Hormonal regulation of female reproduction

Reproduction is an event that requires the coordination of peripheral organs with the nervous system to ensure that the internal and external environments are optimal for successful procreation of the species. This is accomplished by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that coordinates reproductive behavior with ovulation. The primary signal from the central nervous system is gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which modulates the activity of anterior pituitary gonadotropes regulating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) release. As ovarian follicles develop they release estradiol, which negatively regulates further release of GnRH and FSH. As estradiol concentrations peak they trigger the surge release of GnRH, which leads to LH release inducing ovulation. Release of GnRH within the central nervous system helps modulate reproductive behaviors providing a node at which control of reproduction is regulated. To address these issues, this review focuses on several critical questions. How is the HPG axis regulated in species with different reproductive strategies? What internal and external conditions modulate the synthesis and release of GnRH? How does GnRH modulate reproductive behavior within the hypothalamus? How does disease shift the activity of the HPG axis.Fil: Christensen, A.. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados UnidosFil: Bentley, G. E.. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Cabrera Kreiker, Ricardo Jorge. Universidad de Mendoza; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Hugo Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Perfito, N.. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Wu, T. J.. Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Micevych, P.. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados Unido

The role of ACTH in the pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in the rat: hormonal profiles and ovarian morphology.

Numerous hypotheses have been proposed about the pathogenia of the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, hormonal control of the persistent follicle has not been established. The objective of the present study was to compare the follicular structure and hormonal profiles of rats treated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) with two experimental models of PCOS. ACTH-treated animals were compared with those exposed to continuous light, treated with estradiol valerate, and control (in proestrous and diestrous). Serum hormone levels, histomorphometrical changes, and immunoexpression of vimentin, cytokeratins, cadherins, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were examined. Treatment with ACTH resulted in an elevation of corticosterone secretion with LH reduction but without changes in ovarian morphology. Although stress (or ACTH) stimulation may be only one pathophysiological mechanism involved in follicular cyst pathogenia in other species, we do not find important evidence to suppose that this would happen in rats.Fil: Baravalle, Celina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Salvetti, Natalia Raquel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mira, G. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Lorente, J. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Hugo Hector. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Immunohistochemical Expression of Growth Factors in the Follicular Wall of Normal and Cystic Ovaries of Sows

Contents: The expression of growth factors was evaluated immunohistochemically in normal and cystic ovaries of sows. The immunohistochemically stained area (IHCSA) was quantified by image analysis to analyse the expression of these proteins in the follicular wall of secondary, tertiary and cystic follicles. IGF-I immunoreactivity was strong in the granulosa cell layer (GC), moderate in the theca interna (TI) and mild in the theca externa (TE) of the normal follicles. There was severe reduction of the labelling to IGF-I in the GC of the follicular and luteinized cysts. In the normal follicles, the reactivity for IGF-II was very similar to pattern noted in IGF-I. There was reduction of the IHCSAs in the GC of the follicular and luteinized cysts, but the decrease was not significant. The staining of the IGF-II in the TI and TE of the cysts was increased, in comparison with normal follicles. The IHCSAs for VEGF were higher in the GC and TE of the normal follicles in contrast to TI, but this difference was noted only in the tertiary follicle. The VEGF reactivity increased in the GC of the cysts, in relation to normal follicles. The results of the current study show that the formation of ovarian cysts in sows is associated with alterations in the immunohistochemical expression of some growth factors.Fil: Sant'Ana, F. J. F.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Reis Junior, J. L.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Blume, G. R.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Gimeno, Eduardo Juan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Hugo Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentin

Nuevos registros del camarón tigre Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798 (Decapoda: Penaeidae) en el Sistema del Lago de Maracaibo, Venezuela [New records of Giant Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798 (Decapoda: Panaeidae) in the Maracaibo Lake System, Venezuela]

The Asian tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Decapoda: Penaidae), is an Asian species considered as alien in the Atlantic Ocean waters. This paper confirms the presence of P. monodon along the coasts of the Maracaibo Lake System. We evaluated multiple artisanal ports in the following localities: Castilletes, Porshoure, Kazuzain, Caño Sagua, Zapara Island, and Santa Rosa de Agua. We collected five adult individuals from Castilletes, Zapara Island, and Santa Rosa de Agua, the specimens were deposited in the Museum of Biology of the University of Zulia (Experimental Faculty of Sciences), within the section of aquatic invertebrates under the following museum catalogue numbers: MBLUZ-2503, MBLUZ-2515, MBLUZ-2516, and MBLUZ2517. These records confirmed the presence of P. monodon along the four aquatic environments that form the Maracaibo Lake System (Gulf of Venezuela, El Tablazo Bay, Maracaibo Strait, and Maracaibo Lake), indicating a possible increase in the species’ populations across region. Future researches must be focused to evaluate the population status of P. monodon in the Maracaibo Lake System, as well as for the design of effective strategies for the effective management of this resource. El camarón tigre, Penaeus monodon (Decapoda: Penaeidae), es una especie asiática considerada como exótica en el Océano Atlántico. En este trabajo se confirma la presencia de P. monodon a lo largo de las costas del Sistema del Lago de Maracaibo. Fueron evaluados los puertos pesqueros artesanales de las localidades de Castilletes, Porshoure, Kazuzain, Caño Sagua, Isla Zapara y Santa Rosa de Agua. Se capturaron cinco ejemplares adultos provenientes de las localidades de Castilletes, Isla Zapara y Santa Rosa de Agua, estos fueron depositados en la colección de Invertebrados acuáticos de la Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia, bajo los números de catálogos: MBLUZ2503, MBLUZ-2515, MBLUZ-2516 y MBLUZ-2517. Estos registros confirman la presencia de P. monodon en los cuatro sectores que conforman el Sistema Lago de Maracaibo (Golfo de Venezuela, Bahía El Tablazo, Estrecho del Lago y el Lago de Maracaibo), indicando un posible aumento de las poblaciones de esta especie en la región. Se requieren futuras investigaciones enfocadas a evaluar si el estado poblacional del camarón tigre en el Sistema del Lago de Maracaibo, así como para el diseño de estrategias efectivas para el manejo de este recurso

Impaired insulin signaling pathway in ovarian follicles of cows with cystic ovarian disease

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is an important cause of infertility in dairy cattle. Follicular cell steroidogenesis and proliferation in ovulatory follicles is stimulated by hormones such as insulin and its necessary post-receptor response. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), key intermediates in the insulin pathway, in control cows and cows with spontaneous COD and ACTH-induced COD. IR and IRS1 mRNA levels were greater in granulosa cells and lower in follicular cysts than in control tertiary follicles. PI3K mRNA levels were similar in all follicles evaluated, whereas the expression of IR, IRS1 and PI3K was similar in theca cells. Protein expression of IR was higher in control tertiary follicles than in the same structures in animals with COD and with cysts. IRS1 and PI3K protein expression showed the same pattern in tertiary and cystic follicles. However, the protein expression of subunit alpha p85 of PI3K was greater in theca cells from tertiary follicles than in cystic follicles. These results provide new insights into the insulin response in cows with COD. The lower gene and protein expressions of some insulin downstream effectors at an early stage of the signaling pathway could negatively influence the functionality of ovaries and contribute to follicle persistence.Fil: Hein, Gustavo Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Panzani, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Fernanda Mariel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Salvetti, Natalia Raquel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Pablo Uriel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Gareis, Natalia Carolina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Benitez, G. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Hugo Hector. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Florencia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentin

Inside the Outbreak of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1)v Virus in Mexico

Influenza viruses pose a threat to human health because of their potential to cause global disease. Between mid March and mid April a pandemic influenza A virus emerged in Mexico. This report details 202 cases of infection of humans with the 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1)v which occurred in Mexico City as well as the spread of the virus throughout the entire country.From May 1st to May 5th nasopharyngeal swabs, derived from 751 patients, were collected at 220 outpatient clinics and 28 hospitals distributed throughout Mexico City. Analysis of samples using real time RT-PCR revealed that 202 patients out of the 751 subjects (26.9%) were confirmed to be infected with the new virus. All confirmed cases of human infection with the strain influenza (H1N1)v suffered respiratory symptoms. The greatest number of confirmed cases during the outbreak of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1)v were seen in neighbourhoods on the northeast side of Mexico City including Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, Iztacalco, and Tlahuac which are the most populated areas in Mexico City. Using these data, together with data reported by the Mexican Secretariat of Health (MSH) to date, we plot the course of influenza (H1N1)v activity throughout Mexico.Our data, which is backed up by MSH data, show that the greatest numbers of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) cases were seen in the most populated areas. We speculate on conditions in Mexico which may have sparked this flu pandemic, the first in 41 years. We accept the hypothesis that high population density and a mass gathering which took in Iztapalapa contributed to the rapid spread of the disease which developed in three peaks of activity throughout the Country

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)