Although unsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4n-6), collectively known as the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), play pivotal roles in vertebrate reproduction, very little is known about their synthesis in the ovary. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) display capability to synthesize all three HUFA via pathways involving desaturation and elongation of two precursors, the linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6) and linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3n-3). As a prerequisite to gain full understanding on the importance and regulation of ovarian HUFA synthesis, we described here the mRNA expression pattern of two enzymes; desaturase (fadsd6) and elongase (elovl5), involved in HUFA biosynthesis pathway, in different zebrafish ovarian follicle stages. Concurrently, the fatty acid profile of each follicle stage was also analyzed.
The effects of estrus synchronization with prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)) and Controlled Internal Drug Release Device (CIDR) on ensuing antral follicular development were documented and compared to natural estrous cycles of non-seasonal tropical goats. Two to six follicular waves were observed, with the three-follicular wave pattern being most frequently observed (58%), followed by four follicular waves (31.6%) per estrous cycle. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the PGF(2α)- or CIDR-synchronized and natural estrous cycles nor between the synchronized and subsequent non-synchronized cycles in terms of the time of ovulation, the duration of inter-ovulatory intervals, daily numbers of antral follicles ≥3mm in diameter, and the number of follicular waves per cycle in the goats of the present study.
The effects of different estrus synchronization techniques on follicular development and estrus response were studied in 81 nulliparous Boer does. The does were divided into nine groups. Eight of the nine groups were synchronized with prostaglandin F2-alpha (PGF(2α)) or flugestone acetate (FGA) or their combinations, and the ninth group was a control group. In addition to the above combinations, four of the eight synchronized groups were given 5 mg follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the remaining four groups were administered 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG). Posttreatment follicular development was monitored until ovulation occurred using a real-time B-mode ultrasound scanner (Aloka, 500 SSD, Japan), with a 7.5-MHz transrectal linear probe. All the does from the synchronized groups that were given eCG exhibited oestrus while only 88.9% of the does synchronized with FSH showed estrus. The estrus response was observed to be the least among the does synchronized with PGF(2α) + FSH (33.3%) combination followed closely by the FGA + FSH (42.9%) combinations. It was observed that the combinations of FGA + PGF(2α) + FSH resulted in increased percentage of estrus response, duration of estrus, and ovulation. The number of follicles was higher (P < 0.05) in FSH-synchronized groups than the eCG-synchronized groups. It was concluded that the best estrus synchronization protocol in goats is the FGA + eCG with or without PGF(2α). However, the PGF(2α) + FGA + FSH method of estrus synchronization is the most promising combination for further development as a better alternative to estrus synchronization with eCG in does.
Matched MeSH terms: Ovarian Follicle/growth & development
Ficus deltoidea is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Malaysia that is traditionally used by the Malay community to treat various ailments and for maintenance of female reproductive health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential protective roles of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced toxicity of the pituitary-ovarian axis in pre-pubertal female rats. In this study, four groups of pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were administered with the followings by oral gavage for a period of six weeks: NC (negative control- treated with vehicle), PC (positive control-treated with BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW), F (treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW, then exposed to BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW) and FC (Ficus deltoidea control - treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW). Daily vaginal smear, ovarian follicular development as well as gonadotropin and sexual-steroid hormone levels were determined. The findings showed that Ficus deltoidea demonstrated preventive role against BPA-induced toxicity on the ovaries. This was evident by the increased percentage of rats with normal estrous cycle, qualitatively reduced number of atretic follicles (as observed in histopathological examination) and normalization of the gonadotropins hormone (FSH) and sexual steroid hormone (progesterone) levels. In conclusion, Ficus deltoidea has the capability to prevent the effects of BPA toxicity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertal female reproductive system, possibly due to its variety of phytochemical properties. Therefore, these findings strongly support the traditional belief that this medicinal plant is beneficial as daily dietary supplement for the maintenance of female reproductive health.
Matched MeSH terms: Ovarian Follicle/growth & development