The pituitary-derived glycoprotein hormone FSH plays a central role in controlling vertebrate gonadal function. In female mammals the maturation of ovarian follicles is critically dependent upon stimulation by FSH. Moreover, injection of exogenous FSH is used extensively to stimulate increased numbers of follicles to ovulate. Structurally FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed of two non-...

The oocyte-secreted polypeptide growth factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15, also known as GDF9B) have both been shown to be essential for ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate. In addition, it is known from both in vivo and in vitro studies that these factors co-operate in some manner. To date, most studies examining the in vitro ...

The a-subunit is common to the family of heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones FSH, LH, TSH and the placerual chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Clones coding for the pre a-subunit of the pituitary glycoprotein hormones were isolated from a lamb pituitary XgtlO cDNA library [1] using a synthetic oligonucleotide probe based on the published amino acid sequence of the ovine a-subunit [2] and nucleotide s...

BACKGROUND Hypotension and reduced cerebral blood flow secondary to brachiocephalic occlusion (BCO) stimulate various homeostatic physiological and endocrine responses. Our previous studies have also suggested a role of estradiol in augmenting the fetal stress response to BCO. OBJECTIVES We tested the hypothesis that gonadotropins and/or prolactin (PRL) are upregulated in fetal pituitary in r...

Folliculogenesis in domestic hens appears to be controlled by numerous factors, particularly the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The involvement of LH in follicular steroidogenesis has been described in some detail; however, the specific role of FSH has remained elusive. In 3 experiments, the effects of ovine (o)- or chicken (c)-derived FSH (oFSH,...

The role of exogenous leptin in the follicular steroidogenesis in pigs has not been fully elucidated and available data are controversial. In the current study porcine follicles were recovered from ovaries during early, middle, and preovulatory stages of the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Follicles were cultured in the presence of the recombinant ovine leptin (oLEP) with or without LH (...

The effects of PRL and FSH on testicular LH receptors were studied in hypophysectomized (hypox) mice. From the eleventh day after hypophysectomy, they were given 100 micrograms ovine (o) PRL and/or 2 micrograms oFSH in two injections per day for 10 days. Hypophysectomy reduced the weight of testis, epididymides and seminal vesicles, and the LH binding to the testis. Treatment with oPRL and/or o...

Receptor activated adenylate cyclase acts as a major transmembrane signalling system. It is widely accepted that upon binding to its receptor, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) activates the cAMP-dependent pathway which in turn mediates FSH-induced estradiol production in Sertoli cells. Studies utilizing several chemically derived variants of FSH have demonstrated that these variants bind to t...

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays an important part in testicular development. Its role in the regulation of spermatogenesis in the adult, however, remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the role of FSH in the maintenance of adult rat spermatogenesis by using immunoneutralization to selectively withdraw FSH action for periods of up to 8.5 days and then assessing the outcome b...