• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2020

Objective: Glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 1 (GRIA1) is a subunit of a ligand-gated ion channel that regulates the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) by controlling the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Few studies have investigated the association between the GRIA1 gene and human infertility. This study evaluated the association of the GRIA1 rs548294 C > T and rs2195450 G > A polymorphisms with the ovarian response to human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) in Iranian women. Methods: One hundred women with histories of at least 1 year of infertility were included. On the second day of menstruation, patients were injected with HMG; on the third day, blood samples were collected. After hormonal analysis, the GRIA1 rs548294 C > T and rs2195450 G > A genotypes of samples were identified via the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, and on day 9, the number of follicles was assessed via ultrasound. Results: For the GRIA1 rs548294 C > T and rs2195450 G > A single nucleotide polymorphisms, the subjects with CT and GG genotypes, respectively, displayed the highest mean FSH level, LH level, and number of follicles on day 9 of the menstrual cycle (p< 0.05). Significant positive correlations were observed between LH and FSH (p< 0.01), LH and follicle count (p< 0.01), FSH and age (p< 0.05), follicle count and age (p= 0.048), and FSH and follicle count (p< 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed a significant relationship between GRIA1 polymorphisms and ovarian response to the induction of ovulation. Therefore, determining patients' GRIA1 genotype may be useful for improving treatment and prescribing suitable doses of ovulation-stimulating drugs.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 1996

The relative effectiveness of steroids and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was investigated in vitro using the isolated oocytes (folliculated oocytes) from the spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus. Among the steroids tested, $17\alpha-hydroxy,\;20\beta-dihydroprogesterone\;(17\alpha20{\beta}OHP)$ was more effective than progesterone (P4) and $17\alpha-hydroxyprogesterone\;(17{\alpha}OHP$). In comparing $17\alpha,\;20{\beta}OHP$ with HCG, both $17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ and HCG were effective in inducing GVBD at all concentrations : $17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ was effective even at lower concentrations ($10\~50$ ng/ml). HCG at three concentrations used (50, 100, 500 IU/ml) showed no significant differences in inducing GVBD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.186-192
• /
• 2002

Special attention has been paid to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for athlete doping control because it stimulates the endogenous production of testosterone and epitestosterone without increasing the T/E ratio which is a doping indicator for the exogenous administration of testosterone. Even though the IOC banned the use of hCG, a detection method has not been decided upon since there are a variety of immunoassay kits available on the market. We evaluated three kits in terms of their performance characteristics. The assay value of the control sample varied depending on the kit, resulting in 198 mIU/ml for the MAIA kit, 172mIU/ml for the IRMA kit, and 143 mIU/ml for the MEIA kit. Considering the IOC inter-lab distribution of results(55-312 mIU/ml) using 27 different kits and the mean value (178$\pm$56 mIU/ml), all three kits are within the range of －15.8% - ＋5.6% of the mean value, which proves them useful for the hCG assay. The MEIA kit resulted in lower hCG values because it detects only intact hCG molecules, in contrast to the other two kits which detect intact hCG and -hCG together. However, it is suitable for screening purposes because of its advantage of being an automated system. When 123 urine samples of athletes were analyzed in 22 batches using this system, the variation of control values fell within $\pm$ 10% of the mean values, and an specimens tested negative with hCG values less than the detection limit of 2 mIU/ml.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.513-519
• /
• 1998

Ovulation of maturing femal mandarin fish, Siniperca scherzeri was induced using single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue (GnRH-a), GnRH-a plus prostaglandin F2 (PG$F_2$) or GnRH-a plus pimozide. The response was evaluated by fertilization, embryo-formation and hatching rate after insemination. Those rates were generally higher in GnRH-a group than in HCG group. The higher hatching rat of above 89% was achived using a dosage of 5,000 IU/kg HCG plus 10 ${\mu}$g/kg GnRH-a, 10${\mu}$g/kg GnRH-a plus 500 ng/kg PGF2, and 10 ug/kg GnRH-a plus 1-5 mg/kg pimozide. Ovulation was induced in all female injected with sex-maturation hormones and stimulator, but blocked in female injected with HCG plus GnRH-a plus dopamine combination, and GnRH-a plus PGF2 plus indometacin combination. These results show that the mandarin fish in spawning period secrete a sex-mutruation assosiated hormones and gonadotropin-releasing -inhibiting factor(GRIF).

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.287-292
• /
• 2000

The present work examined the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopaminergic drugs on the secretion of maturational gonadotropin (GTH II) in relation to testosterone m treatment. This study provides evidence that the plasma GTH II levels are increased by T treatment in precocious males, but not in the immature animal. In addition, GnRH analogue (GnRHa) alone significantly increased the plasma GTH II secretion in immature rainbow trout treated with T, as well as in T-treated and T-untreated precocious males. However, injection with either dopamine (DA) or domperidone (DOM; DA D2 receptor antagonist) alone did not alter the basal plasma GTH 11 secretion in all experimental groups. The secretion of GTH II in the T-treated precocious males was remarkably influenced by GnRHa or combination of dopaminergic drugs. Notably, the effects of dopaminergic drugs on GnRHa-induced GTH II secretion w8s prolonged by T in precocious males. In T-treated immature animals, GnRHa-induced GTH II secretion was Increased only by a dose DOM (10$\mu$g/g body n) but not by higher dose DOM (100$\mu$/g body wt). In the T-untreated immature rainbow trout, however, plasma GTH 11 secretion was not influenced by the same treatments. Therefore, these results indicate that DA may be acting indirectly by blocking the effect of GnRH on GTH II secretion in vivo. T may act to modulate the relative contribution by the stimulatory (GnRH) and inhibitory (DA) neuroendocrine factors, which would ultimately determine the pattern of GTH II secretion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2017

This study investigated the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine on pig growth, carcass quality, and sensory perceptions of pork meat by Thai consumers. Male crossbred pigs (n = 30) were separated into three groups of 10 pigs each: boars, immunocastrated pigs, and surgically castrated pigs. The immunocastrated group was immunized at 13 and 19 weeks of age with GnRH vaccine ($400{\mu}g/dose$). All pigs were slaughtered at 24 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected and testes size determined. Testes weight and back fat thickness were recorded at the time of slaughter, and meat samples were collected for sensory assessment by Thai consumers. Testosterone and progesterone concentration levels decreased significantly two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05), and the GnRH antibody titer of the immunocastrated pigs was significantly high two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05). GnRH vaccine significantly reduced the weight and size of testes. Thai consumers reported no significant differences in odor or flavor among meat samples from the three groups. In conclusion, immunocastration improved growth performance, removed the need for castration surgery, and avoided "boar taint" in the meat. It has also no distinct trace of the boar taint same as pork that is currently produced from physically castrated pig which is making it acceptable to consumers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.9
• /
• pp.845-851
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been widely used to treat short stature. However, there are some concerns that growth hormone treatment may induce skeletal maturation and early onset of puberty. In this study, we investigated whether rhGH can directly affect the neuronal activities of of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Methods: We performed brain slice gramicidin-perforated current clamp recording to examine the direct membrane effects of rhGH on GnRH neurons, and a whole-cell voltage-clamp recording to examine the effects of rhGH on spontaneous postsynaptic events and holding currents in immature (postnatal days 13-21) and adult (postnatal days 42-73) mice. Results: In immature mice, all 5 GnRH neurons recorded in gramicidin-perforated current clamp mode showed no membrane potential changes on application of rhGH (0.4, $1{\mu}g/mL$). In adult GnRH neurons, 7 (78%) of 9 neurons tested showed no response to rhGH ($0.2-1{\mu}g/mL$) and 2 neurons showed slight depolarization. In 9 (90%) of 10 immature neurons tested, rhGH did not induce any membrane holding current changes or spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs). There was no change in sPSCs and holding current in 4 of 5 adult GnRH neurons. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that rhGH does not directly affect the GnRH neuronal activities in our experimental model.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2014

Objective: To estimate the failure rate of medical treatment and to identify variables associated with treatment failure in patients with tubal pregnancy and an initial serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) over 10,000 IU/L. Methods: The inclusion criteria were tubal pregnancy diagnosed using ultrasonography, primary treatment of intramuscular methotrexate injection at one of the four institutions between January 2003 and December 2011, a serum HCG level within two days before treatment >10,000 IU/L, and follow-up data to determine treatment success or failure. Exclusion criteria were other primary treatments besides intramuscular methotrexate injection. The clinicopathologic data of 36 patients were collected and analyzed. Results: Medical treatment failed and surgery was performed in 19 (53%) patients. In univariable analysis, age, parity, and size of the gestational sac were associated with treatment failure, but none of the variables were associated with treatment failure in multivariable analysis. The failure rate in the subgroup with age<33 years and size of gestational sac ${\geq}1.1cm$ was significantly higher than those of the other subgroups (82% vs. 41% [mean of the other subgroups], respectively). Conclusion: Patients with a serum HCG level >10,000 IU/L who received medical treatment had a high failure rate. Among them, patients aged<33 year and with a gestational sac ${\geq}1.1cm$ had an extremely high failure rate.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.12
• /
• pp.1071-1078
• /
• 2015

Superovulation induced by exogenous gonadotropin treatment (PMSG/hCG) increases the number of available oocytes in humans and animals. However, Superovulatory PMSG/hCG treatment is known to affect maternal environment, and these effects may result from PMSG/hCG treatment-induced oxidative stress. 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prxs) act as antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative stress induced by various exogenous stimuli. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that repeated PMSG/hCG treatment induces 2-Cys Prx expression and overoxidation in the reproductive tracts of female mice. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analyses further demonstrated that, after PMSG/hCG treatment, the protein expression levels of 2-Cys Prxs increased most significantly in the ovaries, while that of Prx1 was most affected by PMSG/hCG stimulation in all tissues of the female reproductive tract. Repeated PMSG/hCG treatment eventually leads to 2-Cys Prxs overoxidation in all reproductive organs of female mice, and the abundance of the 2-Cys Prxs-$SO_{2/3}$ proteins reported here supports the hypothesis that repeated superovulation induces strong oxidative stress and damage to the female reproductive tract. Our data suggest that excessive oxidative stress caused by repeated PMSG/hCG stimulation increases 2-Cys Prxs expression and overoxidation in the female reproductive organs. Intracellular 2-Cys Prx therefore plays an important role in maintaining the reproductive organ environment of female mice upon exogenous gonadotropin treatment.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2020

Kisspeptin, expressed mainly in the hypothalamus, stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons to facilitate reproduction. In some model animals, the kisspeptin is also expressed in the pituitary. Recently, a pathway has been suggested in which kisspeptin acts directly on the pituitary to secretion of gonadotropin in mammals. In the present study, pituitaries of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were cultured at different concentrations of kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10, FNYNPLSLRF) for 3 hours to observe the effect of kisspeptin on the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone β subunit (fshβ) gene and luteinizing hormone β subunit (lhβ) gene. Pituitary tissues were cultured with 0.1 μM of Kp-10, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), or LHRH+Kp-10 for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours to investigate changes in the expression of fshβ and lhβ mRNA. Pituitaries cultured with high concentration of Kp-10 more than 0.1 μM for 3 hours exhibited a significant increase of fshβ mRNA expression, but not lhβ mRNA. The expression of both fshβ and lhβ mRNA increased after 6 hours in 0.1 μM of Kp-10 medium in comparison with that in the control medium. Tissues cultured in the LHRH medium however exhibited increased expression of both genes not only at 6 but also 12 hours. There were no significant differences of fshβ and lhβ gene expression in tissues cultured with LHRH+KP-10 medium compared with the control. These results suggested that although kisspeptin plays an important role in fshβ and lhβ expression in the pituitary of Nile tilapia, its action is far more complicated than expected.