Seasonal Changes In Reproduction Research Articles

Targeted Glutamate Supply Boosts Insulin Concentrations, Ovarian Activity, and Ovulation Rate in Yearling Goats during the Anestrous Season.

The neuroendocrine regulation of the seasonal reproductive axis requires the integration of internal and external signals to ensure synchronized physiological and behavioral responses. Seasonal reproductive changes contribute to intermittent production, which poses challenges for optimizing goat product yields. Consequently, a significant objective in seasonal reproduction research is to attain continuous reproduction and enhance profitability in goat farming. Glutamate plays a crucial role as a modulator in several reproductive and metabolic processes. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of exogenous glutamate administration on serum insulin concentration and ovarian function during the out-of-season period in yearling goats. During the anestrous season, animals were randomly located in individual pens to form two experimental groups: (1) glutamate (n = 10, live weight (LW) = 29.1 ± 1.02 kg, body condition score (BCS) = 3.4 ± 0.2 units) and (2) control (n = 10; LW = 29.2 ± 1.07 kg, BCS = 3.5 ± 0.2), with no differences (p < 0.05) regarding LW and BCS. Then, goats were estrus-synchronized, and blood sampling was carried out for insulin quantification. Ovaries were ultrasonographically scanned to assess ovulation rate (OR), number of antral follicles (AFs), and total ovarian activity (TOA = OR + AF). The research outcomes support our working hypothesis. Certainly, our study confirms that those yearling goats treated with exogenous glutamate displayed the largest (p < 0.05) insulin concentrations across time as well as an augmented (p < 0.05) out-of-season ovarian activity.

Glutamate and clock help bean bugs track seasonal reproductive changes.

Animals adapt their seasonal physiology by measuring photoperiodic changes over the calendar year. A new study in PLOS Biology uncovers changes in glutamate dynamics in the bean bug that are dependent on photoperiod and a clock gene.

Changes in ovarian morphology and hormone concentrations associated with reproductive seasonality in wild large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus).

Wild large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) responses to cyclic seasonal changes are associated with physiological and behavioral changes. However, the detailed regulation of oogenesis in the ovary during the seasonal reproductive cycle in wild large Japanese field mice has not been studied. We assessed the dynamics and changes in ovarian morphology and hormone concentrations associated with reproductive seasonality throughout the year. The stages of the ovarian morphological breeding cycle of wild large Japanese field mice were classified as breeding, transition, and non-breeding periods during the annual reproductive cycle. Measurement of blood estradiol concentrations throughout the year showed that the levels in September and October were higher than those in other months. It is presumed that follicle development starts from a blood estradiol concentration of 38.4 ± 27.1 pg/mL, which marks a shift from the transitional season to the breeding season, followed by the transition to the non-breeding season at 26.1 ± 11.6 pg/mL. These results suggest that seasonal follicle development in wild rodents is correlated with estradiol regulation. We consider this species to be an alternative animal model for studying seasonal reproductive changes and the effects of environmental changes.

Adaptive seasonal shift towards investment in fewer, larger offspring: Evidence from field and laboratory studies.

Seasonal changes in reproduction have been described for many taxa. As reproductive seasons progress, females often shift from greater energetic investment in many small offspring towards investing less total energy into fewer, better provisioned (i.e. larger) offspring. The underlying causes of this pattern have not been assessed in many systems. Two primary hypotheses have been proposed to explain these patterns. The first is an adaptive hypothesis from life-history theory: early offspring have a survival advantage over those produced later. Accordingly, selection favours females that invest in offspring quantity early in the season and offspring quality later. The second hypothesis suggests these patterns are not intrinsic but result from passive responses to seasonal changes in the environment experienced by reproducing females (i.e. maternal environment). To disentangle the causes underlying this pattern, which has been reported in brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei), we performed complementary field and laboratory studies. The laboratory study carefully controlled maternal environments and quantified reproductive patterns throughout the reproductive season for each female. The field study measured similar metrics from free ranging lizards across an entire reproductive season. In the laboratory, females increased relative effort per offspring as the reproductive season progressed; smaller eggs were laid earlier, larger eggs were laid later. Moreover, we observed significant among-individual variation in seasonal changes in reproduction, which is necessary for traits to evolve via natural selection. Because these patterns consistently emerge under controlled laboratory conditions, they likely represent an intrinsic and potentially adaptive adjustment of reproductive effort as predicted by life-history theory. The field study revealed similar trends, further suggesting that intrinsic patterns observed in the laboratory are strong enough to persist despite the environmental variability that characterizes natural habitats. The observed patterns are indicative of an adaptive seasonal shift in parental investment in response to a deteriorating offspring environment: allocating greater resources to late-produced offspring likely enhances maternal fitness.

Melatonin binding sites and their role in seasonal reproduction

The pineal gland has a major role in the translation of scotophase duration into a hormonal signal by the hormone melatonin. Animals such as sheep, goats and deer use the seasonal variation of this signal to coordinate reproductive behaviour with the environment. Despite intensive research over more than 30 years the site(s) of action of melatonin and the resultant intracellular responses are still not clear. This review discusses recent work that has localized the site of action of melatonin in sheep using administration into the hypothalamus in vivo as well as studies on putative melatonin receptors in the pars tuberalis and brain. There is clear evidence that melatonin acting at the level of the pars tuberalis is involved in the seasonal regulation of prolactin secretion, but the evidence for involvement of the pars tuberalis in seasonal reproduction is not compelling. Localized administration of melatonin to the sheep brain revealed that areas anatomically distinct from the pars tuberalis, the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei, simulated seasonal reproductive changes in rams and ewes. Recent studies on brain melatonin binding sites in our laboratory have shown that an antagonist of tissue transglutaminase, Bacitracin, as well as substrates for the enzyme inhibit binding of melatonin to brain membranes. As a working hypothesis, we propose that pineal melatonin secretion alters seasonal reproduction by interactions with a neural transglutaminase at the synapse of neurones involved in the control of GnRH secretion. Synaptic transglutaminase is implicated in the control of the release of neurotransmitter via the synaptic vesicle associated protein, synapsin 1; activation of transglutaminase results in the covalent modification of synapsin 1 such that vesicles are not released from the cytoskeleton. Seasonal variation in the duration of melatonin secretion may result in similar variations in the duration of suppression and activation of transglutaminase. The resultant changes in transmitter release may then be responsible for the seasonal neuronal plasticity previously observed in GnRH neurones.

Kisspeptin and RFRP3 modulate body mass in Phodopus sungorus via two different neuroendocrine pathways.

Many animals exhibit remarkable metabolic and reproductive adaptations to seasonal changes in their environment. When day length shortens, Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) reduce their body weight and inhibit their reproductive activity, whereas the opposite occurs in springtime. These physiological adaptations are considered to depend on photoperiodic changes in hypothalamic genes encoding the peptides kisspeptin (Kp) and RFamide-related peptide 3 (RFRP3) for the control of reproduction, as well as pro-opiomelanocortin and somatostatin for metabolic regulation. The present study investigates the effect of Kp and RFRP3 on long-term body weight regulation, aiming to establish whether metabolic and reproductive hypothalamic networks may interact during adaptation to seasonal physiology. We found that chronic central administration of both Kp and RFRP3 in short photoperiod-adapted male Djungarian hamsters increased body weight, although via different pathways. The effect of Kp was dependent on testicular activity because castration prevented the body weight increase and was associated with an increase in pro-opiomelanocortin and neuropeptide Y expression. On the other hand, the orexigenic effect of RFRP3 was associated with an increase in circulating insulin and leptin levels, although it had no effect on any of the hypothalamic metabolic genes investigated, and did not change circulating levels of sex steroids. Notably, neither Kp, nor RFRP3 altered female hamster metabolic parameters. Thus, using a rodent model exhibiting seasonal changes in reproduction and metabolism, the present study demonstrates that, in addition to its role in the central control of reproduction, Kp also participates in body weight control in a sex-dependent manner via an anabolic action of testosterone. Conversely, RFRP3 affects body weight control in males mostly by acting on adiposity, with no overt effect on the reproductive system in both sexes.

Physiology of reproductive seasonality in sheep – an update

ABSTRACTThe seasonal breeding in sheep poses a challenge in improving productivity, owing to the incomplete knowledge of the mechanics of seasonal breeding, effective strategies for increasing the lamb crop are restricted. A major mechanism responsible for seasonal reproduction is a striking increase in the responsiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons to the negative feedback effects of estradiol that peaks during anestrous and decreases in the breeding season. Melatonin does not directly drive seasonal changes in reproduction; rather it appears to synchronize an endogenous circannual rhythm. The Pars Tuberalis (PT) is a single common region across species that shows strongest MT1 expression. Melatonin acts through high affinity, G-protein coupled receptors located in thyrotroph cells in PT of the pituitary, controlling the production of the hormone, thyrotropin (TSH). Probably, the thyroid hormones serve as a connecting link between environmental cues and reproductive activity. Two very important peptides viz. kisspeptins and RFamide relative peptide appear to be key targets of thyroid hormones. Kisspeptin has been demonstrated as a potent GnRH stimulator and RFRP as an inhibitor which gets modulated with the season and controls reproductive activity in sheep.

Seasonal Shifts in Reproduction Depend on Prey Availability for an Income Breeder.

The evolution of reproductive strategies depends on local environmental conditions. When environments are seasonal, selection favors individuals that align changes in key reproductive traits with seasonal shifts in habitat quality. Offspring habitat quality can decline through the season, and increased maternal provisioning to late-produced offspring may compensate. This shift, however, may depend on environmental factors that influence reproduction and are, themselves, subject to temporal changes (e.g., food abundance). We studied the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) to demonstrate how prey abundance modifies seasonal changes in key reproductive traits. We bred lizards in controlled laboratory conditions across the reproductive season and manipulated the availability of food by providing some breeding pairs high prey availability and some low. Halfway through the season, we switched half of the breeding pairs to the opposite treatment. We measured growth of male and female lizards as well as latency to oviposit, fecundity, egg size, egg content (yolk, water, shell mass), and egg quality (steroid hormones, yolk caloric content) over this period. Higher prey availability enhanced lizard growth and some key reproductive traits (egg size, fecundity) but not others (egg content and quality). Moreover, we found that seasonal patterns of reproduction were modified by prey treatment in ways that have consequences for offspring survival. Our results demonstrate that seasonal changes in reproduction are dependent on fluctuations in local environmental conditions. Moreover, researchers must account for seasonal shifts in environmental factors and reproductive traits (and their interactions) when designing experiments and drawing conclusions about how the environment influences reproduction.

Demography and Condition of Brown Lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) During Cyclic Density Fluctuations Near Barrow, Alaska

We analyzed data collected from 19 428 necropsied brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) collected over a period of 22 years near Barrow, Alaska. Here we report on seasonal and cyclic patterns in reproductive activity of females and males, population structure, adult body size, condition (weight per unit length and body fat), and wounding. We also provide the first detailed information on these characteristics at low population densities. The seasonal pattern of reproduction included short summers (about 2.5 months) with intense reproduction, long winters (about 6.5 months) with moderate reproduction, and virtual cessation of breeding during the short springs and autumns (1.5 months each). Overall sex ratios appeared equal, but the proportion of males decreased during summer. The proportion of immature lemmings increased in late summer and autumn after intense summer breeding, then declined in winter. Adult body weight and condition (weight per unit length) peaked in summer when the food supply also peaked, but body fat, though still minimal, peaked in winter. The greatest incidence of wounding occurred in males, but wounding increased in both sexes during early summer, the period of most intense breeding. As reported previously for arvicoline rodents, a longer summer reproductive season occurred during the low and increase phases, but no change in litter size occurred during the cycle. Contrary to earlier reports, a much lower frequency of pregnancy occurred during the high phase, but later reproductive maturation during the high phase received little support. The sex ratio generally changed little during the course of a population cycle, but the proportion of females did decline during springs when the population increased to high densities. We found a greater proportion of adults during the high and decreasing phases, reflecting the reduced reproduction during those phases. Higher body weights and better condition of adults occurred during high densities. Wounding (fresh scars from bites) also peaked during years with high densities, though only for adult males and non-reproductive females. Overall, it appeared that nutrition strongly influenced seasonal changes in reproduction, population structure, and body condition; predation affected both seasonal and cyclic changes in population structure and survival; and that nutrition, and perhaps social strife, caused cyclic changes in reproduction, survival, and body size.

Female investment in offspring size and number shifts seasonally in a lizard with single-egg clutches

The timing of reproduction strongly influences reproductive success in many organisms. For species with extended reproductive seasons, the quality of the environment may change throughout the season in ways that impact offspring survival, and, accordingly, aspects of reproductive strategies may shift to maximize fitness. Life-history theory predicts that if offspring environments deteriorate through the season, females should shift from producing more, smaller offspring early in the season to fewer, higher quality offspring later in the season. We leverage multiple iterations of anole breeding colonies, which control for temperature, moisture, and food availability, to identify seasonal changes in reproduction. These breeding colonies varied only by the capture date of the adult animals from the field. We show that seasonal cohorts exhibit variation in key reproductive traits such as inter-clutch interval, egg size and hatchling size consistent with seasonal shifts in reproductive effort. Overall, reproductive effort was highest early in the season due to a relatively high rate of egg production. Later season cohorts produced fewer, but larger offspring. We infer that these results indicate a strategy for differential allocation of resources through the season. Females maximize offspring quantity when environments are favorable, and maximize offspring quality when environments are poor for those offspring. Our study also highlights that subtle differences in methodology (such as capture date of study animals) may influence the interpretation of results. Researchers interested in reproduction must be conscious of how their organism’s reproductive patterns may shift through the season when designing experiments or comparing results across studies.

The benthoneuston of the Black Sea: Composition and environmental factors influencing its nocturnal dynamic

Plankton fauna nocturnally migrating from the sea-floor or near-bottom layer to the uppermost surface layer (benthoneuston) links benthic, benthopelagic, pelagic, and neustonic realms. We conducted five intervals of sampling (every 1–2h during five nights) synchronously in the neustal (surface to 10-cm depth layer) and in the water column below to examine which taxa concentrate in the neustal, and under which circumstances they do so. We tested the following environmental factors: sea-floor biotope type, temperature, time after sunset, time to midnight, moon phase, and moon altitude. Of the 77 taxa recorded, about half (41) were found in the neustal. Among these, less than half (16) of the taxa showed a quantified attraction (by L-index) to the neustal and may be called the true benthoneuston. In contrast to the benthopelagic zone, where the contribution of the characteristic benthopelagic fauna exceeded 50%, the neustal was not dominated by a specific benthoneuston fauna. Nocturnal dynamics of the benthoneuston was mainly controlled by the proximity of the twilight time, then by the sea-floor biotope type and time to midnight. Neustonic taxa were more affected by moon illumination (moon phase and moon altitude) than those in the water column below. The benthoneuston in the studied area was represented by either juveniles or reproducing adults. This component of plankton communities is thus temporary and seasonal, at least in the temperate Black Sea. In the "high" summer-autumn season, contribution of benthoneuston to the coastal plankton communities is significant, whilst in winter this contribution may be negligible. The next step in the understanding of the role of benthoneuston should be associated with tropical areas where seasonal changes in reproduction are less distinctive and this group may represent an important permanent component of coastal communities.

Is reproduction of male eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus) from southern Africa affected by photoperiod?

Many mammals use the change in day length to time physiological and behavioural activities on a seasonal basis. Particularly, mammals from temperate regions use photoperiod to regulate reproductive functions; however, information on the role of photoperiod in small mammals from the tropics and subtropics is scarce. We studied the response of the reproductive system of male eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus Thomas and Schwann, 1906) from southern Africa to photoperiods of differing length. Elephantulus myurus breeds seasonally during the spring and summer months of the southern hemisphere despite its subtropical distribution. It is one of only three sengi species known to breed seasonally. Fourteen male E. myurus were subjected to either long-day (LD; 16 h light (L) : 8 h dark (D)) or short-day (SD; 8 h L : 16 h D) photoperiods and the photoperiodic effects on the testes, testosterone concentration, and body mass were examined. Testicular volume and mass, seminiferous tubule diameter, and body mass were not significantly different between LD and SD conditions. However, plasma testosterone concentration was significantly lower in males on LD photoperiods compared with SD photoperiods. Male E. myurus may not use photoperiod as a cue to control seasonal reproductive changes. Other environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, food abundance, or social factors are possibly influencing seasonal reproduction in this species.

Training rams to court and mate female goats

As Saint-Croix rams (sheep) exhibit low seasonal reproductive changes, they could be effective in inducing a reproductive response during the non-breeding season in anestrous does (goats) of breeds whose bucks show low reproductive activity. Three management practices for training rams to court and mate anestrous does were compared. Yearling rams were: (1) housed with pregnant goats (PrG); (2) kept as a unisexual group, and exposed individually to a restrained non-receptive female goat four times a week (GoG); and (3) kept as a unisexual group, and during the first two sexual tests (week 1), a non-receptive ewe was used as stimulus immediately before being replaced by the non-receptive goat (EwG). Each ram was individually exposed to a non-receptive doe two times/week on weeks 0 (pre-treatment response), 1 and 4, and the rams’ sexual behavior was recorded during 30min. On Week 0, no ram displayed any sexual behavior. EwG and GoG rams displayed more sniffs than PrG (P=0.025 and P=0.002 respectively). The number of flehmens displayed by EwG and GoG rams was greater than the number displayed by PrG rams (EwG vs PrG: P=0.006 and GoG vs PrG: P=0.028). Rams prestimulated with goats (GoG) licked more than those housed with pregnant goats (PrG) (P=0.009); those stimulated with ewes (EwG) tended to lick more than PrG rams (P=0.09). Rams prestimulated with goats (GoG) kicked more times than those housed with pregnant goats (PrG) (P=0.007), without differences between EwG and PrG rams. Rams housed with pregnant goats did not display any mounting behavior (attempt to mount, mounts, or ejaculations) in any test. The number of mounting behaviors did not differ between groups in the first two tests. EwG rams performed more (P=0.006) and GoG rams tended to engage in more (P=0.058) attempted mounting than PrG rams. GoG rams mounted more times than EwG (P=0.048) and PrG (P=0.017) rams. Rams prestimulated with ewes (EwG) ejaculated more times than GoG and PrG (P<0.0001 for both) rams. Similarly, EwG rams had a significantly greater ratio of ejaculations/(mounts+ejaculations) throughout the tests than GoG (P=0.0034) and PrG (P=0.0007) rams. It was concluded that rams can be trained to court and mount female goats. Pre-stimulation with does or ewes before having them join the goats stimulated the display of sexual behavior. However, while in general prestimulation with goats resulted in more courtship behaviors, prestimulating with ewes seemed to be the best strategy to obtain the best results in mating behavior and serving capacity.

Seasonal control of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) in birds and mammals.

Animals inhabiting temperate and boreal latitudes experience marked seasonal changes in the quality of their environments and maximize reproductive success by phasing breeding activities with the most favorable time of year. Whereas the specific mechanisms driving seasonal changes in reproductive function vary across species, converging lines of evidence suggest gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) serves as a key component of the neuroendocrine circuitry driving seasonal changes in reproduction and sexual motivation in some species. In addition to anticipating environmental change through transduction of photoperiodic information and modifying reproductive state accordingly, GnIH is also positioned to regulate acute changes in reproductive status should unpredictable conditions manifest throughout the year. The present overview summarizes the role of GnIH in avian and mammalian seasonal breeding while considering the similarities and disparities that have emerged from broad investigations across reproductively photoperiodic species.

Ecophysiology of Anopheles gambiae s.l.: Persistence in the Sahel

The dry-season biology of malaria vectors is poorly understood, especially in arid environments when no surface waters are available for several months, such as during the dry season in the Sahel. Here we reappraise results on the dry-season physiology of members of the Anopheles gambiae s.l. complex in the broad context of dormancy in insects and especially in mosquitoes. We examine evidence on seasonal changes in reproduction, metabolism, stress tolerance, nutrition, molecular regulation, and environmental conditions and determine if the current results are compatible with dry-season diapause (aestivation) as the primary strategy for persistence throughout the dry season in the Sahel. In the process, we point out critical gaps in our knowledge that future studies can fill. We find compelling evidence that members of the An. gambiae s.l. complex undergo a form of aestivation during the Sahelian dry season by shifting energetic resources away from reproduction and towards increased longevity. Considering the differences between winter at temperate latitudes, which entails immobility of the insect and hence reliance on physiological solutions, as opposed to the Sahelian dry season, which restricts reproduction exclusively, we propose that behavioral changes play an important role in complementing physiological changes in this strategy.

Effects of Pinealectomy and Short Day Lengths on Reproduction and Neuronal RFRP-3, Kisspeptin, and GnRH in Female Turkish Hamsters.

Long days (LDs) stimulate and short days (SDs) inhibit reproduction in photoperiodic rodents by modifying nocturnal pineal melatonin secretion. In LD Turkish hamsters, unlike other rodents, pinealectomy induces reproductive quiescence comparable to that produced by SDs. We assessed whether SDs and pinealectomy induce similar or different patterns of kisspeptin and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (also known as RFamide-related peptide-3 [RFRP-3] in mammals) expression, important mediators of seasonal reproductive changes in other species. Brains were harvested from sham-operated female Turkish hamsters maintained in LDs and SDs and LD-pinealectomized (pinx) females, all housed in their respective photoperiods for 12 weeks. Uterine weights were substantially higher in LD-sham than in LD-pinx and SD-sham females. RFRP-3-immunoreactive(-ir) cells in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus were greater in number and size in the reproductively competent LD-sham hamsters than in both reproductively suppressed SD-sham and LD-pinx hamsters. LD-sham hamsters had more kisspeptin-ir cells in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus than did LD-pinx hamsters. Reproductive quiescence, whether induced by short-day lengths or pinealectomy, was generally accompanied by comparable changes in RFRP-3 and kisspeptin, suggesting that long-duration melatonin signaling and withdrawal of melatonin by pinealectomy may act through the same neural substrates to induce gonadal quiescence.

Regulation of male prolactin levels in an opportunistically breeding species, the African striped mouse

AbstractThe timing of reproduction of many species depends on seasonal changes in prolactin secretion. Photoperiod coincides with annual seasonal changes and typically regulates prolactin secretion. However, when environmental conditions are unpredictable, other ecological factors may contribute to prolactin regulation. In African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio), males show seasonal changes in reproduction and in prolactin levels, but unexpected increases of food availability out of the regular breeding season can also induce reproduction. We measured prolactin levels in free‐ranging male African striped mice during three periods: (1) the natural breeding in spring with increasing photoperiod; (2) the natural non‐breeding season in summer (dry season) with decreasing photoperiod; and (3) during two summers with unexpected rainfall inducing breeding in the population. Here, we report that breeding males showed increased prolactin levels when they were breeding independently of increases and decreases in day length. Also, we found a positive correlation (P = 0.05) between the availability of food plants and prolactin levels. Changes in prolactin levels in opportunistically breeding species like the African striped mouse are not strictly regulated by photoperiod, but seem to respond to cues from food availability.

Reproductive seasonality and the effect of the GnRH agonist deslorelin as a contraceptive in captive male Black Flying-foxes ( Pteropus alecto)

Effective contraception would enhance genetic management of captive Pteropus species, which typically breed well in captivity. Male reproductive seasonality was monitored (15-mo interval) in captive P. alecto (6 controls and 5 treated with 4.7 mg deslorelin). In untreated males, there were seasonal changes in testicular volume, body weight and testosterone secretion; testicular volume and body weight peaked in February and March, respectively, whereas testosterone concentration remained >5 ng/ml before rising (P < 0.001) to 24.9 ± 3.6 ng/ml (mean ± SEM) in April. However, there was no corresponding change in sperm quality, and seminal vesicle gland (SVG) secretions remained present in ejaculates. In treated males, testosterone concentration had an initial ‘flare’ response (mean ± SEM peak: 19.95 ± 3.27 ng/ml) before declining (P < 0.001) by 32 d to basal levels, where it remained. In these males, there was reduced sperm motility after 1 mo (P < 0.001) and the absence of SVG secretions after 4 mo. However, aspermic ejaculates were first recorded 5 mo post-treatment. At 10 mo after treatment, spermatogenesis was still disrupted, when membrane-intact, but non-motile sperm were present in two individuals. Motile sperm were first recovered from one of these males 13 mo after deslorelin treatment. We concluded that captive P. alecto males: (a) had seasonal reproductive changes in testicular volume, body weight and testosterone secretion; (b) produced motile, membrane-intact sperm and SVG secretions throughout the year; and (c) had a rapid decline in testosterone concentration and consequent suppression of testicular function for at least 5 mo following deslorelin administration.

Seasonal changes in sperm DNA fragmentation of Murciano-Granadina goats: The compelling case for dynamic assessment

Evidence is provided of seasonal changes in the rate of DNA fragmentation dynamics of sperm collected from goats Murciano-Granadina breed), in a Spanish Breeding Centre at 41°N latitude. Results show that the initial assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation (T0) was not sufficient to differentiate sperm DNA fragmentation of bucks collected at different times of the year (Kruskal–Wallis 2.399; P=0.493). However, when thawed semen was subsequently incubated at 37°C for periods of between 2 and 48h, differences were recorded in the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation (r-SDF), that are indicative of seasonal changes in reproduction (Log Rank: Mantel–Cox; χ2=158.6; DF=3; P<0.001). Goat semen collected and cryopreserved in the Spanish winter and spring resulted in a poor post-thaw sperm DNA longevity and recorded a r-SDF of 0.8 and 1.3 per hour, after 48h of incubation respectively. The r-SDF subsequently decreased to 0.16 and 0.36 per hour during summer and autumn. It is therefore, recommended that semen samples from Murciano-Granadina goats housed above the 40°N latitude be collected and cryopreserved in the summer and early autumn. This would result in a more stable DNA molecule, which is likely to improve the reproductive success.

Seasonal Changes in Reproduction and Biochemical Composition of the Cockle,Fulvia muticaReeve (1884), in Cheonsu Bay off the West Coast of Korea

This is the first study of seasonal changes in gonad development and tissue biochemical composition of the cockle Fulvia mutica in Cheonsu Bay off the west coast of Korea. Gametogenesis commenced in December when the surface water temperature was 9.1°C. In May, the first discharge of oocytes was observed, and spawning continued until October. The condition index (CI), a ratio of tissue dry weight to shell dry weight, increased gradually from late May to July and declined dramatically in August and September, indicating that active discharge of gametes occurred in the bay during this period. Histology and the CI suggested that F. mutica spawning in Cheonsu Bay is continuous from early summer to early fall, with two spawning peaks in June and July, and September and October. All cockles examined in November were sexually inactive. The relatively low CI recorded in late fall to mid winter (November to January) coincided with high levels of ash and low levels of lipids and carbohydrates in the tissue, whereas protein levels remained unchanged. The observed spawning pattern of F. mutica in Cheonsu Bay suggests that the currently established timing for fishing closure, from July to September, should be expanded from June to October to protect earlyspawning broodstocks. This change may secure recruitment and lead to a subsequent increase of the wild cockle population in the bay.