Reproductive Activity Research Articles

Seasonal patterns in the structure of the fish larvae assemblages in the lower Amazon River

Abstract This study assessed the phenology and functional structure of parental stocks of fish larvae, and evaluated how the species modulate their reproductive activities as a function of natural hydrological regimes in the lower Amazon River, Brazil. Larvae were collected using conical plankton nets monthly over two hydrological cycles between January and December 2013, and between May 2017 and April 2018. The collections were conducted around an alluvial island located near the municipality of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. After identification, individuals were classified into four functional groups (e.g., life‐history strategy, feeding habits, type of migration, and swimming‐performance/microhabitat‐use in the water column) based on species traits. The relationships between seasonal hydrology, environmental variables and larval assemblage structure were evaluated using multivariate analyses. A total of 31,347 fish larvae were collected, from nine taxonomic orders, 26 families, 40 genera and 53 species. The larval assemblages showed highly variable taxonomic and functional composition between different phases of the hydrological cycle (rising water, high water, receding water and low water) and were strongly influenced by environmental variables. Fish reproductive phenology in the lower Amazon is complex and distributed among the hydrological phases. The different ecological characteristics allow the species to withstand specific environmental conditions during each phase. Changes in the structure of larval assemblages indicate that hydrological variability is a key ecological factor influencing the reproductive dynamics of fish and reflects adaptive strategies used to reduce interspecific competition for space and food, maximising recruitment. The variation of fish reproduction across the hydrological cycle that we observed is a result of different ecological characteristics enabling species and functional groups to adapt to environmental conditions of each phase.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Mixture during Pregnancy and Postpartum Weight Retention in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used in industrial and consumer products, are suspected metabolic disruptors. We examined the association between a PFAS mixture during pregnancy and postpartum weight retention in 482 participants from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. PFAS concentrations, including perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoate, were quantified in maternal plasma collected at ~28 gestational weeks. Postpartum weight change was calculated as the difference between self-reported weight from a postpartum survey administered in 2020 and pre-pregnancy weight abstracted from medical records. Associations between PFAS and postpartum weight change were examined using Bayesian kernel machine regression and multivariable linear regression, adjusting for demographic, reproductive, dietary, and physical activity factors; gestational week of blood sample collection; and enrollment year. PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA were positively associated with postpartum weight retention, and associations were stronger among participants with a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index. A doubling of PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA concentrations was associated with a 1.76 kg (95%CI: 0.31, 3.22), 1.39 kg (-0.27, 3.04), and 1.04 kg (-0.19, 2.28) greater postpartum weight retention, respectively, among participants who had obesity/overweight prior to pregnancy. Prenatal PFAS exposure may be associated with increased postpartum weight retention.

Influence of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis).

In order to assess the consequences of climate change and evaluate its impacts on wildlife, it is essential to do so on a species-specific level. It is assumed that changes in the ambient temperature influence energy consumption as well as food availability and thus foraging behavior, reproduction, survival, and therefore population dynamics in bats. Based on this assumption, the present study aims to gain insights into the roosting and breeding behavior of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) in relation to changes of the ambient temperature. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat by using activity data of the bats collected using light barriers at the maternity roosts. The light barrier used in this study is a system that detects the interruption of two light beams, for example, by a flying bat, and displays it as an electrical signal. The investigations have shown that the higher the winter temperatures, the earlier the greater mouse-eared bats returned to the roosts to form the maternity colony; however, this was only true for ambient temperatures below 0.5°C,birth season started earlier at higher spring temperatures,the dissolution of maternity roosts occurred earlier with earlier birth season and at higher ambient temperatures during lactation. The results revealed that ambient temperature has an influence on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat. Depending on the respective life history stage, an increase in ambient temperature can have a positive or negative effect on the fitness of the animals. In recent years, mild winters have been recorded more frequently, which can have an influence on the behavior of bats. Warm winters within certain limits seem to lead to an earlier formation of the maternity colony, which can be positive or negative for the bats depending on persistent weather conditions and thus insect availability. In the course of climate change, we can also expect earlier spring events and an increase in spring temperature, as well as hot spells in summer. These warm springs and summers seem to lead to an earlier beginning of births, a faster development of the juveniles and an earlier dissolution of the maternity roost. An advance of reproductive activities can be assumed to increase the chance to survive the following winter in both mothers and their young, as they have more time to build up sufficient energy reserves for hibernation before winter starts. Due to the climatic changes, phenological changes of the bats be expected. This study highlights that in order to understand the impact of climate change on biodiversity, it is necessary to investigate in detail effects on a species-specific level and also to consider direct and indirect effects of ambient temperature on different life history stages.

Active acoustic surveys reveal coastal fish community resistance to an environmental perturbation in South Florida.

Coastal fish communities are under increasing levels of stress associated with climate variation and anthropogenic activities. However, the high degree of behavioral plasticity of many species within these communities allow them to cope with altered environmental conditions to some extent. Here, we combine meteorological information, data from hydroacoustic surveys, and recordings of goliath grouper sound production to examine the response of coastal fish communities to heavy rainfall events in South Florida, USA, that resulted in the release of excess storm water into surrounding estuaries and coastal waters. We observed a nearly 12,000% increase in water column acoustic backscatter following a heavy rainfall event of September 16th, 2015. Interestingly, estimates of school backscatter, a proxy for biomass, increased by 172% with the onset of the perturbation. Schooling fish density also increased by 182%, as did acoustically derived estimates of mean schooling fish length (21%). Following the perturbed period, school backscatter decreased by 406%, along with schooling density (272%), and mean schooling fish length (35%). Hydrophone and hydroacoustic data also revealed that goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) spawning aggregations were persistent in the region throughout the duration of the study and continued to exhibit courtship behavior during the perturbed period. Our observations demonstrate the high level of resistance common in coastal species but raises new questions regarding the threshold at which fish communities and reproductive activities are disrupted. As coastal land use continues to increase, and the effects of global climate change become more pronounced, more Before-After Control Impact (BACI) studies will provide improved insight into the overall response of nearshore communities to future perturbations and the cumulative effect of repeated perturbations over extended periods.

Melatonin alleviates ovarian function damage and oxidative stress induced by dexamethasone in the laying hens through FOXO1 signaling pathway

Oxidative stress can trigger follicular atresia, and decrease follicles quantity in each development stage, thereby alleviating reproductive activity. The induction of oxidative stress in chickens through intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone is a reliable and stable method. Melatonin has been shown to mitigate oxidative stress in this model, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether melatonin can recover aberrant antioxidant status induced by dexamethasone and the specific mechanism behind melatonin-dependent protection. A total of 150 healthy 40-wk-old Dawu Jinfeng laying hens with similar body weights and laying rates were randomly divided into three groups, with five replicates per group and 10 hens per replicate. The hens in the control group (NS) received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline for 30 d, the dexamethasone group (Dex+NS) received 20 mg/kg dose of dexamethasone for the first 15 d, followed by the 15 d of normal saline treatment. While in the melatonin group (Dex+Mel), dexamethasone (20 mg/kg dose) was injected intraperitoneally in the first 15 d, and melatonin (20 mg/kg/d) was injected in the last 15 d. The results showed that dexamethasone treatment significantly enhanced oxidative stress (P < 0.05), while melatonin not only inhibited the oxidative stress but also notably enhanced the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and antioxidant genes CAT, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3), and recombinant peroxiredoxin 3(PRDX3) expression (P < 0.05). Melatonin treatment also markedly reduced 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (P < 0.05) and apoptotic genes Caspase-3, Bim, and Bax in the follicle. In the Dex+Mel group, the Bcl-2 and SOD1 protein levels were also increased (P < 0.05). Melatonin inhibited the forkhead Box Protein O1(FOXO1) gene and its protein expression (P < 0.05). In general, this investigation revealed that melatonin might decrease oxidative stress and ROS by enhancing antioxidant enzymes and genes, activating the antiapoptotic genes, and inhibiting the FOXO1 pathway in laying hens.

Probiotics Based on Lactic Acid Bacteria for Aquaculture

Aquaculture (especially fish farming) provides billions of people with nutrients: amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Aquaculture of commercial species (rainbow trout, common carp, grass carp, pacific white-legged shrimp, etc.) are growing rapidly and accounts for about a third of the global fish production. It is a major alternative to reducing wild populations that are unable to meet growing food demand. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Streptococcus, Carnobacterium, and Weissella belong to the normobiota of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of most fish. They play an important role as they stimulate the synthesis of digestive enzymes, prevent intestinal disorders, improve the immune response of the macroorganism, increase the barrier capacity of the mucous membrane due to the colonization of the fish GI tract, activate the resistance to the development of bacterial and viral infections due to the production of a wide range of antimicrobial substances (bacteriocins, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, etc.). Therefore, Lactobacilli are classified as potential probiotic strains for aquaculture. The combined use of lactic acid bacteria with feed increases their nutritional value, as microorganisms produce a wide range of digestive enzymes that actively participate in the process of digestion and decomposition of feed, as well as positively affect the growth of individuals and stimulate their reproductive activity, which undoubtedly contributes to the active introduction of commercial probiotics based on LAB strains. As a result of growing aquaculture, there are many problems such as stocking density, infectious diseases, excessive use of antibiotics, water pollution, which can be solved with the help of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, the review presents current literature data on the use of lactic acid bacteria strains as probiotic preparations for aquaculture, their species composition, probiotic effect on the host, the mechanism of action of probiotics on aquaculture, and the methods for delivery to the macroorganism.

Genetic and Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms of Lipase Activity in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium graminearum.

Lipases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of long-chain triglycerides, diglycerides, and monoglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol, participate in various biological pathways in fungi. In this study, we examined the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of fungal lipases via two approaches. First, we performed a systemic functional characterization of 86 putative lipase-encoding genes in the plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. The phenotypes were assayed for vegetative growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, stress responses, pathogenicity, mycotoxin production, and lipase activity. Most mutants were normal in the assessed phenotypes, implying overlapping roles for lipases in F. graminearum. In particular, FgLip1 and Fgl1 were revealed as core extracellular lipases in F. graminearum. Second, we examined the lipase activity of previously constructed transcription factor (TF) mutants of F. graminearum and identified three TFs and one histone acetyltransferase that significantly affect lipase activity. The relative transcript levels of FgLIP1 and FGL1 were markedly reduced or enhanced in these TF mutants. Among them, Gzzc258 was identified as a key lipase regulator that is also involved in the induction of lipase activity during sexual reproduction. To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive functional analysis of fungal lipases and provides significant insights into the genetic and regulatory mechanisms underlying lipases in fungi. IMPORTANCE Fusarium graminearum is an economically important plant-pathogenic fungus that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. Here, we constructed a gene knockout mutant library of 86 putative lipase-encoding genes and established a comprehensive phenotypic database of the mutants. Among them, we found that FgLip1 and Fgl1 act as core extracellular lipases in this pathogen. Moreover, several putative transcription factors (TFs) that regulate the lipase activities in F. graminearum were identified. The disruption mutants of F. graminearum-lipase regulatory TFs all showed defects in sexual reproduction, which implies a strong relationship between sexual development and lipase activity in this fungus. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms regulating lipase activity as well as its importance to the developmental stages of this plant-pathogenic fungus.

Effects of cadmium exposure during the breeding period on development and reproductive functions in rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus).

Cadmium is a common reproductive toxin in aquatic systems. Cd exposure of fish species at high concentrations can severely affect the reproductive function of fish. However, the underlying toxicity of cadmium exposure at low concentrations on the reproductive function in parental fish remains unclear. To investigate the impacts of cadmium exposure on reproductive capability, eighty-one male and eighty-one female rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus) were exposed to cadmium at 0 (control group), 5 and 10μg/L for 28days, and then transferred into clean water to pair spawn. The results showed that cadmium exposure at 5 or 10μg/L for 28days in rare minnows could reduce the success rates of pair spawning in parent rare minnows, lessen no-spawning activities, and prolong the time for first spawning. Furthermore, the mean egg production of the cadmium exposure group increased. The fertility rate of the control group was significantly higher than that of the 5μg/L cadmium exposure group. Anatomical and histological data further revealed that the intensity of atretic vitellogenic follicles significantly increased and spermatozoa vacuolated after cadmium exposure (p < 0.05), but slightly increased the condition factor (CF), and relatively stable gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were also observed in the cadmium exposure groups. These observed results indicated that cadmium exposure at 5 or 10μg/L affected the reproductive activity of paired rare minnow by accumulating Cd in the gonads, and the effect diminished over time. The reproductive risk of low-dose cadmium exposure to fish species remains a cause for concern.

Effects of predation risks of bats on the growth, development, reproduction, and hormone levels of Spodoptera litura

Predation is a powerful selection pressure that shapes predator–prey interactions. Due to long-term interactions, moths have developed hearing to detect the echolocation calls of bats. This allows bats to impose the non-consumptive effects of predation on moths. However, information on the changes in the growth, development, reproduction, and hormones of moths that are vulnerable to bat predation is limited. In this study, we used Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to determine the effects of the predation risks of bats on their growth, development, reproduction, and hormone titers. Our results showed that the larvae of S. litura increased food intake, accelerated the development of the larval stages, increased mortality and metamorphosis failure, and had a smaller body size under the risk of predation by bats. Additionally, the reproductive activity and fecundity decreased in the adults of S. litura, but the juvenile hormone titers and 20-Ecdydysone hormone titers increased. These results suggested an adaptive response in S. litura under bat predation risks at the cost of lower survival and reproduction. Finally, we found that S. litura moths showed different responses to different predation risk cues, which suggested that they might assess the magnitude of different predation risks to make the most suitable decision for survival and reproduction. Our results highlight the importance of the predation risk imposed by bats to negatively regulate the population dynamics of moths. Our findings indicated that the biological control of bugs using bats is a promising strategy.

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of rodents in the Transcaucasian highland natural plague focus

The Transcaucasian highland vole natural plague focus is located within the Javakheti-Armenian (Javakheti and Armenian) Highlands and the Lesser Caucasus. In this region, rodents are hosts for fleas of 42 species from 21 genera. The one third part of flea species are monoxenous, the remaining species are oligoxene or pleioxene parasites. Fleas of 24 species are represented throughout the focus. Others are confined either to the Armenian or the Javakheti Highlands, as well as to the Lesser Caucasus. On the territory of the Transcaucasian focus, the warm period of the year is the most favorable time for the transmission of the plague, since fleas - parasites of the common vole - are characterized by high activity of nutrition and reproduction during this period.

Temperature drives reproductive activity in a rare trioecy population of Corbicula clams

Temperature drives reproductive activity in a rare trioecy population of Corbicula clams

Sea‐ice anomalies affect the acoustic presence of Antarctic pinnipeds in breeding areas

Sea ice is crucial for breeding in true Antarctic pinnipeds. Although critical to interpret and mitigate the effects of extreme climatic events on polar species, knowledge of the effects of strong sea‐ice anomalies on the reproductive activity of true Antarctic pinnipeds is scarce. Underwater vocalizations in these species play a key role in reproduction and function as indicators for presence and breeding onset. Using 8 years of recordings, we quantified the effect of sea‐ice concentration and drift on the acoustic presence probability of four pinniped species in their breeding areas. In all four species, acoustic activity timing was constant across years, but decreased when sea‐ice cover conditions were &lt;10%, suggesting that individuals may fail to anticipate rapid changes in sea‐ice cover. In the species’ traditional breeding areas, extreme and regular negative anomalies in early austral‐summer sea ice could affect long‐term reproductive success. Our findings underscore the urgent need for a better understanding of climate‐driven changes in high‐fidelity breeding areas to mitigate current and future anthropogenic pressures, and to sustain the integrity and functionality of the Southern Ocean's ecosystems.

Reproductive Biology of Male European Hake (Merluccius merluccius) in Central Mediterranean Sea: An Overview from Macroscopic to Molecular Investigation.

The improvement of scientific knowledge about overexploited fishery resources allow us to provide scientific advice for their management and stock protection. By using a multidisciplinary approach, the aim of the study was to characterize, for the first time in the Central Mediterranean Sea (GSA 17), the reproductive biology of males of M. merluccius, currently highly exploited. A multi-year sampling from January 2017 to December 2019 was performed to exhaustively evaluate the sex ratio of the stock, while the 2018 annual sampling was selected to investigate the reproductive pattern of males. Individuals in spawning conditions were found every month, proving that M. merluccius is an asynchronous species, reproducing all year round, with a seasonal reproductive peak in spring/summer, as indicated by GSI. Five gonadal development stages were defined to fully describe the reproductive cycle of males. The macroscopic and histological L50, respectively 18.6 cm and 15.4 cm, were both below the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS). According to the mRNA levels, fsh and lh played a significant role during spermiation, whereas the gnrhr2a was involved at the beginning of sexual maturity. In the testis, fshr and lhr reached maximum expression levels before the spermiation. The hormonal stimuli of 11-ketotestosterone and its receptor were significantly higher when the specimen was in reproductive activity.

Seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature lead to changes in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and affect mating success in Drosophila suzukii

Seasonal plasticity in insects is often triggered by temperature and photoperiod changes. When climatic conditions become sub-optimal, insects might undergo reproductive diapause, a form of seasonal plasticity delaying the development of reproductive organs and activities. During the reproductive diapause, the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which covers the insect body surface, might also change to protect insects from desiccation and cold temperature. However, CHCs are often important cues and signals for mate recognition and changes in CHC composition might affect mate recognition. In the present study, we investigated the CHC profile composition and the mating success of Drosophila suzukii in 1- and 5-day-old males and females of summer and winter morphs. CHC compositions differed with age and morphs. However, no significant differences were found between the sexes of the same age and morph. The results of the behavioral assays show that summer morph pairs start to mate earlier in their life, have a shorter mating duration, and have more offspring compared to winter morph pairs. We hypothesize that CHC profiles of winter morphs are adapted to survive winter conditions, potentially at the cost of reduced mate recognition cues.

Constitutive Innate Immunity of Migrant and Resident Long-Nosed Bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in the Drylands of Mexico

In contrast to birds, the relationship between migration and immunity has been scarcely studied in bats. We examined how the expression of the humoral portion of the constitutive immunity varied in a bat with partial, sex-biased migration: the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Phyllostomidae)). The lesser long-nosed bat is a nectarivorous species distributed in the arid and semi-arid regions of North and Central America. We evaluated the bacteria-killing abilities (BKAs) of the plasma of male and female lesser long-nosed bats on the Pacific coast in different periods of the year. Because adult males are resident, they were used to explore the effect of reproductive activity on BKA, and we predicted higher values in mating males (i.e., individuals presenting scrotal testicles and a fresh dorsal patch). In contrast to males, most females migrate to cactus deserts in northern Mexico during pregnancy and lactation, and then return to the dry forests of west-central Mexico to mate. We predicted that the combined effect of breeding and migration would have an adverse effect on BKA; therefore, migratory pregnant and lactating females were expected to exhibit a lower BKA than mating females in west-central Mexico. We compared the BKAs of females captured in October and December in central Mexico, and we predicted that migratory females that had recently arrived in October should exhibit a lower BKA than females captured two months later. In addition, we compared the BKAs between lactating females and young in northern Mexico and predicted lower values in recently born individuals. We found that the BKAs of males were higher in reproductive individuals than in non-reproductive individuals. We found a significant difference in the BKAs between females at the two extremes of their migratory range: the values of pregnant females in Sonora and females in December were higher than those of females captured in October. Finally, we found no difference in BKAs between lactating females and young individuals. Our findings indicate that the basal levels of the innate humoral component are heightened in mating males, that this response is reduced in females that recently returned to their mating grounds, and that the constitutive immunity of young individuals matures early, probably in anticipation of the potential to encounter pathogens during their migration to west-central Mexico.

The AtERF19 gene regulates meristem activity and flower organ size in plants.

Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) have diverse functions in the regulation of various plant developmental processes. Here, we demonstrate the dual role of an Arabidopsis ERF gene, AtERF19, in regulating reproductive meristem activity and flower organ size through the regulation of genes involved in CLAVATA-WUSCHEL (CLV-WUS) and auxin signaling, respectively. We found that AtERF19 stimulated the formation of flower primordia and controlled the number of flowers produced by activating WUS and was negatively regulated by CLV3. 35S::AtERF19 expression resulted in significantly more flowers, whereas 35S::AtERF19 + SRDX dominant-negative mutants produced fewer flowers. In addition, AtERF19 also functioned to control flower organ size by promoting the division/expansion of the cells through activating Small Auxin Up RNA Gene 32 (SAUR32), which positively regulated MYB21/24 in the auxin signaling pathway. 35S::AtERF19 and 35S::SAUR32 resulted in similarly larger flowers, whereas 35S::AtERF19 + SRDX and 35S::SAUR32-RNAi mutants produced smaller flowers than the wild type. The functions of AtERF19 were confirmed by the production of similarly more and larger flowers in 35S::AtERF19 transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and in transgenic Arabidopsis which ectopically expressed the orchid gene (Nicotiana benthamiana) PaERF19 than in wild-type plants. The finding that AtERF19 regulates genes involved in both CLV-WUS and auxin signaling during flower development significantly expands the current knowledge of the multifunctional evolution of ERF genes in plants. The results presented in this work indicate a dual role for the transcription factor AtERF19 in controlling the number of flowers produced and flower organ size through the regulation of genes involved in CLV-WUS and auxin signaling, respectively. Our findings expand the knowledge of the roles of ERF genes in the regulation of reproductive development.

A neuroscience-based approach to the assessment of sexual behavior in animals.

Sexual behavior in animals is important in ensuring the continuity of the generation. These behaviors differ in animal species. Sexual behaviors are shaped under the control of the reproductive system. Physiological stimuli produced by the reproductive system find their counterparts in the organism as reproductive activity. Reproductive activity display a critical role by transferring on the genetic heritage of organisms to the next generations. This activity, which is built on delicate balances, is associated with many systems in the organism. Nervous system, hormonal system, and circulatory system are the main ones. The regular formation of the reproductive activity in species is due to the effect of various factors. In domestic mammals, the reproductive activity is regulated by hormones secreted from brain and endocrine glands. Many hormones have duties in terms of the sustainability of reproductive activity. GnRH is the main hormone responsible for initiating this reproductive activity. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is a small molecule peptide from certain nerve cells in the nucleus infundibularis region of the hypothalamus and consists of different amino acids, is secreted under the influence of smell, temperature, light, and physical stimulation. Besides, GnRH release is controlled by various neurotransmitters (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin). On the other hand, various genetic factors in secretory glands, gonadal cells, reproductive tissues can lead to significant changes on reproductive activity through specific molecular pathways and mechanisms.

Assessment of the self-confidence of obstetrics & gynecology fellows to perform a postpartum hemostasis hysterectomy.

Hemostasis Hysterectomy (HH) is a last resort surgical procedure performed in situations of uncontrolled post-partum hemorrhage in maternity wards. The chances of being confronted with this situation are scarce during residency, and the situation is not well suited for teaching. Nevertheless, every obstetrician-gynecologist can be confronted with this stressful situation, and should therefore possess the surgical competence required, regardless of his routine practice. The aim of the present study is to evaluate clinical exposure and self-awareness concerning HH amongst obstetrics and gynecology residents and fellows. We performed a survey amongst French obstetrics and gynecology fellows. An anonymous survey was sent by email between December 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. Half of the interrogated fellows had practiced (as operator) an HH during residency with a senior and only 22,6% in post-residency. During the last year of residency 70% of them had performed less than 10 scheduled hysterectomies as primary operator. The laparoscopic approach was the most frequently practiced. Very few hysterectomies were performed as primary operator. Fellows with a surgical or mixed activity (both gynecological surgery and obstetrical activity in current practice) felt significantly more capable of performing HH compared to those with exclusive obstetrical or reproductive medicine activity; respectively 60% vs 36%, p=0.008; Odds Ratio: 2.629 (95% CI 1.2214; 5.8094). The number of scheduled hysterectomies or HH performed as primary operator is very low during residency or fellowship. It remains largely inferior to the number deemed necessary in previous publications about the learning curve for scheduled hysterectomy, which varies from 18 to 80 interventions. Nowadays, the increasing number of residents, added to the decrease of hemostasis hysterectomies through better management of post-partum hemorrhage, pushes towards the development of specific training, such as "damage control simulation".

Impact of Coenzyme Q10 and Wheat Germ Oil on some Measures of Oxidation and Reproductive System Activity of Local Rabbits Buck Under Oxidative Stress Conditions

Effects of different levels of 0.0 and 100 mg Coenzyme Q10/kg diet (CoQ10), 0.00 and 3 gm. WGO /kg (WGO) on a number of oxidation parameters, sex hormones, and histological structure of the testis in local rabbits buck were investigated under oxidative stress condition. A total 54 rabbits aged 4-5 months, randomly assigned to six treatments. Nine / treatment and three replicates per each. The results showed a significant decrease in GOT and GPT enzymes for T3 and T4 compared with the T1 and T2. With a significant decrease in cortisol levels. Treatments 3 and 4 showed a significant improvement in the GSH and MDA concentrations of normal and stressed rabbits compared with the control and the second. Treatment with H2O2 recorded decrease in hormones FSH, LH and testosterone compared to others. Whereas, treatments with CoQ10 and WGO, recorded an improvement in the concentration of FSH and LH hormones compared with others. The addition of Coenzyme Q10 and wheat germ oil improved histological structure of the testicle. We can conclude treatment with CoQ10 and WGO improved parameters of oxidation and the level of sex hormones, and histological structure of the testis.

Abundance of microplastic in different coastal areas using Phragmatopoma caudata (Kroyer in Morch, 1863) (Polychaeta: Sabelariidae) as an indicator

Plastic debris has been reported in the marine environment since the '70s. These plastic materials are introduced into the marine environment in several sizes, one of them microplastics (MP), and they have drawn great interest and concern in the past decades. Consumption of MP can cause weight loss, feeding rate decrease, reproductive activity decrease, and several other negative effects. Ingestion of MPs has already been reported for some species of polychaetes but the use of these annelids in MP studies is still poorly reported. Costa et al. (2021) was the first study to investigate the capability of the reef-building polychaete Phragmatopoma caudata to incorporate microplastic in its colony's structures. This makes the colonies a reservoir of MP and thus they reflect the environment's quality regarding MP presence. Consequently, this specie becomes an important asset to MP pollution investigation in coastal areas. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the abundance of MPs on the coastline of Espírito Santo using P. caudata as an indicator of MP presence. For this, we collected samples of P. caudata colonies in 12 sampling sites along the Espírito Santo coast (three replicates at each site). These colony samples were processed to extract the MPs particles from the colony surface, its inner structure, and tissues from the individuals. These MPs were counted using a stereomicroscope and sorted according to their color and type (filament, fragment, and other). Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 9.3.0. Significant values followed p < 0.05. We found MP particles in all 12 sampled beaches, configuring a pollution rate of 100 %. The number of filaments was notably greater than the number of fragments and others. The most impacted beaches were found inside the metropolitan region of the state. Finally, P. caudata is an efficient and trustable indicator of microplastic in coastal areas.