Prostaglandin (PG) accumulation in vitro by mouse ovaries, oviducts, and uteri

Uteri, ovaries and oviducts from mice were collected at autopsy. Tissue slices were incubated with [3H]-PGE2 in the presence or absence of a large excess (100 fold) of nonradioactive PGE2 using 0.01M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). Bound and free PGs were separated by a filtration technique. PGE2 accumulation by the uteri was evaluated as a function of incubation time, wet weight of tissues, and reproductive state. The tissue to medium ratio (T/M) was greater than 1.0 for uteri as the time of incubation increased. This suggests the presence of PGE2 binding sites in mouse uterine tissue. Also, PGE2 accumulation was not observed in oviducts or in ovaries.     

The female genital system of Ooperipatellus decoratus (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae): an ultrastructural study

The female genital system of the oviparous peripatopsid Ooperipatellus decoratus consists of an ovary, oviducts equipped with receptacula seminis and additional pouches, uteri, and a vagina. It is examined using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The ovary is made up of paired ovarian tubes united anteriorly and posteriorly and differentiated into a sterile dorsal part and a fertile ventral part with exogenous oocytes. Fertilization presumably occurs in the oviducts once the oocytes pass the receptaculum seminis. Although the receptacula seminis have been reported to occur in juvenile O. decoratus females only, the present study reveals that they are present in adult females as well. Their wall consists of a cuboidal epithelium covered with a thin collagen-muscle layer. The additional pouches are projections of the oviducts facing the receptacula seminis. They are distally closed to the haemocoel by a flattened epithelium and lack external muscle cells. A thin collagen layer is only found proximally. The uteri are characterized by a columnar epithelium with folded cell membranes allowing extension of the uteri, thus facilitating the passage of the large uterine eggs towards the vagina. Another dominating feature of the uteri is a distally increasing secretory production, which probably contributes to chorion development. Cilia occurring along the entire length of the uteri are considered to assist in the transport of eggs towards the vagina.     

Prostaglandin (PG) accumulation by mouse ovaries, oviducts, and uteri

Uteri, ovaries and oviducts from mice were collected at autopsy. Tissue slices were incubated with [³H]-PGE₂ in the presence or absence of a large excess (100 fold) of nonradioactive PGE₂ using 0.01M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). Bound and free PGs were separated by a filtration technique. PGE₂ accumulation by the uteri was evaluated as a function of incubation time, wet weight of tissues, and reproductive state. The tissue to medium ratio (T/M) was greater than 1.0 for uteri as the time of incubation increased. This suggests the presence of PGE₂ binding sites in mouse uterine tissue. Also, PGE₂ accumulation was not observed in oviducts or in ovaries.     

6种蝙蝠精子储存现象的组织学观察

精子储存是蝙蝠的生殖对策之一,有些种类的蝙蝠能将成熟精子在交配前(雄性)或交配后(雌性)储存在附睾或者输卵管及子宫内数月。采用冰冻切片和苏木精-伊红(H.E)染色法,观察了6种蝙蝠的睾丸、附睾、卵巢、输卵管和子宫,发现5种蝙蝠有精子储存现象。另外,本文还讨论了不同生殖对策蝙蝠的地理分布。     

Thelazia lacrymalis in horses in Kentucky and observations on the face fly (Musca autumnalis) as a probable intermediate host.

Eyes from 114 (30.3%) of 376 dead horses, examined from 3 April 1975 to 3 April 1976, were naturally infected with adult Thelazia lacrymalis; 1 horse was also infected with 1 male Thelazia skrijabini. Adult T. lacrymalis from dead horses were successfully transferred mechanically to the eyes of 3 of 4 Shetland ponies raised helminth-free. Larvae from gravid female T. lacrymalis underwent development in experimentally infected, laboratory-raised face flies (Musca autumnalis) and third-stage larvae ranging from 1.82 to 2.94 mm in total length were recovered at 12 to 15 days postexposure. A total of 866 naturally occurring face flies were collected from the head region of horses. Twelve of the face flies harbored larval stages of Thelazia spp. One of the larvae resembled third-stage T. lacrymalis that were recovered from the experimentally infected, laboratory-raised face flies. Introduction of 3 third-stage larvae from 1 face fly onto the cornea of a pony raised helminth-free resulted in the recovery of 1 male T. skrjabini 242 days later. In addition to the eyeworm larvae, other parasites recovered from the face flies included Heterotylenchus autumnalis, hypopi of astigmatid mites and a first instar beetle (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae). Data from these investigations indicate the likelihood that face flies are an intermediate host for T. lacrymalis and probably other species of Thelazia in this part of the country.     

Ovulation triggers activation of Drosophila oocytes

Drosophila melanogaster mature oocytes in ovaries are arrested at metaphase I of meiosis. Eggs that have reached the uterus have released this arrest. It was not known where in the female reproductive tract egg activation occurs and what triggers it. We investigated when and where the egg is activated in Drosophila in vivo and at what meiotic stage the egg is fertilized. We found that changes in the egg's envelope's permeability, one feature of activation, initiate during ovulation, even while most of the egg is still within the ovary. The egg becomes impermeable as it proceeds down the oviducts; the process is complete by the time the egg is in the uterus. Cross-linking of vitelline membrane protein sV23 also increases progressively as the egg moves through the oviducts and the uterus. Activation also triggers meiosis to resume before the egg reaches the uterus, such that the earliest eggs that reach the uterus are in anaphase I. We discuss models for Drosophila egg activation in vivo.     

Seasonal variation in reproductive traits of the oriental shrimp Palaemon macrodactylus (Crustacea: Caridea: Palaemonidae) in a non-native population

The magnitude of variations in reproductive traits of Palaemon macrodactylus females throughout a breeding season was studied in a non-native population at Mar del Plata harbor, Argentina. Fecundity, egg size, reproductive output, weight and elemental composition of eggs, and larvae were analyzed in females collected at the beginning, in the mid point, and near the end of a reproductive season and designated as early, middle season, and late females. The highest reproductive output was observed in early females, while the highest fecundity and egg volume occurred in middle season females. Eggs and larvae showed larger body mass in early than in late females. Embryos from early females contained and consumed more carbon during development than embryos from late females, and they also used part of the available nitrogen. Differences in reproduction were observed among the three groups of females. On the one hand, late females matured early but had a poor first reproduction, with few embryos and high egg loss; however, they had longer reproductive life and an enhanced reproductive output in the following season when they became early females. On the other hand, females collected at the midpoint in the reproductive season matured later and had the highest fecundity and egg volume. In addition, larvae with different characteristics resulted from each type of female and were presumably well adapted to the conditions prevailing at the moment they hatched. The extended reproductive period and the diversity of embryos and larvae produced may favor the invading ability of the species.     

Female internal genital organs of the damselfly Pseudagrion rubriceps selys (Zygoptera: Odonata)

The morphology, anatomy and histology of the female internal genital organs of the adult damselfly Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys were studied in detail. The paired, long, panoistic ovaries each lead posteriorly into an oviduct. The oviducts unite to form a short common median oviduct leading into the "eighth complex" localized in the 8th abdominal segment. The "eighth complex" comprises the bursa copulatrix, spermatheca and vagina. A pair of prominent accessory reproductive glands, localized in the 9th segment, open into the vagina.     

Differential transport of embryos and degenerating ova by the oviducts of the long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina.

Female long-tongued bats which had been maintained in sexually segregated groups in captivity for more than 8 months were bred and killed at various intervals between Days 1 and 25 post coitum. Their reproductive tracts were then examined histologically. In 20 of the 28 bats carrying tubal embryos the remnants of 1-4 other ova were also observed in the oviductal ampullae. These remnants consisted of intact zonae pellucidae containing cellular debris, empty zonae, and/or zona fragments. Since long-tongued bats are monovular, the remnants had apparently been retained in the oviducts from previous, non-fertile reproductive cycles. In 27 of the 31 bats carrying implanting blastocysts, zonae pellucidae probably shed by the embryos had been retained in the oviducts. The remnants of 1-3 ova were also observed in the oviductal ampullae of 22 of the 31 bats carrying uterine blastocysts. In at least 14 of these bats the embryos had by-passed ovum remnants in the oviducts on their way to the uterus. No evidence of such remnants was found in the oviducts of 17 animals with tubal or uterine embryos, although old, as well as new, CL were present in the ovaries.     

Morphology of the female reproductive system of European pea crabs (Crustacea,Decapoda, Brachyura,Pinnotheridae)

Commensal pea crabs inhabiting bivalves have a high reproductive output due to the extension andfecundity of the ovary. We studied the underlying morphology of the female reproductive system in the Pinnotheridae Pinnotheres pisum, Pinnotheres pectunculi and Nepinnotheres pinnotheres using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Eubrachyura have internal fertilization: the paired vaginas enlarge into storage structures, the spermathecae, which are connected to the ovaries by oviducts. Sperm is stored inside the spermathecae until the oocytes are mature. The oocytes are transported by oviducts into the spermathecae where fertilization takes place. In the investigated pinnotherids, the vagina is of the “concave pattern” (sensu Hartnoll 1968 ): musculature is attached alongside flexible parts of the vagina wall that controls the dimension of its lumen. The genital opening is closed by a muscular mobile operculum. The spermatheca can be divided into two distinct regions by function and morphology. The ventral part includes the connection with vagina and oviduct and is regarded as the zone where fertilization takes place. It is lined with cuticle except where the oviduct enters the spermatheca by the “holocrine transfer tissue.” At ovulation, the oocytes have to pass through this multilayered glandular epithelium performing holocrine secretion. The dorsal part of the spermatheca is considered as the main sperm storage area. It is lined by a highly secretory apocrine glandular epithelium. Thus, two different forms of secretion occur in the spermathecae of pinnotherids. The definite role of secretion in sperm storage and fertilization is not yet resolved, but it is notable that structure and function of spermathecal secretion are more complex in pinnotherids, and probably more efficient, than in other brachyuran crabs. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

中国水蛇雌性生殖系统的血液循环

取12条处于不同生殖期的雌性中国水蛇作血管单注射,观察其生殖系统血液循环特点。结果表明,卵巢处于静止期的个体的生殖系统循环模式与雄体相似,卵子处于迅速生长期,卵巢血管变得十分发达,布满于正在生长的卵子表面,卵子处于成熟期,卵巢血管又回复到模式状态;受精卵落入子宫中发育时,子宫血管变得十分发达,子宫壁及卵黄膜均十分薄,子宫腔中有液体浸润胚胎,提示了胚胎与母体之间可能通过这些液体进行某些物质交换。     

Anatomy and ultrastructure of the female reproductive system of Pleioplana atomata (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida)

The ultrastructure of the female reproductive system of the polyclad flatworm Pleioplana atomata is described. Numerous ovaries are scattered throughout the entire body but are mainly concentrated on the dorsal side. Within an ovary, a germinative zone with oogonia and prefolicular cells is located in the dorsal part of the ovary. The remaining part of the gonad is filled with previtellogenic and early vitellogenic oocytes enwrapped by follicular cells. During previtellogenesis, oocytes produce numerous eggshell globules, which are distributed into the cortical area of the cell in later stages. Eventually, these globules release their contents into the space between the eggshell cover and oolemma. Similar types of globules are also found in others flatworms, and may represent useful phylogenetic characters. Entolecital, vitellogenic oocytes pass to paired uteri, where vitellogenesis is completed. The remainder of the female reproductive system consists of paired thin uterine ducts that join a vagina. The distal part of the long, curved vagina forms a large Lang's vesicle, while the proximal part is connected to a female atrium leading to a female gonopore. We hypothesize that Lang's vesicle functions in the digestion of excess sperm received. Two kinds of different shell (cement) glands that release their secretion into the vagina are identified. Both are unicellular glands and each gland cell connects to the lumen of the vagina via an individual canal. Similar glands in other acotylean polyclads have been implicated in the formation of eggshell covers. J. Morphol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Oogenesis in a placental viviparous onychophoran

This first ultrastruetural study of oogenesis in a placental viviparous onychophoran describes oocyte differentiation, cell interactions and reveals various unusual cellular features. The viviparous onychophoran Plicatoperipatus jamaicensis has paired ovaries medially located, attached to the dorsal body wall by muscular terminal filaments. The rest of the female reproductive tract consists of paired spermathecae oviduct/uteri (hereafter referred to as uterus). Bulbous spermathecae are joined to the oviducts by ducts. Also continuous with the oviduct lumen are two tubular structures whose lumina open to the hemolymph. The uteri contain a progression of developmental stages from implantation through stalked morulae, blastocysts, larvae and juveniles about to be born.Growing oocytes are characterized by large germinal vesicles showing synaptonemal complexes. Oocytes are surrounded by flattened follicle cells that possess extensive bundles of thick and thin filaments. Mature oocytes contain little or no yolk, but are unique among organisms in accumulating a large central reservoir of stored glycogen. The lack of yolk reflects the placental viviparous nature of the reproductive process. The glycogen reservoir provides a rapidly accessible energy source for early developmental stages.Particularly prominent also are unusually extensive and highly elaborate Golgi complexes in the cortical and peri-nuclear ooplasm. While extensive Golgi complexes have been described in oocytes of a variety of species, the particularly exaggerated size and amount of Golgi in these onychophorans suggests they may provide excellent material for the study of Golgi function. The features of the oocyte and placental viviparity show this is an ideal model to investigate the nature of the placental reproductive process analogous to mammals in an invertebrate and its implications to oogenesis.     

Allatostatin in ovaries, oviducts, and young embryos in the cockroach Diploptera punctata

The quantity and localization of -Phe-Gly-Leu-amide allatostatins (-F-G-L-amide AST) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry in ovaries and oviducts and in pre-dorsal closure embryos. AST in the cytoplasm of basal oocytes gradually increased from 4 to 35 fmol/ovary pair from the start (day 2) to the completion of vitellogenesis (day 6), then rapidly increased to 121 fmol/ovary pair during choriogenesis. In oviducts, AST-immunoreactivity was found in nerves to the muscle layer and in epithelial cells. AST-immunoreactivity in oviduct epithelial cells increased during vitellogenesis. A marked increase in quantity of AST in oviduct tissue between completion of chorion formation and immediately after ovulation appears to result from AST released from oocytes as they travel down the oviducts because AST content of newly ovulated eggs was 40% lower than late stage chorionated oocytes, and these oocytes released AST when incubated in saline. AST in embryos, localized in yolk cells, decreased as embryos approached dorsal closure. That this material in ovaries and embryos is AST was confirmed by its ability to inhibit JH synthesis in vitro and identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of a peptide with a mass corresponding to that of a Diploptera punctata AST. These findings indicate likely novel functions for ASTs: facilitation of ovulation and utilization of yolk.     

Ovoviviparity and viviparity in the Diptera

The taxonomic distribution and evolution of viviparity in Diptera is critically reviewed. The phenomenon ranges from ovoviviparity (eggs deposited at an advanced stage of embryonic development; larva emerges immediately after deposition), through viviparity (larva hatches inside female before deposition) to pupiparity (offspring deposited as pupa). Some Diptera are known to be facultatively viviparous, which is hypothesized to be a step towards the evolution of obligate viviparity. Obligate viviparity is found to comprise unilarviparity (single large larva in maternal uterus) which evolved many times independently, the rare oligolarviparity (more than one but not more than 12 larvae) and multilarviparity (large numbers of developing eggs or larvae in uterus) which is typical for the two largest clades of viviparous Diptera. Unilarviparity is either lecithotrophic (developing larva nourished by yolk of egg) or pseudo-placental (larva nourished by glandular secretions of mother). Viviparity has clearly evolved on many separate occasions in Diptera. It is recorded in 22 families, and this review identifies at least 61 independent origins of viviparity. Six families appear to have viviparity in their ground-plan. Some families have a single evolution of viviparity, others multiple evolutions. Guimaraes' model for the evolution of viviparity in Diptera is tested against phylogenetic information and the adaptive significance of viviparity is reviewed in detail. Possible correlations with life-history parameters (coprophily, parasitism, breeding in ephemeral plant parts, malacophagy and adult feeding habits – especially haematophagy) are analysed critically, as are potential advantages (shorter larval life, less investment in yolk by mother, protection of vulnerable stages, better access to breeding substrates, predation on competitors). Morphological constraints, adaptations and exaptations are reviewed, including the provision of an incubation space for the egg(s), the positioning of the egg(s) in the uterus, and maternal glands. The main morphological adaptations include greater egg size, reduction of egg respiratory filaments, thinning of chorion, modified larval respiratory system and mouthparts, and instar skipping. Female morphology and behaviour is particularly strongly modified for viviparity. The terminalia are shortened, the vagina is more muscular and tracheated, and the ovaries of unilarviparous species have a reduced number of ovarioles with alternate ovulation. Many of the final conclusions are tentative, and a plea is made for more detailed morphological and experimental study of many of the viviparous species. Viviparity in Diptera provides a fascinating example of multiple parallel evolution, and a fertile field for future research.     

In vitro culture of ovaries of a viviparous gall midge

Summary Ovaries of the viviparous pedogenetic gall midgeHeteropeza pygmaea can be cultured in hemolymph obtained from X-ray-sterilized larvae of the same species. In this culture medium, formation of follicles is essentially the same as in vivo, and sometimes female larvae develop from these follicles. The ovaries of such larvae, in their turn, have been cultured in vitro to produce larvae. In this way, in vitro development from oogonium to larva has been maintained for several generations. When using hemolymph obtained from larvae grown under different conditions, the in vitro cultured ovaries produce a second type of egg which probably is male-determined. Ovarian development in vitro has been studied with differential interference contrast optics and time-lapse cinemicrography. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation Grant No. 3.2010.73.     

斑衣蜡蝉雌性生殖系统超微结构

【目的】明确斑衣蜡蝉Lycorma delicatula雌成虫生殖系统整体形态及超微结构特征,为蜡蝉总科昆虫分类及系统发育探讨提供更多形态学证据。【方法】采用光学显微镜与透射电子显微镜,观察斑衣蜡蝉雌成虫生殖系统整体形态和各主要器官的超微结构。【结果】斑衣蜡蝉雌成虫生殖系统主要包括1对卵巢、1个中输卵管、1个交配囊、1个交配囊管、1个前阴道、1个后阴道、1个受精囊、1个受精管和2根受精囊附腺。卵巢为端滋式,由14根卵巢小管组成,卵室由固有膜、滤泡细胞和卵细胞组成,卵巢小管中的滋养细胞清晰可见;中输卵管位于前阴道基部,由中输卵管腔、上皮细胞、肌肉鞘和基膜组成;交配囊膨大呈圆球状,囊壁由上皮细胞、肌肉层和基膜组成;交配囊管呈圆柱状,连接交配囊和后阴道,由肌肉鞘、上皮细胞层和管腔组成;前、后阴道超微结构相似,主要由肌肉鞘、基膜、上皮细胞和管腔组成,但后阴道上皮细胞细胞核周围存在分泌颗粒,且管腔内有大量微绒毛,而前阴道壁内包含有大量囊泡结构;受精管从中输卵管末端延伸至受精囊,由基膜、厚层肌肉鞘和管腔组成;受精囊为受精管近末端略膨大的囊状结构,由肌肉鞘、基膜、上皮细胞和囊腔构成;雌性受精囊附腺着生于受精囊末端,为均匀的螺旋管状,主要由肌肉层、上皮细胞层和附腺中心管腔组成。【结论】斑衣蜡蝉雌性生殖系统与已报道的蜡蝉总科其他类群的雌性生殖系统结构相似,但卵巢小管数目有差异;蝉亚目中不同总科雌成虫雌性附腺与受精囊附腺的形态特征存在明显区别;斑衣蜡蝉雌性生殖系统超微结构与叶蝉总科和沫蝉总科昆虫也存在部分差异。这些差异是否可以作为头喙亚目高级阶元的划分依据仍有待于进一步研究。     

Effects of transferring in vitro-cultured rabbit embryos to recipient oviducts on mucin coat deposition, implantation and development

A mucin coat is deposited on rabbit embryos during passage through the oviduct; rabbit blastocysts cultured from the 1-cell stage in vitro have no mucin coat. When cultured blastocysts are transferred to recipients, the lack of mucin coat might account in part for subsequent failure of pregnancy. We have investigated the possibility that mucin coat deposition is induced following transfer of in vitro 72 h-cultured blastocysts to oviducts of asynchronous or synchronous recipients. One-cell embryos were collected by flushing oviducts 19-20 h post-coitus and were cultured in vitro for 72 h until they reached the blastocyst stage. The blastocysts were transferred to the oviducts of recipients that were synchronized either with the donors (synchronous) or 1 day later than the donors (asynchronous). They were recovered after 24-48 h and the mucin coat thickness and embryo degeneration rate were measured. The degeneration rate of blastocysts recovered from uteri of synchronous recipients was higher than that from asynchronous recipients (72.2% vs 40.0%). The mucin coats around embryos recovered from oviducts of asynchronous recipients after 48 h were thicker than those from synchronous recipients. More asynchronous recipients were pregnant and gave birth to more pups than synchronous recipients. These results indicate that the oviducts of asynchronous recipients secreted more mucin around the transferred embryos, causing higher rates of implantation of the in vitro-cultured blastocysts.     

海南紫斑环蝶形态特征及生物学特性观察

【目的】明确海南紫斑环蝶Thaumantis hainana各龄期的形态特征和生物学特性以及寄主植物。【方法】野外采集海南紫斑环蝶雌成虫,通过三角袋内套卵的方式获得受精卵。采用恒温饲养箱,在26℃、相对湿度40%、光周期16L∶8D下利用获得的卵供以美丽针葵Phoenix loureirii,饲养幼虫,并进行形态特征的观察,记录其各龄幼虫的体长与头壳宽,以及其他各龄期的部分形态学数据。【结果】海南紫斑环蝶共经历卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫4个龄期。卵圆球状,光滑,直径2.5~2.8 mm;幼虫5龄, 随着幼虫龄期的增长,体长与头壳宽度逐渐增加;悬蛹;成虫雌雄同型。【结论】本研究基本明确了海南紫斑环蝶各龄期的形态特征,并观察了部分生物学特性,确定了海南紫斑环蝶的一种寄主植物为美丽针葵,完善了该物种的基本资料。