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PubMed1991

Superovulation in cattle: effects of purity of FSH preparation on follicular characteristics in vivo.

When cattle were superovulated with an FSH preparation containing no detectable LH (FSH-W), more viable embryos were recovered as compared with a standard preparation containing LH (FSH-P), with no change in the total number of ova + embryos recovered (Donaldson et al., 1986). To determine the basis for the increased embryo viability, we compared numbers of developing follicles and concentrations of estradiol in their follicular fluid at two times during the course of superovulatory treatment with FSH-P vs. FSH-W. Holstein heifers (n = 10/group) were injected with 3.5 mg of FSH-P or FSH-W twice daily beginning on Day 9 of the estrous cycle. Animals were ovariectomized either 48 h (Group 1) or 72 h (Group 2) after the initiation of treatment; heifers in Group 2 were also given a luteolytic injection of prostaglandin F2 alpha 24 h before ovariectomy. All follicles greater than S mm in diameter were dissected from the ovaries and follicular fluid was aspirated and stored frozen. Heifers injected with FSH-W had more follicles greater than 5 mm than heifers treated with FSH-P (21 + 4 vs. 11 + 3 in Group 1 and 28 + 5 vs. 20 +/- 5 in Group 2, respectively; p less than 0.05) and a significantly greater percentage of follicles from FSH-W animals were healthy (estrogen-active; 99 vs. 85% in Group 1 and 98 vs. 89% in Group 2, respectively; p less than 0.025). Estradiol concentrations in follicular fluid were more strongly correlated (p less than 0.001) with follicular size when heifers were treated with FSH-P vs. FSH-W.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Estimation of FSH and LH before and after stimulation with LH-RH in male sterility and hypogonadism].

Plasma levels of FSH and LH, in 232 subjects examined for sterility or hypogonadism, have been assessed vefore and after stimulation by LH RH (100 microng IV). In excretory azoospermia, the basal levels as well as the response to LH RH of FSH as well as LH are normal. In early testicular damage (constitutional or acquired); basal FSH levels are elevated (91% of the cases) as well as the FSH response to LH RH (78%); basal LH levels are either normal (66% of the cases) or elevated (34%). An augmentation of the LH response has been found in 92% of the cases. In hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (n = 12) 3 types of responses have been noticed : absence of response of FSH and of LH (7 cases); normal FSH response, no LH response (2 cases); exaggerated FSH and LH response (2 cases). In idiopahtic oligospermia (n = 84); basal FSH levels are elevated in 24 cases but normal in the rest. There is a highly significant correlation between basal FSH and its response to LH RH injection (r = 0.73, t = 9,67 p less than 0,001); basal LH levels are normal, except in 5 cases where a definite increase has been noted. The response of LH is exaggerated in 36 cases which includes the 5 showing enhanced basal LH levels. There is a highly significant correlation between FSH response and LH response (r = 0,55; t = 5,94; p less than 0,001). Exploration of patients with varicocoele intact or operated show no difference from those suffering from idiopathic oligospermia. From a practical point of view, the LH RH test enables : a distinction between excretory azoospermia and secretory azoospermia with normal testicular volume, without recourse to testicular biopsy; affirmation, in 36% of cases with idiopathic oligospermia of the early damage to spermatogenesis, thus contra-indicating any treatment involving testicular stimulation. From the physico-pathological point of view : the early damage to spermatogenesis is characterized by an elevation in basal FSH and its response to LH RH injection. The significance of the augmented Lh response, which often accompanies an augmentation in FSH response but incertain cases is isolated, is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Dynamic change in charge heterogeneity of pituitary FSH throughout the estrous cycle in female rats.

Anterior pituitaries were removed from female rats at various stages during the estrous cycle and FSH was fractionated by isoelectric focusing (IEF). Fourteen FSH components were observed during the estrous cycle and twelve of them were distributed between pH 3.71 and 6.66. IEF profiles of FSH in the pituitaries varied with the stage in the estrous cycle. Especially at the time of serum FSH surge on the day of proestrus, most of the components decreased, while only a highly alkaline component showed an increase. When these FSH components were separated and their nature was examined by radioreceptor assay (RRA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and gel filtration, differences were observed among these components in the RRA/RIA ratio and gel filtration profile. As a general tendency, the RRA/RIA ratio of the components became greater while the apparent molecular size became smaller, as their pI became higher. However, some highly acidic components showed a biphasic elution pattern and the most acidic one eluted the latest on gel filtration, suggesting that these components may be heterogeneous in terms of molecular size. The FSH concentration in sera collected at different stages in the estrous cycle was measured by both RRA and RIA. The RRA/RIA ratio was high when the serum immunoreactive FSH was low, and low during the FSH surge. From these findings, it is concluded that the quality of FSH molecules present in the anterior pituitary gland changes dynamically throughout the estrous cycle, especially during the period of serum FSH surge. Furthermore it is suggested that the type of FSH secreted from it also varies according to the stage in the estrous cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Self-adjusted postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: effects on the biological and immunological profile of FSH and correlation to climacteric symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hormonal profile of patients of postmenopausal age during estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) with special reference to the serum levels of biologically active FSH (B-FSH) in a self-adjusted ERT model. DESIGN: The hormonal values found have been correlated to climateric symptoms reported by the patients (scored by the Kupperman menopausal index (KI)). METHODS: B-FSH was measured using an assay based on a cell system transfected permanently with FSH receptor cDNA. All women (n=32) applied estradiol percutaneously using 1 mg estradiol-17beta (E(2)) as an initial dose and were encouraged to increase the daily dose until they felt comfortable according to a specific scheme. Twelve of the 32 women were hysterectomized and treated, accordingly, with ERT only; 20 women received megestrol acetate monthly for 10 days. RESULTS: The initial average KI was 30 (range 10-54). A high degree of correlation (r=0.83; P<0.001) was observed between B-FSH and immunologically active FSH (I-FSH). Serum I-FSH and E(2) correlated negatively (r=-0.21; P<0.001); similarly, a negative correlation (r=-0.15; P<0.01) was observed between serum B-FSH and E(2) levels. Serum I-FSH and KI showed modest but significant positive correlation (r=0.13; P<0.01); a somewhat higher degree of correlation (r=0.19; P<0.005) was observed when B-FSH and KI were compared. E(2) showed positive correlation to serum sex-hormone binding globulin levels (r=0.22; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the transdermal self-adjusted hormone replacement therapy (HRT) model introduced is suitable for studies on endocrine changes during postmenopausal ERT. The finding of poor correlation between serum E(2) levels and KI emphasizes the importance of hormonal measurements during postmenopausal HRT.

Climacteric↗
PubMed1995

Interaction between activin A and cAMP in the induction of FSH receptor in cultured rat granulosa cells.

The acquisition of FSH receptor during preantral folliculogenesis is believed to be a key step in the subsequent development of follicles. We examined the interaction between activin and cAMP in FSH receptor induction in rat granulosa cells by measuring 125I-FSH binding and FSH receptor mRNA. In the 125I-FSH binding study, 0.2 mM 8-Br-cAMP and 1 microM forskolin were maximally effective in FSH receptor induction (169 and 220% respectively of control), while higher concentrations gave attenuated responses. It appears that cAMP has ambivalent effects on FSH receptor induction depending on the concentration and length of exposure. Activin alone dramatically increased the number of FSH receptors (314% of control). Moreover, synergistic effects of activin and 8-Br-cAMP or forskolin were observed on FSH receptor induction: a combination of activin (80 ng/ml) and low doses of 8-Br-cAMP (0.2 mM) or forskolin (1 microM) was most effective (160 or 140% of that induced by activin alone) and receptor levels reached a maximum at 24 h. These levels than markedly decreased after 72 h of incubation. Northern blot analysis revealed that the combination of activin (80 ng/ml) and 8-Br-cAMP (0.2 mM) or forskolin (1 microM) increased FSH receptor mRNA to about 140% of that induced by activin alone. These results indicate that activin and cAMP induced FSH receptor synergistically. However, activin did not enhance the production of cAMP induced by forskolin. In addition, a protein kinase A inhibitor (H89) (2 microM), which inhibited the effects of forskolin, had no effect on the action of activin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

FSH does not directly influence testicular macrophages.

We have previously demonstrated that conditioned medium from testicular macrophages stimulates testosterone production by Leydig cells. It was also reported that conditioned medium from macrophages treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) had an even greater amount of Leydig cell-stimulating activity than medium from untreated macrophages, indicating that this factor is under the regulation of FSH. However, most other laboratories have been unable to reproduce this effect of FSH. We have recently purified and partially characterized the stimulatory factor from macrophage-conditioned medium that stimulates Leydig cells. The purpose of the present investigation was to reinvestigate the effect of FSH by determining whether it regulates the production of this purified factor and by determining whether macrophages have mRNA for the FSH receptor. Testicular macrophages were isolated from adult rats and incubated 24 hours with human recombinant FSH (20 units/ml), ovine FSH (200 ng/ml), fetal bovine serum (2%), or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (1 mM). The macrophage-derived factor (MDF) was then purified from conditioned medium of the various treatment groups and added to Leydig cells. The concentration of testosterone in the Leydig cell medium was then measured after 16 hours. It was found that serum significantly stimulated production of the MDF. However, FSH had no effect on production of the MDF in the presence or absence of serum. Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate exerted a slight inhibitory effect on production of the macrophage-derived factor. Most importantly, testicular macrophages did not express detectable levels of FSH receptor mRNA, either in vivo or in vitro, when evaluated using either in situ hybridization or northern analysis, under identical conditions that clearly demonstrated FSH receptor mRNA in Sertoli cells. We conclude that testicular macrophages are not a direct target for FSH.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effect of inhibin-like activity on LH-RH-stimulated release of FSH by pituitary glands from female rats in vitro.

During long-term incubation of pituitary glands from intact female rats in the presence of inhibin-like activity, LH-RH-stimulated release of FSH becomes inhibited after 4 h of incubation. However, at the same time inhibition of basal FSH release is included. Therefore, glands were at first incubated for 4 h in the presence of inhibin-like activity to block basal release completely and thereafter LH-RH was added to the medium. It was found that LH-RH still could stimulate FSH release, despite the continuous presence of inhibin-like activity. This means that LH-RH-stimulated release of FSH could be investigated separately from basal release. Using this way of incubation, it was found that part of the action of LH-RH on FSH release was independent of protein synthesis. Also part of LH-RH-stimulated FSH release was independent of the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Furthermore it was found that LH-RH, when added after 4 h of incubation did stimulate FSH synthesis, in the presence as well as absence of inhibin-like activity. The present results indicate that LH-RH-stimulated release of FSH is not affected by inhibin-like activity. Complete inhibition of basal release and synthesis of FSH does not prevent LH-RH from stimulating FSH release and synthesis. It is suggested that two separate releasing mechanisms for FSH could exist in the pituitary gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of exogenous FSH on estrus, ovulation and endogenous hormone release in dairy cows.

Fifteen lactating Holstein cows were randomly allotted to receive either 0 mg (group 0), 32 mg (group 1) or 50 mg (group 2) porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P) injected in 10 fractions at 12 hr intervals beginning on day 9 of the estrous cycle. All cows received 25 mg prostaglandin (PG) on day 11. Jugular blood samples were collected from cows in all groups at 6 hr intervals beginning on day 7 and continuing through expression of estrus. Mean duration to occurrence of estrus and preovulatory LH surge after PG injection was reduced (P<.05) by injection of FSH-P. Mean number of ovulations increased (P<.05) progressively with increased dose of FSH-P. Mean peripheral progesterone declined more uniformly in FSH-P treated cows after PG and increased earlier (P<.05) after estrus in group 2 cows compared to group 0 and 1 cows. Mean plasma estradiol-17beta elevated (P<.05) after PG injection in both FSH-P-treated groups compared to group 0 cows. Both LH and FSH increased (P<.05) for 36 hr after initiation of FSH-P injection in groups 1 and 2, then declined until after PG injection. Peak LH and FSH occurred more uniformly following PG in treated cows. Results indicate that FSH-P increased endogenous gonadotropin release, estradiol-17beta, ovulation rate and reduced duration to estrus and preovulatory gonadotropin release after PG. Injection of 50 mg FSH-P increased plasma estradiol-17beta and ovulation rate compared to injection of 32 mg FSH-P.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Superovulation in the cow with a single intramuscular injection of FSH dissolved in polyvinylpyrrolidone.

It is desirable to reduce the number of treatments required to induce superovulation in cows. In this study we examined whether dissolving FSH in polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) would reduce the rate of absorption of FSH and allow it to be administered in a single dose for superovulation. In Experiment 1, 10 cows each received a single dose of FSH which contains 0.6% luteinizing hormone (FSH-R; 30 mg i.m.) dissolved in 30% PVP (10 ml) or in saline. In Experiment 2, a single injection of 30 mg FSH-R dissolved in 30% PVP was given to 25 cows, and 32 cows were injected twice daily in declining doses to receive a total of 28 mg FSH-R dissolved in saline. Prostaglandin F2alpha was given to all the cows 48 h after the first FSH treatment. Embryos were collected on Day 7 or 8 post insemination. In Experiment 1, the effect of FSH dissolved in PVP was compared with that dissolved in saline (number of recovered ova and embryos; 9.4+/-4.1 vs. 0). In Experiment 2, the rate of transferable embryos by single injection of FSH-R in PVP were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of treatment of multiple injection groups. Progesterone concentration measured in serum collected 4 times from estrus (Day-0) to the day of embryo collection, indicated similar patterns in the 2 treatment groups. These findings suggest that PVP is a suitable solvent for prolonging the absorption of FSH given in a single injection thus providing a more practical approach of FSH administration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

FSH and growth factors affect the growth and endocrine function in vitro of granulosa cells of bovine preantral follicles.

The hypothesis was tested that bovine preantral follicles can be stimulated to grow in vitro by FSH and by the mitogens, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), but not by transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta), which generally inhibits EGF and bFGF action. Preantral follicles, 60 to 179 mum in diameter, were isolated from fetal ovaries by treatment with collagenase and DNase and cultured for 6 d in serum-free medium, with or without FSH and growth factors. Basic FGF (50 ng/ml), and to a lesser extent FSH (100 ng/ml) and EGF (50 ng/ml), stimulated thymidine incorporation by granulosa cells in bovine preantral follicles compared to control cultures (8-, 4- and 2.5-fold the labeling index of the controls; P < 0.05). Alone TGFbeta (10 ng/ml) had no effect on (3)H-thymidine incorporation, but it completely inhibited the bFGF- but not the FSH-stimulated increase in the labeling index and mean follicular diameter of preantral follicles (P < 0.05). By the end of the culture period oocytes in most treatments had degenerated, and the few surviving oocytes were in preantral follicles cultured with FSH or bFGF. Progesterone accumulation was greater (P < 0.05) in the presence of FSH (100 ng/ml) or EGF (50 ng/ml) than with bFGF, TGFbeta or control medium. Basic FGF strongly inhibited the effect of FSH on progesterone secretion (P < 0.05). Only FSH stimulated the conversion of exogenous testosterone to estradiol and both bFGF and TGFbeta markedly inhibited FSH-stimulated estradiol accumulation. These results indicate that proliferation of granulosa cells of bovine preantral follicles can be stimulated by bFGF, FSH and EGF, whereas TGFbeta inhibits growth, and that they are steroidogenically active in culture. Basic FGF and TGFbeta antagonize FSH-stimulated steroid production by granulosa cells of cultured bovine preantral follicles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1976

LH and FSH responses to luteinizing releasing hormone in normal fertile women.

These studies were designed to permit calculation of bioassay dose-response curves for luteinizing releasing hormone (LRH) during three phases of the menstrual cycle in normal women. No previous data permit such estimations. Synthetic LRH was administered as a single i.v. bolus injection to 18 normal women. The dose levels were 30, 100, and 300 mug administered in the follicular, preovulary, or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in a 3(2) factorial design. Each subject was injected with the same dose in two different phases of the same cycle. The total number of injections given to the entire group of women was 36. For comparative purposes, the same doses (30, 100, and 300 mug) were administered to eugonadal men. In absolute as well as in relative terms, the highest maximal responses were observed in the preovulatory phase, and the lowest in the follicular phase. Measured as the area under the time-response curve, the highest maximal responses were observed in the luteal phase. The duration of the elevation in LH and FSH in response to LRH showed no significant relation to the phases of the cycle but, for both hormones, was related to the dose of LRH administered. Dose-response curves were established for both LH and FSH in all three phases of the cycle, but only in the preovulatory and luteal phases were the F ratios significant for LH. For FSH, the F ratio was only significant in the luteal phase. The potency of LRH was found to increase throughout the cycle, culminating in the luteal phase. The potency in the early follicular phase was similar to that in normal, adult, human males. Throughout these studies the FSH:LH ratio remained less than one. During the normal menstrual cycle follicle growth is initiated by FSH secretion and the FSH:LH ratio is greater than one. These findings indicate that a factor other than the decapeptide, LRH, must stimulate FSH secretion during the follicular phase. Since any modulating hormonal factors (e.g., gonadal steroids) would be present during our studies, modulation of pituitary response to endogenous LRH can not explain the relative increase in FSH (compared to LH) seen in the early follicular phase of women. Lastly, the slopes of the dose-response curves for LRH stimulation of LH vary with phase of the menstrual cycle. The slope was least in follicular phase, greater with ovulatory phase, and greatest for luteal phase (when LH-FSH secretion is lowest). These data indicate that the differences in response to LRH are not simply alteration of potency (or quantitative differences) but differences in a qualitative response. Furthermore, endogenous LRH secretion must be lowest during the luteal phase, when response to exogenous LRH is greatest. It is common to test pituitary LH-FSH secretory ability by administering 100 mug of LRH intravenously. The 95% confidence intervals for the relative maximal responses to 100 mug LRH in normal, fertile women on the third day of the menstrual cycle were 200%-700% for LH, and 150-200% for FSH.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Short time priming of pig cumulus-oocyte complexes with FSH and forskolin in the presence of hypoxanthine stimulates cumulus cells to secrete a meiosis-activating substance.

This study evaluated the effect of forskolin and FSH on pig oocyte maturation when cultured in a maturation inhibiting system. Ovaries from prepubertal gilts were collected at a local slaughterhouse. Oocytes were cultured in a hypoxanthine (HX 4 mM) containing M 199 for 24 or 40 h with or without forskolin and FSH treatment. After the culture, we examined germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body (PB) formation. Two experiments were designed. (1) Cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEO) were cultured for 24 or 40 h with or without different doses of forskolin and FSH. (2) CEO were primed by forskolin and FSH for different times and then transferred into an HX-medium for a further culture. The total culture period was 24 h. The results revealed that 4 mM HX markedly prevented pig CEO from undergoing GVBD. After 24 and 40 h culture, FSH (50-200 U/L) stimulated oocytes to resume meiosis by overcoming the inhibition of HX. Both GVBD and PB formation were increased (P < 0.002 and 0.01 respectively) after 40 h exposed to FSH. Forskolin showed a biphasic effect on CEO maturation. Within 24 h forskolin, in combination with HX, inhibited oocytes maturation. The GVBD percentage was significantly decreased compared to HX alone group (2% to 20%, P < 0.01), whereas no inhibition was observed after 40 h of culture. The second experiment showed that forskolin (3 microM) and FSH (100 U/L) priming CEO could time-dependently induce oocyte maturation by overriding the inhibition of HX. After 30 and 60 min priming by FSH or forskolin, the GVBD and PB percentage was significantly increased (P < 0.002 and 0.01 respectively). No difference of GVBD percentage was observed between FSH short time priming group and FSH long time presentation group. In conclusion, we found that forskolin and FSH in vitro can stimulate pig cumulus cells to secrete a meiosis-activating substance which induces the oocyte to overcome the inhibition of hypoxanthine and undergo GVBD.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of cysteamine, fsh and estradiol-17beta on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

Porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 48 h with addition or absence of exogenous estradiol-17beta (E2; 1 microg/mL) in the maturation medium (mM199). The medium was supplemented with sodium pyruvate (0.1 mg/mL), 10% (v/v) FCS, various concentrations of FSH (0, 1 and 10 microg/mL) and with or without cysteamine (150 microM). When supplemented with E2, cysteamine enhanced the rates of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and maturation to metaphase-II (M-II) in COCs cultured in the medium with 0 and 1 microg/mL FSH (P<0.05). Among COCs cultured with FSH, oocytes cultured with 1 microg/mL FSH and E2 but without cysteamine showed the lowest rates of GVBD and M-II. The rates were, however, significantly increased when cysteamine was added to the same medium or by increasing FSH concentration to 10 microg/mL in the maturation medium. E2 significantly inhibited the rates of GVBD and M-II in COCs cultured without FSH and cysteamine (a group of oocytes with spontaneous maturation). When COCs were cultured in TCM 199 with 1 or 10 microg/mL FSH, with or without E2 (1 microg/mL) and fertilized in vitro, the rates of male pronucleus formation were not increased by increasing FSH concentration, but the addition of cysteamine to the maturation medium significantly enhanced the rates in the same FSH treatment. The results indicate that E2 inhibits spontaneous GVBD and maturation to M-II of porcine oocytes and that a low concentration of FSH (1 microg/mL) is not sufficient to induce full nuclear maturation, compared with 10 microg/mL FSH, but that it can complete nuclear maturation with cysteamine and E2. However, the cytoplasmic maturation is promoted only by the addition of cysteamine in the medium.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Modification of follicular dynamics by exogenous FSH and progesterone, and the induction of ovulation using hCG in postpartum beef cows.

Follicular growth and ovulation in response to FSH, progesterone and hCG were evaluated in postpartum beef cows. In Experiment 1, on Day 21 post partum, cows received an injection of either saline (control; n = 6), FSH (200 mg; n = 6), or a PRID (n = 5) for 10 d. Both FSH and PRID prolonged maintenance of a dominant follicle (15.5 +/- 1.16 and 14.4 +/- 1.29 d, respectively, vs 8.4 +/- 1.22 d in control; P < 0.01), and increased the maximum diameter of the dominant follicle (14.0 +/- 0.91 and 16.4 +/- 1.01 mm, respectively, vs 10.9 +/- 0.95 mm in control; P < 0.05). The PRID-maintained dominant follicle ovulated in 60% of cows, followed by normal estrous cycles (vs 0% in control; P = 0.01), whereas the dominant follicle ovulated in 33% of FSH-treated cows (P = 0.08). The PRID regimen shortened the interval to first ovulation preceding a normal cycle and continued cyclicity (44 +/- 4.1 vs 60 +/- 4.4 d in control; P = 0.02). In Experiment 2, on Day 21 post partum, cows received either saline (control), saline + PRID, or FSH + PRID (n = 16/group). Sixty hours after PRID withdrawal, cows received either saline or hCG (1,500 IU, n = 8/treatment). The FSH + PRID regimen increased the number of large (> 10 mm in diameter) follicles (3.6 +/- 0.43 vs 1.9 +/- 0.39 in control; P = 0.005). Both PRID and FSH + PRID prolonged maintenance of the largest follicle (11.0 +/- 0.82 and 11.2 +/- 0.91 d, respectively, vs 8.7 +/- 0.81 d in control; P < 0.05). The PRID-maintained dominant follicle ovulated in 50% of cows, followed by normal estrous cycles. The FSH + PRID-maintained largest follicle had become atretic at PRID withdrawal and was anovulatory. The FSH + PRID + hCG regimen increased the incidence of ovulation preceding a cycle of normal duration and continued cyclicity (100 vs 50% in PRID; P = 0.03), and reduced the interval to first ovulation preceding a cycle of normal duration and continued cyclicity (38 +/- 6.5 vs 58 +/- 6.3 d in control; P = 0.04). The area under the progesterone curve during the induced cycle was reduced after (PRID +/- FSH) + hCG than after PRID +/- FSH (P = 0.002). These results indicate that PRID alone or with FSH/hCG has the potential to modify the dominant follicle and initiate cyclicity in postpartum beef cows.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

IVF performance of women who have fluctuating early follicular FSH levels.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate whether women who have early follicular follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels > 12 mIU/ml have reduced response to follicular stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a following month, in spite of normal FSH levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a 3-year period from January 1996 to December 1998, 303 women aged 38 years and above and/or who had previously responded poorly to superovulation for IVF gave blood samples for FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) on day 2 of menstruation before commencing treatment. RESULTS: In 117 (38.6%) of these women, FSH levels were > 12 mIU/ml (range 12-114 mIU/ml). Sixty-six of these women gave a further 130 blood samples for FSH measurement in the following months. Seventy-eight (60.0%) of the tests showed raised FSH value > 12 mIU/ml. Thirty women whose repeat FSH levels were < 12 mIU/ml underwent 41 IVF cycles (group 1). Sixty-three other women, older than 38 and/or who had a poor response to superovulation previously and whose FSH levels were < 12 mIU/ml, served as the control group (group II). There were no differences in the responses to superovulation and delivery rates between the two groups (14.6% vs. 12.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Women whose early follicular phase FSH levels were raised > 12 mIU/ml had an increased risk (> 50%) that in subsequent cycles levels would remain raised, and it was not possible to predict which individuals would have favorable FSH levels. If the cycle day 2 FSH level returns to a "normal" level of < 12 mIU/ml, women aged 40 and above had substantial cycle cancellation rates (43%), but patients who achieved the stage of embryo transfer had a good chance of conceiving, regardless of their age.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The ERK-dependent signalling is stage-specifically modulated by FSH, during primary Sertoli cell maturation.

Primary cultures of Sertoli cells provide an interesting model to study how signalling pathways induced by a single hormone in a single cell type evolve, depending on the developmental stage. In vivo, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) induces proliferation of Sertoli cells in neonate and controls the subsequent differentiation of the entire population. Molecular mechanisms underlying Sertoli cell pleiotropic responses to FSH have long been investigated. But to date, only cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA) activation has been reported to account for most FSH biological activities in male. Here, we demonstrate that FSH activates the ERK MAP kinase pathway following dual coupling of the FSH-R both to Gs and to Gi heterotrimeric proteins, in a PKA- and also Src-dependent manner. This activation is required for FSH-induced proliferation of Sertoli cells isolated 5 days after birth. Consistently, we show that the ERK-mediated FSH mitogenic effect triggers upregulation of cyclin D1. In sharp contrast, at 19 days after birth, as cells proceed through their differentiation program, the ERK pathway is dramatically inhibited by FSH treatment. Taken together, these results show that FSH can exert opposite effects on the ERK signalling cascade during the maturation process of Sertoli cells. Thus, signalling modules triggered by the FSH-R evolve dynamically throughout development of FSH natural target cells.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1993

Use of single or multiple injections of FSH in embryo collection programmes in goats.

The yield of embryos from goats treated with single injections of FSH combined with low doses of PMSG was compared with that from goats treated with conventional superovulatory regimens based on multiple doses of FSH. In one experiment, 101 female goats were assigned to 10 groups. One group received six injections of FSH-P (FSH-P control); a second group received eight injections of Ovagen (Ovagen control). The remaining eight groups conformed to a 2x2x2 factorial design in which goats received a single injection of a low or high dose of either FSH-P or Ovagen in combination with a low or high dose of PMSG. All goats were run with harnessed, entire bucks. Ovaries were examined by laparoscopy and embryos were recovered from goats that had ovulated and been mated. The mean number of normal embryos collected per goat was significantly greater in the FSH-P control group in all except those groups treated with either low or high doses of PMSG combined with a low dose of Ovagen or a low dose of PMSG combined with a high dose of Ovagen. Most goats ovulated and ovulation rates were not significantly different from the mean of the FSH-P control, except for those treated with a low dose of FSH-P combined with either low or high doses of PMSG. Embryo recovery rates were significantly lower in groups treated with a high dose of PMSG combined with a high dose of either Ovagen or FSH-P, or with low doses of PMSG and FSH-P, than in the FSH-P control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ovarian stimulation in intrauterine insemination with donor sperm: a randomized study comparing clomiphene citrate in fixed protocol versus highly purified urinary FSH.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to compare the results of intrauterine donor insemination (DI) under ovarian stimulation with either clomiphene citrate (CC), in a fixed protocol, or FSH, with ovarian monitoring. METHODS: Forty-nine patients were randomized using a computer-generated list to receive highly purified urinary FSH (starting dose of 150 IU) and were subjected to periodic vaginal ultrasound and estradiol determinations. HCG was given when > or =2 follicles (> or =17 mm) were identified and estradiol reached >400 pg/ml. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was performed 36 h later. The other 51 received CC on a fixed protocol (100 mg/day from the day 5-10 of the ovarian cycle) with HCG being administered on the day 12, and IUI performed 36 h later. Up to six IUI cycles were performed on all patients if pregnancy was not reached before. Women failing to conceive in the CC group underwent IUI with FSH. The main outcome measures were intrauterine gestational sac observed by transvaginal ultrasound, per cycle and per woman pregnancy rate (PR) and multiple PR. RESULTS: The per cycle PR was significantly higher in the FSH group, 14.4% (30/209) versus 6.1% (16/261), as well as the per woman PR, 61.2% (30/49) versus 31.4% (16/51). 12.5% (2/16) of pregnancies obtained in the CC group were multiple, compared with 20% (6/30) in the FSH group. There were no triplets or higher order pregnancies in CC versus two in FSH (6.7% of pregnancies). Patients failing to conceive with CC, who later underwent intrauterine DI with FSH, had similar results to the primary FSH group: 54.3% PR per patient (19/35) and 16.0% per cycle (19/118), with a multiple PR of 31.6% (6/19). The PR for women starting with CC cycles and, if pregnancy was not obtained, continuing with six FSH cycles, was 69.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The PR obtained with CC stimulation was approximately half that obtained with FSH. There was a trend to lower multiple PR with CC. It is recommended that each case should be considered on an individual basis and the treatment options discussed with patients. In our opinion, CC could be a reasonable approach for young women with good prognosis, whereas in the remaining cases FSH would be the preferable method.

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