Previously, we reported that administration of prolactin (PRL) during the early luteal phase in sows increases plasma progesterone concentrations. In the current study, we searched for the mechanisms by which PRL exerts this luteotrophic effect. The objectives of the study were (1) to examine the effect of PRL and/or low-density lipoproteins (LDL) on progesterone production by porcine luteal ce...

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which has been found to be expressed in the human endometrium and to play an important role in human reproduction. In the present study we investigated expression and regulation of the human LIF promoter in HEC-1B endometrial adenocarcinoma cells using a luciferase reporter plasmid bearing a 666 bp promoter fragment (h666LIF-Luc) in tr...

to be elevated in .50% of patients with PCOS (Hoffman Departments of 1Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 2Endocrinology, et al., 1984). Using selective catheterization of the adrenal and Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey ovarian vessels, some hyperandrogenic women demonstrate 3To whom correspondence should be addressed significant adrenal androgen hypersecretion (Moltz ...

The use of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with oestrogens and progestins in postmenopausal women has been associated with an increased risk for developing breast cancer. The reasons are not fully understood, but influence of HRT on endogenous conversion of female sex hormones may be involved. The expression of 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17βHSD), which are enzymes catalysing ...

In an attempt to assess histophysiological implication of the follicular compartment of the bovine ovary in steroid hormone formation and the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in vitro on follicular steroidogenesis, minces of follicular tissues from non-gravid bovine ovaries were incubated with radioactive testosterone or acetate in the presence and absence of hCG. Significant amount...

The present experiment characterized the pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH in the first 10 d after ovulation following commercially available deslorelin acetate implantation at the normal dosage for hastening ovulation in mares. Twelve mature, cyclic mares were assessed daily for estrus and three times weekly for ovarian activity starting May 1. Mares achieving a follicle at least 25 m...

We asked whether odor discrimination abilities are sexually dimorphic in mice and, if so, whether the perinatal actions of estradiol contribute to these sex differences. The ability to discriminate different types of urinary odors was compared in male and female wild-type (WT) subjects and in mice with a homozygous-null mutation of the estrogen synthetic enzyme, aromatase (aromatase knockout; A...