scholarly journals Canid Reproductive Biology: Norm and Unique Aspects in Strategies and Mechanisms

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 653
Author(s):  
Jennifer B. Nagashima ◽  
Nucharin Songsasen
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Physiology ◽  
Wild Canid ◽  
Production Techniques ◽  
Geographic Regions

The reproductive physiology of canids is unique compared to other mammalian species. Specifically, the reproductive cycle of female canids is characterized by extended periods of proestrus and estrus followed by obligatory diestrus and protracted ovarian inactivity (anestrus). Although canid reproduction follows this general pattern, studies have shown variations in reproductive biology among species and geographic regions. Understanding of these differences is critical to the development of assisted reproductive technologies including estrus induction, gamete rescue, and embryo production techniques for canid conservation efforts. This review summarizes current knowledge of canid reproduction, including estrus cyclicity, seasonality, and seminal traits, with the emphasis on species diversity. The application of reproductive technologies in wild canid conservation will also be discussed.

scholarly journals Pannexins and Connexins: Their Relevance for Oocyte Developmental Competence

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5918
Author(s):  
Paweł Kordowitzki ◽  
Gabriela Sokołowska ◽  
Marta Wasielak-Politowska ◽  
Agnieszka Skowronska ◽  
Mariusz T. Skowronski
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Atp Release ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Protein Group ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

The oocyte is the major determinant of embryo developmental competence in all mammalian species. Although fundamental advances have been generated in the field of reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies in the past three decades, researchers and clinicians are still trying to elucidate molecular factors and pathways, which could be pivotal for the oocyte’s developmental competence. The cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communications are crucial not only for oocytes but also for multicellular organisms in general. This latter mentioned communication is among others possibly due to the Connexin and Pannexin families of large-pore forming channels. Pannexins belong to a protein group of ATP-release channels, therefore of high importance for the oocyte due to its requirements of high energy supply. An increasing body of studies on Pannexins provided evidence that these channels not only play a role during physiological processes of an oocyte but also during pathological circumstances which could lead to the development of diseases or infertility. Connexins are proteins that form membrane channels and gap-junctions, and more precisely, these proteins enable the exchange of some ions and molecules, and therefore they do play a fundamental role in the communication between the oocyte and accompanying cells. Herein, the role of Pannexins and Connexins for the processes of oogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and fertilization will be discussed and, at the end of this review, Pannexin and Connexin related pathologies and their impact on the developmental competence of oocytes will be provided.

scholarly journals Epigenetics and Neurological Disorders in ART

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4169
Author(s):  
Marina La Rovere ◽  
Marica Franzago ◽  
Liborio Stuppia
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Epigenetic Alterations ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Increased Risk

About 1–4% of children are currently generated by Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in developed countries. These babies show only a slightly increased risk of neonatal malformations. However, follow-up studies have suggested a higher susceptibility to multifactorial, adult onset disorders like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in ART offspring. It has been suggested that these conditions could be the consequence of epigenetic, alterations, due to artificial manipulations of gametes and embryos potentially able to alter epigenetic stability during zygote reprogramming. In the last years, epigenetic alterations have been invoked as a possible cause of increased risk of neurological disorders, but at present the link between epigenetic modifications and long-term effects in terms of neurological diseases in ART children remains unclear, due to the short follow up limiting retrospective studies. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about neurological disorders promoted by epigenetics alterations in ART. Based on data currently available, it is possible to conclude that little, if any, evidence of an increased risk of neurological disorders in ART conceived children is provided. Most important, the large majority of reports appears to be limited to epidemiological studies, not providing any experimental evidence about epigenetic modifications responsible for an increased risk.

scholarly journals IMPORTANCE OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSERVATION OF WILD, RARE OR INDIGENOUS UNGULATES: REVIEW ARTICLE

2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cseh ◽  
László Solti
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Intensive Agriculture ◽  
Assisted Hatching ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Embryo Recovery

Biodiversity is increasingly threatened by intensive agriculture, environmental pollution, extinction of natural habitats and several other factors. Several mammalian species including ungulates have disappeared or are threatened by extinction. However, ungulates play an important role both in the ecosystem and in the economy. In general, species or breeds are considered endangered if their population does not exceed 1,000 individuals. In these cases conservation programmes should be initiated in order to maintain or even increase their number. This review deals with the possibilities and limitations of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the conservation of ecologically valuable wild, rare and indigenous ungulates. The methods discussed here are artificial insemination, cryopreservation of semen and embryos, embryo recovery and transfer,in vitroproduction of embryos, as well as micromanipulation techniques including sperm injection, assisted hatching and cloning. Some of these procedures are already being exploited in the breeding of farm ungulates, but more basic information about the reproductive patterns of wild, rare and indigenous animal species is needed before the routine use of ARTs.

scholarly journals Foreword: A perspective on the role of emerging technologies for the propagation of companion animals, non-domestic and endangered species

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. iii ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique C. J. Paris ◽  
Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ◽  
Damien B. B. P. Paris ◽  
Rebecca L. Krisher
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Physiology ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Genetic Management ◽  
The Status

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been used successfully in humans, domestic and laboratory species for many years. In contrast, our limited knowledge of basic reproductive physiology has restricted the application of ART in companion animal, non-domestic and endangered species (CANDES). Although there are numerous benefits, and in some cases a necessity, for applying ART for the reproductive and genetic management of CANDES, the challenges encountered with even the most basic procedures have limited the rate of progress. In this foreword we discuss the status of conventional ART, such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation, as well as their benefits and inherent difficulties when applied to CANDES. It is upon these techniques, and ultimately our knowledge of basic reproductive physiology, that the success of emerging technologies, such as those described in this special issue, are dependent for success.

scholarly journals Microphysiologic systems in female reproductive biology

2017 ◽  
Vol 242 (17) ◽  
pp. 1690-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandria N Young ◽  
Georgette Moyle-Heyrman ◽  
J Julie Kim ◽  
Joanna E Burdette
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
The Body ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Organ Systems

Microphysiologic systems (MPS), including new organ-on-a-chip technologies, recapitulate tissue microenvironments by employing specially designed tissue or cell culturing techniques and microfluidic flow. Such systems are designed to incorporate physiologic factors that conventional 2D or even 3D systems cannot, such as the multicellular dynamics of a tissue–tissue interface or physical forces like fluid sheer stress. The female reproductive system is a series of interconnected organs that are necessary to produce eggs, support embryo development and female health, and impact the functioning of non-reproductive tissues throughout the body. Despite its importance, the human reproductive tract has received less attention than other organ systems, such as the liver and kidney, in terms of modeling with MPS. In this review, we discuss current gaps in the field and areas for technological advancement through the application of MPS. We explore current MPS research in female reproductive biology, including fertilization, pregnancy, and female reproductive tract diseases, with a focus on their clinical applications. Impact statement This review discusses existing microphysiologic systems technology that may be applied to study of the female reproductive tract, and those currently in development to specifically investigate gametes, fertilization, embryo development, pregnancy, and diseases of the female reproductive tract. We focus on the clinical applicability of these new technologies in fields such as assisted reproductive technologies, drug testing, disease diagnostics, and personalized medicine.

Cryopreservation and other assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of threatened amphibians and reptiles: bringing the ARTs up to speed

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Clulow ◽  
Simon Clulow
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
End Points ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Future Work

Amphibians and reptiles are experiencing serious declines, with the number of threatened species and extinctions growing rapidly as the modern biodiversity crisis unfolds. For amphibians, the panzootic of chytridiomycosis is a major driver. For reptiles, habitat loss and harvesting from the wild are key threats. Cryopreservation and other assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) could play a role in slowing the loss of amphibian and reptile biodiversity and managing threatened populations through genome storage and the production of live animals from stored material. These vertebrate classes are at different stages of development in cryopreservation and other ARTs, and each class faces different technical challenges arising from the separate evolutionary end-points of their reproductive biology. For amphibians, the generation of live offspring from cryopreserved spermatozoa has been achieved, but the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos remains elusive. With reptiles, spermatozoa have been cryopreserved in a few species, but no offspring from cryopreserved spermatozoa have been reported, and the generation of live young from AI has only occurred in a small number of species. Cryopreservation and ARTs are more developed and advanced for amphibians than reptiles. Future work on both groups needs to concentrate on achieving proof of concept examples that demonstrate the use of genome storage and ARTs in successfully recovering threatened species to increase awareness and support for this approach to conservation.

Embryo biotechnology in the dog: a review

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie Chastant-Maillard ◽  
Martine Chebrout ◽  
Sandra Thoumire ◽  
Marie Saint-Dizier ◽  
Marc Chodkiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Physiology ◽  
Biological Models ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fertilisation Rate

Canine embryos are a scarce biological material because of difficulties in collecting in vivo-produced embryos and the inability, to date, to produce canine embryos in vitro. The procedure for the transfer of in vivo-produced embryos has not been developed adequately, with only six attempts reported in the literature that have resulted in the birth of 45 puppies. In vitro, the fertilisation rate is particularly low (∼10%) and the incidence of polyspermy particularly high. So far, no puppy has been obtained from an in vitro-produced embryo. In contrast, cloning of somatic cells has been used successfully over the past 4 years, with the birth of 41 puppies reported in the literature, a yield that is comparable to that for other mammalian species. Over the same period, canine embryonic stem sells and transgenic cloned dogs have been obtained. Thus, the latest reproductive technologies are further advanced than in vitro embryo production. The lack of fundamental studies on the specific features of reproductive physiology and developmental biology in the canine is regrettable in view of the increasing role of dogs in our society and of the current demand for new biological models in biomedical technology.

scholarly journals Fifty years of reproductive biology in Australia: highlights from the 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB)

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 829
Author(s):  
Elizabeth G. Bromfield ◽  
Samson N. Dowland ◽  
Jessica E. M. Dunleavy ◽  
Kylie R. Dunning ◽  
Olivia J. Holland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Meeting ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Animal Reproduction ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Trajectories ◽  
Life Course Health ◽  
The Impact

The 2018 edition of the Society for Reproductive Biology’s (SRB) Annual Meeting was a celebration of 50 years of Australian research into reproductive biology. The past 50 years has seen many important contributions to this field, and these advances have led to changes in practice and policy, improvements in the efficiency of animal reproduction and improved health outcomes. This conference review delivers a dedicated summary of the symposia, discussing emerging concepts, raising new questions and proposing directions forward. Notably, the symposia discussed in this review emphasised the impact that reproductive research can have on quality of life and the health trajectories of individuals. The breadth of the research discussed encompasses the central regulation of fertility and cyclicity, life course health and how the environment of gametes and embryos can affect subsequent generations, significant advances in our understanding of placental biology and pregnancy disorders and the implications of assisted reproductive technologies on population health. The importance of a reliable food supply and protection of endangered species is also discussed. The research covered at SRB’s 2018 meeting not only recognised the important contributions of its members over the past 50 years, but also highlighted key findings and avenues for innovation moving forward that will enable the SRB to continue making significant contributions for the next 50 years.

Fate of the germ cells in mammalian ovary: A review

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Pramod K. Yadav ◽  
Anumegha Gupta ◽  
Alka Sharma ◽  
Anil Kumar Yadav ◽  
Meenakshi Tiwari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Follicular Atresia ◽  
First Polar Body ◽  
Reproductive Life

Ovary has a fix number of germ cells during fetal life in mammals. The germ cells are depleted rapidly and a large number of germ cells (≥99%) are eliminated from the cohort of ovary through follicular atresia during prepubertal life. The various cell death pathways including apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, and necroptosis are involved in follicular atresia. Hence, <1% of germ cells are culminated into oocytes that are available for meiotic maturation and ovulation during entire reproductive life. These oocytes are arrested at diplotene stage of meiotic prophase-I and remain arrested for few months to several years during entire reproductive life. Resumption from diplotene arrest in follicular oocytes starts in response to gonadotropins surge and progresses through metaphase-I to metaphase-II stage that extrudes first polar body at the time of ovulation. Surprisingly, oocytes do not wait for fertilizing spermatozoa and quickly undergo abortive spontaneous oocyte activation (SOA) in few mammalian species including humans. The abortive SOA makes oocyte unfit for fertilization and limits assisted reproductive technologies outcome. Indeed, majority of germ cells and oocytes are eliminated from the cohort of ovary and only few oocyte that are of good quality get selectively recruited to become right gamete after ovulation during entire reproductive life span in mammals.

scholarly journals The Biological Clock: Age, Risk, and the Biopolitics of Reproductive Time

Sex Roles ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Yopo Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Biological Clock ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Time Reproduction ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Women’S Views

Abstract The present article explores the social and subjective dimensions of the biological clock and its implications for reproductive time through a qualitative study based on 40 life story interviews of women from Santiago de Chile. Although the narrative of the biological clock has become a prevalent frame for addressing reproductive time in the context of late childbearing, age-related infertility, and the use of assisted reproductive technologies, few studies engage in an in-depth analysis of the biological clock—its boundaries, dynamics, and the particular ways in which it shapes women’s views and experiences of reproductive time. The present article aims to advance current knowledge on the intersection of time, reproduction, and biopolitics by arguing that the biological clock regulates reproductive time by shaping the boundaries and dynamics of female fertility through the clock. By determining reproductive time as quantitative, standardised, linear, and irreversible and by outlining the passing of time through pressure, risk, and burden, the biological clock determines when it is possible and desirable to have children and regulates reproduction, gender, and the female life course. These findings highlight the importance of critically addressing the narrative of the biological clock and its implications for women’s views and experiences of reproductive time.

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