Maturation of the fetal pituitary and adrenal glands allows the secretion of cortisol, which in turn leads to an increase in prostaglandin and mesotocin production. The production of prostaglandin and mesotocin results in an increase in uterine contractions and initiates birth in marsupials. The major metabolite of PGF(2alpha), 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGFM), has been foun...

()estrogens show a variety of effects on the mammalian corpus luteum, depending on the stage of the oestrous cycle at which they are administered. This report discusses an investigation of the effect of a single injection of either mg oestradiol benzoate or 5mg oestradiol valerate, at all stages of the cycle in the cyclic cow. The concentration of plasma progesterone in daily peripheral blood s...

To study luteal function in the late gestational period of Phocidae (seals), we analyzed the localization of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3betaHSD and P450arom) and prolactin receptors in the corpora lutea of pregnant spotted seals (Larga seal; Phoca largha) immunohistochemically. P450scc, 3betaHSD and prolactin receptors were present in all luteal cells of each corpus luteum, and most lutea...

Recent analysis of mice deficient in both oxytocin (OT) and cyclooxygenase-1 has shown that OT exerts significant effects on both the ovarian corpus luteum and the uterine myometrium during pregnancy. To better define the roles of OT during pregnancy, we evaluated OT action and OT receptor regulation in wild-type and OT-deficient knockout (KO) mice. Continuous infusion of OT revealed that OT ca...

We investigated a specific relationship between the expression of annexin 5 and prolactin in the corpus luteum of pseudopregnant rats, with particular interest in GnRH and apoptosis of luteal cells. The expression of ovarian annexin 5 mRNA was significantly decreased at mid-pseudopregnancy and recovered at the end, whereas it remained low on the corresponding day of pregnancy. The dopamine agon...

The influence of the testis and of testosterone upon the development of the male genitalia has been extensively investigated and a number of reviews of this work have been published (Jost, 1960; Burns, 1961). However, Witschi (1957) has stressed the need to distinguish between adult sex hormones, such as testosterone, and the secretions of the immature gonad. The formation of corpora lutea in t...

OBJECTIVE Women of reproductive age are at risk of ruptured corpus luteum with hemoperitoneum. We identified the clinical and demographic features of patients recently treated in our institution and compared the findings with those from an earlier series, to detect any changes in disease identity that have occurred over the past 20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS Charts of patients treated betwe...

To investigate the possible role of the superoxide radical and its scavenging system in the human corpus luteum, superoxide dismutase (SOD) values and lipid peroxide concentrations were analysed in the corpora lutea during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Copper-zinc SOD (Cu,Zn-SOD) activities increased from the early to mid-luteal phase, and gradually decreased thereafter and were t...

Extracellular matrix regulates many cellular processes likely to be important for development and regression of corpora lutea. Therefore, we identified the types and components of the extracellular matrix of the human corpus luteum at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Two different types of extracellular matrix were identified by electron microscopy; subendothelial basal laminas and an i...

Because the establishment of pregnancy begins at the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum (ipsi-horn) in cattle, levels of progesterone (P4) and receptor expression in the endometrial tissue, which regulate the intrauterine environment for embryo development, may differ between the ipsi-horn and the uterine horn contralateral to corpus luteum (contra-horn). The aim of the present study...