Ovulation in mammals is a tricky business, regulated differently in different species. Many mammalian females, like cattle, mice, and humans, ovulate on a schedule, irrespective of sexual activity. Others, like camels, llamas, and mink, only ovulate after intercourse. Researchers had identified a substance they dubbed ovulation inducing factor (OIF) in camel semen that they could use to induce ovulation in other “induced” ovulators, such as llamas. Surprisingly, research showed that these induced animals will also ovulate when semen from on-schedule or “spontaneous” ovulators, such as cattle, is used. In research published today (August 20) scientists in Chile and Canada identify the substance in spontaneous ovulators: nerve growth factor beta (NGF-beta)—a neurotrophic protein involved in nerve development, which has the same chemical structure as OIF. The research may help shed light on undiscovered causes of infertility.
The finding is “very exciting,” said Sergio Ojeda, a neuroscientist at Oregon Health & Science ...
