Abstract In the Northern Hemisphere, from June to September and in the Southern
Hemisphere from December to March, there are periods of reduced fertility (sub-fertility) in …

Selection of the dominant follicle (DF) during a follicular wave is manifested by diameter
deviation or continued growth rate of the largest follicle (F1) and decreased growth rate of …

Severe prenatal undernutrition is usually associated with low birth weights in offspring and
disorders including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Whether alterations in maternal …

The ovarian follicle is the structural and functional unit of the ovary, composed of the female
gamete (the oocyte) and supportive somatic cells. Follicles are not only the source of a …

Knockout studies in mice have suggested that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) modulates
primordial follicle recruitment and the response of growing follicles to FSH. Little is known of …

Various mechanisms exist to prevent a potentially deleterious maternal immune response
that results in compromising survival of semiallogeneic fetus. In pregnancy, there is a …

Contents Mammals such as cattle, swine, sheep and humans are born with a highly variable
number of ovarian follicles and oocytes in the ovaries that dwindle during ageing and are …

Fertility in dairy cows has been declining for the past three decades. Genetic selection for
increased milk production has been associated with changes in key metabolic hormones …

Contents Reduced reproductive performance of lactating cows during the summer is
associated with decreased thermoregulatory competence due to intensive genetic selection …

The developmental competence of oocytes is acquired gradually during follicular
development, mainly through oocyte accumulation of RNA molecules and proteins that will …