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Developmental programming: exogenous gonadotropin treatment rescues ovulatory function but does not completely normalize ovarian function in sheep treated prenatally with testosterone.
- Source :
-
Biology of reproduction [Biol Reprod] 2008 Oct; Vol. 79 (4), pp. 686-95. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Jun 04. - Publication Year :
- 2008
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Abstract
- Prenatal testosterone treatment leads to LH excess as well as ovarian follicular and ovulatory defects in the adult. These disruptions may stem from LH excess, abnormal FSH input, compromised ovarian sensitivity to gonadotropins, or intrinsic ovarian defects. To determine if exogenous gonadotropins rescue ovarian and ovulatory function of testosterone-treated sheep, the release of endogenous LH and biopotent FSH in control and prenatal testosterone-treated sheep was blocked with a GnRH antagonist during the first two breeding seasons and with LH/FSH coadministered in a manner approximating natural follicular phase. An acidic mix of FSH was administered the first 36 h at 2-h intervals and a less acidic mix for the next 12 h at 1-h intervals (different FSH preparations were used each year), and ovulation was induced with hCG. Circulating FSH and estradiol responses to gonadotropins measured in 2-h samples differed between treatment groups in Year 1 but not in Year 2. Ovarian follicular distribution and number of corpora lutea (in ewes that ovulated) tracked by ultrasonography and luteal progesterone responses were similar between control and prenatal testosterone-treated females but differed between years. Furthermore, hCG administration induced large cystic and luteinized follicles in both groups of females in Year 2, although the growth rate differed between control and prenatal testosterone-treated females. Our findings provide evidence that 1) ovulatory response in prenatal testosterone-treated females can be rescued with exogenous gonadotropins, 2) resultant follicular response is dependent on the nature of gonadotropic input, and 3) an abnormal follicular milieu may underlie differences in developmental trajectory of cystic follicles in prenatal testosterone-treated females.
- Subjects :
- Algorithms
Animals
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone blood
Follicle Stimulating Hormone metabolism
Gonadotropins pharmacology
Luteal Phase blood
Luteal Phase drug effects
Luteal Phase physiology
Luteinizing Hormone blood
Ovarian Diseases physiopathology
Ovary drug effects
Ovulation physiology
Pregnancy
Protein Isoforms metabolism
Reproduction drug effects
Reproduction physiology
Sheep
Gonadotropins therapeutic use
Ovarian Diseases chemically induced
Ovarian Diseases drug therapy
Ovary physiopathology
Ovulation drug effects
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects chemically induced
Testosterone adverse effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0006-3363
- Volume :
- 79
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biology of reproduction
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18524978
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.068643