• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.269-271
• /
• 2005

The freemartinism is the most frequent form of intersexuality found in cattle, and females of heterosexual twins become sterile. With increase of twinning rates due to transfer of multiple embryos derived from in vitro fertilization, it is of great economic value to establish early diagnosis of freemartins to remove infertile individuals from breeding stock. In the present study polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of two different Y-chromosome specific segments (BRY.l and AMX/Y) was performed to identify freemartins from twins and less common single born freemartins in Korean Native Cattle (KNC). Two male-specific sequences were amplified in all heterosexual twins tested (n=5). In addition, Y-specific PCR products were detectable in one of the single born females (n=4) with visible genital abnormalities. These results suggest that the sensitivity of PCR-based assay may be sufficient to detect freemartinism in single born females as well as female partners of heterosexual twins in KNC.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.112-126
• /
• 1970

This paper deals with cytogenetical and cytochemical studies of the carp (Cyprinus carpio), the funa (Carassius carassius) and their hybrids. When kept under a confined condition, the carp and the funa mate andcan produce hybrids. Reciprocal crosses are also possible with similar results. The hybrids grow regularly with no observed abnormalities in the course of their development. They rank intermediate between the parent species in several characters. The hybrid males are completely sterile, while a hybrid female laid eggs in backcrossing. The spermatogenetic activity in hybrid testes is greatly disturbed. The chromosomes as observed in spermatogonial devision of hybrids are 100 in number, being the total sum of the haploid numbers of the parents, 50 for the carp and 50 for the funa. Meiosis in the hybrid testes is highly disturbed being arrested at early stages of the meiotic prophase. Most of the germ-cells undergo pycnotic degeneration during the period from late leptotene, and no spermatozoa are produced. In some hybrid specimens, the gonads show mosaic structures composed of testicular and ovarian elements, anevidence suggesting that sterility is associated with intersexuality caused by genetic unbalance between the parent species. The DNA amount in spermatogonial nuclei of thehybrids is approximately the same as that of liver nuclei, showing the 2n value. The DNA amount in the pachytene nuclei of the hybrids is less than the 4n value, while the parent species have the reduced amount of DNA in their pachytene nuclei. A consideration was made that the reduced amount of DNA in the hybrid cells may cause the disturbance of cellular activity leading to the subsequent degeneration of cells. Some aspects of enzymatic pattern in the carp, funa and their hybrids are. going on.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2011

This study was investigated to find out the change of reproductive and histological biomarkers of Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to nonylphenol (NP). Experimental period was 16 weeks. Experimental groups were composed of one control condition and three NP exposure conditions (0.05, 0.1, $0.2 mg\;NP\;L^{-1}$). Gonad index was higher in exposure group than control in female and higher in control than exposure group in male. Intersexuality in the NP exposure group was 14.56% with male exhibiting higher ratio than female. Histological analysis of organ system illustrated expansion of hemolymph sinus, loss of striated border of inner epidermis and degeneration of mucous cell in the mantle. In the gill partially disappearance of frontal and lateral cilia, degeneration of mucous cell were observed. Also, hyperplasia of epithelium and disappearance of striated border were observed in the foot. As the concentration of NP increased, the accumulation of lipofuscin increased in the digestive gland. The results of this study suggest that NP induces reduction of survival rate, histopathology and intersex of R. philippinarum. Furthermore, it is indentified that NP functions as an estrogenic effector on the reproduction of R. philippinarum.