Reproductive Status Research Articles

Combining features selection strategy and features fusion strategy for SPAD estimation of winter wheat based on UAV multispectral imagery

The Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) is a vital index for evaluating crop nutritional status and serves as an essential parameter characterizing the reproductive growth status of winter wheat. Non-destructive and accurate monitorin3g of winter wheat SPAD plays a crucial role in guiding precise management of crop nutrition. In recent years, the spectral saturation problem occurring in the later stage of crop growth has become a major factor restricting the accuracy of SPAD estimation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to use features selection strategy to optimize sensitive remote sensing information, combined with features fusion strategy to integrate multiple characteristic features, in order to improve the accuracy of estimating wheat SPAD. This study conducted field experiments of winter wheat with different varieties and nitrogen treatments, utilized UAV multispectral sensors to obtain canopy images of winter wheat during the heading, flowering, and late filling stages, extracted spectral features and texture features from multispectral images, and employed features selection strategy (Boruta and Recursive Feature Elimination) to prioritize sensitive remote sensing features. The features fusion strategy and the Support Vector Machine Regression algorithm are applied to construct the SPAD estimation model for winter wheat. The results showed that the spectral features of NIR band combined with other bands can fully capture the spectral differences of winter wheat SPAD during the reproductive growth stage, and texture features of the red and NIR band are more sensitive to SPAD. During the heading, flowering, and late filling stages, the stability and estimation accuracy of the SPAD model constructed using both features selection strategy and features fusion strategy are superior to models using only a single feature strategy or no strategy. The enhancement of model accuracy by this method becomes more significant, with the greatest improvement observed during the late filling stage, with R2 increasing by 0.092-0.202, root mean squared error (RMSE) decreasing by 0.076-4.916, and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) increasing by 0.237-0.960. In conclusion, this method has excellent application potential in estimating SPAD during the later stages of crop growth, providing theoretical basis and technical support for precision nutrient management of field crops.

Understanding the effects of egg loss from fisher handling to improve conservation of a threatened freshwater crayfish (Euastacus armatus)

Context Handling of wild animals can have adverse effects on individuals that scale up to affect populations and ultimately species. Limited mobility and high harvest pressure expose the threatened Australian freshwater crayfish (Euastacus armatus) to multiple handling events by fishers that cause egg loss. Aim Our aim was to assess the effects from harvest pressure on the reproductive output of an E. armatus population. Methods A stochastic model based on empirical data and estimated harvest pressures was used to predict the effect of repetitive handling of individuals on a population of E. armatus subject to harvest and consequent egg loss. Key results Egg loss resulted in substantial predicted population-level declines, most pronounced in populations subject to high and extreme harvest pressures. Conclusions We advocate educating fishers to visually determine the reproductive condition of female crayfish by inspecting gonopore setation, eliminating the need for unfurling the tail. Implications Maximising species reproductive output through limiting handling loss supports the management and conservation of E. armatus populations.

Pregnancy-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are not associated with impaired maternal neuronal activity or memory function.

Pregnancy is associated with neural and behavioral plasticity, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Yet, the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on maternal neural and behavioral plasticity during pregnancy are unclear. We hypothesized that healthy pregnancy transiently reduces learning and memory, and these deficits are associated with pregnancy-induced elevations in inflammation and oxidative stress. Cognitive performance was tested using novel object recognition (recollective memory), Morris water maze (spatial memory), and open field (anxiety-like) behavior tasks in female Sprague-Dawley rats of varying reproductive states [non-pregnant (nulliparous), pregnant (near term), and 1-2 months post-pregnancy (primiparous); n = 7-8/group]. Plasma and CA1 proinflammatory cytokines were measured using a MILLIPLEX® magnetic bead assay. Plasma oxidative stress was measured via advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) assay. CA1 markers of oxidative stress, neuronal activity, and apoptosis were quantified via western blotting. Our results demonstrate CA1 oxidative stress-associated markers were elevated in pregnant compared to nulliparous rats (p ≤ 0.017) but were equivalent levels in pregnant and primiparous rats. In contrast, reproductive state did not impact CA1 inflammatory cytokines, neuronal activity, or apoptosis. Likewise, there was no effect of reproductive state on recollective or spatial memory. Even so, spatial learning was impaired (p ≤ 0.007) while anxiety-like behavior (p ≤ 0.034) was reduced in primiparous rats. Overall, our data suggest maternal hippocampal CA1 is protected from systemic inflammation but vulnerable to peripartum oxidative stress. Peripartum oxidative stress elevations, such as in pregnancy complications, may contribute to peripartum neural and behavioral plasticity.

Assessing the Impact of Onion Juice on the Levels of Leutinizing Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Female Mice Exposed to Transfluthrin Smoke

Aim: Transfluthrin is a fast-acting insecticide used in household mainly against mosquites. Its uses have not been without health risk to humans. The study aims at evaluating the effect of onion juice on follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone levels in mice exposed to transfluthrin smoke. Study Design: This is an animal study conducted in the Animal House, College of Medical Science in Rivers State University. Materials and Methods: Thirty( 30) female mice were used in this study. They were divided into six groups of five mice each; Group 1(negative control, exposed to normal environmental air), Group 2(exposed to 6g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke and given 0.2ml of onion juice), Group 3(exposed to 6g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke only), Group 4(exposed to 12g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke and given 0.2ml of onion juice), Group 5(exposed to 12g of transfluthrin coated insecticide paper smoke only), Group 6(given 0.2ml of onion juice only) through the oral gavage method daily. The smoke inhalation lasted for 15minutes daily for 28 days using the already formulated packaged transflutrin coated insecticide papers in the market. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean values of Follicle Stimulating Hormone in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 when compared to group 1 (P=0.004). There was no significant difference observed in the mean values of Leutinizing Hormone in the various groups (P=0.068). The ovaries in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 showed several distortion and fluid congestion, which could be attributed to auto regulatory mechanisms leading to biochemical derangement. Conclusion: This study shows that the exposure significantly altered the hormonal levels and the ovarian cyto architecture of the mice. It also reveals that exposure to transfluthrin is detrimental to the reproductive functions of female mice however, the Onion juice administered to the mice in this study showed no ameliorative effect on the ovarian distortion, hence not improving the reproductive status of the mice.

Long-term, medium-term and acute stress response of urban populations of Eurasian red squirrels affected by different levels of human disturbance.

Animals in urban areas often encounter novel and potentially stressful conditions. It is important to understand how wildlife cope with anthropogenic disturbance. To investigate this specific adaptation we live-trapped squirrels in two study sites in Warsaw: a forest reserve and an urban park and we estimated stress responses at three levels: long-term and medium-term stress (the level of stress hormones, i.e. cortisol and cortisone concentrations, in hair and feces) and acute reaction to human-induced stress (measured during handling with the aid of the three indices: breath rate, struggle rate, and vocalization). According to GLMM models no difference in the stress hormones level was found between the two populations. The only differences in cortisol concentrations clearly depended on the season, i.e. being higher in autumn and winter comparying to other seasons. There was no influence of sex, or reproductive status on stress hormones. Forest squirrels had significantly higher breath rates, suggesting they were more stressed by handling. There was no difference in the struggle rate between study areas, this index was mostly affected by season (i.e. being highest in winter). First-trapped squirrels vocalized less than during the subsequent trappings. Assumingly, during the first, and more stressful trapping, squirrels used 'freezing' and/or little vocalization, while during next captures they used alarm calls to warn conspecifics. Overall, we showed that the two squirrel populations differed only in terms of their breath rate. This suggests that they did not differ in medium-term and long-term stress in general, but they can differ in acute response to handling. This also suggests that both populations were similarly affected by environmental factors. The lack of clear effects may also be due to population heterogeneity. Thus, in order to assess the effects of anthropogenic stressors a broader range of indicators and diverse analytical methods, including behavioral analyses, should be employed.

Abstract PO5-07-06: Impact of patient-specific factors on quantitative breast parenchymal texture features

Abstract Breast parenchymal texture characterizes the spatial and structural patterns of breast tissue and is an independent predictor of breast cancer risk. Although it has conceptual similarities with another breast composition measure, breast density, parenchymal texture is more complex and is represented by multiple quantitative measures. The extent to which the epidemiology and biological basis of parenchymal texture and breast density differ has not been well described. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated quantitative measures of parenchymal texture among 308 postmenopausal women aged ≥ 45 years who participated in a routine breast cancer screening at an academic medical center between 2020 and 2022. After providing informed consent, participants completed a short interview-based questionnaire. Additional demographic and breast cancer risk factor information was obtained from the medical record. Parenchymal texture features were measured from craniocaudal views of full-field digital mammograms. Measured texture values were standardized and averaged across left and right breasts. For this analysis, we evaluated associations between features previously validated as being associated with breast cancer risk (fractal dimension, grey-level mean, co-occurrence entropy and inverse difference moment) and patient personal and clinical characteristics reported at the time of screening. Associations between texture features and participant characteristics were evaluated using Pearson correlations (continuous variables) or the Kruskal-Wallis test (categorical variables). Generalized linear models were used to adjust for technical factors associated with image acquisition, including mammography machine, compression force, and software version. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Among the 308 participants, 70% were White, 24% were Black, 1% were Asian, 1% were American Indian, and 4% were another race that was not specified. 4% of participants reported Hispanic ethnicity. The mean age was 64.7 years (range 45 – 84 years). Fewer than half of the women were reported by a radiologist to have dense breasts (heterogeneously dense – 24%, extremely dense – 5%, vs. almost entirely fatty – 21%, scattered fibroglandular densities – 50%). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.4 kg/m2 (range 19.4 to 53.1 kg/m2) and 77% of the women were parous. BMI was strongly correlated with fractal dimension (r=0.62, P< 0.01) and grey-level mean (r=-0.48, P< 0.01), and had a weaker correlation with co-occurrence entropy (r=-0.19, P< 0.01). Age was weakly correlated with co-occurrence inverse difference moment (r=-0.12, P=0.03). BI-RADS breast density was inversely associated with fractal dimension, grey-level mean, and co-occurrence entropy (all P< 0.01). Adjustment for technical factors attenuated some associations, but BMI associations with fractal dimension (P< 0.01) and gray-level mean (P< 0.01), and breast density associations with fractal dimension, grey-level mean, and co-occurrence entropy (all P< 0.01) all remained statistically significant. Parity was not associated with any of the features evaluated in unadjusted or adjusted analyses (all P >0.05). These data suggest that, in postmenopausal women, risk-associated parenchymal texture features are associated with measures affected by body size and adiposity, but not with measures related to age or reproductive status. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the temporality of these associations. Additionally, future studies will address the joint effects of texture features and the impact of endogenous estrogen levels on the features, which will provide insight into the biological mechanisms that influence texture feature associations with personal characteristics and breast cancer risk. Citation Format: Sarah Nyante, Yukie Kajita, Walter Mankowski, Ley Killeya, Despina Kontos, Xianming Tan, Eric Cohen, Cherie Kuzmiak. Impact of patient-specific factors on quantitative breast parenchymal texture features [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-07-06.

Knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis and urinary schistosomiasis among final-year midwifery students in the Volta Region of Ghana.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a gynaecological complication of urinary schistosomiasis (US) with an estimated burden of 20-120 million cases in endemic areas. A neglected sexual and reproductive health disease in sub-Saharan Africa, FGS increases susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections including cervical cancer and infertility among other morbidities. However, there appears to be limited FGS knowledge among practicing and pre-service health providers with implications for control. We assessed FGS awareness among final-year midwifery students who would soon be delivering primary maternal and reproductive health care. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 193 randomly selected final-year students from all three midwifery training institutions in the Volta region of Ghana in August/September, 2022. Data on participants' demographics and knowledge of the transmission, signs and symptoms, complications, treatment and prevention of both FGS and US were collected using structured questionnaires. Summary statistics were presented as frequencies, proportions and percentages. Only 23.3% (44/189) of participants had heard about FGS compared to 64% (123/192) for US. Of the former, 42 (95%), 40 (91%) and 36 (81.8%) respectively identified genital itching/burning sensation, bloody vaginal discharge and pelvic pain/pain during intercourse as part of the symptoms of FGS. Less than a third (13/44) and about half (25/44) of those who indicated hearing about FGS knew it can be a risk for ectopic pregnancies and infertility respectively. Majority of these participants, 40 (91%), wrongly selected antibiotics as treatment for FGS while 9 indicated it is prevented by sleeping in insecticide-treated nets. Awareness of FGS was limited among the study participants. The high prevalence of knowledge of some FGS symptoms related to the genitalia needs cautious interpretation. Health care training institutions must make deliberate efforts to highlight FGS in the training of midwives as the condition has diagnostic and management implications for some sexual and reproductive health conditions.

Interplay of hormones and metabolite excretion with fern pattern prove saliva as a potent indicator of male reproductive status in Kangayam breed cattle.

Kangayam cattle are one of the drought breeds in India with distinct attributes. Agricultural transformation has led to a decline in many pure-breed indigenous cattle, including the Kangayam breed. Hence, a study on the reproductive physiology of male Kangayam breed cattle is necessary to disentangle problems in the area of livestock improvement. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum hormones and bio-constituents and ascertained the potential of saliva as an indicator of the reproductive status of Kangayam cattle (Bos indicus). The present study confirms that cholesterol was higher in intact males and lower in prepubertal and castrated males. Testosterone levels were also higher in intact males than in castrated or prepubertal males. Hence, it can be inferred that high cholesterol levels contribute to active derivatization of testosterone in intact males. In contrast, reduced cholesterol availability leads to decreased testosterone synthesis in castrated and prepubertal males. Furthermore, it is reasonable to speculate that testosterone could have influenced salivary fern patterns in intact males, and thus, fern-like crystallization in the saliva was apparent. The unique salivary compounds identified through GC-MS across various reproductive statuses of Kangayam males may advertise their physiological status to conspecifics. In addition, the presence of odorant-binding protein(OBP) in saliva further supports its role in olfactory communication. This study attested to a posssible interlink between gonadal status and serum biochemical profiles. The salivary fern pattern revealed in this study can be used as a predictive tool, and the presence of putative volatiles and OBP adds evidence to the role of saliva in chemical communication.

Rethinking the application of nanoparticles in women's reproductive health and assisted reproduction.

Nanoparticles and nanotechnology may present opportunities to revolutionize the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of a range of reproductive health conditions in women. These technologies are also used to improve outcomes of assisted reproductive technology. We highlight a range of these potential clinical uses of nanoparticles for polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and sexually transmitted infections, considering in vitro and in vivo studies along with clinical trials. In addition, we discuss applications of nanoparticles in assisted reproductive technology, including sperm loading, gamete and embryo preservation and preventing preterm birth. Finally, we present some of the concerns associated with the medical use of nanoparticles, identifying routes for further exploration before nanoparticles can be applied to women's reproductive health in the clinic.

Individual variation in life-history timing: synchronous presence, asynchronous events and phenological compensation in a wild mammal.

Many animals and plants have species-typical annual cycles, but individuals vary in their timing of life-history events. Individual variation in fur replacement (moult) timing is poorly understood in mammals due to the challenge of repeated observations and longitudinal sampling. We examined factors that influence variation in moult duration and timing among elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). We quantified the onset and progression of fur loss in 1178 individuals. We found that an exceptionally rapid visible moult (7 days, the shortest of any mammals or birds), and a wide range of moult start dates (spanning 6-10× the event duration) facilitated high asynchrony across individuals (only 20% of individuals in the population moulting at the same time). Some of the variation was due to reproductive state, as reproductively mature females that skipped a breeding season moulted a week earlier than reproductive females. Moreover, individual variation in timing and duration within age-sex categories far outweighed (76-80%) variation among age-sex categories. Individuals arriving at the end of the moult season spent 50% less time on the beach, which allowed them to catch up in their annual cycles and reduce population-level variance during breeding. These findings underscore the importance of individual variation in annual cycles.

Metabolic imprinting in beef calves supplemented with creep feeding on performance, reproductive efficiency and metabolome profile

This experiment evaluated the influence of creep feeding supplementation on productive and reproductive performance and on serum metabolome profile in Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers. Female calves were assigned to treatments: Creep (n = 190), with ad libitum access to a nutritional supplement from 70 to 220 days after birth, or Control (n = 140), without supplementation. After weaning (Day 220), both groups followed the same pasture and nutritional management. Body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BFAT) were measured over time. Blood samples were collected at 220 and 360 days for LC–MS/MS targeted metabolomics. On day 408, during the synchronization timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol, reproductive status (RS: diameter of uterine horn and largest follicle, and presence of CL) was assessed. Creep feeding increased BW and BFAT at weaning, but no differences in BW, BFAT, or RS after weaning were observed. Nonetheless, the pregnancy per AI (P/AI) for 1st service was 28.9% higher in the Creep group. On day 220, 11 significant metabolites influenced five metabolic pathways: Glucose-alanine cycle, alanine, glutathione, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, and urea cycle. On day 360, 14 significant metabolites influenced eight metabolic pathways: Malate-aspartate shuttle, arginine and proline metabolism, urea cycle, aspartate, beta-alanine, glutamate metabolism, ammonia recycling and citric acid cycle. In conclusion, creep feeding supplementation improved calf performance and induced metabolic changes at weaning and 360 days of age. Although heifers had similar productive performance and reproductive status, when submitted to TAI, those supplemented with creep feeding had greater P/AI.

Evaluating the Impact of Vitamin D3 on NF-κB and JAK/STAT Signaling Pathways in Drosophila melanogaster.

This study delved into the consequences of prolonged administration of vitamin D3 on innate immune systems, particularly NF-κB and JAK/STAT, in Drosophila melanogaster. The outcomes indicated that vitamin D3 treatment exhibited a notable capacity to improve the survival of adult flies with compromised immune functions, a condition induced by the loss of PGRP-LB, particularly when the flies were exposed to heat-killed Escherichia coli. The PGRP-LBΔ mutant line that was treated with heat-killed E. coli experienced reduced survival. Treatment of heat-killed E. coli-treated PGRP-LBΔ with vitamin D3 resulted in improved survival, and this phenotypic feature might be due to the downregulation of gene expression in the NF-κB and JAK/STAT pathways. However, a higher concentration of vitamin D3 was associated with decreased survival, potentially linked to intricate immunological responses. The research also underscored the influence of vitamin D3 on the expression of antioxidant genes, sod1 and sod2, indicating an augmented resistance to oxidative stress. Further, this study revealed the effect of vitamin D3 on the reproductive status of the autoinflammatory model, showing an increase in pupae and adult flies with a treatment of 10 mM vitamin D3, suggesting the potential benefits of vitamin D3 on the reproductive profile. Overall, this study provides preliminary insights into the complex interactions between vitamin D3, immune pathways, oxidative responses in the cell, and reproduction in Drosophila.

Therapeutic benefits of central LH receptor agonism in the APP/PS1 AD model involve trophic and immune regulation and are reproductive status dependent

The mechanisms that underly reproductive hormone effects on cognition, neuronal plasticity, and AD risk, particularly in relation to gonadotropin LH receptor (LHCGR) signaling, remain poorly understood. To address this gap in knowledge and clarify the impact of circulating steroid hormones on the therapeutic effects of CNS LHCGR activation, we delivered the LHCGR agonist human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) intracerebroventricularly (ICV) and evaluated functional, structural, plasticity-related signaling cascades, Aβ pathology, and transcriptome differences in reproductively intact and ovariectomized (OVX) APP/PS1 AD female mice. Here we demonstrate that CNS hCG delivery restored function to wild-type levels only in OVX APP/PS1 mice. Spine density was increased in all hCG treated groups independently of reproductive status. Notably, increases in BDNF signaling and cognition, were selectively upregulated only in the OVX hCG-treated group. RNA sequencing analyses identified a significant increase in peripheral myeloid and pro-inflammatory genes within the hippocampi of the OVX group that were completely reversed by hCG treatment, identifying a potential mechanism underlying the selective therapeutic effect of LHCGR activation. Interestingly, in intact mice, hCG administration mimicked the effects of gonadectomy. Together, our findings indicate that CNS LHCGR agonism in the post-menopausal context is beneficial through trophic and immune mechanisms. Our findings also underscore the presence of a steroid-LHCGR mechanistic interaction that is unexplored yet potentially meaningful to fully understand “post-menopausal” brain function and CNS hormone treatment response.

Courage in Decision Making: A Mixed-Methods Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Women of Reproductive Age in the U.K.

COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in women of reproductive age (WRA), including pregnant/postpartum women, despite their poorer COVID-19-related outcomes. We evaluated the vaccination experiences of 3568 U.K. WRA, including 1983 women (55.6%) experiencing a pandemic pregnancy, recruited through the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app. Two staggered online questionnaires (Oct-Dec 2021: 3453 responders; Aug-Sept 2022: 2129 responders) assessed reproductive status, COVID-19 status, vaccination, and attitudes for/against vaccination. Descriptive analyses included vaccination type(s), timing relative to age-based eligibility and reproductive status, vaccination delay (first vaccination >28 days from eligibility), and rationale, with content analysis of free-text comments. Most responders (3392/3453, 98.2%) were vaccinated by Dec 2021, motivated by altruism, vaccination supportiveness in general, low risk, and COVID-19 concerns. Few declined vaccination (by Sept/2022: 20/2129, 1.0%), citing risks (pregnancy-specific and longer-term), pre-existing immunity, and personal/philosophical reasons. Few women delayed vaccination, although pregnant/postpartum women (vs. other WRA) received vaccination later (median 3 vs. 0 days after eligibility, p < 0.0001). Despite high uptake, concerns included adverse effects, misinformation (including from healthcare providers), ever-changing government advice, and complex decision making. In summary, most women in this large WRA cohort were promptly vaccinated, including pregnant/post-partum women. Altruism and community benefit superseded personal benefit as reasons for vaccination. Nevertheless, responders experienced angst and received vaccine-related misinformation and discouragement. These findings should inform vaccination strategies in WRA.

Artificial diets can manipulate the reproductive development status of predatory ladybird beetles and hold promise for their shelf-life management

With the development of biological control methods, the predatory ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been widely used for pest control in agricultural production. Appropriate shelf-life management strategies could synchronize H. axyridis production with pest outbreaks, finally improving the effectiveness of biological control. Herein, we preliminarily explored whether an artificial diet could optimize the shelf-life management of H. axyridis. We compared the survival rate, nutrition accumulation, reproductive development, juvenile hormone (JH) related-gene expression levels, and stress resistance gene expression levels between aphid-fed and artificial diet-fed H. axyridis females. The results revealed that H. axyridis females maintained a high survival rate after being fed an artificial diet for 60 days, whereas the survival rate of aphid-fed females decreased. Continuous feeding of the artificial diet caused H. axyridis females to enter a diapause-like state, which was characterized by low JH levels, high triglycerides and trehalose accumulation, ovarian development inhibition, decreased Vgs expression levels, and increased stress resistance gene expression levels. This diapause-like state could be promptly recovered upon transferring to an aphid diet. These results indicate that the artificial diet could manipulate the reproductive development status of H. axyridis and lay the foundation for its shelf-life management.

Body Size of Female Strepsipteran Parasites (Strepsiptera, Xenidae, Xenos) Depends on Several Key Factors in a Vespine Wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Vespa).

Parasite growth in hosts depends on their hosts' nutritional status. This study examined whether the body size of the strepsipteran parasite Xenos oxyodontes, which parasitizes the eusocial wasp Vespa analis, is affected by several key factors, including host body size. We collected V. analis using bait traps for three years in Niigata, Japan, and evaluated the number of male and female X. oxyodontes parasites throughout the seasons. A total of 185 female parasites were collected, and their cephalothorax widths were measured. The widths of female parasites did not statistically vary among seasons and were positively correlated with the head widths of female host wasps but negatively correlated with the number of parasites per host wasp. In addition, we examined whether the reproductive conditions of post-hibernation solitary queens affected the cephalothorax width of female parasites. The widths of the female parasites were greater when the queens had less-developed ovaries. These results suggested that nutrient availability by female parasites depends on the host wasp and competition with conspecific individuals.

Sex, moulting dynamics, and reproductive status in Atlantic Forest tanagers and their collective impact on body condition

ABSTRACT Body condition in individuals is intricately linked to behaviour, physiology, and immunity. This study investigated how seasonal factors, such as reproduction and moulting, influence the body condition of 21 tanager species in the Atlantic Forest. Utilising publicly available data, I employed phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models to dissect these influences. Notably, females with brood patches exhibited concurrent body and feather moult, suggesting simultaneous energy-costly constraints. Furthermore, females with brood patches displayed higher body condition, indicating proactive preparation or increased resource availability during breeding. Lastly, individuals moulting body feathers exhibited enhanced body condition, suggesting heightened foraging activity. These data suggest complex connections between sex, moulting, and reproductive status in tanagers in the Atlantic Forest.

Overview of the expression patterns and roles of Lipocalin 2 in the reproductive system.

The 25 kDa-sized protein Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) was originally isolated from human neutrophil granulocytes more than 30 years ago. LCN2 is an emerging player in innate immune defense, as it reduces bacterial growth due to its ability to sequester iron-containing bacterial siderophores. On the other hand, LCN2 also serves as a transporter for various hydrophobic substances due to its β-barrel shaped structure. Over the years, LCN2 has been detected in many other cell types including epithelial cells, astrocytes, and hepatocytes. Studies have clearly shown that aberrant expression of LCN2 is associated with a variety of disorders and malignancies, including several diseases of the reproductive system. Furthermore, LCN2 was proposed as a non-invasive prognostic and/or diagnostic biomarker in this context. Although several studies have shed light on the role of LCN2 in various disorders of the female and male reproductive systems, including tumorigenesis, a comprehensive understanding of the physiological function of LCN2 in the reproductive tract is still lacking. However, there is evidence that LCN2 is directly related to fertility, as global depletion of Lcn2 in mice has a negative effect on their pregnancy rate. Since LCN2 expression can be regulated by steroid hormones, it is not surprising that its expression fluctuates greatly during remodeling processes in the female reproductive tract, especially in the uterus. Well-founded details about the expression and regulation of LCN2 in a healthy reproductive state and also about possible changes during reproductive aging could contribute to a better understanding of LCN2 as a target in various diseases. Therefore, the present review summarizes current knowledge about LCN2 in the reproductive system, including studies in rodents and humans, and discusses changes in LCN2 expression during pathological events. The limited data suggest that LCN2 is expressed and regulated differently in healthy male and female reproductive organs.

Lipidomics and plasma hormone analysis differentiate reproductive and pregnancy statuses in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are protected as a threatened species, and data are lacking regarding their reproductive physiology. This study aimed to (1) quantify plasma steroid hormones in Florida manatees from two field sites, Crystal River and Indian River Lagoon, at different gestational stages and to (2) identify individual lipids associated with pregnancy status. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric analysis was used to measure plasma steroid hormones and lipids. Pregnant female manatees were morphometrically distinct from male and non-pregnant female manatees, characterized by larger body weight and maximal girth. Progesterone concentrations in manatees were also elevated during early gestation versus late gestation. Cholesterol, an important metabolic lipid, and precursor for reproductive steroids, was not different between groups. Mass spectrometry quantified 949 lipids. Plasma concentrations of glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, sphingolipids, acylcarnitines, and cholesteryl esters were associated with pregnancy status in the Florida manatee. Most of the lipid species associated with pregnancy were triacylglycerides, phosphatidylethanolamines, and ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamines, which may serve as energy sources for fetal development. This research contributes to improving knowledge of manatee reproductive physiology by providing data on plasma steroid hormones relative to reproductive status and by identifying plasma lipids that may be important for pregnancy. Elucidation of lipid species directly associated with pregnancy has the potential to serve as a diagnostic approach to identify pregnant individuals in fresh and archived samples. These biochemical and morphometric indicators of reproductive status advance the understanding of manatee physiology.

Exploring Reproductive Health Knowledge and Practices of Female Students under 24 Years: A Study at the University of Dschang Main Campus

Context: Reproductive health encompasses people’s freedom and ability to procreate and have a sexual life that is not only safe but also satisfying. Identifying factors related to the under-utilization of reproductive health services among young girls could help reduce the incidence of reproductive health problems affecting them. Methods: This was a cross sectional study carried out from January to July 2022 among the female students aged 24years and below of the University of Dschang’s main campus. The sampling method was proportionate stratified sampling. Categorical and continuous variables were expressed as frequencies and means respectively. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Results: A total of 395 participants were recruited, with a mean age of 20.6 years and a reported high level of knowledge about reproductive health at 88.9%. Furthermore, 56.2% of the respondents were already sexually active, with the average age at first sex being 18.8 years. However, 30.6% of the participants had made use of reproductive health services. Being aged 21-22 years and being of a religion other than Christianity were some of the predictors of the participants' knowledge and practices towards reproductive health services. Conclusion: This study highlights the low use of reproductive health services among female students and provides new grounds for implementing interventions that will not only improve their reproductive health status but will also be culturally appropriate.