Hasil untuk "Reproduction"

T. Kirkwood, M. Rose

Henry A. Giroux

M. Sadri, Jiang Shu, Stephen D Kachman et al.

Immune infertility occurs due to the presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA). This type of infertility has a relatively low prevalence (2.6–6.6% in infertile men), and its etiology, risk factors, targets, and consequences for male fertility are not completely understood. While it is largely accepted that abnormalities in the blood–testis barrier and/or blood–epididymal barrier are the main factors behind its etiology, and that sperm motility is the most frequently reported altered parameter, few are the well-defined risk factors and ASA targets only now started to be disclosed, with proteins involved in sperm–oocyte interaction rising as the most significant. The development of potential treatments is also limited, being the corticosteroids the more promising. Overall, there are still many knowledge gaps related to immune infertility. With this review, we aimed to gather all the information collected from studies developed in humans in the last decade. Despite the controversial results/inconsistencies, that are not only a result of the complexity of mechanisms/variables involved in ASA infertility but also from the technical approaches to assess ASA and the lack of a consensus regarding the thresholds to be used, this manuscript aims to bring a fresh update on the field. It has become clear that, to obtain more/reliable data, there is a need to assess ASA in all the routine seminal analyses, following WHO recommendations. In this way, it will be possible to obtain consistent and comparable information, that can add to current knowledge. Additionally, multicentric studies with large cohorts are also missing, and future research should take this into consideration.

E. Feldman, R. Nelson

P. Bourdieu, J. Passeron

C. Magnhagen

Xuemei M. Zhang, B. Wandell

J. Speakman

C. Mylonas, A. Fostier, S. Zanuy

F. De Rensis, R. Scaramuzzi

P. Hansen

M. Burd

S. Shimasaki, R. K. Moore, F. Otsuka et al.

M. Bungum, P. Humaidan, A. Axmon et al.

E. Safari, N. Fogarty, A. Gilmour

Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale

Seasonal reproduction is a widespread adaptive strategy in mammals, ensuring that offspring are born during periods favorable for survival and growth. Sheep exhibit marked annual cycles of reproductive activity: females alternate between phases of ovarian activity and ovulation (the breeding season) and phases of ovarian quiescence and anovulation (anestrus) (Karsch et al., 1980). In Sarda sheep, the breeding season typically begins in early summer (May–June) and ends in the following spring (March–April). This seasonality is regulated by photoperiod, with long days suppressing and short days stimulating reproductive activity (Mara et al., 2013). Mammalian oocytes contain species specific stores of lipids, which play essential roles during maturation and early embryonic development. Ovine oocytes, similar to bovine and porcine ones, contain lipid droplets (LDs) that serve as energy reserves. In mature oocytes, LDs tend to be more uniformly distributed, reflecting metabolic activity and developmental competence. Lipid content and metabolism—rather than total lipid quantity alone—are key indicators of oocyte quality and are associated with successful maturation and embryo development (Reader et al., 2017). This study investigated seasonal effects on oocyte morphology and LDs organization in Sarda sheep using phase-contrast and confocal microscopy, focusing on LDs as markers of oocyte quality. Oocytes were collected from ovaries of adult ewes at slaughter during winter (January–March; W) and spring/summer (May–July). Summer samples were further classified as oocytes from non pregnant (SNG) and pregnant (SG) ewes. Morphology was first assessed by phase contrast microscopy. LDs were then visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy using BODIPY 493/503, with DAPI nuclear counterstaining. Quantitative and morphometric analyses of LDs—including numerical density and fluorescence intensity—were performed using ImageJ. Phase contrast microscopy revealed well rounded oocytes in the W and SNG groups, whereas SG oocytes displayed irregular shapes with spikes in the perivitelline space. Confocal imaging showed distinct patterns of lipid distribution: W oocytes contained numerous small, homogeneous, highly fluorescent LDs; SNG oocytes exhibited larger, more dispersed, and less fluorescent LDs; SG oocytes displayed even larger LDs, some appearing partially depleted. The lighter cytoplasm observed in W oocytes suggests differences in lipid composition compared with the darker cytoplasm of SNG and SG oocytes. In conclusion, both oocyte morphology and lipid organization vary seasonally in Sarda sheep. The presence of cytoplasmic spikes and altered LDs patterns in SG oocytes may indicate delayed cytoplasmic maturation and metabolic imbalance. Confocal lipid imaging thus represents a valuable tool for assessing oocyte quality. Future ultrastructural studies may further elucidate how environmental factors, including climate change, influence oocyte competence.

Xinyi Li, Shuhui Pan, Yun Zheng et al.

Spotted scat (Scatophagus argus), an economically significant marine fish species, is widely distributed along the coasts of Guangxi, Taiwan and Guangdong Province in China. It exhibits sexual growth dimorphism, with females exhibiting a faster growth rate and larger size than males. The critical metabolic organ liver plays an important role in regulating body growth and reproduction processes, which that are influenced by estrogens. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of 17-estradiol (E2) regulates body growth and reproduction in livers were investigated by transcriptome sequencing, after fed 2-year-old spotted scat with E2-containing baits for 30 days. Transcriptome analysis identified 218, 1949, 548, and 1718 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR < 0.05 and |log2(FC)| ≥ 1) in livers of spotted scat across the Ctrl-ML vs. Ctrl-FL, E2-ML vs. E2-FL, E2-ML vs. Ctrl-ML, and E2-FL vs. Ctrl-FL groups, respectively. The amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathway was significantly influenced in females by E2. While fatty acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism were significantly enriched in males. Several genes metabolic (acsl5, gpx1b, and nots), growth and reproduction-related genes (igfs, vtgs, erα, and zps) were responded to E2 in a gender-specific manner. Thus, the livers of females appeared to be more sensitive to E2 feeding than males, and the responsive mechanisms of spotted scat livers to E2 were gender-specific. These findings will provide a foundation for understanding the molecular regulation of estrogen in fish growth and reproduction within the liver, and will also offer theoretical evidence for the artificial cultivation of spotted scat.

Yasunari Miyagi, Toshihiro Habara, Rei Hirata et al.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the usefulness of an original dual artificial intelligence (AI) system, in which the first AI system eliminates the background of sliced tomographic blastocyst images, then the second AI system predicts implantation success using three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructed images of the sequential images and conventional embryo evaluation parameters (CEE) such as maternal age. Methods Patients (from June 2022 to July 2023) could opt out and there was additional information on the Web site of the clinic. Implantation and non‐implantation cases numbered 458 and 519, respectively. A total of 10 747 tomographic images of the blastocyst in a time‐lapse incubator system with the CEE were obtained. Results The statistic values by the dual AI system were 0.774 ± 0.033 (mean ± standard error) for area under the characteristic curve, 0.727 for sensitivity, 0.719 for specificity, 0.727 for predictive value of positive test, 0.719 predictive value of negative test, and 0.723 for accuracy, respectively. Conclusions The usefulness of the dual AI system in predicting implantation of blastocyst in handling 3D data with conventional embryo evaluation information was demonstrated. This system may be a feasible option in clinical practice.

Marcelino Campos, Juan Carlos Galán, Mario Rodríguez-Domínguez et al.

ABSTRACTThe epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is complex due to the coexistence of various pathogens, the variety of transmission modes derived from sexual orientations and behaviors at different ages and genders, and sexual contact hotspots resulting in network transmission. There is also a growing proportion of recreational drug users engaged in high-risk sexual activities, as well as pharmacological self-protection routines fostering non-condom practices. The frequency of asymptomatic patients makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive approach to STI epidemiology. Modeling approaches are required to deal with such complexity. Membrane computing is a natural computing methodology for the virtual reproduction of epidemics under the influence of deterministic and stochastic events with an unprecedented level of granularity. The application of the LOIMOS program to STI epidemiology illustrates the possibility of using it to shape appropriate interventions. Under the conditions of our basic landscape, including sexual hotspots of individuals with various risk behaviors, an increase in condom use reduces STIs in a larger proportion of heterosexuals than in same-gender sexual contacts and is much more efficient for reducing Neisseria gonorrhoeae than Chlamydia and lymphogranuloma venereum infections. Amelioration from diagnostic STI screening could be instrumental in reducing N. gonorrhoeae infections, particularly in men having sex with men (MSM), and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the heterosexual population; however, screening was less effective in decreasing lymphogranuloma venereum infections in MSM. The influence of STI epidemiology of sexual contacts between different age groups (<35 and ≥35 years) and in bisexual populations was also submitted for simulation.IMPORTANCEThe epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is complex and significantly influences sexual and reproductive health worldwide. Gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual behavior (including recreational drug use and physical and pharmacological protection practices), the structure of sexual contact networks, and the limited application or efficiency of diagnostic screening procedures create variable landscapes in different countries. Modeling techniques are required to deal with such complexity. We propose the use of a simulation technology based on membrane computing, mimicking in silico STI epidemics under various local conditions with an unprecedented level of detail. This approach allows us to evaluate the relative weight of the various epidemic drivers in various populations at risk and the possible outcomes of interventions in particular epidemiological landscapes.

José Guilherme Gonçalves-Sousa, Herivelto Faustino Oliveira, Robson Waldemar Avila

Phyllopezus periosus is the largest phyllodactilid in Brazil, with a relictual distribution in the Caatinga Domain. Herein, we investigated the autecology of P. periosus, describing activity patterns, microhabitat use (spatial niche dimension), foraging mode, body temperature, reproduction, diet (trophic niche dimension), and temperature. Also, we tested the influence of seasonality and ontogeny on these biological aspects. Geckos (n = 116, 54 females, 33 males, and 29 juveniles) were sampled from October 2013 to September 2014. Phyllopezus periosus has an unimodal activity pattern, with peak activity in the early hours of the night. Males are more robust than females, and forelimbs in females are longer than in males. The body temperatures of this thermoconformer gecko are higher in the dry season. The reproductive season begins in the early dry season, with a fixed clutch of two eggs. Although we did not find evidence of more than one clutch per year, the studied population of P. periosus reproduces for an extended period throughout the dry season, as highlighted by the presence of juveniles all year. Phyllopezus periosus is saxicolous and presents a generalist diet composed mainly of arthropods, also including vertebrates such as frogs and lizards.