Reports have shown that murine embryonic stem cells (mESC) can differentiate into primordial germ cells (PGC) and then to early gametes (oocytes and sperm) that after fertilization form blastocysts. Preliminary studies indicated that hESC also have the potential to differentiate into germ cells. Currently, there are no reports on directed differentiation of hESCs into oocytes. Here, we investig...

AIM The aim of the study was to investigate the association between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism at Position 680 and the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and eight patients under 35 years of age who underwent IVF-ET procedures were incl...

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on 17β-estradiol (E2) synthesis and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) action in bovine granulosa cells. We found that granulosa cells in the bovine antral follicle, in addition to the uterus and the CL, are also the site of LPA synthesis and the target for LPA action in the bovine reproductive tract. Our findin...

Ob-Rb: Long isoform of leptin receptor. Ob-Ra, Ob-RcÖOb-Rf: Short isoforms of leptin receptor. FSH: Follicle stimulating hormone. IGF-I: Insulin-like growth factor type 1. BCL-2: B-cell lymphoma 2. Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein. DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium. ER: Estrogen receptor alpha. ER: Estrogen receptor beta. AR: Androgen receptor. LHR: Luteinizing hormone receptor. FSHR: Folli...

In studies using isolated ovarian granulosa and thecal cells it is important to assess the degree of cross contamination. Marker genes commonly used for granulosa cells include FSHR, CYP19A1 and AMH while CYP17A1 and INSL3 are used for thecal cells. To increase the number of marker genes available we compared expression microarray data from isolated theca interna with that from granulosa cells ...

Commercially available, but not yet characterized, the AVG-16 granulosa cell line was established from granulosa cells of medium porcine follicles. To examine the suitability of the AVG-16 cell line for studying the molecular mechanism of action of various environmental oestrogens, we investigated: 1/ cell morphology (by standard haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining); 2/ basal and follicle-stim...

Spontaneous forms of the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (sOHSS) are nearly always reported between 8 and 14 weeks of pregnancy and also with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) producing pituitary adenoma. The syndrome has been previously reported in rare instances of increased production of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) such as multiple pregnancies, hydatiforme mole, polycystic ovary d...