In most mammalian species aromatase is encoded by a single gene (Cyp19), which contains 18 exons, nine of them being translated. In man, the presence of a biologically active aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) has been reported in Leydig cells, and also in immature germ cells and ejaculated spermatozoa. Concerning aromatase, the amount of transcript and enzymatic activity ar...

Ghrelin and one of its functional receptors, GHS-R1a (Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor 1a), were firstly studied about 15 years. Ghrelin is a multifunctional peptide hormone that affects several biological functions including food intake, glucose release, cell proliferation... Ghrelin and GHS-R1a are expressed in key cells of both male and female reproductive organs in several species inclu...

We introduce into the Penna Model for biological ageing one of the possible male mechanisms used to maximize the ability of their sperm to compete with sperm from other males. Such a selfish mechanism increases the male reproduction success but may decrease the survival probability of the whole female population, depending on how it acts. We also find a dynamic phase transition induced by the e...