CNRS-UMR 6061, University of Rennes 1, IFR 140 GFAS, Rennes, France
Summary
The quality of oocytes plays a key role in a proper embryo development. In humans, oocytes of poor quality may be the cause of women infertility and an important obstacle in successful in vitro fertilization (IVF). The competence of oocytes depends on numerous processes taking place during the whole oogenesis, but its final steps such as oocyte maturation, seem to be of key importance. In this paper, we overview factors involved in the development of a fully functional female gamete with Xenopus laevis as a major experimental model. Modern approaches, e.g. proteomic analysis, enable the identification of novel proteins involved in oocyte development. EP45, called also Seryp or pNiXa, which belongs to the serpin (serine protease inhibitors) super-family is one of such recently analyzed proteins. This protein seems to be involved in the stimulation of meiotic maturation and embryo development. EP45 is potentially a key factor in correct oocyte development and determining the quality of oocytes. Reproductive Biology 2009 9 (3): 203-224
1Corresponding author: CNRS-UMR 6061, University of Rennes 1, Institute of Genetics & Development, "Mitosis & Meiosis" Group, IFR 140 GFAS, Faculty of Medicine, 2 Av. Prof. Leon Bernard, CS 34317, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France, e-mail: jacek.kubiak@univ-rennes1.fr
The influence of mating on estrogen receptor alpha protein level in spleen and uterine macrophages in female mice
Anna Piesta2, Tomasz Maj2, Anna Chelmonska-Soyta1,2,3
Effect of naloxone treatment on luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations in boars with high and low libido
Mark J. Estienne1,2 , Allen F. Harper2, Susan M. Speight2, Russell J. Crawford2, C. Richard Barb3
The expression of pituitary FSHβ and LHβ mRNA and gonadal FSH and LH receptor mRNA in the chicken embryo
Agnieszka K. Grzegorzewska1, Andrzej Sechman, Helena E. Paczoska-Eliasiewicz, Janusz Rzasa
Morphometrical characteristics of spermatozoa in Polish Landrace boars with regard to the number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate
Anna Wysokinska, Stanislaw Kondracki1, Dorota Banaszewska
Relative roles of photoperiodic and nutritional cues in modulating ovarian activity in goats
Jorge Urrutia-Morales1,2, Cesar A. Meza-Herrera1,3, Francisco J. Escobar-Medina4, Hector G. Gamez-Vazquez2, Bertha M. Ramirez-Andrade5, Marta O. Diaz-Gomez6, Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes7
The effect of copper, zinc, mercury and cadmium on some sperm enzyme activities in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)
Beata Sarosiek1,2, Marta Pietrusewicz3, Julita Radziwoniuk3, Jan Glogowski2,3
2Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw
3Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Preventive Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, Poland
Summary
Macrophages are antigen-presenting cells that have a key role in the regulation of immune phenomena and are responsible for the recognition of
paternal antigens during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) protein level in splenic and
uterine mature (F4/80+MHC II+) and immature (F4/80+MHC II- ) macrophages in female mice during time corresponding to the preimplantation period. C57BL/6J
females in estrus were mated with Balb/c male mice or were mechanically stimulated through the vagina to achieve pseudopregnancy. Uterine and spleen cells
were isolated on days 0.5 and 3.5 after mating or after uterine cervix stimulation. ERα content in macrophages was measured by flow cytometry and expressed
as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). The ERα level in splenic macrophages on 0.5 day after mating was higher than that in splenic macrophages of
pseudopregnant mice on 0.5 day after stimulation. The ERα level was also higher in mature than in immature macrophages present in both the spleen and
uterus, especially in mated mice. In the spleen, a correlation was found between the percentage of mature macrophages and ERα level in these cells.
In conclusion, the elevated α level observed shortly after mating in splenic but not in uterine macrophages indicates an early systemic response to
male antigens.
Reproductive Biology 2009 9 (3): 225-240
1 Corresponding author: Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, ul. R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland;
e-mail: soyta@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
2Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA;
3Poultry Processing and Swine Physiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA, USA
Summary
The objective was to determine the effects of the opioid peptide receptor antagonist, naloxone on circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone
(LH) and testosterone in boars characterized as having high (n=8) or low libido (n=8) based on the willingness to mount an artificial sow and allow semen
collection. On the day of the experiment, blood was sampled every 15 min for 4 h before and 4 h after i.v. injection of naloxone (1 mg/kg body weight).
After naloxone treatment, a libido status by time interaction was detected and concentrations of LH within 15 min after treatment were greater (p<0.05)
for High-libido boars than for Low-libido boars. Concentrations of testosterone were highly variable amongst boars and there were no effects of libido
status (p=0.66) or libido status by time (p=0.66). There was, however, an effect of time (p≤0.01), and concentrations of testosterone in samples collected
between 0.5 and 1.25 h after naloxone were greater than concentrations in samples collected prior to injection. In summary, the responsiveness of the
hypothalamic-gonadotropic-gonadal axis to opioid receptor antagonism was heightened in boars displaying a high level of sexual motivation.
Reprod Biol 2009 9 (3): 241-252
1 Corresponding author: Virginia Tech-Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 6321 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA 23437, USA;
e-mail: mestienn@vt.edu
Department of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland
Summary
In avian species, synthesis of sex steroids by embryonic gonads is regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH). In order to elucidate the role of the two gonadotropins in gonadal axis development during the second half of chicken
embryogenesis, pituitary expression of LH β subunit (LHβ) and FSH β subunit (FSHβ) mRNAs as well as gonadal expression of LH and FSH
receptor (LHR and FSHR) mRNAs were determined on days 11 (E11) and 17 (E17) of embryonic development and after hatching (D1). In the pituitary
of the female embryo, the gene expression of FSHβ was the lowest on E11 and increased on E17. In the male pituitary, the expression of FSHβ did
not differ among the studied days. The FSHβ mRNA expression on E11 was higher in the male than in the female pituitary gland. The expression of
LHβ mRNA in the female pituitary increased on D1 in comparison to E11. In the male pituitary gland, the expression of LHß gene was relatively
constant. The expression of mRNA encoding FSHR in the ovary increased on E17, while in testes it did not differ among the studied days. There
were no significant alterations in LHR gene expression in the ovary or in the testes in the examined period however, the gene expression on E17
was higher in the ovary than in the testes. We observed positive correlations between the pituitary FSHβ mRNA expression and ovarian expression of
FSHR mRNA (r = 0.63; p<0.01) as well as between LHβ mRNA and LHR mRNA in the testes (r=0.65; p<0.01). The reported alterations in gene expression of
FSHβ, LHβ and their receptors between sexes and among the stages of embryonic development indicate time- and sex-dependent action of gonadotropins in
gonads of chicken embryos.
Reproductive Biology 2009 9 (3): 253-269
1 Corresponding author: Department of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland;
e-mail: agnieszka.grzegorzewska@interia.eu
Department of Animal Reproduction and Hygiene, University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland
Summary
Ejaculates (n=344) were collected from 35 Polish Landrace boars. The ejaculates were assigned to one of four groups according to the total number of
spermatozoa in an ejaculate. Morphometrical measurements of spermatozoa with proper morphology were performed. Spermatozoa with smaller head length and head
area were found in ejaculates with the greatest total sperm number (more than 120x109 spermatozoa) than in ejaculates with total number of spermatozoa of
70-90x109. The results of the present study suggest that the number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate influences morphometrical characteristics of the spermatozoa
in Polish Landrace boars.
Reproductive Biology 2009 9 (3): 271-282
1 Corresponding author: University of Podlasie, Department of Animal Reproduction and Hygiene, 14 Prusa St., 08-110 Siedlce, Poland;
email: sk@ap.siedlce.pl
2National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research, Mexico
3Regional Universitary Unit on Arid Lands, Chapingo Autonomous University, Mexico
4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zacatecas Autonomous University, Mexico
5Faculty of Medicine, San Luis Potosi Autonomous University, Mexico
6Faculty of Agronomy, San Luis Potosí Autonomous University, Mexico
7Animal Reproduction Department, INIA-Madrid, Spain
Summary
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition and its interaction with the photoperiod on the ovarian
activity of Criollo goats. In early February (22° NL, anestrous season) goats were randomly assigned to the two experimental groups: high (HN; n=10)
and low (LN; n=10) nutrition goats. The HN group was fed in mixed prairies with grass and clover (17.3±7.5% of crude protein, CP; 66.3±5.7% dry organic
matter, DOM) and received 150 g of concentrate (12% CP) per goat and day. The LN group received only corn stubble (6.2±0.7% CP, 53.7±1.9% DOM).
Serum progesterone (P4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were measured (RIA) at three selected periods of seasonal anestrous: early (8-24th March),
mid (13th April - 3rd May) and late (26th May - 14th June) anestrous. Body weight, body condition and body condition index were determined at the
beginning of the study and every 14 days. Body weight was positively correlated with serum T3 (r=0.704; p<0.05). The percentage of cycling does during
the three examined periods was higher (p<0.05) in the HN group than in the LN group (80 vs. 30%, 80 vs. 20%, and 60 vs. 10%, respectively). The high
nutrition level increased reproductive activity of Criollo goats during all three periods of the anestrous season including deep anestrous.
Reproductive Biology 2009, 9 (3): 283-294
1Corresponding authors: Jorge Urrutia-Morales, Santos Degollado 1015 altos, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi 78270, Mexico;
e-mail: jorurrmo@hotmail.com
Cesar A. Meza-Herrera, Galena 585 Poniente, Colonia Centro; Lerdo, Durango 35150, Mexico;
e-mail: cmeza2000@hotmail.com
2Molecular Andrology Group, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Researches of Polish Academy of Science, Olsztyn
3Department of Ichthyology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
Summary
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury ions (100, 10 and 1 mg/l) on the activity of
some enzymes of carp spermatozoa. Acid phosphatase activity was proved to be relatively insensitive to zinc ions, while copper, mercury and cadmium
ions effectively inhibited the activity of this enzyme. β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was sensitive only to mercury ions. Lactic dehydrogenase
activity remained unaffected by heavy metals. Our results showed that, among the examined metals, mercury had the strongest inhibitory effect on
enzymatic activities.
Reproductive Biology 2009, 9 (3): 295-301
1Corresponding author: Molecular Andrology Group, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Researches of Polish Academy of Science, Tuwima Str. 10, 10-747 Olsztyn, Poland;
email: pirosia@pan.olsztyn.pl