Ovary

The ovaries perform two major functions (i) the storage, maturation, and expulsion of healthy haploid germ cells (i.e., oocytes) for fertilization, and (ii) the synthesis and secretion of hormones to prepare the reproductive tissues for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, to properly regulate gonadotropin secretion from the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, to induce appropriate sexual behaviors, and to provide lactation. The two primary functional units in the ovaries are the maturing follicles and the corpora lutea. 

The menstrual cycle consists of the follicular phase and the luteal phase, each lasting about 2 weeks. The follicular phase is a period of ovarian follicular growth (follicu-logenesis) that results in ovulation (release of secondary oocyte). This phase is dominated by estrogen produced by the growing follicle itself. During the follicular phase, the 

FIGURE 10.3.4 Schematic diagram for hormonal regulation in females. 

In laboratory animals, the estrous and menstrual cycles vary in their duration and frequency these cycles are much shorter in mice, rats, and hamsters (approximately 4 days) compared to humans (Donham and Stetson 1991 Chattopadhyay et al. 1999). There are several rhythmic patterns of the plasma reproductive hormones, together with natural episodic/pusatile changes (e.g., LH is secreted in a pulsatile manner and these pulses can cause plasma levels to vary by more than several-fold from baseline values) (Moor and Younglai 1975). Reproductive senescence occurs in older animals (e.g., in rodents where female rats develop irregularities in their estrous cycle at about 10 months of age). 

Rats exhibit circadian rhythms for plasma testosterone (Kalra and Kalra 1977 Mock, Norton, and Frankel 1978). Episodic fluctuations of this hormone have been reported in rabbits (Moor and Younglai 1975), dogs (de Palaitis, Moore, and Falvo 1978 Fukuda et al. 1988), and rhesus monkeys (Michael, Setchell, and Plant 1974 Plant 1981). 

Some example compounds include aminogluthethimide cyanoketone and ketoconazole (affect hormone synthesis) lithium (interferes with steroidogenic enzymes) endosulphan, lindane, and malathion (affect hormone release and storage) DDT 

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Testosterone and estradiol are present m the body m only minute amounts and their isolation and identification required heroic efforts In order to obtain 0 012 g of estradiol for study for example 4 tons of sow ovaries had to be extracted ... 

Steroids are synthetic products of cholesterol [57-88-5]. The chemical stmcture of a steroid hormone is determined by sequential enzymatic processing of the cholesterol molecule. Steroid products differ among steroid-secreting glands because of differences in enzyme processing, eg, the production of estrogen by the ovary requires enzymatic steps that do not occur in the adrenal cortex. 

P and Pg, exist in foUicular fluid. Control of inhibin secretion involves a feedback relationship in which circulating FSH stimulates inhibin secretion, which in turn reduces the secretion of FSH (8). Both the homo- and the heterodimers of the P-subunits of inhibin promote the secretion of FSH and thus have been termed activins. Activin is secreted by the ovary and the testes into the circulation. In addition, both inhibin and activin have intragonadal autocrine and paracrine effects that influence gonadal steroidogenesis (9). 

Turner s Syndrome. Turner s syndrome is a genetic disorder of females characterized by short stature, nonfunctioning ovaries, and failure to develop secondary sexual characteristics. Several clinical trials in the United States, Europe, and Japan have demonstrated that hGH can accelerate... 

Estrogens stimulate cellular proliferation, induce RNA and protein synthesis of uterine endometrium and the fibrous connective tissue framework for ovaries, and increase the size of the cells. This effect leads to the growth and regeneration of the endometrial layer and spinal arterioles, and increase in the number and size of endometrial glands. Under the influence of estrogen, vaginal mucosa becomes thicker, as cervical mucus becomes thinner (85,86). 

Procedure Thyroid Marrow Breast Lung Ovaries... 

Vaccine candidates are based on the two viral surface proteins, gD and gB (80). Recombinant methods are used to express the proteins, either in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or in baculovims. The proteins are purified as subunits and formulated with different adjuvants. Clinical trials with these vaccine candidates have been performed, but the results to date have not been encouraging. 

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