Vitamin D deficiency and impaired placental function: potential regulation by glucocorticoids?
Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in a range of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. Some of these adverse outcomes arise from alterations in placental function. Indeed, vitamin D appears critical for implantation, inflammation, immune function and angiogenesis in the placenta. Despite these associations, absence of the placental vitamin D receptor in mice provokes little effect. Thus, interactions between maternal and fetal compartments are likely crucial for instigating adverse placental changes. Indeed, maternal vitamin D deficiency elicits ch...
Source: Reproduction - March 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Yates, N., Crew, R. C., Wyrwoll, C. S. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Overactivation of hedgehog signaling in the developing Mullerian duct interferes with duct regression in males and causes subfertility
The influence of the hedgehog signaling pathway on reproduction was studied in transgenic mice in which a dominant active allele of the hedgehog signal transducer, smoothened (Smo), was conditionally expressed in the developing Müllerian duct and gonads through recombination mediated by anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2-cre (Amhr2cre). Previous studies showed that development of the oviduct and uterus are abnormal in female Amhr2cre/+SmoM2 mice. In the current study, focusing on mutant males, litter size was reduced 53% in crosses with wild-type females. An extra band of undifferentiated tissue extended along eac...
Source: Reproduction - February 23, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Migone, F. F., Hung, P.-h., Cowan, R. G., Selvaraj, V., Suarez, S. S., Quirk, S. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Role of the testis interstitial compartment in spermatogonial stem cell function
Intricate cellular and molecular interactions ensure that spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) proceed in a step-wise differentiation process through spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis to produce sperm. SSCs lie within the seminiferous tubule compartment, which provides a nurturing environment for the development of sperm. Cells outside of the tubules, such as interstitial and peritubular cells, also help direct SSC activity. This review focuses on interstitial (interstitial macrophages, Leydig cells and vasculature) and peritubular (peritubular macrophages and peritubular myoid cells) cells and their role in regulating the SS...
Source: Reproduction - February 23, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Potter, S. J., DeFalco, T. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
The role of sex steroids in white adipose tissue adipocyte function
With the increasing knowledge that gender influences normal physiology, much biomedical research has begun to focus on the differential effects of sex on tissue function. Sexual dimorphism in mammals is due to the combined effects of both genetic and hormonal factors. Hormonal factors are mutable particularly in females in whom the estrous cycle dominates the hormonal milieu. Given the severity of the obesity epidemic and the fact that there are differences in the obesity rates in men and women, the role of sex in white adipose tissue function is being recognized as increasingly important. Although sex differences in white...
Source: Reproduction - February 23, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Newell-Fugate, A. E. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Differential expression of CART in ewes with differing ovulation rates
We hypothesised that cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CARTPT) would be differentially expressed in ewes with differing ovulation rates. Expression of mRNA for CARTPT, as well as LHCGR, FSHR, CYP19A1 and CYP17A1 was determined in antral follicles ≥1 mm in diameter collected during the follicular phase in ewes heterozygous for the Booroola and Inverdale genes (I+B+; average ovulation rate 4) and ++ contemporaries (++; average ovulation rate 1.8). In ++ ewes (n = 6), CARTPT was expressed in small follicles (1 to <3 mm diameter), where 18.8 ± 2.5% follicles expressed CARTPT. CART peptide was also det...
Source: Reproduction - February 19, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Juengel, J. L., French, M. C., Quirke, L. D., Kauff, A., Smith, G. W., Johnstone, P. D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effect of bovine oviductal extracellular vesicles on embryo development and quality in vitro
In conclusion, the addition of oviductal fluid extracellular vesicles from isthmus, to in vitro culture of bovine embryos in the absence of serum improves the development and quality of the embryos produced. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 19, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Lopera-Vasquez, R., Hamdi, M., Maillo, V., Gutierrez-Adan, A., Bermejo-Alvarez, P., Ramirez, M. A., Yanez-Mo, M., Rizos, D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Gnrh mRNA expression in the brain of cooperatively breeding female Damaraland mole-rats
This study indicates that social suppression affects the expression of Gnrh mRNA in female Damaraland mole-rats. Furthermore, differential regulation occurs within different neuron subpopulations. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 19, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Voigt, C., Bennett, N. C. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Melatonin levels in follicular fluid as markers for IVF outcomes and predicting ovarian reserve
Good-quality oocytes are critical for the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF), but, to date, there is no marker of ovarian reserve available that can accurately predict oocyte quality. Melatonin exerts its antioxidant actions as a strong radical scavenger that might affect oocyte quality directly as it is the most potent antioxidant in follicular fluid. To investigate the precise role of endogenous melatonin in IVF outcomes, we recruited 61 women undergoing treatment cycles of IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures and classified them into three groups according to their response to ovarian stimulati...
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tong, J., Sheng, S., Sun, Y., Li, H., Li, W.-P., Zhang, C., Chen, Z.-J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Detection and activity of 11 beta hydroxylase (CYP11B1) in the bovine ovary
In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time the presence of CYP11B1 in the bovine ovary. This confirms that there could be a local synthesis of GCs in the bovine ovary and therefore a potential endocrine responder to stress through these hormones. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Amweg, A. N., Rodriguez, F. M., Huber, E., Marelli, B. E., Gareis, N. C., Belotti, E. M., Rey, F., Salvetti, N. R., Ortega, H. H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Improvement of in vitro-produced bovine embryo treated with coagulansin-A under heat-stressed condition
In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the coa-A not only improved the blastocyst development in vitro but also increased their resistance to heat stress condition through induction of HSP70/PI3K. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Khan, I., Lee, K.-L., Xu, L., Mesalam, A., Chowdhury, M. M. R., Joo, M.-D., Ihsan-ul-Haq, , Mirza, B., Kong, I.-K. Tags: Research Source Type: research
WNT regulation of embryonic development likely involves pathways independent of nuclear CTNNB1
In conclusion, canonical WNT signaling is attenuated in the preimplantation bovine embryo but WNT can activate the PCP component JNK. Thus, regulation of embryonic development by WNT is likely to involve activation of pathways independent of nuclear actions of CTNNB1. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tribulo, P., Moss, J. I., Ozawa, M., Jiang, Z., Tian, X., Hansen, P. J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
BMP15 regulates the inhibin/activin system independently of ovulation rate control in sheep
In conclusion, the ovarian inhibin/activin system is unlikely to participate in the increase of ovulation rate associated with BMP15 mutations in sheep. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Estienne, A., Lahoz, B., Jarrier, P., Bodin, L., Folch, J., Alabart, J.-L., Fabre, S., Monniaux, D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Impact of donor and recipient adiposity on placental and fetal growth in adolescent sheep
The influence of maternal obesity during oocyte development and its putative interaction with nutrient reserves at conception on pregnancy outcome were examined in an adolescent sheep model. Donor ewes were nutritionally managed to achieve contrasting adiposity (control (CD)/obese (ObD)) for 6 weeks prior to superovulation and inseminated by a non-obese sire. Morulae from 6 CD and 7 ObD were transferred in singleton into adolescent recipients of identical age but differing adiposity, classified as relatively fat or thin respectively. Thereafter, all were overnourished to promote rapid growth/adiposity (2 x 2 design, 13/14 ...
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Wallace, J. M., Milne, J. S., Adam, C. L., Aitken, R. P. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Oleate attenuates palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in placental trophoblasts
Pre-pregnancy obesity is increasingly common and predisposes pregnant women and offspring to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fetal growth abnormalities and stillbirth. Obese women exhibit elevated levels of the two most common dietary fatty acids, palmitate and oleate, and the maternal blood containing these nutrients bathes the surface of trophoblasts of placental villi in vivo. We test the hypothesis that the composition and concentration of free fatty acids modulate viability and function of primary human villous trophoblasts in culture. We found that palmitate increases syncytiotrophoblast death, specifically by c...
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Colvin, B. N., Longtine, M. S., Chen, B., Costa, M. L., Nelson, D. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
A Drosophila toolkit for defining gene function in spermatogenesis
Expression profiling and genomic sequencing methods enable the accumulation of vast quantities of data that relate to the expression of genes during the maturation of male germ cells from primordial germ cells to spermatozoa and potential mutations that underlie male infertility. However, the determination of gene function in specific aspects of spermatogenesis or linking abnormal gene function with infertility remain rate limiting, as even in an era of CRISPR analysis of gene function in mammalian models, this still requires considerable resources and time. Comparative developmental biology studies have shown the remarkab...
Source: Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Siddall, N. A., Hime, G. R. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
