This essay addresses the carboxylesterase redundancy in the male reproductive tract seemingly conserved across phyla. Evidence is provided which suggests that carboxylesterases are recruited by the male reproductive system in certain animal groups. These provide advantageous metabolic capabilities to sperm protection, sperm maturation, and sperm use. Rather than an archival record of the availa...

OBJECTIVE In this study we investigated the effects of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) on the reproductive system, fertility and number of offspring in adult male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult Wistar male rats in one control (C) and three experimental groups (I, II and III) received 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg spearmint extract orally for 45 days, respectively. Following this treatment, th...

In recent experimental studies, we reported the aggravating effects of Asian sand dust (ASD) on male reproductive function in mice. However, the effects of fetal ASD exposure on male reproductive function have not been investigated. The present study investigated the effects of fetal ASD exposure on reproductive function in male offspring. Using pregnant CD1 mice, ASD was administered intratrac...

Because workers in colonies of eusocial Hymenoptera are more closely related to sisters than to brothers, theory predicts workers should bias investment in reproductive broods to favour reproductive females over males. However, conflict between queens and workers is predicted. Queens are equally related to daughters and sons, and should act to prevent workers from biasing investment. Previous s...

The gene for vitellogenin, an egg yolk protein precursor, is usually silent in male fish but can be induced by estrogen exposure. For this reason, vitellogenin production in male fish has become a widely used indicator of exposure to exogenous estrogens or estrogen mimics in the aquatic environment. The utility of this indicator to predict impacts on fish reproductive success is unclear because...

background: there is growing concern that occupational, environmental and lifestyle factors adversely affect male reproductive health. fumaria parviflora lam. is being used traditionally in persian folk medicine to cure various ailments and has been supposed to have fertility-enhancing properties. objective: a dose-response study was designed to assess effects of f. parviflora ethanolic leaves ...

The field of reproductive medicine is characterized by the rapid development of assisted fertilization. Today, fertilization can be achieved by cytoplasmic microinjection of single spermatozoa or spermatids into oocyte cytoplasm. In view of these new reproductive techniques, conventional diagnosis and treatment of male infertility seem to be rather outdated and limited. However, the final goal ...