Le cycle des voies génitales femelles de Nectophrynoides occidentalis Angel,Amphibien Anoure vivipare

Résumé L'oviducte de Nectophrynoïdes occidentalis Angel, petit crapaud vivipare d'Afrique occidentale, peut être divisé en quatre parties: le pavillon, la trompe, l'utérus et le tronc commun utérin distal.Seul le pavillon ne varie pas au cours de l'année; il reste toujours transparent et dépourvu de cellules glandulaires. Un épithélium cilié tapisse sa lumière.La trompe est un conduit rectiligne de 7 à 10 millimètres de long qui peut être divisé en quatre segments principaux, différenciés par la constitution chimique des substances de la muqueuse. La structure de la trompe est relativement simple et comparable à celle des autres Vertébrés inférieurs. Elle apparait alternativement sous deux aspects principaux: trompe au repos et trompe active. La période de repos se poursuit pendant une bonne partie de la gestation; la reprise d'activité sécrétrice s'effectue plusieurs semaines avant la parturition et atteint son maximum dans les jours qui précèdent l'ovulation.L'utérus subit continuellement des remaniements. Tour à tour vide et gravide, il passe par trois phases essentielles: une phase de nécrose s'étendant sur les douze jours qui suivent la parturition et correspondant à l'élimination de la couche superficielle de la muqueuse; une phase de prolifération, allant du douzième jour après la mise-bas jusqu'à lóvulation suivante; caractérisée par le régénération progressive de la muqueuse à partir de la couche profonde restée en dehors des processus de nécrose; une phase de sécrétion et d'hypérémie qui dure pendant toute la gestation.La partie terminale de l'oviducte, formée par la confluence des deux conduits müllériens, subit les mêmes variations que l'utérus gestant. Son épithélium est tout-à-fait comparable à celui de l'utérus; son chorion, en revanche, est beaucoup plus dense et développé mais ne possède qu'une faible vascularisation.

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The cycle of the female genital tract in Nectophrynoides occidentalis angel, a viviparous anuran amphibian

Summary The oviduct of Nectophrynoides occidentalis Angel, a small viviparous toad of West Africa, is divided into four parts: ostium, tube, uterus and the distal common uterine segment.Only the ostium does not show seasonal variations: it always remains transparent and is devoid of glandular cells. A ciliated epithelium lines its lumen.The tube is rectilinear, about 7–10 millimeters long and may be subdivided into four principal segments, on the basis of the chemical composition of the substances of the mucosa. Its structure is relatively simple and comparable to that of other lower vertebrates. Its appearance differs according to whether it is at rest or in activity. For most of the gestation period the tube is at rest but secretory activity starts several weeks before birth. It reaches its maximum during the days immediately preceding ovulation.Unlike the tube, the uterus undergoes continuous changes, which can be pregnant, divided into three essential phases: a phase of necrosis, extending to twelve days following birth, and corresponding to the elimination of the superficial layer of the mucosa; a phase of proliferation, extending from the twelfth day after birth until the subsequent ovulation, characterized by the progressive regeneration of the mucosa, which is initiated by the deep layer which was not involved in necrosis; a phase of secretion and hyperemia which lasts during the whole period of gestation.The terminal part of the oviduct, formed by the confluence of the two Müllerian ducts, undergoes the same variations as the uterus, its epithelium being completely comparable to that of the uterus; its chorion, however, is much denser and better developed but its vascularization is less intense.

     

Minute tubercles in bitterling larvae: Developmental dynamic structures to prevent premature ejection by host mussels

1. Bitterlings are small freshwater fish that use long ovipositors to lay eggs in host mussels, and they have morphological adaptations to increase larval survival. The most well‐known adaptation is the minute tubercles on the skin surface of larvae; they are developed in early‐stage larvae with weak swimming ability and disappear in free‐swimming larvae before they leave the host mussel.
2. In the present study, I comprehensively analyzed the developmental stages of Rhodeus pseudosericeus larvae, their morphological and physiological characteristics, their migration inside mussels, and the development of minute tubercle in order to elucidate the morphological function of the minute tubercles. These tubercles began to develop 1 day after hatching (formation stage), grew for 2–5 days (growth stage), reached the peak height after 6–7 days (peak stage), abruptly reduced in height after 8–10 days (abrupt reduction stage), and gradually reduced in height (reduction stage) until completely disappearing 27 days after hatching (disappearance stage).
3. The larvae remained in the mussels’ interlamellar space of the gill demibranchs until 10 days after hatching and began to migrate to the suprabranchial cavity 11 days after hatching. At this time, the larvae had a heart rate and the caudal fin began to develop. At 24 days after hatching, the minute tubercles had almost disappeared, and some individuals were observed swimming out of the mussels.
4. The results presented herein elucidate that the minute tubercles are the developmental dynamic structures that the bitterling larvae have morphologically adapted to prevent premature ejection from the mussel.

     

男性生殖道真菌感染菌种构成及耐药分析

目的探讨男性生殖道真菌感染病原菌的种类构成及耐药性,为临床治疗提供依据。方法采集2367份男性患者生殖道分泌物立即送检采用法国生物梅里埃公司Vitek2-Compact进行菌种鉴定以及ATB FUNGUS3真菌药敏试剂条进行药敏试验。结果 2 367例男性生殖道炎症患者中,共检出真菌410例,检出率为17.32%,其中白色假丝酵母菌303株,占73.90%;近平滑假丝酵母菌75株,占18.29%;热带假丝酵母菌16株,占3.90%;4种假丝酵母菌对两性霉素B的敏感率为100.00%;白色假丝酵母菌和热带假丝酵母菌对伏立康唑、氟康唑、依曲康唑耐药率分别为1.65%、1.32%、7.59%和12.50%、12.50%、18.75%。结论假丝酵母菌在男性生殖道感染中占有一定比例;菌种以白色假丝酵母菌为主,近平滑假丝酵母菌次之。因为它们对唑类抗真菌药物有不同程度的耐药,所以临床应加强假丝酵母菌的检测和药敏分析,合理选用药物。     

Genital lesions in male red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufifrons) experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei and the effect of melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan®) and diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) in its treatment

Thirty red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufifrons) were used to assess the genital lesions associated with trypanosomosis and the efficacy of melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan^®) and diminazene aceturate (Berenil^®) in the treatment of the condition. The animals were divided into 6 equal groups (A-F). Animals in groups A-E were infected with Trypanosoma brucei, and later treated on day 8 post infection (p.i.) with either melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan^®) at 0.3 mg/kg (Group A) and 0.6 mg/kg (Group B) or diminazene aceturate (Berenil^®) at 3.5 mg/kg (Group C) and 7.0 mg/kg (Group D). Animals in group E remained untreated while group F served as healthy controls. Parasitaemia was established by day 8 p.i. in all infected groups and eliminated by day 16 following treatment on day 8 p.i. with melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan^®) (Groups A and B) or diminazene aceturate (Berenil^®) (Group D). On the other hand, diminazene aceturate treatment (Berenil^®) on day 8 p.i. at 3.5 mg/kg (Group C) caused a temporary disappearance of parasites from the circulation by day 16 p.i. but there was a relapse parasitaemia on day 44 with a peak count of 500 ± 2.79 × 10³ parasites/μL of blood by day 52 p.i. In the infected/untreated group (E), parasitaemia fluctuated but attained the same peak as Group C by day 52 p.i. Increase in body temperatures (40.5 ± 3.16 - 42.8 ± 3.25 °C) occurred during the first wave of parasitaemia but declined to pre-infection values from day 28 p.i. in Groups A, B and D. In Groups C and E, there was a second wave of parasitaemia (P < 0.05) with peak counts of 42.4 ± 0.81 × 10³/μL and 41.8 ± 0.80 × 10³/μL respectively by day 52 p.i. A significant (P < 0.05) decline in packed cell volume was also noted by day 52 p.i. The major clinical signs observed in Groups C and E were pyrexia, inappetance, emaciation, anaemia, dullness, starry hair coat, pallor of buccal and ocular mucous membranes. Similarly, in Groups C and E, the testicles appeared oedematous and painful to touch with degenerative changes, morphological sperm abnormalities and oligospermia with 2.0% and 0% sperm reserves respectively. Sperm reserve was 100% in Groups A, B and D. It is therefore, concluded that trypanosomosis can cause serious infertility in male red fronted gazelles and that early treatments with melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan^®) at 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg body weight or diminazene aceturate (Berenil^®) at 7.0 mg/kg body weight may prevent such effects.     

Sexual behavior in male rodents

The hormonal factors and neural circuitry that control copulation are similar across rodent species, although there are differences in specific behavior patterns. Both estradiol (E) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) contribute to the activation of mating, although E is more important for copulation and DHT for genital reflexes. Hormonal activation of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is most effective, although implants in the medial amygdala (MeA) can also stimulate mounting in castrates. Chemosensory inputs from the main and accessory olfactory systems are the most important stimuli for mating in rodents, especially in hamsters, although genitosensory input also contributes. Dopamine agonists facilitate sexual behavior, and serotonin (5-HT) is generally inhibitory, though certain 5-HT receptor subtypes facilitate erection or ejaculation. Norepinephrine agonists and opiates have dose-dependent effects, with low doses facilitating and high doses inhibiting behavior.     

Comparative gene expression analysis of genital tubercle development reveals a putative appendicular Wnt7 network for the epidermal differentiation

Here we describe the first detailed catalog of gene expression in the developing lower urinary tract (LUT), including epithelial and mesenchymal portions of the developing bladder, urogenital sinus, urethra, and genital tubercle (GT) at E13 and E14. Top compartment-specific genes implicated by the microarray data were validated using whole-mount in situ hybridization (ISH) over the entire LUT. To demonstrate the potential of this resource to implicate developmentally critical features, we focused on gene expression patterns and pathways in the sexually indeterminate, androgen-independent GT. GT expression patterns reinforced the proposed similarities between development of GT, limb, and craniofacial prominences. Comparison of spatial expression patterns predicted a network of Wnt7a-associated GT-enriched epithelial genes, including Gjb2, Dsc3, Krt5, and Sostdc1. Known from other contexts, these genes are associated with normal epidermal differentiation, with disruptions in Dsc3 and Gjb2 showing palmo-plantar keratoderma in the limb. We propose that this gene network contributes to normal foreskin, scrotum, and labial development. As several of these genes are known to be regulated by, or contain cis elements responsive to retinoic acid, estrogen, or androgen, this implicates this pathway in the later androgen-dependent development of the GT.     

Brugia pahangi: Histopathological study of golden hamsters

Sixteen male hamsters were inoculated subcutaneously with 95 to 150 infective larvae of B. pahangi and were examined for histopathologic lesions at 39–109 days postinfection. The basic microscopic lesion observed was obstructive granulomatous lymphangitis. Analogous lymph node changes sometimes occurred along with lymphoreticular hyperplasia and increased numbers of eosinophils. Cellular infiltration of perivascular and perinodal tissues was common, with plasma cells and eosinophils predominating. Genital lesions included funiculitis, epididymitis, and mild orchitis. Live and dead worms were found in the testicular parenchyma. Pulmonary changes in hamsters infected more than 105 days included multiple small, granulomatous foci and periarteriolar, peribronchiolar, and subpleural cellular accumulations of plasma cells and eosinophils. Granulomatous obstruction of pulmonary arteries associated with dead worms was observed in two hamsters infected for 39–45 days and in one hamster infected for 109 days. Small liver granulomas were common. Disintegrating microfilariae occurred within giant cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, lungs, and testes.     

Sexual behavior of adult male chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains national park,Tanzania

This study, based on 687 hr of focal observations, aims to describe overall patterns of the sexual behavior of the adult male chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains, to compare the results with previous reports, and to explain the variations between studies. Genital inspection of cycling females by adult males was eight times as frequent as that of lactating females, and twice as frequent as that of pregnant females. Inspection of the genitals of cycling females increased dramatically 7–10 days before the onset of maximal swelling and gradually decreased as the day of ovulation approached. Adult males likely obtained information on the attractivity of females by inspecting their genitals. Mating was usually initiated by male courtship and followed by pelvic thrusts in a dorsoventral posture, performed on, rather than above, the ground, which continued for 7 s. on average, and was typically followed by female squeaking and darting from the male, or by the male grooming the female. Higher-ranking males mated with females in the peri-ovulatory period more frequently than did lower-ranking males. In particular, two alpha males mated with such females more often than did any other adult males. A male who interfered with a mating pair was dominant over the mating male in other agonistic contexts. The duration of intromission was correlated with neither dominance rank nor age. However, when an adult male declined in rank from alpha in 1991 to third in 1992, he showed a significantly shorter duration of intromission. This indicates that for a particular male, the alpha rank guaranteed longer duration of intromission. Allies of alpha males tended to mate with peri-ovulatory females more frequently than expected from their low dominance ranks. The number of mating partners was not correlated with male dominance rank, but was sometimes negatively correlated with male age. Females were significantly more likely to emit a copulatory squeak when mating with younger, rather than older, adult males. Male dominance rank and the rate of female copulatory squeaking were not correlated. Weaning infants regularly interfered with their mothers' mating. Occasionally, unrelated adolescent males and rarely females pushed themselves in between copulating adults. Female choice was indicated when they performed a “penis erection check” or took the initiative in courtship, or on the other hand showed strong reluctance to mate with particular males. Young adult males more often received erection checks than did prime males, while none of the three old adult males did. Courtship initiated by estrous females was not directed to two of the oldest males, the exception of which was the alpha male. The oldest males, except for the alpha, were consistently avoided by many estrous females, both young and old. In response to female reluctance, males behaved violently, however, this was not effective, because other more dominant males came to rescue the female. Neither courtship nor mating was seen between mature sons and their mothers, nor between brothers and sisters.     

Food transport through the anterior oral cavity in macaques

Intraoral transport, the movement of food or liquid through the oral cavity and oropharynx, is a major component of feeding behavior. Stage I transport, transport through the oral cavity prior to mastication, has been described for several mammals (Franks et al.: Arch. Oral Biol. 30:539, 1985; Hiiemae and Crompton: Hildebrand et al. (eds.): Functional Vertebrate Morphology, Cambridge, MA, Belknap Press, 1985). Previous work (Franks et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 65:275, 1984) indicated that this was not a significant behavior in macaques in a laboratory setting, because food was ingested directly to the region of the cheek teeth. Although relatively infrequent in a captive situation, stage I transport does occur in long-tailed macaques through a mechanism similar to other mammals, but also subject to unique aspects of primate anatomy. Transport takes several cycles during which the food moves back and forth in an anterior/posterior direction, due to tongue movements. Because anthropoid primates lack the pronounced rugae that in other mammals prevent the anterior displacement of a bolus, stage I transport uses the rounded arch of the upper, anterior dentition to hold the food during the forward movement of the tongue. During the final cycle of transport, a pronounced twisting of the tongue, along a midline anteroposterior axis helps funnel the food item toward the postcanine teeth for subsequent mastication. This twisting, which was described in humans by Abd-El-Malek (J. Anat. 100:215, 1955) but not within the context of jaw movement, occurs prior to the closing phase of the jaw cycle.