@article{zorrilla_d'annibale_swing_gadsby_2013, title={Expression of Genes Associated with Apoptosis in the Porcine Corpus Luteum During the Oestrous Cycle}, volume={48}, ISSN={["1439-0531"]}, DOI={10.1111/rda.12156}, abstractNote={The corpus luteum (CL) of the pig lacks luteolytic sensitivity (LS) to prostaglandin (PG) F-2α until after day 12 of the oestrous cycle, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. As luteolysis involves apoptosis, we hypothesized that critical apoptotic proteins may be deficient in CLs that lack LS. The specific aim of these studies was to examine mRNA expression and protein levels of apoptosis genes/proteins (BAX/Bax, BCLX/Bcl-x, CASP3/Caspase-3, CASP8/Caspase-8, NFΚB1/NFκB, TP53/p53) in porcine CLs collected at different stages of the oestrous cycle. CLs were collected surgically, mRNA and protein extracted, and expression/levels analyzed by semi-quantitative (SQ) PCR and Western blots, respectively. At the mRNA expression level, only BAX (maximal on day 4) and TP53 (maximal on day 7) showed significant variations during the oestrous cycle. At the protein level, only Bcl-x and Caspase-3 showed significant changes during the cycle; Bcl-x decreased on day 13 and Caspase-3 increased on day 13. It is concluded that apoptosis-associated proteins (i.e. Bcl-x and Caspase 3) may play a critical role in luteolytic sensitivity in the pig.}, number={5}, journal={REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS}, author={Zorrilla, L. M. and D'Annibale, M. A. and Swing, S. E. and Gadsby, J. E.}, year={2013}, month={Oct}, pages={755–761} }
 @article{davis_murr_best_fraites_zorrilla_narotsky_stoker_goldman_cooper_2011, title={The effects of prenatal exposure to atrazine on pubertal and postnatal reproductive indices in the female rat}, volume={32}, number={1}, journal={Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)}, author={Davis, L. K. and Murr, A. S. and Best, D. S. and Fraites, M. J. P. and Zorrilla, L. M. and Narotsky, M. G. and Stoker, T. E. and Goldman, J. M. and Cooper, R. L.}, year={2011}, pages={43–51} }
 @article{tinfo_hotchkiss_buckalew_zorrilla_cooper_laws_2011, title={Understanding the effects of atrazine on steroidogenesis in rat granulosa and H295R adrenal cortical carcinoma cells}, volume={31}, number={2}, journal={Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)}, author={Tinfo, N. S. and Hotchkiss, M. G. and Buckalew, A. R. and Zorrilla, L. M. and Cooper, R. L. and Laws, S. C.}, year={2011}, pages={184–193} }
 @article{zorrilla_sriperumbudur_gadsby_2010, title={Endothelin-1, endothelin converting enzyme-1 and endothelin receptors in the porcine corpus luteum}, volume={38}, ISSN={["0739-7240"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.08.006}, abstractNote={Porcine corpora lutea (CL) fail to show a luteolytic response to prostaglandin-F-2alpha (PGF-2alpha) (ie, luteolytic sensitivity [LS]) until about day 12-13 of the estrous cycle. Although little is known of the control of LS in any species, endothelin-1 (EDN1) is believed to play a role in LS control in ruminants. Therefore, we measured mRNA and protein expression and examined the cellular localization of EDN1 precursor (pre-pro EDN1, or ppEDN1), EDN-converting enzyme-1 (ECE1), and EDN receptors (A, EDNRA and B, EDNRB) in porcine CLs collected on days 4, 7, 10, 13, and 15 of the estrous cycle to look for differences between CLs displaying (days 13-15) versus those lacking (days 4-10) LS. Abundance of ppEDN1 mRNA was greatest (and significant vs all other days) on day 7 of the cycle, whereas EDN1 protein expression did not vary during the cycle and was localized exclusively to endothelial cells (EC). Abundance of ECE1 mRNA was also greatest on day 7 (vs all other days), but ECE1 protein was significantly elevated on day 10 (vs day 4) and was immunolocalized to ECs and large luteal cells (LLC). Abundance of EDNRA mRNA was also maximal on day 7 (vs all other days) of the cycle, whereas EDNRA protein expression was not significantly changed during the cycle and was observed in LLCs, ECs, and small luteal cells (SLC). On day 13, EDNRB mRNA was significantly decreased (versus day 7). Expression of EDNRB protein was decreased on day 10 (versus all other days), and on days 13-15 (vs day 4), and was primarily localized to ECs. In conclusion, the observed elevation in ECE1 protein concentrations on day 10 and the presence of EDNRA on LLC suggests a possible role for EDN1 (resulting from the actions of ECE1) acting via EDNRA in the control of LS in the pig.}, number={2}, journal={DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENDOCRINOLOGY}, author={Zorrilla, L. M. and Sriperumbudur, R. and Gadsby, J. E.}, year={2010}, month={Feb}, pages={75–85} }
 @article{zorrilla_gibson_stoker_2010, title={The effects of simazine, a chlorotriazine herbicide, on pubertal development in the female Wistar rat}, volume={29}, number={4}, journal={Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)}, author={Zorrilla, L. M. and Gibson, E. K. and Stoker, T. E.}, year={2010}, pages={393–400} }
 @article{sriperumbudur_zorrilla_gadsby_2010, title={Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) and its signaling components in peni-ovulatory pig follicles}, volume={120}, ISSN={["1873-2232"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.03.003}, abstractNote={The present studies investigated the hypothesis that TGFβ plays a role in mediating LH/hCG-induced maturation, ovulation and/or luteinization of follicles in the pig. In Experiment 1, the temporal and spatial gene expression patterns of TGFβ signaling components were examined in pig follicles which had been induced to ovulate and luteinize in vivo by hCG treatment, or by the LH-surge. Pre-pubertal pigs were injected with PG-600 followed by hCG, and ovaries were collected surgically at 0, 1, 12, 24 and 48 h post-hCG. Post-ovulatory follicles were also collected from cycling gilts on Day 4 (D4) of the estrous cycle. Pre- and post-ovulatory follicles were used for the measurement of mRNA (PCR) and protein (Western blots) abundance and for protein localization by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Steady state amounts of mRNA for TGFβ3 and TGFβR2 were increased (P < 0.05, as compared to 0 h) at 12 h and on D4, respectively, while TGFβ2 protein showed a tendency to increase on D4. TGFβ signaling components did not change significantly. By IHC, the localization of TGFβ components was as follows: pre-ovulatory follicles; TGFβ1 – granulosa cells (GC), TGFβ2 – theca cells (TC), TGFβR1 and 2 – GC and TC: post-ovulatory follicles; TGFβ1 and 2 and TGFβR1 and 2 – luteinizing TC and GC. In Experiment 2, TGFβ1 (1–100 ng/ml) alone had no significant effect on progesterone (P4) secretion by pig GC in culture. Furthermore, while LH + IGF-1 (positive control) stimulated P4 ∼10-fold, TGFβ at 10 and 100 ng/ml added in combination with LH + IGF-1, had no effect on P4 accumulation. In conclusion, data from the present study on temporal and spatial patterns of expression of the TGFβ-system suggest that TGFβ may play a role in the overall process of luteinization, but it appears not to influence steroidogenesis in luteinizing pig follicles.}, number={1-4}, journal={ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE}, author={Sriperumbudur, Rajagopal and Zorrilla, Leah and Gadsby, John E.}, year={2010}, month={Jul}, pages={84–94} }
 @article{stoker_gibson_zorrilla_2010, title={Triclosan exposure modulates estrogen-dependent responses in the female Wistar rat}, volume={117}, number={1}, journal={Toxicological Sciences}, author={Stoker, T. E. and Gibson, E. K. and Zorrilla, L. M.}, year={2010}, pages={45–53} }
 @article{zorrilla_irvin_gadsby_2009, title={Protein kinase C isoforms in the porcine corpus luteum: Temporal and spatial expression patterns}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1879-0054"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.domaniend.2008.10.008}, abstractNote={Porcine corpora lutea (CL) fail to show a luteolytic response to prostaglandin-F-2α (PGF-2α) (ie, luteolytic sensitivity, or LS) until ∼day 13 of the estrous cycle. In view of the importance of protein kinase C (PRKC) in PGF-2α signal transduction, it was hypothesized that limiting levels of 1 or more PRKC isoforms may explain the lack of LS before day 13. This hypothesis was tested by examining expression of mRNA and protein, and the cellular localization patterns of the 11 PRKC isoforms throughout the porcine estrous cycle, to determine whether PRKC expression correlates with and thus may be associated with the control of the acquisition of LS in the pig. The expression patterns show that for most PRKC isoforms (ie, PRKC alpha, beta 1, beta 2, delta, epsilon, theta, iota, and zeta), mRNA was maximally expressed on day 7 or day 10 (protein kinase D1 only) of the cycle, whereas PRKCs gamma, eta, and lambda were unchanged. At the protein level, only PRKC epsilon (PRKCE) significantly changed during the estrous cycle and was elevated on day 13 (versus days 4, 7, and 15; P < 0.05). By immunofluoresence, most PRKC isoforms, including PRKCE, were localized to steroidogenic large luteal cells (LLC) and small (nonendothelial cell) luteal cell subtypes (SLC). In conclusion, since the increase in PRKCE protein expression (day 13) occurred coincidentally with the onset of LS (≥day 12), these results support a potential role for PRKCE in control of the acquisition of LS in the pig.}, number={4}, journal={DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENDOCRINOLOGY}, author={Zorrilla, L. M. and Irvin, M. S. and Gadsby, J. E.}, year={2009}, month={May}, pages={173–185} }
 @article{zorrilla_gibson_jeffay_crofton_setzer_cooper_stoker_2009, title={The Effects of Triclosan on Puberty and Thyroid Hormones in Male Wistar Rats}, volume={107}, ISSN={["1096-0929"]}, DOI={10.1093/toxsci/kfn225}, abstractNote={Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is a potent antibacterial and antifungal compound that is widely used in personal care products, plastics, and fabrics. Recently triclosan has been shown to alter endocrine function in a variety of species. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of triclosan on pubertal development and thyroid hormone concentrations in the male rat. Weanling rats were exposed to 0, 3, 30, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of triclosan by oral gavage from postnatal day (PND) 23 to 53. Preputial separation (PPS) was examined beginning on PND 33. Rats were killed on PND 53, organ weights were recorded and serum was collected for subsequent analysis. Triclosan did not affect growth or the onset of PPS. Serum testosterone was significantly decreased at 200 mg/kg, however no effects were observed on androgen-dependent reproductive tissue weights. Triclosan significantly decreased total serum thyroxine (T4) in a dose-dependent manner at 30 mg/kg and higher (no observed effect level of 3 mg/kg). Triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly decreased only at 200 mg/kg, but thyroid stimulating hormone was not statistically different at any dose. Liver weights were significantly increased at 100 mg/kg triclosan and above suggesting that the induction of hepatic enzymes may have contributed to the altered T4 and T3 concentrations, but it does not appear to correlate with the T4 dose-response. This study demonstrates that triclosan exposure does not alter androgen-dependent tissue weights or onset of PPS; however, triclosan exposure significantly impacts thyroid hormone concentrations in the male juvenile rat.}, number={1}, journal={TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES}, author={Zorrilla, Leah M. and Gibson, Emily K. and Jeffay, Susan C. and Crofton, Kevin M. and Setzer, Woodrow R. and Cooper, Ralph L. and Stoker, Tammy E.}, year={2009}, month={Jan}, pages={56–64} }