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PubMed1981

Effect of gonadectomy and steroid treatment on the receptor-binding activity and immunoreactivity of serum and pituitary FSH in the adult rats of both sexes.

The receptor binding activity (R) and immunoreactivity (I) of serum and pituitary FSH were measured in normal, gonadectomized, and gonadal steroid-treated rats of both sexes employing radioreceptor assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively, and R/I ratios were analyzed. At 11 weeks of age, R/I ratios of serum and pituitary FSH were significantly higher in normal females than in males. From 11 to 13 weeks of age, the ratios of both FSH further increased in females, while in males, the ratio of serum FSH decreased and that of pituitary FSH increased. Orchiectomy caused an increase in the ratio of serum FSH, while ovariectomy caused a decrease, so the ratios in the gonadectomized animals of both sexes became almost equal, suggesting the secretion of a gonadectomy type FSH in these animals. Both testosterone propionate (TP) and estradiol benzoate (EB) treatments decreased the ratios of serum FSH in gonadectomized rats. However, TP and EB had an effect opposite on the ratio of pituitary FSH in these rats, i.e. TP caused a decrease, while EB caused an increase. This effect was more obvious in females than in males. These observations indicated that the presence and absence of the gonads, and the gonadal steroids influence not only the quantity but also the quality of FSH. The changes in the quality of the hormone are discussed in relation to its multiplicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Differences in action of LH and FSH on the formation of cyclic AMP in the prepubertal rat ovary.

The actions of LH (NIH-LH-B8) and FSH (NIH-FSH-S9) on the cyclic AMP (cAMP) system in ovaries of 23-24 day old rats have been analyzed. An intravenous injection of LH increased ovarian cAMP levels in vivo after only 20 seconds. Maximal cAMP levels were seen after 15 min. Addition of LH or FSH in vitro to the isolated ovaries produced dose dependent increases of cAMP in the tissue as well as in the incubation medium. Low concentrations of LH caused a release of cAMP into the incubation medium without any detectable change in the tissue levels. The levels of cAMP in the incubation media for all concentrations of FSH were lower than the tissue levels, whereas for LH the opposite was found. In time-course experiments where the concentrations of LH (10 mug/ml) and FSH (100 mug/ml) were chosen to give similar tissue levels of cAMP, the release of the cyclic nucleotide into the incubation medium was approximately 2-3 times greater for LH than for FSH at the time periods studied (5-240 min). When LH and FSH were tested together in high concentrations, their effects were additive. When the ovaries were first incubated with FSH for 120 min followed by an incubation with LH, the stimulatory effect of LH was considerably reduced. When the order of the incubations was reversed, however, LH did not change the response to FSH. The results show that both LH and FSH have intrinsic effects on the cAMP system in the prepubertal rat ovary, but that the effects of the two gonadotrophins are not identical.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Median charge and charge heterogeneity of human pituitary FSH, LH and TSH. II. Relationship to sex and age.

The median charge and the degree of charge heterogeneity of FSH, LH and TSH in extracts from pituitaries of 63 individuals were determined by electrophoresis in 0.17% agarose suspension at pH 8.6 followed by hormone analyses by radioimmunoassay. Charge was expressed as migration rate in relation to that of human serum albumin. FSH, LH and TSH showed similar degrees of charge heterogeneity within the pituitary, and this degree of heterogeneity was not related to sex or age. There was a sex- and age-related variation in median charge of FSH and LH but not of TSH. The forms of FSH and LH were more acidic at higher ages and the most acidic forms were found in elderly women. Women 32 to 47 years old had more acidic forms of FSH than those 14 to 20 years of age. The median charge of LH was similar in young men and women, while that of FSH was more basic in young women than in young men. These results indicate that the effect of gonadal feedback on the molecular charge is different for FSH and LH. Studies with neuraminidase-treated pituitary extracts indicated that the sex- and age-dependent variations of the charge on FSH were due to differences in the sialic acid content. The amount of FSH in the pituitary was significantly smaller in men than in women. The contents of TSH and LH in the pituitary were lower in the higher age groups. No such decrease with age was found for FSH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects of androgens on bioactivity and immunoreactivity of pituitary FSH in GnRH antagonist-treated male rats.

The effects of androgens on the bioactivity and molecular composition of pituitary FSH were examined in intact and GnRH antagonist-suppressed male rats. Eight groups of adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the following treatments: antagonist (75 micrograms/day by osmotic minipumps; sc), testosterone-filled Silastic implants (3 X 5 cm, sc), dihydrotestosterone-filled Silastic implants (3 X 5 cm, sc), E2 benzoate (15 micrograms/day, sc), and combined administration of antagonist with either steroid for 3 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, pituitaries were dissected out and homogenised. FSH content was determined in the pituitary extracts by an in vitro bioassay and a radioimmunoassay. Individual pituitary extracts from rats treated with vehicle, testosterone and testosterone + antagonist were subjected to isoelectric-focusing on sucrose density gradients performed in the pH range from 3.5 to 7.0. Individual isoelectric-focusing fractions (100-120) were analysed for bioactive and immunoreactive FSH. Treatment with antagonist, E2 or antagonist + E2 caused a significant decrease in pituitary FSH, whereas testosterone and dihydrotestosterone alone or in combination with antagonist prevented the decrease in pituitary FSH. The effects of all treatments on both bioactive and immunoreactive FSH were similar. Testosterone treatment not only maintained FSH synthesis but also altered the molecular composition of pituitary FSH. Following treatment with testosterone there was a shift of maximal FSH bioactivity to the more acidic pH range. On the other hand, less bioactivity was recovered than corresponding immunoreactivity in the higher pH region, resulting in significantly reduced ratios of bioactivity to immunoreactivity of FSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androgens↗
PubMed1999

Examination of the relative role of FSH and LH in the mechanism of ovulatory follicle selection in sheep.

The GnRH-antagonist suppression-ovarian autotransplant model (n = 18) was used to examine the relative roles of temporal changes in FSH and LH stimulation on follicle development and selection. Follicle development was stimulated by infusion with oFSH for 3 days and treatments applied for 60 h after progestagen sponge withdrawal and before delivery of an ovulatory stimulus. In Expt 1, there was continuous infusion of FSH with or without small amplitude high frequency LH pulses, or withdrawal of FSH with or without pulsatile LH. In Expt 2, there was acute or gradual withdrawal of FSH at sponge withdrawal with pulsatile LH. The patterns of follicle development and basal and pulsatile ovarian hormone secretion were determined. The maintenance of FSH throughout the artificial follicular phase resulted in multiple follicle development and ovulation (3.3 +/- 0.3). Pulsatile LH stimulated steroid secretion (P < 0.001) but had little effect on ovulation rates (3.8 +/- 0.8) when FSH was maintained. However, withdrawal of FSH in the absence of LH resulted in atresia of the ovulatory follicles and anovulation whereas, when FSH was withdrawn in the presence of LH, preovulatory follicle development was maintained in some animals (3/6 and 5/9 in Expts 1 and 2, respectively) and these ewes had lower (P < 0.05) ovulation rates (1-2 ovulations per ewe). When FSH was withdrawn gradually in the presence of pulsatile LH, 9/9 animals ovulated with ovulation rates in the normal range. These results indicate that ovulatory follicles can transfer their gonadotrophic dependence from FSH to LH. It is hypothesized that the ability of a follicle to respond to this switch in gonadotrophic support is central to the mechanism of follicle selection.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Acceleration of maturation of FSH and LH responses to photostimulation in prepubertal domestic hens by oestrogen.

Egg laying begins in domestic hens, reared on short daylengths, at about day 147 of age and is advanced by photostimulation after but not before about day 42 of age. The development of this response at day 42 may be facilitated by oestrogen. This hypothesis was investigated in prepubertal hens, reared on short daylengths, by comparing the effects of oestrogen treatment on pituitary and plasma FSH and LH responses to photostimulation (16 h light:8 h dark) for 1 week at days 34 and 54 of age. Oestradiol benzoate (0.5 mg kg(-1)) was injected i.m. on alternate days for 1 week before and after photostimulation. At day 34, pituitary LH content increased after photostimulation but plasma LH and FSH concentrations did not increase. At day 54, pituitary FSH content and plasma FSH and LH concentrations increased after photostimulation, whereas pituitary LH content did not increase. At days 34 and 54, oestrogen treatment decreased pituitary FSH and LH contents but did not block the stimulatory effect of photostimulation on pituitary FSH. At day 34 but not at day 54, photostimulation combined with oestrogen treatment increased plasma FSH and LH concentrations. Plasma LH but not plasma FSH concentration increased after GnRH-I injection at days 34 and 54. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that, in prepubertal female chickens, maturation of the neuroendocrine mechanism mediating photoinduced FSH and LH release may be mediated by oestrogen. This effect of oestrogen on photoinduced LH release may be mediated by increased GnRH-I release or enhanced pituitary responsiveness to GnRH-I. It is proposed that neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling photoinduced FSH release may involve oestrogen-responsive interactions between pituitary paracrine factors, including activins and follistatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of sex steroids on gonadotropin (FSH and LH) regulation in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).

The effect of steroid hormone treatment on coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) was examined. The cDNAs for coho salmon FSH beta and LH beta subunits were cloned and sequenced using reverse transcriptase PCR. Northern blot analysis revealed that a single transcript of 1 kb for each of these subunits was present in the pituitaries of vitellogenic and spermiating coho salmon. RNase protection assays (RPAs) were developed to quantify FSH beta and LH beta subunit transcript levels. For the RPAs, antisense RNA probes and sense RNA standards were prepared from a region of the cDNAs which spanned the signal peptide and a portion of the mature protein. These RPAs were used to examine the effects of exogenous steroids including testosterone, estradiol-17beta (E2) and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17alpha,20beta-P) in vivo, in coho salmon at three time points during the spring period of gonadal growth when plasma levels of FSH are increasing. Both testosterone and E2 increased steady state mRNA levels of LH beta, whereas E2 decreased steady state mRNA levels of FSH beta in one experiment. Thus, the RPAs were able to detect changes in steady state mRNA levels in response to exogenous steroid treatment. Plasma and pituitary levels of FSH and LH were also measured using RIA. Throughout the experimental series, FSH plasma levels decreased in response to exogenous testosterone and E2 administration, while 17alpha,20beta-P had no effect on FSH plasma levels. Plasma LH levels were not detected throughout the course of the experiment. Pituitary LH increased in response to testosterone and E2, while pituitary FSH levels did not change. 17alpha,20beta-P had no effect on pituitary FSH or LH content during the experiment. Thus, regulation of the gonadotropins in coho salmon occurs at both the transcriptional as well as the translational level. Testosterone and E2 appear to have negative feedback effects on FSH, but positive feedback on LH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A rat granulosa cell plasminogen activator bioassay for FSH in human serum.

A previously described in-vitro rat granulosa cell plasminogen activator bioassay for FSH has been modified and applied in the assay of human serum. This modified method consists of exposing the diethylstilboestrol-stimulated granulosa cells from 25- to 26-day-old rats to FSH or test substance for 3.5 h in wells coated with 125I-labelled fibrinogen and treated with thrombin. Following stimulation with FSH, the dose-related production of plasminogen activator was measured as the degree of 125I-labelled fibrinolysis in the presence of added plasminogen. Using the urinary FSH/LH bioassay reference preparation as the assay standard, the useful range of the assay was 0.3-15 IU/l, with an assay sensitivity of 0.3 IU/l. As determined using purified glycoprotein hormone preparations, the assay was highly specific for FSH. The minor degree of FSH bioactivity measured in some of the hormone preparations was accounted for by the amount of FSH contamination in these preparations. To abolish interference caused by unknown serum factors, we heat-treated the serum samples for 15 min at 56 degrees C before the assay. The results indicated that neither immunoreactivity nor bioactivity was affected by this treatment. Furthermore, heat-treated human sera gave responses parallel to the standard curve at the three dose levels (2, 4 and 8 microliters) studied. We used this bioassay to estimate the FSH-like bioactivity in 15 human serum samples. The estimates of immunoreactive FSH in these samples correlated well with the corresponding FSH bioactivity (r = 0.745, n = 15 and P less than 0.05). The results indicate that with this sensitive and rapid (completed within 24 h) bioassay, it should be possible to measure FSH bioactivity in heat-treated human serum samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The antagonistic effect of exogenous LH pulses on FSH-stimulated preovulatory follicle growth in ewes chronically treated with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist.

The hypogonadotrophism model induced by the chronic administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses on the stimulation of follicular development in the ewe. Continuous administration of an agonist (buserelin) by osmotic minipump to thirty-six Welsh Mountain ewes from the early luteal phase for 5 weeks resulted in a sustained suppression of the plasma concentration of FSH and inhibited the pulsatile release of LH. The inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion was due to the desensitization and/or down-regulation of pituitary gonadotroph function, since the agonist-treated animals showed no response to a challenge of 1 microgram GnRH. During week 6 of agonist treatment, ewes were infused with either 4-hourly pulses of ovine LH (9 micrograms/pulse), low concentrations of ovine FSH (3 micrograms/h) or high concentrations of FSH (9 micrograms/h) alone or with 4-hourly pulses of LH. After 5 days of gonadotrophin infusion, there was no difference between the mean number of follicles per ewe from the animals treated with LH alone, low concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses or the high concentration of FSH alone compared with the mean number of follicles from control ewes on day 8 of the luteal phase. Infusion of the high concentration of FSH alone stimulated the development of an increased number of large oestrogenic follicles (follicles greater than 2.5 mm in diameter and secreting greater than 3.7 nmol oestradiol/h in vitro) compared with control ewes. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses to the infusion of the high concentration of FSH prevented follicles developing beyond 2.5 mm in diameter, but doubled the number of small follicles (less than or equal to 2.5 mm) present in the ovaries. These results show that normal follicular development can be induced by physiological concentrations of FSH alone in the absence of pulsatile LH release. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses antagonized this stimulatory effect of FSH on follicle growth in the ewe.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Gonadotrophin secretion revisited. How many ways can FSH leave a gonadotroph?

In summary, gonadotrophs make and secrete many biologically active proteins, some of which participate in autocrine regulation of gonadotrophin, and particularly FSH, secretion. This essay focuses on different vehicle(s) for secretion of protein products as one way that the gonadotroph might control secretion of the two gonadotrophins. Gonadotrophs phasically secrete LH and (proportionately less) FSH via secretory granules in response to an increase in intracellular Ca2+, but also secrete FSH without LH by a distinct pathway. The latter is tonically regulated by not only activin, but also inhibin and follistatin, at least partly at the level of FSH synthesis. Thus GnRH-independent secretion of FSH may masquerade as a second form of 'regulated' secretion through its linkage with FSH synthesis. Three major types of vacuole that possibly mediate gonadotrophin secretion have been identified in gonadotrophs: the small, dense core secretory granule that is rich in LH; a larger, more diffuse granule that is rich in FSH; and the much smaller, synaptic vesicle-like vacuole that contains no identifiable gonadotrophin. Which of these subserves the tonically regulated, GnRH-independent pathway for secretion of FSH without LH has not yet been determined. It is unlikely to be the small granule, because of its preponderance of LH. It may be a form of synaptic vesicle-like vacuole, which is immunocytochemically 'silent' with respect to FSH, or the FSH-rich larger form of secretory granule, for which a specialized, constitutive-like secretory function has not yet been assigned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activins↗
PubMed2005

Developmentally distinct in vivo effects of FSH on proliferation and apoptosis during testis maturation.

The critical influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on male fertility relates both to its impact on Sertoli cell proliferation in perinatal life and to its influence on the synthesis of Sertoli cell-derived products essential for germ cell survival and function in the developing adult testis. The nature and timing of this shift of germ cells to their reliance on specific Sertoli cell-derived products are not defined. Based on existing data, it is apparent that the dominant function of FSH shifts between 9 and 18 day postpartum (dpp) during the first wave of spermatogenesis from driving Sertoli cell proliferation to support germ cells. To enable comprehensive analysis of the impact of acute in vivo FSH suppression on Sertoli and germ cell development, FSH was selectively suppressed in Sprague-Dawley rats by passive immunisation for 2 days and/or 4 days prior to testis collection at 3, 9 and 18 dpp. The 3 dpp samples displayed no measurable changes, while 4 days of FSH suppression decreased Sertoli cell proliferation and numbers in 9 dpp, but not 18 dpp, animals. In contrast, germ cell numbers were unaffected at 9 dpp but decreased at 18 dpp following FSH suppression, with a corresponding increase in germ cell apoptosis measured at 18 dpp. Sixty transcripts were measured as changed at 18 dpp in response to 4 days of FSH suppression, as assessed using Affymetrix microarrays. Some of these are known as Sertoli cell-derived FSH-responsive genes (e.g. StAR, cathepsin L, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3), while others encode proteins involved in cell cycle and survival regulation (e.g. cyclin D1, scavenger receptor class B 1). These data demonstrate that FSH differentially affects Sertoli and germ cells in an age-dependent manner in vivo, promoting Sertoli cell mitosis at day 9, and supporting germ cell viability at day 18. This model has enabled identification of candidate genes that contribute to the FSH-mediated pathway by which Sertoli cells support germ cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during the secondary surge in gilts as influenced by administration of porcine follicular fluid (pFF).

The effect of volume and frequency of administration of porcine follicular fluid (pFF) on FSH concentration was determined in mature gilts during the period of the secondary FSH surge (d 0 to 5; d 0 = onset of estrus) and following withdrawal of pFF (d 5.5 to 9). Crossbred gilts (n = 14) were randomized in a 3 x 2 factorial treatment design involving three doses of pFF (0, 5, or 10 ml) and once- vs twice-daily pFF administration. Porcine FF was aspirated from medium and large follicles and treated with 5 mg of activated charcoal per milliliter of pFF to remove steroids. Once-daily administration of pFF, regardless of dose, failed to suppress mean concentrations of FSH during the secondary FSH surge. Treatment of gilts twice daily with 10 ml of pFF suppressed (P less than .05) area under the FSH curve during the secondary FSH surge compared with gilts given saline. Gilts treated twice daily with 5 ml pFF showed comparable suppression of plasma FSH from d 0 to 3 but began to overcome FSH inhibition after d 3. As a result, FSH release only tended to be lower than controls for the entire treatment period (P less than .1). Mean FSH concentrations were increased (P less than .05) during the post-treatment period (d 5.5 to 9) by treatment with intermediate (5 ml pFF, two times daily and 10 ml pFF, one time daily) and high (10 ml pFF, two times daily) doses of pFF. Neither ovulation rate nor interestrous interval was affected by pFF administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of number and diameter of follicles on plasma concentrations of inhibin and FSH in mares.

The role of the number of follicles and circulating immunoreactive inhibin in the decrease in plasma FSH concentrations that occurs during development of a follicular wave was studied in mares. All follicles > or = 6 mm in diameter were ablated by ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration of follicular fluid on day 10 after ovulation. During the subsequent wave, all follicles, the three largest follicles (three follicle group), the largest follicle (single follicle group) or no follicles were retained and the remaining follicles were ablated before they reached > 10 mm in diameter (n = 10-11 mares per group). Ablation of new follicles was continued until the day on which the largest follicle of the new wave reached 25 mm in diameter (day 18 after ovulation in the 'no follicle' group). Diameters of retained follicles were measured once a day by transrectal ultrasonography. Plasma samples were taken once a day and analysed by radioimmunoassay for concentrations of FSH and immunoreactive inhibin (includes dimeric inhibin as well as free alpha-subunit forms). Data were normalized to the day of the expected start of the decrease in plasma FSH concentrations (day 0: largest follicle 13 mm in diameter in the follicle-retained groups). A simultaneous increase in circulating concentrations of FSH (P < 0.05) and immunoreactive inhibin (P < 0.05) occurred before the largest follicle reached 13 mm in diameter, which indicates that immunoreactive inhibin produced by follicles < 13 mm in diameter did not suppress FSH. Plasma concentrations of FSH decreased (P < 0.05) and immunoreactive inhibin concentrations increased (P < 0.05) after day 0 in the follicle-retained groups. A slower decrease in FSH concentrations was associated temporally with a delay in the increase in immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in the 'single follicle' group relative to the 'three follicle' and 'all follicle' groups. All follicle-retained groups had similar plasma concentrations of FSH and immunoreactive inhibin after the expected beginning of deviation in growth rates between the two largest follicles (largest follicle 22-23 mm in diameter). These results indicated that the decrease in plasma FSH concentrations from the start of the decrease until the expected day of deviation was a function of multiple follicles of a wave and was attributable to the secretion of inhibin. Thereafter, the largest follicle alone accounted for the continued FSH suppression.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Predicting poor ovarian response in IVF: use of repeat basal FSH measurement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the additional value of a second basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level, in a different cycle, in the prediction of poor response in in vitro fertilization (IVF) by a single basal FSH measurement. STUDY DESIGN: In 120 patients, basal FSH was determined prospectively in 2 spontaneous cycles. The additional value of a second basal FSH measurement in the prediction of poor ovarian response in IVF by a single basal FSH measurement was studied. RESULTS: Due to chance variation, the predictive accuracy of a poor response of the first and second basal FSH measurement differed (ROC(AUC) .84 and .74, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, the higher of the first and second basal FSH levels provided the best predictive accuracy (ROC(AUC) .85). In terms of clinical relevance, however, a predictive model with the highest basal FSH level provided only slightly more correct predictions of poor and normal ovarian response than did models based solely on a single basal FSH measurement. CONCLUSION: Using basal FSH, a substantial number of patients will be misdiagnosed with regard to their ovarian response potential in IVF, even if repeat measurement is performed.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1987

Comparison by three different radioimmunoassay systems of the polymorphism of plasma FSH in mares in various reproductive states.

FSH was measured in the pituitary, and in pituitary venous and jugular blood collected at frequent intervals from mares in various reproductive states, using 3 validated and highly specific radioimmunoassay systems based on different antibodies, 'o', 'h' and 'e'. In the pituitary, 4 forms of FSH were found which differed in isoelectric point and relative potency in the 3 assays. In jugular blood, mean FSH concentrations and short-term patterns depended on the assay used and the reproductive state of the mare. In pituitary venous blood, although FSH concentrations were greatly elevated above jugular values, the relationship amongst the 3 assays was similar to that in jugular blood. However, the pulsatility of FSH secretion at oestrus (1-2 pulses per h in 4 of 5 mares) could be observed only in pituitary blood. When the rate of folliculogenesis was slow (acyclicity, oestrus), FSH concentrations measured in assay 'o' were relatively high and showed smaller fluctuations than in assays 'h' and 'e'. By contrast, when folliculogenesis was rapid (transitional phase, dioestrus), FSH tended to be lowest in assay 'o' and pulses had a similar magnitude in all assays. These results suggest that plasma FSH is polymorphic and that changes in the circulating form may have functional importance. Furthermore, since FSH polymorphism affects immunoactivity, the choice of a radioimmunoassay for clinical or research use is difficult without further FSH structure-function studies to determine which form of the hormone should be measured in a given situation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of cyproterone acetate on FSH and testosterone influenced spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis and epididymis in the Indian wall lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Ruppell).

The effects of FSH, testosterone and either cyproterone acetate (CPA) alone or in combination with FSH or testosterone on testis and epididymis in male lizards were studied histologically and histochemically during recrudescent phase to find out whether the onset of spermatogenesis is androgen dependent or FSH dependent. The testes of control lizards consisted of mainly spermatogonia, a few primary spermatocytes and secondary spermatocytes rarely. The interstitial or Leydig cells were atrophied. FSH treatment induced spermatogenic activity substantially as indicated by increase in number of primary and secondary spermatocytes and transformation of secondary spermatocytes into spermatids and into spermatozoa in a few cases. Besides, steroidogenic activity was also remarkably stimulated as evidences by considerable depletion of sudanophilic lipid and an increase in Delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity in Leydig cells. However, testosterone treatment resulted in the inhibition of spermatogenesis. A significant inhibition of spermatogenesis was noted in lizards treated either with CPA alone or in combination with FSH. The inhibitory effect of CPA on spermatogenesis was increased when it was given in combination with testosterone. The results indicate that onset of spermatogenic activity is dependent on FSH (or FSH-like protein), but not on the androgen. The ductus epididymidis in control lizards was regressed with low cuboidal epithelium. The lumen of the tubules was totally devoid of secretory material and spermatozoa. FSH treatment induced a marked hypertrophy in epididymidis. The lumen became filled with secretory material mixed with spermatozoa. The hypertrophy in epididymidis was also recorded after the treatment with testosterone, but the degree of induction was not to that extent as noted in FSH treated ones. However, CPA injected either with FSH or with testosterone resulted in the profound atrophy in epididymidis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Infertile women of advanced reproductive age. Variability of day 3 FSH and E2 levels.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the variability of basal (day 3) levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) in infertile women of advanced reproductive age. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of day 3 FSH and E2 concentrations measured serially in patients of advanced reproductive age at a tertiary university fertility center. RESULTS: Forty-seven infertile women > or = 38 years of age (range, 38-47) undergoing ovulation induction therapy had basal FSH and E2 levels measured on two or more cycles within a two-year periods. During the study period all live births occurred in patients with day 3 FSH values < or = 13 mIU/mL and E2 values < or = 80 pg/mL, and these values were used as normative cutoffs for favorable ovarian reserve. Eleven of 38 women (28.9%) demonstrated a shift in basal values of FSH and/or E2 from the normal to the abnormal range in a subsequent cycle. Of these 11 women, 10 (90.9%) demonstrated a shift of only one hormone (FSH, n = 6) or (E2, n = 4) from the normal to the elevated range. One of 47 women (2.1%) had a shift of both basal FSH and E2 from the normal to the elevated range in a subsequent cycle. All patients who presented with or later developed an elevated day 3 level of FSH and/or E2 had persistent elevations of one or both hormones in all subsequent measurements. CONCLUSION: Day 3 FSH and/or E2 concentrations shifted from the normal to the abnormal range in 28.9% of an infertile patient population of advanced reproductive age screened serially within a two-year period. We hypothesize that serial assessment of basal FSH in combination with E2 will improve the ability to detect diminished ovarian reserve in infertile women of advanced reproductive age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Promotion of differentiation of newt primary spermatocytes into spermatids by mammalian FSH via Sertoli cells.

Our previous studies showed that mammalian follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promoted the differentiation of primary spermatocytes into elongated spermatids in organ culture of testes fragments from Cynops pyrrhogaster. To elucidate the mechanism of FSH action, in this study the testes in the primary spermatocyte stage were dissociated and fractionated into germ and somatic cells, the latter comprising more than 80% Sertoli cells. Radioreceptor assays showed that FSH bound to somatic cells, very probably Sertoli cells, but not to germ cells. FSH elevated intracellular cyclic AMP levels in somatic but not germ cells. In cultures of cell aggregates somatic cells stimulated the differentiation of primary spermatocytes into round spermatids even in the absence of FSH, but to a greater extent in the presence of FSH. However, in the absence of somatic cells the extent of differentiation was similar, irrespective of the presence of FSH. Luteinizing hormone (LH) had no stimulatory effects. Most, if not all, of the somatic cells adherent to germ cells were Sertoli cells based on the criterion that they contained lipid droplets. This indicates that FSH stimulates the differentiation of primary spermatocytes via Sertoli cells. To examine if direct contact between Sertoli cells and germ cells is required for the promotion of differentiation, Sertoli and germ cells were cultured in two different compartments which were separated by a permeable membrane. Under these conditions Sertoli cells did not promote the differentiation of primary spermatocytes either in the absence or presence of FSH, indicating that direct contact between germ and Sertoli cells is required for Sertoli cells to promote the differentiation of primary spermatocytes.

Animals↗