Recurrent pregnancy loss is a major health problem effecting 1(see symbol) 2% of women of reproductive age. Its causes range from chromosomal abnormalities to endocrinological factors and thrombophilia related factors. Treating thrombophilias especially antiphospholipid syndrome with low dose aspirin and low molecular weight heparin improves foetal outcome. This study will ...

BACKGROUND: This work evaluates pregnancy and infant loss in 1,069 vehicle-treated cynomolgus monkeys from 78 embryo-fetal development (EFD) studies and 14 pre-postnatal development (PPND) studies accrued during 1981-2007. METHODS: Losses were analysed by survival function and hazard ratio using logistic regression for influence of year, study type (e.g., dose duration), ...

The aim of this study was to test for the efficacy of aglepristone treatment for prevention of early pregnancy in the cat. Eleven cats (Gr. 1) were treated with 10 mg/kg aglepristone on days 5 and 6 after mating, 17 cats (Gr. 2) were used as untreated controls. Blood samples ...

We have previously documented synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the bovine endometrium and the increased presence of LPA receptor mRNA expression during pregnancy. Therefore, LPA could contribute to early pregnancy establishment in the cow. In the present study, we investigated the effect of intravaginally administered LPA on pregnancy rates ...

This review brings together information on ovarian physiology in buffaloes including folliculogenesis, ovulation, and the development and function of the corpus luteum. Features of embryonic development are also considered. The buffalo is classified as a short-day breeder but in equatorial zones can show oestrous cycles throughout the year provided that ...

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of feed restriction of young pregnant rabbit does during early (10 days), mid (15 days), and late gestation (20 days) on progesterone level, feed intake, reproductive and productive performance and maternal behaviour. Forty nulliparous rabbit does were classified into four equal groups ...

The main objective of the study was to determine the number of growing follicles (diameter>or=4 mm) with regards to the distribution of corpora lutea (CL) on the ovaries in pregnant goats. Growing follicles with a diameter greater than 5 mm i.e. large follicles were also recorded and analyzed. Daily ultrasonography ...

Interferon-tau (IFNT), the pregnancy recognition signal in ruminant species, is secreted by conceptus trophectoderm cells and induces expression of IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in the uterus and corpus luteum (CL) in ewes. Expression of ISG15 in ovine CL is speculated to be through an endocrine pathway, but it is unclear ...

Prostaglandins (PGs) play a pivotal role in maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation in pigs. In the present study, PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), and PGFM (PGF(2alpha) metabolite) content, as well as PGE(2) synthase (mPGES-1) and PGF(2alpha) synthase (PGFS) expression was investigated in early pregnant gilts with natural (n=21) and PMSG/hCG-stimulated (n=19) estrus. ...

The present study determined vascular changes in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) at Day 16 (early maternal recognition period) and Day 40 in early pregnancy and compared them to the CL from Day 12 and Day 16 of the estrous cycle. The CLs were analyzed in the central and peripheral ...

Early pregnancy is susceptible to oxidative stress, and thus characterisation of antioxidant systems and pro- and anti-apoptotic pathways would improve understanding of placental development and function. We aimed, therefore, to determine the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese-SOD (SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GPX) and GSH ...

Maternal and fetal microvasculature was studied in ewes at days 50, 90 and 130 of gestation using microvascular corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy. Microvascular corrosion casts of caruncles at day 50 were cup-shaped with a centrally located cavity. Branches of radial arteries entered the caruncle from its base and ...

Early embryonic resorption or fetal loss is known to occur occasionally in captive elephants; however, this has mostly been reported anecdotally. The present study documents the case of a 24-year-old, multiparous Asian elephant cow that suffered embryonic death and resorption at around 18 weeks of gestation. From ovulation onwards, this ...

The study housed 120 pregnant sows from Day 29 of pregnancy to 1 week before parturition either in groups of 10 with trickle feeding (TRICKLE) or in groups of 20 with an unprotected electronic sow feeding (FITMIX). The study recorded aggressive interaction on 11 nonconsecutive days. Frequency of aggressive interactions ...

The cellular localization of the inhibin subunits (α, β(A), and β (B)), steroidogenic enzymes (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) were evaluated in the ovaries of cyclic (n=6) and pregnant (n=2) Shiba goats (Capra Hircus). The immunointensity of inhibin α and β(A) subunits showed an increase in the ...

The role for endometrial secretion of cytokines during the establishment of pregnancy in a number of mammals is well established. The current study determined endometrial expression of caspase 1 (CASP1) and interleukin-18 (IL18) during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, and following early estrogen administration, which induces conceptus loss during ...

The European brown hare is one species in which reproduction appears to be particularly complex. Therefore, we studied the reproductive tract and prenatal development using high-resolution ultrasound of 159 pregnancies in 45 captive female hares. Consecutive examination of live hares was particularly useful in evaluating the very early stages of ...

In order to investigate the effect of pregnancy on equine hematological profile, venous blood samples were taken from 44 Carthusian broodmares every two weeks during pregnancy, divided into three periods: I (conception to 110 days), II (111-220 days) and III (222 days to delivery). Routine hematological analysis was performed. Packed ...

Adrenomedullin (ADM), a novel vasorelaxant peptide, was found in human/rat ovaries and uteri. Plasma ADM level increases in pregnant women and pregnant rats. The gene expression levels of Adm and its receptor components - Crlr, Ramp1, Ramp2 and Ramp3, the ADM peptide concentration and localization in the rat female reproductive ...

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of membrane channel proteins that facilitate bulk water transport. To date, 11 isoforms of AQPs have been reported to be expressed in the female and male reproductive systems. The purpose of our study was to determine the localization and quantitative changes in the expression of ...

The current study was performed to follow up the circulating hormonal changes and to correlate the findings with the physiological activity of the corpus luteum (CL) and placenta during pregnancy in goats. Blood samples were collected weekly from five goats during pregnancy for measuring steroid and protein hormones. A gradual ...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of estrus induction with gonadotropins on endometrial and conceptus expression of HoxA10, transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and prostaglandin H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) during early pregnancy in pigs. Twenty-four prepubertal gilts received 750 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin ...

In this study, we examined the levels of leptin and OB-Rb protein expression in the discrete areas of the porcine hypothalamus (mediobasal hypothalamus--MBH, pre-optic area--POA, stalk median eminence--SME) during mid- and late-luteal phases of the oestrous cycle (days 10-12 and 14-16) as well as two stages of pregnancy (days 14-16 ...

In the wild, Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) spend most of their time in underground burrows. Thus the observation of reproduction biology during mating season, gestation, and the early juvenile development is extremely challenging. An ultrasonographic follow-up of pregnancies in captive alpine marmots illustrates the characteristic findings of different gestational phases. ...

The purpose of the present study was to describe the technique for and findings of ultrasonographic examination of the rat uterus for diagnosis of early and midterm pregnancy. The uterus of anesthetized Wistar rats was examined between days 9 and 16 post coitum by transabdominal real-time ultrasonography by using a ...

CONCLUSION: ERalpha and ERbeta are present in the inner ear and are up- and down-regulated depending on the stage of maturation, development and pregnancy, suggesting that estrogen may have an effect on the cochlea during various stages of life. No estrogen receptors (ERs) were found in the cochlea of the ...

Azithromycin (AZI) is an azalide antibiotic with antimalarial activity that is considered safe in pregnancy. To assess its pharmacokinetic properties when administered as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), two 2-g doses were given 24 h apart to 31 pregnant and 29 age-matched nonpregnant Papua New Guinean women. All subjects ...

OBJECTIVE: The antiprogestin mifepristone is widely used for medical termination of pregnancy (TOP). Previous studies have suggested that the mechanism of mifepristone is based on its action in the endometrium and myometrium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of mifepristone on corpus luteum activity. METHODS: ...

Embryo implantation is critical for the successful establishment of pregnancy. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is essential for adequate decidualization in the mouse and human via binding to the specific IL-11 receptor alpha (IL-11Ralpha). But the expression and regulation of IL-11 and IL-11Ralpha in the canine endometrium remain unknown. The aim of this ...

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding allowance level on embryonic survival, uterine development and reproductive hormone secretion in early gestation gilts. A total of 54 F1 crosses of Landrace x Large white gilts were randomly allocated to three treatment groups of high (H, 2 x ...

The nature of the structural regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy (PCL) was investigated in rats from day 19 of pregnancy (PRG19) through day 6 postpartum (PP6). A pre-partum decrease in tissue weight of the PCL during the last 4 days of pregnancy was apparent (nearly a 40% decrease) ...

Establishment of pregnancy in ruminants requires conceptus elongation and production of interferon tau (IFNT), the pregnancy recognition signal that maintains the corpus luteum and progesterone (P4) secretion. The enzymes hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1) and HSD11B2 catalyze the interconversion of inactive cortisone and active cortisol, which is a biologically active ...

The aim of this study was to perform a morphological characterization of the initial bovine placental development, between 20 and 70 days post-insemination (p.i.), with emphasis on the differentiation of the allantois and amnion. After collection, the conceptuses were dissected, macroscopically measured and photographically documented. The extraembryonic membranes were cut ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor sildenafil prolongs pregnancy in women with preeclampsia. METHODS: Women with preeclampsia at gestational ages 24-34 weeks were recruited from nine hospitals in the UK, and randomly assigned to sildenafil citrate or placebo. Medication was increased every 3 days from 20 mg ...

Protein supplementation during human pregnancy does not improve fetal growth and may increase small-for-gestational-age birth rates and mortality. To define possible mechanisms, sheep with twin pregnancies were infused with amino acids (AA group, n = 7) or saline (C group, n = 4) for 4 days during late gestation. In ...

Studies on the reproductive endocrinology of koalas have been performed mainly by using blood samples; however, in practice it is difficult to collect blood periodically because koalas are easily stressed. The purposes of the present study were to establish a noninvasive endocrine monitoring technique and to investigate the reproductive physiology ...

Plasma progesterone (P(4)) concentrations are maintained in pregnant cats until parturition, but become low in pseudopregnant cats 40-45 days after infertile mating. This difference in P(4) concentrations is considered to be due to P(4) secretion by the placenta of pregnant cats. Therefore, to clarify these points, we performed ovariectomy (OVX) ...

The primary objectives of this study were to validate a canine relaxin RIA for use in otariids and phocids and consider practical applications. For 6 captive Northern fur seal females, serum samples were grouped and examined according to pregnancy (n=13), post-partum (n=8) and non-pregnancy (n=6), and, for 2 captive Northern ...

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential effects of black tea brew of Camellia sinensis using Sri Lankan high grown dust grade no. 1 tea on pregnancy outcome of rats when exposed during early (days 1-7), mid (days 8-14) and late (days 15-21) pregnancy of rats. Different ...

Women who were themselves small-for-gestational age (SGA) are at a greater risk of adulthood diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and twice at risk of having an SGA baby themselves. The aim of this study was to examine the intergenerational pig. Low (L) and normal (N) birth weight female ...

In this paper, the hemodynamic changes of normal pregnancy are reviewed and the underlying hormonal and molecular mechanisms are discussed. Among other findings related to these phenomena, our previous work has demonstrated the importance of relaxin in systemic and renal vascular as well as osmoregulatory changes during gestation. These findings ...

Relaxin has beneficial effects upon the endometrium which are responsible for establishment of pregnancy. We have demonstrated that relaxin stimulates endometrial decidualization, the structural and biochemical changes in endometrial parenchymal cells, and the accompanying angiogenesis, modulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity, and increased concentrations in local immune cells which are required ...

On day 18 of pregnancy, conceptuses were surgically removed in order that rabbits would be left with seven, five, three, or one conceptus. During pregnancy, blood concentrations of relaxin were determined by radioimmunoassay. There was no difference between relaxin concentrations in rabbits carrying one versus seven conceptuses. The results indicate ...

The human population explosion has pushed many mammalian wildlife species to the brink of extinction. Conservationists are increasingly turning to captive breeding as a means of preserving the gene pool. We previously reported that serum immunoactive relaxin provided a reliable means of distinguishing between true and pseudopregnancy in domestic dogs, ...

Parabens, a class of preservatives routinely added to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and foods, have estrogenic properties. Given that intrauterine implantation of fertilized ova in inseminated females can be disrupted by minute levels of exogenous estrogens, we assessed the impact of parabens upon early gestation. In Experiment 1, butylparaben was administered subcutaneously ...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cassia occidentalis L. (Leguminosae) has long been used as natural medicine in rainforests and other tropical regions for the treatment of inflammation, fever, liver disorders, constipation, worms, fungal infections, ulcers, respiratory infections, snakebite and as a potent abortifacient. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study has investigated the effects ...

Nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines are critical for implantation and development of conceptuses (embryo and extraembryonic membranes), but mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in uteri and conceptuses are largely unknown. This study determined the effects of the estrous cycle, pregnancy, progesterone, and interferon tau (IFNT) on expression of NO synthases (NOS1, ...

In view of the importance of vascular events observed during gestation, it was hypothesized that the VEGF-receptor system plays a critical role during early pregnancy and maternal recognition of pregnancy in pigs. This hypothesis was tested by examining the expression of the VEGF-receptor system in the porcine conceptus. Additionally, the ...

Conclusion: ERalpha and ERbeta are present in the inner ear and are up- and down-regulated depending on the stage of maturation, development and pregnancy, suggesting that estrogen may have an effect on the cochlea during various stages of life. No estrogen receptors (ERs) were found in the cochlea of the ...

Appropriate feed intake level would enhance embryo survival. This study investigated the relationship among feed intake level, embryo survival, hormone secretion and mRNA expression. Fifty-four Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred gilts were allotted to three treatment groups of high (H, 2 x maintenance), medium (M, 1.2 x maintenance) and low (L, ...