Antiandrogen flutamide affects folliculogenesis during fetal development in pigs.

Androgen deficiency during prenatal development may affect the expression of genes involved in the folliculogenesis regulation. In order to study the effect of antiandrogen on fetal ovarian development, pregnant gilts were injected with flutamide (for 7 days, 50 mg/kg bodyweight per day) or corn oil (control groups) starting on gestation days 43 (GD50), 83 (GD90), or 101 (GD108). The obtained fetal ovaries were fixed for histology and immunohistochemistry or frozen for real-time PCR.

Effects of testosterone and 2-hydroxyflutamide on progesterone receptor expression in porcine ovarian follicles in vitro.

The purpose of the study was to test the possible role of the androgen receptor (AR) agonist (testosterone; T), an AR antagonist (2-hydroxyflutamide; 2-Hf) or combination of both (T+2-Hf) on progesterone receptor (PGR) expression in cultured porcine granulosa cells (GCs) or whole follicles. GCs isolated from mature pig follicles (6-8mm in diameter) were cultured for 48 h. Experimental cultures were carried out with the addition of T (10(-7)M), 2-Hf (1.

The influence of the antiandrogen 2-hydroxyflutamide on the androgen receptor expression in the porcine ovarian follicles - an in vitro study.

Androgens are one of the most important agents influencing ovarian follicles growth and development. The biological action of androgens is primarily exerted through transcriptional regulation by the androgen receptor (AR), a member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily. The purpose of this study was to test the role of androgen receptor agonist testosterone (T) or antagonist 2-hydroxyflutamide (2-Hf) and in combination on AR expression in cultured porcine granulosa cells (GC) or whole follicles.

Influence of the antiandrogen flutamide on the androgen receptor gene expression in the placenta and umbilical cord during pregnancy in the pig.

The aim of this study was to determine the immunolocalization and expression of the androgen receptor (AR) in the pig placenta and umbilical cord during pregnancy following exposure to flutamide, a non-steroidal antiandrogen, at its various stages. Pregnant pigs were injected with flutamide at a daily dose of 50mg/kg body weight at different stages of pregnancy: from day 83-89 (n=2); from day 101-107 (n=2). They were sacrificed and tissues collected one day after the last injection.

Expression of connexin 43 in the porcine foetal gonads during development.

This study was designed to reveal connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA and protein expression in porcine foetal gonads using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Expression of Cx43 was investigated in porcine foetal ovaries and testes on days 50, 70 and 90 post coitum (p.c.