BACKGROUND Wool quality is one of the most important economic traits in sheep. The wool fiber is derived from specialized skin cells that are referred to as wool follicles. To understand the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in wool fiber growth, we detected the expression patterns of miRNAs in wool follicles at the anagen, catagen, and telogen stages from Tibetan sheep through Solexa sequencing. R...

In this special issue on the Evo-Devo of amniote integuments, Alibardi has discussed the adaptation of the integument to the land. Here we will discuss the adaptation to the sky. We first review a series of fossil discoveries representing intermediate forms of feathers or feather-like appendages from dinosaurs and Mesozoic birds from the Jehol Biota of China. We then discuss the molecular and d...

GonaCon is a single-shot immunocontraceptive vaccine that targets the reproductive hormone gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). The GnRH peptide used in the vaccine is secreted by the hypothalamus of the brain and is specifically known as luteinizing hormone releasing hormone. This peptide stimulates the synthesis and secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone by the an...

Hair follicles form in prenatal skin and mature in the postnatal period, establishing a growth cycle in 3 phases: telogen (resting), anagen (growth), and catagen (regression). Based on the knowledge that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression is necessary for the embryonic development of hair follicles, and that anagen in the postnatal cycling follicle has morphologic similarities to the epithelial in...

BACKGROUND Poor ovarian response phenomenon has been observed in some of the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer patients. Some investigations found that follicle stimulating hormone receptor ( FSHR ) gene plays a role in the process, but no direct evidence shows the correlation between genotypes of FSHR and ovarian response. OBJECTIVE Exploring the molecular mechanism behind the mutation ...

In the female reproductive system, as in a few adult tissues, angiogenesis occurs as a normal process and is essential for normal tissue growth and development. In the ovary, new blood vessel formation facilitates oxygen, nutrients, and hormone substrate delivery, and also secures transfer of different hormones to targeted cells. Ovarian follicle and the corpus luteum (CL) have been shown to pr...

AIMS This study aims to clarify the effects of polyadenylation status on M-phase promoting factors (MPFs) during in vitro porcine oocyte maturation. METHODS In this study, porcine follicular oocytes from large follicles (> 5 millimeter (mm)) and small follicles (< 3 mm) were examined at different follicular developmental stages. The polyadenylation of maternal mRNAs was inhibited by the addit...

We reviewed recent in vivo studies of the real-time changes in the vasculature of the follicle wall during selection of the dominant follicle as well as during ovulation in cows. Changes in follicle diameter and vascularity were determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Blood flow within the walls of the two largest follicles was detected at the time of wave emergence (largest follicle=5 mm in...

BACKGROUND Based on classical two-cell, two-gonadotropin theory, in the follicle, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) put on their main effects on the granulosa and theca cells. LH is essential for androgens production. Androgens are used for estradiol production by granulosa cells. Profound suppression of LH concentrations in some normogonadotropic patients can caus...

BACKGROUND N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was proposed as an adjuvant to clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) without clomiphene citrate resistance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of NAC on pregnancy rate in PCOS patients who were candidates for intrauterine insemination. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this randomized clinical trial, 97 PCOS wome...