Ovarian Infertility Research Articles

Genetic and Cytological Analyses of the Natural Variation of Seed Number per Pod in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).

Seed number is one of the key traits related to plant evolution/domestication and crop improvement/breeding. In rapeseed germplasm, the seed number per pod (SNPP) shows a very wide variation from several to nearly 30; however, the underlying causations/mechanisms for this variation are poorly known. In the current study, the genetic and cytological bases for the natural variation of SNPP in rapeseed was firstly and systematically investigated using the representative four high-SNPP and five low-SNPP lines. The results of self- or cross-pollination experiment between the high- and low-SNPP lines showed that the natural variation of SNPP was mainly controlled by maternal effect (mean = 0.79), followed by paternal effect (mean = 0.21). Analysis of the data using diploid seed embryo–cytoplasmic–maternal model further showed that the maternal genotype, embryo, and cytoplasm effects, respectively, explained 47.6, 35.2, and 7.5% of the genetic variance. In addition, the analysis of combining ability showed that for the SNPP of hybrid F1 was mainly determined by the general combining ability of parents (63.0%), followed by special combining ability of parental combination (37.0%). More importantly, the cytological observation showed that the SNPP difference between the high- and low-SNPP lines was attributable to the accumulative differences in its components. Of which, the number of ovules, the proportion of fertile ovules, the proportion of fertile ovules to be fertilized, and the proportion of fertilized ovules to develop into seeds accounted for 30.7, 18.2, 7.1, and 43.9%, respectively. The accordant results of both genetic and cytological analyses provide solid evidences and systematic insights to further understand the mechanisms underlying the natural variation of SNPP, which will facilitate the development of high-yield cultivars in rapeseed.

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

A middle-aged woman presented with vaginal bleeding leading to the identification of a uterine mass and serum hCG level of more than 700,000 mIU/mL. Imaging revealed no evidence of a gestational sac or fetal pole. She underwent hysterectomy. The photograph is of a bisected uterus containing a network of vesicular villi connected by fibrous strands historically referred to as resembling a “cluster of grapes.” Which of the following type of gestational trophoblastic disease does this patient most likely have?a.Nonmolar gestation with hydropic degenerationb.Partial hydatidiform molec.Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM)d.Choriocarcinoma Answer: c. Complete hydatidiform mole Complete hydatidiform mole is a form of gestational trophoblastic disease that results from fertilization of an abnormal empty ovum by 2 sperms or 1 sperm that replicates.1Di Cintio E. Parazzini F. Rosa C. Chatenoud L. Benzi G. The epidemiology of gestational trophoblastic disease.Gen Diagn Pathol. 1997; 143: 103-108PubMed Google Scholar, 2Lindor N.M. Ney J.A. Gaffey T.A. Jenkins R.B. Thibodeau S.N. Dewald G.W. A genetic review of complete and partial hydatidiform moles and nonmolar triploidy.Mayo Clin Proc. 1992; 67: 791-799Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (52) Google Scholar It is estimated to occur at a rate of 1 per 1000 pregnancies in the United States.1Di Cintio E. Parazzini F. Rosa C. Chatenoud L. Benzi G. The epidemiology of gestational trophoblastic disease.Gen Diagn Pathol. 1997; 143: 103-108PubMed Google Scholar Most CHMs are diploid, with 46,XX being the most common karyotype.1Di Cintio E. Parazzini F. Rosa C. Chatenoud L. Benzi G. The epidemiology of gestational trophoblastic disease.Gen Diagn Pathol. 1997; 143: 103-108PubMed Google Scholar, 2Lindor N.M. Ney J.A. Gaffey T.A. Jenkins R.B. Thibodeau S.N. Dewald G.W. A genetic review of complete and partial hydatidiform moles and nonmolar triploidy.Mayo Clin Proc. 1992; 67: 791-799Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (52) Google Scholar No fetus develops, but the placental tissue develops as a mass of vesicular villi, each about 1 cm, that fills the uterine cavity. Microscopy shows enlarged villi with central cisterns, stromal karyorrhexis, and a circumferential pattern of mixed trophoblastic hyperplasia (arrow). Complete evacuation is often sufficient treatment, and serum hCG is serially followed until it returns to 0. Because of increased risk (2%-3%) of choriocarcinoma in CHM, hysterectomy is often performed in patients older than 40 years.

Could erythropoietin reduce the ovarian damage of cisplatin in female rats?

The aim of this study is to investigate whether erythropoietin (EPO) can reduce the ovarian damage of cisplatin or not. Thirty, female, Wistar-Albino rats were used in the study. Control group (N = 10): Intraperitoneal saline infusion, Cisplatin group (N = 10): Intraperitoneal 7 mg/kg cisplatin, Cisplatin + EPO group (N = 10): Intraperitoneal 7 mg/kg cisplatin and subcutaneous 200 IU/kg/day EPO. Serum AMH concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit of AMH. Follicular counts were evaluated according to mean diameter of the follicles. Ovarian damage; including follicular cell degeneration, vascular congestion, hemorrhage, and inflammation was scored histologically using a graduated scale. Posttreatment AMH levels of cisplatin group were significantly lower than control and cisplatin + EPO groups. In cisplatin group, there was a significant decrement in posttreatment AMH level compared to pretreatment AMH level. The total damage score of cisplatin group was significantly higher than scores of control and cisplatin + EPO groups. The mean primordial follicle counts of control and cisplatin + EPO groups were significantly higher than that of cisplatin group (p = .007 and p = .003). The results of this study revealed that EPO administration to cisplatin chemotherapy could ameliorate the ovarian damage. Erythropoietin administration to chemotherapeutic agents might suggest to protect ovarian failure and infertility.

Occurrence and reproductive roles of hormones in seminal plasma

Only 2–5% of seminal fluid is composed of spermatozoa, while the rest is seminal plasma. The seminal plasma is a rich cocktail of organic and inorganic compounds including hormones, serving as a source of nutrients for sperm development and maturation, protecting them from infection and enabling them to overcome the immunological and chemical environment of the female reproductive tract. In this review, a survey of the hormones found in human seminal plasma, with particular emphasis on reproductive hormones is provided. Their participation in fertilization is discussed including their indispensable role in ovum fertilization. The origin of individual hormones found in seminal plasma is discussed, along with differences in the concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma. A part of review is devoted to methods of measurement, emphasising particular instances in which they differ from measurement in blood plasma. These methods include separation techniques, overcoming the matrix effect and current ways for end-point measurement, focusing on so called hyphenated techniques as a combination of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry. Finally, the informative value of their determination as markers of male fertility disorders (impaired spermatogenesis, abnormal sperm parameters, varicocele) is discussed, along with instances where measuring their levels in seminal plasma is preferable to measurement of levels in blood plasma.

Food Legumes and Rising Temperatures: Effects, Adaptive Functional Mechanisms Specific to Reproductive Growth Stage and Strategies to Improve Heat Tolerance.

Ambient temperatures are predicted to rise in the future owing to several reasons associated with global climate changes. These temperature increases can result in heat stress- a severe threat to crop production in most countries. Legumes are well-known for their impact on agricultural sustainability as well as their nutritional and health benefits. Heat stress imposes challenges for legume crops and has deleterious effects on the morphology, physiology, and reproductive growth of plants. High-temperature stress at the time of the reproductive stage is becoming a severe limitation for production of grain legumes as their cultivation expands to warmer environments and temperature variability increases due to climate change. The reproductive period is vital in the life cycle of all plants and is susceptible to high-temperature stress as various metabolic processes are adversely impacted during this phase, which reduces crop yield. Food legumes exposed to high-temperature stress during reproduction show flower abortion, pollen and ovule infertility, impaired fertilization, and reduced seed filling, leading to smaller seeds and poor yields. Through various breeding techniques, heat tolerance in major legumes can be enhanced to improve performance in the field. Omics approaches unravel different mechanisms underlying thermotolerance, which is imperative to understand the processes of molecular responses toward high-temperature stress.

Foliar Applications of Calcium and Boron Do Not Increase Fruit Set or Yield in Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Fruit set in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) can be low under certain climatic conditions, contributing to reduced yields in northwestern Washington. The mechanisms influencing fruit set are complex, but reduced fruit set may be associated with inadequate nutrient availability during critical stages of flowering, ovule fertilization, and initial fruit development. Calcium (Ca) and boron (B) are of particular interest for reproductive developmental processes and are frequently applied annually by growers in the Pacific Northwest region because of the perception that these nutrients enhance fruit set and corresponding yields. Evaluation of commonly applied products containing these nutrients and their effects on fruit set and yield are of specific importance to justify the application of these nutrients. To address this, commercially available fertilizers containing Ca and B were applied to ‘Draper’ and ‘Bluecrop’ blueberry as foliar sprays, either alone or in combination, during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in northwestern Washington. Treatments included calcium chloride (750 and 1500 ppm Ca), calcium sulfate (150 ppm Ca), and tetra borate (125 and 250 ppm B) foliar sprays, repeated six times per season every 7–10 days from early pink bud through petal fall. No significant increases were observed for fruit set, estimated yield, and fruit quality (firmness and berry weight) across the treatments. Increased concentrations of B were observed in leaf tissues in 2015 and 2016, and to a lesser extent fruit tissues. Calcium remained unchanged regardless of treatment and tissue type. Under the conditions of this study, foliar applications of Ca and B did not lead to increased fruit set or yield. This research suggests that other approaches should be explored to increase fruit set and corresponding yields of highbush blueberry grown in northwest Washington.

Heat stress differentially modifies ethylene biosynthesis and signaling in pea floral and fruit tissues.

Ethylene biosynthesis is regulated in reproductive tissues in response to heat stress in a manner to optimize resource allocation to pollinated fruits with developing seeds. High temperatures during reproductive development are particularly detrimental to crop fruit/seed production. Ethylene plays vital roles in plant development and abiotic stress responses; however, little is known about ethylene's role in reproductive tissues during development under heat stress. We assessed ethylene biosynthesis and signaling regulation within the reproductive and associated tissues of pea during the developmental phase that sets the stage for fruit-set and seed development under normal and heat-stress conditions. The transcript abundance profiles of PsACS [encode enzymes that convert S-adenosyl-L-methionine to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)] and PsACO (encode enzymes that convert ACC to ethylene), and ethylene evolution were developmentally, environmentally, and tissue-specifically regulated in the floral/fruit/pedicel tissues of pea. Higher transcript abundance of PsACS and PsACO in the ovaries, and PsACO in the pedicels was correlated with higher ethylene evolution and ovary senescence and pedicel abscission in fruits that were not pollinated under control temperature conditions. Under heat-stress conditions, up-regulation of ethylene biosynthesis gene expression in pre-pollinated ovaries was also associated with higher ethylene evolution and lower retention of these fruits. Following successful pollination and ovule fertilization, heat-stress modified PsACS and PsACO transcript profiles in a manner that suppressed ovary ethylene evolution. The normal ethylene burst in the stigma/style and petals following pollination was also suppressed by heat-stress. Transcript abundance profiles of ethylene receptor and signaling-related genes acted as qualitative markers of tissue ethylene signaling events. These data support the hypothesis that ethylene biosynthesis is regulated in reproductive tissues in response to heat stress to modulate resource allocation dynamics.

Reduction of indole-3-acetic acid methyltransferase activity compensates for high-temperature male sterility in Arabidopsis.

SummaryHigh temperature is a general stress factor that causes a decrease in crop yield. It has been shown that auxin application reduces the male sterility caused by exposure to higher temperatures. However, widespread application of a hormone with vast effects on plant physiology may be discouraged in many cases. Therefore, the generation of new plant varieties that locally enhance auxin in reproductive organs may represent an alternative strategy. We have explored the possibility of increasing indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) in ovaries by reducing IAA methyltransferase1 (IAMT1) activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The iamt1 mutant showed increased auxin signalling in funiculi, which correlated with a higher growth rate of wild‐type pollen in contact with mutant ovaries and premature ovule fertilization. While the production of seeds per fruit was similar in the wild type and the mutant at 20 °C, exposure to 29 °C caused a more severe decrease in fertility in the wild type than in the mutant. Loss of IAMT1 activity was also associated with the production of more nodes after flowering and higher tolerance of the shoot apical meristem to higher temperatures. As a consequence, the productivity of the iamt1 mutant under higher temperatures was more than double of that of the wild type, with almost no apparent trade‐off.

Follicular metabolic changes and effects on oocyte quality in polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common complex and heterogeneous disorder, affecting up to 10% women at reproductive age. It causes three fourth of the ovulatory infertility and PCOS patients often give poor IVF quality. Although some metabolic profiles have been investigated in PCOS patient sera and urine, the follicular fluid, providing fruitful biochemical information about oocyte environment during development has been ignored. In this work, based on NMR metabolomics approach, metabolic profile of follicular fluid of PCOS patients has been explored and compared with healthy controls. Significant increases of glycoprotein, acetate, cholesterol, significant decreases of lactic acid, glutamine, pyruvate, and alanine, have been discovered in PCOS follicular fluids. Furthermore, the Pearson correlations analysis indicated significant relationship existed between ART results and NMR detected follicular metabolites. All these results indicated that PCOS may induce dyslipidemia, low-grade inflammation, and disorder of glycolysis, pyruvate and amino acid metabolism in follicular fluids.

Discovery of pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology phenomenon, a new step in plant reproduction

ABSTRACTIn animals, when semen is discharged into the uterus, the seminal plasma carries the sperm to the egg. In plants, the function of pollen tube contents (PTC) is analogous to that of the seminal plasma in animals, i.e., carrying sperm cells to the ovules for fertilization. Because the function of the seminal plasma is essential for fertilization in animals, we propose that the function of PTC must be important for plant fertilization. To understand the function of PTC, we examined the transcriptional variation after the release of PTC into the embryo sac. The phenotypic analysis revealed that ovules were enlarged without fertilization when the PTC was released into the ovule, entirely consistent with the transcriptome analysis. We identified a new plant phenomenon, pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology (POEM) phenomenon that occurs only when the ovule accepts PTC, irrespective of fertilization. POEM is a new phase between the pollen tube guidance and fertilization phases as a reproductive step. Here we established the in vitro POEM assay, which effectively measures POEM activity. Using this assay, we identified that a simple dose of plant hormone(s) cannot induce POEM. We also showed that this assay could be a powerful tool for identifying POEM factor(s).

Gynoecium evolution in angiosperms: Monomery, pseudomonomery, and mixomery

The presence of a gynoecium composed of carpels is a key feature of angiosperms. The carpel is often regarded as a homologue of the gymnosperm megasporophyll (that is, an ovule-bearing leaf), but higher complexity of the morphological nature of carpel cannot be ruled out. Angiosperm carpels can fuse to form a syncarpous gynoecium. A syncarpous gynoecium usually includes a well-developed compitum, an area where the pollen tube transmitting tracts of individual carpels unite to enable the transition of pollen tubes from one carpel to another. This phenomenon is a precondition to the emergence of carpel dimorphism manifested as the absence of a functional stigma or fertile ovules in part of the carpels. Pseudomonomery, which is characterized by the presence of a fertile ovule (or ovules) in one carpel only, is a specific case of carpel dimorphism. A pseudomonomerous gynoecium usually has a single plane of symmetry and is likely to share certain features of the regulation of morphogenesis with the monosymmetric perianth and androecium. A genuine monomerous gynoecium consists of a single carpel. Syncarpous gynoecia can be abruptly transformed into monomerous gynoecia in the course of evolution or undergo sterilization and gradual reduction of some carpels. Partial or nearly complete loss of carpel individuality that precludes the assignment of an ovule (or ovules) to an individual carpel is observed in a specific group of gynoecia. We termed this phenomenon mixomery, since it should be distinguished from pseudomonomery.

Resource Allocation and Seed Size Selection in Perennial Plants under Pollen Limitation.

Pollen limitation may affect resource allocation patterns in plants, but its role in the selection of seed size is not known. Using an evolutionarily stable strategy model of resource allocation in perennial iteroparous plants, we show that under density-independent population growth, pollen limitation (i.e., a reduction in ovule fertilization rate) should increase the optimal seed size. At any level of pollen limitation (including none), the optimal seed size maximizes the ratio of juvenile survival rate to the resource investment needed to produce one seed (including both ovule production and seed provisioning); that is, the optimum maximizes the fitness effect per unit cost. Seed investment may affect allocation to postbreeding adult survival. In our model, pollen limitation increases individual seed size but decreases overall reproductive allocation, so that pollen limitation should also increase the optimal allocation to postbreeding adult survival. Under density-dependent population growth, the optimal seed size is inversely proportional to ovule fertilization rate. However, pollen limitation does not affect the optimal allocation to postbreeding adult survival and ovule production. These results highlight the importance of allocation trade-offs in the effect pollen limitation has on the ecology and evolution of seed size and postbreeding adult survival in perennial plants.

Elucidation of the genetic architecture of self-incompatibility in olive: Evolutionary consequences and perspectives for orchard management.

The olive (Olea europaea L.) is a typical important perennial crop species for which the genetic determination and even functionality of self‐incompatibility (SI) are still largely unresolved. It is still not known whether SI is under gametophytic or sporophytic genetic control, yet fruit production in orchards depends critically on successful ovule fertilization. We studied the genetic determination of SI in olive in light of recent discoveries in other genera of the Oleaceae family. Using intra‐ and interspecific stigma tests on 89 genotypes representative of species‐wide olive diversity and the compatibility/incompatibility reactions of progeny plants from controlled crosses, we confirmed that O. europaea shares the same homomorphic diallelic self‐incompatibility (DSI) system as the one recently identified in Phillyrea angustifolia and Fraxinus ornus. SI is sporophytic in olive. The incompatibility response differs between the two SI groups in terms of how far pollen tubes grow before growth is arrested within stigma tissues. As a consequence of this DSI system, the chance of cross‐incompatibility between pairs of varieties in an orchard is high (50%) and fruit production may be limited by the availability of compatible pollen. The discovery of the DSI system in O. europaea will undoubtedly offer opportunities to optimize fruit production.

Deep anestrous mares under natural photoperiod treated with recombinant equine FSH (reFSH) and LH (reLH) have fertile ovulations and become pregnant

The most common equine breeding practice to decrease the time to the first ovulation of the year is to use artificial lights starting December 1 in the Northern Hemisphere. It can take 60–90 d for this lighting regimen to induce a fertile ovulation. The success rate for pharmaceutical compounds to carry out the same process has been variable. One compound that did induce an early ovulation was recombinant equine follicle stimulating hormone (reFSH), but neither pregnancy nor cyclicity was established in that study. Starting on December 1, 20 deep-anestrous mares of light horse breeds (4–15 y old) with follicles ≤ 20 mm in diameter and progesterone < 1 ng/mL were maintained under natural photoperiod while 10 control mares were maintained under artificial photoperiod. Starting on February 6, treatment mares were randomly assigned to one of two groups: reFSH (n = 10) or reFSH/reLH (n = 10). Jugular blood samples were collected daily from all mares, and luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH, progesterone (P4), estradiol-17β (E2) and immunoreactive (ir)-inhibin were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). When the largest follicle reached ≥32 mm in diameter, reFSH treatment was discontinued in both groups while reLH treatment continued in the reFSH/reLH group until a cohort of follicles reached ≥35 mm in diameter. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered intravenously (iv) to induce ovulation, and mares were bred to a fertile stallion every other day until ovulation. Mares receiving either reFSH or reFSH/reLH developed follicles ≥35 mm within 5–6 d of treatment compared with 15.8 ± 3.4 d in the control group. Both reFSH and reFSH/reLH induced ovulation in 100% of the mares within 10 d after treatment resulting in an 80% conception rate and a 70% pregnancy rate for both groups. Conception and pregnancy were designated as either presence of a 14 d old embryo (n = 16) or a fetal heartbeat at 24 d (n = 14), respectively. Only three mares in the control group ovulated within the same treatment period. Later ovulations in the control group resulted in 100% conception and pregnancy rates. At 25 d post-conception, treated mares that were pregnant (n = 7 per group) were administered prostaglandin (PGF2α) to terminate the pregnancy and later returned to estrus. Treatment with reFSH or reFSH/reLH given to deep-anestrous mares under natural photoperiod induced fertile ovulations that resulted in pregnancy and cyclicity when pregnancies were terminated.

Genetic relationships among female fertility disorders, female fertility traits and productivity of Holstein dairy cows in the early lactation period.

Fertility health disorders from the early lactation period including retained placenta (REPLA), metritis (MET), corpus luteum persistence (CLP), anoestria/acyclia (AOEAC) and ovarial cysts (OC), as well as overall disease categories (disorders during the postpartal period (DPP), ovary infertility (OINF), overall trait definition "fertility disorders" (FD)), were used to estimate genetic (co)variance components with female fertility and test-day traits. The disease data set comprised 25,142 Holstein cows from parities 1, 2 and 3 resulting in 43,584 lactations. For disease traits, we used the binary trait definition (sick or healthy) and disease count data reflecting the sum of treatments for the same disease within lactation or within lactation periods. Statistical modelling included single and multiple trait repeatability animal models for all trait combinations within a Bayesian framework. Heritabilities for binary disease traits ranged from 0.04 (OC) to 0.10 (REPLA) and were slightly lower for the corresponding sum trait definitions. Correlations between both trait definitions were almost one, for genetic as well as for permanent environmental effects. Moderate to high genetic correlations were found among puerperal disorders DPP, REPLA and MET (0.45-0.98) and among the ovarian disorders OINF, AOEAC, CLP and OC (0.59-0.99). Genetic correlations between puerperal and ovarian disorders were close to zero, apart from the REPLA-OC association (0.55). With regard to fertility disorders and productivity in early lactation, a pronounced genetic antagonistic relationship was only identified between OC and protein yield. Genetic correlations between fertility disorders and test-day SCS were close to zero. OINF and all diseases contributing to OINF were strongly correlated with the female fertility traits "interval from calving to first service," "interval from service to pregnancy" and "interval from calving to pregnancy." The strong correlations imply that fertility disorders could be included in genetic evaluations of economic fertility traits as correlated predictors. Vice versa, a breeding focus on female fertility traits will reduce genetic susceptibility to OC, CLP and AOEAC.

Ontogenesis of the winged oleaginous seeds of Magonia pubescens (Sapindaceae)

Magonia pubescens is a common native tree species of the Cerrado biome (neotropical savanna) with potential for biofuel production. We describe the ontogenesis of the oleaginous seed of this species and development of its wing and unusual mucilaginous layer. Ovaries and seeds were accompanied throughout their development using standard methods of plant anatomy; the cotyledons were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The wing consists of two juxtaposed layers formed by lateral expansion of the testa. The seed core is composed of three layers, with the outer layer being highly hygroscopic. A conspicuous raphe surrounds the embryo in the median longitudinal plane, and the nucellus is proliferative and secretory. The embryo is oleaginous and late-maturing. Seed development requires approximately 350days and takes place in seven phases: (1) ovule fertilization; (2) raphe differentiation; (3) wing expansion; (4) differentiation of the seed coat layers; (5) embryo expansion; (6) maturation of the wing and the mucilaginous layer; and, (7) accumulation of mucilage in the core and oil in the embryo. The winged seeds of M. pubescens have complex structures and important adaptive features such as the mucilaginous core and raphe, which contribute to hydration during germination, as well as abundant oil reserves in the embryo that aid seedling establishment. These seeds structure contribute to the reproductive success of this species and its adaptation to the highly seasonal Cerrado biome.

Figures of pedagogy in Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes and Buchi Emecheta’s Double Yoke

Writers and critics of women emancipation have lifted and advanced the struggle to another phase. The last decade has witnessed feminist writing from female disparagement, subjugation, women as victims craving to be fulfilled wives and mothers endowed with “pretty faces and fertile ova” (Chukwuma), to women striving for empowerment and assertion. A revisit of Buchi Emecheta’s Double Yoke and Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes reveals that these inimitable feminist writers, while depicting the women in the abyss of debasement in patriarchal society portray assertive heroines teaching by precepts immanent in pedagogical assets. Economic independence and education are added advantages to factors that make for self-assertion. Self-assertion, seen as a woman’s greatest weapon, serves as a pedagogical instrument for equipping both sexes. This article focuses on narrative strategies that evoke images that go beyond women disparagement and marginalisation to female empowerment and selfassertion through close rereadings of Emecheta’s and Aidoo’s novels.

Comparative proteomic analysis reveals a dynamic pollen plasma membrane protein map and the membrane landscape of receptor-like kinases and transporters important for pollen tube growth and interaction with pistils in rice

BackgroundThe coordination of pollen tube (PT) growth, guidance and timely growth arrest and rupture mediated by PT-pistil interaction is crucial for the PT to transport sperm cells into ovules for double fertilization. The plasma membrane (PM) represents an important interface for cell–cell interaction, and PM proteins of PTs are pioneers for mediating PT integrity and interaction with pistils. Thus, understanding the mechanisms underlying these events is important for proteomics.ResultsUsing the efficient aqueous polymer two-phase system and alkali buffer treatment, we prepared high-purity PM from mature and germinated pollen of rice. We used iTRAQ quantitative proteomic methods and identified 1,121 PM-related proteins (PMrPs) (matched to 899 loci); 192 showed differential expression in the two pollen cell types, 119 increased and 73 decreased in abundance during germination. The PMrP and differentially expressed PMrP sets all showed a functional skew toward signal transduction, transporters, wall remodeling/metabolism and membrane trafficking. Their genomic loci had strong chromosome bias. We found 37 receptor-like kinases (RLKs) from 8 kinase subfamilies and 209 transporters involved in flux of diversified ions and metabolites. In combination with the rice pollen transcriptome data, we revealed that in general, the protein expression of these PMrPs disagreed with their mRNA expression, with inconsistent mRNA expression for 74% of differentially expressed PMrPs.ConclusionsThis study identified genome-wide pollen PMrPs, and provided insights into the membrane profile of receptor-like kinases and transporters important for pollen tube growth and interaction with pistils. These pollen PMrPs and their mRNAs showed discordant expression. This work provides resource and knowledge to further dissect mechanisms by which pollen or the PT controls PMrP abundance and monitors interactions and ion and metabolite exchanges with female cells in rice.

Sonographic Folliculometry and Endometrial Echocomplex as an Evidence of Ovulation in Infertility Cases

ABSTRACT Objectives To study the diagnostic accuracy of folliculometry and endometrial echo complex as an evidence of ovulation in infertility. Materials and methods This clinical study was conducted on 100 infertile women. The women were subjected to follicular monitoring by transvaginal sonography (TVS) from cycle day 8 or 10 of menstruation with 7.5 MHz vaginal probe of Siemens ultrasound machine. Evidence of follicular growth, ovulation, and morphology of endometrial echo complex with its thickness was noted. Endometrial biopsy was performed premenstrually as a day care procedure after excluding pregnancy. Results Out of 100 women, 81 cases were with evidence of ovulation on TVS and 68 were confirmed on histopathology. All the studied patients were also evaluated for endometrial thickness on the day of ovulation, echo complex of endometrium suggestive of ovulation was seen in 64 cases, out of these 59 cases were confirmed on histopathology. On histopathological study of 100 cases, we found 69 cases with secretory endometrium, 18 with proliferative endometrium, 10 patients with endometritis, one each with luteal phase defect, irregular shedding of endometrium, and hormonal imbalance. Conclusion We found folliculometry predicted ovulation 86% accurately with a specificity of 58.60% and sensitivity of 98.55%. Similarly, appearance of endometrium predicted ovulation 85% accurately with a specificity of 83.80% and sensitivity of 85.50%. Thus, TVS has undeniable advantages in terms of cost, time, acceptability, risk, convenience, and could easily diagnose signs of ovulation in cases of infertility. The TVS has quintessential role as the first diagnostic modality in patients presenting with infertility. How to cite this article Katiyar S, Arya SB, Goel JK, Sinha M. Sonographic Folliculometry and Endometrial Echocomplex as an Evidence of Ovulation in Infertility Cases. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2017;9(4):331-335.

Comparing the Frequency of Endometritis in Unexplained Infertility and Anovulatory Infertility.

Background:Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common reason for infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency distribution of endometritis in women with unexplained infertility and comparison with frequency distribution of endometritis in anovulatory infertility to identify the importance of endometritis due to subacute PID evaluation in the case of infertility.Materials and Methods:This case–control study was done on 100 women with unexplained infertility and ovulatory infertility who referred to Shahid Beheshti clinic in 2013 in Isfahan, Iran. They were divided into two groups of unexplained infertility and anovulatory infertility. Endometrial samples were given from all the patients by Pipelle biopsy under sterile conditions, and then prepared samples were sent to the pathology laboratory to evaluate the existence of plasma cells by a pathologist to diagnose endometritis.Results:Frequency distribution of acute PID history among the patients in both groups showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). Prevalence of endometritis in unexplained infertility group was 34% and in anovulatory group was 21% (P < 0.05). Prevalence of vaginitis was 46% in unexplained group and 40% in anovulatory group (P < 0.05), and prevalence of PID was 4% in unexplained infertility group and 0% in anovulatory infertility group.Conclusion:The prevalence of endometritis and vaginitis was more in the unexplained infertility group rather than the anovulatory infertility group that may reveal the importance of endometritis evaluation in the cases of unexplained infertility.