Structure of the noncuticular simplex of the internal male reproductive tract of Calpodes ethlius (Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera)

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1184-1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lai-Fook
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Structure ◽  
Secretory Cell ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Male Reproductive Tract ◽  
Circular Layer ◽  
Secretory Products ◽  
Longitudinal Layer

The ductus ejaculatorius simplex (simplex) of the reproductive tract of the adult male of Calpodes ethlius is separated by distinct constrictions into seven segments, varying in length from 0.24 to 19.3 mm and totalling 4 cm. Two of the segments, S1 and S5, are further divisible into three and two parts, respectively, on the basis of either cellular structure or secretory products. The most distinctive region is the most anterior one which is made up of two distinctly different cells, one a merocrine secretory cell which resembles the cells of all other regions, and the other an apocrine secretory cell whose highly modified apical region is sloughed upon copulation. All segments are surrounded by two layers of muscle, a thin, inner circular layer and a more robust, outer longitudinal layer, which are supplied with tracheoles and nerves. Tracheoles also penetrate the epithelium of segment seven. The merocrine secretory cells of all segments are similar in that they all have well-developed endoplasmic reticulum, numerous Golgi and mitochondria, and a microvillate apical surface. Nonetheless, the cells of each segment are distinguished by some feature of either their structure or their secretions.

Fork head prevents apoptosis and promotes cell shape change during formation of the Drosophila salivary glands

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (19) ◽  
pp. 4217-4226 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Myat ◽  
D.J. Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Secretory Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Nuclear Migration ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Fork Head

The secretory tubes of the Drosophila salivary glands are formed by the regulated, sequential internalization of the primordia. Secretory cell invagination occurs by a change in cell shape that includes basal nuclear migration and apical membrane constriction. In embryos mutant for fork head (fkh), which encodes a transcription factor homologous to mammalian hepatocyte nuclear factor 3beta (HNF-3beta), the secretory primordia are not internalized and secretory tubes do not form. Here, we show that secretory cells of fkh mutant embryos undergo extensive apoptotic cell death following the elevated expression of the apoptotic activator genes, reaper and head involution defective. We rescue the secretory cell death in the fkh mutants and show that the rescued cells still do not invaginate. The rescued fkh secretory cells undergo basal nuclear migration in the same spatial and temporal pattern as in wild-type secretory cells, but do not constrict their apical surface membranes. Our findings suggest at least two roles for fkh in formation of the embryonic salivary glands: an early role in promoting survival of the secretory cells, and a later role in secretory cell invagination, specifically in the constriction of the apical surface membrane.

Structure of the accessory glands and duplex of the internal male reproductive system of Calpodes ethlius (Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera)

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1202-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lai-Fook
Keyword(s):  
Secretory Cell ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Secretory Activity ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Apyrene Sperm ◽  
Eupyrene Sperm ◽  
Single Cell Type

The paired accessory glands of Calpodes ethlius are long, blind tubes which open into the ductus ejaculatorius duplex (duplex) at a constriction. They are held closely together to each other by tracheoles. Combined light and electron microscopy suggests that there are at least six regions. These regions are identified by the fine structure of their epithelia and their luminal contents, characterized by some preliminary histochemistry. A structurally uniform merocrine secretory cell is found throughout the length of the gland. However, the differences that occur do so in the apical surface structure, especially the microvilli and the occasional bleb indicating apocrine activity. The other major element is an apocrine secretory cell with highly modified mitochondria and apical region. The latter consists of compartments which are filled with glycogen and organelles and which protrude into the lumen. The merocrine secretions include a variety of globular structures of varying sizes and densities and two filamentous elements in addition to the matrix. The U-shaped duplex is very short and joined to the accessory glands, vasa deferentia, and simplex. Its epithelium consists of a single cell type; however, there are obvious signs of asynchronous secretory activity in adjacent areas within the duplex. There are also some suggestions of apocrine activity although the epithelium is largely merocrine. The lumen contains, in addition to its own secretions, secretions of the vasa deferentia, apyrene sperm, and eupyrene sperm bundles. The latter are confined to the areas around the openings of the vasa deferentia.

scholarly journals Ovulation in Drosophila is controlled by secretory cells of the female reproductive tract

eLife ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Sun ◽  
Allan C Spradling
Keyword(s):  
Secretory Cell ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Nuclear Hormone Receptor ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Glandular Secretion ◽  
Gland Development

How oocytes are transferred into an oviduct with a receptive environment remains poorly known. We found that glands of the Drosophila female reproductive tract, spermathecae and/or parovaria, are required for ovulation and to promote sperm storage. Reducing total secretory cell number by interferring with Notch signaling during development blocked ovulation. Knocking down expression after adult eclosion of the nuclear hormone receptor Hr39, a master regulator of gland development, slowed ovulation and blocked sperm storage. However, ovulation (but not sperm storage) continued when only canonical protein secretion was compromised in adult glands. Our results imply that proteins secreted during adulthood by the canonical secretory pathway from female reproductive glands are needed to store sperm, while a non-canonical glandular secretion stimulates ovulation. Our results suggest that the reproductive tract signals to the ovary using glandular secretions, and that this pathway has been conserved during evolution.

The Effect of PDE5 Inhibitors on the Male Reproductive Tract

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Sofikitis ◽  
Aris Kaltsas ◽  
Fotios Dimitriadis ◽  
Jens Rassweiler ◽  
Nikolaos Grivas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Tunica Albuginea ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Secretory Function ◽  
Pde5 Inhibitors ◽  
Male Reproductive Tract ◽  
Review Study ◽  
Phosphodiesterase 5

The therapeutic range of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5) inhibitors is getting wider in the last years. This review study focuses on the potential employment of PDE5 inhibitors as an adjunct tool for the therapeutic management of male infertility. The literature tends to suggest a beneficial effect of PDE5 inhibitors on Leydig and Sertoli cells secretory function. It also appears that PDE5 inhibitors play a role in the regulation of the contractility of the testicular tunica albuginea and the epididymis. Moreover scientific data suggest that PDE5 inhibitors enhance the prostatic secretory function leading to an improvement in sperm motility. Other studies additionally demonstrate a role of PDE5 inhibitors in the regulation of sperm capacitation process. Placebo-controlled, randomized, blind studies are necessary to unambiguously incorporate PDE5 inhibitors as an adjunct tool for the pharmaceutical treatment of semen disorders and male infertility.

Changes in the Male Reproductive Organs of the Dugong, Dugong dugon (Sirenia: Dugondidae) with Age and Reproductive Activity

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 721 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Marsh ◽  
GE Heinsohn ◽  
TD Glover
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Growth Layer ◽  
Male Reproductive Tract ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Quantitative Examination ◽  
Testicular Histology

The anatomy and histology of the male reproductive tract of the dugong (Dugong dugon) is described. Each testis and its adjacent epididymis lie immediately caudal to the corresponding kidney. The seminal vesicles are large but there is no discrete prostate gland and the bulbo-urethral glands are also diffuse. Both qualitative and quantitative examination of the testes and epididymides of 59 males whose ages have been estimated from tusk dentinal growth layer counts indicate that the male dugong does not produce spermatozoa continuously, despite the absence of a distinct breeding season. Individual dugongs were observed with testes at all stages between complete quiescence and full spermatogenesis, and only 10 of the 40 mature males had fully spermatogenic testes and epididymides packed with spermatozoa. Androgenic and spermatogenic activity of the testes appeared to be in phase, but the testicular histology of some old males suggested that they may have been sterile for long periods.

Methyl-parathion bioactivation in the male reproductive tract: From mRNA to protein expression of involved CYP isoforms

2009 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. S145
Author(s):  
Betzabet Quintanilla-Vega ◽  
Patricia Espíritu-Gordillo ◽  
Yuliana Palacios-Gil ◽  
Margarita Guaderrama-Díaz ◽  
María de Jesús Solís-Heredia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Methyl Parathion ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Male Reproductive Tract ◽  
Cyp Isoforms

scholarly journals Identification of multiple male reproductive tract-specific proteins that regulate sperm migration through the oviduct in mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (37) ◽  
pp. 18498-18506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Fujihara ◽  
Taichi Noda ◽  
Kiyonori Kobayashi ◽  
Asami Oji ◽  
Sumire Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Male Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Migration ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Multiple Male

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology enables researchers to efficiently generate and analyze genetically modified animals. We have taken advantage of this game-changing technology to uncover essential factors for fertility. In this study, we generated knockouts (KOs) of multiple male reproductive organ-specific genes and performed phenotypic screening of these null mutant mice to attempt to identify proteins essential for male fertility. We focused on making large deletions (dels) within 2 gene clusters encoding cystatin (CST) and prostate and testis expressed (PATE) proteins and individual gene mutations in 2 other gene families encoding glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase domain (GDPD) containing and lymphocyte antigen 6 (Ly6)/Plaur domain (LYPD) containing proteins. These gene families were chosen because many of the genes demonstrate male reproductive tract-specific expression. AlthoughGdpd1andGdpd4mutant mice were fertile, disruptions ofCstandPategene clusters andLypd4resulted in male sterility or severe fertility defects secondary to impaired sperm migration through the oviduct. While absence of the epididymal protein families CST and PATE affect the localization of the sperm membrane protein A disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 3 (ADAM3), the sperm acrosomal membrane protein LYPD4 regulates sperm fertilizing ability via an ADAM3-independent pathway. Thus, use of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies has allowed us to quickly rule in and rule out proteins required for male fertility and expand our list of male-specific proteins that function in sperm migration through the oviduct.

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