The USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) has successfully researched and developed a number of chemical and immunologically-based wildlife contraceptives. DiazaconTM interferes with cholesterol metabolism and disrupts steroidogenesis, while nicarbazin (registered as OvoControl-P and OvoControl-G) disrupts the structure of the vitelline membrane of bird eggs. Immunologically-based age...

Mammalian spermatozoa undergo selective movement along the isthmus of the oviduct to the ampulla during ovulation, which is a prerequisite for fertilization. The factor(s) that involves in selective spermatozoa movement is still unknown. In this study, we found that the oviductal epithelium in mouse ampulla expressed high levels of natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) in the presence of ovulated o...

EGFR signaling is Argos, a secreted protein that contains an EGF repeat but which acts as an inhibitor of the EGFR (Schweitzer et al., 1995a). Interestingly, argos expression is induced in response to EGFR activation, thereby initiating a negative feedback cycle to dampen Leslie Stevens Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Avenue...

ObjectiveTo characterize and evaluate the variation in serum concentrations of oocyte-secreted growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) throughout menstrual cycle women from young to advanced reproductive ages.DesignCross-sectional, observational, exploratory study.SettingMulticenter university-based clinical practices laboratories.Patient(s)Serum was collect...

BACKGROUND Oocyte secreted factors (OSFs), including growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), play an important role in the process of follicular development and oocyte maturation. Since OSFs are expressed in oocytes and cumulus granulosa cells, the aim of the present study was to explore whether the expression levels of GDF9 and BMP15 mRNAs in cumulus g...

Ovary is an important organ that houses the oocytes (reproductive cell). Oocyte growth depends on the function of follicular cells such as the granulosa and theca cells. Two-cell two gonadotropin systems are associated with oocyte growth and follicular cell functions. In addition to these systems, it is also known that several growth factors regulate oocyte growth and follicular cell functions....

Optimal development of fertilized eggs into preimplantation embryos is essential for reproduction. Although mammalian oocytes ovulated after luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation can be fertilized and promoted into early embryos in vitro, little is known about ovarian factors important for the conditioning of eggs for early embryo development. Because LH interacts only with ovarian somatic cells...