Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility affecting over 5% of the female population. PCOS is characterized by aberrant early follicle development in which hyperandrogenism is thought to play a key role. However, the molecular mechanisms of androgen action within the ovary remain largely unknown. Recent evidence suggests androgens may be acting, in part, through modulation of growth factor signalling. We have recently sh...

Oviduct luminal fluid supports early embryo development. The composition this fluid has been debated despite studies using post mortem samples and direct sampling under anesthesia. The routine availability of such data would benefit in vitro embryo culture in addition to our understanding of the influences of maternal physiology on in vivo oviduct fluid composition.We have devised an in vitro model for the determination of bovi...

Introduction: Billions of sperm are used during porcine artificial insemination (AI) but only a few thousand are able to reach ampullary-isthmic junction of the oviduct to facilitate fertilization. One of the mechanisms which reduce this sperm population is the inflammatory reaction that takes place within the uterus following insemination. Prostaglandin J2, also known as 15-deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) is a recently discovered...

Successful semen collection and preservation is vital to the development of a crocodile artificial insemination program for the purpose of intensive production or endangered species breeding. We describe a manual cloacal palpation method for the safe and repeatable recovery of semen from Crocodylus porosus along with corresponding seminal characteristics. Experiments were also conducted to investigate fundamental sperm physiology, including the effect of excessive dil...

One study showed increased fertilization in IVF when added seminal plasma of bulls with high fertility rates in semen of low fertile. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the difference of addition homologous and heterologous seminal on donkey frozen semen. Five ejaculates from two donkeys were used. Semen was diluted (1:1) with a milk-based extender (Botu-Semen). The semen was frozen with Botu-Cryo extender in isothermal box in straws containing 100×106</sup...

Introduction: Pro-inflammatory cytokines are important mediators of the early phases of gestation. Among all these cytokines, the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays significant roles in pregnancy establishment. In many cell types, low concentrations of glucocorticoids (GCs) are known to enhance MIF secretion, but the effect of GCs on endometrial cells has not been elucidated. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental chemical that can alter reproductive physiology ...

We report the effect of allopregnanolone (ALLO, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one), on morphological changes and on angiogenesis in the rat ovary. ALLO, one of the best characterized neurosteroids, has effects on the reproductive female biology. First, we previously demonstrated that ALLO inhibited ovulation, secretion of LH and progesterone, increased the prolactin levels, inhibited the female receptivity and apoptosis in rat corpus luteum (CL). Now, we show the effect o...

Pulsatile secretion of GnRH/LH is indispensable for puberty onset and normal reproductive functions in mammalian species. A cohort of neurons expressing three neuropeptides, kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin (KNDy neurons), localized in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), are considered to be a source of GnRH pulse generator. A synchronous discharge of KNDy neurons might be obligatory for pulsatile GnRH secretion. The present study aimed to determine whether NK...

Background: As a consequence of cryopreservation of human ovaries preformed in our laboratory we have access to human small antral follicles.Material: Human granulosa cells (GC) from individual small antral follicles (4–6 mm in diameter) were spilt in two and either cultured or snap-frozen immediately after isolation from the follicular fluid. Microarray analysis was used on both the cultured and the non-cultured sample, to examine their gene expres...

Catsper is a Ca2+ permeable ion channel in the principal piece of the sperm flagellum that is crucial in regulation of motility. It is multimodally sensitive, being activated by voltage, pHi and diverse agonists including progesterone. Elevation of pHi and progesterone both shift voltage-sensitivity of the channel to more negative potentials and thus may act synergistically to enhance Ca2+-influx.1 However, intracellular alkalinisation of human...