Intrahipotalamic ghrelin administration decreases sperm concentration and motility in mice

3pGhrelin (Ghr) is a peptide secreted primarily in the stomach and hypothalamus. However, Ghr and its receptors are synthesized also in many tissues of the reproductive tract. In situations of hiperghrelinemia (fasting or undernutrition), the peptide exerts predominantly inhibitory effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular function. Thus, it could be hypothesized that beyond the effects of the peptide on testosterone secretion, Ghr could directly affect other testicular processes such as spermatogenesis. In this study we investigated the effects of intrahypothalamic Ghr administration for 7 days (covering the period of sperm maturation in the epididymis) or 42 days (covering both period spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation) on sperm functional activity. Adult male Albino Swiss mice were implanted intrahipotalámicamente with osmotic pumps (Alzet) model 1007D (0.5 μl/h) or model 2006 (0.15 μl/h-42 days) and infused with different Ghr doses (0.3 or 3.0 nmol/μl) or the vehicle: sterile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-control) or. Epididymal sperm functional activity was determined at the end of the treatment, evaluating: concentration, motility, maturation, viability, hypoosmotic shock response and acrosome integrity. The results show that none of the Ghr doses administered for 7 days induced significant changes in sperm functional activity. We did find a decrease in the sperm concentration and motility in animals treated with Ghr 3.0 nmol/μl for 42 days (sperm concentration (x106 /ml): Ghr 17.68 ± 2.98 vs. LCR 26.91 ± 1.52, p ≤ 0.05, sperm motility (%): Ghr 56.25 ± 1.80 vs. LCR 77.67 ± 1.33, p ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were observed in any of the other parameters tested, with any of the Ghr doses or infusion periods evaluated. Our results suggest that hypothalamic Ghr administration can affect sperm quality only when the treatment period includes both spermatogenesis and epididymal maturationhttp://www.revista.fcm.unc.edu.arFil: Poletti, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Frautschi, Camila. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Luque, Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Vincenti, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Bianconi, Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Stutz, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Carlini, Valeria Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Carlini, Valeria Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Fil: Fiol de Cuneo, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; Argentina.Fil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Fil: Fiol de Cuneo, Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Fisiología (incluye Citología

Effects of dietary omega-3 PUFAs on growth and development: Somatic, neurobiological and reproductive functions in a murine model

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) are relevant to fetal and infant growth and development. Objective: to assess whether long-term exposure to dietary ω-3 PUFA imbalance alters pre- and/or postnatal pups' development and reproductive function later in life. Mice dams were fed with ω-3 PUFA Control (soybean oil, 7%), Deficient (sunflower oil, 7%) or Excess (blend oil; 4.2% cod-liver+2.8% soybean) diet before conception and throughout gestation-lactation and later on, their pups received the same diet from weaning to adulthood. Offspring somatic, neurobiological and reproductive parameters were evaluated. Excess pups were lighter during the preweaning period and shorter in length from postnatal day (PND) 7 to 49, compared to Control pups (P<.05). On PND14, the percentage of pups with eye opening in Excess group was lower than those from Control and Deficient groups (P<.05). In Excess female offspring, puberty onset (vaginal opening and first estrus) occurred significantly later and the percentage of parthenogenetic oocytes on PND63 was higher than Control and Deficient ones (P<.05). Deficient pups were shorter in length (males: on PND14, 21, 35 and 49; females: on PND14, 21 and 42) compared with Control pups (P<.05). Deficient offspring exhibited higher percentage of bending spermatozoa compared to Control and Excess offspring (P<.05). These results show that either an excessively high or insufficient ω-3 PUFA consumption prior to conception until adulthood seems inadvisable because of the potential risks of short-term adverse effects on growth and development of the progeny or long-lasting effects on their reproductive maturation and function.Fil: Bianconi, Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Santillan, Maria Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Solís, María del Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Ponzio, Marina Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Schiöth, Helgi B.. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Carlini, Valeria Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Stutz, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; Argentin

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Modificaciones inducidas in vitro por ghrelina sobre la actividad funcional espermática murina.

2 p.Ghrelin (Ghr) is a peptide that modulates reproductive physiology, linking reproduction with energy balance. The expression of the peptide and its receptor has been reported in testis, prostate and sperm; the presence of Ghr in seminal plasma has also been informed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of different doses of Ghr (10-7M and 10-9M), with or without the co-administration of an antagonist (Ant: (D-Lys 3) GHRP-6, 10-5M) on sperm functional activity.http://www.revista2.fcm.unc.edu.ar/jornadas.pdfFil: Luque, Eugenia Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Pedro Javier. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: De Loredo, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Fiol de Cuneo, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Fiol de Cuneo, Marta. Laboratorio de Andrología y Reproducción (LAR)Fil: Fiol de Cúneo, Marta. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducción (CIGOR); ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducción (CIGOR); ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Laboratorio de Andrología y Reproducción (LAR); ArgentinaFisiología (incluye Citología

Mouse Plasma Progesterone Levels are Affected by Different Dietary ω6/ω3 Ratios

An imbalance in the dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ω6/ω3 ratio, could influence negatively the reproductive performance. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of chronic administration of diets enriched with soybean or sunflower oils with different ω6/ω3 ratios on the reproductive parameters of adult female mice. Mice were fed different diets for 90 days: a commercial diet (CD), a 5 or 10% soy oil-enriched diet (SOD5 and SOD10, respectively), and a 5 or 10% sunflower oil-enriched diet (SFOD5 and SFOD10, respectively). The parameters evaluated were: body weight and food intake, estrous cycle, plasma progesterone concentration, ovulation rate, and oocyte quality. Progesterone concentrations (ng/ml) were significantly higher in the SFOD10: 14.9±2.8 vs CD: 5.4±1.2; SOD5: 5.6±1.1 and SFOD5: 4.6±1.4. Additional parameters evaluated were not affected. However, metestrous and luteal phases were shorter in subjects receiving SOD and longer in those under SFOD diets. In SFOD, there was a trend towards a smaller number of recruited oocytes compared to CD and SOD and a higher percentage of cleaved oocytes were quantified in SOD diets. A 3-month supply of a diet with elevated LA ω6/ALA ω3 ratio to adult female mice affects their reproductive physiology, modifying progesterone production, ovulation rate, and/or oocyte quality. Although some differences in the response to diets have been observed in several mammalian species, the present findings must be taken into consideration when a diet for optimizing reproductive capability is indicated.Fil: Oliva, Lucrecia L.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Santillan, Maria Emilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ryan, Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición; ArgentinaFil: Bianconi, Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ponzio, Marina Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Stutz, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentin

Role of ghrelin in fertilization, early embryo development, and implantation periods

In order to clarify the physiological role of ghrelin in gestation, we evaluated the effects of administration of exogenous ghrelin (2 or 4 nmol/animal per day) or its antagonist (6 nmol/animal per day of (D-Lys3)GHRP6) on fertilization, early embryo development, and implantation periods in mice. Three experiments were performed, treating female mice with ghrelin or its antagonist: i) starting from 1 week before copulation to 12 h after copulation, mice were killed at day 18 of gestation; ii) since ovulation induction until 80 h later, when we retrieved the embryos from oviducts/uterus, and iii) starting from days 3 to 7 of gestation (peri-implantation), mice were killed at day 18. In experiments 1 and 3, the antagonist and/or the highest dose of ghrelin significantly increased the percentage of atrophied fetuses and that of females exhibiting this finding or a higher amount of corpora lutea compared with fetuses (nCL/nF) (experiment 3: higher nCL/nF-atrophied fetuses: ghrelin 4, 71.4–71.4% and antagonist, 75.0–62.5% vs ghrelin 2, 46.2K15.4% and control, 10–0.0%; nZ7–13 females/group; P!0.01). In experiment 2, the antagonist diminished the fertilization rate, and both, ghrelin and the antagonist, delayed embryo development (blastocysts: ghrelin 2, 62.5%; ghrelin 4, 50.6%; and antagonist, 61.0% vs control 78.4%; nZ82–102 embryos/treatment; P!0.0001). In experiment 3, additionally, ghrelin (4 nmol/day) and the antagonist significantly diminished the weight gain of fetuses and dams during pregnancy. Our results indicate that not only hyperghrelinemia but also the inhibition of the endogenous ghrelin effects exerts negative effects on the fertilization, implantation, and embryo/fetal development periods, supporting the hypothesis that ghrelin (in ‘adequate’ concentrations) has a physiological role in early gestational events.Fil: Luque, Eugenia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Pedro Javier. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: de Loredo, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Stutz, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Santillán, María Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, Ruben Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Fiol, Marta Haydee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentin

The role of intragestational ghrelin on postnatal development and reproductive programming in mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intragestational role of ghrelin in offspring development and reproductive programming in a mouse model of ghrelin imbalance during pregnancy. Female mice were injected with ghrelin (supraphysiological levels: 4 nmol/animal/day), antagonist (endogenous ghrelin inhibition with (D-Lys3)GHRP-6, 6 nmol/animal/day) or vehicle (control = normal ghrelin levels) throughout the pregnancy. Parameters evaluated in litters were growth, physical, neurobiological and sexual development and, at adulthood, reproductive function. Litter size and initial weight did not vary between treatments. Male pups from dams treated with ghrelin showed higher body weight increase until adulthood (31.7 ± 0.8 vs control = 29.7 ± 0.7, n = 11-14 litters/treatment; P < 0.05). Postnatal physical and neurobiological development was not modified by treatments. The antagonist accelerated male puberty onset, evidenced as earlier testis descent and increased relative testicular weight (antagonist = 0.5 ± 0.0% vs ghrelin = 0.4 ± 0.0% and control = 0.4 ± 0.0%, n = 5-10 litters/treatment; P < 0.05). At adulthood, these males exhibited lower relative testicular weight and reduced sperm motility (63.9 ± 3.6% vs control = 70.9 ± 3.3 and ghrelin = 75.6 ± 3.0, n = 13-15 animals; P < 0.05), without changes in plasma testosterone or fertility. Female pups intragestationally exposed to the antagonist showed earlier vaginal opening (statistically significant only at Day 25) and higher ovarian volume (antagonist = 1085.7 ± 64.0 mm3 vs ghrelin = 663.3 ± 102.8 mm3 and control = 512.3 ± 116.4 mm3; n = 4-6 animals/treatment; P < 0.05), indicating earlier sexual maturation. At adulthood, these females and those exposed to ghrelin showed a tendency to higher percentages of embryo loss and/or foetal atrophy. In conclusion, ghrelin participates in reproductive foetal programming: Alterations in ghrelin activity during pregnancy modified body weight increase and anticipated puberty onset, exerting (or tending to) negative effects on adult reproductive function.Fil: Torres, Pedro Javier. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Luque, Eugenia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Ponzio, Marina Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Cantarelli, Verónica Inés. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica. Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Marcela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, S.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Carlini, Valeria Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin

Body mass index and human sperm quality: Neither one extreme nor the other

The aim of the present study was to investigate the still contentious association between body mass index (BMI) and seminal quality. To this end, 4860 male patients (aged 18-65 years; non-smokers and non-drinkers), were classified according to BMI as either underweight (UW; BMI <20kgm-2; n≤45), normal weight (NW; BMI 20-24.9kgm-2; n≤1330), overweight (OW; BMI 25-29.9kgm-2; n≤2493), obese (OB; BMI 30-39.9kgm-2; n≤926) or morbidly obese (MOB; BMI ≥40kgm-2; n≤57). Conventional semen parameters and seminal concentrations of fructose, citric acid and neutral -glucosidase (NAG) were evaluated. The four parameters that reflect epididymal maturation were significantly lower in the UW and MOB groups compared with NW, OW and OB groups: sperm concentration, total sperm count (103.3±11.4 and 121.5±20.6 and vs 157.9±3.6, 152.4±2.7 or 142.1±4.3 spermatozoa ejaculate-1 respectively, P<0.05), motility (41.8±2.5 and 42.6±2.6 vs 47.8±0.5, 48.0±0.4 or 46.3±0.6 % of motile spermatozoa respectively, P<0.05) and NAG (45.2±6.6 and 60.1±7.9 vs 71.5±1.9, 64.7±1.3 or 63.1±2.1 mU ejaculate-1 respectively, P<0.05). Moreover, the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was decreased in the MOB group compared with the UW, NW, OW and OB groups (4.8±0.6% vs 6.0±0.8%, 6.9±0.1%, 6.8±0.1 and 6.4±0.2%, respectively; P<0.05). In addition, men in the MOB group had an increased risk (2.3-to 4.9-fold greater) of suffering oligospermia and teratospermia (P<0.05). Both morbid obesity and being underweight have a negative effect on sperm quality, particularly epididymal maturation. These results show the importance of an adequate or normal bodyweight as the natural best option for fertility, with both extremes of the BMI scale as negative prognostic factors.Fil: Luque, Eugenia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Tissera, Andrea D.. Laboratorio de Andrología y Reproducción; ArgentinaFil: Gaggino, M. P.. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducc; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Rosa I.. Laboratorio de Andrología y Reproducción (lar); ArgentinaFil: Mangeaud, Adolfo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Matemáticas. Cátedra de Estadística y Biometria; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomedica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Beltramone, Fernando. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducc; ArgentinaFil: Sad Larcher, José. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducc; ArgentinaFil: Estofán, Daniel. Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducc; ArgentinaFil: Fiol De Cuneo, Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin

Reproductive performance of male mice after hypothalamic ghrelin administration

It has been demonstrated that food intake and reproductive physiology are both simultaneously modulated to optimize reproductive success under fluctuating metabolic conditions. Ghrelin (GHRL) is an orexigenic peptide identified as the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor that is being investigated for its potential role on reproduction. Considering that data available so far are still limited and characterization of GHRL action mechanism on the reproductive system has not been fully elucidated, we studied the participation of hypothalamus in GHRL effects on sperm functional activity, plasma levels of gonadotropins and histological morphology in mice testes after hypothalamic infusion of 0.3 or 3.0 nmol/day GHRL or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) at different treatment periods. We found that GHRL 3.0 nmol/day administration for 42 days significantly reduced sperm concentration (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 14.05 ± 2.44 × 106/mL vs ACSF = 20.33 ± 1.35 × 106/mL, P< 0.05) and motility (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 59.40 ± 4.20% vs ACSF = 75.80 ± 1.40%, P< 0.05). In addition, histological studies showed a significant decrease percentage of spermatogonia (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 6.76 ± 0.68% vs ACSF = 9.56 ± 0.41%, P< 0.05) and sperm (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 24.24 ± 1.92% vs ACSF = 31.20 ± 3.06%, P< 0.05). These results were associated with a significant reduction in luteinizing hormone and testosterone plasma levels (P< 0.05). As GHRL is an orexigenic peptide, body weight and food intake were measured. Results showed that GHRL increases both parameters; however, the effect did not last beyond the first week of treatment. Results presented in this work confirm that central GHRL administration impairs spermatogenesis and suggest that this effect is mediated by inhibition of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.Fil: Poretti, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Frautschi, Camila Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Luque, Eugenia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Bianconi, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Martini, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Stutz, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Vincenti, Laura María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Santillan, Maria Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Ponzio, Marina Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Schiöth, Helgi. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Fiol, Marta Haydee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología Humana y Física Biomédica. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Carlini, Valeria Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Uppsala University; Sueci