Okay, this is going to be a little touchy. New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has apparently discovered the substance in semen that can induce ovulation in those species that begin ovulation just by engaging in sex -- these species are referred to as "induced ovulators" (this excludes humans and many other species that are oddly referred to as "spontaneous ovulators", meaning that they ovulate on a regular schedule). The "secret ingredient" in semen that induces ovulation, which is present in all species, was a suprise: it is
Neural Growth Factor (NGF) (NOTE: for the nickle tour of NGF, see the Wikipedia entry on the class of proteins/factors neurotrophins; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotrophic_factor ) NGF has traditionally been associated with sensory neurons and, as a consequence, seemed like an odd protein to be involved in inducing ovulation. But decide for yourself. Popular media accounts are picking up on this research and here is a summary from Science: http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/08/semens-secret-ingredient.html The original PNAS article can be accessed here: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/08/15/1206273109 -Mike Palij New York University m...@nyu.edu P.S. Fans of "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" should get the secret sauce reference. ;-) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=19912 or send a blank email to leave-19912-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
