基础卵泡刺激素水平对IVF/ICSI-ET超排卵周期卵巢反应的预测价值

目的:基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)可以刺激精子生成和促进卵子成熟,是人体内重要的激素之一。本研究针对体外受精(IVF)周期bFSH水平的变化情况,探讨bFSH对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法:回顾性分析2012年1月-2012年12月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)治疗的154例患者的临床资料,根据基础卵泡刺激素水平分为A组(bFSH≥10 IU/L)、B组(8≤bFSH≤10 IU/L)和C组(bFSH8 IU/L)。对比分析三组对象的年龄、基础窦卵泡数(bAFC)、黄体生成素(LH)含量、FSH/LH值、促性腺激素(Gn)的用量、使用时间、受精率及临床妊娠率等。结果:三组患者的年龄、bAFC及FSH/LH相比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);三组的Gn用量和时间、获卵数及妊娠率比较,差异显著且具有统计学意义(P0.05);三组基础LH值及超排卵周期受精率无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)对体外受精女性的卵巢储备功能具有一定的预测价值,bFSH水平的高低可作为预测女性不孕患者超排卵周期卵巢反应性的一项重要指标,值得临床推广和应用。     

年轻POR女性拮抗剂方案与长方案的新鲜移植周期临床妊娠结局的比较分析

目的:比较分析拮抗剂方案与长方案对年轻卵巢低反应(POR)女性体外受精(IVF)新鲜移植周期临床妊娠结局的影响,以探讨拮抗剂方案的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析2014年1月至2017年6月在广东省妇幼保健院生殖中心行体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)治疗的204例妇女213个IVF新鲜移植周期的临床资料。按随机数字表法分为拮抗剂组83例(84治疗周期)与长方案组121例(129治疗周期),比较两组一般资料、实验室资料、促排卵资料及妊娠结局的差异。结果:拮抗剂组的窦卵泡计数(AFC)、抗苗勒氏激素(AMH)水平、促性腺激素(Gn)使用天数、Gn总量、HCG日雌二醇(E2)水平、HCG日内膜厚度、移植日内膜厚度、获卵数、成熟卵子数及正常受精数低于长方案组,基础FSH/LH、Gn启动量高于长方案组(P0.05),但两组优质胚胎数、移植胚胎数、移植囊胚比例、冷冻胚胎数、胚胎种植率及早期自然流产率比较均无统计学差异(P0.05)。拮抗剂组和长方案组的临床妊娠率较高,分别为58.14%和63.10%,但是两组临床妊娠率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:给予年轻POR患者两种方案均可获得较满意的IVF新鲜移植周期临床妊娠结局,拮抗剂方案获卵数较长方案少,但是其优势在于Gn使用量更少,使用时间更短。     

促排卵过程中添加重组人生长激素对卵巢储备功能低下患者IVF-ET结局的影响及妊娠结局的影响因素探讨

摘要 目的：探讨促排卵过程中添加重组人生长激素（r-hGH）对卵巢储备功能低下（DOR）患者体外授精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）结局的影响,并分析妊娠结局的影响因素。方法：选择2021年1月至2022年1月徐州市中心医院拟接受IVF-ET治疗的DOR患者60例、徐州医科大学附属沭阳医院拟接受IVF-ET治疗的DOR患者36例,共计96例,采用随机数字表法分为两组,每组48例,对照组予以常规促排卵治疗,观察组促排卵过程中添加r-hGH治疗,比较两组促排卵、体外受精、胚胎移植以及妊娠相关指标。此外,根据妊娠结局将所有患者分成妊娠成功组和妊娠失败组,采用多因素Logistic回归分析IVF-ET结局的影响因素。结果：观察组胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率高于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组与对照组注射重组人促卵泡激素（Gn）天数、Gn用量、人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）日雌二醇（E2）水平、HCG日黄体生成素（LH）水平、HCG日子宫内膜厚度、获卵数、成熟卵数、受精率、卵裂率、可移植胚胎数、优质胚胎数、移植胚胎数、早期流产率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。单因素分析结果显示：妊娠失败组女方平均年龄大于妊娠成功组,基础卵泡刺激素（FSH）水平、IVF周期≥2个的患者比例高于妊娠成功组,促排卵应用了r-hGH的患者比例低于妊娠成功组,HCG日子宫内膜厚度小于妊娠成功组,基础窦卵泡数（AFC）个数、成熟卵数、优质胚胎数少于妊娠成功组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：女方年龄≥35岁、基础FSH≥14.40 IU/L、HCG日子宫内膜厚度＜10 mm、基础AFC＜5.5个是DOR患者IVF-ET妊娠失败的危险因素,而促排卵应用r-hGH治疗是保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：促排卵过程中增加r-hGH治疗可提高DOR患者IVF-ET胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率。女方年龄、基础FSH和AFC、HCG日子宫内膜厚度、r-hGH治疗均与IVF-ET妊娠结局有关。     

基础卵泡刺激素水平对IVF/ICSI-ET超排卵周期卵巢反应

目的：基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)可以刺激精子生成和促进卵子成熟,是人体内重要的激素之一。本研究针对体外受精(IVF)周 期bFSH 水平的变化情况,探讨bFSH对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法：回顾性分析2012 年1 月-2012 年 12 月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精- 胚胎移植(IVF-ET)治疗的154例患者的临床资料,根据基础卵泡刺激素水平分为A 组 (bFSH≥10 IU/L)、B 组(8≤bFSH≤10 IU/L)和C 组(bFSH<8 IU/L)。对比分析三组对象的年龄、基础窦卵泡数(bAFC)、黄体生成素 (LH)含量、FSH/LH 值、促性腺激素(Gn)的用量、使用时间、受精率及临床妊娠率等。结果：三组患者的年龄、bAFC 及FSH/LH相比 较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);三组的Gn 用量和时间、获卵数及妊娠率比较,差异显著且具有统计学意义(P<0.05);三组基础 LH 值及超排卵周期受精率无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论：基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)对体外受精女性的卵巢储备功能具有一定的预测 价值,bFSH 水平的高低可作为预测女性不孕患者超排卵周期卵巢反应性的一项重要指标,值得临床推广和应用。     

基础卵泡刺激素水平对IVF／ICSI—ET超排卵周期卵巢反应的预测价值

目的：基础卵泡刺激素（bFsH）可以刺激精子生成和促进卵子成熟,是人体内重要的激素之一。本研究针对体外受精（IVF）周期bFSH水平的变化情况,探讨bFSH对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法：回顾性分析2012年1月-2012年12月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精．胚胎移植（IVF—ET）治疗的154例患者的临床资料,根据基础卵泡刺激素水平分为A组CoFSH≥10IU／L）、B组（8≤bFsH≤10IU／L）和c组（bFSH〈8IU／L）。对比分析三组对象的年龄、基础窦卵泡数（bAFC）、黄体生成素（LH）含量、FSH／LH值、促性腺激素（Gn）的用量、使用时间、受精率及临床妊娠率等。结果：三组患者的年龄、bAFC及FSH／LH相比较,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;三组的Gn用量和时间、获卵数及妊娠率比较,差异显著且具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;三组基础LH值及超排卵周期受精率无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：基础卵泡刺激素（bFSH）对体外受精女性的卵巢储备功能具有一定的预测价值,bFSH水平的高低可作为预测女性不孕患者超排卵周期卵巢反应性的一项重要指标,值得临床推广和应用。     

基础窦卵泡数对IVF／ICSI-ET超排卵周期卵巢反应的预测价值

目的：窦卵是女性宫腔内的泡状细胞,与女性卵巢的发育及功能密切相关。本研究针对体外受精（IVF）周期中基础窦卵泡数（antral follicle count, AFC）的变化情况,探讨AFC 对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法：回顾性分析2012 年1月至2012 年12 月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精- 胚胎移植的157 例患者的临床资料,根据基础窦卵泡数将所选病例分为A 组（bAFC逸10）和B组（bAFC＜10）。对比并分析两组研究对象的促性腺激素（Gn）的用量及使用时间、获卵数、人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）注射日的血清中雌激素（E2）水平、受精率、临床妊娠率等。结果：A 组患者的Gn 用量、HCG日E2 值、获卵数及临床妊娠率均显著高于B 组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;两组患者的年龄和基础卵泡刺激素水平差异显著且具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;两组患者的不孕原因、不孕年限及助孕方式无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论：基础窦卵泡对体外受精女性促排卵周期的卵巢反应及助孕结局具有一定的预测价值,其数量的多少可作为促排卵过程中评价卵巢反应性的参考指标,应在临床进一步推广。     

移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF-ET结局的影响

目的:探讨移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF-ET结局的影响.方法:根据移植胚胎个数将年龄超过35岁的不孕患者338个周期分为单胚胎移植组(Ⅰ组),2个胚胎移植组(Ⅱ组),3个胚胎移植组(Ⅲ组).分析患者IVF治疗情况并按年龄分层比较三组患者的IVF-ET结局.结果:高龄不孕患者行IVF,随年龄增加,获卵数、优质胚胎率和临床妊娠率降低,流产率呈增高趋势.Ⅰ组的妊娠率9.43%,显著低于Ⅱ组(24.24%)和Ⅲ组(31.37%)(P＜0.05).对于40岁以下的患者,移植3个胚胎的妊娠率与移植2个胚胎差无异,但显著高于移植1个胚胎(P＜0.05).增加40岁以上患者移植胚胎的数目,妊娠率未出现有统计学意义的升高.三组的胚胎种植率分别为9.43%,12.12%和12.2%,无统计学差异.Ⅲ组中多胎率12.5%(6/48),其中35～36岁年龄段多胎率16.67%(5/30).结论:高龄不孕患者可移植的胚胎数目随年龄增加和获卵数目降低而降低.其中较年轻者(35～36岁年龄段),移植3个胚胎,对妊娠率提高无明显效果,但多胎发生显著增加.     

移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF—ET结局的影响

目的：探讨移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF—ET结局的影响。方法：根据移植胚胎个数将年龄超过35岁的不孕患者338个周期分为单胚胎移植组（I组）,2个胚胎移植组（Ⅱ组）,3个胚胎移植组（Ⅲ组）。分析患者IVF治疗情况并按年龄分层比较三组患者的IVF-ET结局。结果：高龄不孕患者行IVF,随年龄增加,获卵数、优质胚胎率和临床妊娠率降低,流产率呈增高趋势。Ⅰ组的妊娠率9．43％,显著低于Ⅱ组（24．24％）和Ⅲ组（31．37％）（P〈0．05）。对于40岁以下的患者,移植3个胚胎的妊娠率与移植2个胚胎差无异,但显著高于移植1个胚胎（P〈0．05）。增加40岁以上患者移植胚胎的数目,妊娠率未出现有统计学意义的升高。三组的胚胎种植率分别为9．43％,12．12％和12．2％,无统计学差异。Ⅲ组中多胎率12．5％（6／48）,其中35-36岁年龄段多胎率16．67％（5／30）。结论：高龄不孕患者可移植的胚胎数目随年龄增加和获卵数目降低而降低。其中较年轻者（35-36岁年龄段）,移植3个胚胎,对妊娠率提高无明显效果,但多胎发生显著增加。     

基础窦卵泡数对IVF/ICSI-ET超排卵周期卵巢反应的预测价值*

摘要目的：窦卵是女性宫腔内的泡状细胞,与女性卵巢的发育及功能密切相关。本研究针对体外受精(IVF)周期中基础窦卵泡数 (antral follicle count, AFC)的变化情况,探讨AFC 对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法：回顾性分析2012 年1 月至2012 年12 月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精- 胚胎移植的157 例患者的临床资料,根据基础窦卵泡数将所选病例分为 A 组(bAFC逸10)和B组(bAFC＜10)。对比并分析两组研究对象的促性腺激素(Gn)的用量及使用时间、获卵数、人绒毛膜促性腺激 素(HCG)注射日的血清中雌激素(E2)水平、受精率、临床妊娠率等。结果：A 组患者的Gn 用量、HCG日E2 值、获卵数及临床妊娠 率均显著高于B 组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组患者的年龄和基础卵泡刺激素水平差异显著且具有统计学意义(P<0.05); 两组患者的不孕原因、不孕年限及助孕方式无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论：基础窦卵泡对体外受精女性促排卵周期的卵巢反应及助 孕结局具有一定的预测价值,其数量的多少可作为促排卵过程中评价卵巢反应性的参考指标,应在临床进一步推广。     

体外受精-胚胎移植技术妊娠后流产的危险因素分析

目的:探讨体外受精-胚胎移植技术妊娠后流产的危险因素。方法:采用t检验、受试者工作特征曲线(Receiver operating characteristic curve,ROC曲线)以及二元Logistic回归分析分别对2015年1月至2017年12月我中心行体外受精-胚胎移植技术(In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer,IVF-ET)及卵胞浆内单精子注射技术(Intracytoplasmic sperm injection,ICSI)后妊娠的242例临床妊娠患者临床参数包括年龄、身体质量指数(Body mass index,BMI)、基础卵泡生成素(Follicle stimulating hormone,FSH)、黄体生成素(Luteinizing hormone,LH)、雌二醇(Estradiol,E2)水平、促性腺激素(Gonadotropins,Gn)总用量、Gn天数、人绒毛膜促性腺激素(Human choionic gonadotophin,HCG)日LH、E2、黄体酮(progesterone,P)水平、移植日子宫内膜厚度以及移植后14-16天血HCG浓度进行回顾性分析。结果:流产组与继续妊娠组年龄、移植后14-16天血HCG浓度分别31.44±4.40岁和29.59±3.94岁、396.96±377.66 IU/L和702.85±496.91 IU/L,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。通过ROC曲线对各临床参数分析后求得各参数的cut-off值并以此为标准分组,结果显示不同年龄(29.41%和9.42%)以及移植后14-16天血HCG浓度(4.20%和22.76%)分组流产率比较差异具有显著的统计学意义(P<0.01)。二元Logistic回归分析上述参数与流产率的相关性,结果提示仅年龄、移植后14-16天血HCG水平与妊娠后流产率有显著相关性(P=0.01,P=0.001)。结论:年龄>33岁、移植后14-16天血HCG浓度≤582.6IU/L是IVF/ICSI妊娠后流产的独立危险因素,对此类患者进行治疗时应考虑到其流产的风险并提前采取预防措施避免不良妊娠结局。     

促卵泡激素结合片段通过PI3K/Akt-cyclinD1通路抑制卵巢癌细胞增殖活性

目的:研究促卵泡激素（FSH）结合片段对卵巢上皮性细胞癌细胞株hey增殖活性的影响。方法:应用卵巢上皮性细胞癌细胞株hey作为实验对象,分别加入FSH、FSH结合片段、FSH+FSH结合片段。用四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTT）法检测卵巢癌hey细胞的生长状况,Western blot检测cyclinD1、Akt、pAkt分子的表达。结果:FSH对卵巢癌hey细胞的生长有明显的促进作用,细胞生长活性提高21%。FSH结合片段对卵巢癌细胞的生长有明显抑制作用,对细胞平均抑制率为22%,且能下调cyclinDI的表达,在2.5×10^-9Mol/L达70%。FSH结合片段对FSH有竞争抑制作用,细胞抑制率为18%,能抑制FSH上调cyclinD1的作用,抑制率为61%。FSH能上调pAkt的表达,对Akt的表达没有明显影响,在40mIU/ml的浓度时pAkt/Akt上调率达224%。FSH结合片段对Akt的表达没有明显影响,但能明显下调pAkt的表达,且呈时间依赖性（在1 5分钟时达66%）和剂量依赖性(在2.5×10^-9Mol/L达31%)。FSH结合片段能抑制FSH上调pAkt的作用,抑制率为80%。结论:FSH结合片段可通过抑制FSH诱导的PI3K/Akt-cycl-inD1信号通路进而抑制上皮性卵巢癌hey细胞的增殖活性。     

光生物调节作用的细胞康复机理

光生物调节作用(photobiomodulation,PBM)是激光或单色光(laser irradiation or monochromatic light,LI)对生物系统的非损伤调节作用,包括低强度LI(low intensity LI,LIL)的PBM(uL PBM,LPBM)和中等强度LI(moderate intensity LI,MIL)的PBM(MIL PBM,MPBM).功能内稳态(function-specific homeostasis,FSH)是生物系统维持某种功能稳定发挥的负反馈状态.从FSH的角度可以将PBM分为内稳态PBM(FSH PBM,fPBM)和发展PBM(developmental PBM,dPBM).fPBM只能调节生物系统的功能,但对处于FSH的生物系统无效.dPBM可以打破FSH.LPBM属于fPBM.MPBM由内源性光敏剂所产生的活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)介导,ROS低者属于fPBM,ROS高者属于dPBM.低水平u治疗(low level LI therapy,LLLT)是fPBM的临床应用.只要LI的参数选择合理,LLLT可以实现细胞康复作用.     

Changes in circulating levels of immunoreactive follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone during sexual development in the rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta

Basal serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) and the responsiveness of these hormones to a challenge dose of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), were determined in juvenile, pubertal, and adult rhesus monkeys. The monkey gonadotrophins were analyzed using RIA reagents supplied by the World Health Organization (WHO) Special Programme of Human Reproduction. The FSH levels which were near the assay sensitivity in immature monkeys (2.4 +/- 0.8 ng/ml) showed a discernible increase in pubertal animals (6.4 +/- 1.8 ng/ml). Compared to other two age groups, the serum FSH concentration was markedly higher (16.1 +/- 1.8 ng/ml) in adults. Serum LH levels were below the detectable limits of the assay in juvenile monkeys but rose to 16.2 +/- 3.1 ng/ml in pubertal animals. When compared to pubertal animals, a two-fold increase in LH levels paralleled changes in serum LH during the three developmental stages. Response of serum gonadotrophins and T levels to a challenge dose of LHRH (2.5 micrograms; i.v.) was variable in the different age groups. The present data suggest: an asynchronous rise of FSH and LH during the pubertal period and a temporal correlation between the testicular size and FSH concentrations; the challenge dose of LHRH, which induces a significant rise in serum LH and T levels, fails to elicit an FSH response in all the three age groups; and the pubertal as compared to adult monkeys release significantly larger quantities of LH in response to exogenous LHRH.     

Isolation and Amino Acid Analysis of Mallory Bodies

Mallory bodies were isolated from the livers of alcoholic patients obtained at autopsy. The liver tissue was homogenized by a pressure homoge-nizer using nitrogen gas in excess of 2, 000 p. s. i. Solutions of 65% and 70% sucrose were used for discontinuous gradient ultracentrifugation. A distinct band between the two sucrose layers was collected, which was rich in Mallory bodies. Purity of the Mallory body fraction was examined by light and electron microscopy. Mallory body fractions were analyzed for amino acid composition.     

Functional differentiation of the anterior pituitary cells in the fetal pig

Summary The fetal porcine pituitary was investigated by means of ultrastructural immunocytochemistry (1) to identify the first cells synthesizing the adenohypophyseal hormones, (2) to follow their differentiation during fetal development, and (3) to compare their ultrastructural characteristics with those of mature adult cells.The first ACTH-cells, which produced and stored ACTH, -LPH, -MSH, and - and -endorphin in the same granules, were very numerous at day 34 and displayed a uniform morphology. At day 50 and thereafter, until the end of gestation, the ACTH-cells differed in their appearance probably reflecting various stages of differentiation of one cell type. The GH-cells gained rapidly ultrastructural features comparable to those of mature GH-cells. In contrast, in the case of PRL-cells, which appeared only at the end of the gestation period as immature elements containing very small secretory granules, the morphological maturation seemed to take place only after birth. The first cells synthesizing the glycoprotein hormones (LH, LH, FSH and TSH) displayed ultrastructural features of immature cells. At day 50, their ultrastructural organization started to show a different pattern. At the end of gestation, the TSH-cells and the gonadotropic cells displayed the ultrastructural features of mature cells.     

多巴胺、雌二醇及睾酮对虎纹蛙离体脑垂体促性腺激素分泌的影响

为了解虎纹蛙促性腺激素分泌的调节机理,用离体静态培育系统和放射免疫测定法,研究了多巴胺（ＤＡ）、雌二醇（Ｅ２）和睾酮（Ｔ）对雌性虎纹蛙离体脑垂体薄片促黄体激素（ＬＨ）和促卵泡激素（ＦＳＨ）分泌活动的影响。结果表明：０．１～１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＤＡ对成熟前期和冬眠期虎纹蛙离体脑垂体型薄片的ＬＨ及ＦＳＨ的释放都有抑制作用,并且随着ＤＡ浓度的增加,抑制作用逐渐增强。１和１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的Ｅ２显著刺激成熟前     

Localization of gonadotrophic hormones in the dog pituitary gland

Summary Using the immunoperoxidase technique and antisera to the specific beta () subunits of FSH and LH¹, selective immunochemical staining was localized mostly in the same cell type in the pars distalis and pars tuberalis of the dog pituitary gland. However, some cells were consistently shown to react solely with antisera to either LH or FSH. The cells stained for FSH were at least 1.5 times less numerous than those shown to contain LH. In the pars distalis of adult male dogs the immunoreactive gonadotrophs varied greatly in their relative proportion and were mostly shown to be much less numerous than in bitches in the anestrus phase of the sexual cycle. These cells were found to be positive to aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and aniline blue. The performic acid-alcian blue (pH 0.2)-PAS-orange G procedure stained the FSH/LH cells blue or turquoise, demonstrating TSH cells (blue-purple), ACTH/MSH cells (red-purple) and PRL cells (orange-red). The FSH/LH cells were further differentiated from other functional cell types of the pars distalis on the basis of their typical cytological features, intraglandular distribution and by immunochemical double staining. These observations support the concept that the one cell-one hormone theory may not apply to gonadotrophic hormones, although some cells seem to be the source of either FSH or LH.Abbreviations for Pituitary Hormones cited in this Paper ACTH Adrenocorticotropin - FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone - GH Growth Hormone - LH Luteinizing Hormone - MSH Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone - PRL Prolactin - TSH Thyrotropin The authors are grateful to Dr. H. Wiemann for the statistical evaluation and to Mrs. B. Schilk and Miss U. Tüshaus for their excellent technical assistanceRecipient of a Research Scholarship from the Arabic Republic of Egypt     

Reelin regulates male mouse reproductive capacity via the sertoli cells

Reelin plays important roles in brain development. Reeler mutant mice that lack the protein reelin (RELN) suffer from cell type- and region-dependent changes in their neocortical layers, and adult reeler mutant mice have dilated seminiferous tubules. Meanwhile, the mechanism by which Reelin regulates the spermatogenic cell development in mice and their reproductive abilities remains unclear. In the present study, we used reeler mutant mice to investigate the effects of Reelin on reproduction in mice. The results indicated variations in sex hormone expression among the reeler mice, indicating that they produce few offspring and their spermatogenic cells are irregularly developed. Moreover, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)/GDNF family receptor alpha 1, Ras/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF)/chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) serve as potential regulatory pathways that respond to the changes in sertoli cells and the niche of male germ cells. Our findings provided valuable insights into the role of reeler in the reproductive abilities of male mice and development of their spermatogonia stem cells.     

Gene expression profiling of mouse Sertoli cell lines

The proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells is regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The molecular events following FSH stimulation are only partially known. To investigate FSH action in Sertoli cells, we established two novel FSH-responsive mouse Sertoli-cell-derived lines expressing human wild-type (WT) FSH receptor (FSHR) or overexpressing mutated (Asp567Gly) constitutively active FSHR (MUT). Gene expression profiling with commercially available cDNA arrays, including 588 mouse genes, revealed 146 genes expressed in both cell lines. Compared with the expression pattern of WT cells, 20 genes were identified as being either up- or down-regulated (>two-fold) in the MUT cells. We observed a strong differential expression of factors involved in cellular proliferation, e.g. cyclin D2 (repressed to nearly undetectable levels), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (2.5-fold repression) and Eps-8 (six-fold repression), and in genes involved in cellular differentiation, e.g. cytokeratin-18 (13-fold induction). The cDNA array results for six representative genes were confirmed by Northern blotting, which also included the parental SK-11 cell line devoid of FSHR expression. We found no further acute FSH- or forskolin-induced change in expression levels after 3-h stimulations, suggesting that the observed differences between the two cell lines is a consequence of mild, chronically increased, cAMP production in MUT cells. These results provide a platform for the further investigation of selected candidate genes in primary cultures and/or in vivo.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Confocal Research Group The Male Gamete: Production, Maturation, Function, grant FOR 197-3) and from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to P. Mathur     

Profiles of gonadotropins and steroid hormone-like substances in the hemolymph of mud crab Scylla paramamosain during the reproduction cycle

To elucidate the role of gonadotropins-like substances in mud crab Scylla paramamosain, hemolymph samples were measured for concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and steroid hormones by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hormonal concentration data were analyzed in association with the stages of gonadal development. ELISA has shown that in the female crab, the level of FSH reaches its peak in the early stage of ovary development, while estradiol and LH peaked during the late maturing stage of the ovary. In the male crab, testosterone and FSH culminated during the spermatid stage, and the level of LH peaked during the sperm stage. These results indicated that substances resembling the vertebrate FSH and LH are present in the hemolymph of S. paramamosain, and they may be involved in the development of the gonad.