Quercetin directly inhibits basal ovarian cell functions and their response to the stimulatory action of FSH.

Plants, fruits, and vegetables containing the bioflavonoid quercetin are widely used in food, beverages, and medicines; however, the effects of quercetin on reproductive processes and the possible mechanisms of quercetin action require extensive investigation. The aim of our study was to examine the direct effects of quercetin on basic ovarian cell functions and their response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), known hormonal stimulators of reproduction. We analyzed the effects of quercetin alone (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml) on cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells or isolated ovarian follicles; or of quercetin (10 ng/ml) in combination with FSH (0, 0.

Effect of quercetin on ovarian cells of pigs and cattle.

The bioflavonoid quercetin is a component of food with numerous biological effects, but its function in reproductive processes and mechanisms in various species remain unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of quercetin on ovarian cells isolated from ovaries of two phytophagous mammalian species (i.e.

Direct effect of curcumin on porcine ovarian cell functions.

Curcuma longa Linn (L.) is a plant widely used in cooking (in curry powder a.o.

Comparison of the effects of human and chicken ghrelin on chicken ovarian hormone release.

The aim of the present experiments was to examine the species-specific and cell-specific effects of ghrelin on chicken ovarian hormone release. For this purpose, we compared the effects of chicken and human ghrelin on the release of estradiol (E), testosterone (T), progesterone (P) and arginine-vasotocin (AVT) by cultured fragments of chicken ovarian follicles and on the release of T and AVT by cultured ovarian granulosa cells. In cultured chicken ovarian fragments, both human and chicken ghrelin promoted E release.

Activation of epithelial proliferation induced by Eimeria acervulina infection in the duodenum may be associated with cholesterol metabolism.

Cell proliferation in the intestine is commonly occurred during infection and inflammation to replace damaged enterocytes, and cholesterol as an essential constituent of cell membrane, is required for cell proliferation and growth. Here we found that coccidium-challenged (CC) chickens showed severe damages in intestinal structure, a significant increase of cell proliferation, and an activation of genes expression involved in the innate immune response. Compared to control (CON), CC chickens showed a marked decrease of cholesterol (Tch) level in the circulating system, but a significant increase in local duodenum epithelium.

The role of metabolic state and obestatin in control of chicken ovarian hormone release.

The aim of the present study was to examine the role and interrelationships between calorie restriction and obestatin in the control of hormone release by chicken ovarian tissue. For this purpose, we compared the release of progesterone (P), testosteron (T), estradiol (E), and arginine-vasotocin (AVT) by ovarian fragments isolated from chicken subjected and not subjested to food restriction, as well as the response of these ovarian fragments to obestatin additions.It was observed that food restriction promoted release of P, reduced output of T, but did not affect basal E and AVT release.

Yucca schidigera extract can promote rabbit fecundity and ovarian progesterone release.

The aim of the present in vivo study was to determine the effects of yucca powder extract added to the rabbit females feed mixtures on kindling and conception rate. Rabbit does of the experimental groups were fed with the standard diet enriched with supplement of yucca dry extract at doses of 5 g/100 kg feed (E1 group) or 20 g/100 kg feed (E2 group) for 50 days. In our preliminary in vivo results, we shown that conception rate was significantly higher in both experimental E1 and E2 groups (82.

Interrelationship between feeding level and the metabolic hormones leptin, ghrelin and obestatin in control of chicken egg laying and release of ovarian hormones.

The aim of the present experiment is to examine the role of nutritional status, metabolic hormones and their interrelationships in the control of chicken ovarian ovulatory and secretory activity. For this purpose, we identified the effect of food restriction, administration of leptin, ghrelin 1-18, obestatin and combinations of food restriction with these hormones for 3days on chicken ovulation (egg laying) rate and ovarian hormone release. The release of progesterone (P), testosterone (T), estradiol (E) and arginine-vasotocin (AVT) by isolated and cultured ovarian fragments was determined by EIA.

Involvement of microRNA Mir15a in control of human ovarian granulosa cell proliferation, apoptosis, steroidogenesis, and response to FSH.

Our study aimed to examine the role of micro RNA Mir15a in control of basic ovarian cell functions: proliferation, apoptosis, and secretory activity. In the first series of experiments, primary human ovarian granulosa cells were transfected with antisense construct blocking Mir15a (anti-Mir15a) and cultured without hormonal treatments. Accumulation of markers of proliferation (MAPK/ERK1,2 and PCNA) and apoptosis (caspase 3 and bax), and release of steroid hormones (progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol) were evaluated by immunocytochemical analysis and by enzyme immunoassay.

Effect of corticosterone on growth and welfare of broiler chickens showing long or short tonic immobility.

Tonic immobility (TI) test is commonly used to assess fear. Animals showing different TI durations demonstrate distinct behavior and biochemical responses to stress. However, less is known about how TI phenotype affects growth and welfare of domestic fowl.

Early-age feed restriction affects viability and gene expression of satellite cells isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle of broiler chicks.

Background: Muscle growth depends on the fusion of proliferate satellite cells to existing myofibers. We reported previously that 0-14 day intermittent feeding led to persistent retardation in myofiber hypertrophy. However, how satellite cells respond to such nutritional insult has not been adequately elucidated.

Differences in egg deposition of corticosterone and embryonic expression of corticosterone metabolic enzymes between slow and fast growing broiler chickens.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are vital for embryonic development and their bioactivity is regulated by the intracellular metabolism involving 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD). Here we sought to reveal the differences in egg deposition of corticosterone and embryonic expression of corticosterone metabolic enzymes between slow and fast growing broiler chickens (Gallus gallus). Eggs of fast-growing breed contained significantly higher (P<0.

Chicken FTO gene: tissue-specific expression, brain distribution, breed difference and effect of fasting.

Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is widely expressed in central and peripheral tissues of mammals, and exhibits a range of functions, especially in energy balance. However, basic knowledge of FTO in the chicken is lacking. Therefore, we studied the tissue distribution, age and breed dependent changes, brain localization, as well as the impact of fasting on FTO mRNA expression in the chicken.

In ovo leptin administration affects hepatic lipid metabolism and microRNA expression in newly hatched broiler chickens.

Background: A leptin-like immunoreactive substance has been found in chicken eggs and has been implicated in serving as a maternal signal to program offspring growth and metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of in ovo leptin administration on hatch weight, serum and hepatic concentrations of metabolites and hormones, as well as on the expression of genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and the predicted microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting the affected genes. To this end we injected fertile eggs with either 0.

Effects of repeated injection of kisspeptin-10 on the initiation of egg-laying in juvenile quail.

The kisspeptin (Kp) signaling pathway plays an essential role in the onset of reproduction in mammals. To investigate the effects of Kp on the initiation of egg laying in birds, juvenile female quail were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 300μl saline (control, Con), or 10nmol (low dosage, L) or 100nmol (high dosage, H) kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) dissolved in 300μl saline for 3 weeks. The ratio of egg laying of quail in the L and H groups was notably increased compared to that of the Con group (P<0.

Food restriction, ghrelin, its antagonist and obestatin control expression of ghrelin and its receptor in chicken hypothalamus and ovary.

The purpose of the present study was to identify the role of age, nutritional state and some metabolic hormones in control of avian hypothalamic and ovarian ghrelin/ghrelin receptor system. We examined the effect of food restriction, administration of ghrelin 1-18, ghrelin antagonistic analogue (D-Lys-3)-GHRP-6, obestatin and combinations of them on the expression of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) in hypothalamus and ovary of old (23months of age) and young (7months of age) chickens. Expression of mRNAs for ghrelin and GHS-R1a in both hypothalamus and largest ovarian follicle was measured by RT-PCR.

Effects of kisspeptin-10 on progesterone secretion in cultured chicken ovarian granulosa cells from preovulatory (F1-F3) follicles.

The effect of kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) on the secretion of progesterone (P(4)) was investigated in cultured granulosa cells from F(1) to F(3) follicles of hens. The results showed that granulosa cells were stained with clear signals for kisspeptin using immunocytochemistry with the specific antibody against Kp-10. Among 10, 100 and 1000 nM concentrations tested, 100 nM Kp-10 treated for 24h significantly increased P(4) secretion in granulosa cells from F(1) to F(3) follicles.

Leptin stimulates hepatic activation of thyroid hormones and promotes early posthatch growth in the chicken.

Hepatic iodothyronine deiodinases (Ds) are involved in the conversion of thyroid hormones (THs) which interacts with growth hormone (GH) to regulate posthatch growth in the chicken. Previous studies suggest that leptin-like immunoreactive substance deposited in the egg may serve as a maternal signal to program posthatch growth. To test the hypothesis that maternal leptin may affect early posthatch growth through modifying hepatic activation of THs, we injected 5.

Effect of inhibitor and activator of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) on porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions.

It was previously shown, that ghrelin and its agonistic analogue, ghrelin 1-18, can be a stimulator of ovarian cell functions (promoter of proliferation, inhibitor of apoptosis and stimulator of hormones release). The aim of our studies was to compare the action of two ghrelin analogues - ghrelin 1-18, activator of ghrelin receptors (GHS-R1a), and (D-Lys3)-GHRP-6, its inhibitor, on porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions. Effects of (D-Lys3)-GHRP-6 added at doses of 0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml on the expression of markers of proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAPK/ERK1,2), apoptosis (bax, p53, caspase 3) and release of steroid hormones (progesterone, testosterone, estradiol) were examined.

The cAMP analogue, dbcAMP affects release of steroid hormones by cultured rabbit ovarian cells and their response to FSH, IGF-I and ghrelin.

The aim of the present study was to examine possible involvement of cAMP-dependent intracellular mechanisms in control of ovarian cell steroidogenesis and its response to hormonal regulators. For this purpose, we examined the influence of administration of dbcAMP, a cAMP analogue (50 microg/animal) in vivo, on release of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol by isolated ovarian fragments, as well their response to hormonal regulators of ovarian steroidogenesis-FSH, IGF-I and ghrelin (all added at doses of 100 ng/ml). It was observed, that administration of dbcAMP resulted reduction in progesterone and testosterone, but not of estradiol release by isolated ovarian fragments.

Age-dependent role of steroids in the regulation of growth of the hen follicular wall.

Background: The ovaries are the primary targets of senescence effects in mammalian and avian species. In the present study, relationships between reproductive aging, sex steroids and the growth pattern of the pre-ovulatory follicle wall were investigated using young hens with long clutch (YLC), old hens with long clutch (OLC), old hens with short clutch (OSC), and old hens with interrupted long clutch (OILC).

Methods: Experiment 1: Hens were sacrificed 1.

Dual effects of daidzein on chicken hepatic vitellogenin II expression and estrogen receptor-mediated transactivation in vitro.

Two in vitro systems were employed to delineate the estrogenic activity of daidzein (Da), alone or in combination with high or low concentrations of estrogen in two cell types possessing different estrogen-receptor (ER) isoforms, ERalpha and/or ERbeta: (1) vitellogenin II (VTG), the egg yolk precursor protein and the endpoint biomarker for estrogenicity, in chicken primary hepatocytes, and (2) CHO-K1 cells transiently co-transfected with ERalpha or ERbeta and estrogen-response elements (ERE) linked to a luciferase reporter gene. Da (100 microM) alone induced VTG mRNA expression in chicken hepatocytes, albeit with much less potency compared to estradiol (E(2)). Da exhibited different effects in the presence of 1 microM and 10 microM E(2).

Layer and broiler chicks exhibit similar hypothalamic expression of orexigenic neuropeptides but distinct expression of genes related to energy homeostasis and obesity.

Layer and broiler chickens demonstrate striking differences in body weight and body composition. However, the mechanism underlying such difference is elusive. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates energy homeostasis and body size in mammals, but information in birds is scarce.

Maternal low-protein diet programmes offspring growth in association with alterations in yolk leptin deposition and gene expression in yolk-sac membrane, hypothalamus and muscle of developing Langshan chicken embryos.

The present study was aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the influence of maternal low-protein (LP) diet on offspring growth in the chicken. One hundred and twenty Chinese inbred Langshan breeder hens were allocated randomly into two groups fed diets containing low (10%, LP) or normal (15%) crude protein levels. Low dietary protein did not affect the body weight of hens, but significantly decreased the laying rate and egg weight.

Identification of microRNAs controlling human ovarian cell steroidogenesis via a genome-scale screen.

The aim of our studies was to identify miRNAs affecting the release of the major ovarian steroid hormones progestagen, androgen and estrogen by human ovarian cells. The effect of transfection of cultured primary ovarian granulosa cells with 80 different gene constructs encoding human pre-miRNAs on release of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, effect of two selected antisense constructs blocking corresponding miRNA on progesterone release was tested.