The fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) population has decreased in their primary breeding grounds in the Bering Sea; contamination is among suspected causes. Our goal was to better understand the extent of contamination of seal tissues with certain organochlorine compounds by measuring the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fur seal tissues fr...

BACKGROUND Beta-defensins are small cationic peptides that exhibit broad spectrum antimicrobial properties. The majority of beta-defensins identified in humans are predominantly expressed in the male reproductive tract and have roles in non-immunological processes such as sperm maturation and capacitation. Characterization of novel defensins in the male reproductive tract can lead to increased ...

Mechanisms of reproductive failure resulting from infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are still poorly understood. Presented herein are the results of a side-by-side evaluation of the pathogenicity of three type 2 PRRSV strains in a reproductive model, from a pilot study used to develop experimental conditions and laboratory methods for a larger experiment...

To determine the role of Toxoplasma gondii in reproductive failure, 108 of 113 sows that had aborted or delivered stillborn or weak piglets from 58 Swiss farms were serologically tested for specific antibodies against T. gondii tachyzoite antigens by ELISA. Additionally, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 123 foetuses or stillborn piglets derived from 25 seropositive and 27 seron...

Leptin is vital for maintaining energy homeostasis, by controlling food intake and regulating expenditure (fatty acids). It also participates in glycemic thyroid activity, reproductive immune functions. resistance a phenomenon that appears gradually does not simultaneously affect all organs tissues equally. In models of obesity induced high-fat diet, leptin initially manifests the hypothalamus....

The activity of αand β-mannosidase (α-MAN and β-MAN) in seminal plasma, spermatozoa and homogenates of reproductive organs has been determined in the drake. The highest specific activities of the examined mannosidases were found in epididymides. The activities of both enzymes decreased significantly during the postbreeding resting season compared to the breeding season. Elution profiles of mult...

The somatotropic axis, consisting of growth hormone (GH), hepatic insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and assorted releasing factors, regulates growth and body composition. Axiomatically, since optimal body composition enhances reproductive function, general somatic actions of GH modulate reproductive function. A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that GH also modulates reproduc...