Endocrine Abstracts

Progress in reproductive medicine, assisted reproduction, veterinary medicine and animal production and biotechnology is promoted by discovery and application of the new extra- and intracellular regulators of reproductive functions. This is the review of original data concerning the role of some metabolic hormones (GH, leptin, ghrelin and obestatin), growth factors (IGF1, IGFBPs, EGF and thrombopoietin), intracellular mediators of their action (cyclic nucleotides, protein kinases, transcription factors and related cDNA, siRNA and miRNA gene constructs) on basic ovarian functions (cell proliferation, apoptosis, secretion, oogenesis, ovulation, production and viability of pups) in different species (pig, rabbit, humans and chicken). Practical applications of some these molecules for characterisation, prediction and control of reproductive processes in these species was examined too.