The plant metabolite 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone interacts with follicle-stimulating hormone to enhance ovarian growth.
6-Methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) is a novel plant metabolite that enhances reproductive status in vertebrate consumers while it inhibits insect, fungal, and bacterial infestation of the plant. Ovaries of prepubertal rats show a dose response to increasing amounts of 6-MBOA.administered in Silastic capsule implants. Ovaries increased in size in response to capsules with 0.5-3.0 cm exposed surface area of 6-MBOA, whereas larger capsules (6 cm 6-MBOA) had no effect. Removal of the pituitary in both prepubertal and mature rats eliminated the stimulatory influence of 6-MBOA. In hypophysectomized animals treated with diethylstibestrol implants, 6-MBOA did not affect ovarian weight and no animals ovulated. Administration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased ovarian weight and stimulated production of ova, and FSH combined with 6-MBOA resulted in larger ovaries that released more ova. 6-MBOA also enhanced ovarian growth in intact prepubertal animals treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin. These results show that 6-MBOA has the ability to interact with FSH to stimulate follicular development and increase ovulation. Non-steroidal plant compounds may have a significant impact on the reproductive patterns of wild animal populations.
D000818:Animals; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001583:Benzoxazoles; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; C031896:6-methoxybenzoxazolinone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D010100:Oxygen