Highly purified ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was separated into two noncovalently linked, nonidentical subunits (CX and @) by treatment with 8 M urea followed by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. The individual subunits were purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. This step resulted in the removal of a larger molecular weight contaminant from the /I subunit. This c...

Background: Ovine follicle stimulation hormone (OFSH) is a pituitary glycoprotein and belongs to the family of glycoprotein hormones. This hormone plays a key role in the function of the reproductive system: it is essential for sertoli cell function and spermatogenesis in testis and it stimulates the growth of ovulatory follicles in females. Ovine FSH hormone is a heterodimeric hormone consisti...

Follicle-stimulating hormone from different species has been used to increase ovulation and calving rates in cattle, injections proving to be most successful when given during the late follicular phase of the oestrous cycle or in combination with progestagens (Willett & Buckner, 1953; Bellows, Anderson & Short 1969). Some investigations have resulted in substantial increases in ovulation and ca...

We have recently reported that bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) can inhibit progesterone production by ovine granulosa cells (GCs). Here, we have investigated the underlying mechanisms of this effect in basal as well as in FSH-induced conditions. We have confirmed that treatment with BMP-4 decreased basal GC progesterone secretion and totally abolished FSH-stimulating action. This inhibitor...

The production of activin by Sertoli cells isolated from 21-day-old rats was studied using the mesoderm-inducing activity of activin on Xenopus laevis animal cap explants, immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Furthermore, the effects of recombinant bovine activin-A on rat Sertoli cell aromatase activity and FSH and androgen receptor gene expression were examined. Animal cap explants from X...

Background: Different culture media are used for in vitro maturation of ovine oocyte. The Weymouth medium are used for in vitro maturation of rat and mice oocytes with very low levels of supplementation (Just FBS, while to acquire the good results in TCM hormone, and serum supplementation and in some cases growth factor are necessary to gain the optimized results. The aim of the present study w...

Changes in profiles of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone and in mating performance and ejaculate volume have been determined in Finnish Landrace (F inn)and Managra Synthetic (Line-M) rams during the ovine breeding season. In early August, mid-September, early November and mid-December four rams of each breed were bled by venipuncture from the ju...

The quality of sperm ejaculated by bonnet monkeys and normal, healthy proven fertile volunteer men, both actively immunized with ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (oFSH), was examined at different times of study for chromatin packaging and acrosomal glycoprotein concentration by flow cytometry. Susceptibility of sperm nuclear DNA to dithiothreitol (DTT)-induced decondensation, as measured by e...