The intrapituitary mechanisms underlying the inhibitory actions of hyperprolactinaemia on the reproductive axis remain unclear. Previous work on primary pituitary cultures revealed combined suppressive effects of prolactin (PRL) and dopamine on the gonadotrophin response to GnRH. However, whether these effects occur directly at the level of the gonadotroph and are accompanied by changes in gene...

Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) is characterized by delayed or absent pubertal development secondary to gonadotrophin deficiency. HH can result from mutations of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 1, the gonadotrophin beta-subunits, or various transcription factors involved in pituitary gland development. HH occurs in DAX1 mutations when associated with adrenal insufficiency (adre...

BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is known to play a role in ovarian follicular development augmenting the action of FSH. Low intrafollicular concentrations have been detected in women who respond poorly to gonadotrophins. This study addresses the relationship between serum IGF-1 levels following pituitary desensitization and ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation. METHOD...

The variability in the superovulatory response continues to be one of the most frustrating problems with embryo transfer in cattle. The removal of LH from pituitary extracts has tended to reduce the variability in response, and several studies involving the use of the purified porcine pituitary extract. Folltropin-V are reviewed. The major source of variability in the superovulatory response in...

Fifty-six squirrel monkeys were studied to develop means of accurate ovulation induction. Ovaries were exposed to determine ovulation time. Pre-treatment with progesterone to suppress spontaneous ovulation (5 mg daily for 5 days) was followed by : (a) no fsh, (b) 1 mg fsh, (c) human menopausal gonadotrophin (hmg), equivalent to 75 i.u. fsh, or (d) 200 i.u. pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (p...

There is an increasing interest in retrieving immature oocytes in the absence of or with limited gonadotrophin exposure, with the aim of maturing them in vitro for embryo transfer purposes. The aim of this report is to present our experience of fertilization, embryonic development and pregnancies from in-vitro maturation cycles. A total of 18 patients underwent 21 cycles in which an average of ...

This case illustrates the possibility of obtaining oocytes that fertilize and cleave normally after the administration of a second ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in a case of 'empty follicle syndrome'. The present patient underwent ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa)/menotropin for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After the fa...

A cell line has been established from human placentae at the first trimester of normal pregnancy. The cell line was obtained by culture of purified cytotrophoblast cells in serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor, insulin, dexamethasone and 0.1% bovine serum albumin. The cells can be subcultured for >30 passages in one to three splits. All the cells were mononuclear epitheli...

Two decades ago, the diagnosis of premature sexual development was considered to be simple; the conditions that were recognised were either central precocious puberty, isolated premature thelarche or an adrenal aetiology. The use of pelvic ultrasound and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue treatment was to completely alter our understanding of these disorders. Pelvic ultrasound led ...