Male Drosophila flies secrete seminal-fluid proteins that mediate proper sperm storage and fertilization, and that induce changes in female behavior. Females also produce reproductive-tract secretions, yet their contributions to postmating physiology are poorly understood. Large secretory cells line the female's spermathecae, a pair of sperm-storage organs. We identified the regulatory regions ...

During each life cycle, gametes must preserve and pass on both genetic and epigenetic information, making the germline both immortal and totipotent. In the male germline the dramatic morphological transformation of a germ cell through meiosis, into a sperm competent for fertilization, while retaining this information is an incredible example of cellular differentiation. This process of spermato...

Background: The oocyte is a unique cell committed to reprogram fertilizing sperm and to support early stages of embryonic development until the species-specific stage of zygote genome activation that occurs around the second to third cell cycle in sheep embryos. In this sense, considering the huge list of oocyte transcripts, we selected some candidates genes based on their roles of regulating di...

This study investigates genes enriched for expression in the spermatheca, the long-term sperm storage organ (SSO) of female Drosophila. SSO genes are likely to play an important role in processes of sexual selection such as sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Although there is keen interest in the mechanisms of sexual selection at the molecular level, very little is known about the fem...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)plays an important role in sperm motility. The physiological generation at low concentration induces beneficial effects on sperm functions and plays a significant role in sperm metabolism. Meanwhile, the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species can overwhelm protective mechanism and triggers changes in lipid and protein layers of sperm plasma membrane, which ...

The chicken reproductive system is unique in maintaining its functions including production of eggs or sperm, fertilization of the egg by sperm maintained in sperm nests, production of hormones regulating its growth, development and function, and reproduction. Development of the reproductive organs is a highly regulated process that results in differentiation and proliferation of germ cells in ...

The methylation status of the c-H-ras-1, insulin and retinoblastoma genes was determined in human sperm, hydatidiform mole, fetal tissues, adult lymphocytes and adult kidney. Individual alleles of c-H-ras-1 and insulin were distinguishable due to presence of endogenous variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms. Both alleles of the latter two genes were extensively methylated in sper...

context air pollution is common in all countries and affects reproductive functions in men and women. it particularly impacts sperm parameters in men. this meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of air pollution on the quality of sperm. conclusions the results of this meta-analysis showed that air pollution reduces sperm motility, but has no impact on the other sperm parameters of spermogram...

We studied the organization of the kappa light chain genes in germ-line (sperm) and somatic (embryo) tissues. We constructed a plasmid containing a DNA insert coding for the kappa chain MOPC 167 and used the Southern blotting technique to determine the organization of kappa variable and constant region genes. In the haploid genome of the mouse there is only one constant region gene detectable a...

An objective method for measuring bovine sperm nuclear shape was developed. Digital images of bovine sperm stained with propidium iodide were collected and Fourier functions used to describe the perimeters of individual sperm nuclei. Harmonic amplitudes from Fourier functions were first shown to be independent of sperm orientation during digitization. Sperm from 12 different bulls were used, an...