• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

It has been shown that orexin has an inhibitory effect on gonadotropin secretions in non-ruminant animals. The goal of this study was to determine whether orexin affects LH, and FSH secretions in the camel, as a pseudo-ruminant animal, under different dietary energy content. Sixteen castrated camels were randomly divided into 4 groups. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were fed 100% and animals in groups 3 and 4 were fed 50% energy content in their diet for 20 days. After 20 days, animals in groups 1 and 3 received infusions of 1 $\mu{g}$ orexin and groups 2 and 4 received infusions of 2 $\mu{g}$ orexin into their jugular vein. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein every 20 minutes from 4 h before the first infusion of orexin until 4 h after the last orexin infusion. Lower dietary energy intake and infusions of 2 $\mu{g}$ but not 1 $\mu{g}$ orexin significantly (p<0.01) decreased the mean plasma concentrations and pulse amplitudes of LH of the animals. Infusion of 1 and 2 $\mu{g}$ orexin did not change the secretions of LH of the animals fed NE. Different energy dietary intake and infusion of 1 and 2 $\mu{g}$ orexin did not change the mean plasma concentrations of FSH of the animals in all groups. Infusions of 1 and 2 $\mu{g}$ orexin significantly (p<0.01) decreased the glucose levels of animals fed LE but not in NE fed animals. Additionally, plasma glucose levels of the LE-fed animals in groups 3 and 4 were significantly (p<0.01) lower than those of the animals in groups 1 and 2 fed NE diet. The results of this experiment indicated that orexin may negatively affect LH and FSH in camels with negative energy balance, but not in those with positive energy balance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.595-599
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• 2000

Fine wool sheep (n=18) maintained in a tropical environment were allocated to three treatment groups. Estrus was induced with two injections of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ (10 mg. im) at 10 days interval. Superovulation treatment started 2 days prior to the second injection of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. Each ewe was treated with a total dose of 25 units FSH (Super-OV) i.m. every 12 hover 3 days; Group 2 were also injected i.m. with 200 IU PMSG at the first injection of FSH; Group 3 was treated as in Group 2 and also with GnRH ($4{\mu}g$ Buserelin) at the onset of estrus. The ewes in estrus were mated with a fertile ram. Ovarian examination and recovery of embryo and ova were performed at laparoscopy and laparotomy on day 3 or 4 after mating. Data for onset of estrus, duration of estrus, number of corpora lutea (CL), number of unnovulated large follicle (LF), embryo recovery rate, embryo quality and fertilization recorded for the 3 groups. Ewes in the Group 1 set in estrus later (p<0.05; $50.0{\pm}7.29h$) than the ewes in Group 2 ($24.5{\pm}3.58$) and 3 ($32.5{\pm}3.58h$). The duration of estrus, ovarian size and ovarian response (number of CL and LF) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among the 3 groups. The proportion of ewes with a superovulatory response (${\geq}2$ CL) was the lowest (50%) in Group 1 treated with FSH alone but ova/embryo recovery (100%) and fertilization (100%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than Group 2 (58.3 and 85.7%, respectively) and Group 3 (48.6 and 50%, respectively). It is concluded that in tropical fine wool sheep, there is no difference in the 3 treatments for yield of good quality embryos but ovarian response and ovulation rate increased on additional use of PMSG and GnRH respectively to FSH alone.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.244-253
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• 2022

Background: The indiscriminate use of pesticides in Nigeria may have harmful effects on reproductive health of farmers. Objectives: This study assessed the awareness of reproductive health, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and sperm characteristics of male farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides. Methods: Eighty four male farmers were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data. Blood and semen samples were collected from the subjects in the morning for hormonal assays and semen analysis using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and SQAV sperm quality analyzer. Data were analyzed using chi square, Student's-t-test, and Regression analysis. Results: Serum FSH (p<0.01), LH (p<0.005) and Estradiol (p<0.001) were significantly higher while prolactin (p<0.02) and testosterone (p<0.001) were significantly lower among pesticides exposed farmers than nonexposed subjects. Some 34/84 (40.5%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had serum testosterone levels below the lower limit of the reference range. Those with low testosterone levels (p<0.001), also had FSH (p<0.05), LH (p<0.001) and Estradiol (p<0.002) significantly lower than those with normal testosterone levels. The sperm count among pesticides exposed farmers; total motility and percentage morphology were significantly lower than non-pesticides exposed subjects. Some 14/84 (16.7%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had sperm count below 15 million/mL (oligozoospermia). More than 70% of the farmers were not aware of the reproductive health risks associated with pesticides and only 23.8% of the farmers were using protective devices. Conclusions: Deliberate efforts to improve awareness, knowledge, personal hygiene, and interventions necessary to lessen both pesticides exposure and health risks by adopting safe practices are suggested.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-39
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• 1984

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of experimental cryptorchidism on the levels of testicular FSH, LH receptor. One hundred and thirty two male rats weighing 100${\pm}$10g, 45 days old, were divided into three groups of control, bilateral cryptorchidism and unilateral cryptorchidism which was subdivided into two groups of scrotal testis and abdominal testis. Thirty to forty two heads of rats were allotted to each group. Five to eight rats from each group were randomely sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after surgical induction of cryptorchidism. Testis was removed for assay of FSH, LH receptors. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The levels of FSH receptors per 10mg testicular tissue in abdominal testis of unilateral cryptorchid group and bilateral cryptorchid group tended to decrease gradually toward 5th week and these levels at 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th week were significantly lower than those levels of control group and scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchid group. On the other hand; the ranges of affinities of FSH receptors of abdominal testis in unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid group were 2.2 - 6.67 ${\times}10^{11}M^{-1}$ and 3.6 - 4.8 ${\times}10^{11}M^{-1}$ respectively, and these values were slightly higher than those of control group (1.43 - 3.98 ${\times}10^{11}M^{-1}$) or those of scrotal testis in unilateral cryptorchid group (1.41 - 3.25 ${\times}10^{11}M^{-1}$). Especially at I and 4 weeks after treatment the affinities of abdominal testis in unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid group were significantly higher than those of other group (P <0.01). 2. The levels of LH receptors in 10mg testicular tissue tended to increase with elapse of time in control and in scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchid group. But the levels of LH receptors of abdominal testis in unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid group tended to decrease after treatment and were significantly lower than control group at 1 (P <0.01),2,4 and 5 weeks after treatment (P < 0.05). The affinities of LH receptors were not significantly different among treatments except those of bilateral cryptorchid group and abdominal testis of unilateral cryptorchid group being significantly higher than that of the control at 4 weeks after treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 1989

Steroid hormone profiles during luteal phase of clomiphene citrate(CC)/human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG)/human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)-stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)/hMG/hCG-stimulated IVF cycles were compared. In seventy three cycles stimulated with CC/hMG/hCG regimen, follicles were aspirated during exploratory laparotomy and yielded 7 pregnancies, and in 83 cycles stimulated with FSH/hMG/hCG regimen, follicles were aspirated by laparoscope and made 13 pregnancies. Serum estradiol($E_2$) and progesterone($P_4$) levels were determined on days 2, 5, 7, and 9 after follicle aspiration. The FSH/hMG/hCG regimen was more effective than the CC/hMG/hCG regimen in folliculogenesis, ie, ovarian stimulation, follicular phase $E_2$ peak levels, oocyte maturation, and the number of retrieved oocytes. There was no significant difference between luteal serum $P_4/E_2$ ratio of the two regimens, suggesting that secretory endometrial build-up ability for implantation may not differ each other. Several significant correlations were observed between follicular phase seum $E_2$ peak levels and luteal phase serum $E_2$ and $P_4$ levels in the FSH/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles but any correlation was not significant in the CC/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles, suggesting that somewhat more follicles may eventually fall in atresia even after attaining dominant stage in the CC/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles than the FSH/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to investigate response of corpus luteum, recovery rate of embryos and production of transferable embryos according to superovulation by PEG 30% FSH in Hanwoo. Cows were selected as recipient, subsequent were superovulated with a total of 400 mg NIH-FSH-P1(Folltropin-V, Canada) given by one shot subcutaneously. At the time of five days after Folltropin injection, 25mg of a PGF$_2$a was injected and cows were inseminated 12 and 24h after the onset of estrus. Seven days after insemination, embryos were collected non-surgically and were cryopreserved by direct transfer methods. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Response of corpus luteum following the superovulation in Hanwoo, right ovary were 52.8%(271/513) and left ovary were 47.1%(242/513), respectively (P<0.05). 2. Recovery rate of embryos following the number of corpus luteum were 83.0%(426/513). 3. Mean number of embryos recovered and transferable embryos were 7.74 and 6.43, respectively (P<0.05). 4. In the total number of transferable embryos per flush were collected 6.4 and all saved transferable embryos were 355.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 2005

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (MDP) with that of GnRH agonist long protocol (LP) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization in patients with high basal FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level or old age, a retrospective analysis was done. Methods: Two hundred ninety four infertile women (328 cycles) who were older than 41 years of age or had elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) were enrolled in this study. The patients had undergone IVF-ET after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (n=108, 118 cycles) or GnRH agonist long protocol (n=186, 210 cycles). The main outcome measurements were cycle cancellation rate, consumption of gonadotropins, the number of follicles recruited and total oocytes retrieved. The number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, the clinical pregnancy rates, and the implantation rates were also reviewed. And enrolled patients were divided into three groups according to their age and basal FSH levels; Group A - those who were older than 41 years of age, Group B - those with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) and Group C - those who were older than 41 years of age and with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL). Poor responders were classified as patients who had less than 4 retrieved oocytes, or those with $E_2$ level <500 pg/mL on the day of hCG injection or those who required more than 45 ampules of exogenous gonadotropin for stimulation. Results: The cancellation rate was lower in the GnRH antagonist group than in GnRH agonist group, but not statistically significant (6.8% vs. 9.5%, p=NS). The amount of used gonadotropins was significantly lower in GnRH antagonist group than in agonist group ($34.8{\pm}11.3$ ampules vs. $44.1{\pm}13.4$ ampules, p<0.001). The number of follicles > 14 mm in diameter was significantly higher in agonist group than in antagonist group ($6.7{\pm}4.6$ vs. $5.0{\pm}3.4$, p<0.01). But, there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate (24.5% in antagonist group vs. 27.4% in agonist group, p=NS) and implantation rate (11.4% in antagonist group vs. 12.0% in agonist group, p=NS) between two groups. Mean number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in GnRH agonist LP group than in GnRH antagonist MDP group ($5.4{\pm}3.5$ vs. $6.6{\pm}5.0$, p<0.0001). But, the number of mature and fertilized oocytes, and the number of good quality (grade I and II) and transferred embryos were not different between two groups. In each group A, B, and C, the rate of poor response did not differ according to stimulation protocols. Conclusions: In conclusion, for infertile women expected poor ovarian response such as who are old age or has elevated basal FSH level, a protocol including a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist appears at least as effective as that using a GnRH agonist, and may offer the advantage of reducing gonadotropin consumption and treatment period. However, much work remains to be done in optimizing the GnRH antagonist protocols and individualizing these to different cycle characteristics.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to describe a distinct subpopulation of azoospermic patients with isolated elevation of follicle-stimulating hormone (iFSH) and poor outcomes of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE). Methods: A retrospective analysis of microTESE outcomes was conducted among 565 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Testicular pathology was assessed by the dominant histological pattern and Bergmann-Kliesch score (BKS). Descriptive statistics were presented for the iFSH subgroup. Inhibin B levels, the sperm retrieval rate (SRR), and BKS were compared in iFSH patients and other NOA patients. Results: The overall SRR was 33.3% per microTESE attempt. The median BKS was 0.6 (interquartile range, 0-2). Of all NOA patients, 132 had iFSH, and microTESE was successful only in 11 of those cases, with an SRR of 8.3%, while the total SRR in other NOA patients was 38.1% (p<0.001). iFSH had a sensitivity of 32.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.4%-36.8%) and specificity of 94.1% (95% CI, 90.8-97.5%) as a predictor of negative microTESE outcomes. Conclusion: Patients with iFSH may harbor a distinct testicular phenotype with total loss of the germ cell population and poor outcomes of surgical sperm retrieval.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.209-209
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• 2004

This cDNAs were cloned with the method of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by sequences based on cloned rat LH/CG and FSH receptor cDNAs. A cDNAs of LHR and FSHR were transfected into the CHO cells. Several clonal cell lines were obtained expressing different numbers of cell surface receptors. (omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2008

Objective: This pilot study was performed to investigate the effect of metformin on insulin resistance, hormone levels, and lipid profiles in non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: This study included 16 non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed at our hospital from June 2006 to September 2007. Blood samples were collected before and 6 months after metformin treatment for analysis of fasting serum glucose levels, fasting serum insulin levels, a glycemic response to 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and hormonal blood profile including FSH, LH, estradiol, testosterone, free testosterone, serum lipid profiles. Insulin resistance was estimated by calculating fasting glucose/insulin ratio (FGIR), 2 hr glucose/insulin ratio after 75 g glucose load. And we investigated insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell function by calculating HOMA beta cell function and HOMA IR. Results: After the treatment of metformin, there was significant increase in 2 hr glucose/insulin ratio after 75 g glucose load (p=0.04) and decrease in HOMA IR (p=0.000). But serum lipid profiles did not change significantly. Also the metformin treatment induced a significant reduction in serum free testosterone and LH levels, and LH/FSH ratio (p=0.001, p=0.000, p=0.034). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that metformin might be effective in improving insulin sensitivity, ameliorating hyperandrogenemia in non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Further investigations with larger number of patients and long-term observations are necessary to determine the role of metformin.