Day Of Copulation Research Articles

The Parasitoid Hyposoter didymator Can Transmit a Broad Host Range Baculovirus in a Two Host System

Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and baculovirus (BV) might be used jointly to provide effective control of the Spodoptera genus. The literature has mostly covered the safe compatibility between natural enemies and BV-based insecticides, but research on the potential dispersal of BV by natural enemies is lacking. Thus, the goal of this manuscript was to ascertain if H. didymator was able to disperse the broad host range of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) to Spodoptera littoralis and Spodoptera exigua in choice and non-choice conditions and whether the preference of the parasitoid by one of these noctuids could mediate this dispersion. It was previously needed to improve the rearing of the parasitoid in the laboratory, concerning the optimal host age and length of parasitization, parasitoid competition, and influence of parasitization on the longevity of females. The best rearing conditions for S. littoralis are collective parasitization of mature L3 larvae for 24 h, after at least one day of copulation. Hyposoter didymator transmits AcMNPV to both lepidopterans, but its efficiency is mediated by host preference and the pathogenicity of the BV in each host. In this particular case, H. didymator as well as AcMNPV showed a clear preference towards S. exigua.

Paternal behavior in the Mongolian gerbil, and its regulation by social factors, T, ERα, and AR

The present study evaluates the role of social factors in the transition from infanticidal to paternal male behavior and its association with T concentration, presence of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) in the olfactory bulb (OB), medial preoptic area (mPOA) and medial amygdala (MeA) of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). This study included thirty-six sexually inexperienced males displaying aggressive behavior toward foreign pups. The selected animals were mated and organized into four groups. The paternal behavior tests were performed on the day of copulation (DCOPUL), during cohabitation with a pregnant female (CPREG), on the day of birth (DBIRTH), and on day 6 postpartum (DPP6). Eight sexually inexperienced males (CTL (male-male cohabitation) were used as control. After paternal behavior tests, blood samples were obtained to quantify T by radioimmunoassay; the brains were removed and analyzed for immunoreactivity (ir) of ERα and AR. All males of the DCOPUL, DBIRTH, and DPP6 groups exhibited paternal behavior, whereas the males of CPREG and CTL groups were aggressive with the pups. Paternal behavior was associated with high T concentrations, and the presence of ERα-ir and AR-ir in the OB, MeA, and mPOA. These results suggest that the transition from aggressive to paternal response to pups is facilitated by copulation, and that in this transition is involved an increase in T concentration. Moreover, the presence of ERα-ir and AR-ir in the OB, mPOA, and MeA could indicate that estrogenic and androgenic pathways participate in the regulation of paternal behavior of the Mongolian gerbils.

Calorie Restriction In The Preeclamptic‐like BPH/5 Mouse Reduces Adipose Tissue Gene Expression of Preeclampsia‐Related Inflammatory Genes

BackgroundPreeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disease of pregnancy that is a leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity/mortality. Obesity is a risk factor for developing PE, however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Using the PE‐like BPH/5 mouse model, we previously demonstrated that cyclooxygenase (Cox)‐2 and interleukin (IL)‐15 dysregulation at the maternal‐fetal interface plays a causal role in poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Because BPH/5 mice are obese, we hypothesized that the maternal reproductive white adipose tissue (rWAT) is a source of these pro‐inflammatory molecules, and that reducing rWAT mass by calorie restriction (CR) would decrease the inflammatory uterine milieu in this model.MethodsUsing qRT‐PCR, we measured mRNA expression of Ptgs2 (the gene encoding Cox2), IL‐15 and 18S (housekeeper gene) within the rWAT and implantation sites of non pregnant and pregnant (embryonic day (e) 7.5) ad libitum fed BPH/5 and C57Bl/6J control mice. In addition, we determined Ptgs2 and IL‐15 mRNA expression in BPH/5 rWAT and implantation sites after 7 days CR (pair‐feeding with pregnant C57Bl/6J mice) beginning the day of copulation (e0.5).ResultsPtgs2 expression in non‐pregnant rWAT was comparable between BPH/5 and C57Bl/6J. However, there was a 2‐fold increase in Ptgs2 expression at e7.5 in BPH/5 rWAT versus C57Bl/6J. After CR, Ptgs2 expression in BPH/5 rWAT was significantly lower compared to ad libitum fed BPH/5 mice (p=0.038, n=6). Also in implantation sites, the expression of Ptgs2 was significantly lower in CR as compared to ad libitum fed BPH/5 mice (p=0.046, n=6). IL‐15 expression was 30‐fold higher in BPH/5 rWAT and 8‐fold higher in implantation sites at e7.5 compared to C57Bl/6J control mice (p=0.0015, n=6), but this expression was not significantly affected by CR in either tissue.ConclusionThese data show that 7 days CR in BPH/5 obese mice during early pregnancy reduces the expression of Cox‐2 coding genes in rWAT and at the maternal‐fetal interface, suggesting that WAT‐derived inflammatory mediators might be involved in the development of PE and poor pregnancy outcomes in obese BPH/5 mice. Future studies should investigate the molecular phenotype of WAT in women that are at risk to develop PE, to provide further insight in the mechanisms that make obesity a risk factor and possible interventions to prevent PE.Support or Funding InformationThis study has been funded by the Lousiana Biomedical Collaborative Research Program.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Urinary steroid hormone analysis of ovarian cycles and pregnancy in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) indicate that menses, copulatory behavior, sexual swellings and reproductive condition are associated with changing estrone conjugates (E1C) and pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide (PdG)

The objective of this study was to determine if sexual swellings in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are a reflection of reproductive endocrine state. Urine samples were assayed using an enzyme immunoassay measuring pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) and estrone conjugates (E(1)C). Hormone patterns of ovarian cycles, pregnancy and lactation were characterized and compared with sexual swellings and copulations relative to menses and peak E(1)C. Cycle lengths averaging 28.7 days and pregnancy length of 181 days determined by hormonal and sexual swelling measures were similar to those reported in other Old World primate species. First day of copulation was observed during rising E(1)C concentrations and preceded observations of peak swelling by 1-2 days. Observations of peak sexual swellings occurred at or on the day after peak E(1)C and decreased following the ovulatory increase in PdG. Observations of menses and sexual swellings are a useful method to track mandrill ovarian cycles and can assist zoos in determining the reproductive state of females in their collections. Zoo Biol 27:320-330, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Time-course changes of hematology and clinical chemistry values in pregnant rats

The aim of this study is to report how pregnancy alters hematology and clinical chemistry values in rats. Female and male Sprague-Dawley rats were mated; the day of copulation was designated as Day 0. Hematology and clinical chemistry measurements were conducted on Days 7, 14, 17 and 21 in pregnant rats. Measurements were also conducted in non-pregnant rats. Red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), total protein and albumin decreased on Days 7, 14, 17 and 21; sodium, chloride and glucose decreased on Days 14, 17 and 21; iron decreased on Days 17 and 21; hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (CHr), calcium, inorganic phosphorus and the albumin/globulin ratio decreased on Day 21; and total cholesterol, phospholipid and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased on Day 14 in pregnant rats compared with non-pregnant rats. Reticulocyte increased on Days 7, 14 and 17; mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, neutrophil count and rate increased on Days 14, 17 and 21; platelets, fibrinogen, triglyceride and free fatty acid increased on Days 17 and 21; and activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged on Days 17 and 21 in pregnant rats compared with non-pregnant rats. The decreased RBC, Hb, Ht, CHr and iron in pregnant rats indicated that they suffered from iron deficiency anemia. These data can be used as background information for effective evaluation in reproductive toxicology studies.

Function of multiple sperm storage organs in female Mediterranean fruit flies ( Ceratitis capitata, Diptera: Tephritidae)

Sperm storage organs allow females to temporally separate insemination from fertilization, manipulate ejaculates and control fertilization. In the reproductive tract of female fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), sperm are found in two different organs—a pair or triplet of spermathecae, and a “fertilization chamber”. In order to understand the specific function of each of these organs, we tested the following hypotheses: (1) Sperm are distributed equally amongst the various sperm storage organs; (2) Both organ types maintain sperm viability; and (3) Sperm used in fertilization come from the fertilization chamber. We counted sperm in spermathecae and fertilization chamber of Mediterranean fruit flies ( Ceratitis capitata) every 3 days for 18 days following insemination, and used a live/dead staining technique to determine the viability of sperm in these organs. Finally, by extirpating spermathecae from inseminated females and allowing them to oviposit, we were able to identify the fertilization chamber as the source of fertilizing sperm. Numbers of sperm in the spermathecae declined from an average of 3575 on the day of copulation to 649, 18 days later. Conversely, the fertilization chamber maintained a fairly constant level of sperms, ranging between an average of 207 cells on day 3 to 115 sperms on day 18. Throughout the period we monitored, we found high levels of sperm viability in both organs (>80%). Sperm viability was similarly high in the fertilization chambers of females without spermathecae. However, fertility of eggs laid by these females declined rapidly, as did the number of sperm in the fertilization chamber. We conclude that both the spermathecae and the fertilization chamber are active sperm storage organs, with separate functions: the spermathecae for long-term storage and the fertilization chamber, periodically filled by the spermathecae, a staging point for fertilizing sperm. We suggest that the use of both organs by females results in sperm economy, which adaptively prolongs the intervals between copulations.

Growth of the conceptus in alpacas.

To determine growth of the alpaca conceptus during early gestation, using ultrasonography. 40 pregnant alpacas (20 multiparous, 20 nulliparous). Transrectal ultrasonography with a 5-MHz probe was performed 3 times weekly from days 7 through 45 after copulation (day of copulation = day 0). Blood samples were collected for progesterone assay on days of ultrasonography. Forty embryonic vesicles and embryos were identified and measured. Embryonic vesicles were first detected on day 12 after copulation and appeared spherical. Cumulative percentage of embryonic vesicles detected was 50, 82.5, and 100% on days 12, 14, and 16, respectively. Embryos were first detected by day 22 and heartbeats by day 24. Similarly, cumulative percentage of embryos detected was 17.5, 82.5 and 100% for 22, 24, and 26 days after copulation, respectively. Embryonic vesicles occupied both uterine horns beginning on day 19. A positive correlation existed between length and width of embryonic vesicles. Size of embryonic vesicles and embryos and progesterone concentrations did not differ between multiparous and nulliparous females. Five sets of twins were detected from days 21 through 33 after copulation, but the conceptus identified in the right uterine horn became nondetectable between days 28 and 33. Ultrasonography was useful in detecting the earliest appearance of alpaca embryonic vesicles and determining the changes in growth from days 12 through 45 after copulation. Embryos were first detected by day 22. Transrectal ultrasonography was not harmful to animals and did not provoke embryonic death in this study.

Courtship Behavior in the Dwarf Seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae

The seahorse genus Hippocampus (Syngnathidae) exhibits extreme morpho- logical specialization for paternal care, with males incubating eggs within a highly vascularized brood pouch. Dwarf seahorses, H. zosterae, form monoga- mous pairs that court early each morning until copulation takes place. Daily behavioral observations of seahorse pairs (n = 15) were made from the day of introduction through the day of copulation. Four distinct phases of seahorse courtship are marked by prominent behavioral changes, as well as by differences in the intensity of courtship. The first courtship phase occurs for one or two mornings preceding the day of copulation and is characterized by reciprocal quivering, consisting of rapid side-to-side body vibrations displayed alternately by males and females. The remaining courtship phases are restricted to the day of copulation, with the second courtship phase distinguished by females pointing, during which the head is raised upward. In the third courtship phase, males begin to point in response to female pointing. During the final phase of courtship, seahorse pairs repeatedly rise together in the water column, eventually leading to females transferring their eggs directly into the male brood pouch during a brief midwater copulation. Courtship activity level (representing the percentage of time spent in courtship) increased from relatively low levels during the first courtship phase to highly active courtship on the day of copulation. Males more actively initiated courtship on the days preceding copulation, indicating that these seahorses are not courtship-role reversed, as has previously been assumed.

Conception rate and embryo development in guinea pigs with synchronized estrus induced by progesterone implant

Observations were made on the timing of mating and the pre-implantation development of fertilized eggs in guinea pigs synchronized by long-term progesterone treatment. Females received a subcutaneous implant of progesterone-filled silastic tubing for 14 days. Copulation was observed from the evening of day 4 to the morning of day 6 in 53 of 54 females (98%). Most of them (47/53, 89%) copulated on day 5 after removal of the tubing. Designating the day of copulation (day 5 after removal of the tubing) as day 0 of gestation, embryos collected from the genital tract were at the 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages on days 1, 3, 4 and 5 of gestation, respectively. Eggs were recovered at high incidence (85-100%) from days 1 to 5 of gestation. On day 6 gestation, no eggs were recovered from the genital tract, suggesting that implantation had occurred. The mean litter size (+/- S. D.) was 4.0 +/- 0.8 pups, which were born normally after a mean gestation period of 67 +/- 1 days in 7 synchronized females. Since the female guinea pigs synchronized by the long-term progesterone treatment had normal reproductive ability similar to that of cyclic females, this technique would make it possible to obtain animals at a scheduled time even in smaller-sized colonies. In addition, observations on the pre-implantation development of embryos in females with synchronized estrus might be a useful aid in the field of reproductive research.

Bayesian mating decisions in an amphipod, Gammarus lawrencianus Bousfield

In G. lawrencianus, females of a given fecundity and proximity to copulation day are assessed by males to be more valuable as mates, the longer the males have amplexed with the females (i.e. the greater their past investment in the act of amplexus). This behaviour is consistent with the hypotheses that (1) males are uncertain of the true reproductive state of a female on first contacting her; (2) the prior distribution of unamplexed females likely to be encountered by the males affects their initial estimates of a female's state; and (3) the time spent amplexing with a female allows information to be gathered which reduces a male's uncertainty of the female's state.

Dispersion of the cumulus oophorus and dissolution of the zona pellucida in oocytes of DDK and other strains of mice

AbstractThe time needed in vitro for granulosa cell dispersal with hyaluronidase and for lysis of the zona pellucida with α‐chymotrypsin was estimated for unfertilized eggs from three inbred strains of mice, DDK, C57BL, and C3H, and one outbred strain, Q. Granulosa cells were dispersed most rapidly in the DDK and most slowly in the C3H strain.The time needed for dissolution of the zona pellucida was also shortest for DDK eggs and longest for C3H eggs. The results suggest that the high sensitivity to enzymes of the granulosa layer and the zona pellucida of DDK eggs may allow more than one spermatozoon to penetrate through these barriers before the block against polyspermy is completed. The percentage of unfertilized eggs containing spermatozoa under the zona pellucida on the day of copulation was abnormally high in matings of females from the DDK inbred strain with males from DDK and C57BL strains. This may suggest some disturbances in establishing contact between the egg plasma membrane and fertilizing spermatozoa.

Quantitative studies on the ultrastructural differentiation and growth of mammalian cardiac muscle cells. II. The atria and ventricles of the guinea pig.

The guinea pig is a nest-quitter or nidifugous mammal which develops almost to the weaning stage before birth. Myocardial cells of the bilateral atria and ventricles of guinea pigs were examined for comparison with the rat by an ultrastructural quantitative method during the pre- and postnatal developmental periods, at copulation ages of 50, 57, 64 (term), 73 and 80 days. Throughout the developmental stages, no clear differences between the right and left sides were found in the characteristics of the myocardial cells. At the stage of day 57, T-tubules were first recognized in the venticular muscle cells, and at the same time the fiber thickness of the ventricular muscle cells (8-9 microns) became greater than that of the atrial cells (6-7 microns). At this stage, the fraction of mitochondria was also found to differ between the atrial and ventricular muscle cells. The general cellular features appeared to change more greatly during the last prenatal week from copulation day 57 to day 64 (term) than during the first postnatal week. Thus, the last prenatal week in the ontogeny of the guinea pig may be interpreted as corresponding to the postnatal period from the 10th to the 20th day in the ontogeny of the rat.

Serum oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin concentrations in cyclic, pregnant and lactating beagle dogs.

No correlations between the three hormones measured were found in any of the reproductive states examined. In 2 out of 8 dogs a negative correlation between serum progesterone and prolactin levels was found at Day 11 and Day 15, respectively (Day 0 = first day of copulation). In all of the 8 animals in which the progesterone and prolactin concentrations were measured in the same samples in late pregnancy, a negatively correlated overall pattern was obtained between both hormonal profiles. No correlation between serum oestrogen and prolactin levels was found. It is concluded that the proliferative mammary gland changes which are induced in female dogs during long-term toxicity testing with progestagens are unlikely to be related to prolactin or oestrogen synthesis and/or secretion.

The use of an incubator in detecting drug-induced congenital malformations.

It had been suggested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (January, 1966) that for the detection of lethal congenital malformations, the incubation of rabbit fetuses be added to the usual procedure of dissection of fresh fetuses followed by skeletal staining. It was recommended to incubate “one-half of the fetuses for a period of 24 hours, with frequent observations for survival during the first 6 hours”. This means the incubation of fetuses which had been delivered by Caesarean section one day before term (i.e., on day 29 of pregnancy, day 0 being the day of copulation).KeywordsCleft PalateBilirubin ConcentrationNormal FetusRabbit FetusSerum Alkaline Phosphatase ActivThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Diminished weight of rat foetuses after treatment of pregnant rats with haloperidol.

Summary. Daily treatment for 3 to 9 days with 3 to 12 mg/kg haloperidol (4-[4-(p-chlorophenyl) -4-hydroxypiperidino] -4' -fluorobutyrophenone) given by stomach tube to pregnant rats delays the growth of the foetuses, if treatment is started on the day of copulation (Day 0) or the day after. The delay is not seen if treatment is started on Days 4 or 7. If 3 to 9 mg/kg haloperidol is administered on Day 1 to Day 16, the young are normal in appearance at birth, but with 1 to 6 days' delay. These findings could indicate that implantation is initiated earlier than is generally accepted. The butyrophenone derivative, haloperidol (4-[4-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxypiperidino]-4'-fluorobutyrophenone), causes retarded implantation if adminis¬ tered to pregnant rats (Tuchmann-Duplessis & Mercier-Parot, 1967). The present investigation was carried out in order to detect at which stage of pregnancy haloperidol could interfere with the weight increase of the foetuses and, thus, indirectly influence the implantation process. In our experiments, rats were maintained in cages, each cage containing five mature, female, Sprague-Dawley rats and one mature male. Vaginal smears were taken from the females every morning. On the first day (Day 0) on which spermatozoa were observed in the smear, the females were placed in separate cages and randomly distributed between test groups and parallel control groups. Haloperidol (Janssen Pharmaceutical) was dissolved in distilled water and administered by stomach tube daily for 3 to 9 days in doses of 3, 6, 9 or 12 mg/kg. The exact days of drug administration are given in Table 1. Control animals were given 0-1 ml distilled water/100 g body weight. The haloperidol solution was kept at 5° C and a fresh solution was prepared every week. The female rats were killed on Day 20, the foetuses were counted and their body weight estimated to an accuracy of within 10 mg. In one series, the animals were given haloperidol from Days 1 to 16. The animals in this series were not killed, but allowed to proceed to term, and the day of delivery was noted (Table 2). The body weight of the foetuses recorded on Day 20 was less when halo¬ peridol had been administered from Day 0 or Day 1. The mean body