Reproduction Abstracts

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a testicular Sertoli cell product belonging to the TGF-beta superfamily responsible for regression of the Mullerian ducts in the male foetus. It plays a pivotal role in sexual differentiation of the internal genital ducts. The existence of AMH was first postulated by Alfred Jost in the 1950s and was long considered to be a foetal testis-specific factor. However, it has since emerged that AMH and its receptors are also expressed by the post-natal...

Introduction: Previous reports in different species have shown that various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can modulate ovarian steroidogenesis with the majority of studies focussing on granulosa cells. To test the hypothesis that exposure to EDCs might also perturb thecal steroidogenesis we conducted in vitro dose–response experiments to evaluate the direct effects of selected EDCs on androstenedione and progesterone production by cultured bovine theca ce...

Introduction: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), expressed by gram-negative bacteria. The specific receptor for LPS on host cells is TLR4, one of 11 members of the TLR family involved in innate immunity. Here we investigated i) changes in GC/TC expression of TLR4 during follicle development, ii) The effect of LPS on oestradiol secretion from non-luteinised granulosa cells (GC) and androstendione from non-luteinised theca cells (TC), iii...

Introduction: Cyclic ovarian function involves continual tissue remodelling. During ovulation macrophages invade the ovary and secret pro-inflammatory cytokines such us TNF- and IL6 that have local actions on ovarian cells. Here we investigated i) the effect of macrophages on secretion of oestradiol by granulosa cells (TC) and androstenedione by theca cells (TC) and ii) the effect of macrophages on TC and stroma cell (SC) migration was also assessed using an in vitro ...

Introduction: Kisspeptin, a neuropeptide secreted in the hypothalamus and encoded by the Kiss-1 gene, has a role in promoting the release of GnRH and LH in various species. However, the possibility that kisspeptin exerts additional ‘peripheral’ actions at the level of the bovine gonad has not been investigated. The current aims were to investigate whether: i) kiss-1 and its receptor (GPR54) are expressed in the bovine ovary; ii) kisspeptin or kisspeptin antagonist ca...

Introduction: Neuromedin B (NMB), a highly conserved bombesin-related decapeptide originally isolated from porcine spinal cord, has various physiological effects including the regulation of exocrine and endocrine secretions. The current aims were to investigate whether: (1) NMB is expressed in the bovine ovary (2) NMB or NMB antagonist can modulate ovarian steroidogenesis or proliferation by cultured bovine theca (TC) and granulosa (GC) cells.Methods: GC...