Serotonin receptors have been found in several reproductive organs as well as in the central nervous system. Serotonin-binding sites have been demonstrated in duck ovarian follicles and the testis, hamster ovaries, human granulosa cells and mouse placenta. Local production of serotonin by the rat ovary, oviduct, uterus and testis has also been reported. We analyzed the expression of three types of serotonin receptors: 5-HT1B, 5-HT2C and 5-HT1D by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in mouse unfertilized oocytes and preimplantation embryos from zygotes to the blastocyst stage in vivo. Transcripts for 5-HT1B and 5-HT2C serotonin receptors were detected neither in unfertilized oocytes nor at any stages of in vivo developing preimplantation embryos. Serotonin 5-HT1D receptor mRNA was present in unfertilized oocytes, zygotes, 2-cell embryos, compacted morulae and in vivo produced expanded blatocysts. The expression of the mRNA 5-HT1D serotonin receptor was also detected in blastocysts cultured in vitro. When added to the culture medium, specific serotonin 5-HT1D agonist sumatriptan (1 μM) significantly inhibited the development of mouse embryos cultured in vitro. Demonstration of the expression of 5-HT1D serotonin receptor in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos supports the idea of a functional serotonin (5-HT1D) receptor in early mammalian development., J. Veselá, P. Rehák, J. Mihalik, S. Czikková, J. Pokorný, J. Koppel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our study was to develop a model producing obese mice in early adulthood (4-6 weeks) based on their over-nutrition during fetal and early postnatal development. The fertilized dams of the parental generation were fed the standard diet supplemented with high-energy nutritional product Ensure Plus during gestation and lactation. De livered weanlings were then fed with standard or supplemented diet and assessed for body fat deposits using EchoMRI at the ti me of early and late adulthood. Maternal over-feeding during th e period before weaning had the most significant effect on obesity development in the filial generation. In weanlings, signific antly higher body fat deposits and average body weight were recorded. Later, further significant increase in percentage of body fat in both male and female mice was observed. Withdrawal of the Ensure Plus supplement caused a decrease in the percentage of body fat in part of the filial generation. In offspring fed the standard diet, higher fat deposits persisted till the time of late adulthood. We conclude that this diet-induced obesity model might be used in exploration of the effects of elevated body fat on physiological functions of various organ systems during juvenile and early adulthood periods of life of a human being., J. Kubandová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy