Apoptosis in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes: Relationship with their morphology and the developmental competence.

The aim of this study was to assess the presence and distribution of apoptosis in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and its relations with COC morphology and developmental competence. The COCs were obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries, classified into A1 (top category), A2, B1, B2, C, and D based on their morphology. A1, A2, and B1 were matured and fertilized in vitro, and blastocyst rate was compared among them. Before and after in vitro maturation (IVM), annexin-V staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed to assess early and late apoptosis, respectively. There was a significant increase in both annexin-V (+) oocytes and TUNEL (+) cumulus cells as morphology further deteriorated. There were no statistical differences regarding annexin-V (+) oocytes within immature and post-IVM COCs, but TUNEL (+) oocytes were only observed in post-IVM COCs. Early and late apoptosis was detected in cumulus cells of all categories of immature and post-IVM COCs. However, the difference was only significant for annexin-V (+). There were no significant differences in embryo development. Therefore, apoptosis increases as the morphological features of the immature COCs decrease. In conclusion, the selection of COCs from Categories A1, A2, and B1 may be used as a selection criterion for in vitro development.

[Effect of leptin in the production of progesterone and estradiol by ovarian rat tissue]. / Efecto de la leptina en la producción de progesterona y estradiol por el ovario de rata.

An alteration in the balance of autocrine/paracrine ovarian factors may lead to different diseases. The aim of the present report was to evaluate the relationship between insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and leptin (Lp) in the progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) production after ovarian rat FSH stimulation. Thus, ovarian explants were incubated with FSH, IGF-1 and Lp, and P and E were evaluated by means of specific radioimmunoassays. FSH increased ovarian P and E production. IGF-1 synergized with FSH in P as well as in ovarian E production. Lp had not shown any effect on the FSH capacity to increase P and E in the ovarian tissue; nevertheless it reverted the synergistic effect of IGF-1 on FSH for P as well as for E. These data raise the possibility that abnormal Lp levels may contribute to infertility in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome by counteracting the sensitizing effects of IGF-1 in ovarian tissue.

Efecto de la leptina en la produccion de progesterona y estradiol por el ovario de rata / Effect of leptin in the production of progesterone and estradiol by ovarian rat tissue

EI desequilibrio de factores autocrinos/paracrinos en el ovario conduce a diversas enfermedades. EI objetivo dei presente trabajo fue evaluar Ia relación entre el factor de crecimiento insulínico 1 (IGF 1) y Ia leptina (Lp) en Ia producción de progesterona (P) y estradiol (E) por el ovario de rata estimulado cort hormona folículo estimulante (FSH). Para ello, se incubaron explantes ováricos con FSH, IGF 1 y Lp, evaluándose P y E en el sobrenadante por radioinmunoensayo. La FSH estimuló Ia producción de P y E por el ovario. EI IGF 1 produjo un importante efecto sinérgico con FSH tanto en Ia síntesis de P como de E. La Lp no tuvo efecto sobre Ia acción de FSH en el aumento de P y E por el ovario, sin embargo revirtió el efecto sinérgico de IGF 1 sobre FSH tanto para P como para E. Podemos concluir que Ia Lp podría actuar directamente disminuyendo el efecto sinérgico de IGF 1 sobre FSH. Estos resultados podrían sugerir que niveles anormales de Lp encontrados en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico provocarían una desensibilización ovárica al IGF 1 que afectaría Ia producción de P y E.

Efecto de la leptina en la produccion de progesterona y estradiol por el ovario de rata / Effect of leptin in the production of progesterone and estradiol by ovarian rat tissue

EI desequilibrio de factores autocrinos/paracrinos en el ovario conduce a diversas enfermedades. EI objetivo dei presente trabajo fue evaluar Ia relación entre el factor de crecimiento insulínico 1 (IGF 1) y Ia leptina (Lp) en Ia producción de progesterona (P) y estradiol (E) por el ovario de rata estimulado cort hormona folículo estimulante (FSH). Para ello, se incubaron explantes ováricos con FSH, IGF 1 y Lp, evaluándose P y E en el sobrenadante por radioinmunoensayo. La FSH estimuló Ia producción de P y E por el ovario. EI IGF 1 produjo un importante efecto sinérgico con FSH tanto en Ia síntesis de P como de E. La Lp no tuvo efecto sobre Ia acción de FSH en el aumento de P y E por el ovario, sin embargo revirtió el efecto sinérgico de IGF 1 sobre FSH tanto para P como para E. Podemos concluir que Ia Lp podría actuar directamente disminuyendo el efecto sinérgico de IGF 1 sobre FSH. Estos resultados podrían sugerir que niveles anormales de Lp encontrados en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico provocarían una desensibilización ovárica al IGF 1 que afectaría Ia producción de P y E.(AU)

Efecto de la leptina en la producción de progesterona y estradiol por el ovario de rata. / [Effect of leptin in the production of progesterone and estradiol by ovarian rat tissue]

An alteration in the balance of autocrine/paracrine ovarian factors may lead to different diseases. The aim of the present report was to evaluate the relationship between insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and leptin (Lp) in the progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) production after ovarian rat FSH stimulation. Thus, ovarian explants were incubated with FSH, IGF-1 and Lp, and P and E were evaluated by means of specific radioimmunoassays. FSH increased ovarian P and E production. IGF-1 synergized with FSH in P as well as in ovarian E production. Lp had not shown any effect on the FSH capacity to increase P and E in the ovarian tissue; nevertheless it reverted the synergistic effect of IGF-1 on FSH for P as well as for E. These data raise the possibility that abnormal Lp levels may contribute to infertility in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome by counteracting the sensitizing effects of IGF-1 in ovarian tissue.