Quiescent Females Research Articles

Seasonal changes in the adrenal glands of the south Indian female gerbil,Tatera indica cuvierii (Waterhouse) in relation to the reproductive cycle

The adrenal glands of the south Indian female gerbil,Tatera indica cuvierii (Waterhouse) exhibited seasonal changes in their weight, histology and histochemistry during different months of the year. Seasonal changes seen in the adrenal glands also correlate with that of changes in the ovary. The cortical cells of the zona fasiculata and zona reticularis in the adrenal glands of sexually active gerbils show decrease in cell as well as nuclear sizes during quiescent period (April–July). The zona glomerulosa and medulla do not show any changes in their structure during different reproductive phases. Histochemically, the zona fasiculata and zona reticularis of the adrenal glands of the gerbils accumulate abundant lipids and carbohydrates during breeding period, when compared with quiescent females. The ‘X’ zone shows fluctuation and is present in the mature, pregnant and spayed females and disappears in parous and quiescent gerbils. It is inferred that a relatively unchanged secretion of mineralocorticoids, an increased or decreased secretion of glucocorticoids required to maintain the functional status of adrenal cortex could be possible in gerbils during the reproductive cycle.

Endocrine regulation of ovarian maturation and cement glands activity in a stomatopod crustaceanSquilla holoschista

InS. Holoschista, the eyestalk is provided with four types of neurosecretory cells (NSC) while the thoracic ganglia and the brain each have three types. The activities of certain NSC types of the eyestalk (C and D), the thoracic ganglia (B) and the brain (C) show fluctuations in their secretory activity during the synchronous growth of the ovary and cement glands suggesting their involvement in the control of these organs. Eyestalk ablation experiments on the reproductively quiescent female revealed the inhibitory nature of an eyestalk hormone on the ovarian and cement glands growth. On the other hand, aqueous extract of thoracic ganglia from the mature reproductive females promoted ovarian and cement glands activities, when injected into the quiescent females. But brain extract injection failed to affect the activity of the ovary or cement glands.

Agonistic Behavior in Male Spider Mites: Factors Affecting Frequency and Intensity of Fighting1

Agonistic behavior in male spider mites ( Tetranychus urticae Koch) was found to be mediated by apparent chemosensory cues signifying the onset of ecdysis in quiescent (molting) females. Newly quiescent females were only weakly defended, while females close to emergence elicited a marked increase in both the incidence and intensity of fighting. Freshly shed exuviae and webbing had no significant effect on male response. As aggressive encounters increased in intensity, the chances of a guarding male successfully defending a female were reduced. Loss of a female was most common when fighting occurred at high male density. Guarding males were less aggressive in crowded conditions, tending to cling tightly to a quiescent female instead of attacking intruders. These behavioral patterns appear to have arisen from selective pressures for optimum time investment in guarding.

Role of Web, Tactile Stimuli, and Female Sex Pheromone in Attraction of Male Twospotted Spider Mites1 to Quiescent Female Deutonymphs2

Behavior of adult male Tetranychus urticae Koch attending quiescent female deutonymphs was analyzed by time-lapse movie photography. Males laid down a web mat across the female. Male movement was found to be largely confined within 2 body-lengths from the female. This distance served as the criterion for male response to a female sex pheromone in subsequent investigations. The role of tactile stimuli, female sex pheromone, and female deutonymph web in male attraction to quiescent female deutonymphs was investigated. Male attraction to clumps of moistened polyvinylpyrrolidone powder and to quiescent female deutonymphs alone was initially similar. However, male interest was only maintained throughout the 100 min test period when attending quiescent females. Tactile stimuli were therefore important in some initial male contact with females. The female sex pheromone then acted as an arrestant, holding the males usually within 2 body-lengths of the female. The presence of web, produced by female deutonymphs prior to quiescence, greatly increased male attraction to quiescent females.

Seasonal changes in the histochemical localization of Δ 5-3 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the ovary of the five-striped Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti (Wroughton)

The localization of Δ 5-3 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ 5-3 β-HSD) was histochemically studied in the ovary of the five-striped palm squirrel during the different phases of reproductive activity. The steroids pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenediol were used as substrates. The distribution of enzyme activity in the different cell types of the ovary was identical with all the four steroid substrates; intensity of the reaction was, however, weaker with 17α-OHP as compared with that obtained with the other steroids. Intense enzymic activity was observed in the interstitial tissue, theca interna, atretic follicles, and the corpus luteum; moderate activity was also seen in the granulosa cells of healthy follicles in the ovaries of all sexually active females. There was no Δ 5-3 β-HSD activity in the ovaries of very young females and only traces of diformazan granules were detected in the interstitial tissue of prepuberal females and of parous, quiescent females. The intensity of Δ 5-3 β-HSD activity is correlated with the uterine weights which were considered to be indicators of steroidogenic activity of the ovary.