• Title/Summary/Keyword: Male reproductive system

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A rare duodichogamous flowering system in monoecious Toona sinensis (Meliaceae)

  • Lee, Hakbong;Kang, Hyesoon;Park, Wan-Geun
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.50-59
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    • 2018
  • Background: Duodichogamy is the rarest form of dichogamy in angiosperms, which is characterized by flowering in the sequence of male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male. Disentangling factors promoting duodichogamy require the discovery of more duodichogamous species in angiosperms. However, extremely limited information on duodichogamous species makes it difficult to make general conclusions. Given the inflorescence morphology and flowering characteristics, the Meliaceae family is highly likely to contain duodichogamous species. Methods: We selected 48 individuals from 20 populations in Korea and investigated their flower morphology, arrangement of flowers by sexual condition within inflorescences, and flowering phases and duration of male and female flowers of Toona sinensis (Meliaceae) for 5 years (2011-2015) to determine if the species shows duodichogamous flowering. Results: Toona sinensis belonging to Meliaceae possessed functionally unisexual flowers with rudimentary parts of the opposite sex. The floral organs in male were larger than those in female, except for ovary length and width. In dichasium, male flowers were observed on primary or lateral branches, whereas female flowers were borne only on lateral branches. Overall, individuals from six different populations flowered in the male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male sequence, thereby male is blooming far longer than female flowers at the level of individual trees (male vs. female = 17-20 days vs. 2-4 days). Conclusions: This is the first study to report a duodichogamously flowering species, T. sinensis, within Meliaceae. Several flowering characteristics observed from T. sinensis may be important clues used to discover additional duodichogamous Meliaceae species. Short flowering period and relatively small number of female flowers, which is analogous to reduced ovule numbers observed in other duodichogamous species, may intensify male-male competition in T. sinensis. This study contributed to narrowing down potential candidates of duodichogamy based on their geographic distributions and flowering time.

Pattern of Sexual Dimorphism in Garcinia kola (Heckel) Plantation

  • Henry Onyebuchi, Okonkwo;Godwin Ejakhe, Omokhua;Uzoma Darlington, Chima
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.275-283
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    • 2022
  • A study was designed to investigate the pattern of sexual dimorphism in a plantation of Garcinia kola. Twenty trees were randomly selected for the study and have been observed to flower regularly. A total of 100 inflorescence were randomly collected from the crown of each tree and 500 flowers randomly assessed within the period of four (4) flowering seasons. Floral sex assessment was done visually and with a hand magnifying lens; floral morphometric measurements (i.e. pedicel and perianth length and breadth), inflorescence length, and breadth) was taken using a veneer caliper; number of flowers per inflorescence and inflorescence per twig was counted; while, data analysis was conducted on excel using analysis of variance and pairwise t-test comparison. Four floral sexes were identified in the G. kola plantation studied which were unisexual male flowers, unisexual female flowers, cosexual unisexual male flowers, and cosexual hermaphrodite flowers. Three tree sexes were identified viz: inconstant male, invariant female, and cosexual trees. The plantation was significantly sexually dimorphic in floral sex and phenotypic traits (i.e. pedicel and perianth size), and as well as sexually dimorphic in tree sex and reproductive phenotypic traits (i.e. inflorescence size, number of inflorescences per twig, and number of flower bud per inflorescence). The sexual system of the plantation was therefore trioecious with features suggestive of evolving dioecy through the gynodioecious pathway.

Protective Effects of Blue Honeysuckle on Rat Hypothyroidism Induced by Propylthiouracil

  • Lee, Woo-Yeol;Yi, Seong-Joon;Yun, Sungho;Lim, Mee-Kyung;Lee, Keun-Woo
    • Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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    • v.33 no.5
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    • pp.246-254
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    • 2016
  • The objective of the present study is to determine whether blue honeysuckle lyophilized concentrated powder (BH) has favorable effects on hypothyroidism and related reproductive organ damage. Hypothyroidism was induced by 9 subcutaneous administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) for 28 days. Levothyroxine (LT4)-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with LT4 for the same period, while for BH (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) or Flos Lonicerae lyophilized aqueous extract (LF, 250 mg/kg)-treated groups, the test materials were orally administrated for 42 days: two weeks before PTU injection and during PTU administration. The changes in serum thyroid hormone levels, serum male sex hormone levels, and testis antioxidant defense system were observed by histopathology of the thyroid gland, epididymis, prostate, and testis. The oral administrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of BH showed favorable effects compared to LF on hypothyroidism and related damages of reproductive organs through augmentation of the antioxidant defense system in the testis. In conclusion, BH is a promising new potent thyroid gland protecting agent.

Potential Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Phthalates in In Vitro and In Vivo Models

  • Nguyen, Tien-Thanh;Jung, Eui-Man;Yang, Hyun;Hyun, Sang-Hwan;Choi, Kyung-Chul;Jeung, Eui-Bae
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.207-213
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    • 2010
  • Thousands of new chemicals have been introduced to environment during last decades. Many of them and common consumer products have been shown to be the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One such chemical group is the phthalates, used in soft poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material and in a huge number of consumer products. The prevalence of these modem chemicals have a remarkable increase. Approximately 3.5 million tons of the main phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are produced annually worldwide and indeed, DEHP is considered a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. It has been demonstrated that high doses of phthalate can adversely affect adult and developing animals. In this review, we critically discuss the conclusions of recently original research papers and provide an overview of studies on reproductive disrupting effects of phthalates. In addition, we review the reproductive toxicity data of phthalates in some in vitro research and in both male and female reproductive systems in experimental and domestic animals. Finally, we point out some critical issues that should be addressed in order to clarify the implication of phthalates for human reproduction.

Expression of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Its Receptor Gene in Uterus from Cycling Rats (발정 주기중 흰쥐 자궁에서의 Luteinizing Hormone (LH)과 수용체 유전자 발현)

  • Kim, Sung-Rye;Lee, Sung-Ho
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.383-387
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    • 1999
  • Objective: There is increasing evidence for the expression of rat in gene in several extrapituitary sites including testis and ovary. We also have demonstrated that the local LH expression in the rat epididymis and uterus, the major accessory sex organs in male and female reproductive system, respectively. Design: The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the gene for LH receptor is expressed in rat uterus and whether the expressions of uterine LH and its receptor are differentially regulated during estrous cycle. Presence of the transcripts for rat LH receptor in the rat uterine tissue were confirmed by touchdown reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: In $LH{\beta}$ semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the highest expression level was shown in estrus stage. The level of ill receptor transcripts was also fluctuated during estrous cycle. In ovariectomized rats (OVX + Oil), the expressions of both uterine LH and LH-R were markedly reduced when compared to those from normal rats. Supplement with estradiol $17{\beta}$ to the ovariectomized rats (OVX + $E_2$) restored the expression levels of LH and its receptor to the levels in uteri from normal rats. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that 1) LH and its receptor gene are expressed in the rat uterus from cycling rats, 2) the expression of uterine LH and its receptor is mainly, if not all, under the control of ovarian sex steroid(s). These results suggested that the uterine LH may act as a local regulator with auto and/or paracrine manner, though the posibility that the pituitary LH may act directly on the regulation of uterine functions could not be discarded.

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Influence of Melatonin on Reproductive Function in Male Golden Hamsters (수컷 골든 햄스터의 생식기능에 미치는 멜라토닌의 영향)

  • Choi, Don-Chan
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2001
  • Golden hamsters show the reproductive activity that is determined by the photoperiod (length of light per day). Photoperiod is an environmental factor that is predictable through an entire year. The hamsters are sexually active in summer during which day length exceeds night time. The critical length is at least 12.5 hours of light in a day where reproductive function is maintained. The information of photoperiod is mediated by the pineal gland because removal of pineal gland blocks the influence of photoperiod on reproductive activity. The hamsters without pineal gland maintain sexual activity and promote it in a situation that suppresses gonadal activity. The pineal gland secretes melatonin that reflects the photoperiod. The appropriate administrations of melatonin into both pineal intact and pinealectomized hamsters lead to a gonadal reression. The results suggest that melatonin constitutes a part of control mechanism whereby environmental information is transduced to neuroendocrine signal respensible for the functional integrity of the reproductive system. Despite of the intense studies, the action site of melatonin is on the whole unknown. It is mainly due to the lack of acute efffct of melatonin on the secretion of reproductive hormones. However, sexually regressed animals display the low levelsof gonadotropins and the augmentation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) content, implying that the antigonadotropic effects either by photoperiod and/or by the treatment of melatonin are mediated by the GnRH neuronal system. The action mechanism by which melatonin exerts its effect on GnRH neuron needs to be investigated. Recent cloning of melatonin receptor will contribute to examine various and putative potencies of melatonin via its anatomical identification and the action mechanism of melatonin on target tissues at the molecular level.

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EFFECTS OF SUBCHRONIC PATERNAL EXPOSURE TO CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND ACROLEIN ON MALE FERTILITY AND EARLY EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT IN RATS

  • Oran-Kwon;Kwack, Seung-Jun;Shin, Jae-Ho;Kim, Soon-Sun;Sohn, Kyung-Hee;Kim, So-Hee;Lee, Rhee-Da;Kim, Byung-Ho;Park, Chul-Hoon;Ha, Won-Kwang;Park, Kui-Lea
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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    • 2001.05a
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    • pp.138-138
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the effects of subchronic paternal treatment of cyclophosphamide (CP) and acrolein on male fertility and early embryonic development. Two approaches were pursued. The first was to perform in vivo test for observing the adverse effects of CP and acrolein on the function og male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome.(omitted)

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Morphological Relationship between Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans and their Hybrids (Drosophila melanogaster와 D. simulans 및 그들간 잡종의 형태학적 유연관계)

  • 최영현;유미애;이원호
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.193-199
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    • 1993
  • The morphological relationship between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans, and their hybrids were investigated using comparisons of internal reproductive organs. male sex comb tooth number and male genital discs. InterspecIfic hybrids of all crosses were completely sterile, and had rudImentary gonads. Dysgenic ovaries and testes were morphologically similar to those of gonadal dysgenesis stenlity associated with the PM system in D. melal1ogaster. The mean number of sex comb tooth in D. melrmogaster, D. simulans and their male hybrids were 10.73, 8.35 and 9.97, respectively. The general aspects of the genital disc of the malo hybrid were a mosaic-like structure between D. melanogaster and D. simulans.

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