Biomedical subjects

S Sasamoto

Publications and source records attributed to S Sasamoto.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

A new male hypogonadism mutant rat (hgn/hgn): concentrations of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the serum and the responsiveness of accessory sex organs to exogenous T, FSH, human chorionic gonadotropin, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.

To determine the etiology of male hypogonadism in a newly found mutant rat (hgn/hgn, with a single autosomal recessive trait), concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured, and the responsiveness of the urogenital organs, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland to testosterone (1 mg/kg s.c. for 7 days), FSH (0.3 AU/kg s.c. for 7 days), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (40 IU/kg s.c. for 7 days), and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) (0.5 or 5.0 micrograms/kg s.c. for 7 days) were tested. Treatment with testosterone only increased the weights of all of the accessory sex organs, whereas treatment with FSH, hCG, or LHRH did not. Levels of serum FSH and LH were extremely higher and testosterone was lower in hgn/hgn males than in normal males. Serum FSH and LH decreased to levels found in intact animals after treatment with testosterone, suggesting that hypothalamic responsiveness to exogenous testosterone is present in the hgn/hgn males. Thus, the status of the hgn/hgn males was indicated to be due to primary Leydig cell dysfunction.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Age-related changes in the secretory pattern of FSH and LH in response to LH-RH in prepubertal female rats.

Developmental changes in the pituitary responsiveness and the secretory pattern of FSH and LH in response to a single injection of LH-RH (100 ng/rat, s.c.) as estimated by increases in plasma concentrations of FSH and LH 10, 30 and 60 min after the injection were studied in female rats at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days of age. The pituitary responsiveness to LH-RH for both FSH and LH release increased from 5 to 15 days of age, reached a maximum on 15 days of age and declined thereafter, whereas a marked increase in the amount of these hormones in the pituitary occurred between 15 and 20 days of age. An apparent change in the secretory pattern of both FSH and LH was observed from 20 days of age onward. In groups up to 15 days of age, plasma concentrations of FSH and LH remained elevated 60 min after the injection of LH-RH, though the plasma concentration of these hormones returned to preinjection concentrations in groups at 20 days of age or later. These results indicate that the age-related changes in the secretory pattern of LH and FSH in response to LH-RH as well as changes in the pituitary responsiveness were apparent during the prepubertal period.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1988

Induced development of ovulatory follicles during the early stages of lactation by the administration of LH in the rat.

To determine whether failure of follicular maturation during the early stages of lactation in rats is due to inadequate LH stimulation, lactating rats nursing eight pups were injected twice daily for 1-3 days (days 2-5 of lactation) with various doses of ovine LH. Follicular maturation was determined by the ability of the follicles to ovulate in response to 10 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), endogenous oestradiol-17 beta and inhibin production. Ovulation was not induced in control animals in response to 10 IU hCG given between days 2 and 5 of lactation. On the other hand, an injection of 10 IU hCG could induce ovulation in LH-treated animals, in which 25 and 50 micrograms LH per injection were given s.c. from days 2 to 5 of lactation. Concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma increased progressively after the administration of LH, indicating that induced development of ovulatory follicles had occurred. Plasma concentrations of FSH declined in LH-treated animals compared with those in control animals. The decrease in plasma concentrations of FSH was not observed when lactating rats were ovariectomized before the first injection of LH, indicating that ovarian products, probably inhibin, from developing follicles may suppress the secretion of FSH from the pituitary gland. In both LH-treated and control animals, concentrations of prolactin and progesterone remained increased during the period of LH administration. The present results, therefore, suggest that the plasma levels of LH are an important determinant of follicular maturation during lactation in rats.

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PubMed1988

Selective release of FSH in lactating rats during the period of follicular atresia induced by the administration of antiserum to LH-releasing hormone.

Passive immunoneutralization of LHRH by injecting a caprine antiserum to LHRH (LHRH-AS) in lactating rats nursing two pups on day 5 of lactation resulted in an immediate decline in concentrations of LH in the plasma during the 24-h study period, followed by a gradual increase to control levels 30 h later. Concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma also decreased abruptly in LHRH-AS treated animals and recovered to control levels 36 h later. These changes were correlated with changes in concentrations of LH in the plasma. On the other hand, plasma concentrations of FSH increased abruptly in the LHRH-AS treated animals within 3 h after injection, but the concentrations declined gradually to control levels 48 h later. The ability of follicles to ovulate in response to human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) began to decrease within 6 h after treatment with LHRH-AS, and further decreased until 18 h after injection of LHRH-AS, when hCG induced ovulation (with two oocytes) in only one of five animals. A gradual increase in ovulation rate to control levels was noted by 36 h after injection of LHRH-AS. These results indicate that Graafian follicles present at the time of LHRH-AS injection had become atretic and that a new set of follicles had then begun to mature. Selective release of FSH could not be induced by injection of LHRH-AS in ovariectomized animals. Treatment with inhibin (porcine follicular fluid) suppressed the selective release of FSH, whereas treatment with oestradiol-17 beta had no inhibitory effect on the selective release of FSH. These findings indicate (1) that tonic secretion of LH is an important factor in normal follicular maturation and maintenance in lactating rats, (2) that selective release of FSH after injection of LHRH-AS is attributed to the removal of a negative influence of inhibin from antral follicles during the period of follicular atresia and (3) that a selective surge of FSH is responsible for initiation of new follicular maturation.

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PubMed1988

Secretion of inhibin by chicken granulosa cells in vitro.

Inhibin activity was investigated using chicken granulosa cell culture medium. Chicken granulosa cells were collected individually from the largest follicle (F1 follicle) and the third largest follicle (F3 follicle) of the ovary, dispersed using enzyme and incubated in a suspension method or cultured in a monolayer method in vitro. Culture medium was assessed for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) inhibiting (inhibin) activity using the rat anterior pituitary cell culture method. The FSH secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells was suppressed by experimental increasing of the amounts of granulosa cell culture medium in a dose-dependent manner, though luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was not affected in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibin activity of the granulosa cell culture medium derived from F1 follicles was higher than that from F3 follicles. These results suggest that chicken granulosa cells secrete inhibin-like substance(s) and that the F1 follicle may secrete a larger amount of inhibin than the F3 follicle.

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PubMed1987

Changes in the secretion of inhibin and steroid hormones during induced follicular atresia after hypophysectomy in the rat.

Sequential changes in the function of antral follicles during the period of follicular atresia were investigated after hypophysectomy (Hypox) at 1100 hr on proestrus. Within 6 hours after Hypox, concentrations of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol-17 beta (E) decreased abruptly in ovarian venous plasma (OVP) and follicles showed a reduced ability to ovulate. Six hours after Hypox, ovulation was still induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in all animals but with significantly fewer number of oocytes compared to the group given hCG at 1100 hr on the day of proestrus. Nine hours after Hypox, several granulosa cells of all large follicles (greater than 400 microns in diameter) exhibited morphological signs of atresia. Twelve hours after Hypox, all large and medium sized (200-400 microns in diameter) follicles showed advanced stages of atresia and almost all follicles failed to ovulate in response to hCG. Inhibin activity in OVP declined more slowly compared to the profiles of steroid hormones and 53% of the initial inhibin activity was still maintained at 18 hours after the operation. Inhibin activity further decreased to 7% of the initial level at 24 hours and was undetectable by 48 hours after Hypox. These results suggest that fully developed Graafian follicles gradually lose their ability to secrete inhibin in contrast to the rapid decrease in secretion of steroid hormone during the process of atresia.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Mode of action of chlorpromazine (CPZ) blockage on 13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2-alpha formation in rat ovary.

The mode of action of the inhibitory effect of CPZ on 13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2-alpha (13,14H2-PGF2-alpha) formation in rat ovary was examined. The inhibition of 13,14H2-PGF2-alpha formation and of ovulation induced by a proestrus were completely recovered by an injection of hCG (25 IU/rat) or LH-RH (500 ng/rat) at 15:00 on the same day. 13,14H2-PGF2-alpha formation and ovulation were not inhibited by a single injection of prolactin (PRL:6 IU/rat) at 13:00 on the day of proestrus. Repeated injection of PRL inhibited cyclic ovulation and 13,14H2-PGF2-alpha formation. The estrus cycle of PRL treated animals showed a continuous state of diestrus. Although 13,14H2-PGF2-alpha formation and ovulation were inhibited by the repeated injection of CPZ, the repeated-simultaneous injection of CPZ and bromocriptine at 10:00 once a day for 3 days from the first day of diestrus partly restored both and entirely reversed the suppression of the cyclic-changes in the in the vaginal smear pattern. These results indicate that the inhibition of 13,14H2-PGF2-alpha formation induced by a single injection of CPZ probably occurs via the suppression of LH-RH release from the hypothalamus, whereas PRL secretion may participate in the inhibitory effects of repeated injections of CPZ.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Difference in the response of follicular maturation and ovulation between early and late lactating rats after removal of the litter.

The mechanisms responsible for the 24-h difference in the time of the next ovulation after litter removal between early and late lactating rats were investigated. At 11.00 h on day 5 of lactation, concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma were lower than those on day 17, corresponding to the absence of healthy Graafian follicles. After removal of the litter on day 5 of lactation a small surge of FSH with a steady increase in basal levels of LH occurred to initiate follicular maturation, and ovulation occurred 4 days later. After removal of the litter on day 17 of lactation a surge of FSH was not observed, due to high levels of inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma, until the time of preovulatory surges of gonadotropin which occurred 2 days later and resulted in ovulation the next morning. Prolactin concentrations decreased similarly in both groups abruptly after removal of the litter. A decrease in plasma concentrations of progesterone occurred 42 h after removal of the litter on day 5, though it occurred 18 h after removal of the litter on day 17. These results indicate that the 24-h delay of ovulation after litter removal on day 5 of lactation, as compared with the time of ovulation after litter removal on day 17, is due probably to the absence of healthy antral follicles and high activity of corpora lutea secreting progesterone at the time of litter removal.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Inhibin activity and secretion of gonadotropin during the period of follicular maturation.

To evaluate the relative contributions of the ovarian inhibin and estradiol-17 beta (E) on the regulation of FSH secretion, inhibin and E in ovarian venous plasma (OVP) and FSH and LH in peripheral plasma were simultaneously measured using superovulating rats with special reference to follicular maturation. By the transplantation of a pituitary gland from adult male rats under the kidney capsule between 1100 and 1200 hr on diestrus-1 in cyclic rats, superovulation was successfully induced on the morning of the next estrus without any additional treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The number of maturing follicles capable of ovulating in response to hCG significantly increased at 12 hours after the grafting as compared with sham-operated controls and further increases occurred until the afternoon of proestrus. In the superovulating rat, first and second surges of FSH were completely blocked and an LH surge was also partially suppressed during the periovulatory period when surges of FSH and LH were normally observed in controls. Contents of FSH as well as LH in the animal's own pituitary gland were suppressed significantly after the grafting as compared with controls. A marked increase in inhibin activity in OVP of rats with a pituitary transplant occurred concomitantly with an increase in the number of follicles capable of ovulating whereas E levels in OVP did not so. Inhibin activity in OVP at each point was much higher in the pituitary grafted rats than in controls but this was not true for E levels. These results suggest that ovarian inhibin derived from the maturing follicles rather than E may be a primary factor for regulation of FSH secretion, and high levels of endogenous inhibin can suppress synthesis of LH as well as FSH in the pituitary gland of the female rat.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Initiation of ovarian follicular maturation without a surge of FSH in cyclic rats treated with antiserum to LH-releasing hormone.

The relationship between a surge of FSH and the initiation of follicular maturation was examined using rats with a 4-day oestrous cycle. When antiserum against LH-releasing hormone (LHRH-AS) was given at 13.00 h on the day of pro-oestrus (day 0), surges of FSH and LH were blocked. Plasma FSH and LH were maintained at low basal levels without a surge release until the next spontaneous surge occurred on the afternoon of day 4, the predicted day of pro-oestrus. Follicular responsiveness to an injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) indicated that preovulatory follicles, present at the time of treatment with LHRH-AS, were capable of ovulating on day 1 but had regressed by day 2. Subsequently, as shown by the ovulatory response to hCG, a new set of follicles had begun to mature by the morning of day 3 without a preceding surge of FSH. Changes in oestradiol-17 beta levels in the plasma throughout the oestrous cycle were the same in rats injected with LHRH-AS or non-immune control serum. The mature follicles in the rats treated with LHRH-AS thus retained the capacity to ovulate after losing their ability to secrete oestrogen. These results suggest that an FSH surge is not essential for initiation of follicular maturation and that basal levels of FSH may be enough to initiate follicular maturation in the absence of newly formed corpora lutea.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Relationship between characteristics of immunoreactive LH/FSH cells and the levels of gonadotropin in the female rat.

Morphological and functional changes of pituitary LH/FSH cells in the female rat were investigated using the parameters on the radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure. Changes in immunostainability, populations of intensely immunostained LH and FSH cells and total volume of secretory granules were correlated with the changes in pituitary LH and FSH contents during the estrous cycle. The immunohistochemical feature of gonadotropin release is the transformation of intensely immunostained gonadotrophs into the weakly stained ones. Secretory granules of small diameter (less than 150 nm) were numerous just before LH and FSH surges then sharply declined along with LH and FSH surges. The number of secretory granules of large diameter (larger than 150 nm) also decreased when LH and FSH surges took place. Then the number increased progressively until 17.00 h on the day of diestrus, corresponding to the increase in pituitary LH and FSH contents. It is suggested that small secretory granules are a release pool while large ones are a reserve pool.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Induction of selective release of FSH in castrated male rats bearing an ovarian transplant by the administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether hypothalamic differentiation is involved in the selective release of FSH during the periovulatory period using adult male rats castrated and implanted with an ovary. Adult male rats (70-90 days old) were castrated and an ovary obtained from a prepubertal female rat (26 days old) was immediately grafted subcutaneously. Four weeks later, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG, 10 i.u.) was injected i.v. into the experimentally manipulated rats to induce ovulatory changes in the grafted ovaries. Another group of similarly prepared rats was injected with 0.9% (w/v) NaCl solution as controls. After injection of hCG, plasma concentrations of FSH increased significantly by 6 h, reached peak values at 12 h and declined to control levels at 36 h. On the other hand, plasma concentrations of LH were reduced by 6 h and decreased further during the next 36 h. An abrupt fall in plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta occurred within 3 h of the administration of hCG. Histological examination revealed that ovulatory changes and luteinization of follicles were induced in grafted ovaries by 18 h after the injection of hCG. Thirty-six hours after treatment with hCG, a set of newly formed corpora lutea was observed in grafted ovaries and plasma concentrations of progesterone were raised. Treatment with oestradiol-17 beta did not inhibit the selective release of FSH after the administration of hCG, suggesting that the abrupt decrease in secretion of oestradiol-17 beta from the grafted ovary is not involved in the occurrence of the FSH surge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma during pregnancy, pseudopregnancy and lactation in the rat.

Inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma and concentrations of FSH and LH in peripheral plasma were examined in rats during pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy and lactation and correlated with the status of the ovarian follicular population. Inhibin activity was assessed in terms of its ability to suppress the 48 h secretion of FSH in a dispersed anterior pituitary cell culture system. FSH and LH were measured by radioimmunoassay. Inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma was always detected when Graafian follicles were present, such as Days 3, 5 and 10 of pseudopregnancy, Days 5, 10, 20 and 21 of pregnancy, Days 3, 5 and 10 of lactation in mothers with 2 pups and Days 0, 10, 15 and 20 of lactation in mothers with 8 pups. Inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma was undetectable whenever healthy antral follicles were absent, such as Days 15 of pregnancy and Days 2, 3, 4 and 5 in lactating rats with 8 pups. No FSH surge occurred during these periods of low inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma, in striking contrast to normal cyclic rats. These results indicate that inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma of rats varies with the number of healthy antral follicles during the luteal phase. Ovarian inhibin in conjunction with other factors such as steroid hormones or the suckling stimulus may be involved in the regulation of FSH secretion in the luteal phase of the rat.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Induction of superovulation in prepubertal female rats by anterior pituitary transplants.

Transplants of 26-day-old rats of an anterior pituitary gland from adult intact or castrated male, 20-day-old or adult ovariectomized female donors (all of which contained large amounts of FSH) resulted in superovulation in recipients on the morning of Day 29. Transplants of the gland from 20-day-old males and adult cyclic females could not advance the time of first ovulation or induce superovulation. In the rats in which superovulation could be induced, a marked increase in plasma FSH was noted in recipients shortly after transplantation and the high levels of plasma FSH were maintained until at least 12 h after grafting. These rats also showed preovulatory surges of LH and FSH 54 h after grafting. No obvious elevation of plasma FSH was noted over 72 h in recipients in which superovulation could not be induced. These findings suggest that the final maturation of follicles for superovulation is induced by a transient release of a large amount of FSH from the grafted pituitary gland and that the sex of the pituitary donor has no bearing on this phenomenon.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Maturation of ovarian follicles after inhibition of ovulation in rats.

The present investigation was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the initiation of follicular maturation after inhibition of ovulation in rats treated with pentobarbitone sodium at 13.30 h and progesterone at 14.00 h on the day of pro-oestrus (day 0 denotes the day of these treatments). Ovulation was completely inhibited and the next spontaneous ovulation occurred on day 5, the expected day of the next oestrus. Follicular responsiveness to injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) indicated that preovulatory follicles at the time of treatment with pentobarbitone and progesterone regressed by 05.00 h on day 2. Maturation of a new set of follicles began from 17.00 h on day 2 and all rats were induced to ovulate by hCG injection by 17.00 h on day 3, the number of oocytes ovulated being comparable to normal ovulation. In the animals receiving pentobarbitone sodium and progesterone treatment, two selective rises in plasma FSH, which had peak levels at 05.00 h on day 1 and 11.00 h on day 2, were observed without a rise in LH. Preovulatory surges of FSH and LH occurred on the afternoon of day 4. These results suggest that the second rise in FSH was induced by regression of Graafian follicles present at the time of treatment with pentobarbitone sodium and progesterone and that this surge of FSH was responsible for initiation of maturation of a new set of follicles destined to ovulate in the subsequent cycle. The mechanism of induction and the role of the first rise of FSH from the night of day 0 to the morning of day 1 cannot be explained at present.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

An inverse relationship between inhibin and follicle-stimulating hormone during the period of ovulation induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin in dioestrous rats.

To investigate the mechanism of the selective surge of FSH during the period of ovulation induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in dioestrous rats, inhibin activity in ovarian vein plasma was determined at varying time-intervals after treatment with hCG using the primary monolayer culture system of anterior pituitary cells. Inhibin activity in ovarian vein plasma had already decreased 6 h after injection of hCG, when concentrations of FSH in the plasma were still low in three of four animals. Inhibin activity further decreased 12-18 h after hCG, when a selective surge of FSH occurred. Inhibin activity increased to the level before hCG treatment 24 h after the treatment, when ovulation was completed and the FSH surge terminated. These results suggest that the selective surge of FSH occurs as a consequence of the decrease in inhibin secretion from the ovary, which is perhaps due to the ovulation dose of hCG altering the functional activity of the granulosa cells in the large Graafian follicles.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Plasma and pituitary hormone changes and follicular development after unilateral ovariectomy in cyclic rats.

After unilateral ovariectomy of 4-day-cyclic rats, plasma FSH increased over control values for 6--12 h after the surgery regardless of whether unilateral ovariectomy was performed before or after 08:00 h on the day of dioestrus, after which time compensatory ovulation did not occur at the next oestrus. Pituitary content of FSH also increased from 6 h after unilateral ovariectomy. In contrast, plasma and pituitary levels of LH and prolactin were generally within the range of values of sham-operated rats. Treatment with pentobarbitone between 13:00 and 14:00 h on the day of pro-oestrus in rats unilaterally ovariectomized after 08:00 h on dioestrus delayed the next spontaneous ovulation by 1 day and was accompanied by a rise in plasma FSH concentrations for 24 h and a doubling in the number of ovulations from the remaining ovary. Follicle counts showed an increase in large healthy follicles (greater than or equal to 501 micrometers diam.) and a decrease in atretic follicles in pentobarbitone-treated rats. It is suggested that the FSH rise induces compensatory follicular development and decreases follicular atresia when there is sufficient time for follicles to develop before the LH surge.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Superovulation induced by a single pituitary gland transplanted beneath the kidney capsule in adult rats.

Different numbers of rat pituitary glands, taken from male and female rats before and after puberty, were transplanted into various sites in female rats at different stages of the oestrous cycle. Ovulation was checked by counting ova in oviducts on the next expected day of ovulation. Ovulation was induced by transplantation beneath the kidney capsule in early dioestrus of half, one or three glands from 35- to 41-day-old male rats (18.6+/-3.1 (S.E.M.), 32.6+/-2.8 and 49.8+/-4.8 ova shed respectively). The transplantation of glands from mature female rats did not induce supraovulation but inhibited the expected ovulation. The most effective stage for inducing superovulation was early dioestrus and, to a lesser extent, most effective stage for inducing superovulation was early dioestrus and, to a lesser extent, oestrus; transplantation during late dioestrus was ineffective. The effective sites of transplantation were beneath the kidney capsule and intramuscularly but not subcutaneously. Representative pituitary glands from 35- to 41-day-old male rats and adult female rats were assayed for LH and FSH content to interpret the mechanisms of superovulation . The pituitary glands from the male rats contained larger amounts of LH and especially of FSH than those found in the female rats. The experiments indicated that superovulation can be induced successfully by the transplantation of a single pituitary gland from male and immature female rats without any additional treatment with human chorionic gonadotrophin; the failure of the female pituitary transplants to induce superovulation may be due to the insufficient content of LH and FSH.

Animals↗