Evaluation of estrogenic potential by herbal formula, HPC 03 for in vitro and in vivo
HPC 03 is herbal formula that consists of extracts from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale Makino and Cinnamomum cassia Presl. The present study evaluated the estrogenic potential of HPC 03 by using in vitro and in vivo models. The regulatory mechanisms of HPC 03 in estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells were assessed. HPC 03 induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells, and the proliferation was blocked by the addition of the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. The estrogen receptorα/β luciferase activities were significantly increased by HPC 03 treatment, which also increased the mRNA expression of t...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Chang, B. Y., Kim, D. S., Kim, H. S., Kim, S. Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
PARK7 regulates inflammation-induced pro-labour mediators in myometrial and amnion cells
Preterm birth is a prevalent cause of neonatal deaths worldwide. Inflammation has been implicated in spontaneous preterm birth involved in the processes of uterine contractility and membrane rupture. Parkinson protein 7 (PARK7) has been found to play an inflammatory role in non-gestational tissues. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of PARK7 in myometrium and fetal membranes with respect to term labour onset and to elucidate the effect of PARK7 silencing in primary myometrium and amnion cells on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators. PARK7 mRNA expression was higher in term myometrium and fetal mem...
Source: Reproduction - January 22, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Lim, R., Barker, G., Lappas, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Single Ca2+ transients vs oscillatory Ca2+ signaling for assisted oocyte activation: limitations and benefits
Oocyte activation is a calcium (Ca2+)-dependent process that has been investigated in depth, in particular, regarding its impact on assisted reproduction technology (ART). Following a standard model of signal transduction, Ca2+ drives the meiotic progression upon fertilization in all species studied to date. However, Ca2+ changes during oocyte activation are species specific, and they can be classified in two modalities based on the pattern defined by the Ca2+ signature: a single Ca2+ transient (e.g. amphibians) or repetitive Ca2+ transients called Ca2+ oscillations (e.g. mammals). Interestingly, assisted oocyte activation...
Source: Reproduction - January 12, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ferrer-Buitrago, M., Bonte, D., De Sutter, P., Leybaert, L., Heindryckx, B. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
KIRREL is differentially expressed in adipose tissue from 'fertil+ and 'fertil- cows: in vitro role in ovary?
We have previously shown that dairy cows carrying the ‘fertil–’ haplotype for one quantitative trait locus affecting female fertility located on the bovine chromosome three (QTL-F-Fert-BTA3) have a significantly lower conception rate and body weight after calving than cows carrying the ‘fertil+’ haplotype. Here, we compared by Tiling Array the expression of genes included in the QTL-F-Fert-BTA3 in ‘fertil+’ and ‘fertil–’ adipose tissue one week after calving when plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were greater in ‘fertil–’ animals. W...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Coyral-Castel, S., Rame, C., Cognie, J., Lecardonnel, J., Marthey, S., Esquerre, D., Hennequet-Antier, C., Elis, S., Fritz, S., Boussaha, M., Jaffrezic, F., Dupont, J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effects of sympathectomy on ovarian follicular development and steroid secretion
In conclusion, these results suggest that the nerve–ovarian connections, which are established during infantile development, are necessary for the accurate response of the ovary to sympathetic stimulation. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Garrido, M. P., Fernandois, D., Venegas, M., Paredes, A. H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Biological age of the endometrium using DNA methylation
In conclusion, as long as endometrial samples are timed to the same time point in the menstrual cycle, Horvath’s epigenetic clock could be a powerful new biomarker of reproductive aging in the human endometrium. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Olesen, M. S., Starnawska, A., Bybjerg-Grauholm, J., Bielfeld, A. P., Agerholm, I., Forman, A., Overgaard, M. T., Nyegaard, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Isolation of human testicular cells and co-culture with embryonic stem cells
Our overall goal is to create a three-dimensional human cell-based testicular model for toxicological and spermatogenesis studies. Methods to purify the major somatic testicular cells, namely Leydig cells (LCs), peritubular myoid cells (PCs) and Sertoli cells (SCs), from rats, mice and guinea pigs have been reported. In humans, the isolation of populations enriched for primary LCs, PCs or SCs also have described. One objective of this study was to determine if populations of cells enriched for all three of these cell types can be isolated from testes of single human donors, and we were successful in doing so from testes of...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gaur, M., Ramathal, C., Reijo Pera, R. A., Turek, P. J., John, C. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
High-fat diet exposure from pre-pubertal age induces polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries and metabolic syndrome. Many researchers reported that PCOS often starts with menarche in adolescents. Presently available animal model focuses on ovarian but not metabolic features of PCOS. Therefore, we hypothesized that high-fat diet feeding to pre-pubertal female rats results in both reproductive and metabolic features of PCOS. Pre-pubertal female rats were divided into two groups: group I received normal pellet diet and group II received high-fat diet (HFD). In the letrozole study, adult female rats were divided...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Patel, R., Shah, G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Disturbed spermatogenic signaling in pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-deficient mice
PACAP is a neuropeptide with diverse functions in various organs, including reproductive system. It is present in the testis in high concentrations, and in addition to the stage-specific expression within the seminiferous tubules, PACAP affects spermatogenesis and the functions of Leydig and Sertoli cells. Mice lacking endogenous PACAP show reduced fertility, but the possibility of abnormalities in spermatogenic signaling has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we performed a detailed morphological analysis of spermatozoa, sperm motility and investigated signaling pathways that play a role during spermatogenesis in knock...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Reglodi, D., Cseh, S., Somoskoi, B., Fulop, B. D., Szentleleky, E., Szegeczki, V., Kovacs, A., Varga, A., Kiss, P., Hashimoto, H., Tamas, A., Bardosi, A., Manavalan, S., Bako, E., Zakany, R., Juhasz, T. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Identification and verification of potential piRNAs from domesticated yak testis
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNA) are small non-coding RNA molecules expressed in animal germ cells that interact with PIWI family proteins to form RNA–protein complexes involved in epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene silencing of retrotransposons and other genetic elements in germ line cells, including reproductive stem cell self-sustainment, differentiation, meiosis and spermatogenesis. In the present study, we performed high-throughput sequencing of piRNAs in testis samples from yaks in different stages of sexual maturity. Deep sequencing of the small RNAs (18–40 nt in length) yielded 4,900,538 unique reads...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gong, J., Zhang, Q., Wang, Q., Ma, Y., Du, J., Zhang, Y., Zhao, X. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Evaluation of estrogenic potential by herbal formula, HPC 03 for in vitro and in vivo
HPC 03 is herbal formula that consists of extracts from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale Makino and Cinnamomum cassia Presl. The present study evaluated the estrogenic potential of HPC 03 by using in vitro and in vivo models. The regulatory mechanisms of HPC 03 in estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells were assessed. HPC 03 induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells, and the proliferation was blocked by the addition of the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. The estrogen receptorα/β luciferase activities were significantly increased by HPC 03 treatment, which also increased the mRNA expression of t...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Chang, B. Y., Kim, D. S., Kim, H. S., Kim, S. Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
The endoplasmic reticulum, calcium signaling and junction turnover in Sertoli cells
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms a continuous network throughout morphologically differentiated Sertoli cells. It is an integral component of intercellular adhesion junctions in this cell type, as well as forming membrane contact sites with the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles. One of the major functions of the ER in cells generally is maintaining calcium homeostasis and generating calcium signals. In this review, we discuss what is currently known about the overall pattern of distribution of the ER in Sertoli cells and the location of calcium regulatory machinery in the various subdomains of the organelle....
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Vogl, W., Lyon, K., Adams, A., Piva, M., Nassour, V. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Germ granule-mediated RNA regulation in male germ cells
Germ cells have exceptionally diverse transcriptomes. Furthermore, the progress of spermatogenesis is accompanied by dramatic changes in gene expression patterns, the most drastic of them being near-to-complete transcriptional silencing during the final steps of differentiation. Therefore, accurate RNA regulatory mechanisms are critical for normal spermatogenesis. Cytoplasmic germ cell-specific ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules, known as germ granules, participate in posttranscriptional regulation in developing male germ cells. Particularly, germ granules provide platforms for the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway and ap...
Source: Reproduction - January 11, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Lehtiniemi, T., Kotaja, N. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Where there was one, now there are two
(Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 4, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Price, C., FitzHarris, G. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Regulation of porcupine-dependent Wnt signaling is essential for uterine development and function
Six members of the Wnt family are expressed in the female reproductive tract. Their collective function ensures proper development of the uterus, preparing it for pregnancy during adulthood. Here, we take advantage of the fact that Porcn, a prerequisite for all Wnt secretion, is located on the X chromosome, to generate females that were mosaic for Porcn throughout the reproductive tract. Porcnflox/+ females were mated with progesterone receptor (Pgr)-Cre males (PgrCre/+) to generate females that were heterozygous for Porcupine in all tissues of the female reproductive tract, resulting in mosaicism due to random X-inactivat...
Source: Reproduction - December 21, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Farah, O., Biechele, S., Rossant, J., Dufort, D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
