Gosipol is a substances contained in extracted cotton seed which is thought to have the antifertility ability therefore it is often used as a herbal contraceptive. The aim of this study were to assess the folliculogenesis in mice after administrated with cottonseed extract. 60 female mice strain DDY which was 14-15 weeks old and 30-35 g body weight were divided into five groups and given cottonseed extract each 0; 1,5; 2,1 and 2,7 g/kg BW for 5, 10, 15, 24, and 24 + 10 days (without cottonseed treatment). At the end of the treatment period, mice was euthanasia to observe follicular development histomorphology (each three mice of each treatment). Mice estrous status were evaluated based on the description of the vaginal smear cells with Giemsa staining. The results showed that the number of developing follicles was low (P < 0.05) compared with control after 5 days cottonseed extract administration at dose 2,7 g/kg BW that were 23 ± 3,6. At dose 1,5 and 2,1 g/kg BW the number of follicles was low after 24 days that were 25 ± 10,4 and 27 ± 3,5. Recovery effects of follicle number after cottonseed extract administration for 24 days was the best at a dose of 1,5 g/kg BW. Prolonge of estrous cycle occured in mice which were administrated the cottonseed extract of at all dose treatment. In conclusion, although the decrease in the number of developing follicles and prolonge of estrous cycles occurred after cottonseed extract administration, but these effects are reversible after the administration ended. Abstrak Gosipol adalah zat yang terkandung dalam ekstrak biji kapas dan diduga mempunyai kemampuan antifertilitas sehingga sering digunakan sebagai bahan herbal kontrasepsi. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji gambaran folikulogenesis pada mencit yang diberi ekstrak biji kapas. Sebanyak 60 ekor induk mencit betina strain DDY berumur 14-15 minggu dengan bobot badan 30-35 g dibagi menjadi 4 kelompok dan diberi ekstrak biji kapas masing-masing 0; 1,5; 2,1 dan 2,7 g/kg BB selama 5, 10, 15, 24 dan 24 + 10 hari (tanpa pemberian ekstrak biji kapas). Pada setiap akhir waktu pengamatan, mencit di-euthanasia untuk mengamati histomorfologi perkembangan folikel (masing-masing tiga ekor dari tiap perlakuan). Status estrus mencit dievaluasi berdasarkan gambaran sel dari ulas vagina dengan pewarnaan Giemsa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa jumlah folikel rendah (P < 0,05) dibandingkan dengan kontrol setelah 5 hari pemberian ekstrak biji kapas dengan dosis 2,7 g/kg BB yaitu 23 ± 3,6. Pada dosis 1,5 dan 2,1 g/kg BB jumlah folikel menjadi rendah setelah 24 hari yaitu 25 ± 10,4; 27 ± 3,5. Efek pemulihan jumlah folikel setelah pemberian ekstrak biji kapas selama 24 hari paling baik pada dosis 1,5 g/kg BB. Pemanjangan siklus estrus terjadi pada mencit yang diberi ekstrak bji kapas pada semua dosis perlakuan. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa walaupun terjadi penurunan jumlah folikel yang berkembang dan terjadi pemanjangan siklus estrus setelah pemberian ekstrak biji kapas, tetapi efek tersebut bersifat reversible setelah pe...

Members of the TGF-β superfamily take part in the control of folliculogenesis. Vasorin (Vasn) is a newly identified negative regulator of TGF-β signaling whose possible involvement in ovarian physiology has never been studied. Here, we demonstrate that Vasn is expressed in the ovary by somatic cells of follicles, and that its expression is up-regulated by LH. We established a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model in which Vasn is deleted specifically in granulosa cells of growing follicles from the secondary stage onwards. Using this model, we show that, upon hormonal stimulation, follicle ovulation size is almost 2-fold higher. This enhanced ovulatory response is associated with overactivation of the TGF-β signaling pathway and a lower number of atretic antral follicles. Of importance, we demonstrate that the number of primordial follicles is reduced in prepubertal cKO mouse ovaries, which suggests that the production of VASN by growing follicles protects the ovarian reserve. Finally, analysis of systemic KO mice revealed that the ovarian reserve is almost 2.5-fold higher, which implies that Vasn may also play a role in primordial follicle formation. Overall, our findings reveal that Vasn is a new regulator that exerts an effect on several key ovarian functions, including folliculogenesis, maintenance of the ovarian reserve, and ovulation.-Rimon-Dahari, N., Heinemann-Yerushalmi, L., Hadas, R., Kalich-Philosoph, L., Ketter, D., Nevo, N., Galiani, D., Dekel, N. Vasorin: a newly identified regulator of ovarian folliculogenesis.