Neuromedin U (NMU) is a widely spread neuropeptide, with predominant expression at the gastrointestinal tract and brain, putatively involved in the regulation of a diversity of biological functions, including food intake, energy balance and circadian rhythms; all closely related to reproduction. Yet, the implication of NMU in the control of the gonadotropic axis remains scarcely studied. We rep...

We determined the effect of a GnRH vaccine on reproductive function of sexually mature 5-month female and male domestic swine. The vaccine, GonaCon, developed at NWRC contains a GnRH peptide conjugated to KLH, combined with AdjuVac adjuvant also developed at NWRC. Four groups of ten females were given single IM immunizations either of 800μg GnRH vaccine, 1600μg GnRH vaccine, a prime and boost o...

We have investigated the effects of indomethacin (IM), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and the role of prostaglandins on the accumulation of leukocytes in the rat ovary during the periovulatory period. Adult cycling rats were injected sc with 1 mg of IM in olive oil or vehicle on the morning of proestrus. Some animals were killed at 16:00 h in proestrus. On the evening (19:00 h) of proe...

Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that LHRH receptors in the preoptic area (POA) are of physiological importance for maintaining estrous cyclicity in the rat. Bilateral cannulae were implanted just dorsal to the POA. Estrous cycles were monitored daily by vaginal smears. Antide, a long-acting LHRH antagonist, was infused bilaterally (2.5 micrograms/side) in the POA or the hypotha...

Intraovarian hyperandrogenism is one of the determining factors of follicular arrest in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Using androgenized rat models, we investigated the effects of androgens on metabolism, as well as on factors involved in follicular arrest and the reduced number of estrus cycles. The dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated rats had fewer estrus cycles, higher numbers o...

On d 0 of the experiment Bos indicus x Bos taurus (n=130) cows received an injection of GnRH and a progesterone-releasing device called an Eazi-BreedTM CIDR® for 7 d with a prostaglandin F2a injection at CIDR removal. Upon CIDR removal cows were divided into two AI treatments: 1) injection of estradiol cypionate (ECP) 24 h after CIDR removal with AI 8 to 10 h after a detected estrus and timed-A...

Intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption was measured under noninvasive conditions in both normally cycling and ovariectomized rats by determining the decrease in 47Ca/47Sc ratio between diet and feces. In 32-wk-old rats fed a 1.4% Ca diet, both fractional and total intestinal Ca absorption varied during the estrous cycle (p < 0.03), being highest during estrus and lowest during the second day of die...

The aim of this study was to investigate food intake, serum leptin levels, and leptin mRNA expression during the sexual cycle in rats. Female Wistar-Imamichi rats aged 8-10 weeks were used in this experiment. Food intake was measured during the light and dark phases (light on at 07:00 and off at 19:00) of the 4-day estrous cycle in female rats. Serum leptin levels were measured by ELISA, and le...

Despite numerous neuroendocrinological studies of seizures, the influence of estrogen and progesterone on seizures and epilepsy remains unclear. This may be due to the fact that previous studies have not systematically compared distinct endocrine conditions and included all relevant controls. The goal of the present study was to conduct such a study using pilocarpine as chemoconvulsant. Thus, a...