background:   objective: this study was designed to evaluate effects of lithium chloride on the release of steroid hormones and steroidogenic enzymes in gonadotropin-stimulated rats.   materials and methods: immature 23 days old wistar rats were divided into 10 groups; each group comprised of 8 rats, and induced with single injection of pregnant mare’s serum gonadotrophin (pmsg) and followed by...

The first report of the combined use of pituitary suppression and ovarian hyperstimulation in invitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer programmes was published in 1984 (1). Since then, the advantages of gonadotrophin hormonereleasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) have been well documented; the cancellation rate has been decreased through the prevention of premature luteinizing hormone (LH) s...

The aim of the present study was to determine follicle development and resumption of ovarian activity in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes by transrectal ultrasonographic monitoring of the ovaries during the first 50 days after after calving throughout the breeding season. The investigation included 18 clinically healthy Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes divided into two groups: Group I (n=8, primiparous buf...

CONTEXT Blood vessel stabilization is regulated by angiopoietins and important for angiogenesis in the corpus luteum. OBJECTIVE To study angiogenesis and blood vessel stabilization in the human corpus luteum, changes in expression of angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, and their specific receptor, Tie-2, together with the number of blood vessels and pericytes were examined in the corpus luteum throu...

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of ovarian morphology on oocyte quantity and quality, as well as the effect of preincubated granulosa cells (PGCs) on in vitro maturation of buffalo oocytes and steroid hormone production. A total of 52 ovarian pairs were grouped into 3 types: Type I (with functional corpus luteum), Type II (with regressed corpus luteum), or Type III (w...