Endocrine Abstracts

Hypersecretion of hCG in transgenic mice produces profound alterations in the ovary, thus triggering failures in ovulation and affecting fertility. The objective of this study was to analyze the response of immature female mice overexpressing moderated (hCGβ+; 0.1 IU/ml) and elevated (hCGαβ+; 7 IU/ml) levels of hCG to an ovulation induction protocol (PMSG 7.5 IU i.p.; after 48 h, hCG 7.5 IU i.p). Wild-type (WT) females subjected to the same protocol were used as...

Male transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing both the hCGα- and hCGβ- subunits present elevated levels of circulating hCG, Leydig cell hyperplasia/hypertrophy, elevated androgen levels and infertility (Rulli et al. 2003). In addition, serum FSH is significantly reduced in prepuberal and adult TG males compared with wild-types (WT), and does not change after treatment with the antiandrogen flutamide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regulation of the hypot...

Transforming growth factor β1 has a critical role in the regulation of testicular function. Transgenic male mice over expressing α and β subunits of hCG (hCG+) are infertile and testicular steroidogenesis is enhanced showing high levels of testosterone and progesterone (P4). The chronic hCG hyperstimulation leads to Leydig cell (LC) hypertrophy/hyperplasia in prepubertal mice.Aims: To analyze: i) the expression of the TGF-β...