We compared the effects of exogenous insulin and porcine ST (pST) on follicular development after weaning. Crossbred primiparous sows received saline (1.5 mL i.m.; n = 9), insulin (.4 IU/kg BW s.c.; Eli Lilly Lente Iletin II; n = 10), or pST (40 microg/kg BW i.m.; n = 10) from d 1 to 5 after weaning (d 0). Ovaries were collected, the diameter of each follicle > or = 2 mm was measured, and fluid...

background: the following study was carried out to determine the ultrastructural features of the oocyte of the ovulatory-sized follicles in relation to concentrations of steroids and igf-i in the follicular fluid and serum in the dromedary camel. methods: camel follicles with a clear and healthy appearance were categorized into three classes: follicles 10 to 13.9, 14-17.9 and 18-30 mm diameter....

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) play an important role in regulating follicle growth and maturation. We have evaluated whether responsiveness to gonadotrophins during an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is related to follicular fluid IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations. We also investigated if a difference is present in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration...

BACKGROUND Thiols are scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We aim to investigate associations between thiols in various fluids in (sub)fertile couples and fertility outcome parameters. METHODS In 156 couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART), we measured the concentrations of glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteinylglycine (CGS) and fertility...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common complex and heterogeneous disorder, affecting up to 10% women at reproductive age. It causes three fourth of the ovulatory infertility and PCOS patients often give poor IVF quality. Although some metabolic profiles have been investigated in PCOS patient sera and urine, the follicular fluid, providing fruitful biochemical information about oocyte envi...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MMP-14 and MMP-2 during human ovarian follicular development using immunohistochemistry, and the activity of MMP-2 in follicular fluid using zymography. METHODS Ovarian tissue collected from the archives of the Department of Pathology was examined and medical records and histopathology were reviewed. Follicular fluids were co...

Preovulatory rise in progesterone Dear Sir, We read with great interest the article by Eldar-Geva et al. (1998). In the late follicular phase of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist/human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG)-stimulated cycles they showed a concomitant increase of serum progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH), both of which were reversible by the administration of dexameth...

The aim of this work was to study the antioxidant enzymatic defences in human follicular fluid and investigate their possible changes during reproductive ageing. To this end, we tested the specific activities and protein expression of enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and in detoxification of ROS byproducts in follicular fluid from young (range 27-32 years, n = 12) an...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fasting on both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and VEGF mRNA expression in growing ovarian follicles (>5 mm in diameter) from gilts at 48 h after equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) treatment. The concentrations of VEGF and albumin were measured in the follicular fluid of single follicles, and VEGF mRNA was determined...