The present study was aimed at evaluating the antifertility effect of phyllanthus amarus extract in male wistar rats. The body and organ weights, cauda epididymal sperm parameters, serum levels of male reproductive hormones and fructose were assessed. Daily oral doses of the extract were administered to each animal in three different test groups for 28 consecutive days. Results show significant...

The role of oestrogens in male reproductive tract physiology has for a long time been a subject of debate. The testis produces significant amounts of oestrogenic hormones, via aromatase, and oestrogen receptors (ERs)alpha (ESR1) and ERbeta (ESR2) are selectively expressed in cells of the testis as well as the epididymal epithelium, depending upon species. This review summarizes the current know...

Reproduction is a fundamental aspect of life in all species. In a biological sense, it can be argued that reproduction is the essence of life. Passing on ones genes to the next generation and constantly optimizing the gene pool available for each individual and the species as a whole are vital for continuation and endurance of the species. Reproduction and hormones are intimately connected; thu...

Timing of breeding to an optimal season is a requirement for a successful reproductive outcome in seasonally breeding species. Photoperiodic signals are capable of modifying the reproductive behaviour and reproductive systems in several vertebrate species. The cichlid fish Cichlasoma dimerus shows highly organized breeding activities and different social status. The aim of this study is to test...

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) have the capacity of altering the normal function of the endocrine system. EDCs have shown dramatic effects on the reproductive biology of aquatic wildlife and may affect human reproduction as well. Studies on EDCs in mammalian species have often investigated the effects of short-term, high doses on male and female reproductive physiology. However, it is di...

While individual variation in social behaviour is ubiquitous and causes social groups to differ in structure, how these structural differences affect fitness remains largely unknown. We used social network analysis of replicate bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) harems to identify the reproductive correlates of social network structure. In stable groups, we quantified agonistic behaviour, repro...

BACKGROUND Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that affects ∼10-15% of couples attempting to conceive a baby. More than half of all cases of infertility are a result of female conditions, while the remaining cases can be attributed to male factors, or to a combination of both. The search for suitable biomarkers of pregnancy outcome is a challenging issue in human reproduction,...

The chemical complexity of the male ejaculate is truly extraordinary and every bit as remarkable as the most extravagant male plumage and courtship displays. This protein-rich seminal fluid delivers chemical messages that can enter the female brain and modify behaviour, stimulate muscle contractions in, and change the appearance of the female reproductive tract, and cause females to release rep...