• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

The annual reproductive cycle of the Korean endemic slender catfish, Silurus microdorsalis, was examined histologically regarding water temperature and day length of habitat, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and development characteristics of female and male gonads. The maximum GSI value was found in May, $1.23{\pm}0.33$ and $11.77{\pm}3.23$ for male and female respectively (habitat water temperature $21.5^{\circ}C/13.59hr$ day length). On the other hand, the minimal level was $0.63{\pm}0.10$ in July ($26.5^{\circ}C/14.17$) for male and $1.36{\pm}0.08$ in October ($20^{\circ}C/11.2hr$) for female. We compared and calculated the stages of testis and ovary development process in order to determine the germ cell development characteristics and the reproductive cycle. According to results, we classified the annual reproductive cycle of the slender catfish into five stages: Growing phase (December-February), Mature phase (March-April), Ripe and spawning phase / Releasing phase in male (May-June), Degenerative phase (July-August), and Resting phase (September-November).

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Jatropha curcas is an oil bearing species with multiple uses and considerable economic potential as a biofuel plant. Plant flowering and breeding characteristics are important for us to understand the reproduction of plant populations. The present study describes the floral biology and flowering phenology of J. curcas which is a prerequisite for hybridization program for genetic improvement through conventional breeding. The plant produces flowers in dichasial inflorescences. Normally, the flowers are unisexual, and male and female flowers are produced in the same inflorescence. Only a few male flowers are produced in an inflorescence, and fruits are produced only through pollination between different flowers from the same or different plants. This study includes a description of the inflorescence, flower anatomy of both male and female flowers, female : male ratio, pollen : ovule ratio, flowering phenology, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, comparison of selfing methods and a comparison of geitonogamy and xenogamy. This information may be useful in J. curcas breeding programmes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.975-984
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• 2021

Objective: Inbreeding depression of reproduction is a major concern in the conservation of native chicken genetic resources. Here, based on the successful development of strongly inbred (Sinb) and weakly inbred (Winb) Langshan chickens, we aimed to evaluate inbreeding effects on reproductive traits and identify candidate genes involved in inbreeding depression of reproduction in Langshan chickens. Methods: A two-sample t-test was performed to estimate the differences in phenotypic values of reproductive traits between Sinb and Winb chicken groups. Three healthy chickens with reproductive trait values around the group mean values were selected from each of the groups. Differences in ovarian and hypothalamus transcriptomes between the two groups of chickens were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Results: The Sinb chicken group showed an obvious inbreeding depression in reproduction, especially for traits of age at the first egg and egg number at 300 days (p<0.01). Furthermore, 68 and 618 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in the hypothalamus and ovary between the two chicken groups, respectively. In the hypothalamus, DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways related to vitamin metabolism, signal transduction and development of the reproductive system, such as the riboflavin metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, including stimulated by retinoic acid 6, serpin family F member 1, secreted frizzled related protein 2, Wnt family member 6, and frizzled class receptor 4 genes. In the ovary, DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with basic metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycosaminoglycan degradation. A series of key DEGs involved in folate biosynthesis (gamma-glutamyl hydrolase, guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1), oocyte meiosis and ovarian function (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1, structural maintenance of chromosomes 1B, and speedy/RINGO cell cycle regulator family member A), spermatogenesis and male fertility (prostaglandin D2 synthase 21 kDa), Mov10 RISC complex RNA helicase like 1, and deuterosome assembly protein 1) were identified, and these may play important roles in inbreeding depression in reproduction. Conclusion: The results improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression in chicken reproduction and provide a theoretical basis for the conservation of species resources.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify candidate genes that play important roles in skeletal muscle development in ducks. Methods: In this study, we investigated the transcriptional sequencing of embryonic pectoral muscles from two specialized lines: Liancheng white ducks (female) and Cherry valley ducks (male) hybrid Line A (LCA) and Line C (LCC) ducks. In addition, prediction of target genes for the differentially expressed mRNAs was conducted and the enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes signaling pathways were further analyzed. Finally, a protein-to-protein interaction network was analyzed by using the target genes to gain insights into their potential functional association. Results: A total of 1,428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 762 being up-regulated genes and 666 being down-regulated genes in pectoral muscle of LCA and LCC ducks identified by RNA-seq (p<0.05). Meanwhile, 23 GO terms in the down-regulated genes and 75 GO terms in up-regulated genes were significantly enriched (p<0.05). Furthermore, the top 5 most enriched pathways were ECM-receptor interaction, fatty acid degradation, pyruvate degradation, PPAR signaling pathway, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Finally, the candidate genes including integrin b3 (Itgb3), pyruvate kinase M1/2 (Pkm), insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi), GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (Gabarapl1), and thyroid hormone receptor beta (Thrb) showed the most expression difference, and then were selected to verification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The result of qRT-PCR was consistent with that of transcriptome sequencing. Conclusion: This study provided information of molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental differences in skeletal muscles between specialized duck lines.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2017

4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a surfactant that is a well-known and widespread estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). Although it has been known that the affinity of NP to ERs is low, it has been suggested that low-dose NP has toxicity. In the present study, the endocrine disrupting effects on reproduction, and the weight of gonads, epididymis, and uterus were evaluated with the chronic lower-dose NP exposing. This study was designed by following the OECD test guideline 443 and subjected to a complete necropsy. In male, NP had an effect on the weight of the testis and epididymis in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. In females, NP decreased the weight of ovary and uterus in $F_0$ but not in pre-pubertal $F_1$ pubs. Fertility of male and female in $F_0$ or $F_1$ was no related with NP administration. The number of caudal-epididymal sperm by body weight (BW) was not different between groups in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. Besides, the difference of the sperm number between generations was not detected. The number of ovulated oocytes was similar between groups in $F_0$, but significantly decreased in NP 50 group of $F_1$. The litter size and sex ratios of offspring in $F_1$ and $F_2$ were not different. The accumulated mating rate and gestation period were not affected by the NP administration. Those results shows that chronic lower-dose NP administration has an effect of endocrine disruptor on the weight of gonads and epididymis of $F_0$ and $F_1$ but not in reproduction. Based on the results, it is suggested that chronic lower-dose NP exposing causes endocrine disruption in the weight of gonad and epididymis but not in the reproductive ability of next generations.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-63
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• 1981

This study aimed to determine the effects of adrenalectomy on the sexual gland, the thyroid gland and the serum components. A total of 192 Wister strain albino rats were evenly divided into 4 sexually equal groups for the comparisons. Each groups was divided into a control and a treatment group by sexuality. Each tissue of the sexual gland and the thyroid gland was microscopically examined, and at the same time body weight and serum components were also examined on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 28th, 42nd, 56th, 70th and 84th day respectively following adrenalectomy. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The body weight was sufficiently retarded in decreasingly after the adrenalectomy as compared to that of control. 2. The histological change of testis started atrophy of spermatogonia and degeneration of spermatocyte. There was a, pp.ared no cell division activity. Spermatozoa in the seminiferous tuble was not noticed but degeneration of interstitial cell was started and spermatozoa in the epididymal duct disa, pp.ared. 3. Degeneration of oocyte and follicular cell was noticed as the histological change of ovary. There was not a, pp.arance of primary follicle and corpus Iuteum but interstitial cell was proliferated. 4. For the effect of adrenalectomy on the histological change of the thyroid gland, the number of small follicle decreased and that of large follicle increased as the time passed following the adrenalectomy. And the follicular epithelial cell became squamous as typical condition of functional decreased. 5. It was shown that in the total contents of serum protein no difference with control occurred with in the 70th day for male and female adrenalectomized, respectively. But the differences in protein contents were significanly decreased on the 70th day. 6. No difference occurred in the total serum lipids on the 7th day, but they decreased significantly on the 42nd day, and (P<0.01) on the 56th, and 70th day. A tendency to decrease was noted as time elapsed following adrenalectomy. 7. Increase and decrease were intercrossed in the serum cholesterol contents between the control and th treatment groups on the 28th day. But the difference significantly decreased on the 42nd, 56th, and 70th day after adrelalectomized. The contents showed tendency to decrease as time elapsed following adrenalectomy. 8. The blood glucose contents rapidly decreased with time. The difference were significant on the 28th and 42nd day, and highly significant on the 56th and 70th day for male adrenalectomized. 9. In case of solium, there was no noticeable sexual distinction. There was slight in creasing or decreasing for the control group. But the treatment group tended continuously to decrease for male and female. 10. It was shown that potassium contents tended to increase on the 28th day for male and female, but the differences were small. 11. As for chlorine, it tended to decrease rapidly on 7th day for male and female adrenalectomized, and the tendency continued.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate phenotypic characteristics, morphometric measurements, reproduction and production performances of Aseel chicken of Bangladesh. The dominant feather color of neck/hackles was red in both males (56.14%) and females (54.16%) while the sickle feather color was mostly black in both chickens (71.93% vs. 54.17%). The predominant saddle and breast feather colors were red (40.35%) and black (64.91%), respectively, in male whereas most frequent observed color was pale brown in female (58.33 and 50.0%, respectively). The predominant feather color of wing bow and wing bay was found black (68.42 and 80.70%, respectively) in male but only pale brown color was observed in females (62.5 and 54.17%, respectively) for these two characters. Different phenotypic measurements such as the average shank length and circumference were $12.79{\pm}0.13$ and $7.8{\pm}0.08$ cm, respectively, in male and $10.21{\pm}0.25$ and $5.81{\pm}0.21$ cm, respectively, in female. Keel length was $14.39{\pm}0.19$ cm in male and $10.79{\pm}0.23$ cm in female. The average adult live weight in male was measured $3749.12{\pm}83.44$ g while in female it was $2062.50{\pm}105.26$ g. The age of 1st lay was found to be 28.86 weeks. Total number of eggs laid per year ranged between 24~48, number of clutch/hen/year varied from 2 to 4 and number of eggs/clutch/hen was found to be 10~12. The average live weight of Aseel chicken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17 weeks of age were recorded as $31.14{\pm}0.55$, $48.63{\pm}3.99$, $116.57{\pm}5.72$, $138.40{\pm}5.91$, $212.88{\pm}4.82$, $361.00{\pm}9.72$, $577.50{\pm}42.86$, $743.75{\pm}24.65$, $1086.00{\pm}26.02$, $1402.00{\pm}24.54$ and $1432.00{\pm}27.00$ g respectively. Finally, this phenotypic characterization as well as productive and reproductive performances of Aseel chicken will give the baseline information to researcher for further study and for planning any on-ward conservation and implement strategy.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2007

Toxicity of nonlyphenol (NP) one of EDCs was studied with focus on reproduction of the crucian carp, Carassius auratus. Fishes were cultured under control and nonylphnol exposure conditions for 32 weeks. Experimental group was composed of total of 4 groups, 1 control condition and 3 nonylphenol exposure condition ($18\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1},\;37\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}\;and\;83\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}$). Survival rate was found to be similar in control and $18\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$. However, it is lower In the $37\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ and $83\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ in comparison to the control group. Deformation of gonads was the highest in the exposure condition of $18{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ with the female illustrating higher ratio than the male. GSI was not much different in the male but in the female, NP exposure group illustrated lower value compared to the control group. HSI and GI did not illustrate any clear differences between the control and exposure group for both male and female. Intersex was 0% in the wild group, 4.16% in the laboratory control group, and 25.67% in the NP exposure condition with female illustrating higher compared to male. Concentration of blood vitellogenin in female illustrated no clear differences between the control and NP exposure group. However, in the male, it was higher in the NP exposure group in comparison to the control group, and illustrated higher values of vitellogenin compared to the figures found in the female of same con-centration condition.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Golden hamsters reproduce in a limited time of a year. Their sexual activities are active in summer but inactive in winter during which day length does not exceed night time and environmental conditions are severe to them. The reproductive activities are determined by the length of light in a day (photoperiod). Melatonin is synthesized and secreted only at night time from the pineal gland. Duration of elevated melatonin is longer in winter than summer, resulting in gonadal regression. The present study aimed at the influences of continuous melatonin treatments impinging on the gonadal function in male golden hamsters. Animals received empty or melatonin-filled capsules for 10 weeks. They were divided into long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). All the animals maintained in LP (either empty or melatonin-filled capsules) showed large testes, implying that melatonin had no effects on testicular functions. Animals housed in SP displayed completely regressed testes. But animals kept in SP and implanted with melatonin capsules exhibited blockage of full regression by SP. These results suggest that constant release of melatonin prohibits the regressing influence of SP.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.217-217
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the developmental competency between male- and female-somatic cell derived nuclear-transferred porcine embryos, and the productive and survival efficiency of cloned male and female piglets. The potential of eggs receiving somatic cells to develop into blastocysts was not different among donor cells of different origins. (omitted)