Steroid hormones regulate essential physiological processes, and inadequate levels are associated with various pathological conditions. In testosterone-producing Leydig cells, steroidogenesis is strongly stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) via its receptor leading to increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) production and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein, which is essential...

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a known cell signaling lipid mediator in reproductive tissues. In the cow, LPA is involved in luteal and early pregnancy maintenance. Here, we evaluated the presence and role of LPA in bovine early embryonic development. In relevant aspects, bovine embryos reflect more closely the scenario occurring in human embryos than the mouse model. Transcription of mRNA and ...

the aim of this study was to evaluate the defense cells changes of cervical mucous during follicular and luteal phases of estrus cycle in river buffalo. reproductive organs of the adult and apparently healthy female buffaloes were collected from the slaughterhouse. by visual investigation of both the ovaries for presence of corpus luteum and growing follicles, the luteal and follicular phase of...

Earlier studies have demonstrated that phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity is up-regulated by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) in rat ovary, but not liver. This phenomenon was investigated in more detail in the present study. Ovaries and livers of immature rats, rats synchronized with respect to their preovulatory and corpus luteal phases by treatment with PMSG, and matur...

Female fertility requires normal ovarian follicular growth and ovulation. The nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog 1 has been implicated in processes as diverse as bile acid metabolism, steroidogenesis, and cell proliferation. In the ovary, Lrh1 is expressed exclusively in granulosa and luteal cells. Using somatic targeted mutagenesis, we show that mice lacking Lrh1 in granulosa cells are st...

To establish the role of the nervous system in the etiopathogenesis of ovarian cysts we studied ovarian morphology and hormonal profiles in gilts that had undergone bilateral surgical denervation at day 12 of the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected from day 13 of the first cycle until day 20 of the second studied cycle. On this day the number of follicles (6 to 10 mm in diameter) was l...

OBJECTIVE To localize (by the light and electron microscopy) and partially characterize the antigen recognized by the Mab4E6 in rat ovaries. METHODS Monoclonal antibody (4E6) against a rat ovarian granulosa cell antigen was prepared and identified the 40kDa protein specific for rat steroid producing cells. The localization of this antigen was studied by light and electron microscopic immunocy...

Progesterone production by luteal cells is dependent on the supply of cholesterol by lipoproteins. The aim of this study was to determine whether the liver X receptors (LXRs) contribute to cholesterol homeostasis and progesterone secretion in human luteinized granulosa cells. Cells were isolated from follicular aspirates of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Luteinization was induced b...

Steroidogenesis plays a key role in the development and maintenance of male reproductive function and fertility. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of Carica papaya seed extract on steroidogenesis. The reduced cholesterol levels indicate decreased mobilization towards androgenesis which leads to decreased steroidogenesis and thereby inhibition of spermatogenesis in...