Daily transrectal ultrasonography was carried out in eight 4-5-month-old Polish Large White×Polish Landrace gilts for 42 days to monitor the growth of individual ovarian antral follicles≥2 mm in diameter. In total, 52.4±16.2 and 123.0±6.7 follicles per gilt (mean±SD) that grew to ≥4 mm were identified during the first and second 21-day study periods, respectively (P<0.01). Four follicular waves...

Although earlier studies focused on the hormonal regulation of antral and preovulatory follicles, recent studies indicate the importance of the hormonal control mechanism for preantral follicles. The endocrine hormone FSH is not only a survival factor for early antral follicles but also a potent growth and differentiation factor for preantral follicles. In addition, KGF secreted by theca cells ...

Background: α-Lipoic acid (LA) is a cofactor in mitochondrial multienzyme complexes and is well-known for its antioxidant properties in both of in vivo and in vitro condition. Materials and Methods: Preantral follicles were isolated from 2 weeks old NMRI mice ovaries. LA at concentrations of 0 and 100 μM was supplemented to culture media (α-MEM medium supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mlU/ml FSH, 1...

This study investigated how Michauxia campanuloides affects the Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) expression in granulosa cells, ovarian histomorphology and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) rats. Rats were divided into control (C), treatment 1 (T 1) 2 2) groups. The rats T groups received aqueous extract of M. at doses 20 mg/kg/day 40 orally for 21 days, respectively. Serum TAC le...

BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OT) is produced by granulosa cells (GCs) of pre-ovulatory ovarian follicles and the corpus luteum (CL) in some mammalian species. Actions of OT in the ovary have been linked to luteinization, steroidogenesis and luteolysis. Human IVF-derived (h)GCs possess a functional OT receptor (OTR), linked to elevation of intracellular Ca(2+), but molecular identity of the receptor for...

The sand rat (Psammomys obesus) constitutes a model to study seasonal changes and several metabolic disorders. In order to perform breeding laboratory conditions, the reproductive function of this species living in North Occidental Algerian Sahara was studied. The aim of this work was to investigate the follicular growth changes and the steroidogenic associated aspects. The study was performed ...

BACKGROUND Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is expressed in pre- and small-antral follicles. High serum levels are found in women with polycystic ovaries (PCO), accordant with their increased content of small follicles. To evaluate the relationship between AMH, folliculogenesis and hyperandrogenism, we compared serum AMH levels between women with PCO with and without hyperandrogenism and normal con...

IGFs regulate gonadotrophin-stimulated proliferation and differentiation of granulosa and theca cells in vitro. However, the detailed pattern of mRNA expression of IGFs in bovine follicles remains controversial. The objectives of this study were therefore to describe the temporal and spatial pattern of expression of mRNA encoding IGF-I, IGF-II and the type 1 IGF receptor in bovine follicles in ...

Follicle and oocyte growth is under the control of systemic gonadotropins and various local intraovarian factors. The present study was undertaken to examine the efficacy of peptide(s) isolated from ovine follicular fluid on preantral and antral follicles, oocytes, cumulus and granulosa cells, and oviductal epithelial cell growth in vitro in a heterologous species (Bubalus bubalis). Follicular ...

Administration of 5 mg methomyl (40%) kg(-1) b.wt. mouse(-1) (equal to 50% of LD50 dose), every day for 90 days to adult female mice resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, relative weight of the ovary, uterus and fallopian tube; mean number of small, preantral, antral and pre-ovulatory follicles and fertility compared to controls. On the other hand, total duration of the estrous cyc...