A surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland triggers ovulation, oocyte maturation, and luteinization for successful reproduction in mammals. Because signaling molecules RAS ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 2) are activated by an LH granulosa cells preovulatory follicles, we disrupted Erk1/2 mouse provide vivo evidence that these necessary LH-induced resumption meiosis, luteinization. In addition, biochemical analyses selected disruption Cebpb gene demonstrate...

The molecular bridges that link the LH surge with functional changes in cumulus cells possess few receptors are being unraveled. Herein we document epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like factors amphiregulin (Areg), epiregulin (Ereg), and betacellulin (Btc) induced oocyte complexes (COCs) by autocrine paracrine mechanisms involve actions of prostaglandins (PGs) progesterone receptor (PGR). Areg Ereg mRNA protein levels were reduced significantly COCs ovaries collected from prostaglandin synthase...

Neat1 is a non-protein-coding RNA that serves as an architectural component of the nuclear bodies known paraspeckles. Although cell-based studies indicate crucial regulator gene expression, its physiological relevance remains unclear. Here, we find knockout (KO) mice stochastically fail to become pregnant despite normal ovulation. Unilateral transplantation wild-type ovaries or administration progesterone partially rescued phenotype, suggesting corpus luteum dysfunction and concomitant low...

The female ovary contains a finite number of oocytes, and their release at ovulation becomes sporadic disordered with aging obesity, leading to loss fertility. Understanding the molecular defects underpinning this pathology is essential as age childbearing obesity rates increase globally. We identify that fibrosis within ovarian stromal compartment an underlying mechanism responsible for impaired oocyte release, which initiated by mitochondrial dysfunction diminished bioenergetics, oxidative...

Ovulation is a complex process initiated by the preovulatory LH surge, characterized cumulus oocyte (COC) expansion and completed release of mature oocyte. Although many ovarian genes that impact ovulation have been identified, we hypothesized selectively expressed in COCs would be overlooked approaches using whole ovary or granulosa cell samples. RNA isolated from collected follicles equine chorionic gonadotropin (CG) primed mice at selected times after human CG treatment was subjected to...

The effect of pituitary factor on the constitutive and inducible levels hepatic phenobarbital (PB)-inducible major cytochrome P-450, P-450b P-450e, in male female rat livers was studied by immunoblot analyses. Although only trace amounts (approximately 4 pmol/mg protein) P-450e were detected untreated adult rats, hypophysectomy increased contents 58- 14-fold, respectively, rats 118- 30-fold, rats. increases also observed treatment with dexamethasone, which suppressed function. Treatment PB...

The toll-like receptor (TLR) system is expressed in cumulus cells of ovulated cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the endogenous ligand(s) for TLRs physiological role(s) COCs remain to be defined. Based on reports that hyaluronan fragments can activate TLR2 TLR4 macrophages,and are characterized a hyaluronan-rich matrix, we cultured mouse with purified fragments, treated them hyaluronidase or exposed sperm as physiologically relevant...

Abstract Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site family (WNT)/β-catenin (CTNNB1) pathway components are expressed in ovarian granulosa cells, direct female gonad development, and regulated by the pituitary gonadotropins. However, vivo functions of CTNNB1 during preovulatory follicular ovulation, luteinization remain unclear. Using a model Ctnnb1(Ex3)fl/fl;Cyp19-Cre (Ctnnb1(Ex3)gc−/−), expressing dominant stable cells small antral follicles, we show that facilitates...

Activation of the RAS family small G-proteins is essential for follicle stimulating hormone-induced signaling events and regulation target genes in cultured granulosa cells. To analyze functions protein cells during ovarian follicular development vivo, we generated conditional knock-in mouse models which express a constitutively active KrasG12D. The KrasG12D mutant mice were subfertile exhibited signs premature failure. ovaries contained numerous abnormal follicle-like structures that devoid...

Ovulation has long been regarded as a process resembling an inflammatory response. Recent studies indicate that genes associated with innate immune responses were also expressed during the ovulation process. Because are induced in cumulus cell oocyte complexes (COCs) later than inflammation-associated genes, we hypothesize COC expansion is dependent on specific sequential changes cells. IL-6 potent mediator of responses, sought to determine what factors regulate induction Il6 mRNA COCs and...

BACKGROUNDBacterial infections of the genital tract are one most serious causes infertility in males. In some human patients with poor semen quality, leukocytospermia has been observed. Because leukocytes express bacterial-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsive Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling cascade and secrete tumor necrosis factor-α, secreted cytokines comprise one, but probably not only, class factors that can impact sperm motility.

In most mammals, the male to female sex ratio of offspring is about 50% because half sperm contain either Y chromosome or X chromosome. mice, encodes fewer than 700 genes, whereas over 3,000 genes. Although overall gene expression lower in somatic cells, transcription activated selectively round spermatids. By regulating specific we hypothesized that might exert functional differences are usually masked during fertilization. this study, found Toll-like receptors 7/8 (TLR7/8) coding were...

Male factors account for almost half of the causes infertility. In rodents and humans, most components semen are supplied by seminal vesicles, they support male reproductive ability, but there many unknown details. this study, metabolic changes in vesicle epithelial cells were focused on, mechanisms which testosterone affects plasma composition investigated. A factor that improves linear motility sperm was secreted from synthesized an androgen-dependent manner. Bioassays, gene expression,...

Age-related changes in the amounts of sex-specific forms cytochrome P-450 as well activities drug-metabolizing enzymes liver microsomes Fischer-344 rats different ages ranging from 3 to 30 months were studied. Activities 7-propoxycoumarin O-depropylase and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase male rats, which higher than those female younger adults (3-12 months), decreased with increasing age, resulting loss sex differences after 25 months. The male-specific form P-450, namely P-450-male, present...

Ovulation is the complex, inflammatory-like process by which cumulus oocyte complex (COC) released from a mature, preovulatory follicle through rupture site at ovarian surface and requires expression of genes that generate stabilize expanded extracellular COC matrix. Gene profiling analyses COCs selected time intervals during ovulation revealed many associated with immune related surveillance functions were also induced in cells. Specifically, cell signaling molecules known as pattern...

The aim of this study was to investigate the role progesterone in meiotic resumption porcine oocytes. Progesterone production and receptor (PR) immunoreactivity cumulus cells were not detected cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) when observations made either just after collection from follicles or 28 h cultivation without LH FSH. However, addition FSH induced PR expression cells, concomitant with increased production. To assess COC, an inhibitor production, aminoglutethimide (AGT), administered....

Previous studies showed that transcripts encoding specific Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors including Wnt4, Frizzled1 (Fzd1), Frizzled4 (Fzd4) were expressed in a cell-specific manner the adult mouse ovary. Overlapping expression of Wnt4 Fzd4 mRNA small follicles corpora lutea led us to hypothesize infertility mice null for (Fzd4-/-) might involve impaired follicular growth or corpus luteum formation. Analyses at defined stages reproductive function indicate immature Fzd4-/- ovaries...

In this study, we collected follicular fluid, granulosa cells, and cumulus cells from antral follicles at specific time intervals following equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) human (hCG) treatment of gilts. The with eCG increased the production estrogen coordinately up-regulated proliferation cells. also induced expression LHCGR PGR in progesterone accumulation was detected fluid prior to LH/hCG surge. Moreover, receptor (PGR) were critical for FSH-induced culture. mRNA associated ability...

Sperm motility patterns are continuously changed after ejaculation to fertilization in the female tract. Hyperactivated is induced with high glucose medium vitro or oviduct fluids vivo, whereas sperm maintain linear seminal plasma uterine containing low glucose. Therefore, it estimated that dependent on energy sources, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activated produce ATP condition. To elucidate these hypotheses, boar was incubated different conditions transcription translation...

SUMMARY: Two distinct NADH oxidases, corresponding to H2O2-forming and H2O-forming enzymes were purified homogeneity from Streptococcus mutans their basic properties determined. The enzyme was a tetramer with subunit molecular mass of about 56 kDa required flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) for full activity. had an isoelectric point 6.6 exhibited optimal activity at pH 6.0 monomer 50 independent exogenously added flavin. 4.8 between 7.0 7.5 Both oxidized (Km 0.05 0.025 mM the H2O2- enzyme,...

To investigate the role of factors secreted by cumulus cells during meiotic resumption porcine oocytes, 1, 5, 10, or 20 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in each well a culture dish containing 300 μl maturation medium for h. There was significant positive correlation between rate germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and number COCs The level progesterone which had been h also rose significantly with an increase well. A small proportion GVBD oocytes when one COC improved addition...