Seminal Plasma Induces Ovulation in Llamas in the Absence of a Copulatory Stimulus: Role of Nerve Growth Factor as an Ovulation-Inducing Factor

dc.contributor.authorBerland Olea, Marco
dc.contributor.authorUlloa Leal, Cesar
dc.contributor.authorBarria, Miguel
dc.contributor.authorWright, Hollis
dc.contributor.authorDissen, Gregory A.
dc.contributor.authorSilva Jiménez, Mauricio
dc.contributor.authorOjeda, Sergio R.
dc.contributor.authorRatto, Marcelo H.
dc.date2016
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-30T17:04:11Z
dc.date.available2021-04-30T17:04:11Z
dc.description.abstractLlamas are considered to be reflex ovulators. However, semen from these animals is reported to be rich in ovulation-inducing factor(s), one of which has been identified as nerve growth factor (NGF). These findings suggest that ovulation in llamas may be elicited by chemical signals contained in semen instead of being mediated by neural signals. The present study examines this notion. Llamas displaying a preovulatory follicle were assigned to four groups: group 1 received an intrauterine infusion (IUI) of PBS; group 2 received an IUI of seminal plasma; group 3 was mated to a male whose urethra had been surgically diverted (urethrostomized male); and group 4 was mated to an intact male. Ovulation (detected by ultrasonography) occurred only in llamas mated to an intact male or given an IUI of seminal plasma and was preceded by a surge in plasma LH levels initiated within an hour after coitus or IUI. In both ovulatory groups, circulating beta-NGF levels increased within 15 minutes after treatment, reaching values that were greater and more sustained in llamas mated with an intact male. These results demonstrate that llamas can be induced to ovulate by seminal plasma in the absence of copulation and that copulation alone cannot elicit ovulation in the absence of seminal plasma. In addition, our results implicate beta-NGF as an important mediator of seminal plasma-induced ovulation in llamas because ovulation does not occur if beta-NGF levels do not increase in the bloodstream, a change that occurs promptly after copulation with an intact male or IUI of seminal plasma.
dc.identifier.citationENDOCRINOLOGY,Vol.157,3224-3232,2016
dc.identifier.doi10.1210/en.2016-1310
dc.identifier.urihttp://repositoriodigital.uct.cl/handle/10925/3868
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherENDOCRINE SOC
dc.sourceENDOCRINOLOGY
dc.subject.englishCAMEL CAMELUS-BACTRIANUS
dc.subject.englishFACTOR OIF PRESENT
dc.subject.englishBIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY
dc.subject.englishOVARIAN RESPONSES
dc.subject.englishPITUITARY-CELLS
dc.subject.englishLH-RELEASE
dc.subject.englishALPACAS
dc.subject.englishPURIFICATION
dc.subject.englishINDUCTION
dc.subject.englishHORMONE
dc.titleSeminal Plasma Induces Ovulation in Llamas in the Absence of a Copulatory Stimulus: Role of Nerve Growth Factor as an Ovulation-Inducing Factor
dc.typeArticle
uct.catalogadorWOS
uct.indizacionSCI
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