Effects of intracerebroventricular infusion of genistein on the secretory activity of the GnRH/LH axis in ovariectomized ewes.

Phytoestrogens, plant derived estrogen like-compounds exert numerous effects on the reproductive functions of animals. The present study was designed to demonstrate if exogenous genistein infused during the breeding season into the third ventricle of the brain of ovariectomized ewes could affect the secretory activity of the GnRH/LH axis. Two-year-old ovariectomized ewes (n=8) were infused with vehicle (control, n=3) or genistein (10 microg/100 microl/h, n=5) into the third ventricle.

The effects of prolonged, intracerebroventricular prolactin treatment on luteinizing hormone secretion, catecholaminergic activity and estrous behavior in ewes.

Searching for the role of prolactin (PRL) in controlling gonadotropic axis activity in sheep, we studied the effects of prolonged, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

Genistein, a phytoestrogen, effectively modulates luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in ovariectomized ewes during seasonal anestrus.

Through binding with estrogen receptors, phytoestrogens, plant-derived estrogen-like compounds, affect numerous reproductive functions. It is not known whether these compounds are capable of evoking effective changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion in ewes by acting directly within the central nervous system (CNS). The hypothesis studied was that genistein, infused for several hours into the third ventricle, could immediately affect LH and PRL secretion in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes during seasonal anestrus.

The effects of intracerebroventricular infusion of prolactin in luteinizing hormone, testosterone and growth hormone secretion in male sheep.

This study tested a hypothesis that the enhancement of the prolactin (PRL) concentration within the central nervous system (CNS) disturbs pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) secretion in rams that are in the natural breeding season. A 3h long intracerebroventricular (icv.) infusion of ovine PRL (50 microg/100 microl/h) was made in six rams during the daily period characterized by low PRL secretion in this species (from 12:00 to 15:00 h); the other six animals received control infusions during the same time.

Effects of melatonin on luteinizing hormone secretion in anestrous ewes following dopamine and opiate receptor blockade.

In the present investigation we have examined the ability of melatonin to modify the pulsatile LH secretion induced by treatment with a DA antagonist (sulpiride, SULP) or opioid antagonist (naloxone, NAL) in intact mid-anestrous ewes. The experimental design comprised the following treatments-in experiment 1: (1) intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Melatonin--a modulator of the GnRH/LH axis in sheep.

The nocturnal secretion of pineal melatonin provides information to vertebrates on changes in day length under the circumstances in which they live. In sheep, which are seasonal breeders, the secretion of melatonin is also a signal to the neural structures controlling the secretion of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland to drive their activity in accordance with the season of the year. The sites and mechanisms of melatonin action on GnRH/LH secretion has been the subject of intensive studies in the last decade.

Effect of prolactin infused into the third ventricle on LH secretion in follicular-phase and ovariectomized ewes.

This study tested a hypothesis that an acute enhancement of prolactin concentration within the central nervous system (CNS) would affect the LH secretion in ewes, depending on the level of endogenous estrogens in the organism. A 3-h long intracerebroventricular (icv.) infusion of ovine prolactin was made in late follicular-phase ewes, experiment 1, and in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes (experiment 2).

Daily GnRH and LH secretion in ewes is not modified by exogenous melatonin during seasonal anestrus.

The effect of central, short-term melatonin administration on daily GnRH and LH secretion was studied in ewes during seasonal anestrus. Melatonin, in a total dose of 32 micrograms and the vehicle were perfused for 4 hours into the mediobasal hypothalamus/median eminence (MBH/ME). The mean GnRH concentration during perfusion with melatonin decreased significantly (P < 0.

Effect of melatonin on daily LH secretion in intact and ovariectomized ewes during the breeding season.

This study was conducted to find out whether daily LH secretion in ewes may be modulated by melatonin during the breeding season, when the secretion of both hormones is raised. Patterns of plasma LH were determined in luteal-phase ewes infused intracerebroventricularly (icv.) with Ringer-Locke solution (control) and with melatonin (100 microg/100 microl/h).

Short-term modulation of prolactin secretion by melatonin in anestrous ewes following dopamine- and opiate receptor blockade.

This study tested the hypothesis that the dopaminergic and opioidergic systems are not involved in the short-term stimulatory action of melatonin (MLT) on the secretion of prolactin in anestrous ewes. Thus, MLT should stimulate prolactin release after blockade of either dopamine (DA) or opiate receptors with specific antagonists at the level of the pituitary gland and central nervous system (CNS), respectively. During afternoon intracerebroventricular (icv.

Melatonin modulation of the daily prolactin secretion in intact and ovariectomized ewes. Relation to a phase of the estrous cycle and to the presence of estradiol.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether melatonin might modulate the daily prolactin secretion in the ewe during a period of ovarian activity and, if so, whether this modulatory action of melatonin was related to the presence of estradiol in the organism. Ewes in the late follicular and luteal phase, as well as overiectomized ewes without (OVX) and after 7 days of estradiol injections (OVX+E2) were examined. Melatonin was infused into the third brain ventricle (100 microgram/100 microliter/h) from 14.

Urinary excretion of oestrone sulphate and cortisol in early pregnant gilts treated with glucocorticoids.

The aim of this study was to determine rates of urinary excretion of oestrone sulphate and cortisol in early pregnant gilts that were untreated or treated with either dexamethasone, corn oil or hydrocortisone. Twenty Polish Landrace gilts were used. They were grouped immediately after mating as follows: Experiment I--Group 1 (5 gilts), control animals and Group 2 (5 gilts), injected i.

Natural and melatonin-stimulated changes in the circadian rhythm of prolactin secretion in the ewe during seasonal anestrus.

The relations between the circadian rhythms of melatonin and prolactin, and the effect of melatonin infused into the third ventricle or the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) on prolactin secretion and dopamine (DA) release were studied in anestrous ewes under increasing daylength conditions. The decreased amplitude and duration of nocturnal melatonin secretion were accompanied with changes in the daily pattern of prolactin secretion. Marked peaks of prolactin occurred after sunrise and melatonin decreases in February, as well as significant evening or nocturnal peaks under long day conditions between April and July.

Effect of glucocorticoid treatment on biochemical and hormonal blood parameters in early pregnant gilts.

Twenty Polish Landrace gilts were grouped immediately after mating as follows: Experiment I-- Group 1 (5 gilts), control animals and Group 2 (5 gilts), injected i.m. with dexamethasone (30 mg/kg) at 12-h intervals from day 13 to day 22 of pregnancy; Experiment II--Group 3 (5 gilts), injected i.

Effects of melatonin infused into the III ventricle on prolactin, beta-endorphin and luteotropin secretion in ewes during the different stages of the reproductive cycle.

Secretion of all the pituitary hormones undergoes marked circadian and seasonal changes. The rhythmicity of these changes is controlled by the circadian pacemaker system and the pineal gland transmitting daylength information to the neuroendocrine axis via the secretion of melatonin. This article presents data on the effects of the short-term melatonin administration into the third brain ventricle on prolactin, beta-endorphin and luteotropin secretion in ewes kept under the increasing and decreasing daylength conditions.

Calcium channel blocker prevents stress-induced activation of renin and aldosterone in conscious pig.

A considerable amount of data suggest the involvement of calcium-mediated processes in the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) cascade. To investigate the effect of calcium-channel inhibition on the RAA system, we studied 21 conscious pigs. Blood renin and aldosterone levels increased by subjecting animals to 24 hours of immobilization stress.

Stress-induced injury of pig myocardium is accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation and depletion of mitochondrial ATP.

The aim of the study was to investigate the mechanisms of myocardial lesions induced by stress in conscious, intact pigs. The animals were subjected to 24 h immobilization, controls were kept in normal conditions. The pigs were killed by electric shock and exsanguination.

Effect of nisoldipine on stress-induced myocardial damage in the conscious pig.

1. The effect of the calcium channel blocker nisoldipine on the myocardial content of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated double bonds (CDB), fluorescent end-products (RF) and mitochondrial adenine nucleotides) was investigated in conscious pigs (n = 14) subjected to 24 h of immobilization stress. Histoenzymatic and electron microscopic studies of the myocardium were also performed.

Peripheral plasma prolactin concentrations during oestrous cycles in different types of primitive gilt.

Plasma prolactin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay during oestrous cycles and around the time of oestrus in different types of primitive gilts: Vietnamese, Zlotnicka and wild-boar X domestic pig hybrids. The animals were bled without stress from an indwelling arterial catheter. The following results were obtained: (1) in all gilts the main prolactin peak was observed at Day 15 or 16 of the oestrous cycle; (2) Vietnamese and hybrid gilts showed a second smaller prolactin surge after (Day 2) or before (Day 17) oestrus; (3) base levels of prolactin during the oestrous cycle were 14.

[Effect of pregnant mare serum on bovine luteal tissue].

Trials were conducted with four heifers and twelve dairy cows to study the luteotropic effect of the serum of pregnant mares administered at the rates of 2000 to 3000 units. The effect of serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on ovarian activity was compared with the ovarian activity of control animals and ovarian activity after the administration of hypophyseal hormones. The highest progesterone concentration of PMSG-treated cows ranged from 41.

[Adrenocortical function in myasthenia pseudoparalytica].

In a group of 31 women with myasthenia the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and their fractions (11-deoxy-17-ketosteroids, dehydroisoandrosterone) and 17-hydroxycorticosterone were determined. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the excretion of these substances. Besides that, the plasma cortisol level was determined in these patients and the results obtained in the whole group were at the lower normal range of the laboratory and in 40% of cases they were significantly lower (p less than 0.

Plasma levels of LH and prolactin in cows following enucleation of the persistent corpus luteum.

LH and prolactin were measured in plasma of 5 cows before and after enucleation of the persistent corpus luteum. Two cows returned to normal oestrous cycles following enucleation and did not differ from normal, cycling cows, with respect to hormone levels. Three other ones developed follicular cysts following enucleation and had decreased levels of LH and prolaction as compared with cycling cows.