Selection based on molecular markers is one of the new methods that may improve progress and accuracy of selection in animal breeding programs. The GHRH gene (Growth HORMONE-releasing HORMONE) is a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection strategies. Polymorphs of GHRH gene are reported to be significantly associated with milk production and constituent traits. In order to study the polymorphism of GHRH gene, blood samples were collected from 112 Sarabi cows. Genomic DNA was extracted and a fragment of 297 bp in size was amplified using polymerase chain reaction. The amplified fragments were subjected to restriction digestion with HaeIII endonuclease enzyme and the resultant digested products were run on 2% Agarose gel. The results revealed the existence of two alleles of GHRHA and GHRHB for the examined locus with frequencies of 0.19 and 0.81 respectively. Three different genotypic variants including GHRHA GHRHA, GHRHA GHRHB and GHRHB GHRHB were identified with genotypic frequencies of 0.0357, 0.3037 and 0.6607 respectively. The  c2 test showed that population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05). These data provide evidence that sarabi cattle breed have a genetic variability, which opens interesting prospects for future selection programs, especially marker-assistant selection.

Background: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are undifferentiated cells with special capabilities on the self-renewing and differentiation. Proliferation of SSCs is a primary requirement for the study of their characteristics and function in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of follicle stimulating HORMONE (FSH) on the colonization activity of ovine SSCs in a short-term in-vitro co-culture with sertoli cells.Methods: Both sertoli and spermatogonial cells were isolated from 2-3 months old lamb testes by two-steps enzymatic digestion. Afterward, isolated cells were cultured in four groups with different concentrations of FSH (0, 5, 10 and 15 IU/ml, respectively) for 10 days. Colony assay (number and surface area) was evaluated 4, 7 and 10 days after the beginning of the culture by light microscope.Findings: At the day 4, colony surfaces of groups 1 and 2 were significantly more than groups 3 and 4 (P<0.05). At the days 7 and 10, colony surfaces of groups 1 and 2 were significantly more than group 4 (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that treated groups with 10 and 15 IU/ml of FSH significantly decreased colony surface of ovine SSCs in comparison with co-culture system.

Introduction: Follicle Stimulating HORMONE (FSH) is one of the pituitary glycoproteines that it consists of two subunits; alpha and beta. The beta subunit is responsible for the biological activity of FSH. The aim of present study was isolation of the b subunit coding sequence containing its signal sequence from human genome and then cloning of the isolated sequence in pPIC9 shuttle vector under the control of AOX1 promoter and a factor signal sequence.Material and Methods: the gene sequence of interest was isolated as a 2kb DNA fragment and cloned in pTZ57R vector resulting to pTV-2019 plasmid. The construct was used as template for modification of 5' region of gene upstream to ATG codon using PCR. Finally, amplicon was cloned in pPIC9 and the new construct named pPIC9F1.Results: The sequence of FSHb gene in pTV-2019 was confirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. In addition, restriction analysis and AOX1 primer-mediated PCR showed that pPIC9F1 has correct construction.Conclusion: The new construct, pPIC9F1, contains the coding sequence of FSHb gene and its signal sequence (E2-IVS2-E3). Therefore, this construct can be used for integration of FSHb gene into yeast genome exactly downstream to AOX1 promoter. Under this condition, a fusion protein is produced that it contains two signal peptides, a factor and FSH signal peptides. Yeast expression system is able to cleavage a factor. It seems this is the first attempt for cloning of human FSHb in yeast expression system.

Background: Using ionizing radiation in diagnosis and treatment is of great importance. As early diagnosis in some diseases only can be done by using radiation, in treatment phase, radiotherapy is also the main center for healing patients with cancer. Today, one of occupational hazards is ionizing radiation which can cause serious and irreparable damages in radiation workers. This study aimed to count blood cells and evaluate liver enzymes and thyroid-stimulating HORMONE (TSH) in radiation workers in hospitals in Kurdistan Province, Iran.Methods: In this case-control study, blood cells, liver enzymes, and TSH levels were compared in 142 radiation staff (cases) and also 142 workers in other sections of hospitals. Matching was done for confounding factors. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software at the significance level of P<0.05.Findings: Mean number of white blood cells and the level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme in radiation staff were significantly different from that of the control group. But no significant difference was observed between other parameters.Conclusion: It seems that working in radiation wards can change some blood factors but cannot predict the recieved dose. In order to increase the safety of radiation workers in radiation wards, monitoring of these individuals should be done annually using cytogenetic methods.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the strength of anti‑Mullerian HORMONE (AMH) and follicle stimulating HORMONE (FSH) in reflecting the antral follicle count (AFC) in infertile females. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted on 160 females, visiting infertility clinic for assisted reproduction. Serum samples collected on the 3rd day of the cycle were assayed for FSH, luteinizing HORMONE, and AMH while AFC was assessed via transvaginal ultrasound. The study cohort was segregated into three groups based on AFC. Results: Chronological age and FSH was significantly high in females with very low AFC (P < 0.01 and 0.009, respectively), yet they failed to discriminate patients with normal and higher follicle count (P = 0.65 and 0.84). Conversely, AMH reported highly significant difference between very low AFC and with those having either normal AFC (P = 0.002) or higher AFC (P = 0.001). Moreover, a significant difference in AMH was observed between normal and higher AFC group (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Compared to female’s age and FSH, AMH is superior in clustering study cohort on the bases of antral follicular pool, especially in setups with nonavailability of technological expertise to assess AFC. Incorporation of AMH along with other biomarkers improves estimation of baseline ovarian reserve, required to standardize dose for optimum response; avoiding the risk of failure to retrieve oocyte or inappropriate stimulation leading to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain its role in predicting the outcomes of ART in such patients.

Introduction: An exaggerated FSH/LH ratio, even with normal FSH, is a sign of diminished ovarian reserve. In fact, the ratio of FSH/LH appears to be a clinically useful index, suggesting diminished ovarian reserve with FSH exceeds LH. Objective: To evaluate the day 3 FSH/LH ratio as a predictor of prognosis in IVF cycles. Design: A retrospective cohort study.Materials and Methods: Six hundred eighty-four women younger than 40 years old with day 3 FSH levels of 10 IU/L undergoing their first IVF cycle was stimulated with a variable protocol and evaluate the relationship between FSH/LH ratio and Total dose of hMG, IU and mature oocyte yield and pregnancy rate.Results: In group that FSH/LH ratio<2 improved (p<0.0001) ovulatory response in comparison to Groups FSH/LH ratio>2. The long of cycle & dose of gonadotropin was lower (p<0.0001) in FSH/LH ratio<2 than Group FSH/LH ratio>2.Conclusion: An increased FSH/LH ratio was associated with higher dose of HMG and increase day of stimulation and decrease of mature oocyte.

Growth HORMONE (GH) is a single polypeptide HORMONE which is produced and secreted by cells of the anterior pituitary gland. This HORMONE exerts diverse growth promoting and metabolic effects. As GH circulates in the blood, it binds to GH receptors (GHR), a trans membrane protein expressed on the surface of liver, adipose, kidney, heart, intestine, lung and muscle cells. After receptor binding, GH induces GHR dimerization and JAK2 is activated after its association with a dimerized GHR. A growth HORMONE antagonist (GHA) was produced in E.coli by a mutation that would block GH by preventing the GHR dimerization. In this study, we evaluated the effect of mutagenesis on binding energy of GH and GHA to their related receptor. The growth HORMONE and its mutant 3D structures were obtained from PDB (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home) and M4T server, respectively. Likewise, GHR conformational structure, was found in NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). GH and GHA affinity for binding to GHR was analyzed by HEX docking software and energy total (E total) was obtained. GH and GHA E total were -648.13 and -698.68 respectively. This data demonstrates that GHA affinity for binding to GHR is higher than GH affinity. So GHA in completion to GH will overcome GH in binding to GHR, it can act as an antagonist to prevent excessive growth and cure acromegaly, diabetes and cancer.