Follicle-stimulating hormone is the major regulator of growth and development of antral follicles in the ovary. Granulosa cells (GCs) in these follicles are coupled via gap junctions (GJs) consisting of connexin 43 (Cx 43). Because we and others have found that Cx 43 and GJs, respectively, are more abundant in large antral follicles compared with small antral and preantral follicles, we hypothe...

BACKGROUD Ovarian transplantation is a useful method for preserving the fertility of young women with cancer who undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is use to protect transplanted ovarian tissues from ischemia injury through promoting revascularization after transplantation, but the side effect of high level FSH is ovarian overstimulation leading to substan...

In the present study, we started out to test whether the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-activated p38 MAPK signaling cascade was involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis in granulosa cells (GCs). GCs were prepared from the ovaries of DES-treated immature rats and cultured in serum-free medium. Treatment of GCs with FSH (50 ng/ml) induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK rapidly with the...

The mechanisms and the mediators relaying Fsh action on testicular functions are poorly understood. Unlike in mammals, in fish both gonadotropins (Fsh and Lh) are able to efficiently stimulate steroidogenesis, likely through a direct interaction with their cognate receptors present on the Leydig cells. In this context, it is crucial to understand if Fsh effects are mediated through the producti...

The role of follicle stimulating harmone(FSH) in male reproductive function remains a matter of debate although recent evidences strongly suggest a role despite the controversies that arose following the results obtained with FSH-beta null mice and observations from human FSH receptor mutations. This review summarizes the recent developments of our understanding on the role of FSH in male repro...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate radiographic results of anterior fusion methods in two-level cervical disc disease : tricortical autograft and plate fixation (ACDF-AP), cage and plate fixation (ACDF-CP), stand-alone cage (ACDF-CA), and corpectomy and plate fixation (ACCF). METHODS The numbers of patients were 70 with a minimum 6 month follow-up (ACDF-AP : 12, ACDF-CP : 27, ACDF-CA : 15, and ACCF : 16)....

Mature Suffolk ewes were either actively or passively immunized against the synthetic fragment of porcine inhibin alpha, pI alpha(1-30), to determine the effects on gonadotrophin secretion and ovulation rate. Thirteen control ewes were immunized against human serum albumin, 12 ewes were actively immunized against pI alpha(1-30) and 36 ewes were passively immunized with pI alpha(1-30) antiserum....

Apparently, no agonist has been found that is comparable in potency to the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) for release of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) without substitutions with unnatural or D forms of natural amino acids. Of 139 known "agonist analogs" of LHRH, two were active in the range of 65%. The four LHRHs known to occur in nature involve a total of six amino ac...

Estradiol-treated, rat pituitary cells were studied to examine the effects of progesterone (P) on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis and secretion. Progesterone was administered prior to or concurrent with 3 h secretory challenges with either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the iontophore A23187, the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-myristate (PMA), or no secretagogue. ...

A luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone-releasing hormone (LH/FSH-RH) test was performed in 70 women with amenorrhoea or anovulatory infertility, or both, and a clomiphene stimulation test was also performed in 24 of these patients. Most patients responded to LH/FSH-RH with significant increases in LH and FSH. In women with gonadal dysgenesis or premature ovarian failure exaggerated ...