T H E gradual deposition of a homogeneous, jelly-like covering on the rabbit ovum during its passage down the uterine tube was first observed by Cruikshank in 1797. This observation has been confirmed repeatedly by many later workers (Barry, 1839; Bischoff, 1842; Thomson, 1859; Assheton, 1894; Gregory, 1930; and Pincus, 1936). Barry referred to this covering investing the zona pellucida as 'cho...

Lipids of the Arctic ctenophore Mertensia ovum, collected from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) in 2001, were analysed to investigate seasonal variability and fate of dietary lipids. Total lipids, lipid classes and fatty acid and alcohol compositions were determined in animals, which were selected according to age-group and season. Changes in lipids of age-group 0 animals were followed during growth fro...

INTRODUCTION Hydatidiform moles (HM), presenting as complete (CHM) and partial (PHM) form, are rare pregnancy disorder. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, ultrasound imaging findings and pathological examination of products of conception. Protein p57, encoded by CKDN1C gene, is paternally imprinted and maternally expressed gene and provides quick insight in genetic basis of HM and all...

Polyspermy is a major puzzle in reproductive biology. In some taxa, multiple sperm enter the ovum as part of the normal fertilization process, whereas in others, penetration of the ovum by more than one sperm is lethal. In birds, several sperm typically enter the germinal disc, yet only one fuses with the female pronucleus. It is unclear whether supernumerary sperm play an essential role in the...

Ascochyta blight (AB) caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. is an important and widespread disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) worldwide. The disease is particularly severe under cool and humid weather conditions. Breeding for host resistance is an efficient means to combat this disease. In this paper, attempts have been made to summarize the progress made in identifying resistance sour...

A prospective study was carried out from November 2006 - December 2008 in which a total of 304 patients with early pregnancy were examined by ultrasound (US). Of these, 203 (66.8%) cases were normal pregnancies (including 8 cases of twin pregnancy), 32 (10.5%) missed abortions, 19 (6.3%) incomplete abortions, 14 (4.6%) complete abortions, 12 (4.0%) blighted ovums, 11 (3.6%) without sonographic ...

Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and Ascochyta blight (AB), caused by Ascochyta rabiei are two major constraints to chickpea production. Therefore, two parallel marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) programmes by targeting foc 1 locus and two QTL regions, ABQTL-I and ABQTL-II were undertaken to introgress resistance to FW and AB, respectively in C 214, an elite cult...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the uptake and outcome of expectant management of spontaneous first trimester miscarriage in an early pregnancy assessment unit. PARTICIPANTS 1096 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of spontaneous first trimester miscarriage. METHODS Each miscarriage was classified as complete, incomplete, missed, or anembryonic on the basis of ultrasonography. Women who needed tre...