Hormonal Priming Research Articles

Ovarian Hormones Mediate Changes in Adaptive Choice and Motivation in Female Rats.

In female rodents, sexual receptivity is coordinated with cyclic changes in the release of gonadal hormones. Increases in estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) during proestrus and estrus not only induce ovulation but also modulate behaviors that increase the likelihood that the female will find a mate and reproduce. This includes changes in receptive behaviors, such as lordosis, as well as changes in appetitive or proceptive behaviors, including motivation. Interestingly, the direction of these changes in motivation is dependent on the type of reward that is being pursued. While induction of sexual receptivity by E and P increases motivation for access to a male, motivation for a palatable food reward is decreased. These concurrent changes may facilitate adaptive choice across the estrous cycle; females bias their choice for sex when fertilization is most likely to occur, but for food when copulation is unlikely to result in impregnation. In order to test this hypothesis, we developed a novel paradigm to measure the motivated choice between a palatable food reward and access to a male conspecific. Ovariectomized, hormone primed females were trained to operantly respond for both food and sex on a fixed interval (FI) schedule. After training, unprimed and primed females were tested in a chamber that allows them to choose between food and sex while still requiring responding on the FI schedule for reach reward. From this we can not only determine the impact of hormone priming on female choice for food or sex, but also how this is reflected by changes in motivation for each specific reward, as measured by the average number of responses made during each fixed interval. Induction of sexual receptivity by hormone priming biases choice toward sex over food and this change is accompanied by an increase in motivation for sex but a decrease in motivation for food. This work provides evidence in support of a novel framework for understanding how the release of ovarian hormones over the course of the estrous cycle modulates adaptive behavioral choice in females by directly assessing motivation via operant responding when multiple rewards are available.

Project to develop BSPED UK standardised guidelines for sex hormone priming and glucagon stimulation testing (GST) in children and adolescents

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Uterus transplantation Fact sheet.

In uterus transplantation, a uterus from a live or a deceased donor is transplanted temporarily to a woman who lacks a functional womb so that she can become pregnant and have one or more babies. Before uterus transplantation, the recipient carries out in vitro fertilization with cryopreservation of embryos until embryo transfer a year after transplantation. To avoid uterine graft rejection, immunosuppressant drugs are given until the uterus is removed after childbirth(s). To date (2019), more than 60 uterus transplantations have been performed worldwide that have resulted in more than 15 babies being born:2 The uterus, whether from a deceased donor or a live donor, needs to be assessed for its potential to carry a pregnancy. Live donors should be given a detailed gynecological examination, preoperative uterine imaging and angiography by CT and MRI, and uterine cancer screening including human papillomavirus testing, Papanicolaou smear and endometrial biopsy. Hormonal priming for several months can be performed in postmenopausal live donors. In the case of the donor, the uterus extraction requires a precise surgical procedure but advances in operative procedures5, 6 and successful use of robotic-assisted laparoscopy2 have made operating on the donors considerably less invasive (Figure 1). The potential side effects of immunosuppression include nephrotoxicity, bone marrow toxicity, diabetes, and an increased risk of malignancies. Comorbidity and complications during gestation are more frequent in organ transplanted women. Recipient follow up should continue even after the hysterectomy of the transplanted uterus (for at least 10 years and ideally for a lifetime) and should include psychological assessments and medical examinations focusing on potential long-term side effects of immunosuppressants. As in the case of pregnancies in other organ transplanted women, there is increased risk of low birthweight, preterm birth, preeclampsia, rejection episodes, spontaneous abortion and intrauterine death.7 The children of uterus transplant recipients should have long-term follow up. Criteria defining minimum quality standards for uterus transplant programs and the long-term follow up of living donors, recipients, and children need to be determined. There is a strong clinical interest and demand by patients for uterus transplantation. The acceptance of the procedure as an infertility treatment for women with absolute uterine factor infertility is high, and even in countries that permit surrogacy, such as the UK, it is preferred by patients over gestational surrogacy and adoption. In the past 3 years, several uterus transplant programs have been initiated throughout the world including China, USA, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Serbia, France, Mexico, and India. Nonetheless, bioethical concerns have also been raised regarding risk-benefit analysis for the live donor, recipient, and child, live and deceased donor strategies, informed consent, equitable access, and fair selection of participants. It is largely considered an ethically acceptable solution to absolute uterine infertility.

Priming Methods: Alternative Strategy to Improve Seed and Seedling Performance of Soursop (Annona muricata)

The evaluation of seed priming methods on the seed and seedling performance of soursop was conducted January 9 to April 3, 2019 in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of seed priming methods capable of breaking dormancy; improve germination rate; determine the seed vigor of soursop; and identify the best seed priming method that provide better seedling performance. The experimental treatments (unprimed and three priming methods, hydropriming, halopriming and hormonal priming) were laid out in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. A total of 20 polyethylene bags were used per treatment per replication with one seed sown in every bag.
 Alternative way to improve seed and seedling performance is the use of these seed priming methods. The seed and seedling performance of soursop were significantly affected by priming methods. Primed seeds had higher percentage germination rate (PGR) than unprimed seeds. But numerically, the highest PGR was hydropriming. Hormonal priming produced significantly taller seedlings at 10 and 40 days after emergence (DAE) than unprimed seeds and more leaves per seedling at 30 to 50 DAE. Hormonal, hydropriming and halopriming produced significantly higher fresh weight of seedlings than unprimed seeds.

Quantification of Germination Response of Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Seeds to Water Potential and Priming using Hydrotime Model

Abstract Seed germination is a complex biological process that is influenced by different environmental physical factors including temperature, water potential, salinity, pH and light, as well as intrinsic genetic factors. In such environments, the water needed for germination is available for only a short time, and consequently, successful crop establishment depends not only on rapid and uniform germination of the seedlot, but also on its ability to germinate under low water availability. All of these attributes can be analyzed through the hydrotime model (HT). Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. Therefore, in this study, using the hydrotime modeling approach, germination response of millet to priming (water and gibberellin 50 ppm at 15°C for 24 h) and water potential (0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, and -1.2 Mpa) was studied. Hydrotime (HT) model were fitted to cumulative germination of seeds and recorded in germination tests carried out at different water potentials (0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9 and -1.2 MPa) and priming treatments (control, hydropriming and hormone priming). Results showed that, germination of millet decreased significantly with reduction of osmotic potential. Results indicated that the hydro-time constant (θH) for control, hydro-priming and hormone priming were 0.89, 0.79 and 0.67 MPa d, the water potential (Ψb(50)) for control, hydropriming and hormone priming were -0.89, -0.94 and -1.11 MPa, respectively. Results indicated that the use of hydrotime model in germination prediction could be useful to provide more accurate estimates for the timing of sowing and management of millet.

Effect of Seed Priming and Moist Chilling on Emergence Traits of Six Populations (Anthemis haussknechtii Boiss. & Reut. and Anthemis pseudocotula Boiss.) in Greenhouse Condition

Chamomile (Anthemis haussknechtii Boiss. & Reut. and Anthemis pseudocotula Boiss.) are annual, medicinal and aromatic plant belong to Asteraceae family. This two species have special important in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Current study was carried out to investigation of different pre-treatments for enhancement of seed emergence potential, rate of emergence and vigor in some populations of Anthemis haussknechtii and Anthemis pseudocotula For this purpose, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete design with three replications. The first were six populations and the second factor were six pre-treatments levels including osmopriming (0.5% and 1% of potassium nitrate (KNO3)), hormon priming (125 ppm and 250 ppm of gibberellic acid (GA3)), hydropriming (as control with distilled water) and moist chilling (4 °C) in greenhouse conditions. The results showed significant differences between population, treatment and their interactions (p<0.01). Priming improved means of manty traits in some populations. In comparing between populations, 19320-Zanjan population had higher seed emergence characteristics higher than the other five populations. It was concluded that giberellic acid and potassium nitrate had higher effects on emergence characteristics than moist chilling and control. It was concluded that hormonal priming and osmopriming as physiological treatment, enhanced seed emergence characteristics and seedling vigor in some populations of Anthemis in greenhouse conditions.

Seed priming: An approach towards agricultural sustainability

Seed priming is controlled hydration of seeds to a level that allow pre-germinative metabolic activity to continue, but interrupt the emergence of the radicle. Seed priming improves seed performance, ensures uniformity and better establishment, enhances the yield in diverse environments, greater tolerance to environmental stress and helps to overcome dormancy. Change in seed water content, cell cycle regulation, modification of seed ultrastructure, management of oxidative stress and reserve mobilization are the major physiological and biochemical changes takes places during seed priming. Priming methods adopted should be simple and affordable for its easy spread and adaptability. Seed priming should be influenced by factors such as light, aeration, temperature, time and seed quality. Different methods of priming are hydropriming, osmopriming, halopriming, solid matrix priming, biopriming and hormonal priming. Seed priming had significant effect on agriculture. It will hasten and synchronize the germination, enhances the plant growth, have better stress resistance, increase the use efficiency of nutrients and water and have better weed suppression effect. The review paper discusses about seed priming, physiological and biochemical changes in seed priming, different methods of seed priming and its role in sustainable agriculture.

Suitable Priming for Rice Yield Improvement

Abstract Low yield of rice has made reaching self-sufficiency level in Malaysia elusive. So, Malaysia has become a target of rice exporting countries within and outside Asia. To solve this problem, a pre-sowing seed treatment was used as a physiological intervention to alleviate the impeding problems of achieving better growth and yield of Malaysian rice variety MR219. A glass house experiment, which involved the use of solutions of osmotic salts and plant hormones, was used for this investigation. Data on germination percentages, height, number of tillers and productive tillers, tiller efficiency and yield were taken. In both osmopriming and hormonal priming treatments, the highest number of tillers and productive tillers were from pre-germination. The tallest plants from osmopriming were from 150mM treatment, while 50 ppm GA3 had the tallest in hormonal priming. The highest tiller efficiency for osmopriming was from 150mM and and 200mM sodium chloride, while in hormonal priming it was 200 ppm salicylic acid. For yield per panicle in osmopriming, it was 50mM and 100mM magnesium chloride that had the highest, while in hormonal priming it was 200 ppm methyl jasmonate. Finally, the highest grain yield per hill was produced by 200 ppm methyl jasmonate in hormonal priming, while 50Mm magnesium chloride had the highest yield in osmotic priming. So, it is concluded that the use of 200 ppm methyl jasmonate and 50Mm magnesium chloride could be used as potential hormonal priming and osmopriming, respectively, for yield improvement of MR219 rice in Malaysia.

INFLUENCE OF SEED PRIMING METHOD AND YEAST EXTRACT SPRAYING ON PEANUT SEED QUALITY AND YIELD

Two field experiments were carried out at Abu-Hammad District, Sharkia Governorate,Egypt, during two successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 to study the impact of three seedpriming methods (hydro-priming, hormonal priming with GA3 and osmo-priming with PEG-6000)and three yeast extract concentrations [control (without spraying), 20 ml/l and 40 ml/l] on yield andsome of its attributes of peanut cultivar “Giza 6”. A split plot design with three replications was used.Combined analysis results revealed that the yeast extract concentrations failed to cause significanteffect on the studied traits except pod number/plant, fodder yield/fad., and seed oil content. The nonsignificanteffect was in favor of foliar spraying with 20 ml/l for branch number/plant, podweight/plant, seed number/pod, pod yield/fad., seed yield/fad., seed oil content and oil yield/fad. Seedpriming methods acted significantly on each of good seedling percentage, branch number/plant, podnumber/plant, pod weight/plant, 100-seed weight, pod, seed and oil yields/fad., Seed hormonalpriming gave high value for each of the abovementioned traits except branch number/plant. Seedhormonal priming with 20 ml/l yeast extract foliar spraying gave high value for each of podnumber/plant, pod weight/plant and seed oil content.

Seed priming in field crops: potential benefits, adoption and challenges

Seed priming is a presowing technique in which seeds are moderately hydrated to the point where pregermination metabolic processes begin without actual germination. Seeds are then redried to near their actual weight for normal handling. Seeds can be soaked in tap water (hydropriming), aerated low-water potential solutions of polyethylene glycol or salt solutions (KNO3, KH2PO4, KCl, NaCl, CaCl2 or MgSO4; osmopriming), plant growth regulators, polyamines (hormonal priming), plant growth-promoting bacteria (biopriming), macro or micronutrients (nutripriming) or some plant-based natural extracts. Here, we review: (1) seed priming as a simple and effective approach for improving stand establishment, economic yields and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in various crops by inducing a series of biochemical, physiological, molecular and subcellular changes in plants; (2) the tendency for seed priming to reduce the longevity of high-vigour seeds and improve the longevity of low-vigour seeds; (3) the advantages of physical methods of seed priming to enhance plant production over conventional methods based on the application of different chemical substances; (4) the various physical methods (e.g. magneto-priming and ionising radiation, including gamma rays, ultraviolet (UV) rays (UVA, UVC) and X-rays) available that are the most promising presowing seed treatments to improve crop productivity under stressful conditions; and (5) effective seed priming techniques for micronutrient delivery at planting in field crops. Seed priming as a cost-effective approach is being used for different crops and in different countries to improve yield, as a complementary strategy to grain biofortification and in genetically improved crop varieties to enhance their performance under stress conditions, including submergence and low phosphorus. Some of the challenges to the broad commercial adaption of seed priming include longevity of seeds after conventional types of priming under ambient storage conditions and a lack of studies on hermetic packaging materials for extended storage.

In Vitro Maturation of Oocytes in Women at Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome-A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background:In vitro maturation (IVM) is an artificial reproductive technology in which immature oocytes are harvested from the ovaries and subsequently will be matured in vitro. IVM does not require ovarian hyperstimulation (OH) and thus the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is avoided. In this study, we assessed the live birth rate per initiated IVM cycle in women eligible for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ ICSI) and at risk for OHSS. Furthermore, we followed women who were not pregnant after IVM and committed to a conventional IVF/ICSI procedure.Materials and Methods:In this multicenter prospective cohort study, we started 76 IVM cycles using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) priming in 68 patients. There were 66 oocyte retrievals, in which a total of 628 oocytes were collected. We incubated the immature oocytes for 24-48 hours and fertilized those that reached metaphase II by ICSI.Results:Three hundred eighty six (61% oocytes) achieved metaphase II. The fertilization rate was 55%. We performed 59 embryo transfers (1.9 embryos per transfer) in 56 women, including 3 frozen embryo transfers. There were four ongoing pregnancies (5.3% per initiated cycle) leading to the birth of a healthy child at term. None of the patients developed OHSS. The ongoing pregnancy rate of the first conventional IVF/ICSI cycle after an unsuccessful IVM cycle was 44%, which was unexpectedly high.Conclusion:We concluded that IVM led to live births but with low effectiveness in our study. Earlier reported IVM success rates are higher which can be caused by a more extended experience in these centers with the intricate laboratory process. However, a possible selection bias in these studies cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, IVM might have a beneficial effect on further IVF/ICSI treatments due to its “ovarian drilling” effect.

Epigenetic Programming Effects of Early Life Stress: A Dual-Activation Hypothesis.

Epigenetic processes during early brain development can function as ‘developmental switches’ that contribute to the stability of long-term effects of early environmental influences by programming central feedback mechanisms of the HPA axis and other neural networks. In this thematic review, we summarize accumulated evidence for a dual-activation of stress-related and sensory networks underlying the epigenetic programming effects of early life stress. We discuss findings indicating epigenetic programming of stress-related genes with impact on HPA axis function, the interaction of epigenetic mechanisms with neural activity in stress-related neural networks, epigenetic effects of glucocorticoid exposure, and the impact of stress on sensory development. Based on these findings, we propose that the combined activation of stress-related neural networks and stressor-specific sensory networks leads to both neural and hormonal priming of the epigenetic machinery, which sensitizes these networks for developmental programming effects. This allows stressor-specific adaptations later in life, but may also lead to functional mal-adaptations, depending on timing and intensity of the stressor. Finally, we discuss methodological and clinical implications of the dual-activation hypothesis. We emphasize that, in addition to modifications in stress-related networks, we need to account for functional modifications in sensory networks and their epigenetic underpinnings to elucidate the long-term effects of early life stress.

Physiological responses of wheat to drought stress and its mitigation approaches

Drought is a polygenically controlled stress and a major agricultural risk that reduces crop productivity and limits the successful insight of land potential throughout the world. This review article has been divided into two parts, i.e., effect of drought stress on physiology of wheat and potential drought mitigation approaches. In the first part, physiological responses of wheat to stress were discussed. Cell membrane stability, relative water content, early maturity, decreased leaf area, small plant size, increased dry weight and root–shoot ratio, and the whole-plant transpiration rate response to enhanced atmospheric vapor pressure deficit are physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in wheat. Reduction of relative water content closes stomata and thereby reduces stomatal conductance. Osmotic adjustment improves drought tolerance by allowing cell enlargement, plant growth, and stomata to stay partially open and by maintaining CO2 fixation under severe water deficit. The wheat plant accumulates several organic and inorganic solutes in its cytosol to lessen its osmotic potential for maintenance of cell turgor. Drought affects photosynthesis negatively by changing the inner structure of chloroplasts, mitochondria, and chlorophyll content and minerals. Destruction of the photosystem II (PSII) oxygen releasing complex and reaction center can disturb production and use of electrons, causing lipid peroxidation of cell membrane through the production of reactive oxygen species. In the second part, drought mitigation approaches were discussed. Seed, drought, bacterial, and hormonal priming are common approaches used to lessen the effects of water deficit. Physiological trait-based breeding, molecular breeding, marker-assisted backcrossing, aerial phenotyping, water budgeting, and resource allocation are modern approaches used to develop drought tolerant wheat cultivars. Wheat genotypes produced as a result of a combination of all these methodologies will increase food security regarding the currently changing climate.

Impact of Halo and Hormonal Priming on Early Vegetative Growth Phase of Rice Var. MTU 7029

Impact of Halo and Hormonal Priming on Early Vegetative Growth Phase of Rice Var. MTU 7029

Live birth rate following frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer is higher with blastocysts expanded on Day 5 than on Day 6.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the live birth rate (LBR) after frozen-thawed Day 5 (D5) and Day 6 (D6) blastocyst transfers. LBR following frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer is significantly lower with D6 than with D5 blastocyst regardless of embryo quality. During fresh embryo transfer cycles, pregnancy rates (PR) are significantly higher when transferring blastocysts expanded on D5 compared with slow developing blastocysts (D6). In programmed thawed blastocyst transfer (TBT) cycles, the same clinical outcomes should be expected when transferring D5 or D6 blastocysts because of endometrial/embryonic synchronization due to hormonal priming of endometrial receptivity. However, the impact of delayed blastocyst expansion at D6 on clinical outcomes remains unclear. Some reports have shown higher PRs after D5 TBT compared with those of D6, while others have shown equivalent TBT outcomes after D5 and D6 cryopreserved blastocysts transfers. This retrospective cohort follow-up study included 1347 single autologous frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers performed between January 2012 and December 2015 at a tertiary care university hospital. All of the patients scheduled for TBT were allocated to two groups according to the day of blastocyst expansion: on D5 (n = 994) or on D6 (n = 353). The primary outcome was LBR per embryo transfer in the first blastocyst thawing cycle. Secondary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (cPR), early miscarriage rate and neonatal outcomes following TBT for the two groups. Statistical analyses were conducted using univariate and multivariate logistic regression model. The LBR was significantly increased in the D5 group compared to the D6 group [294/994 (29.6%) versus 60/353 (17.0%); P < 0.001]. The cPR was also higher when blastocysts were vitrified on D5 compared with those vitrified on D6 [429/994 (43.2%) versus 95/353 (26.9%); P < 0.001]. No significant differences were found between groups in terms of early miscarriage rate (P = 0.862). More good-quality embryos (defined as an B3-B4 or B5 embryo ≥BB according to the grading scale proposed by Gardner) were transferred in the D5 group than in the D6 group [807 (81.2%) versus 214 (60.6%); P < 0.001]. However, a comparison of TBT cycles with equal embryo quality (good versus low) also supported the superiority of D5 blastocysts. Concerning neonatal outcomes, the D5 group infants had a lower mean birth weight compared to those of the D6 group (P = 0.001). In addition, a significantly shorter gestational age at birth is reported in the D5 blastocyst group as compared to the D6 group (P = 0.004). After multivariate logistic regression taking into account potential confounders such as the women's age, number of previous IVF/ICSI procedures, the day of the blastocyst vitrification (D5 or D6) and embryo quality, blastocyst expansion at D6 was independently associated with a significant decrease in LBR compared to D5 expanded-blastocysts (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.38-0.72; P < 0.001). The poor predictive value of the morphological approach in embryo selection could constitute a limitation in this study. However, blastocyst quality was evaluated similarly in both groups. The LBR following frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer was significantly lower with D6 than with D5 blastocysts, regardless of their quality. These results could affect cryopreservation procedures as they suggest that the use of D5-expanded blastocysts for TBT may be preferred in order to shorten the time of conceiving. No specific funding was obtained for this study. None of the authors have any competing interests to declare. Not applicable.

Seed Priming and Tolerance to Salt and Water Stress in Divergent Grain Sorghum Genotypes

Tolerance to water and salt stress during germination and growth of agricultural species might have superior results when seeds are submitted to priming processes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of hydropriming and hormonal priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) on the tolerance of divergent genotypes of sorghum to salt and water stress during germination and seedling growth. The genotypes analyzed were cultivar BRS 330 and lineage 201420, which are the most and least tolerant to water and salt stress, respectively. Sowing was undertaken under control (no stress), water stress (-0.6 MPa), and salt stress (20 dS·m-1) conditions, and the seeds were subjected to the following treatments: control-no immersion; hydropriming-immersion for 2 hours in distilled water; and hormonal priming-immersion in GA3 solutions, at concentrations of 50, 75, and 100 ppm, for 2 hours. After soaking, the seeds were dried for 24 hours at a temperature of 30°C ± 2°C. The variables analyzed were percentage and germination speed index, root and shoot lengths, and root/shoot ratio. The stress conditions analyzed negatively affected the two genotypes; however, the seeds that underwent priming processes improved the performance of the genotypes under salt and water stress conditions, especially when using seeds of the more tolerant genotype (BRS 330) subjected to hormonal priming at 100 ppm GA3 concentration.

Cross-national gender variations of digit ratio (2D:4D) correlate with life expectancy, suicide rate, and other causes of death

The second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) is an indication of prenatal sex hormone exposure, and has sex-specifically been associated with several lethal illnesses including ischemic heart disease, diverse cancers, and suicide. Our primary aim was to verify that 2D:4D sex-specifically relates to life expectancy and suicide numbers on a national level (23 countries). We also used a hypothesis-free approach to investigate associations with other causes of death [p value adjustment for multiple hypothesis testing using the false discovery rate procedure (FDR)]. All parameters were normalized to the national mean (of males and females) and analyzed across nations. Normalized male 2D:4D correlated positively with normalized male life expectancy (at birth, r = 0.46, p = 0.029; at the age of 60, r = 0.44, p = 0.038) and negatively with normalized male suicide rates (r = − 0.49, p = 0.017). In the exploratory analyses, the normalized male 2D:4D values were negatively associated with the normalized male deaths rates from communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions [r = − 0.65, p(FDR) = 0.011], respiratory infections [r = − 0.69, p(FDR) = 0.008], asthma [r = − 0.65, p(FDR) = 0.011], neurological conditions [r = − 0.56, p(FDR) = 0.046], and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias [r = − 0.59, p(FDR) = 0.036]. The normalized female parameters showed the same cross-national correlations. In line with the previous individual level findings, the results suggest that prenatal sex hormone effects are sex-specifically involved in suicide and neurological conditions. Moreover, we provide novel national level evidence that prenatal sex hormone priming may sex-specifically influence life expectancy and death risk from respiratory diseases.

Germination and Physiological Traits to Ascertain the Ability of Hormonal Priming to Improve Salinity Tolerance in Sorghum bicolor

Germination and Physiological Traits to Ascertain the Ability of Hormonal Priming to Improve Salinity Tolerance in Sorghum bicolor

Influence of Seed Invigoration Techniques on Germination and Seedling Vigor of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the comparative efficiency of different priming techniques on germination and early seedling growth of maize cultivars. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the efficacy of different seed invigoration treatments on seed germination and vigor traits of three maize hybrids, Pioneer 3025, Pioneer 70 and Baber at Agronomy research laboratory, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design (CRD) and was replicated thrice. The treatments included control treatment (T1) unsoaked/dry seed, (T2) hydropriming with distilled water for 24 hrs, (T3) halo priming treatments with NaCl (3% solution) for 24 hrs, (T4) osmopriming with PEG-6000 for 24 hrs and (T5), hormonal priming with GA3 for 24 hrs. The results showed that seed invigoration treatment with gibberellic acid (GA3) PEG-6000 and hydropriming with distilled water for 24 hrs gave higher germination, decreased days to 50% germination, increased shoot length, root length, seedling fresh and dry weight, as compared to halo priming with NaCl and control treatment. It is concluded that seed invigoration with GA3, osmopriming with PEG-6000 and hydropriming with distilled water for 24 hrs serve as an appropriate treatment for accelerating the emergence and growth parameters of maize hybrid. Pioneer 3025 showed its superiority over other cultivars in all the studied parameters.

DREADD-induced silencing of the medial amygdala reduces the preference for male pheromones and the expression of lordosis in estrous female mice.

Sexually naïve estrous female mice seek out male urinary pheromones; however, they initially display little receptive (lordosis) behavior in response to male mounts. Vomeronasal-accessory olfactory bulb inputs to the medial amygdala (Me) regulate courtship in female rodents. We used a reversible inhibitory chemogenetic technique (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs; DREADDs) to assess the contribution of Me signaling to females' preference for male pheromones and improvement in receptivity normally seen with repeated testing. Sexually naïve females received bilateral Me injections of an adeno-associated virus carrying an inhibitory DREADD. Females were later ovariectomized, treated with ovarian hormones, and given behavioral tests following intraperitoneal injections of saline or clozapine-N-oxide (CNO; which hyperpolarizes infected Me neurons). CNO attenuated females' preference to investigate male vs. female urinary odors. Repeated CNO treatment also slowed the increase in lordosis otherwise seen in females given saline. However, when saline was given to females previously treated with CNO, their lordosis quotients were as high as other females repeatedly given saline. No disruptive behavioral effects of CNO were seen in estrous females lacking DREADD infections of the Me. Finally, CNO attenuated the ability of male pheromones to stimulate Fos expression in the Me of DREADD-infected mice but not in non-infected females. Our results affirm the importance of Me signaling in females' chemosensory preferences and in the acute expression of lordosis. However, they provide no indication that Me signaling is required for the increase in receptivity normally seen after repeated hormone priming and testing with a male.