Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: The corpus luteum (CL) is a temporal endocrine organ secreting large amount of progesterone essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The CL undergoes luteolysis in a non-fertile cycle, while the CL is rescued from luteolysis by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) secreted from the conceptus during pregnancy. We recently revealed that a β-galactoside-binding lectin, galectin-1, plays important roles in the regulation of luteal rescue in t...

Little is known about the involvement of miRNAs in luteal development. Cattle provide a convenient model to study ovarian physiology in monovular species. Our previous microarray studies in bovine showed significant upregulation of miR-96 and miR-132 in luteal relative to follicular tissues. In the present study we used an in vitro model of forskolin-induced follicular granulosa cell luteinisation, transfection with specific locked nucleic acid inhibitors or mimics of...

Introduction: Hypothalamo–pituitary–testicular feedback is intact in the ovine fetus. Exogenous testosterone suppresses fetal LH and testicular steroidogenesis to maintain normal circulating testosterone concentrations. INSL3 is a non-steroidal hormone secreted by the fetal testis whose roles include facilitating testicular descent. We hypothesised that the homeostatic response to increased androgens would have a detrimental effect on fetal INSL3 expression....

Little is known about the involvement of miRNAs during terminal follicle differentiation in the monovular ovary. This study aimed to characterise miRNAs involved in the follicle-luteal transition in bovine. Microarray analyses were performed on RNA from ovulatory-size follicles (n=6) and early corpora lutea (n=6) obtained at an abattoir. Exiqon’s miRCURY LNA microRNA Array, sixth generation was used and results were validated by qPCR. A total of ten and ...

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) can induce The Warburg-effect, or aerobic glycolysis, in tumorigenesis. Energy-rich lactate, a by-product of glycolysis, ‘feeds’ tumour cells and increases apoptosis resistance, angiogenesis, and invasion, fuelling tumour progression and metastasis. As TGFβ is increased in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, we asked, is there a Warburg-like effect at play in endometriosis.Peritonea...

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common endocrine condition affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age, is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and obesity. Obesity is associated with increased energy intake or reduced energy expenditure. In this context, postprandial thermogenesis (PPT), is an important constituent of energy expenditure.Our lab utilizes a clinically realistic ovine model of PCOS, where pregnant Scottish G...

Some adult diseases are programmed in utero by fetal exposure to abnormal concentrations of steroid hormones. Threatened miscarriage in early pregnancy is treated by progesterone in many countries although robust evidence of efficacy is lacking. We hypothesised that increased progesterone concentrations may alter fetal development. In a small pilot study, using a pregnant sheep model, we administered 200 mg progesterone twice weekly from d20–d75 of gestation and ...

Introduction: Overexposure to androgens during fetal life creates offspring with a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-like phenotype. Whether this phenotype is attributable to androgens during fetal life, or estrogens via maternal/placental metabolism, remains uncertain. The potential for in utero steroidal disruption of adrenal development and function is also unclear. We have examined the adrenal during development and adulthood in response to in utero androg...