Introduction Black (H. cracherodii) and white abalone sorenseni) are federally listed as endangered species in the United States. Conservation efforts include captive breeding programs; however, determination of reproductive state individual is notoriously difficult using traditional visual assessments. Ultrasonography a well-recognized technology used to assess gonad condition accurately nonle...

A differential expression screen for sex-determining genes in the embryonic chicken gonad revealed a novel gene called Female Expressed Transcript 1 (FET-1). Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis mapped FET-1 to the female specific W chromosome. Whole mount in situ hybridization showed that FET-1 expression was restricted to females and up-regulated in the cortex of the left gonad during t...

Abbreviations: cAMP: cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate; cDNA: complimentary DNA; CHH: Crustacean Hyperglycemic Hormone; DA: Dopamine; EPA: Eicosapentaeinoic Acid; FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone; FTZ-F1: Fushi Tarazu-Factor1; GIH: Gonad Inhibiting Hormone; GSH: Gonad Stimulating factor; hCG: human Chorionic Gonadotropin; HP: Hepatopancreas; HPLC: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; 5-HT: 5-H...

Female fecundity increases with body size in a variety of insects, but it is unknown if this generalization applies for kissing bugs. In this study, we evaluate whether gonad weight in the bloodsucking insect Mepraia spinolai correlates with body size, or determined by nutrition or developmental time. We found that the investment on reproductive tissue correlates positively and significantly wi...

Morphological changes in the sexual organs of the pulmonates were observed throughout a year and correlated with reproductive-cycle periods. Reproductive-organ weights of the snail Megalobulimus abbreviatus were recorded seasonally and gonad sections were analyzed morphologically. The weights were used to obtain the organosomatic index. Mean oocytic diameter and oocytic maturation index were ba...