Reproductive Tissues Research Articles

Androgens Modulate the Immune Profile in a Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with a low-grade inflammation, but it is unknown how hyperandrogenism, the hallmark of PCOS, affects the immune system. Using a PCOS-like mouse model, it is demonstrated that hyperandrogenism affects immune cell populations in reproductive, metabolic, and immunological tissues differently in a site-specific manner. Co-treatment with an androgen receptor antagonist prevents most of these alterations, demonstrating that these effects are mediated through androgen receptor activation. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-exposed mice displayed a drastically reduced eosinophil population in the uterus and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). A higher frequency of natural killer (NK) cells and elevated levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α are seen in uteri of androgen-exposed mice, while NK cells in VAT and spleen displayed a higher expression level of CD69, a marker of activation or tissue residency. Distinct alterations of macrophages in the uterus, ovaries, and VAT are also found in DHT-exposed mice and can potentially be linked to PCOS-like traits of the model. Indeed, androgen-exposed mice are insulin-resistant, albeit unaltered fat mass. Collectively, it is demonstrated that hyperandrogenism causes tissue-specific alterations of immune cells in reproductive organs and VAT, which can have considerable implications on tissue function and contribute to the reduced fertility and metabolic comorbidities associated with PCOS.

The differential expression patterns of Atg9a and Atg9b in cells of the reproductive organs.

Autophagy is a major intracellular catabolic pathway governed by the sequential actions of proteins encoded by autophagy-related genes (Atg). ATG9, the only transmembrane protein involved in this process, regulates phospholipid translocation to autophagosomes during the early phases of autophagy. In mammals, two Atg9 isoforms have been reported: Atg9a and Atg9b. In this study, we examined whether the molecular and cellular characteristics of these two isoforms differed in mice. Whole uteri were collected on days 1, 4, and 8 of pregnancy and from ovariectomized mice injected with vehicle, progesterone, or 17β-estradiol. Cells from reproductive tissues, such as granulosa cells, uterine epithelial cells (UECs), uterine stromal cells (USCs), and oocytes were collected. Two human uterine cell lines were also used in this analysis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed. Serum starvation conditions were used to induce autophagy in primary cells. Atg9a and Atg9b were expressed in multiple mouse tissues and reproductive cells. Neither Atg9A nor Atg9B significantly changed in response to steroid hormones. Immunofluorescence staining of the UECs and USCs showed that ATG9A was distributed in a punctate-like pattern, whereas ATG9B exhibited a pattern of elongated tubular shapes in the cytoplasm. In human cancer cell lines, ATG9B was undetectable, whereas ATG9A was found in all cell types examined. The Atg9 isoforms exhibited distinct subcellular localizations in UECs and may play different roles in autophagy. Notably, human uterine cells exhibited reduced ATG9B expression, suggesting that this suppression may be due to epigenetic regulation.

Quantifying direct and indirect effects of early‐season herbivory on reproduction across four brassicaceous plant species

Abstract Insect herbivores can directly affect plant reproduction by feeding on reproductive tissues, or indirectly by feeding on vegetative tissues for which plants are unable to compensate. Additionally, early arriving herbivores may have cascading effects on plant reproduction by altering the later arriving community. However, the dynamic interplay between plant development and the assembly of herbivore communities remains underexplored. Hence, it is unclear whether non‐outbreak levels of ambient herbivory early in the development of plants can impact plant fitness and to what extent these effects are mediated through changes in plant development and subsequent herbivory. By excluding the herbivore community in an exclosure experiment and by manipulating early‐season herbivory in a common garden field experiment replicated across four Brassicaceae species and 2 years, we tested whether early‐season herbivory by caterpillars (Pieris rapae) or aphids (Myzus persicae) affected development, reproduction, and the herbivore communities associated with individual plants. In addition, we tested a causal hypothesis to assess the relative importance and temporal interplay between variation in herbivore communities and variation in plant development in determining plant reproduction. Early‐season herbivory affected plant reproduction in the exclosure experiment, with effects being highly dependent on the plant species, the herbivore species and the year. However, we found no such effects in the field experiment. The exploratory path analysis indicated that variation in plant reproduction is best predicted by variation in plant development, explaining 80% of the total effect on seed production. This suggests early‐season herbivory had limited effects on later plant development, and plants were able to attenuate the impact of early‐season herbivory. However, no clear compensatory mechanism could be identified. While early‐season herbivory has the potential to affect plant reproduction through changes in plant development or the subsequent development of the associated community, these effects were small and varied across closely related species. This suggests that plant species may be exposed to different levels of natural selection by early‐season herbivores through plant‐ or community‐mediated effects on reproduction. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Key aspects of papillomavirus infection influence the host cervicovaginal microbiome in a preclinical murine papillomavirus (MmuPV1) infection model.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and are a major etiological agent of cancers in the anogenital tract and oral cavity. Growing evidence suggests changes in the host microbiome are associated with the natural history and ultimate outcome of HPV infection. We sought to define changes in the host cervicovaginal microbiome during papillomavirus infection, persistence, and pathogenesis using the murine papillomavirus (MmuPV1) cervicovaginal infection model. Cervicovaginal lavages were performed over a time course of MmuPV1 infection in immunocompetent female FVB/N mice and extracted DNA was analyzed by qPCR to track MmuPV1 viral copy number. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing was used to determine the composition and diversity of microbial communities throughout this time course. We also sought to determine whether specific microbial communities exist across the spectrum of MmuPV1-induced neoplastic disease. We, therefore, performed laser-capture microdissection to isolate regions of disease representing all stages of neoplastic disease progression (normal, low- and high-grade dysplasia, and cancer) from female reproductive tract tissue sections from MmuPV1-infected mice and performed 16S rRNA sequencing. Consistent with other studies, we found that the natural murine cervicovaginal microbiome is highly variable across different experiments. Despite these differences in initial microbiome composition between experiments, we observed that MmuPV1 persistence, viral load, and severity of disease influenced the composition of the cervicovaginal microbiome. These studies demonstrate that papillomavirus infection can alter the cervicovaginal microbiome.IMPORTANCEHuman papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. A subset of HPVs that infect the anogenital tract (cervix, vagina, anus) and oral cavity cause at least 5% of cancers worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that the community of microbial organisms present in the human cervix and vagina, known as the cervicovaginal microbiome, plays a role in HPV-induced cervical cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying this interplay are not well-defined. In this study, we infected the female reproductive tract of mice with a murine papillomavirus (MmuPV1) and found that key aspects of papillomavirus infection and disease influence the host cervicovaginal microbiome. This is the first study to define changes in the host microbiome associated with MmuPV1 infection in a preclinical animal model of HPV-induced cervical cancer. These results pave the way for using MmuPV1 infection models to further investigate the interactions between papillomaviruses and the host microbiome.

Joint Impacts of Meloidogyne incognita and Soil Nutrition on Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme.

Strategies for plant nutrient resource allocation under Meloidogyne spp. infection and different soil nutrient conditions are not well established. In response, the objectives of this research are to determine if increased vegetative growth of Solanum lycopersicon var. cerasiforme (cherry tomato) under high nutrition enhances resistance to M. incognita and whether adaptive strategies for growth, reproduction, and nutrient uptake by cherry tomato infected with M. incognita alter nutrient availability. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions using high, medium, and low soil nutrient regimes. The research results indicate that the total biomass of cherry tomato was less in the presence of M. incognita infection under all three nutrient conditions, compared with plants grown in the absence of this nematode. However, the increase in the root/shoot ratio indicates that cherry tomato allocated more resources to belowground organs. Under the combined impacts of M. incognita infection and low or medium soil nutrition, the nitrogen content in root system tissues and the phosphorus content in shoot system tissues were increased to meet the nutrient requirements of galled root tissue and plant fruit production. It is suggested that plants increase the allocation of reproductive resources to fruits by improving phosphorus transportation to the aboveground reproductive tissues under low and medium nutrient conditions. Overall, the study highlights a significant impact of soil nutrient levels on the growth and resource allocation associated with M. incognita-infected cherry tomato. In response, soil nutrient management is another practice for reducing the impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on crop production.

PSIII-8 Expression of Toll-Like Receptors in endometrium of gilts during early gestation

Abstract Interactions between the innate immune system and reproductive tissues via Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a pivotal role in maintaining the health and fertility status of mammalian species. TLRs are pattern recognition receptors used by the innate immune system to regulate inflammation, infections, and to indicate the presence of pathogenic activity within a tissue. Recent studies have identified several TLRs present in pigs that can detect a variety of molecules. Previous data from our group has demonstrated shifts in bacterial communities within the uterus during early gestation in gilts. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify and compare expression of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, and TLR6 in endometria of gilts. These TLRs were chosen because they are located on the cell surface and recognize invading microbes. Crossbred gilts (n = 21) free of physical, health or reproductive-related issues were euthanized and hysterectomized during the preimplantation (d 11) and peri-implantation (d 15) stages of pregnancy (Pregnant d 11, n = 10; Pregnant d 15, n = 11). Samples of endometrial mucosa were collected and snap-frozen in sterile 1.5 mL tubes and stored at -80°C until analyzed. The mean relative expression of TLR-1, TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-5, and TLR-6 mRNAs were quantified by RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis was completed using one-way ANOVA and student’s t-test for pairwise comparison in JMP 17.0 (SAS Institute; Cary, NC). All TLRs were expressed in the endometrium. Expression of TLR-4 was greater on d 11 than d 15 (1.39 ± 0.14 vs. 0.45 ± 0.13, respectively; P < 0.01), and there was a trend for expression of TLR-2 to be greater on d 11 than d 15 (1.89 ± 0.37 vs. 0.90 ± 0.35, respectively; 0.05 < P < 0.1). Expression of TLR2, TLR5, and TLR6 did not differ between d 11 and d 15 (P > 0.05). The results indicate that TLRs are not only expressed in the porcine endometrium, but they differ in expression during early gestation. Conceptus signaling and inflammation during elongation and implantation and/ or shifts in bacterial communities within the uterus may be responsible. Additionally, future work examining bacterial shifts and TLR expression during mid and late gestation may offer further insight.

Pectin methylesterase activities in reproductive tissues of maize plants with different haplotypes of the Ga1 and Ga2 cross incompatibility systems.

Total PME activity in reproductive tissues was related to haplotypes at maize cross incompatibility loci, suggesting that these loci function by controlling PME activity. In maize, the pollination outcome depends on the haplotypes of the interacting male gametophyte (germinated pollen) and female sporophyte (silk) at several cross-incompatibility loci. Functional alleles (-S haplotypes) of the cross-incompatibility loci Ga1 and Ga2, both encode two pectin methylesterases (PMEs), one that is expressed in silk and the other in pollen. We examined total PME activity in reproductive tissues containing functional and null haplotypes at the Ga1 or Ga2 loci. In pollinated silks, there was a correlation between total PME activity and the -S haplotype pollen in both Ga1 and Ga2 systems. We did not detect a significant relationship between PME activity and pollination outcome of either system. We re-examined previously reported active site amino acid substitutions in PMEs encoded by cross incompatibility loci. We observed that different active site substitutions are present in the pollen and silk PMEs of cross incompatibility loci and these differences are conserved across Ga1, Ga2 and Tcb-1. This work establishes a relationship between total PME activity and the haplotypes of the Ga1 locus in pollinated silks.

Genetic sex determination in three closely related hydrothermal vent gastropods, including one species with intersex individuals.

Molluscs have undergone many transitions between separate sexes and hermaphroditism, which is of interest for studying the evolution of sex determination and differentiation. Here we combined multi-locus genotypes obtained from RAD sequencing with anatomical observations of the gonads for three deep-sea hydrothermal vent gastropods of the genus Alviniconcha living in the southwest Pacific. We found that all three species (A. boucheti, A. strummeri, and A. kojimai) share the same male-heterogametic XY sex determination system, but that the gonads of XX A. kojimai individuals are invaded by a variable proportion of male reproductive tissue. The identification of Y-specific RAD loci (found only in A. boucheti) and the phylogenetic analysis of three sex-linked loci shared by all species suggested that X-Y recombination has evolved differently within each species. This situation of three species showing variation in gonadal development around a common sex determination system provides new insights into the reproductive mode of poorly known deep-sea species and opens up an opportunity to study the evolution of recombination suppression on sex chromosomes and its association with mixed or transitory sexual systems.

Reversible effects on female rat fertility with abrocitinib, a Janus kinase 1 inhibitor.

Abrocitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) 1 selective inhibitor approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Female reproductive tissues were unaffected in general toxicity studies, but an initial female rat fertility study resulted in adverse effects at all doses evaluated. A second rat fertility study was conducted to evaluate lower doses and potential for recovery. This second study had 4 groups of 20 females each administered abrocitinib (0, 3, 10, or 70 mg/kg/day) 2 weeks prior to cohabitation through gestation day (GD) 7. In addition, 2 groups of 20 rats (0 or 70 mg/kg/day) were dosed for 3 weeks followed by a 4-week recovery period before mating. All mated females were evaluated on GD 14. No effects were observed at ≤10 mg/kg/day. At 70 mg/kg/day (29x human exposure), decreased pregnancy rate, implantation sites, and viable embryos were observed. All these effects reversed 4 weeks after the last dose. Based on these data and literature on the potential role of JAK signaling in implantation, we hypothesize that these effects may be related to JAK1 inhibition and, generally, that peri-implantation effects such as these, in the absence of cycling or microscopic changes in nonpregnant female reproductive tissues, are anticipated to be reversible.

Estimating growth using an ecophysiological and scope for growth model for the mussel Perna perna grown under suspended culture in Santa Catarina, Brazil

We present a dynamic simulation ecophysiological model for an important aquaculture mussel, Perna perna, grown under suspended culture in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The ecophysiological model was divided in four sectors; driving variables, feeding, energy reserve, and growth. This generated descriptions and explanations of the functions controlling feeding and metabolic responses to changing food availability and seawater temperature. The driving variables sector included time-series of seston variables likely to influence food and energy acquisition in mussels. It included relationships among seston variables to estimate the energy content of phytoplankton, the main component of mussel diet. The feeding sector described mussel suspension-feeding behavior measured using natural seston. Rates of filtration, rejection, ingestion, and absorption were directly related to the quantity and quality of available food. In the energy reserve sector, absorbed matter was transformed to absorbed energy using estimates of energy content of food provided in the driving variables sector. After accounting for the maintenance requirements of the mussels (heat loss and excretion), surplus energy, or the scope for growth, was directed to the growth sector. The growth sector included byssus, organic shell, and soft tissue production based on energy partitioning estimated from monthly measurements of somatic and reproductive tissue and shell growth. The model successfully predicted mussel growth during the study and provided estimates of the response to food acquisition, energy expenditure and allocation to growth. This was the first attempt to model the ecophysiology of this fast growing sub-tropical mussel. Given the capacity of this ecophysiological model to estimate growth of mussels, it has significant economic and environmental value in estimating carrying capacity to support sustainable management of shellfish farming in Brazil.

Tissue-specific gene expression of genome-wide significant loci associated with major depressive disorder subtypes

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. To reduce heterogeneity, large-scale genome-wide association studies have recently identified genome-wide significant loci associated with seven MDD subtypes. However, it was unclear in which tissues the genes near those loci are specifically expressed. We investigated whether genes related to specific MDD subtypes would be preferably expressed in a specific tissue. At 14 novel subtype-specific loci related to seven MDD subtypes—(1) non-atypical-like features MDD, (2) early-onset MDD, (3) recurrent MDD, (4) MDD with suicidal thoughts, (5) MDD without suicidal thoughts, (6) MDD with moderate impairment, and (7) postpartum depression, we investigated whether 22 genome-wide significant genetic variant-mapped genes were tissue-specifically expressed in brain, female reproductive, male specific, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or urinary tissues in the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) subjects (n ≤ 948). To confirm the tissue-specific expression in the GTEx, we used independent Human Protein Atlas (HPA) RNA-seq subjects (n ≤ 95). Of 22 genes, nine and five genes were tissue-specifically expressed in brain and female reproductive tissues, respectively (p < 2.27 × 10−3). RTN1, ERBB4, and AMIGO1 related to early-onset MDD, recurrent MDD, or MDD with suicidal thoughts were highly expressed in brain tissues (d = 1.19–2.71), while OAS1, LRRC9, DHRS7, PSMA5, SYPL2, and GULP1 related to non-atypical-like features MDD, early-onset MDD, MDD with suicidal thoughts, or postpartum depression were expressed at low levels in brain tissues (d = −0.17−−1.48). DFNA5, CTBP2, PCNX4, SDCCAG8, and GULP1, which are related to early-onset MDD, MDD with moderate impairment, or postpartum depression, were highly expressed in female reproductive tissues (d = 0.80–2.08). Brain and female reproductive tissue-specific expression was confirmed in the HPA RNA-seq subjects. Our findings suggest that brain and female reproductive tissue-specific expression might contribute to the pathogenesis of MDD subtypes.

Effects of the Neuropeptides Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Male Fertility.

Background and Objectives: The neuroendocrine system plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including reproduction, with evidence suggesting its significant involvement in male fertility and sperm development. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) are expressed in both male and female reproductive tissues, influencing penile erection and regulating steroidogenesis in males. Therefore, our study aimed to compare the protein levels of VIP and PACAP in seminal plasma between healthy controls and sub-fertile patients. Additionally, we sought to correlate the levels of these biomarkers with clinical, functional, and laboratory findings in the participants. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 163 male participants for analysis. The participants were further stratified into subgroups of fertile and sub-fertile men of four subgroups according to the 2021 WHO guidelines. Seminal plasma concentrations of the neuropeptides VIP and PACAP were measured using human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The findings showed statistically significant differences in total sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, and vitality (p < 0.001) between the fertile group and the sub-fertile group. Specifically, significant differences found between healthy males and oligoasthenospermic patients (p = 0.002), and between asthenospermic and oligoasthenospermic patients (p = 0.039). An ROC analysis showed associated sensitivity and specificity values of 62.2% and 55.6%, respectively, to PACAP seminal levels differentiated between sub-fertile patients from fertile males (p = 0.028). No significant difference in seminal levels of VIP was found between the sub-fertile and fertile groups. Conclusions: Previous research leads to the point of PACAP active involvement in spermatogenesis. In accordance to our study, in human semen samples, we have seen a significance change in PACAP levels amongst patients with low sperm count or with both low sperm count and low motility, hinting at its contribution and acting as a possible factor in this complex process. Thus, alterations in the levels or actions of these neuropeptides have been associated with certain reproductive disorders in males.

Lineage-specific gene duplication and expansion of DUF1216 gene family in Brassicaceae.

Proteins containing domain of unknown function (DUF) are prevalent in eukaryotic genome. The DUF1216 proteins possess a conserved DUF1216 domain resembling to the mediator protein of Arabidopsis RNA polymerase II transcriptional subunit-like protein. The DUF1216 family are specifically existed in Brassicaceae, however, no comprehensive evolutionary analysis of DUF1216 genes have been performed. We performed a first comprehensive genome-wide analysis of DUF1216 proteins in Brassicaceae. Totally 284 DUF1216 genes were identified in 27 Brassicaceae species and classified into four subfamilies on the basis of phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of gene structure and conserved motifs revealed that DUF1216 genes within the same subfamily exhibited similar intron/exon patterns and motif composition. The majority members of DUF1216 genes contain a signal peptide in the N-terminal, and the ninth position of the signal peptide in most DUF1216 is cysteine. Synteny analysis revealed that segmental duplication is a major mechanism for expanding of DUF1216 genes in Brassica oleracea, Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Lepidium meyneii, and Brassica carinata, while in Arabidopsis thaliana and Capsella rubella, tandem duplication plays a major role in the expansion of the DUF1216 gene family. The analysis of Ka/Ks (non-synonymous substitution rate/synonymous substitution rate) ratios for DUF1216 paralogous indicated that most of gene pairs underwent purifying selection. DUF1216 genes displayed a specifically high expression in reproductive tissues in most Brassicaceae species, while its expression in Brassica juncea was specifically high in root. Our studies offered new insights into the phylogenetic relationships, gene structures and expressional patterns of DUF1216 members in Brassicaceae, which provides a foundation for future functional analysis.

Walking a thin line between fixation and epitope binding - characterization of antigen retrieval methods suitable for eosinophil and HSV-2 staining in formalin-fixed female reproductive tissue.

Antibody-based fluorescence analysis of female reproductive tissues in research of sexually transmitted diseases allows for an in-depth understanding of protein localization, interactions, and pathogenesis. However, in many cases, cryosectioning is not compatible with biosafety regulations; at all times, exposure of lab personnel and the public to potentially harmful pathogens from biological infectious material must be avoided; thus, formaldehyde fixation is essential. Due to formaldehyde's cross-linking properties, protein detection with antibodies can be impeded. To allow effective epitope binding during immunofluorescence of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded vaginal tissue, we investigated two antigen retrieval methods. We tested these methods regarding their suitability for automated image analysis, facilitating reproducible quantitative microscopic data acquisition in sexually transmitted disease research. Heat-based retrieval at 80°C in citrate buffer proved to increase antibody binding to eosinophil protein and HSV-2 visibly and tissue morphology best, and was the most efficient for sample processing and quantitative analysis.

Recent Findings on Spawning Patterns and Recommendations for the Fishery Management of the Southern Red Snapper—Lutjanus purpureus (Poey, 1866)—On the Amazon Continental Shelf of Brazil

The southern red snapper, Lutjanus purpureus, is one of the primary fishery resources of the Amazon continental shelf. Due to the demand for specimens of less than 900 g in weight, increased fishing effort focusing on this size class has led to a drastic decrease in catches. The present study was based on the analysis of cellular structures in the female gonads (formation of oocytes and other reproductive tissues) to identify reproductive processes and evaluate the effectiveness of current fishery management practices. The presence of postovulatory follicles (POFs) peaked in April, which was interpreted as a period of intense spawning. In addition to POFs, hydrated oocytes peaked in July, indicating either reproductive continuity or a second peak, based on the presence of atretic oocytes and atresia. Given that the local snapper fishery preferentially targets very young individuals, an extension of the closed season from March to July would be recommendable to guarantee the reproductive potential of the spawning stock.

Shear wave elastography to assess stiffness of the human ovary and other reproductive tissues across the reproductive lifespan in health and disease†.

The ovary is one of the first organs to show overt signs of aging in the human body, and ovarian aging is associated with a loss of gamete quality and quantity. The age-dependent decline in ovarian function contributes to infertility and an altered endocrine milieu, which has ramifications for overall health. The aging ovarian microenvironment becomes fibro-inflammatory and stiff with age, and this has implications for ovarian physiology and pathology, including follicle growth, gamete quality, ovulation dynamics, and ovarian cancer. Thus, developing a non-invasive tool to measure and monitor the stiffness of the human ovary would represent a major advance for female reproductive health and longevity. Shear wave elastography is a quantitative ultrasound imaging method for evaluation of soft tissue stiffness. Shear wave elastography has been used clinically in assessment of liver fibrosis and characterization of tendinopathies and various neoplasms in thyroid, breast, prostate, and lymph nodes as a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic tool. In this study, we review the underlying principles of shear wave elastography and its current clinical uses outside the reproductive tract as well as its successful application of shear wave elastography to reproductive tissues, including the uterus and cervix. We also describe an emerging use of this technology in evaluation of human ovarian stiffness via transvaginal ultrasound. Establishing ovarian stiffness as a clinical biomarker of ovarian aging may have implications for predicting the ovarian reserve and outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technologies as well as for the assessment of the efficacy of emerging therapeutics to extend reproductive longevity. This parameter may also have broad relevance in other conditions where ovarian stiffness and fibrosis may be implicated, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, late off target effects of chemotherapy and radiation, premature ovarian insufficiency, conditions of differences of sexual development, and ovarian cancer. Summary sentence: Shear Wave Elastography is a non-invasive technique to study human tissue stiffness, and here we review its clinical applications and implications for reproductive health and disease.

Divergent reproductive responses of Caatinga dry forest plants to leaf-cutting ant herbivory

Herbivory is one of the key processes shaping life history traits linked to plant fitness and the leaf-cutting ants are amongst the most voracious and polyphagous herbivores of the Neotropics. They extensively harvest aboveground plant parts to grow their symbiotic fungus, including vegetative and reproductive tissues. Although leaf-cutting ant herbivory is expected to reduce plant reproductive success, the potentially different outputs of damage to vegetative and reproductive parts are still poorly known. This study investigates the influence of Atta opaciceps herbivory on the reproductive success of three plant species native to the Caatinga dry forest: Croton argyrophylloides (Euphorbiaceae), Cenostigma pyramidale, and Indigofera suffruticosa (Leguminosae). We selected 10 adult and active nests of A. opaciceps based on the presence of individuals of the three focal plant species in their vicinity. For each colony, we marked four individuals of each plant species (totaling 12 individuals per colony), which were then subjected to one of four herbivory treatments: (1) ant herbivory on both reproductive and vegetative parts, (2) manually simulated herbivory on the reproductive parts alone, (3) ant herbivory exclusively on vegetative parts, and (4) no herbivory. From January to April 2020, we monitored all 120 individuals, recording the number of inflorescences, flower buds, flowers, fruits, and the proportion of flowers maturing into fruits (fruit set, as a proxy of reproductive success). Results revealed variations in reproductive structure production and divergent responses to leaf-cutting ant herbivory among our focal species. In terms of inflorescence, flower bud production, and fruit set C. argyrophylloides showed reduced numbers when subjected to higher levels of total herbivory (reproductive and vegetative parts), but increased inflorescence and flower bud production when plants suffered only leaf damage. Cenostigma pyramidale individuals under partial herbivory displayed lower flower bud numbers than protected ones. In contrast, I. suffruticosa displayed conflicting results, with fully exposed plants producing more inflorescences than partially exposed counterparts and more flowers than leaf-damaged and protected individuals. Despite the varied effects on different plant parts across all three study species, the overall reproductive success (i.e. fruit set) of only one species (C. argyrophylloides) was significantly reduced by leaf-cutting ant herbivory. The resilience of the two other plant species to leaf-cutting ant pressure may be attributed to compensatory mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between herbivores and plants in the Caatinga dry forest. As leaf-cutting ants proliferate in response to anthropogenic disturbances, the patterns described in this study may become more pronounced, potentially affecting the organization of plant communities in the Caatinga dry forest.

Oxytocin and women's health in midlife.

Menopause marks the cessation of fertility and the transition to post-reproductive years. Nearly 1M US women experience menopause annually, but despite the significant impact it has on their physical and mental health, menopause has been insufficiently studied. Oxytocin is a neurohormone that regulates emotionality, social behaviors, and fundamental physiological systems. Localization of oxytocin receptors in the brain, reproductive tissues, bone, and heart support their role in mental health and potentially sleep, along with reproductive and cardiovascular functions. While experimental data linking oxytocin to behavior and physiology in animals are largely consistent, human data are correlative and inconclusive. As women transition into menopause, oxytocin levels decrease while their susceptibility to mood disorders, poor sleep, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases increases. These concurrent changes highlight oxytocin as a potential influence on the health and mood of women along their reproductive lifespan. Here we summarize experimental rodent studies that link oxytocin to reproductive aging and metabolic health and highlight the inconclusive findings in studies of women. Most human studies relied on a single oxytocin assessment in plasma or on intranasal oxytocin administration. The pulsatile release and short half-life of plasma oxytocin limits the validity of these methods. We discuss the need for oxytocin assessments in stable bio-samples, such as urine, and to use valid assays for assessment of associations between changing oxytocin levels and well-being across the reproductive lifespan. This work has the potential to guide therapeutic strategies that will one day alleviate adverse health outcomes for many women.

Systemic Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Sexually and Gender Diverse Populations.

Fertility preservation is the process of collecting and storing oocytes, sperm, or reproductive tissue so that a person may retain their ability to have biologically related children. In instances of infertility caused by medical intervention or an underlying medical condition, this procedure is often sought by affected patient populations. U.S. Title 21 regulations have produced disparities in access, disproportionately restricting services for sexually and gender diverse subpopulations capable of producing sperm. This article examines policies contributing to these disparities, explores how these policies may translate to real-world health care delivery, and proposes policy changes that would increase equitable access to care.

Mechanical properties of native and decellularized reproductive tissues: insights for tissue engineering strategies

Understanding the mechanical properties and porosity of reproductive tissues is vital for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This study investigated the changes in Young's modulus (YM), storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (Eʺ), and porosity of native and decellularized bovine reproductive tissues during the estrous cycle. Testis tunica albuginea had significantly higher YM, E′, and Eʺ than the inner testis, indicating greater stiffness and viscoelasticity. Endometrium showed no distinct differences in YM, E′, or Eʺ across the estrous cycle or between horns. Ovaries exhibited significant variations in YM, E′, Eʺ, and porosity, with higher YM and E′ in the ipsilateral cortex and medulla during the luteal phase. Decellularized ovarian tissues displayed increased porosity. The oviduct displayed no significant differences in YM or E′ in the isthmus, but the contralateral ampulla had reduced YM and E′ in the luteal phase. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic mechanical properties and porosity of reproductive tissues, facilitating the development of biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.