Gonadal Levels Research Articles

Early Temporal Dynamics of Gonadal Development and Sexually Dimorphic Gene Expression During Sex Differentiation in Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi).

The mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is a significant freshwater aquaculture species in China, exhibiting sexual dimorphism during growth. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying early gonadal development and sex differentiation remain unclear. This study traces early gonadal development by examining changes in gonadal histology, germ cell morphologic and distributional changes, and the expression of key signaling molecules. H&E staining and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that oogonia and spermatogonia first appeared at 27 and 33days post-fertilization (dpf), respectively, marking the onset of sex differentiation. By 51 and 57 dpf, oocytes and spermatocytes became more abundant, indicating the completion of sex differentiation. We examined the expression of female-biased (cyp19a, dmrt2 and foxl2a), male-biased (amh, dmrt1, gsdf and sox9), and meiotic genes (dmc1 and sycp3). In male gonads, the expression of amh was detected at 21-42 dpf, and it showed significantly higher expression after 42 dpf compared to females. Meanwhile, the expression of dmrt1 was significantly higher in male gonads than in female gonads at 30 to 33 dpf. The dmrt3 gene had high expression levels in both male and female gonads before 45 dpf, with a further increase observed after 51 dpf. The gsdf gene exhibited higher expression levels in male gonads between 27 and 42 dpf than at other time points. Additionally, Sox9 expression was significantly higher levels observed in males than in females at 33 dpf. In female gonads, cyp19a was consistently expressed from 21 to 42 dpf and was significantly higher than that in males after 42 dpf, dmrt2 expression was higher than that in males at 36-42 dpf, foxl2a expression was higher at 24-30 dpf and significantly higher than that in males at 36-45 dpf. At 27 dpf, the meiosis-related genes dmc1 and sycp3 were detected, with expression patterns aligning with germ cell development and sex differentiation. In conclusion, by characterizing germ cell morphology and analysing expression changes in sex-related genes, we confirmed that sex determination in mandarin fish occurs before 27 dpf. In females, sex differentiation progresses from 27 to 51 dpf, whereas in males, it occurs from 33 to 57 dpf.

Chlorophenols suppress gametogenesis by disrupting sex hormone signaling through DNA methylation in zebrafish.

Chlorophenols suppress gametogenesis by disrupting sex hormone signaling through DNA methylation in zebrafish.

There Is More to the Story Than Just Fluoroscopy Time: How Patient Position and C-arm Orientation Can Significantly Impact Scatter Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

There Is More to the Story Than Just Fluoroscopy Time: How Patient Position and C-arm Orientation Can Significantly Impact Scatter Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Application of Fuzzy Logic to Determine Gonad Maturity Level Based on Patin Fish Parent Morphology

The fish gonad maturity detector uses fuzzy logic to provide information about the level of gonad maturity accurately. The utilization of fuzzy logic in determining the level of maturity of catfish gonads offers significant advantages over traditional methods. The data collection method used is qualitative through direct observation of the characteristics of catfish broodstock in the rearing pond as well as literature study of previous research. Observations were made to understand the physical characteristics, while the literature study was to support the creation of a fuzzy logic system. The system has an initial stage in determining fuzzy sets for input and output variables, as well as the formation of fuzzy rules using IF-THEN. including better accuracy and the ability to accommodate individual variations and environmental conditions. Traditional methods of determining the maturity level of fish gonads, such as visual observation and GSI calculation, have their own weaknesses. Therefore, the application of fuzzy logic can help reduce the risks and side effects experienced by fish, and increase the effectiveness and efficiency in determining the level of maturity of catfish gonads.

Comparative characteristics of the development of germ cells in Siberian sturgeon and sterlet in the second year of cultivation in the spring and summer seasons, obtained using cryopreserved and native sperm in industrial farms

The research was carried out in the Konakovsky department of the Freshwater Fisheries branch of the VNIRO Federal State Budgetary Budgetary Institution (VNIIPRH) and is a continuation of previously performed work [2]. The effect of cryopreserved and native sperm on the development of germ cells in domesticated forms of Siberian sturgeon and sterlet in the second year of cultivation in the spring and summer seasons is shown in comparative terms. The analysis of fish farming data in the summer continues to show a correlation of body weight with the mass of the left, right and gonad length. In the spring season, the sex of females and males is determined by anatomical differentiation, and in the summer visually by the state of the gonads at autopsy. When using cryopreserved sperm (experiment) and native (control), the development of germ cells is similar in Siberian sturgeon and sterlet. In the summer, as in the spring season, regardless of body weight, histological analysis of germ cell development shows a regular process of sequential gametogenesis. In the spring season, the females of the Siberian sturgeon and sterlet have the first stage of gonad maturity, and mitotic reproduction of oogonia takes place in the nests of the egg plates. In the summer season, Siberian sturgeon and sterlet have the II semifat stage of maturity, which characterizes the cytological level of gonads. Males of Siberian sturgeon and sterlet in the spring and summer seasons are characterized by a similar pattern — anatomical differentiation of sex. In the gonads of the first stage of maturity, spermatogonies multiply, which shows a regular spermatogenesis. In the experimental and control groups of Siberian sturgeon and sterlet, many blood cells, histiocytes, are present in the parenchymal tissue of the gonads. They carry out resorption processes, fulfilling the protective function of the body, absorbing and freeing the gonad from unnecessary and outstripping cells in the body, including ensuring synchronicity at certain stages of germ cell development.

DETERMINATION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN SOME SELECTED DUMPSITES WITHIN KANO METROPOLIS, KANO STATE NIGERIA

This research investigated the emission of radiation from refuse dumpsites in some selected areas in Kano metropolis. The readings were taken using Geiger Muller tube detector at gonad level (about 1 meter above the ground level) and at an interval of 5m away from point of reference up to 20m in five sampling locations; coded as RD1, RD2, RD3, RD4 and RD5 respectively while the natural radioactivity concentrations were determined using a gamma ray spectrometer with two calibration point sources, Cs-137 and Co-60. The results indicated that the ranges of activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the samples were 304.66 – 460.96 BqKg-1, 18.57 – 32.72 BqKg-1 and 12.22 – 53.63BqKg-1 respectively. The highest activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 32.72±3.12 Bqkg-1, 53.63±3.49 Bqkg-1 and 460.96±7.78 Bqkg-1 respectively which obtained from RD2 and RD4 locations. However, the highest magnitude of Radium Equivalent Dose (Req.) of 137.60 Bqkg-1 at RD2 was found to be below the permissible limit of 370 BqKg-1 as recommended by UNSCEAR, (2000). Moreover, the highest average value of the background radiation detected at RD1 and RD3 was 0.414mSv/year which is below the ICRP (2006) bench mark of 3.0mSv/year. Therefore, the radionuclide activity concentration and the average exposure rate may not be hazardous. These results will help the health and environmental agencies in developing waste management systems.

Revisiting the specific and potentially independent role of the gonad in hormone regulation and reproductive behavior.

Gonadal sex steroid hormones are well-studied modulators of reproductive physiology and behavior. Recent behavioral endocrinology research has focused on how the brain dynamically responds to - and may even produce - sex steroids, but the gonadal tissues that primarily release these hormones receive much less attention as a potential mediator of behavioral variation. This Commentary revisits mechanisms by which the reproductive hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis can be modulated specifically at the gonadal level. These mechanisms include those that may allow the gonad to be regulated independently of the HPG axis, such as receptors for non-HPG hormones, neural inputs and local production of conventional 'neuropeptides'. Here, I highlight studies that examine variation in these gonadal mechanisms in diverse taxa, with an emphasis on recent transcriptomic work. I then outline how future work can establish functional roles of gonadal mechanisms in reproductive behavior and evaluate gonad responsiveness to environmental cues. When integrated with neural mechanisms, further investigation of gonadal hormone regulation can yield new insight into the control and evolution of steroid-mediated traits, including behavior.

Inhibiting p38α and -β MAPK Affects Testis Development in the Marsupial Tammar Wallaby

Introduction: The MAPK genes are critical for gonadal differentiation in eutherian mammals, but their role in marsupial mammals is unknown. Characterisation and phylogenetic analyses of the tammar wallaby MAPK genes show these genes are highly conserved with their orthologues in mammalian and non-mammalian species. Methods: We cultured sexually indifferent tammar gonads in the presence of p38α and -β MAPK inhibitor, SB202190. Results: SB202190 downregulated SOX9 and AMH levels in XY-treated gonads when compared to controls, similar to the effects of oestrogen on the MAPK pathway in males. In contrast, XX gonads treated with the SB202190 inhibitor showed no change in mRNA expression between the control and treated gonads for any of the markers tested. Conclusions: This study confirms that components of the MAPK pathway drive testis differentiation via the key downstream genes SOX9 and AMH in marsupials as is observed in eutherian mammals.

Optimization of Radiation Protection for Companions in Pediatric Chest Radiography

Aims: The objective of this study is to optimize the positioning of the companion during pediatric chest radiographic exams by analyzing the scattered radiation dose measured with an ionization chamber. Place and Duration of Study: The experimental study was conducted between February 2024 and April 2024, in the radiodiagnosis laboratory belonging to the Medical Physics and Radiology Technology courses at the Franciscan University (UFN) in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Methodology: A fixed conventional X-ray device and a phantom (simulating object) filled with 15 cm of water to represent a pediatric chest were used. The parameters of voltage (kV) and the product of current and time (mA.s) were kept constant. Measurements of the air KERMA (KAIR) were performed by positioning the dosimetric system at four points around the phantom (0º, 90º, 180º, and 270º), simulating the exposure conditions of the companion. Results: The results showed that the lowest radiation dose received by the companion at the gonadal level occurred at 90º around the table (cathode side), while the lowest dose at the lens level was at 270º (anode side). The highest dose at the gonadal level was observed at 180º, and the highest dose at the lens level was at 90º. Conclusion: It was concluded that the companion should position themselves on the anode side (270º), as the lens does not have lead protection, while protection is available for the rest of the body. This recommendation aims to optimize radiological safety for the companion.

Impact of Urban Runoff on Benthic and Pelagic Fish Fauna in Ikpoba River: Metals Levels in Gonads

This study investigates the impact of urban runoff on heavy metal concentrations in Ikpoba River, focusing on water, sediment, and fish gonads. Two sampling stations, upstream and downstream, were selected to assess variations in contamination levels. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Cd, Ni, Pb) in these samples were analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Histopathological examinations of fish gonad tissues were also conducted. Downstream water samples in August exhibited significantly elevated lead (Pb) levels (0.037 mg/L) and cobalt (Co) concentrations (0.02 mg/L) compared to upstream levels. Sediment analysis revealed marked downstream contamination, with higher lead (Pb) levels (5.208 mg/kg) and cobalt (Co) concentrations (2.067 mg/kg) in August. Gonadal tissue analysis showed alarming contamination levels, with pelagic fish species displaying higher lead (Pb) and cobalt (Co) concentrations compared to benthic fish. These results highlight the vulnerability of pelagic species to heavy metal accumulation and indicate substantial pollution from industrial sources in the Ikpoba River. Urgent pollution control measures and ongoing monitoring are essential to safeguard the river's ecosystem and community health. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term consequences and potential health risks associated with heavy metal contaminants in the river.

Study of factors associated with obesity in patients using antipsychotics in schizophrenia

Background: The atypical antipsychotic agents can raise body weight directly by acting on feeding areas of the brain, or indirectly by endocrine effects such as decreased gonadal levels, hyperprolactinemia, and hypercortisolism, and effect on peptide hormones, especially leptin. This may provide inputs from a mental health prevention and promotion standpoint. It may inform the development of prediction tools and better interventions. It may also encourage research on the causal pathways and mechanisms mediating the relationship. Aims and Objectives: To study the factors associated with obesity in patients with schizophrenia using antipsychotics. To compare sociodemographic profile, duration of illness in patients with schizophrenia to obesity and associated risk factors. Subjects and Methods: One hundred patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 were selected, and informed consent was obtained. Weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index, lipid profile, i.e., total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of the patients were measured using standard scales and kit. Results: The mean fasting blood sugar level in cases was 33.3 ± 24.2. The mean TC levels were 176.2 ± 15.8. The mean TG levels were 123.4 ± 15.1. The mean HDL levels were 47 ± 6.1. The mean LDL levels were 103.3 ± 15.9. and decreased ratio of LDL/HDL in responders taking atypical antipsychotic drugs (n = 32), but not in patients treated with conventional antipsychotic drugs (n = 36). The weight gain after a typical antipsychotic drug, i.e., haloperidol, was 64.8 ± 7.5. The weight gain after atypical antipsychotic medication, i.e., olanzapine, was 65.0 ± 7.5, risperidone was 64.5 ± 7.2, and remaining olanzapine and risperidone were 65.1 ± 7.6, respectively. Conclusion: With steadily increasing rates of obesity globally, an understanding of the impact of obesity on the prevalence rates of mental disorders assumes significance. It may inform the development of prediction tools and better intervention. Further, obesity has been identified consistently as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome among psychiatric populations receiving treatment with agents such as olanzapine and risperidone. This three-way link between obesity, metabolic syndrome, and psychiatric disorders presents significant opportunities to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and develop newer therapeutic targets.

Bacteriological study of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) gonads associated with seawater physico-chemistry and environmental factors in the Mediterranean Sea of Morocco

Bacteriological study of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) gonads associated with seawater physico-chemistry and environmental factors in the Mediterranean Sea of Morocco

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and its receptors in teleosts: Physiological roles and mechanisms of actions

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and its receptors in teleosts: Physiological roles and mechanisms of actions

Dual effects of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone on testicular development in prepubertal Minxinan Black rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is a neurohormone that not only suppresses reproduction at the brain level but also regulates steroidogenesis and gametogenesis at the gonad level. However, its function in gonadal physiology has received little attention in rabbits. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of GnIH on testicular development and function in prepubertal Minxinan Black rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In the present study, we investigated the serum reproductive hormone concentration, testicular parameters, morphology of seminiferous tubules, apoptosis of testicular cells, and expression of reproductive-related genes in male prepubertal Minxinan Black rabbits intraperitoneally administered with 0, 0.5, 5, or 50 μg quail GnIH-related peptides (qGnIH) for 10 days. Compared with the vehicle, administration with 5 μg of qGnIH downregulated the serum testosterone concentration and mRNA levels of spermatogenic genes (PCNA, FSHR, INHβA, HSF1, and AR) and upregulated the apoptosis rate of testicular cells; administration with 50 μg of qGnIH decreased the serum testosterone concentration and hypothalamic GnIH gene mRNA level and increased the serum LH concentration, pituitary LHβ gene mRNA level, testicular weight, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and spermatogenic cell layer thickness. It is concluded that GnIH could exert dual actions on testicular development depending on the male prepubertal rabbits receiving different intraperitoneal doses.

Elevated temperature triggers increase in global DNA methylation, 5-methylcytosine expression levels, apoptosis and NOx levels in the gonads of Atlantic sea urchin.

Elevated temperature triggers increase in global DNA methylation, 5-methylcytosine expression levels, apoptosis and NOx levels in the gonads of Atlantic sea urchin.

Method for the molecular and quantitative identification of oocytes and their developmental stage in teleost fish gonads

Method for the molecular and quantitative identification of oocytes and their developmental stage in teleost fish gonads

EIF4E1b is a non-canonical eIF4E protecting maternal dormant mRNAs

Maternal mRNAs are essential for protein synthesis during oogenesis and early embryogenesis. To adapt translation to specific needs during development, maternal mRNAs are translationally repressed by shortening the polyA tails. While mRNA deadenylation is associated with decapping and degradation in somatic cells, maternal mRNAs with short polyA tails are stable. Here we report that the germline-specific eIF4E paralog, eIF4E1b, is essential for zebrafish oogenesis. eIF4E1b localizes to P-bodies in zebrafish embryos and binds to mRNAs with reported short or no polyA tails, including histone mRNAs. Loss of eIF4E1b results in reduced histone mRNA levels in early gonads, consistent with a role in mRNA storage. Using mouse and human eIF4E1Bs (in vitro) and zebrafish eIF4E1b (in vivo), we show that unlike canonical eIF4Es, eIF4E1b does not interact with eIF4G to initiate translation. Instead, eIF4E1b interacts with the translational repressor eIF4ENIF1, which is required for eIF4E1b localization to P-bodies. Our study is consistent with an important role of eIF4E1b in regulating mRNA dormancy and provides new insights into fundamental post-transcriptional regulatory principles governing early vertebrate development.

Underestimation of Occupational Radiation Exposure During Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

During interventional procedures of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), the dosimeter was conventionally placed on chest facing toward the surgical table, instead of the main source of scatter radiation. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the underestimation of occupational radiation exposure. Phantom experiments were performed in a hybrid operating room equipped with an interventional angiography system. Electric personal dosimeters were placed at the level of eyes, chest, abdomen, and gonad of three positions, representing the principal operator (PO), assistant operator (AO), and sterile nurse (SN). Personal dose equivalent was measured with two different orientations of radiation detection, facing the table and facing the phantom, respectively. In addition to fluoroscopy, the dose produced by digital subtraction angiography was also measured to estimate the radiation exposure of routine EVAR. In this study, staff doses of 26 EVAR cases were also collected in our hospital to correlate the estimated dose. Our results show that the facing-phantom dose normalized by dose area product of patient is significantly higher than the facing-table dose when the latter is regularly seen in clinical practice. This underestimation could be even worse at a more distant position (e.g., AO and SN) as the incident angle of scatter radiation is larger. Besides, the estimated dose is highly correlated with the on-site measured dose (R 2 ~ 0.8) at chest and gonad of the PO.

Cloning and expression analysis of wpHSP90 gene from Whitmania pigra at different temperatures

HSP90 is a widely distributed molecular chaperone that participates in a variety of cellular processes and plays an important role in the meiosis of germ cells. However, its role in the gonadal development of hermaphroditic Whitmania pigra is not yet clear. To explore the effect of HSP90 on the germ cell development of Wh. Pigra, this study cloned the wpHSP90 gene, performed bioinformatics analysis, and measured its expression levels. The results showed that the cloned wpHSP90 was 2 592 bp in length, with an open reading frame(ORF) of 2 373 bp, encoding 790 amino acids. Prediction analysis revealed 85 phosphorylation modification sites on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues of the wpHSP90 protein. Structural domain prediction and multiple sequence alignment results showed that wpHSP90 contained two conserved domains of HSP90 and exhibited the highest homology with Helobdella robusta, with a sequence similarity of 80.72%. RT-qPCR results showed that the relative expression level of wpHSP90 in the gonads of 5-month-old Wh. pigra was positively correlated with temperature within the range of 12 ℃ to 28 ℃. The expression level in the female gonads was significantly higher than in the male gonads and correlated with the trend of germ cell development in the ovaries and testes. In conclusion, wpHSP90 may be involved in regulating the development of germ cells, particularly oocytes, in Wh. pigra. This study provides a reference for further research on the gonadal development mechanism in Wh. pigra.

FRI291 Musashi1 And Musashi2 Mark Distinct Pituitary Stem Cell Populations

Abstract Disclosure: Y. Rahmatallah: None. J. Banik: None. K. Bronson: None. M.C. MacNicol: None. The cell plastic state of the pituitary is required to meet the changing demands upon pituitary function and may also result in these cells being more vulnerable to malignant transformation. The mechanisms that control pituitary cell plasticity are unknown. The RNA binding protein Musashi (MSI) is expressed in embryonic stem cells, and in cancer stem cells, where MSI functions to promote stem cell plasticity and to oppose premature cell maturation. MSI is also expressed at high levels in adult gonad and adult pituitary. The function of MSI in adult tissues is not fully understood, and the mechanisms that control the pro-proliferative and pro-malignant aspects of MSI function in adult tissues are not known. The two evolutionarily conserved MSI proteins, Musashi1 (MSI1) and Musashi2 (MSI2), are predicted to function redundantly, however, regulatory distinctions have been reported for MSI1 and MSI2. Towards a characterization of MSI1 and MSI2 in pituitary, we analyzed transcriptomics data from public datasets of single-nucleus and single-cell and bulk-tissue gene expression data from physiological and pathophysiological human pituitary tissue. We performed bioinformatics analysis utilizing the single-cell genomics analysis tool, Seurat in R and the pseudotime trajectory analysis tool Monocle and additional genomics and statistics analyses tools in R. We identify the MSI1-expressing pituitary cell population as immature stem cells and the distinct MSI2-expressing pituitary cell population as more mature, committed progenitor cells. Pituitary from human fetal tissue contains multiple distinct MSI1-expressing cell populations while, in contrast, pituitary from human adult tissue contains multiple distinct MSI2-expressing cell populations. Pituitary from human pediatric tissue demonstrates an intermediate state with both distinct MSI1-expressing and distinct MSI2-expressing cell populations. We identify increased MSI1 expression but not increased MSI2 expression in adult pituitary adenoma, and a high level of variation in the MSI1 to MSI2 expression ratio between distinct pituitary adenomas. Based upon this re-analysis of reposited datasets from other pituitary investigators, we hypothesize that the increase that we observe, in MSI1 to MSI2 expression ratio in adult pituitary tumors is consistent with a reversion of mature cells to an earlier immature state. Adult pituitary may contain the mechanisms that regulate MSI2 function but may not be equipped to properly control high levels of re-expressed MSI1. An understanding of the physiological functions and mechanisms of regulation of the distinct MSI proteins in pituitary may provide insight into potential mechanisms that could be recruited to increase physiological pituitary cell growth and differentiation in regenerative therapy and to oppose pathological cell growth in pituitary tumor. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023