OBJECTIVE To demonstrate whether leptin modulates reproduction by a direct effect within the ovary. DESIGN Animal model. SETTING National Key Laboratory of Infertility. ANIMAL(S) Adult female db/db mice. INTERVENTION(S) Adult littermate wild-type (WT) and diabetic (db) leptin receptor (LR) mutant female mice were matched for the allograft of the ovary to construct new genotypic models, ...

Hypoxia can impair reproduction of fishes through the disruption of sex steroids. Here, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, we investigated (i) whether hypoxia can directly affect steroidogenesis independent of pituitary regulation via modulation of steroidogenic gene expression, and (ii) the role of leptin in hypoxia-induced disruption of steroidogenesis. Exposure of fertilized zebrafish em...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by increased ovarian androgen biosynthesis, anovulation, and infertility, affects 5-7% of reproductive-age women. Genome-wide association studies identified PCOS candidate loci that were replicated in subsequent reports, including DENND1A, which encodes a protein associated with clathrin-coated pits where cell-surface receptors reside. However, th...

Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) expression is inversely proportional to the serum concentration of testosterone in males after birth and in vitro studies have shown that MIS can lower testosterone production by Leydig cells. Also, mice overexpressing MIS exhibited Leydig cell hypoplasia and lower levels of serum testosterone, but it is not clear whether this is a result of MIS affecting th...

We previously reported that our novel compound 3Bhydroxy-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)androsta-5,16-diene (VN/124-1) is a potent 17A-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17) inhibitor/antiandrogen and strongly inhibits the formation and proliferation of human prostate cancer LAPC4 tumor xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient mice. In this study, we report that VN/124-1 and other novel CYP17 inhibito...

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability all major cancers, where genetic contribution been documented, and knowledge about molecular genetics disease is increasing. However, extent aspects to which variants explain PCa in Africa are limited. Main body In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified differences incidence presentation acros...

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the second cause of mortality in women all around the world. It is caused by several factors including genetic determinants, so that both genetic susceptibility factors and environmental factors are involved in the etiology. Significance of genes functioning in steroid hormone synthesis and metabolism are well established in breast cancer suscept...