in 2003 among 13-18 year-olds). This has urged us to declare oral contraception, the classical "pill", as an actual topic of interest to our co...
Aus Anlass der Verffentlichung des ersten Ttigkeitsberichts der Zentralen Ethik-Kommission beim Robert-Koch-Institut werden aktuelle Aspekte zur Forschung mit embryonalen Stammzellen in Deutschland berichtet. Insbesondere werden die mit weltweiter Aufmerksamkeit verfolgten neuesten Befunde ber die Differenzierung von embryonalen Stammzellen der Mau...
During the first trimester of pregnancy extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) invade the maternal decidua. Invasion normally is reduced from the second trimester onwards and stops in the inner third of the myometrium. By contrast, in extrauterine tubal pregnancy, trophoblast invasion may even penetrate the tubal wall, which ultimately leads to the r...
Early embryonic development, implantation and maintenance of a pregnancy are critically dependent on an intact embryo-maternal communication. So far, only few signals involved in this dialogue have been identified. In bovine and other ruminants, interferon tau is the predominant embryonic pregnancy recognition signal, exhibiting antiluteolytic acti...
Analysis of protein patterns in endometrial secretion fluid may offer a relatively non-invasive means of assessing endometrial receptivity during fertility treatment cycles. In order to study the impact of the removal of endometrial secretions on embryo implantation, a prospective matched controlled study was performed. In 66 women undergoing IVF,...
To compare cytokine expression profiles of decidua basalis (containing trophoblast cells) and decidua parietalis (without trophoblast cells) for determination of microenvironments in human first trimester decidua.
Retrospective study.
School of Medicine, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen Germany, and Bourgognekliniek Maastricht, Maastricht, The Net...