Vulva Morphology Research Articles

Genetic characterization of C. elegans TMED genes.

p24/transmembrane Emp24 domain (TMED) proteins are a set of evolutionarily conserved, single pass transmembrane proteins that have been shown to facilitate protein secretion and selection of cargo proteins to transport vesicles in the cellular secretion pathway. However, their functions in animal development are incompletely understood. The C. elegans genome encodes eight identified TMED genes, with at least one member from each defined subfamily (α, β, γ, δ). TMED gene mutants exhibit a shared set of defects in embryonic viability, animal movement, and vulval morphology. Two γ subfamily genes, tmed-1 and tmed-3, exhibit the ability to compensate for each other, as defects in movement and vulva morphology are only apparent in double mutants. TMED mutants also exhibit a delay in breakdown of basement membrane during vulva development. The results establish a genetic and experimental framework for the study of TMED gene function in C. elegans, and argue that a functional protein from each subfamily is important for a shared set of developmental processes. A specific function for TMED genes is to facilitate breakdown of the basement membrane between the somatic gonad and vulval epithelial cells, suggesting a role for TMED proteins in tissue reorganization during animal development.

Reliable molecular differentiation of Trichuris ovis and Trichuris discolor from sheep (Ovis orientalis aries) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and morphological characterisation of their females: morphology does not work sufficiently.

The main aim of the study was to evaluate associations between morphological variability of Trichuris females from sheep and roe deer and their rDNA polymorphism in whipworm populations from the Czech Republic. The results introduced the use of new molecular markers based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1-5.8S RNA-ITS2 region polymorphisms, as useful tools for the unambiguous differentiation of congeners Trichuris ovis and Trichuris discolor. These markers revealed both parasites in roe deer and in sheep; however, T. ovis females predominated in sheep while T. discolor females occurred mostly in roe deer. Additional analysis of ITS1-5.8 rRNA-ITS2 discovered the genetic uniformity of the analysed T. discolor but high haplotype variation of T. ovis. Simultaneously, molecularly designated female individuals of both species were categorised into four morphotypes (MT) on the basis of morphology of genital pore area. MT1 and MT4 (vulvar opening on everted vaginal appendage/on visible cuticular bulge) occurred only in T. ovis, MT2 (uneverted vagina-vulvar opening without any elevation) was identified only in T. discolor and MT3 (transient type of vulvar opening on a small swelling) was observed in both species. Statistical analysis of biometric data confirmed that morphology of vulva is not a reliable marker for the species determination. On the basis of the ITS1-5.8S RNA-ITS2 region variability, we carried out a phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood method, Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano model) which showed that T. ovis haplotypes from the Czech Republic and Ireland and T. discolor haplotypes from the Czech Republic, Spain, Iran and Japan are sister OTUs.

Study on postpartum estrus of guinea pigs (Cavia cobaya) using Anredera cordifolia leaf extract.

Aim:The purpose of this study was to determine the postpartum estrus cycle of guinea pigs (Cavia cobaya) using Anredera cordifolia leaf extract.Materials and Methods:Materials used were 8 males and 8 females of C. cobaya with body weight ranged 400-450 g. Mating ratio applied was 1:1. Treatments given were 0, 10, 50 and 90 mg of A. cordifolia leaf extract/head, designated as T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Two females were subjected for each treatment. A. cordifolia leaf extract was administered orally from 10 days prepartum to 10 days postpartum. Observation of mating behavior, vulva morphology, and vaginal smear preparation was done in the afternoon for 10 days subsequence postpartum. Data were analyzed by univariate method and descriptively.Results:The results showed that the addition of A. cordifolia leaf extract 50 mg orally could accelerate the time of postpartum estrus based on the average frequency of mating behavior consisting of behavioral approach, allow the buck to sniffing her, mating positions, standing heat, lordosis position, and copulation. During estrus, vulva morphology was red color, had much mucus and no thin membrane covering vagina. There were a lot of superficial cells on vagina.Conclusion:The best treatment to accelerate occurring postpartum estrus was the addition of A. cordifolia leaf extract as many as 50 mg/head weight (T2) orally.

Two new species of armoured spiders from Vietnam and Cambodia (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae: Pacullinae)

Two new species of paculline spiders are described on the basis of males and females: Perania annam sp. nov. from southern Vietnam and Lamania bokor sp. nov. from southern Cambodia. Both of them occur distinctly outside the previously known geographical range of each respective genus. The relationships of these species are discussed and morphological variation is illustrated. Lamania kraui (Shear, 1978), the closest known relative of L. bokor sp. nov., is re-defined on the basis of the types and of newly collected specimens from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. Vulva morphology in Lamania and scopulae in males of Tetrablemmidae are discussed.

α integrin cytoplasmic tails can rescue the loss of Rho-family GTPase signaling in the C. elegans somatic gonad

Integrin signaling relies on multiple, distinct pathways to impact a diverse set of cell behaviors. The Rho family of GTPases are well-established downstream signaling partners of integrins that regulate cell shape, polarity, and migration. The nematode C. elegans provides a simple in vivo system for studying both integrins and the Rho family. Our previous work showed that the C. elegans α integrin cytoplasmic tails have tissue-specific functions during development. Here, we use chimeric α integrins to show that the cytoplasmic tails can rescue the loss of the Rho family of GTPases in three cell types in the somatic gonad. Knockdown of rho-1 by RNAi causes defects in sheath cell actin organization, ovulation, and vulva morphology. Chimeric α integrin ina-1 with the pat-2 cytoplasmic tail can rescue both actin organization and ovulation after rho-1 RNAi, yet cannot restore vulva morphology. Knockdown of cdc-42 by RNAi causes defects in sheath cell actin organization, ovulation, vulva morphology, and distal tip cell migration. Chimeric α integrin pat-2 with the ina-1 cytoplasmic tail can rescue vulva morphology defects and distal tip cell migration after cdc-42 RNAi, yet cannot restore sheath cell actin organization or ovulation. Disruption of Rac yields the same phenotype in distal tip cells regardless of α integrin cytoplasmic tail composition. Taken together, the cytoplasmic tails of α integrins can bypass signaling from members of the Rho family of GTPases during development.

Study on abomasal nematodes of sheep and goats: Comparison and characterization of vulvar morphology of Haemonchus in Hawassa, Ethiopia

The study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012. Two hundred twenty two sheep and 174 goats’ abomasum were examined according to the standard procedures. The overall prevalence of abomasal nematode was 82% for sheep and 76.4% for goats. The parasitic species specific prevalence was 80.6, 25.7, and 14.8% for Haemonchus species, Trichostrongylus axei and Teladorsagia circumcincta, respectively in sheep and 75.2, 9.8, 14.2% in goats. Sex related prevalence for sheep was 79.6, 25.7, 17.1% in male and 81.9, 25.5, and 11.7% in female for Haemonchus species, Trichostrongylus axei and Teladorsagia circumcinecta respectively. The sex related prevalence in goats was 71.9, 5.7, 6.1% and 81.6, 21.6, 16.6% for Haemonchus species, Trichostrongylus axei and Teladorsagia circumcinecta, respectively for male and female. The overall mean worm count was 7459.4 for sheep and 6244.9 for goats. The sex related mean worm burden was significantly higher (P<0.05) in female than male for both sheep and goats. Female Haemonchus species Vulvar morphology was characterized and linguiform vulvar morphology was the most and knobbed type vulva morphology was the least frequently identified vulvar type both from sheep and goats’ worms with higher proportions of linguiform vulva from goats than sheep. It was concluded that the variation in prevalence and vulvar morphotype was almost similar with little deviations between sheep and goats. So importance of role of sheep to goats or goats to sheep as reservoir should be assessed. Investigations using advanced molecular techniques should be carried on genetic diversity and pathogenecity of Haemonchus in special as drug resistance is another emerging challenge in addition to the economic loss. Key words: Abomasal nematodes, Haemonchus, Hawassa, prevalence, vulvar morphology.

Caenorhabditis elegans histone deacetylase hda-1 is required for morphogenesis of the vulva and LIN-12/Notch-mediated specification of uterine cell fates.

Chromatin modification genes play crucial roles in development and disease. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the class I histone deacetylase family member hda-1, a component of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation complex, has been shown to control cell proliferation. We recovered hda-1 in an RNA interference screen for genes involved in the morphogenesis of the egg-laying system. We found that hda-1 mutants have abnormal vulva morphology and vulval-uterine connections (i.e., no uterine-seam cell). We characterized the vulval defects by using cell fate-specific markers and found that hda-1 is necessary for the specification of all seven vulval cell types. The analysis of the vulval-uterine connection defect revealed that hda-1 is required for the differentiation of the gonadal anchor cell (AC), which in turn induces ventral uterine granddaughters to adopt π fates, leading to the formation of the uterine-seam cell. Consistent with these results, hda-1 is expressed in the vulva and AC. A search for hda-1 target genes revealed that fos-1 (fos proto-oncogene family) acts downstream of hda-1 in vulval cells, whereas egl-43 (evi1 proto-oncogene family) and nhr-67 (tailless homolog, NHR family) mediate hda-1 function in the AC. Furthermore, we showed that AC expression of hda-1 plays a crucial role in the regulation of the lin-12/Notch ligand lag-2 to specify π cell fates. These results demonstrate the pivotal role of hda-1 in the formation of the vulva and the vulval-uterine connection. Given that hda-1 homologs are conserved across the phyla, our findings are likely to provide a better understanding of HDAC1 function in development and disease.

Time dependent effects of graded levels of Fusarium toxin contaminated maize in diets for female piglets

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of graded levels of the Fusarium toxins zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in diets for female piglets during 29 days of treatment on the development of performance, organ weights, clinical serum characteristics, differential blood counts and vulva morphology. For this purpose, 120 female weaned piglets with an initial mean bodyweight of 8.9±1.6 kg, were assigned to 5 feeding groups (n=24). The piglets of groups 1 to 5 received diets containing 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10% naturally contaminated maize instead of control maize, resulting in 0.01, 0.05, 0.08, 0.17 and 0.29 mg ZEA/kg, and 0.03, 0.59, 1.27, 2.01 and 4.52 mg DON/kg feed, respectively. After 1, 3, 8, 15, 22 and 29 days, 20 piglets (four piglets from each group) were slaughtered. Animals of group 5 consumed at least 20% less feed than animals of the other feeding groups. Body weight gain was significantly reduced in group 5 in the last week compared to group 2 and 3. Relative visceral organ weights were not affected by the treatments, but they mostly showed some minimal time dependent alterations. Uterus weights tended to be decreased in group 5 on day 15 of the experiment. Though not significant, signs of hyperoestrogenism such as swelling of the vulva became more pronounced with increasing time of exposure. Histopathological examination of organ specimens did not reveal any toxin related lesions. Total leukocytes, differential blood count and stimulation index of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were not affected by the diet, however, the proportion of lymphocytes increased while neutrophils decreased during the experiment independent of treatment. Clinical chemical serum characteristics were not affected by the treatments, however, they were somewhat affected by time. In conclusion, the dose related effects of ZEA and DON on performance and signs of hyperoestrogenism seemed to be dependent on exposure time.

Ovarian cycle of the captive formosan gem‐faced civets (Paguma larvata taivana)

Formosan gem-faced civets are classified to be endemic sub-species of Paguma larvata in Taiwan. Little about their reproductive physiology has been reported. This study was designed to characterize the ovarian activity throughout the year and define ovarian cycle length and the lengths of its component phases. Serum samples were collected for enzyme immunoassay (progesterone and estradiol) from seven captive civets twice weekly for 1 year. Meanwhile, periodic changes in external genitalia (vulva swelling) and vaginal cytology were examined and recorded. Results showed estrous cycles exhibited two types: 18-day (18.5+/-1.1, n=64) and 28-day (27.6+/-1.0, n=28) as shown by progesterone and estradiol fluctuations and corresponding changes in vulva morphology and vaginal cytology. Both types showed a similar 7-day follicular phase, peaking progesterone at Day 7. The 18-day cycle type prevails in the spring and summer whereas the 28-day cycle type is significant in the autumn. In summary, female gem-faced civets are polyestrous (approximately 13 cycles/year), and non-typical seasonal breeders, with follicular phase and two distinct durations of luteal phases (diestrus) cycling throughout the year, but the frequency of ovarian cycles was remarkably gradually decreased from September to February of next year. Zoo Biol 0:1-11, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.