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Temperature is a crucial environmental factor that significantly impacts the growth, development, metabolism, and physiological functions of fish. To study the effects of low‐temperature on the gonadal development of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus), a cold period by gradually lowering the water temperature from 18°C to 9°C was simulated. The results showed that hsp70, hsp90a, and hsp90b were widely expressed in the tissues of P. argenteus, with hsp70 primarily expressed in the pituitary, hsp90a and hsp90b mainly expressed in the lateral. The hsps were involved in the development process of P. argenteus from 1 to 27 days post‐hatching (dph). The expression levels of hsp70 and hsp90b were highest at 17 dph, while the levels of hsp90a were at 25 dph. Under the condition of 9°C, regressed oocyte were observed in the ovaries, the oocyte diameter significantly decreased, and the ovaries degenerated 100% after low‐temperature stress. The expression levels of hsps in the ovaries were significantly higher than in the control group, while the expression levels in the testes were significantly lower than in the control group. Taken together, hsps may regulate the ovarian degeneration under low‐temperature stress. Male fish rapidly completed meiosis and maintained the testes in the prophase of meiosis to resist the low‐temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate in gynecology. We aimed to identify novel genes that promote ovarian cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition under hypoxic conditions. We screened SVIL as a hypoxia-associated target in ovarian cancer and explored the related molecular mechanisms. We assessed the effects of SVIL on ovarian cancer progression and metastasis in clinical samples and cellular hypoxia models. Further, we investigated the relevant pathways of SVIL and confirmed the effects of SVIL on ovarian cancer progression by using nude mouse in situ tumor models. We found that SVIL was significantly highly expressed in the hypoxic environment of ovarian cancer, and SVIL expression correlated with patient prognosis.CCK8, Wound-healing assay, Transwell assay, Western Blot, and apoptosis assays revealed that knockdown of SVIL inhibited the activation of the TGFβ1/smad2/3 pathway, which attenuated the progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) of ovarian cancer and alleviated cisplatin resistance by increasing cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, in a nude mouse ovarian cancer in situ model, we found that the knockdown of SVIL significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. SVIL highly expressed in the hypoxic microenvironment can increase ovarian cancer progression and cisplatin resistance by activating TGFβ1/smad2/3 pathway. Our study demonstrated that SVIL may be a novel target for the treatment of ovarian cancer. [Display omitted] • SVIL was overexpressed in ovarian cancer and correlated with patient prognosis. • Knockdown of SVIL inhibited the activation of the TGFβ1/smad2/3 pathway. • SVIL attenuated the resistant progression and EMT of ovarian cancer. • Knockdown of SVIL significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. • SVIL is a novel target for the treatment of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐related declines in oocyte quality and ovarian function are pivotal contributors to female subfertility in clinical settings. Yet, the mechanisms driving ovarian aging and oocyte senescence remain inadequately understood. The present study evaluated the alterations in N‐glycoproteins associated with ovarian aging and noted a pronounced elevation in N221 glycopeptides of cathepsin L (Ctsl) in the ovaries of reproductive‐aged mice (8–9 months and 11–12 months) compared to younger counterparts (6–8 weeks). Subsequent analysis examined the involvement of Ctsl in oocyte aging and demonstrated a significant elevation in Ctsl levels in aged oocytes. Further, it was revealed that the overexpression of Ctsl in young oocytes substantially diminished their quality, while oocytes expressing an N221‐glycosylation mutant of Ctsl did not suffer similar quality degradation. This finding implies that the N221 glycosylation of Ctsl is pivotal in modulating its effect on oocyte health. The introduction of a Ctsl inhibitor into the culture medium restored oocyte quality in aged oocytes by enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS), lowering apoptosis, and recovering lysosome capacity. Furthermore, the targeted downregulation of Ctsl using siRNA microinjection in aged oocytes enhanced fertilization capability and blastocyst formation, affirming the role of Ctsl knockdown in fostering oocyte quality and embryonic developmental potential. In conclusion, these findings underscore the detrimental effects of high expression of N‐glycosylated Ctsl on oocyte quality and its contribution to oocyte senescence, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target to delay ovarian aging and enhance oocyte viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemo-endocrine therapy can lead to various side effects associated with ovarian dysfunction. Predicting menstrual recovery is necessary to discuss the treatment-related issues regarding fertility and premature menopause with patients. Methods: In the ASTRRA trial, patients who resumed ovarian function within 2 years after chemotherapy were randomized to receive tamoxifen for 5 years or OFS with tamoxifen for 2 years. With these 1298 patients, we developed a model that predicts when menstrual recovery will occur within a 3-year period after chemotherapy using variables including age, body mass index, chemotherapy regimen and duration, and serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Results: The data of 957 patients were used to develop the prediction model, and those of 341 patients were used for validation. In the development group, menstruation resumed in 450 patients (47.0%) within 5 years. In multivariable analysis, younger age (< 35 vs. 45, HR 7.85, 95% CI 4.63–13.30, p < 0.0001), anthracycline-based chemotherapy without taxane (vs. with taxane, HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.37–2.38, p < 0.0001), and chemotherapy duration (≤ 90 days vs. > 90 days, HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01–1.72, p = 0.045) correlated with menstrual recovery. Using combined age, regimen, and duration of chemotherapy, we developed a simplified scoring system to estimate recovery chances and used a concordance index of 0.679 overall and 0.744 at 3 years for validation. Conclusion: This model predicted timing and probability of menstrual recovery, based on their individual age, type and duration of chemotherapy in premenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer who received tamoxifen after chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The use of progesterone vaginal implants in sheep is frequently associated with vaginitis and adherences; and can hamper fertility in estrus synchronization programs. Aims. The aim of this study was to characterize the plasma hormone profile induced by two injectable progesterone (iP4) formulations in ewes. Methods. In Experiment 1, ewes received 20 or 40 mg of an iP4, with a third group as a control. In Experiment 2, 75 or 150 mg of a long-acting iP4 were administered, again with a control group. Key results. In Experiment 1, progesterone concentrations remained at luteal levels for less than 24 h. The intervals from iP4 treatment to the onset of estrus and ovulation were greater treated than in control ewes (P < 0.01). The proportion of ewes that ovulated within 8 days after treatment was lower in ewes that received 40 mg iP4 than in control ewes (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, mean progesterone concentrations remained at luteal levels for 120 h. The interval from iP4 administration to estrus was longer in 150 mg treated ewes than in control ewes (P < 0.01). The interval from treatment to ovulation was longer in ewes treated with 150 mg than 75 mg and control ewes < 0.05). The proportion of ewes that ovulated was lower at 150 mg (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The iP4 formula used in Experiment 1 could not maintain luteal levels for more than 24 h. The use of longacting iP4 maintained plasma progesterone concentrations above luteal levels for at least 5 days. The longacting treatment can therefore be tested for estrous synchronization treatments. Implications. The long-acting progesterone may be an alternative to short estrous synchronization protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are a class of known endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are found in common everyday products. Several studies associate phthalate exposure with detrimental effects on ovarian function, including growth and development of the follicle and production of steroid hormones. We hypothesized that dysregulation of the ovary by phthalates may be mediated by phthalate toxicity towards granulosa cells, a major cell type in ovarian follicles responsible for key steps of hormone production and nourishing the developing oocyte. To test the hypothesis that phthalates target granulosa cells, we harvested granulosa cells from adult CD-1 mouse ovaries and cultured them for 96 h in vehicle control, a phthalate mixture, or a phthalate metabolite mixture (0.1 to 100 μg/ml). After culture, we measured metabolism of the phthalate mixture into monoester metabolites by the granulosa cells, finding that granulosa cells do not significantly contribute to ovarian metabolism of phthalates. Immunohistochemistry of phthalate metabolizing enzymes in whole ovaries confirmed that these enzymes are not strongly expressed in granulosa cells of antral follicles and that ovarian metabolism of phthalates likely occurs primarily in the stroma. RNA sequencing of treated granulosa cells identified 407 differentially expressed genes, with overrepresentation of genes from lipid metabolic processes, cholesterol metabolism, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways. Expression of significantly differentially expressed genes related to these pathways was confirmed using qPCR. Our results agree with previous findings that phthalates and phthalate metabolites have different effects on the ovary, but both interfere with PPAR signaling in granulosa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report presents an 18-year-old female patient diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare congenital anomaly causing primary amenorrhea. MRI revealed vaginal agenesis and a left hemiuterus associated with hematosalpinx and cervical agenesis, while both ovaries were normal. The patient underwent successful neovagina creation using the McIndoe technique, involving a split-thickness skin graft from below the umbilicus. Postoperative follow-up showed excellent graft adherence and significant improvement in sexual function and quality of life. This case highlights the efficacy of the McIndoe technique for neovagina creation in MRKH syndrome and underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment, including psychological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand use varies according to which brain hemisphere is dominant. Early androgen exposure causes right hemisphere dominance. This study is aimed at comparing the testes and ovary sizes of healthy left-handed girls and boys with those of healthy right-handed children and investigating whether or not lateralization affects the gonads. The ovarian and testicular sizes of healthy left- and right-handed boys and girls who were similar in height, weight, and age were compared by ultrasonography. One hundred and eleven (111) children—including 26 left- and 26 right-handed girls and 31 left- and 28 right-handed boys—were included in this study. The mean age of left-handed girls was 77.2 ± 25.3 months, and the mean age of right-handed girls was 74.4 ± 25.2 months. Right transverse diameter (p = 0.004), right longitudinal diameter (p = 0.009), and right ovarian volume (p = 0.020) were larger in left-handed girls above 8 years of age than in left-handed girls below 8 years of age. However, these values were similar in right-handed girls above and below 8 years of age. In right-handed girls, the transverse diameter was larger in the right ovary than in the left ovary (0.014). Other ovarian values were similar. The mean age of left-handed boys was 85.2 ± 41.3 months, whereas the mean age of right-handed ones was 81 ± 41.2 months. Prepubertal and pubertal right- and left-handed boys had similar mean right and left testicular diameters and volumes (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Lateralization affected gonad size in girls. In boys, gonads were not affected by lateralization. Cerebral lateralization may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis in girls. What is Known: • Hand use varies according to which cerebral hemisphere is dominant. Males tend to be more left-handed than females. Brain asymmetry can affect the neuroendocrine axis. What is New: • Ultrasonographic gonadal dimensions were examined in left-handed and right-handed children. Cerebral lateralization may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis in girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telocytes (TCs) are characterized by a small oval-shaped cell body with long prolongations that are called telopods (Tps). PDGFR-β and c-kit markers may assist for the immunohistochemical identification of TCs; however, by these means they cannot be identified with absolute specificity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is considered as a gold standard method for TCs observation. Studies on TCs in the female reproductive system are limited, and there is a lack of awareness regarding TCs in rat ovaries. We aimed to demonstrate the existence and morphology of TCs in rat ovaries, alongside previously studied TCs in rat uteri. Thus, ovaries and uteri from young adult Sprague–Dawley female rats (n = 8) with regular estrous cycles were collected. Then, left ovaries and uteri were proccessed for TEM analysis, while the right ones were used for immunohistochemistry. As a result, TCs were seen throughout the rat's ovarian stroma with their characteristic cell bodies, Tps, podomes (Pds) and podomers (Pdms). Tps were situated within the thecal layer of the follicles, surrounding the corpus luteum and blood vessels. Ovarian TCs were recognized to have relationship with other TCs/stromal cells. Subsequently, TCs were seen in stroma of endometrium with surrounding blood vessels and uterine glands, myometrium and perimetrium in rat uteri. There was also no statistical significance between the number of c-kit+ and PDGFR-β+ telocyte-like cells in both rat ovarian (p = 0.137) and endometrial stroma (p = 0.450). Further investigation of the roles and functions of TCs in the female reproductive system is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabanids, commonly known as horseflies and belonging to the family Tabanidae, are blood-feeding arthropods (BFA) found worldwide. They are known for their ability to mechanically and biologically transmit various animal pathogens. Tabanids are potential vectors for diseases such as Francisella tularensis, Anaplasma marginale, Theileria spp., and contributors to lumpy skin diseases. Despite their involvement in common BFA studies, tabanids have not been extensively explored in microbiome research. In this study, the microbiota structure and composition in various organs of four distinct genera of tabanids: Atylotus, Haematopota, Tabanus, and Hybomitra were examined. High-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was performed to gain insights into the microbial communities associated with the different tabanid species. Result display that microbiota composition and diversity, including Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, varied significantly among the different organs, with the ovaries exhibiting significantly higher diversity. Apart from the Haematopota genus, Tenericutes were enriched in the midgut of other tabanid species, whereas the Malpighian tubules exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroides. Notably, the ovarian microbiota structure was conserved among the four tabanid species, indicating its potential association with reproductive development. Evaluation of the potential pathogen risk revealed putative pathogens in over 100 genera associated with these tabanid commensal organisms. Twenty genera were annotated as zoonotic agents with a high abundance of Citrobacter and Brucella, highlighting the presence of this important group of zoonotic pathogens. Functional predictions of vector-microbiota interactions indicate that microbiota significantly affects vector biological traits and can influence pathogen transmission via direct interactions or by regulating host immunity and nutrition. For the first time, the distribution characteristics and functions of four genera of horsefly microbiota were analyzed, revealing the presence of multiple potential pathogenic microorganisms. These findings provide valuable insights for future research and the development of symbiotic-based strategies to control insectborne diseases among tabanids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in female reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and diminished ovarian reserve that lead to subfertility and infertility, has encouraged researchers to search and discover their underlying causes and risk factors. One of the crucial factors that may influence the increasing number of reproductive issues is environmental pollution, particularly exposure to man-made endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs can interfere with the ovarian microenvironment, impacting not only granulosa cell function but also other surrounding ovarian cells and follicular fluid (FF), which all play essential roles for oocyte development, maturation, and overall reproductive function. FF surrounds developing oocytes within an ovarian follicle and represents a dynamic milieu. EDCs are usually found in biological fluids, and FF is therefore of interest in this respect. This narrative review examines the current knowledge on specific classes of EDCs, including industrial chemicals, pesticides, and plasticizers, and their known effects on hormonal signaling pathways, gene expression, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress induction, and inflammation in FF. We describe the impact of EDCs on the development of reproductive disorders, oocyte quality, menstrual cycle regulation, and their effect on assisted reproductive technique outcomes. The potential transgenerational effects of EDCs on offspring through animal and first-human studies has been considered also. While significant progress has been made, the current understanding of EDCs' effects on ovarian function, particularly in humans, remains limited, underscoring the need for further research to clarify actions and effects of EDCs in the ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The mechanisms leading to ovarian primordial follicle depletion following gonadotoxic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and other cytotoxic drugs are currently understood through two main explanatory theories: apoptosis and over-activation. Discrepancies between the findings of different studies investigating these mechanisms do not allow to reach a firm conclusion. The heterogeneity of cell types in ovaries and their different degrees of sensitivity to damage, cell-cell interactions, periodical follicle profile differences, model age-dependent differences, and differences of exposure durations of tested drugs may partially explain the discrepancies among studies. Methods: This study used intact prepubertal mice ovaries in culture as study model, in which most follicles are primordial follicles. Histological and transcriptional analyses of ovaries exposed to the active metabolite of cyclophosphamide 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) were carried out via a time-course experiment at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. Results: 4-HC treated ovaries showed a significant decrease in primordial follicle density at 24 h, along with active DNA damage (TUNEL) and overexpressed apoptosis signals (cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase in immunohistochemistry and western blotting). Meanwhile 4-HC treatment significantly up-regulated H2ax, Casp 6, Casp 8, Noxa, and Bax in ovaries, and up-regulated Puma in primordial follicles (FISH). Discussion: Our results indicated that cyclophosphamide-induced acute ovarian primordial follicle depletion was mainly related to apoptotic pathways. No evidence of follicle activation was found, neither through changes in the expression of related genes to follicle activation nor in the density of growing follicles. Further validation at protein level in 4-HC-treated prepubertal mice ovaries at 24 h confirmed these observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine (BER) is a naturally occurring alkaloid with a multitude of beneficial effects on human health. Although it is one of the most studied phytochemicals, its curative effect against ovarian damage caused by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has not been demonstrated to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effect of BER against 5-FU-induced ovotoxicity, focusing on its ability to attenuate oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. The 30 female rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, BER (2 mg/kg), 5-FU (100 mg/kg), 5-FU+BER (1 mg/kg) and 5-FU+BER (2 mg/kg). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and caspase-3 were determined using spectrophotometric methods. In addition, ovarian samples were evaluated histopathologically using hematoxylin&eosin staining method. The MDA, TOS, 8-OHdG, IL-6, TNF-α and caspase-3 levels significantly increased by 5-FU administration. Also, we found that 5-FU significantly decreased TAS, SOD and CAT levels. Treatments with BER significantly attenuated the 5-FU-induced ovarian damage via increasing the antioxidant capacity and reducing the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the ovoprotective effect of BER was also confirmed by histopathological evaluation. BER may be evaluated as a potential candidate molecule to reduce 5-FU-induced ovarian toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole‐organ imaging and characterization at a submicron level provide abundant information on development and diseases while remaining a big challenge, especially in the context of time load. Herein, a quantitative light‐sheet microscopy platform that enabled highly time‐efficient assessments of fibrous structures within the intact cleared tissue is developed. Dual‐view inverted selective plane illumination microscopy (diSPIM), followed by improved registration and deconvolution, led to submicron isotropic imaging of mouse upper genital tract with one hundred‐fold speed‐ups than previous efforts. Further, optical metrics quantifying 3D local density and structural complexity of targets based on parallel and vectorized convolution in both spatial and frequency domains are developed. Collectively, ≈400–2000 fold increases in time efficiency counting for imaging, postprocessing, and quantitative characterization compared to the traditional method is gained. Using this platform, automatic identification of medulla and cortex within the mouse ovary at over 90% overlap with manual selection by anatomy experts is achieved. Additionally, heterogeneous distributions of immune cells in the mouse ovary and fallopian tube, offering a unique perspective for understanding the immune microenvironment are discovered. This work paves the way for future whole‐organ study, and exhibits potential with promise for offering mechanistic insights into physiological and pathological alterations of biological tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Chronic psychosocial stress negatively affects folliculogenesis and oogenesis. Intraovarian mechanisms mediating these effects are poorly understood. Aims: This work aimed to find out how chronic psychosocial stress affects ovarian IGF1 and its receptor (IGF1R), as well as Igf1 and Igf1r gene expression in cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). It also aimed to address possible protective effects of gonadotropin stimulation on IGF1 ovarian signalling. Methods: Female CD1 mice experienced chronic psychosocial stress of 11-day isolation followed by overcrowding for 10 days. To verify the model, blood corticosterone levels and the quality of oocytes were evaluated in stressed females. The levels of IGF1/IGF1R, blood IGF1 concentration, and expression of Igf1 / Igf1r in the ovaries were compared in stressed and unstressed females. Key results: Psychosocial stress caused an elevation of corticosterone level, which was alleviated by gonadotropin treatment. The stressed mice showed a decreased IGF1 level in the ovaries and a decreased expression of Igf1 and Igf1r in COCs. In the unstressed females, gonadotropin injection decreased the expression of Igf1 and Igf1r ; in the stressed females, the same treatment increased Igf1r expression. Neither stress nor ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins affected the serum IGF1 level. Conclusions: Psychosocial stress suppresses IGF1 signalling in the ovaries. Gonadotropin treatment modulates these effects differently in stressed and unstressed animals. Implications: The results may have translational value for human reproduction. Ovarian IGF1 can be considered a candidate for further improvement of IVF results in women under conditions of chronic stress. Psychosocial stress negatively affects the female reproductive system. Our study elucidates the mechanisms of these effects and addresses the possibility of alleviating the effects of stress on the ovary through reproductive technology as gonadotropin stimulation. The results of our study highlight intraovarian insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as a target for therapeutic intervention, providing a novel approach to improve fertility, particularly under the conditions associated with chronic psychosocial stress. Image by authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patients with ovarian cancer often have higher levels of platelets in their blood than are normally found in healthy individuals. Ovarian cancer cells form clumps called spheroids that travel throughout the abdomen in a fluid that contains platelets. Previously, we showed that platelets cause ovarian cancer spheroids to become smaller and denser. In this study, we found that an antiplatelet inhibitor called eptifibatide can prevent this effect of platelets on ovarian cancer spheroids. We also discovered that the molecule called liver X receptor appears to be involved in how platelets affect ovarian cancer spheroids and how eptifibatide can prevent this. These findings suggest that eptifibatide could be repurposed to treat ovarian cancer, and that drugs that affect the liver X receptor could be developed to enhance the anti-cancer activity of eptifibatide. Background: Platelets have been shown to promote ovarian cancer; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. Previously, we demonstrated that platelets reduce the size and increase the density of multi-cellular ovarian cancer spheroids in cell cultures. The objectives of this study were to determine if platelet inhibitors could counteract these effects, and to explore the mechanisms involved. Methods: FDA-approved platelet inhibitors were screened for their abilities to alter platelet effects on ovarian cancer spheroids. Mass spectrometry was used to identify proteins significantly altered in cancer cells upon exposure to platelets. The effects of platelets and/or liver x receptor agonists or antagonists on LXR activity were measured using ES-2 ovarian cancer cells transduced with an LXR-reporter vector. Results: Eptifibatide, a GPIIB-IIIA integrin inhibitor, and dipyridamole, an adenosine reuptake inhibitor, reduced and enhanced platelet effects on ovarian cancer spheroids, respectively. Proteomic studies identified the LXR/RXR and integrin pathways as mediators of platelet effects on ovarian cancer, and downstream effectors of eptifibatide. Conclusions: Integrin pathways and their downstream LXR/RXR effectors are implicated in how platelets alter ovarian cancer spheroid morphology. These results support studying eptifibatide and LXR/RXR agonists as candidate drugs for repurposing as therapeutic strategies to counteract platelet promotion of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Polycarpaea from Vietnam, Polycarpaea vanphongensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh are described and illustrated based on evidence of molecular sequence data from two markers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and rps16) and combined morphological characteristics. Polycarpaea vanphongensis is closely related to Polycarpaea gaudichaudi Gagnep., Polycarpaea arenaria (Lour.) Gagnep., Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh but differs by its stem glabrous, leaf ovate to elliptic, glabrous, ovary oblong ovoid, base obtuse, apex attenuate, capsule oblong void, 3.8 mm long. Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh differs from the three species mentioned above by its stem being densely villous, leaf spathulate, ciliate, ovary ovoid, base acute, apex obtuse, capsule ovoid, 1.2 mm long. Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh is most similar to Polycarpaea lignosa Gagnep., but differs in having leaf oblong or linear, sparse ciliate, sepal and petal apex deeply concaved or slightly bifid, ovary ovoid, ovoid, 0.8–1.0 mm long. Furthermore, the achievements of analysis using molecular data on the systematic positions of 7 other species are results that have not been in previous molecular analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of genes associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in ovarian and uterine tissues of dogs with pyometra, categorized by cervical status (open cervix or closed cervix), which influences disease severity. The control group comprised healthy animals undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. Tissue inflammatory gene expression and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined while microbial and histopathological examinations were conducted, along with immunohistochemical evaluations. In the closed-cervix group, uterine TNF and IL6 were upregulated approximately 10-fold while IL10 was upregulated nearly 5-fold. TNF expression differed remarkably between the pyometra groups. In the closed-cervix group, PTGS2 and HMOX1 were upregulated approximately 5-fold whereas NFE2L2 expression was downregulated. The closed-cervix group also had the highest uterine MDA levels. Regarding ovarian tissue, MDA levels were higher in the closed-cervix group than in the open-cervix group while IL10 expression was lower in the closed-cervix group than the open-cervix group. In the closed-cervix group, NFE2L2 was downregulated whereas HMOX1 was upregulated. Uterine TNF levels were positively correlated with IL6 , IL10 , PTGS2 , and HMOX1 , but negatively correlated with NFE2L2. IL6 was positively correlated with IL10 , PTGS2 , and HMOX1. NFE2L2 was negatively correlated with IL6 and HMOX1. IL10 was positively correlated with PTGS2 and HMOX1. MDA was positively correlated with TNF , IL6 , IL10 , PTGS2 , NFE2L2 , and HMOX1. TNF levels were positively correlated with ovarian PTGS2 , and with IL6 and NFE2L2. MDA was positively correlated with PTGS2 and HMOX1. MDA could be an important biomarker for understanding the severity of pyometra. Moreover, TNF expression and its relationships with various studied parameters such as IL10 may contribute to treatment and prognostic biomarker studies in closed-cervix pyometra pathology. • Cervical status influences inflammation and oxidative stress in both uterine and ovary tissues of canine pyometra. • Expression patterns of TNF in uterine tissue are considered to be upregulated depending on the severity of inflammation. • IL10 contributes to shaping a balance between the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in uterine tissue. • MDA, could be an important biomarker for understanding the severity of pyometra at the molecular level in uterine tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovum pick-up (OPU) by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicle aspiration in mares is a common assisted reproductive technique used for oocyte recovery and in vitro production of horse embryos. There has been relatively little research into the factors influencing oocyte recovery in OPU from live mares. The objective of this study was to compare oocyte recovery and morphology of ultrasound-guided follicle puncture and aspiration in live mares and in postmortem excised ovaries, in order to validate an experimental model for research purposes of the efficiency of OPU in mares. Data from OPU performed in 12 mares from a commercial program (follicle numbers, oocyte recovery and oocyte morphology) were compared to that obtained from ultrasound-guided follicle puncture of 13 postmortem excised ovaries from slaughtered mares processed within 2 h of slaughter. In both groups, the OPU was performed by the same operator using the same equipment and OPU technique. The recovered oocytes per aspirated follicle was higher (P < 0.05) in the postmortem group (105/166, 63.2 %) than in live mares (138/261, 52.9 %). There was more (P < 0.05) expanded cumulus oocyte complexes in the postmortem than in the live mares (18 % vs. 2.9 %). Several oocytes (5 oocytes from 81 aspirated follicles) were found in the leaked fluid which overflowed during follicle flushing of postmortem ovaries. In conclusion, the higher recovery rate obtained in the excised ovaries and the finding of oocytes in the leaked fluid during OPU, suggests that there is still room for improvement in the in vivo OPU technique. Utilizing postmortem excised ovaries could offer an alternative for further research into factors affecting oocyte recovery and oocyte leakage during OPU procedures. • Ultrasound-guided follicle puncture during OPU in postmortem excised ovaries is a valid method to obtain oocytes, yielding an average of 8.8 oocytes per ovary. • The oocyte recovery rate in the postmortem group was 10 % higher than in live mares. • Approximately one oocyte per ovary was found in the leaked fluid out of the ovary during OPU in excised ovaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cachexia a multifactorial syndrome is a common sequala in patients with cancer. It varies from 42 to 80% depending upon the oncological stage and is directly responsible for 30% of deaths in these patients. Previous research from our laboratory demonstrated that peritoneal ovarian cancer generated in NSG mice resulted in skeletal and cardiac muscle atrophy - leading to loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, and cardiac dysfunction (cachexia). Treatment of mice bearing i.p. tumors with withaferin A (WFA) showed reversal of skeletal muscle and cardiac cachexia. The present study is focused on determining effects of peritoneal ovarian tumors on kidney damage and effects of WFA treatment on ameliorating kidney damage. Methods: We generated intraperitoneal ovarian cancer by injecting female NSG mice with ovarian cancer cell line (A2780). After one week of injecting cancer cells, mice were treated with WFA (4 mg/kg) every third day, for three weeks. After 4 weeks of injection of cancer cells, the mice were sacrificed and various tissues including kidney and blood were collected, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -800C. The presence of kidney biomarker creatinine, was measured in the plasma by an ELISA. The mRNA was isolated from mouse kidneys and was used to examine the expression levels of signaling proteins, inflammatory cytokines, and genes responsible for inducing cachexia (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β, GDF-15, and MYD88). Results: Our results showed a significant increase in levels of expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-1 β (p < 0.01), IL-6 (p < 0.001), TNF-α (p < 0.001), and other related genes including TRAF6 (p < 0.01), MYD88 (p < 0.01), and GDF-15 (p = 0.005) in tumor-bearing mice compared to controls. Treatment of mice bearing tumors with WFA attenuated the increase in expression of each gene. In addition, our results showed a significant increase in creatinine levels in circulation in tumor-bearing mice compared to control mice. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with WFA resulted in a significant decrease in plasma creatinine levels compared to tumor-bearing mice. Conclusions: Our results conclude that ovarian tumors in NSG mice caused kidney damage and renal dysfunction, which was effectively ameliorated by WFA treatment, suggesting a protective effect of WFA on kidney injury induced by ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a unity of endocrine and metabolic disorders, associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR, autophagy, and gut microbiota. Quinoa is a valuable food source, which contains rich minerals, unsaturated fatty acids, and has a positive modulating effect on metabolic diseases. However, its effects and potential mechanisms on PCOS have not been reported yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of quinoa on PCOS rats by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR, autophagy, and gut microbiota. Methods: Ten–week-old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats have received letrozole for 24 days for induction of PCOS and subsequently were treated with a quinoa diet for 8 weeks. Vaginal smears were used to analyze the estrous cycle of rats. Hormone and biochemical indexes were analyzed by kit assays and glucometer. The pathological changes of ovary, pancreas, duodenum and colon were observed by HE staining. PI3K, AKT, mTOR and autophagy-related proteins in the ovary and colon were measured by western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. Tight junction proteins in colon were measured by immunohistochemistry staining. 16 s rDNA sequencing was used to detect the changes of intestinal microbiota in rats. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to study the possible targets and mechanisms of quinoa on PCOS. Spearman correlation analysis was used to study the relationship between intestinal microbial abundance and hormone levels of PCOS rats at the phylum and genus level. Results: Quinoa significantly improved estrous cycle and biochemical parameters of PCOS-like rats, and the pathological state of ovary, pancreas, duodenum and colon tissues. Especially, quinoa significantly regulated the expression of PI3K, AKT, mTOR and autophagy-related proteins in the ovary. Quinoa may repair the intestinal barrier by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins in the colon, and regulate autophagy-related factors in colon. Additionally, quinoa increased the abundance of Lactobacillu, Bacteroides and Oscillospira, and decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and the Blautia, and Prevotella, reversing the dysregulation of the gut microbiota. Correlation analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between gut microbiota with significant changes in abundance and hormone related to PCOS. Conclusion: Our result indicated that effect of quinoa on PCOS maybe associated with activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibition of autophagy, and regulation of intestinal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported that senolytic drugs can reverse obesity-mediated accumulation of senescent cells in the ovary and protect against cisplatin-induced ovarian injury by removing senescent cells. Early intervention with ABT-263 has been shown to mitigate ovarian aging. However, it remains unknown whether treatment with ABT-263 could rejuvenate the aged ovary in reproductively old females. Therefore, the current study was aimed to investigate whether advanced age intervention with ABT-263 could ameliorate age-related decline in ovarian function. Fourteen 16-month-old mice with a C57/BL6 background were treated with ABT-263 (N = 7) or vehicle (N = 7) for two weeks. Mice were initially treated with ABT-263 (60 mg/kg/d) or vehicle for 7 consecutive days. After a 7-day break, the treatment was repeated for another 7 consecutive days. Six 2-month-old mice with C57BL/6 were used as a young control. The hormonal levels, estrus cycles, ovarian reserve, ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis, ovarian fibrosis, and steroidogenic gene expression of ovarian stromal cells were evaluated. ABT-263 treatment did not rescue abnormal estrus cycles and sex hormonal levels, or inhibit the formation of multinucleated giant cells and ovarian stromal cell apoptosis in aged ovaries. However, it reduced ovarian fibrosis and preserved the steroidogenic gene expression of ovarian stromal cells in aged ovaries. Importantly, ABT-263 treatment further depleted ovarian follicles in aged mice. In conclusion, ABT-263 treatment accelerated the depletion of ovarian follicles in aged mice, suggesting that senolytic drugs for reproductively old female may adversely affect female fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit is a major cause of yield loss for maize (Zea mays), leading to ovary abortion when applied at flowering time. To help understand the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon, the proteome response to water deficit has been analysed in developing ovaries at the silk emergence stage and five days later. Differential analysis, abundance pattern clustering and co-expression networks were performed in order to draw a general picture of the proteome changes all along ovary development and under the effect of water deficit. The results show that even mild water deficit has a major impact on ovary proteome, but this impact is very different from a response to stress. A part of the changes can be related to a slowdown of ovary development, while another part cannot. In particular, ovaries submitted to water deficit show an increase in proteins involved in protein biosynthesis and in vesicle transport together with a decrease in proteins involved in amino acid metabolism and proteolysis. According to the functions of increased proteins, the changes may be linked to auxin, brassinosteroids and jasmonate signalling but not abscisic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reproductive age of women is particularly vulnerable to the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). High levels of testosterone and other male hormones are frequent contributors to PCOS. It is believed that miscarriages and ovulation problems are majorly caused by PCOS. A recent study found that 31.3% of Asian women have been afflicted with PCOS. Healing women with life-threatening disorders associated with PCOS requires more research. In prior research, methods have involved autonomously classified PCOS using a number of different machine learning techniques. ML-based approaches involve hand-crafted feature extraction and suffer from low performance issues, which cannot be ignored for the accurate prediction and identification of PCOS. Objective: Hence, predicting PCOS using cutting-edge deep learning methods for automated feature engineering with better performance is the prime focus of this study. Methods: The proposed method suggests three lightweight (LSTM-based, CNN-based, and CNN-LSTM-based) deep learning models, incorporating SMOTE for dataset balancing to obtain a valid performance. Results: The proposed three models tend to offer an accuracy of 92.04%, 96.59%, and 94.31%, an ROC-AUC of 92.0%, 96.6%, and 94.3%, the number of parameters of 6689, 297, and 13285, and a training time of 67.27 s, 10.02 s, and 18.51 s, respectively. In addition, the DeLong test is also performed to compare AUCs to assess the statistical significance of all three models. Among all three models, the SMOTE + CNN models performs better in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, AUC, number of parameters, training time, DeLong's p-value over the other. Conclusions: Moreover, a performance comparison is also carried out with other state-of-the-art PCOS detection studies and methods, which validates the better performance of the proposed model. Thus, the proposed model provides the greatest performance, which can lead to a reduction in the number of failed pregnancies and help in finding PCOS in the early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low developmental potential of vitrified in vitro matured (IVM) bovine oocytes is frequently attributed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and abnormal spindle assembly. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC), a cell‐permeating antioxidant, added to IVM medium in reducing ROS and preserving spindle configuration of vitrified/warmed IVM bovine oocytes. Oocytes collected from abattoir ovaries were either cultured in IVM medium or in IVM medium supplemented with 1 mM NAC for the initial 8 h of IVM. Half of the oocytes of each group were vitrified/warmed, and spindle morphology and ROS production were assessed at 24 h of IVM. Results indicated that fresh oocytes IVM with NAC improved spindle configuration, with significantly lower ROS levels compared to the control group. Vitrification resulted in lower percentages of bovine oocytes reaching the metaphase II stage but similar ROS levels to non‐vitrified oocytes, regardless of NAC supplementation. However, the supplementation of NAC during maturation had no effect on spindle or chromosome configuration of vitrified oocytes. These findings emphasize NAC's potential in enhancing the quality of IVM bovine oocytes but its addition at 1 mM for 8 h to IVM medium did not decrease levels of ROS nor improve spindle assembly after vitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new subalpine species of Bufonia sect. Longipedicellata from the Zagros Mountains in west Iran is described and illustrated here. It colonizes mountain slopes with gravelly, stony, and scree substrates in one locality of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, preferably with a western and north‐west orientation, at elevations between 2700 and 3100 m a.s.l. The new species, B. darvishii, is diagnosed against the morphologically similar B. macrocarpa. The two species share similarities such as filiform and long pedicels, a lax panicle‐cyme inflorescence, distribution pattern of trichomes, and long peduncles. However, the new species stands out with semi‐shrub life form, its greater height, retention of the previous year's stems, cymes bearing more flowers, orbicular petals, larger petals, a broadly ovate ovary, larger sepals with more pronounced nervation, shorter pedicels, larger flowers, etc. Bufonia darvishii is proposed to be Critically Endangered (CR) following the guidelines of the IUCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) from ovarian tissue could be the best scaffold for the development of a transplantable artificial ovary. Typically, dECM from ovarian tissue has been obtained using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at a concentration of 1% for 24 h. However, SDS can leave residues in the tissue, which may be toxic to the seeded cells. This study aimed to obtain dECM from bovine ovarian tissue using SDS and NaOH at a minimum concentration in the shortest incubation time. Methods: The respective SDS and NaOH concentrations investigated were 1% and 0.2 m; 0.5% and 0.1 m; 0.1% and 0.02 m; and 0.05% and 0.01 m, with 24-, 12-, and 6-h incubation periods. After the incubation time, the tissue was washed in 50 mL of distilled water for 6 h. Results: Histological analysis confirmed decellularization and showed the conservation of collagen fibers in all samples following treatment. Furthermore, the lowest SDS and NaOH concentrations that showed no DNA remaining during electrophoresis analysis were 0.1% and 0.02 m when incubated for 24 and 12 h. DNA quantification resulted in <0.2 ng DNA/mg ovarian tissue using these protocols. Additionally, the coculture of dECM (obtained by 0.1% SDS and 0.02 m NaOH for 12 h) with ovarian cells showed that there was no toxic effect for the cells for up to 72 h. Conclusion: The protocol involving 0.1% SDS and 0.02 m NaOH for 12-h incubation decellularizes bovine ovarian tissue, generating a dECM that preserves the native ECM morphology and is nontoxic to ovarian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the independent effects of irisin on insulin resistance (IR) in ovary of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and explore possible pathways. Methods: We established PCOS medel using Poretsky L's method, then PCOS rats were randomly divided into model group (M) and irisin group (I), and normal rats (N) were used as the control. Then rats in the group I were injected with recombinant irisin. Then the levels of circulating fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA‐IR) and PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in each group were observed, as well as the effects of irisin on the levels of circulating HOMA‐IR and PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in ovary of PCOS rats were evaluated. Results: Compared with normal group, levels of FBG, FINS, and HOMA‐IR of model group were significantly increased (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), levels of average optical density by IHC of p‐PI3K, PI3K, p‐AKT, and AKT (p = 0.015, p = 0.010, p = 0.005, and p = 0.009, respectively) and levels of mRNA concentration of PI3K and AKT (p = 0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively) were decreased, while the levels of average optical density of p‐ERK, ERK (p = 0.011, and p = 0.013, respectively) and level of mRNA concentration of ERK (p < 0.001) were increased in ovary. After irisin intervention, compared with model group, levels of FBG, FINS, and HOMA‐IR of rats in irisin group were significantly decreased (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), levels of average optical density by IHC of p‐PI3K, PI3K, p‐AKT, and AKT (p = 0.030, p = 0.024, p = 0.012, and p = 0.025, respectively) and levels of mRNA concentration of PI3K and AKT (p = 0.002, and p = 0.003, respectively) were significantly increased, while the levels of average optical density of p‐ERK, ERK (p = 0.004, and p = 0.026, respectively) and level of mRNA concentration of ERK (p = 0.001) were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that irisin could not only improve circulating insulin resistance, but may also improve ovarian IR through an increase in the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling and a decrease of MAPK/ERK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Evidence of the effects of chronic caffeine (CAFF)-containing beverages, alone or in combination with agomelatine (AGO) or quetiapine (QUET), on electroencephalography (EEG), which is relevant to cognition, epileptogenesis, and ovarian function, remains lacking. Estrogenic, adenosinergic, and melatonergic signaling is possibly linked to the dynamics of these substances. Objectives: The brain and ovarian effects of CAFF were compared with those of AGO + CAFF and QUET + CAFF. The implications of estrogenic, adenosinergic, and melatonergic signaling and the brain-ovarian crosstalk were investigated. Methods: Adult female rats were administered AGO (10 mg/kg), QUET (10 mg/kg), CAFF, AGO + CAFF, or QUET + CAFF, once daily for 8 weeks. EEG, estrous cycle progression, and microstructure of the brain and ovaries were examined. Brain and ovarian 17β-estradiol (E2), antimullerian hormone (AMH), estrogen receptor alpha (E2Rα), adenosine receptor 2A (A2AR), and melatonin receptor 2 (MT2R) were assessed. Results: CAFF, alone or combined with AGO or QUET, reduced the maximum EEG peak, which was positively linked to ovarian E2Rα, negatively correlated to cortical neurodegeneration and ovarian MT2R, and associated with cystic ovaries. A large corpus luteum emerged with AGO + CAFF and QUET + CAFF, antagonizing the CAFF-mediated increased ovarian A2AR and reduced cortical E2Rα. AGO + CAFF provoked TTP delay and increased ovarian AMH, while QUET + CAFF slowed source EEG frequency to δ range and increased brain E2. Conclusions: CAFF treatment triggered brain and ovarian derangements partially antagonized with concurrent AGO or QUET administration but with no overt affection of estrus cycle progression. Estrogenic, adenosinergic, and melatonergic signaling and brain-ovarian crosstalk may explain these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synopsis: A microcystic stromal tumor (MCST) is considered a benign tumor. However, reported cases of recurrence and metastases indicate that it has got malignant features. Its recurrence is strongly linked to undertreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the long‐term impact of internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) on ovarian hormonal and functional changes in women. The procedure is often used for postpartum hemorrhage and is considered uterus‐sparing. However, its effects on ovarian reserve and fertility preservation remain controversial. Methods: This is a retrospective, case–control study involving consecutive female patients aged 17–47 years. These patients underwent successful bilateral IIAL due to severe postpartum hemorrhage between January 2022 and December 2022. The control group included women of matching age, parity, and body mass index (BMI) who did not undergo IIAL. Both groups were followed for 6 months to measure follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, antral follicle counts, and ovarian volume. Results: The study comprised 62 patients in the IIAL group and 86 in the control group. No significant differences were found in FSH and LH levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the numbers of antral follicles in both the right and left ovaries were significantly lower in the IIAL group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Ovarian volume did not show a significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that IIAL leads to a significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles at 6 months post‐operation. However, it does not significantly impact FSH and LH levels or ovarian volume. Synopsis: The study reveals that IIAL significantly decreases ovarian follicle counts at 6 months but does not impact FSH, LH levels, or ovarian volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe extension of ovarian tissue beyond visible and National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended margins among patients with BRCA mutations undergoing minimally invasive risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. A prospective study of patients with BRCA mutations who underwent minimally invasive risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was conducted. Patient enrollment occurred between October 2021 and 2023. Tissue specimens were analyzed according to the Sectioning and Extensively Examining the Fimbriated End protocol. Twenty women with BRCA mutations were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent minimally invasive surgery with 70% undergoing concurrent hysterectomy (n = 14). Approximately half of these procedures were performed with robotic assistance (n = 9, 45%). One patient was admitted overnight (5%); the other nineteen were discharged on the day of surgery (95%). One patient experienced a major complication and required readmission (5%). Extension of ovarian tissue beyond the visible ovary was noted on pathologic examination of six specimens (30%). In one patient this was observed on the left (17%), in three on the right (50%), and in two bilateral extension (33%) was noted. The distance ovarian stroma extended microscopically beyond the visible ovary was between 2 and 14 mm, with a median of 5 mm. Among patients with microscopic extension of ovarian tissue, the majority (n = 5, 83%) had a BRCA2 mutation. In women with BRCA mutations undergoing risk-reducing minimally invasive surgery, approximately one third had microscopic extension of ovarian stroma beyond the visible ovary. Current guidelines which recommend resection of at least 20 mm of tissue beyond the visible ovary are likely adequate in this population. • In women with BRCA undergoing risk-reducing minimally invasive surgery, one third had ovarian stroma beyond the visible ovary • Distance ovarian stroma extended microscopically beyond the visible ovary was between 2 and 14 mm, with a median of 5 mm • Current guidelines which recommend resection of 20 mm of tissue beyond the visible ovary are adequate in this population [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The malignant transformation of mature cystic teratomas during pregnancy is a rare occurrence in medical literature. In this case report, we present a remarkable instance of mucinous intestinal adenocarcinoma arising from a mature ovarian cystic teratoma diagnosed during pregnancy. This is among the few reports detailing the effective use of the FOLFOX 6 chemotherapy regimen for treating this type of intestinal cancer. Furthermore, we emphasize the immunohistochemical results that confirm the colorectal histological origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black Bengal goat is the only indigenous breed in Bangladesh. These are small-sized goats renowned for their high-quality meat, skin, and adaptability to adverse environmental conditions. To conserve the originality of this species, it is mandatory to develop an effective methodology for their germ cells to be harvested after death. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the ovarian status and evaluate the most suitable method of ovum pick-up as well as the characterization of ovum from slaughterhouse specimens. A total of 182 ovaries were collected from local slaughterhouses from June 2022 to July 2023 and grossly examined to assess their status. Two methods were used to retrieve oocytes from the ovaries: aspiration and slicing. The grading of the ovum was done based on the germ layer present surrounding the oocytes. From 182 ovaries, the rates of corpus luteum (CL), tumor, and cyst were found to be 14.29%, 6.59%, and 27.47%, respectively. In the aspiration method, the significantly highest percentage of recovery rate (38.89%) and grade A oocytes (51.06%) were found within 1–3 hours of slaughtering. In the slicing method, the significantly highest percentage of recovery rate (19.57%) and grade A (60.61%) oocytes were found within 1–3 hours of slaughtering. The recovery rate was significantly higher (34.1%) in the aspiration method than in the slicing method (17.1%). There was no significant relationship in oocyte quality between the two methods. The recovery rate was not significantly dependent on the presence of CL. In conclusion, the findings from this study may be useful for assessing the quality of oocytes to preserve the germ cells and utilize them for in vitro fertilization for conserving Black Bengal goat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum bacterial infections of the uterus affect uterine physiology and ovarian activity, causing fertility problems. The outer membrane component of Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide, is involved in the initiation of the local inflammatory processes, and other bacterial toxins, particularly lipopeptides, have also been shown to be potent cytokine inducers, acting via Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2). However, the possible adverse effects of TLR2 on ovarian and luteal activities have not yet been investigated in depth. The strong expression of TLR2 in the blood vessels of the corpus luteum led us to hypothesize that TLR2 activation might participate in the disruption of luteal vascular functionality. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of Pam3CSK4 (Pam3CysSerLys4), a synthetic triacylated lipopeptide and TLR2/TLR1 ligand, on the functionality of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), endothelial cell invasion, and in vitro capillary-like network formation in an immortalized ovine luteal endothelial (OLENDO) cell line. Pam3CSK4 treatment of OLENDO cells disrupted in vitro tube formation but had no effect on GJIC or migration of OLENDO cells. Furthermore, Pam3CSK4 induced the expression of NFKB, IL6, and IL8 in OLENDO cells. Additionally, the basal availability of TLRs (TLR1-10) and TLR co-receptors (MYD88, LY96/MD2, and CD14) in OLENDO cells was confirmed by conventional PCR. Finally, the activation of TLR2/TLR1 appears to alter in vitro formation of capillarylike structures and induce inflammatory processes in OLENDO cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Heat stress exerts extensive and intricate effects on germ cells, attracting significant attention from researchers. This article provides a comprehensive review and summary of the impacts and mechanisms of heat stress on ovarian granulosa cells. The systematic evaluation of heat stress effects on ovarian granulosa cells encompasses alterations in steroid hormone levels, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function, with detailed discussions on several key mechanisms. Furthermore, this study analyzes the mechanism and potential relevance of ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells under heat stress conditions. Looking ahead to the future, gaining a deeper understanding of this complex mechanism will serve as a theoretical foundation for exploring possible interactions between heat stress and ferroptosis. Heat stress has been one of the key research areas for researchers due to the wide-ranging effects and complex mechanisms of action of its stress product reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this paper is to comprehensively review and summarize the effects of heat stress on ovarian granulosa cells and their mechanism of action. We systematically reviewed the effects of heat stress on ovarian granulosa cells, including intracellular steroid hormone changes, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, this paper discusses in detail several major mechanisms by which heat stress induces apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells, such as through the activation of apoptosis-related genes, induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and the mitochondrial pathway. In addition, we analyzed the mechanism of ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells under heat stress conditions, summarized the potential association between heat stress and ferroptosis in light of the existing literature, and explored the key factors in the mechanism of action of heat stress, such as the signaling pathways of Nrf2/Keap1, HSPs, and JNK, and analyzed their possible roles in the process of ferroptosis. Finally, this paper provides an outlook on the future research direction, describing the possible interaction between heat stress and ferroptosis, with a view to providing a theoretical basis for further understanding and revealing the complex mechanism of ferroptosis occurrence in ovarian granulosa cells under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation and re-transplantation of ovarian tissue is a relatively new technique to preserve fertility. This study evaluated the preservation of ovarian follicles after the vitrification-thawing procedure by implanting ovarian fragments into the gluteus muscle of rabbit. Bilateral ovariectomy was performed on each rabbit. The cortices were separated from the medullae of ovaries and divided into four fragments. One fresh cortical fragment was used as a control, fixed in 10.00% formalin. Three fragments underwent vitrificationthawing for two weeks. Two of these vitrified-thawed fragments were auto-transplanted into separate locations within the opened gluteus muscle, while the final fragment was fixed in 10.00% formalin. Eight weeks after re-implantation, biopsies were collected from the ovarian fragments and fixed in 10.00% formalin. The numbers and areas (µm²) of morphologically normal follicles were evaluated on sections stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin through light microscopy. The follicular morphology in the ovarian fragments immediately after vitrification-thawing remained similar to that of the fresh ovary. The number of morphologically intact follicles was significantly lower in the ovarian fragments eight weeks after re-implantation than fresh ovary and ovarian tissue fragments after vitrification-thawing procedure. However, follicular development to the antral stage was observed in all samples eight weeks after re-implantation. There was no statistical difference in the areas (µm²) of primordial, primary, pre-antral, and antral follicles in the ovarian fragments before cryopreservation, immediately after vitrification-thawing, and following re-implantation procedures. Auto-transplantation of ovarian tissue into the gluteus muscle of rabbits could be a viable approach for preserving ovarian follicles after vitrification-thawing procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt-inducible kinases (SIKs), a family of serine/threonine kinases, were found to be critical determinants of female fertility. SIK2 silencing results in increased ovulatory response to gonadotropins. In contrast, SIK3 knockout results in infertility, gonadotropin insensitivity, and ovaries devoid of antral and preovulatory follicles. This study hypothesizes that SIK2 and SIK3 differentially regulate follicle growth and fertility via contrasting actions in the granulosa cells (GCs), the somatic cells of the follicle. Therefore, SIK2 or SIK3 GC-specific knockdown (SIK2GCKD and SIK3GCKD, respectively) mice were generated by crossing SIK floxed mice with Cyp19a1pII-Cre mice. Fertility studies revealed that pup accumulation over 6 months and the average litter size of SIK2GCKD mice were similar to controls, although in SIK3GCKD mice were significantly lower compared to controls. Compared to controls, gonadotropin stimulation of prepubertal SIK2GCKD mice resulted in significantly higher serum estradiol levels, whereas SIK3GCKD mice produced significantly less estradiol. Cyp11a1, Cyp19a1, and StAR were significantly increased in the GCs of gonadotropin-stimulated SIK2GCKD mice. However, Cyp11a1 and StAR remained significantly lower than controls in SIK3GCKD mice. Interestingly, Cyp19a1 stimulation in SIK3GCKD was not statistically different compared to controls. Superovulation resulted in SIK2GCKD mice ovulating significantly more oocytes, whereas SIK3GCKD mice ovulated significantly fewer oocytes than controls. Remarkably, SIK3GCKD superovulated ovaries contained significantly more preantral follicles than controls. SIK3GCKD ovaries contained significantly more apoptotic cells and fewer proliferating cells than controls. These data point to the differential regulation of GC function and follicle development by SIK2 and SIK3 and supports the therapeutic potential of targeting these kinases for treating infertility or developing new contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germ cell development in mammals is a complex physiological process that involves the proliferation of primordial germ cells, meiosis, and the formation of male and female gametes. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of RNA with more than 200 nucleotides that does not code for proteins. A small number of lncRNAs have been shown to participate in spermatogenesis in the testes and in follicular development in the ovaries, but the role of the vast majority of lncRNAs and their molecular mechanisms still need further study. LncRNA Gm2044 was identified as a differentially expressed lncRNA in mouse spermatogenesis by microarray technology. In mouse testis, lncRNA Gm2044 can act as competing endogenous RNA to regulate SYCP1 expression in GC-2 cells derived from mouse spermatocyte cells, and it can also act as a host gene for miR-202 to regulate RBFOX2 protein expression. In female mouse ovaries, lncRNA Gm2044 regulates 17ß-estradiol synthesis through the miRNA-138-5p-Nr5a1 pathway or by interacting with EEF2. In addition, studies suggest that lncRNA Gm2044 is also involved in the progression of reproductive system diseases such as male nonobstructive azoospermia. Here, we summarize the roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA Gm2044 in male and female gametogenesis and its potential role in some infertility disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging ovary in mammals leads to the reduced production of sex hormones and a deterioration in follicle quality. The interstitial gland originates from the hypertrophy of the theca cells of atretic follicles and represents an accumulative structure of the ovary that may contribute to its aging. Here, reproductive and mature rabbit ovaries are used to determine whether the interstitial gland plays a crucial role in ovarian aging. We demonstrate that, in the mature ovary, interstitial gland cells accumulate lipid droplets and show ultrastructural characteristics of lipophagy. Furthermore, they undergo modifications and present a foamy appearance, do not express the pan-leukocyte CD-45 marker, and express CYP11A1. These cells are the first to present an increase in lipofuscin accumulation. In foamy cells, the expression of p21 remains low, PCNA expression is maintained at mature ages, and their nuclei do not show positivity for H2AX. The interstitial gland shows a significant increase in lipofuscin accumulation compared with the ovaries of younger rabbits, but lipofuscin accumulation remains constant at mature ages. Surprisingly, no accumulation of cells with DNA damage is evident, and an increase in proliferative cells is observed at the age of 36 months. We suggest that the interstitial gland initially uses lipophagy to maintain steroidogenic homeostasis and prevent cellular senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the superestimulatory and superovulatory responses of cattle treated with corifollitropin-alpha, a long-acting human recombinant FSH (rhFSH). In the first and second experiments, we used Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers previously submitted to follicular wave suppression by active immunization against GnRH. In Experiment 1 (a dose-response study), heifers (n = 20) were randomly allocated into five groups, which received placebo (saline) or a single sc dose of 7.5, 15.0, 22.5 or 30.0 μg rhFSH. The heifers were subjected to daily ovarian scan and blood sampling during 11 days. We observed group, time, and group x time effects (P< 0.0001) for both average follicle size and circulating FSH concentrations, with a strong correlation (R = 0.82, P< 0.0001) between the area under curve (AUC) for both parameters. The peak concentration of FSH 24h after treatment and average follicle size at all timepoints, however, were similar (P> 0.05) between groups 22.5 and 30.0 μg. In Experiment 2, heifers (n = 18) were allocated into three groups, which received (0h) either placebo (control), 25 μg rhFSH or 130 mg pFSH (Folltropin). There was no difference (P> 0.05) in average follicle size at any moment, as well as in intrafollicular E2 at 120h or in plasma P4 seven days later between groups rhFSH and pFSH. In Experiment 3, cycling Nelore heifers (n = 20) were subjected to a wave synchronization protocol and superovulated (day 0) using a standard pFSH protocol (120 mg split in eight decreasing im doses) or with a single sc injection of 20 μg rhFSH. The number of follicles >7 mm on day 4 did not differ (P= 0.4370). Heifers receiving rhFSH had greater average follicle size on day 4 (P= 0.0005), ovulation rate (P< 0.0001), and number of CL (P= 0.0155), as well as a trend towards a greater number of ova (P= 0.07) and viable embryos (P= 0.0590). In Experiment 4, superovulation was induced with a single sc injection of 25 μg rhFSH in Girolando and Nelore cows and heifers (n = 20). None of the embryo yield endpoints differed between the two breeds (P> 0.05). In conclusion, cattle superstimulation and superovulation can be successfully induced with a single dose of a long-acting rhFSH (corifollitropin-alpha). • Cattle respond to superstimulation with corifollitropin-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. • Ovarian superovulation can be induced with 20–25 mcg of corifollitropin-alpha. • Corifollitropin-alpha is detected in circulating serum up to 11 days after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammalian ovaries, most follicles do not ovulate and are eliminated by atresia, which primarily depends on granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis. Autophagy is an alternative mechanism involved in follicle depletion in mammals through independent or tandem action with apoptosis. However, follicular autophagy has not yet been investigated in sheep; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the involvement of autophagy in atresia among a pool of growing antral follicles in ewe ovaries. The abundance of the autophagic marker LC3B-II was determined using western blotting in GCs collected from ewe antral follicles. The antral follicles were classified as healthy or atretic based on morphological criteria and steroid measurements in follicular fluid (FF). Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy analyses were performed on GCs to evaluate the presence of autophagic proteins and their subcellular localisation. Caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation were assessed using western blotting and TUNEL assays, respectively, in the same GC population to investigate the simultaneous apoptosis. The novel results of this study demonstrated enhanced LC3B-II protein expression in GCs of atretic follicles compared to that of healthy ones (1.3-fold increase; P = 0.0001, ANOVA), indicating a correlation between autophagy enhancement in GCs and antral follicular atresia. Autophagy, either functioning independently or in tandem with apoptosis, may be involved in the atresia of growing antral follicles in ewe ovaries because atretic GCs also showed high levels of apoptotic markers. The findings of this study might have important implication on scientific understanding of ovarian follicle dynamics. • Ovine granulosa cells undergo autophagy during follicular atresia at antral stage • The autophagic marker level is higher in atretic than in healthy granulosa cells • Granulosa cells of atretic follicles undergo apoptosis as well • Autophagy and apoptosis could regulate granulosa cell death • Both autophagy and apoptosis could be involved in antral follicle atresia in sheep [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) treatment has any protective effect on ovarian function in rats with cyclophosphamide (CP) induced ovarian damage. Design: This was an experimental animal study. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: 25 mature cycling Wistar-Albino rats were randomized into four groups (n = 5 per group). Rats in groups 1 and 2 received single dose of intraperitoneal (i.p.) 1 mL/kg sodium chloride 0.9% (NaCl). Groups 3 and 4 received single dose of 75 mg/kg i.p. CP. On seventh day, SVF was prepared from adipose tissues of 5 additional rats and groups 1 and 3 received 0.9% NaCl i.p. injections while groups 2 and 4 received 0.2 mL i.p. injections of SVF. On day 21 all rats were euthanized, and serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and atretic follicle counts, AMH positive staining follicle counts along with AMH staining intensity of the follicles were evaluated. Results: Among two CP induced ovarian damaged groups, SVF treated group showed significantly higher secondary and antral follicle and lower atretic follicle counts, significantly higher mean serum AMH levels, AMH positive antral follicle count and higher intensity of AMH positive follicle scores for primary, secondary, and antral follicles when compared to untreated group. Moreover, group 1 showed no significant difference for all parameters except antral follicle count and AMH positive staining intensity scores for antral follicles when compared to group 4. Limitations: This study was conducted on experimental rat model. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a significant protective effect of SVF against CP-induced ovarian damage which reveals the apparent need for further investigation of its precise mechanisms of action as it may provide a new treatment approach for women with premature ovarian failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato-potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), belonging to the Hemiptera order, is an insect pest of solanaceous crops and vectors a fastidious bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), the presumptive causal agent of zebra chip and vein greening diseases in potatoes and tomatoes, respectively. The genome of B. cockerelli has been sequenced recently, providing new avenues to elucidate mechanistic insights into pathogenesis in vegetable crops. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing of the critical psyllid organs (salivary glands and ovaries) involved in CLso pathology and transmission to host plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed differentially expressed genes and organ-specific enrichment of gene ontology (GO) terms related to metabolic processes, response to stress/stimulus, phagocytosis, proteolysis, endocytosis, and provided candidate genes encoding transcription factors (TFs). To examine gene regulatory networks across the psyllid organs under CLso(-) and CLso(+) conditions, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and unique modules differentiating the psyllid organs were identified. A comparative GO analysis of the unique gene modules revealed functional terms enriched in response to stress, gene regulation, and cell division processes in the ovaries. In contrast, respiration, transport, and neuronal transmission-related GO terms were enriched in the salivary glands. Altogether, this study reveals new insights into tissue-specific expression of the psyllid organs in the absence or presence of CLso bacterium. This knowledge can be leveraged to develop new pest and disease management strategies by delineating the regulatory networks involved in the psyllid-CLso interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we show the improvement in life longevity in an experimental mouse model after step-by-step autologous ovarian transplantation and compare its effects with exogenic transdermal estradiol usage. This has proven to be more efficient than "traditional" hormonal replacement therapy. Despite the high speed and effectiveness of estradiol replacement deficiency in blood by its oral or transdermal use, no significant increase in the life longevity of animals and possibly in women was noted. The function of the transplanted fragment is usually limited to 6-12 months. This is enough for oncofertility purposes, sometimes, but not for longevity improvement. We performed periodical tissue return (autologous transplantation), containing both the cortex and medulla in the experimental mouse model, which resulted in a statistically reliable improvement in longevity. Our experience indicates the important role of medullary ovarian factors in slowing the aging process in the body and increasing the life expectancy in the experiment. As shown, the transdermal estrogen supportive therapy for ovarian deficiency improves estrogen levels but causes much slower decreases in the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Moreover, we attained the best longevity with step-bystep periodic ovarian autotransplantation, thus making "prosthetics" of ovarian function longer than it is preplanned physiologically [direct correlation between the levels of FSH and lifespan (r = 0.98)]. The experimental model we suggested could be projected to other mammals or humans as cortical transplantation provides the same results for reproduction restoration in mice and humans and even for hormone level normalization, but there is still a lack of information about anti-aging factors in the ovarian medulla and cortex. Hence, we consider that the most important factor for the anti-aging ovarian transplantation technology is to preserve and transfer both the medulla and cortex as parts of the whole ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Methods Results Conclusion Mesonephric‐like adenocarcinoma (MLA) of the endometrium or ovary is a rare but distinct endometrial carcinoma which has a combination of characteristic morphological, immunohistochemical (IHC) and molecular features. SOX17 has been recently identified as a highly sensitive and specific marker for endometrial and ovarian carcinomas. In this study, we aimed to investigate SOX17 expression in MLA together with other IHCs to differentiate MLAs from other endometrial carcinomas.Seventeen previously diagnosed endometrial/ovarian MLAs were collected, and multiple IHCs were performed. Additionally, we performed SOX17, PAX8 and ER on tissue microarrays (TMAs) composed of 652 endometrial carcinomas from 2012 to 2015 when MLA diagnostic criteria were not established.All 17 MLAs showed diffuse strong positive PAX8, negative ER and variable TTF1/GATA3 staining. Notably, all MLAs showed negative (n = 10) or focal weak/moderate (n = 7) staining for SOX17, which is more diffuse and stronger than PAX8 in other endometrial carcinoma subtypes. This finding prompted us to screen TMAs with 652 endometrial carcinomas diagnosed before MLA by an approach of combined SOX17 and PAX8 IHCs, and 14 cases with positive PAX8 but negative/focal weak SOX17 were identified. We further studied the 14 cases by examining morphology and performing additional IHCs (TTF1, GATA3, ER and CD10) and would classify seven (50%) of them as MLAs based on morphological features and positive CD10, TTF1 and/or GATA3 staining.Our results suggest that a combination of SOX17 and PAX8 IHCs would aid in diagnosing MLA if the results show strong positive PAX8, but negative SOX17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pittosporum beecheyi Tuyama, endemic to the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands is described and illustrated; the species is known only from the Hahajima Island group. Key characters for the recognition of this species include the hairy ovary, the solitary flowers with curved pedicels, and the pendulous globose fruits that dehisce into three valves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the ovarian tissue culture and in vitro follicle growth as safer alternatives to cryopreservation for generating in vitro fertilization (IVF)‐ready mature oocytes from prepubertal mice without the risk of cancer cell contamination. Methods: Ovaries from prepubertal B6D2F1 mice were cultured in α‐minimum essential medium supplemented with an estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182780. Culture duration was investigated to identify the optimal timeframe for follicle growth and oocyte maturation. Follicles were isolated mechanically or using 1 mg/mL collagenase and cultured in Matrigel matrix or polyvinylpyrrolidone. Oocyte development at metaphase II was induced by in vitro maturation, followed by IVF. Results: The optimal culture duration was 2–4 days, and tissues cultured beyond this period showed significant follicular degeneration. ICI 182780 supplementation resulted in the recovery of 20.5 follicles per ovary compared with 9.5 follicles in non‐supplemented cultures (p < 0.05). Of the 452 isolated follicles, 237 (52.4%) showed growth, 150 (33.2%) underwent germinal vesicle breakdown, and 18 (4.0%) reached metaphase II. However, none of the metaphase II oocytes were successfully fertilized after IVF. Matrigel demonstrated a significantly higher in vitro maturation rate compared with polyvinylpyrrolidone in a comparative analysis of culture matrices (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlighted ovarian tissue culture and in vitro growth as effective strategies for producing mature oocytes from prepubertal mice. Further studies are required to overcome fertilization hurdles and understand the mechanisms that improve post‐IVF embryo viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the DNA damage response (DDR) in a cyclophosphamide (CTX)‐induced mouse model of premature ovarian failure (POF). Methods: The POF model was established by injecting mice with CTX. The body, ovarian weights, the estrus cycle, and pathological changes of the ovaries were recorded. The serum levels of 17 β‐estradiol (E2) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured. The expression of Ki67, β‐galactosidase (β‐gal), p21, p53, γH2AX, and pATM in ovarian tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of β‐gal, γH2AX, and pATM was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining of primary cultured granulosa cells (GCs). Results: The body and ovarian weights decreased, the estrus cycles were erratic, and the FSH level increased, whereas the E2 level decreased in POF mice compared to controls. The pathological consequences of POF revealed an increase in atretic follicles, corpus luteum, and primordial follicles and a decrease in the number of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles. Ki67 expression was reduced, β‐gal, p21, p53, γH2AX, and pATM expression were elevated in the ovaries of POF mice. The expression of β‐gal, γH2AX, and pATM increased in GCs with the concentration in a time‐dependent manner. Conclusion: In total, CTX induced POF in mice, which was mediated by the DDR pathway of ATM‐P53‐P21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Melatonin and serotonin can influence certain aging processes in the ovaries. The main melatonin receptors are represented by types MT1 and MT2. The goal of investigation. Here, we evaluated the expression of genes and synthesis of MT1 and MT2 receptors, as well as serotonin synthesis in the ovaries during ontogenesis. Methods. We analyzed histological material obtained from the ovaries of infants, women of younger and older reproductive age, premenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women. For the analysis of MT1 and MT2 receptors and serotonin expression and synthesis, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used. Results. We found that the synthesis of serotonin, as well as MT1 and MT2 receptors in the ovaries significantly decrease in ontogenesis. The sharpest drop in these molecules was observed in samples obtained from one-year-old infants, as well as from pubescent girls and menopausal women. A statistically significant 2.3–7.6-fold decrease in the expression of MTNR1A and MTNR1B genes in the ovaries was also observed in one-year-old infants, in adolescents, and in middle-aged women. Conclusions. These data are crucial to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of aging of the female reproductive system and the search for molecules predicting its aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]