Metabolic hormones have been associated with reproductive function modulation. Thus, the aim of this study was: (i) to characterize the immunolocalization, mRNA and protein levels of leptin (LEP), Ghrelin (GHR) and respective receptors LEPR and Ghr-R1A, throughout luteal phase; and (ii) to evaluate the role of LEP and GHR on progesterone (P4), prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2α , nitric oxide (nit...

Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have direct effects on cultured ovarian cells. These effects include stimulation of granulosa cell mitogenesis, granulosa and luteal cell progesterone production, and thecal cell androgen production and appear similar among species. However, species differences exist with regard to insulin and IGF-I effects on granulosa cell estradiol production. I...

Blood pressure decreases during early pregnancy in association with a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance and increases in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. These early changes suggest a potential association with corpora lutea function. To determine whether peripheral vasodilation occurs following ovulation, we studied 16 healthy women in the midfollicular and midluteal ...

Studies examining the impact of menstrual cycle phases on the cardiac autonomic nervous system have produced inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate this relationship, controlling for the confounding effects of diet, physical activity, and sleep, which can be affected by the menstrual cycle. Fifteen female college students with regular menses were enrolled. Data regarding 24-h hea...

Changes in intraovarian arterial blood flow were monitored by means of colour-coded and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography in Beagle bitches during the normal oestrous cycle (n = 11) and pregnancy (n = 3), and at PGF(2alpha)-induced luteolysis (n = 4). The ultrasonographic findings were related to the reproductive stage of the bitch, as determined by vaginoscopical and cytological criteria, and by ...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oxytocin infusion on corpus luteum (CL) function during early to mid-diestrus by measuring luteal size (LS) and luteal blood flow (LBF) along with plasma levels of progesterone (P4) and prostaglandin metabolites (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F(2α), PGFM). On day (D) 7 of the estrus cycle (D1 = ovulation), seven cows received 1...

BACKGROUND Fas expression and Fas-induced apoptosis are mechanisms attributed to the selective destruction of cells of the corpus luteum (CL) during luteal regression. In certain cell-types, sensitivity to these death-inducing mechanisms is due to the loss or cleavage of keratin-containing intermediate filaments. Specifically, keratin 8/18 (K8/K18) filaments are hypothesized to influence cell d...

BACKGROUND Neuropsychological function and cognitive correlates of depression have not previously been examined in a rigorously defined population of patients suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). METHOD MOOD, neuropsychological function and cognition were measured in 10 PMDD patients and 10 age-matched controls in both phases of the menstrual cycle in a random order, counter...

The objective of the present study was to verify the seasonal luteal activity of racehorses in training in Japan from March to August. We allocated 102 horses into a luteal activity group and non-luteal activity group. The luteal activity group included horses with serum progesterone levels that were consistently >1 ng/ml and changed by ± 1 ng/ml. In contrast, the progesterone levels of the non...

The newly formed corpus luteum (CL) rapidly develops after ovulation and has the features of active vascularisation and mitosis of steroidogenic cells. These stage-specific mechanisms also may contribute to gain the function of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha)-resistant CL at this stage. Recent studies suggest that the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (Ang II) regulates luteal function. Thu...