XY gonadal dysgenesis with female phenotype (author's transpl)]

In this paper, we are dealing with the study of a case of multiple somatic malformations, with external female genitals and 46 XY caryotype. The anatomical and histological study of the genital organs, allows us to verify the existence of internal genital organs; consisting essentially in tubes, bicornous uterus, a gonadal ligament in a normotopical position, Wolffian remains and the absence of a vagina. The external female genitals are completely normal. When we interpreted these findings, we paid special attention to the relation existing between the abnormal presence of the Wolffian remains, male genotype, and typical female genital structures. Taking account of the latest scientific advances concerning genital development, we considered the possibility of the existence of secretions of a "masculinizing" substance from the gonad, before its morphological differentiation, which was interrupted by an etiological undetermined noxa. When this evolution was arrested, together with the secretions of the masculinizing substance, the genital development continued normally for a female. The terminal teratogenic period for this malformation is situated from the 5th to the 6th week of gestation (human embryos from 11 to 14 mm., Streeter Horizon XVII).     

日龄和交配状态对亚洲玉米螟雄蛾内生殖器特征的影响

【目的】揭示日龄和交配对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis雄蛾内生殖器官的影响,以及亚洲玉米螟雄蛾的交配状态和性信息素诱捕之间的关系。【方法】采用行为学和生殖器解剖技术,研究不同日龄和交配状态亚洲玉米螟雄蛾内生殖器特征,并将其与田间性信息素诱捕雄蛾进行比较。【结果】除了精巢、输精管、储精囊、附腺、复射精管和单射精管外,亚洲玉米螟雄蛾内生殖系统还包含1对附腺囊,同时单射精管非角质化区分为5段(PS1-5),PS1又细分为5区(PS1Ⅰ-Ⅴ)。生殖器内含物可分为5级(0-4级),存在充满和未充满生殖器两种状态。1日龄雄蛾内生殖系统不同器官的内含物等级存在差异,但是日龄对雄蛾生殖系统内含物等级无明显影响。交配后0 h亚洲玉米螟雄蛾,除输精管、储精囊和附腺囊外,其余生殖器官内含物等级较未交配雄蛾的均发生显著变化。随着交配后时间的增加,雄蛾生殖器内含物等级逐渐恢复,各器官内含物等级恢复的速度存在差异,交配后60 h所有内含物等级均恢复到未交配状态。但是直到交配后228 h,交配雄蛾PS5内含物仍然表现出断裂等形态特征,和未交配雄蛾存在差异。性信息素引诱雄蛾中有60.9%的生殖系统表现出未交配雄蛾特征。【结论】利用PS5内含物的形态可以鉴别亚洲玉米螟雄蛾的交配状态,性信息素群集诱杀的亚洲玉米螟雄蛾大部分是未交配。本研究结果为亚洲玉米螟雄蛾交配状态的判定和蛾类害虫性信息素测报和防治的有效性提供了一定依据。     

柄天牛属八种(亚种)雌性生殖器的比较研究(鞘翅目,天牛科,天牛亚科)

记述了柄天牛属8个种(亚种)的雌性生殖器,比较研究了该属雌性生殖器的结构特点.结果表明:柄天牛属雌性生殖器在骨杆形状、受精囊管长短等方面存在不同程度的差异;通过雌性生殖器特征对比,黄颈柄天牛、暗胸柄天牛、红腹柄天牛三者虽然存在一定差异,是否应作为同一种依据不足,故仍保留亚种地位.     

The genital organs and their development in Metapenaus affinis (Decapoda,Penaeidae) studied through rearing them in the laboratory

The structure and development of the genital organs of Metapenaeus affinis has been described and illustrated with particular reference to the internal structure, in specimens reared in the laboratory.     

Studies on the Ultrastructure of the Genital Organs in Proseriata (Turbellaria). I. Cirrifera aculeata (Ax) (Coelogynoporidae)

The genital organs in adult specimens of Cirrifera aculeata have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The male copulatory organ is of the conjuncta-duplex type provided with a spiny cirrus. The structure of the epithelia lining the different parts of the genital organs is described. The cirrus spines and the spines in the genital atrium are shown to be intracellular specializations. The structure and location of the cirrus spines in the Proseriata studied so far are discussed.     

Occurrence of nerves containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the male genital tract.

Immunocytochemistry and radioimmunochemistry demonstrates the occurrence of numerous nerves containing the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the male genital tract. The nerves occur in association with arteries and smooth musculature of the organs. Available evidence suggests VIP to be a new neurotransmittor possibly involved in the regulation of blood flow and muscle contractility of the male genital organs.     

Morphology of the microtubule system during the sphering, layering and polarization of normal and transformed fibroblasts]

The ultrastructure of the genital system (ductus seminalis, vestibulum, ductus tortuosus and canaliculus fecundans) has been studied during mating and oviposition. All these organs have a common organization and contain three parts: muscular and epithelial layer and chitin intima lining the interior surface of the female genital system. Ultrastructures of the muscular tissue and of the basal part of epidermis are similar. The luminal surface and microvilli are different in various organs of the female genital system. The ultrastructural pattern and the thickness of chitin intima may also vary, and can be used as a character for identificating different organs of the female system in ultrathin sections.     

Histochemical and chemical studies on pre- and postnatal development of the different systems of “short” and “long” adrenergic neurons in peripheral organs of the rat

Summary The adrenergic innervation in the submaxillary gland, heart, kidney, small intestine, and accessory male genital organs and the development of the adrenal chromaffin cells and the sympathetic ganglia were studied in the rat from 15 days post coitum to 16 days post partum using the fluorescence histochemical method of Falck and Hillarp. The postnatal development of the noradrenaline concentrations in the heart and vas deferens was followed by fluorometric determinations.At about 15 days post coitum, the anlagen of the sympathetic chains were well visible in the form of two dorsal segmented columns of small branching sympathicoblasts exhibiting an intense catecholamine fluorescence. In the midline, ventrally to these two anlagen, another column of sympathicoblasts developed; this seemed to give rise to the prevertebral ganglia and to the short adrenergic neurons supplying the internal genital organs. At the level of the adrenal anlagen, small intensely fluorescent chromaffin cells were collected in two bilateral groups which became enclosed by adreno-cortical cells. This enclosure was, however, not complete even at two weeks post partum.Bundles of growing sympathetic nerves were visible in the periphery of the various organs studied at 19–21 days post coitum. A terminal innervation of the organs suggestive of a functional transmitter mechanism did not start to establish until at or immediately after birth. The final pattern of innervation was usually reached at about one week post partum, and the following development proceeded largely in the form of a quantitative increase in the number of nerves participating in the innervation apparatus. The adult level of noradrenaline in the heart and vas deferens was reached three to five weeks after birth. The small intestine was an exception in that the final pattern of innervation in the wall was attained immediately after birth.There was no overt difference in the rate of development of the terminal sympathetic innervation in organs supplied by short adrenergic neurons (accessory male genital organs) compared to the innervation of the submaxillary gland, heart and kidney, which receive classical long adrenergic neurons.The work was supported by a grant from the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, New York, and was carried out within a research organization sponsored by the Swedish Medical Research Council (grants No. B71-14X-56-07A and B71-14X-712-06A).     

Significance of constraints on genital coevolution: Why do female Drosophila appear to cooperate with males by accepting harmful matings?

The mechanisms driving the coevolution of male and female genital morphologies are still debated. Female genitalia in Drosophila species bear membranous “pouches” or hardened “shields,” which the male genital armature contact during copulation. Although shield‐like structures likely serve to mitigate the effects of harmful mating, some authors have suggested that soft pouches, which do not prevent male genitalia from inflicting wounds, represent a congruent sensory organ. To elucidate the evolutionary forces responsible for the development of such organs, I examined the effects of artificial damage to various genital parts of female Drosophila erecta on reproductive success. Despite a high survival rate among females, damage to the ovipositor plate resulted in frequent failure of insemination and in the embedment of eggs into the substrate. Damage to the vaginal shield resulted in increased mortality and frequent failure of egg embedment, with an egg blocking the vagina under the damaged shield in some females. Wounding of the pouch had less of an effect on both mating and oviposition success, suggesting that the structure “lures” the male trauma‐causing organs to areas where the resultant wounds do not interfere with insemination or oviposition. These data show that the dual functions of female genitalia (mating and oviposition) mediate genital coevolution.     

Immunohistochemical localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide in nerve fibers of the rat,guinea pig and pig female genital organs

Summary The localization and distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) immunoreactivity were studied in the rat, guinea pig and pig female genital organs with indirect immunohistochemical technique. In the rat, guinea pig and pig. CGRP and GRP immunoreactivities were localized in nerve fibers of the uterus, ovary and oviduct. Generally, CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were intensely stained, while GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers exhibited moderate immunoreactivity. The number of GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in these organs was lower in comparison with that of CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers. The pattern of distribution of these nerve fibers was very similar in different genital organs of all species studied. In the uterus of rat, guinea pig ang pig, CGRP-and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers and nerve bundles were observed in the muscular membrane and around blood vessels. Some delicate CGRP-and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were also present in the submucous layer of the uterus. In the oviduct. CGRP-and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen in the muscular membrane, around blood vessels and in the submucous layer. In the ovary, CGRP-and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were distributed in medullary stroma, in close contact with blood vessels and between follicles of different stages of development.     

Immunohistochemical localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide in nerve fibers of the rat, guinea pig and pig female genital organs

The localization and distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) immunoreactivity were studied in the rat, guinea pig and pig female genital organs with indirect immunohistochemical technique. In the rat, guinea pig and pig, CGRP and GRP immunoreactivities were localized in nerve fibers of the uterus, ovary and oviduct. Generally, CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were intensely stained, while GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers exhibited moderate immunoreactivity. The number of GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in these organs was lower in comparison with that of CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers. The pattern of distribution of these nerve fibers was very similar in different genital organs of all species studied. In the uterus of rat, guinea pig and pig, CGRP- and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers and nerve bundles were observed in the muscular membrane and around blood vessels. Some delicate CGRP- and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were also present in the submucous layer of the uterus. In the oviduct, CGRP- and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen in the muscular membrane, around blood vessels and in the submucous layer. In the ovary, CGRP- and GRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were distributed in medullary stroma, in close contact with blood vessels and between follicles of different stages of development.     

The evolution of asymmetric genitalia in spiders and insects

Asymmetries are a pervading phenomenon in otherwise bilaterally symmetric organisms and recent studies have highlighted their potential impact on our understanding of fundamental evolutionary processes like the evolution of development and the selection for morphological novelties caused by behavioural changes. One character system that is particularly promising in this respect is animal genitalia because (1) asymmetries in genitalia have evolved many times convergently, and (2) the taxonomic literature provides a tremendous amount of comparative data on these organs. This review is an attempt to focus attention on this promising but neglected topic by summarizing what we know about insect genital asymmetries, and by contrasting this with the situation in spiders, a group in which genital asymmetries are rare. In spiders, only four independent origins of genital asymmetry are known, two in Theridiidae (Tidarren/Echinotheridion, Asygyna) and two in Pholcidae (Metagonia, Kaliana). In insects, on the other hand, genital asymmetry is a widespread and common phenomenon. In some insect orders or superorders, genital asymmetry is in the groundplan (e.g. Dictyoptera, Embiidina, Phasmatodea), in others it has evolved multiple times convergently (e.g. Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera). Surprisingly, the huge but widely scattered information has not been reviewed for over 70 years. We combine data from studies on taxonomy, mating behaviour, genital mechanics, and phylogeny, to explain why genital asymmetry is so common in insects but so rare in spiders. We identify further fundamental differences between spider and insect genital asymmetries: (1) in most spiders, the direction of asymmetry is random, in most insects it is fixed; (2) in most spiders, asymmetry evolved first (or only) in the female while in insects genital asymmetry is overwhelmingly limited to the male. We thus propose that sexual selection has played a crucial role in the evolution of insect genital asymmetry, via a route that is accessible to insects but not to spiders. The centerpiece in this insect route to asymmetry is changes in mating position. Available evidence strongly suggests that the plesiomorphic neopteran mating position is a female-above position. Changes to male-dominated positions have occurred frequently, and some of the resulting positions require abdominal twisting, flexing, and asymmetric contact between male and female genitalia. Insects with their median unpaired sperm transfer organ may adopt a one-sided asymmetric position and still transfer the whole amount of sperm. Spiders with their paired sperm transfer organs can only mate in symmetrical or alternating two-sided positions without foregoing transfer of half of their sperm. We propose several hypotheses regarding the evolution of genital asymmetry. One explains morphological asymmetry as a mechanical compensation for evolutionary and behavioural changes of mating position. The morphological asymmetry per se is not advantageous, but rather the newly adopted mating position is. The second hypothesis predicts a split of functions between right and left sides. In contrast to the previous hypothesis, morphological asymmetry per se is advantageous. A third hypothesis evokes internal space constraints that favour asymmetric placement and morphology of internal organs and may secondarily affect the genitalia. Further hypotheses appear supported by a few exceptional cases only.     

Cuticular Lining in the Genital Chamber of the Cricket—an Obstacle to Prostaglandin Diffusing?

Summary

Histological methods have revealed the presence of a cuticular layer in the genital chamber as well as in the other genital organs of the female cricket, Teleogryllus commodus. The presence of this cuticle militates against the idea that prostaglandins synthesized in the spermatheca diffuse through the genital chamber wall.     

Growth and development of Metorchis orientalis in chicks and its adult morphology]

In order to observe the infectivity, growth and development and adult morphology of Metorchis orientalis, a total of 40 chicks were experimentally infected with 100 metacercariae respectively, collected from Pseudorasbora parva. The worms of various developmental stages were recovered from chicks at 1.5, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and 21 days after infection, and they were prepared for morphological observations and measurements. All of the worms were found in the gallbladders of chicks, and their recovery rate was 32% in average. The growth of the body was rapid from 9 to 11 days after infection. The genital primordia appeared in 1.5 and 3-day old worms, and ovary and testes were first observed in 5-day old worms. Thereafter, genital organs gradually matured and completed up to 11 days after infection. The adult worm was leaf-like, and possessed a convoluted tubular seminal vesicle, an ovoid ovary, a sac-like seminal receptacle, 2 lobed-testes and follicular vitellaria. Eggs were 31.9 x 15.3 microns in average size, ellipsoid to elliptical in shape and possessed abopercular thickenings. From the above results, it is concluded that M. orientalis grows in sigmoid pattern in chicks, and their genital organs fully mature between days 9 and 11. It is also confirmed that a chick is a new definitive host of M. orientalis.     

Expression of cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) in male reproductive organs of mice

Cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) is the rate-limiting biosynthetic enzyme of taurine, but it is still controversial whether the male reproductive organs have the function to synthesize taurine through CSD pathway. The present study was thus undertaken to detect CSD expression in male mouse reproductive organs by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The results show that CSD is expressed both at the mRNA and protein levels in the testis, epididymis and ductus deferens. The relative levels of both CSD mRNA and protein increase from the testis to the epididymis and to the ductus deferens. Immunohistochemical results demonstrate that the main cell types containing CSD are Leydig cells of testis, epithelial cells and some stromal cells throughout the efferent ducts, epididymis and ductus deferens. These results suggest that male genital organs have the function to produce taurine through the CSD pathway, although quantifying the relation of CSD expression to taurine synthesis and the exact functions of taurine in male genital organs still need to be elucidated in future studies.     

Postnatal growth in male Dunkin–Hartley guinea pigs (Cavia cutleri f. porcellus)

The aim of the present study was to describe postnatal organ and body weight growth in male Dunkin–Hartley guinea pigs from birth to 250 days of age. The modified JANOSCHEK growth curve was fitted to the age group means for each measurement by nonlinear regression and characteristics of the resulting growth curves were calculated. At birth, brain weight showed the highest percentage of its adult value (59%), followed by eye weight (37%). Lowest percentage birth weights were found for genital organs, adrenals and pancreas, the majority of organs showed values between 4% and 15%. Weights of body, heart, spleen, liver, genital organs, thyroids and adrenals followed a sigmoidal growth course. The remaining, as examined in this study, organs exhibited simple exponential growth without a postnatal point of inflection. Among internal organs, brain weight reaches adult size first (74 days of age). Genital organs with exception of prostate, duodenum, heart and spleen are fast-growing organs, too.     

泥螺生殖系统的组织学

泥螺为雌雄同体。生殖系统包括交媾器和生殖器本部。交媾器包括刺激器、阴茎和摄护腺;生殖器本部主要包括两性腺、缠卵腺和蛋白腺。刺激器和阴茎都具有非常发达的肌肉组织,腔壁游离面具纤毛。阴茎腔壁为单层柱状细胞;摄护腺被膜为一层薄的肌纤维,里面具有许多分泌细胞;缠卵腺被膜为单层扁平上皮,下层为环肌,腺体组织由分泌小管构成。蛋白腺主要由皮质层和导管层组成,皮质层内充满了分泌细胞,导管层由许多分泌小管构成,管壁为柱状腺细胞。     

Systematization of ambiguous genitalia

Sex assignment in newborns depends on the anatomy of the external genitalia, despite this stage being the final in embryogenesis. According to the current view, the genital tubercle is the embryonic precursor of penis and clitoris. It originates from mesenchymal tissue, but mesenchymal cells are arranged across the embryonal body and do not have specific androgen receptors. The nature of the signal that initiates early derivation of the indifferent genital tubercle is unknown at present. The aims of this article are to improve surgical management of intersex disorders and investigate the development of the genital tubercle. Clinical examination of 114 females with various forms of DSD revealed ambiguous (bisexual) external genitalia in 73 patients, and 51 of them underwent feminizing surgery. Intersexuality (ambiguity) in 46,XY patients results from disruptors in the pathways of sex steroid hormones or receptors; in 46,XX females arises from excessive levels of androgens. Systematization of intersex disorders distinguishes the karyotype, gonadal morphology, and genital anatomy to provide a differential diagnosis and guide appropriate surgical management. Modified feminizing clitoroplasty with preservation of the dorsal and ventral neurovascular bundles to retain erogenous sensitivity was performed in females with severe virilization (Prader degree III-V). The outgrowth of the genital tubercle and the fusion of the urethral fold proceed in an ordered fashion; but in some cases of ambiguity, there was discordance due to different pathways. Speculation about the derivation of the genital tubercle have discussed with a literature review. The genital tubercle derives from the following 3 layers: the ectodermal glans of the tubercle, the mesodermal corpora cavernosa and the endodermal urogenital groove. According to the new hypothesis, during the indifferent stages, the 5 sacral somites have to recede from their segmentation and disintegrate: the sclerotomes form the pelvic bones, the fused myotomes follow with their genuine neurotomes and the angiotomes join to the corpora cavernosa of the genital tubercle. Sexual differentiation of external genitalia is final in gender embryogenesis, but surprisingly derivation of the indifferent genital tubercle from 5 somites occurs before gonadal and internal organs development.     

Growth and development of Massaliatrema misgurni (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) in mice and its metacercarial morphology

The morphology of metacercariae of Massaliatrema misgurni Ohyama et al. (Ohyama et al., Parasitol Int 2001; 50; 267–71) was described, and their infectivity, egg output, growth and development in mice until day 35 post infection (PI) were studied. Metacercarial cysts from loaches imported from China to Japan were 199–349 μm in diameter and consisted of a very thick translucent outer layer and a refractile inner layer. Excysted metacercariae basically had the shape of miniature adults, and a pair of pre-developed testes but no other genital organs were recognized. The worm recovery rate from mice was 36.7–51.7% during days 3–7 PI, and decreased remarkably to 2.5 and 1.7% at days 28 and 35 PI. The prepatent period was 3–4 days, and the egg output quickly increased and sustained high levels at days 5–7 PI, then decreased suddenly at day 8 PI, and continued at a low level until day 28 PI. The size of the body and inner organs such as the oral sucker, pharynx, acetabulum, testes, ovary and seminal receptacle quickly increased until day 3 PI, and sustained at a plateau level until day 21 PI except testes which gradually decreased until 21 PI. The number of the uterine eggs increased with a short time lag compared to other genital organs and sustained a plateau level until day 21 PI. Compared with other Heterophyidae species, M. misgurni was characterized by the remarkably fast growth and development.     

Requirement ofwingless signaling andengrailed action in the development and differentiation of reproductive system inDrosophila

The segment polarity geneswingless (wg) andengrailed (en) have been shown to play important roles in pattern formation at different stages ofDrosophila development in the thoracic imaginai discs. We have studied the patterns of expression of these genes in genital discs from wild type larvae, pupae and pharate adults and also from hetero-allelic mutant combinations of these genes. Our results suggest that these genes play vital roles in the normal development and differentiation of genital discs and gonads. In the absence of normalwg oren functions, the flies showed a complete lack of internal accessory reproductive organs and specific defects in the external genitalia. In addition, the testes in such males were small, rounded and with an abnormal cellular organization, although the ovaries in females appeared normal. Temperature shift experiments using the conditional mutant allele ofwg, (wg ^IL-114 ) indicated a requirement ofwg signaling from second instar onwards for normal development and differentiation of the accessory reproductive organs. Using a heat-shock allele (Hs-wg) we also show that the spatially regulated expression ofwg as a pre-requisite for normal development and differentiation. Based on the expression patterns ofen andhedgehog (hh) we suggest that even in the genital disc development and differentiation the action ofen is mediated throughhh.