Mature Eggs Research Articles

Histological technique to detect the physiological age of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles pharoensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

The risk of malaria recurrence increases due to the main vector, Anopheles pharoensis. The physiological age of the mosquito population is needed to expect malaria vector dynamics. The number of completed gonotrophic cycles is of great importance in determining the physiological age of females. A technique has been described that focuses on the number of dilatations remaining in the ovarioles after each oviposition to determine how many blood meals have been taken. At each gonotrophic cycle, the chances of infection of the vectors are repeated. The histological changes that occur immediately in the ovarioles and ovulation itself were studied. Under the influence of the contractions of the ovarian muscles, the eggs begin to move over the distal end of the ovariole into the inner oviduct. The terminal pedicle is markedly dilated near the diameter of the eggs. After the expulsion of the mature eggs, ovariole dilations were found at the point of their development in the terminal pedicle due to the accumulation of nurse cell remnants and follicular epithelium. The results were used to develop epidemiological localization and to evaluate the effectiveness of antimalaria interventions. The ovarian inspection often provides a technique to distinguish nulliparous from parous female anophelines. In addition, this study can provide basic entomological knowledge on the physiological age of mosquitoes by considering the histological changes in the ovaries, which allow the evaluation of vector management strategies in the field.

The Pathology of Infectious Bronchitis.

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute disease of chickens caused by a gammacoronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Infection of the nasal and tracheal mucosa causes a rapid loss of ciliated epithelium and impaired mucociliary clearance that predispose chickens to secondary bacterial infections. In poultry production, disease progression and severity are influenced by other live virus vaccines, immunosuppression, and coexisting pathogens. The digestive tract supports viral replication in the proventriculus, intestines, cloaca, and the bursa of Fabricius. Acute enteritis and stunted growth in young chickens are caused by an enterotropic IBV. IBV spreads systemically by infection of tracheal macrophages and blood monocytes, deep respiratory infections, and potentially ascending viral infection from the cloaca. Nephrotropic IBV causes severe disease in the kidney with necrosis of tubular epithelial cells, inflammation, and renal failure. Viral infection of the female reproductive tract in the first 2 weeks of life causes necrosis and scarring of the oviduct mucosa, resulting in a chronic cystic oviduct that precludes egg formation when the hen matures. Virus infection of mature hens causes necrosis and inflammation of the oviduct mucosa, leading to the deterioration of egg quality and transient interruption of egg production. In males, IBV infection of seminiferous tubules in the testicle and efferent ductules in the epididymis results in epididymitis and epididymal lithiasis, decreases in sperm production and fertility, and viral shed to semen, leading to venereal transmission. The role IBV in gastrointestinal and urogenital disease merits further study.

An endoparasitoid uses its egg surface proteins to regulate its host immune response.

With proteomic analysis, we identified 379 egg surface proteins from an endoparasitoid, Cotesia chilonis. Proteins containing conserved enzymatic domains constitute a large proportion of egg surface components. Some proteins, such as superoxidase dismutase, homolog of C. rubecula 32-kDa protein, and immunoevasive protein-2A, are classical parasitism factors that have known functions in host immunity regulation. Melanization assays revealed that a novel egg surface protein, C. chilonis egg surface serpin domain-containing protein had the same function as a C. chilonis venom serpin, as both suppressed host melanization in a dose-dependent manner. C. chilonis egg surface serpin domain-containing protein is mainly transcribed in C. chilonis oocytes with follicular cells, and it is located on both the anterior and posterior sides of the mature egg surface. Additionally, we used LC-MS/MS to identify 586 binding proteins sourced from C. suppressalis plasma located on the eggshell surface of C. chilonis, which included some immunity-related proteins. These results not only indicate that C. chilonis uses its egg surface proteins to reduce the immune response of its host but also imply that endoparasitoid egg surface proteins might be a new parasitism factor involved in host immune regulation.

Effects of adult age and body size on egg maturation in the parasitoid Gronotoma micromorpha (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)

The cynipoid wasp Gronotoma micromorpha (Perkins) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is a parasitoid of the leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae). The effects of adult age and body size on egg maturation in G. micromorpha were determined. The results showed that its egg load (number of mature eggs per female) increased when offered honey, water, but not hosts for 3 or 6 days after adult emergence. However, there was no significant difference in the egg loads of 3- and 6-day-old wasps. These findings and the results of previous studies on other cynipoid parasitoids suggest that when hosts are not available, females of parasitoid Cynipoidea enhance their reproductive capacity in anticipation of a future improvement in the availability of hosts by using carbohydrates and reserves stored during the larval stage. Moreover, large female wasps had higher egg loads throughout their lifetime. Given that rapid increases in the population density of L. trifolii are commonly reported in greenhouses, the demographic data of 0- and 3-day-old G. micromorpha females fed honey, need to be compared in the future. The effects of body size on the fecundity and longevity of G. micromorpha wasps should also be determined.

Life history, mating dynamics and the origin of parental care.

Parental care, mating dynamics and life history co-evolve. Understanding the diversity of reproductive patterns found in nature is a major focus of evolutionary ecology research. Previous research suggests that the origin of parental care of eggs will be favoured when egg and adult death rates and juvenile survival are relatively high. However, the previous research that explored the link between care and life history did not account for among-species variation in mating dynamics. As mating dynamics are generally expected to influence care, we explore, theoretically, the life-history conditions (stage-specific rates of maturation and survival) that favour parental care across three mating scenarios: reproductive rate (1) is unaffected by males (assuming that some males are present), (2) increases as male abundance increases or (3) decreases as male abundance increases. Across scenarios, all forms of care were most strongly favoured when egg and adult death rates, juvenile survival and female egg maturation rates were relatively high. When reproductive rate was unaffected by male abundance or increased as male abundance increased, as we might expect in systems in which females are mate-limited, all forms of care were most strongly favoured when male egg maturation rate (i.e. the rate at which male eggs develop, mature and hatch) was moderate or high. When greater male abundance inhibited reproduction, which might occur in systems with intense male-male competition, all forms of care were most strongly favoured when male egg maturation rate was low-to-moderate. These results suggest that life history affects the evolution of parental care, and sex-specific life history can interact with mating dynamics to influence the origin of care.

Efficacy of artificial oocyte activation in patients with embryo developmental problems: a sibling oocyte control study.

To explore whether artificial oocyte activation (AOA) can improve embryo developmental potentiality and pregnancy outcomes for patients with a history of embryo developmental problem. This was a retrospective study and candidate patients with embryo development problems were collected. A total of 1422 MII eggs from the enrolled 140 patients were randomized divided equally into 2 groups, half for the AOA group (AOA), and the rest of sibling mature eggs for the control group (non-AOA). The patients were further divided into two subgroups: (1) the rate of good-quality day 3 embryos was 0% (group 1, n = 66); (2) the rate of good-quality day 3 embryos ranged from 1 to 30% (group 2, n = 74). In the early embryonic growth, there were no significant differences in the outcomes of AOA and non-AOA groups in terms of normal fertilization rates, cleavage rates, day 3 good-quality embryo rates and available blastocyst rates (72.7% vs. 79.3%, 97.4% vs. 98.0%, 20.1% vs. 19.7%, 6.6% vs. 8.4% in group 1, respectively; 77.7% vs. 81.9%, 98.1% vs. 97.0%, 25.8% vs. 22.1%, 9.6% vs. 9.3% in group 2, respectively). In the late embryonic growth, no significant differences were found in biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates, miscarriage rates, and live-birth rates (50.0% vs. 45.2%, 45.2% vs. 40.5%, 37.3% vs. 31.3%, 10.5% vs. 11.8%, 40.5% vs. 35.7%, respectively) between two groups. In addition, neonatal outcomes were similar in both the groups as well. Our study demonstrated that the AOA using ionomycin 1h after ICSI did not bring benefits to the early or late development of embryos derived from patients with a history of embryo developmental problems.

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocol with or without letrozole for patients with normal ovarian reserve: a retrospective cohort study.

To compare the characteristics and efficacy of progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol plus letrozole versus PPOS protocol alone for patients with normal ovarian function who received in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) assisted pregnancy treatment. From 1 October 2017 to 1 October 2019, 576 patients who underwent IVF/ICSI cycles received PPOS protocol with or without letrozole in the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Shiyan City were included in this retrospective cohort study. The PPOS group included 249 patients who received PPOS protocol alone, and the combined treatment group included 327 patients who received PPOS protocol plus letrozole. The general data and laboratory indicators were detected and used as baseline data. In addition, evaluation of related indicators was performed, including days of gonadotropin (Gn) duration, total amount of dose of Gn and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), hormone levels on the trigger day, number of oocytes retrieved and mature eggs, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, blastocyst formation rate, high-quality embryo rate, methods of endometrial preparation, stage of embryo transfer, endometrial thickness, the number of embryo transfer, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and live birth rate. The risk factors affecting clinical pregnancy rate were detected by binary Logistic regression analysis. In this study, we found that baseline level of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was significantly higher in combined group compared with PPOS group (p<0.05). The days of Gn duration in combined group were significantly longer than that in PPOS group (p<0.05), and the total amount of dose of Gn and MPA in combined group was significantly less than that in PPOS group (p<0.05). The levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone in combined group were significantly higher than that in PPOS group on the trigger day (p<0.05). The number of oocytes retrieved and mature eggs in combined group was significantly more than that in PPOS group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the fertilization rate, cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate in combined group were significantly higher than that in PPOS group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the characteristics of endometrial preparation and embryo transfer, as well as the pregnancy outcomes. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that stage (p<0.001) (OR=0.281, 95% CI: 0.187, 0.422) and number (p<0.001) (OR=0.333, 95% CI: 0.196, 0.567) of embryos transfer were risk factors for clinical pregnancy rate. Compared with PPOS protocol alone, letrozole combined with PPOS can achieve similar embryo and pregnancy outcomes while reducing the amount of Gn and MPA, which has a higher cost performance and is worth promoting. Stage and number of embryos transfer are risk factors for clinical pregnancy rate.

Polimorphic Explore of Esr1, Esr2 and Foxl2 Genes and Interaction Effect of Esri and Foxl2 with Productive Traits of Brown Local Iraqi Chickens

The estrogen receptor 1(ESR1) and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) plays a crucial role in the growth and development of follicles and ovulation in chickens. Fork-head box L2 (FOX L2) gene and its protein is active in several tissues, such as the ovaries, it has a pivotal role in ovarian development and function, like regulation of egg formation in poultry. This study aimed to detect the polymorphism of ESR1, ESR2 and, FOXL2 genes and investigate interaction between ESR1 and FOXL2 in the productive performance of brown local Iraqi chickens (BLIC). A total of 104 BLIC, at 17 weeks of age. Four novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). Every polymorphism a number had been given according to its location within gene, one of them in ESR1 (T57198C) intron 3 with three genotypes: Wild(TT), Heterozygous(TC),and Homozygous(CC), and two SNPs within ESR2 were assessed, one of the identified SNPsT39565C transition located within intron 7 with two alleles(T and C)and three genotypes were found: Wild(TT), Heterozygous(TC),and Homozygous(CC), another SNPG40100A transition within (3 prime UTR), with two alleles (G and A)and three genotypes were found: Wild(GG), Heterozygous(GA)and Homozygous(AA) and the SNP in FOXL2 (C919T) gene with two genotypes: Wild(CC) and Heterozygous(CT) within encoding region were identified through PCR-DNA sequencing. An interaction between the ESR1 and FOXL2 genes has been proposed, and six haplotypes (H1=TTCC, H2=TTCT, H3=TCCC, H4=TCCT, H5=CCCC, H6=CCCT) were obtained due to interaction between these two SNPs. Chi-square analysis showed no significant in genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNP which revealed those genes were agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis of haplotypes with production traits revealed that individuals have H4 genotype achieved higher body weight at sexual maturity, at 60 weeks of age and egg weight at 45 and 60 weeks of age, whereas, the higher number of eggs were exhibited to individual with H6 from onset egg till 60 weeks of age. The two genotypes; TCCT and CCCT showed better combination than others with respect to production performance. In conclusion, our findings provided new evidence that the two SNPs (ESR1 and FOXLl2) with special interaction may have potential effects on productive traits of chickens and beneficial effects in laying breeding programs.

The Shapes of Birds' Eggs: Evolutionary Constraints and Adaptations.

AbstractWe studied the shapes of eggs from 955 extant bird species across the avian phylogeny, including 39 of 40 orders and 78% of 249 families. We show that the elongation component of egg shape (length relative to width) is largely the result of constraints imposed by the female's anatomy during egg formation, whereas asymmetry (pointedness) is mainly an adaptation to conditions during the incubation period. Thus, egg elongation is associated with the size of the egg in relation to both the size of the female's oviduct and her general body conformation and mode of locomotion correlated with pelvis shape. Egg asymmetry is related mainly to clutch size and the structure of the incubation site, factors that influence thermal efficiency during incubation and the risk of breakage. Importantly, general patterns across the avian phylogeny do not always reflect the trends within lower taxonomic levels. We argue that the analysis of avian egg shape is most profitably conducted within taxa where all species share similar life histories and ecologies, as there is no single factor that influences egg shape in the same way in all bird species.

Impact of Different Layer Housing Systems on Eggshell Cuticle Quality and Salmonella Adherence in Table Eggs.

The bacterial load on the eggshell surface is a key factor in predicting the bacterial penetration and contamination of the egg interior. The eggshell cuticle is the first line of defense against vertical penetration by microbial food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella Enteritidis. Egg producers are increasingly introducing alternative caging systems into their production chain as animal welfare concerns become of greater relevance to today’s consumer. Stress that is introduced by hen aggression and modified nesting behavior in furnished cages can alter the physiology of egg formation and affect the cuticle deposition/quality. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of caging systems (conventional, enriched, free-run, and free-range), on eggshell cuticle parameters and the eggshell bacterial load. The cuticle plug thickness and pore length were higher in the free-range eggs as compared to conventional eggs. The eggshells from alternative caging (enriched and free-range) had a higher total cuticle as compared to conventional cages. A reduction in bacterial cell counts was observed on eggshells that were obtained from free-range eggs as compared to the enriched systems. An inverse correlation between the contact angle and Salmonella adherence was observed. These results indicate that the housing systems of layer hens can modify the cuticle quality and thereby impact bacterial adherence and food safety.

Amount of venom that Leptopilina species inject into Drosophila melanogaster larvae in relation to parasitic success

The Drosophila endoparasitoid wasps Leptopilina boulardi and L. heterotoma (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are pro-ovigenic species, i.e., females contain their lifetime number of mature eggs at emergence. They are therefore able to immediately parasitize many hosts when present. In response to parasitoid oviposition, the larval host D. melanogaster can mount an immune response, encapsulation, that can destroy the parasitoid eggs. This response is counteracted by the venom the wasp injects during oviposition. Here, we estimated the amount of venom injected into a D. melanogaster host larva using immunodetection of venom proteins and we attempted to correlate this amount with the number of eggs a female can lay on successive days. The venom reservoir of L. boulardi contains enough venom for at least 100 ovipositions while that of L. heterotoma contains venom for about 16 ovipositions. While a female L. boulardi may have enough venom for three days of parasitism when 20 or 40 larval hosts were presented each day, L. heterotoma certainly needs to synthesize new venom to parasitize the number of hosts offered. Interestingly, parasitism stopped (L. boulardi), egg protection (L. heterotoma) and egg hatching decreased (both species) after three days of parasitism. Thus, although venom does not appear to be a limiting factor for parasitism, our data suggest that it may have less effectiveness on the egg protection and on egg/host development after high repetitive egg laying.

Egg productivity of quails of Japanese breed under different phase feeding schemes

The primary cause of injuries and inflammation of the reproductive system in female quails in industrial quail farming is the process of egg formation and its passage through the oviduct. With technological injuries females aged from 42 to 55 days are involved into the risk zone, whose weight of laid eggs ranges from 11,6 to 13,7 g. In previous morphological and histological studies, the following patterns of development of the organs of the reproductive system of quails under conditions of intensive technology have been established. The development of the reproductive organs of female quails of Japanese breed proceeds sequentially in seven periods: the first (1–21 days) is the period of relative rest of the growth of organs, the second (21–35 days) is the period of intensive morphogenesis of the ovaries and oviduct departments, the third (35–45 days) is the period of preparation and the beginning of egg laying, the fourth (45–75 days) is the period of egg laying growth or functional formation of the oviduct departments, the fifth (75–185 days) is the period of intensive folliculogenesis and high secretory activity of the departments of the oviduct or the peak of egg production, the sixth (185–200 days) is the beginning of the involution of the reproductive organs and a decrease in the rate of egg production, the seventh (200 days and older) is the involution of the reproductive organs and the termination of egg laying. Taking into account these patterns of development of the reproductive organs of quails, the feeding scheme of female egg quails has been adjusted, which provides for the division of the productive period into 4 phases: phase 1 is the beginning of egg production (36–45 days), phase 2 is the growth of egg production (46–75 days), phase 3 is the peak of egg production (76–185 days) and phase 4 is the decline of egg production (185–200 days). The proposed scheme of phase feeding of female quails of Japanese breed during the productive period is the advantageous technological technique, since it allows to reduce the injuries of the poultry oviduct and improve the quality indicators of the quail egg, as a result of reducing the weight and size of eggs in the initial phase of egg production and the number of large eggs during the entire productive period. The use of the new scheme of phase feeding of female quails of Japanese breed allows us to get more egg mass by 67,5 kg, due to the increase in the gross harvest of commercial quail eggs by 4,5 % and the livability of the quails by 5,6 %.

Huffmanela sp. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) Encountered in the Whitecheek Shark (Carcharhinus Dussumieri) in The Arabian Gulf.

SummaryVeterinary inspection of fish caught at the western side of the Arabian Gulf off the shore of Saudi Arabia in 2017 revealed abnormal irregular zigzag black lines in the skins of 135 out of 1500 (prevalence = 9 %) whitecheek sharks (Carcharhinus dussumieri). These lesions have been noticed in the dorsal and ventral part of the head near the snout and around the eyes, as well as in the skin of the pectoral fins. The parasitological, pathological and ultramorphological aspects of the sampled fish were studied using a light microscope, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Trichosomoidid-type eggs identified as Huffmanela sp. were found in the superficial layer of the skin. The mature eggs containing larvae (n = 75) were ellipsoidal or spindle-shaped, smooth-shelled, amber-brown to dark brown or even black in colour. The width of the eggs ranged from 34 to 49μm with lengths ranging from 95 to 107μm. The polar plugs of the immature eggs were slightly protruding, whereas mature eggs had clearly protruding polar plugs. The width of the polar plugs ranged from 4.5 – 9.5μm. The shells of the eggs were smooth and there was a thin layer seen near the polar areas. The infected skin exhibited desquamated epithelium, with inflammatory cell aggregations and melanophores in the debris. The underlying musculatures of the skin were free from any eggs, but showed mild pathological changes, including congestion of blood vessels, haemorrhages and oedema. The prevalence of infection showed seasonality, peaking significantly in the spring (18.18 %), with comparable prevalence rates in winter and summer (9.43 % and 8.57 %, respectively). However, infections dropped significantly during the autumn months (3.75 %). It is believed that this is the first study reporting the presence of Huffmanela sp. in whitecheek sharks at El-Jubail Province, Saudi Arabia, Arabian Gulf.

Light Trapping Reveals Multiple Bigheaded Carp Spawns Upstream of Lock and Dam 19 in the Upper Mississippi River

AbstractThe Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp H. nobilis are two species of invasive bigheaded carp currently invading North American rivers and watersheds. Bigheaded carp were accidentally introduced into the lower Mississippi River basin in the early 1970s and have since invaded many water bodies in the Midwestern United States. Evidence of bigheaded carp reproduction and recruitment in the upper Mississippi River upstream of Lock and Dam 19 (LD19) at Keokuk, Iowa, thought to be a critical constriction point to their upstream establishment, has been limited to a few isolated detections of eggs, larvae, and juvenile life stages since 2012. Therefore, a more comprehensive assessment of bigheaded carp reproduction in this critical management zone was needed. We used quadrafoil light traps (n = 1,387) deployed during May–September 2016–2018 in Pools 17–19 of the Mississippi River to monitor for advanced larval bigheaded carp in low‐velocity habitats. Throughout the sampling period, we captured 1,747 larval and 35 postlarval bigheaded carp (N = 1,782). Bigheaded carp were collected on 15 sampling events that spanned from May 31, 2016, to September 13, 2018, with associated hatch dates estimated to represent 10 unique reproductive events from May 2016 to September 2018. The individual captures and backdated hatch estimates revealed a protracted spawning period of up to seven events in 2016, one event in 2017, and two events in 2018. Bigheaded carp were only captured in Pool 19, possibly due to the drifting requirements for egg maturation and the low‐velocity downstream reach of Pool 19. This research provides confirmation that bigheaded carp spawned upstream of LD19 are capable of transitioning past the yolk sac stage upstream of this bottleneck to more advanced larval stages. Knowledge of reproduction and larval retention and the field‐based evidence of protracted spawning fill critical research gaps needed for the management of bigheaded carp.

Adaptations to haematophagy: Investigations on how male and female Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) deal with human complement activation after a blood meal

Culex quinquefasciatus is a mosquito species with an anthropophilic habit, often associated with areas with poor sanitation in tropical and urban regions. Adult males and females feed on sugars but only females feed on blood in natural conditions for egg maturation. During haematophagy, female C. quinquefasciatus transmit pathogens such as the West Nile virus, Oropouche virus, various encephalitis viruses, and Wuchereria bancrofti to human hosts. It has been observed in laboratory conditions that male C. quinquefasciatus may feed on blood during an artificial feed. Experiments were carried out to understand how males and females of this species deal with human complement activation. Our results showed that female C. quinquefasciatus, but not males, withstand the stress caused by the ingestion of normal human serum. It was observed that the salivary gland extracts from female mosquitoes were able to inhibit the classical and lectin pathways, whereas male salivary gland extracts only inhibited the lectin pathway. The male and female intestinal contents inhibited the classical and lectin pathways. Neither the salivary glands nor the intestinal contents from males and females showed inhibitory activity towards the alternative pathway. However, the guts of male and female C. quinquefasciatus captured factor H from the human serum, permitting C3b inactivation to its inactive form iC3b, and preventing the formation of the C3 convertase. The activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase is similar in C. quinquefasciatus females and males. This article shows for the first time that males from a haematophagous arthropod species present human anti-complement activity in their salivary gland extracts and gut contents. The finding of an activity that helps to protect the damage caused by blood ingestion in sugar-feeding male mosquitoes suggests that this may be a pre-adaptation to blood-feeding.

Transcriptome analysis of oviduct in laying ducks under different stocking densities

ABSTRACT 1. High stocking densities can lead to animal stress responses and lead to changes in bird behaviour, egg production and the fertility of laying birds. The oviduct plays a crucial role during the process of laying eggs. Therefore, it is essential to know how high stocking density affects oviduct function. 2. In this study, a total of 2,115 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in duck oviduct tissues between different stocking density groups. These genes are mainly enriched in membrane components, calcium ion binding, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and focal adhesion. These pathways were closely related to the formation of eggs. This indicated that secretion and material transport functions of the oviduct are affected under high-density stocking. Further analysis showed that a total of 408 genes related to the transportation process were expressed in the oviduct, of which 96 genes were differentially expressed (LogFC≥1, P < 0.05). Forty-two of these DEGs belonged to the solute carrier family. The data showed that the expression of 31 transcripts was different between the two density groups. Expression of KCNJ15, SLC26A8, and TRPM5 was only seen in the high-density group (8/m2), while ATP13A3 and KCNIP2 were only expressed in the low-density group (4/m2). 3. Consequently, high stocking density may affect the expression and splicing of genes related to molecular transport in the oviduct.

Reproductive characterization of the female Mexican turkey (Meleagris gallopavo L.)

Objective: To describe the anatomy, morphology, physiology, and reproductive characteristics of female turkeys. Design/methodology/approach: An analysis of the practical experiences of 10 years with Mexican native turkeys was conducted and complemented with scientific literature. We focused on reproductive aspects, anatomy, physiology and assisted reproduction. Results: Information on the breeding of Mexican native turkeys is scarce, few families in rural areas are dedicated to raising this poultry. Therefore, empirical knowledge on their management is being lost. The female turkey begins oviposition at 6 months of age with a body weight between 2 and 4 kg. The structures that make up their reproductive system are the ovary, developing follicles, left oviduct, and cloaca. The reproductive activity is initiated by photo receptors located in the retina and pineal gland, triggering follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones release. Egg formation lasts from 24 to 26 hours. During the first year, females lay between 36 to 54 eggs in clutches of 12 to 18 eggs and in the second year from 30 to 45 eggs. Chloequez is prolactin induced. As for assisted reproduction, artificial insemination techniques in female turkeys are uncommon. Limitations on study/implications: Few rural families raise turkeys and since they lack economic resources, reproductive strategies are not used to improve their production. Findings/conclusions: The anatomical, morphological, physiological and reproductive characteristics of the native female turkeys from Mexico were documented. In native turkeys, artificial insemination techniques are not of common use, but their implementation may be adequate to conserve genetic material from animals with outstanding characteristics.

Juvenile hormone signaling promotes ovulation and maintains egg shape by inducing expression of extracellular matrix genes

It is well documented that the juvenile hormone (JH) can function as a gonadotropic hormone that stimulates vitellogenesis by activating the production and uptake of vitellogenin in insects. Here, we describe a phenotype associated with mutations in the Drosophila JH receptor genes, Met and Gce: the accumulation of mature eggs with reduced egg length in the ovary. JH signaling is mainly activated in ovarian muscle cells and induces laminin gene expression in these cells. Meanwhile, JH signaling induces collagen IV gene expression in the adult fat body, from which collagen IV is secreted and deposited onto the ovarian muscles. Laminin locally and collagen IV remotely contribute to the assembly of ovarian muscle extracellular matrix (ECM); moreover, the ECM components are indispensable for ovarian muscle contraction. Furthermore, ovarian muscle contraction externally generates a mechanical force to promote ovulation and maintain egg shape. This work reveals an important mechanism for JH-regulated insect reproduction.

The Evolution of Social Behaviour

The Evolution of Social Behaviour

Alpha/Beta Hydrolase Domain-Containing Protein 2 Regulates the Rhythm of Follicular Maturation and Estrous Stages of the Female Reproductive Cycle.

Mammalian female fertility is defined by a successful and strictly periodic ovarian cycle, which is under the control of gonadotropins and steroid hormones, particularly progesterone and estrogen. The latter two are produced by the ovaries that are engaged in controlled follicular growth, maturation, and release of the eggs, i.e., ovulation. The steroid hormones regulate ovarian cycles via genomic signaling, by altering gene transcription and protein synthesis. However, despite this well-studied mechanism, steroid hormones can also signal via direct, non-genomic action, by binding to their membrane receptors. Here we show, that the recently discovered membrane progesterone receptor α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2) is highly expressed in mammalian ovaries where the protein plays a novel regulatory role in follicle maturation and the sexual cycle of females. Ablation of Abhd2 caused a dysregulation of the estrous cycle rhythm with females showing shortened luteal stages while remaining in the estrus stage for a longer time. Interestingly, the ovaries of Abhd2 knockout (KO) females resemble polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) with a high number of atretic antral follicles that could be rescued with injection of gonadotropins. Such a procedure also allowed Abhd2 KO females to ovulate a significantly increased number of mature and fertile eggs in comparison with their wild-type littermates. These results suggest a novel regulatory role of ABHD2 as an important factor in non-genomic steroid regulation of the female reproductive cycle.