Nonsteroidal biochemical markers of oocyte maturity could presumably aid in oocyte selection and in the timing of insemination for in vitro fertilization. We assessed the usefulness of six potential markers found in follicular fluid. We used kinetic immunonephelometry to measure concentrations of alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, antithrombin III, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen, and plasmi...

The effect of the age of the ovulatory follicle on fertility in beef cows was investigated. Multiparous (n = 171) and primiparous (n = 129) postpartum beef cows in 2 groups (G1 and G2) received estradiol benzoate (EB; 1 mg/500 kg BW, intramuscular [i.m.]) 5.5 d (G1; n = 162) and 6.5 d (G2; n = 138) after the final GnRH of a synchronization program (5d CO-Synch + CIDR) to induce emergence of a n...

Aedes albopictus and Ae. flavopictus differ in habitat use seasonality; the former inhabits residential areas is more frequent summer, whereas latter does forest abundant cooler seasons (early summer autumn). To understand factors underlying their differential seasonality, we examined whether females survive longer are likely to cease reproduction than under unfavorable conditions. We reared th...

PURPOSE To describe a previously unreported presentation of a conjunctival dermoid. CASE REPORT An 8-year-old girl presented with a progressively enlarging mass in the right conjunctival fornix composed of normal appearing eyelashes. The patient had a history of aberrant conjunctival eyelash growth that had caused recurrent conjunctivitis in her right eye over the past few years. The mass was...

The Drosophila ovary provides a favorable model system in which to study cellular morphogenesis. The development of a mature egg involves a syncytium of 16 germline cells and over 1000 somatically derived follicle cells. Intercellular transport, stable intercellular bridges, cell migrations, cell shape changes, and specific subcellular localization of many embryonic patterning determinants cont...

Carnivorous sponges (family Cladorhizidae) lack the aquiferous system and choanocytes and, therefore, their reproduction in particular spermatogenesis is unusual for Porifera. We studied a carnivorous sponge Lycopodina hypogea using confocal microscopy, SEM TEM. In brief, L. proceeds as follows. Male cells derive from archaeocyte-like cells. During its first divisions, spermatogonia are surroun...

The granulosa follicle cell of the Graafian follicle of the rabbit ovary differentiates into a lutein cell involved in steroid synthesis. Cytological events which occur within the granulosa cell of the normally stimulated follicle prior to ovulation have been duplicated by the intrafollicular injection of exogenous gonadotrophin. The luteinization of the granulosa cells involves the accumulatio...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays essential roles in the maintenance and development of oocytes and spermatozoa in normal reproductive physiology. FSH possesses two subunits, alpha and beta, the latter being responsible for FSH biological specificity. We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the FSH beta chain from a bovine anterior pituitary cDNA library. The mature molecule is 10...