Genetic differences in natural vs hormone-induced ovulation rates were compared in immature female mice from five lines that had undergone long-term single-trait and antagonistic index selection for litter size and(or) 6-wk BW. Lines used were control (K); high litter size (L+); high BW (W+); low litter size and high BW (L-W+); and high litter size and low BW (L+W-). Natural ovulation rate at a...

Presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is not only limited to cells directly involved in angiogenesis but has also been demonstrated in steroidogenic cells like testicular Leydig cells. Because Leydig cells are subjected to regulation by gonadotropic hormones and produce steroid hormones, we have investigated here the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or steroid hormo...

Hormones are crucial systemic players and act at different sites of the entire body including the brain. The brain is not only the target of hormone action, but also serves as the “conductor” of the “neuro-endocrine symphony”. Changes in neuronal activity, such as seizures in epileptic patients, may affect hormonal regulation and secretion. In turn, hormones modify susceptibility to develop sei...

Physiological responses and control of body systems differ between women and men. Moreover, within women, female gonadal hormones have important influences on organs and systems outside of reproduction. Until the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, laboratories focused physiological research primarily on men, and this focus placed limitations on women's health care. Thus, the NIH directive to inclu...

Plasma membranes isolated from bovine corpora lutea showed specific binding with 1251-human chorionic gonadotropin and 1251-human luteinizing hormone; unlabeled hormones competitively inhibited the binding. The binding of the 1251-human chorionic gonadotropin to the receptor was a saturable phenomenon and the half-saturation was attained at a concentration of 4 X lo-r0 M. Maximum hormone recept...

PURPOSE This study was performed to investigate the etiology, clinical features, and outcomes of patients with gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty (GIPP). METHODS The study included 16 patients (14 female and 2 male patients) who manifested secondary sexual characteristics, elevated sex hormones, or adrenal androgens with prepubertal luteinizing hormone levels after gonadotropin relea...

The X-ray structure of a ternary complex between human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and two Fvs recognizing its alpha and beta subunits has been recently determined. The Fvs recognize the elongated hCG molecule by its two ends, one being the Leu-12-Cys-29 loop of the alpha subunit. We have designed and synthesized a 17-amino-acid peptide (named PepH14) derived from the sequence of this ...

Fertility is gated by nutrition and the availability of stored energy reserves, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link energy stores and reproduction are not well understood. Neuropeptides including galanin-like peptide (GALP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), products of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC; e.g., alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin), and kisspeptin are thought to be involved in this proc...