Differentiation of mouse embryonic germ cells as male or female is dependent on the somatic environment of the gonad rather than the sex chromosome constitution of the germ cell. However, little is known about the initiation of germ cell sexual differentiation. Here, we traced the initiation of germ cell sexual differentiation in XX gonads using the Stra8 gene, which we demonstrate is an early ...

Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants interfering with endocrine systems and causing reproductive and developmental disorders. The objective of our project was to determine the impact of an in utero exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on reproductive function of male and female offspring in the rat with a special emphasis on the immature period. We used a low dose of TCDD...

BACKGROUND Our knowledge on zebrafish reproduction is very limited. We generated a gonad-derived cDNA microarray from zebrafish and used it to analyze large-scale gene expression profiles in adult gonads and other organs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We have identified 116638 gonad-derived zebrafish expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 21% of which were isolated in our lab. Following in silico n...

Sexual reproduction of the coral Diploria labyrinthiformis was studied for the first time. Monthly histological analyses at the Corales del Rosario National Park (Colombian Caribbean) from May 1997 to April 1998 show that D. labyrinthiformis is a hermaphroditic broadcasting species. It presents an annual gametogenic cycle with a 10-11 month period for gonad investment, in which oogenesis begins...

We mapped the inferred long-distance migrations of four species of Amazonian goliath catfishes (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, B. platynemum, B. juruense and B. vaillantii) based on the presence of individuals with mature gonads and conducted statistical analysis of the expected long-distance downstream migrations of their larvae and juveniles. By linking the distribution of larval, juvenile and...

Through differential screening between oyster families selected for high and low summer survival, we have characterized a new transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily member. This novel factor, named oyster-gonadal-TGFbeta-like (og-TGFbeta-like), is synthesized as a 307 amino acid precursor and displays 6 of the 7 characteristic cysteine residues of the C-terminal, mature peptide....

BACKGROUND Teratoma is a germ-cell tumor that commonly affects the gonads. Its components originate in the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. Extragonadal occurrence is rare. Teratomas confined to the adrenal gland are exceptional; only 3 cases have been reported in the English-language literature. We report 2 cases of mature teratomas of the adrenal gland that were laparoscopically excised. M...

Reproductive parameters evaluation is considered as helpful tool for gene bank formation in ecological and economically important animals species. Gloydius halys caucasicus is venomous, viviparous pit viper of northwest of Iran. In this research, the spermatic reproductive parameters of this taxon were studied. Twenty six male snakes were collected from Takht-e-Soleiman region between September...

An experiment was conducted to investigate the annual reproductive cycle of a Korean endemic species, Acheilognathus majusculus, from Jeokseong-myeon located in Seomjin River. The reproductive cycle is examined histologically regarding water temperature and day length of the habitat, the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the female ovipositor length index (OLI), monthly variation in egg diameter distr...