Fictive swimming was elicited in low-spinal immobilized turtles by electrically stimulating the contralateral dorsolateral funiculus (cDLF) at the level of the third postcervical segment (D(3)). Fictive hindlimb motor output was recorded as electroneurograms (ENGs) from up to five peripheral nerves on the right side, including three knee extensors (KE; iliotibialis [IT]-KE, ambiens [AM]-KE, and...

The purposes of our study were to examine (1) Rh B glycoprotein (Rhbg) and Rh C glycoprotein (Rhcg) expressions in mouse skeletal muscle; and (2) the effect of 6-week training on Rhbg and Rhcg expressions. The levels of Rhbg and Rhcg expressions were much higher in the soleus (Sol) than in the plantaris (Pla) or gastrocnemius (Gas). Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that Rhbg colocaliz...

Techniques were developed to determine which life stages of fish are vulnerable to barotrauma from expansion of internal gases during decompression. Eggs, larvae, and juvenile hatchery-reared white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus; up to 91 days post hatch; d.p.h.) were decompressed to assess vulnerability to barotrauma and identify initial swim bladder inflation. Barotrauma-related injury and...

OBJECTIVES Capacitation and acrosome reaction are prerequisites for fertilization. However, in vitro capacitation is not necessary for an agonist-induced acrosome reaction. We studied whether in vitro capacitation is important in spontaneous acrosome reaction and analyzed how capacitation before cryopreservation influences the acrosomal status of thawed spermatozoa. METHODS Semen specimens fr...

OBJECTIVE Sperm must be properly prepared in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) programs in order to control the fertilization rate and ensure that embryos are of high quality and have appropriate developmental abilities. The objective of this study was to determine the most optimal sperm preparation method for IVF. METHODS Patients less than 40 years of age who participated in...

The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of "multi-age" classification systems in youth sports with a specific focus on the unisex multi-age-groupings used by USA Swimming. In addition, we offer an analytical rationale for the multi-age-groupings and potential alternatives. We examined the top 100 US swim performances for three years (2005, 2006, and 2007) for girls and boys in 15 ...

Many amphibian tadpoles hatch and swim before their inner ears and sense of spatial orientation differentiate. We describe upward and downward swimming responses in hatchling Xenopus laevis tadpoles from stages 32 to 37/38 in which the body rotates about its longitudinal axis. Tadpoles are heavier than water and, if touched while lying on the substratum, they reliably swim upwards, often in a t...