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Testicular Tissue (testicular + tissue)
Selected AbstractsHermaphroditism in Cultured Chinese Black Sleeper (Bostrichthys sinensis L.)JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006Wan Shu Hong Anatomical studies showed that all collected feral fish of Chinese black sleepers (Bostrichthys sinensis L.) were gonochoristic. In contrast, an average of 12.4% of cultured fish appeared to be hermaphroditic. The shape of the genital papilla of hermaphroditic specimens resembled that of gonochoristic males. The gonadosomatic index (IG) of hermaphroditic fish varied from 0.24 to 4.48%, while that of gonochoristic conspecifics varied from 6.1 to 12.2% for females and 0.11 to 0.14% for males. Histological studies revealed that the sex organs of hermaphrodites consisted of ovarian, testicular, and seminal vesicle tissues, located in the central, peripheral, and caudal region of the gonads, respectively. During the spawning season, ovarian tissue contained poorly developed oocytes, that is, hydrated oocytes were absent and only a few degenerated vitellogenic oocytes were present. Testicular tissue, however, contained fully developed spermatozoa. The fertilization rate of these spermatozoa was significantly lower than those of gonochoristic conspecifics. It is concluded that part of the cultured stock of Chinese black sleeper became hermaphroditic during culture and that the hermaphrodites are able to function as males. The lowered fertilization rate, however, indicates that hermaphroditism in cultured fish of this species is disadvantageous to reproduction. [source] Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis in the Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae)JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Kevin M. Gribbins Abstract To date multiple studies exist that examine the morphology of spermatozoa. However, there are limited numbers of data detailing the ontogenic characters of spermiogenesis within squamates. Testicular tissues were collected from Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and tissues from spermiogenically active months were analyzed ultrastructurally to detail the cellular changes that occur during spermiogenesis. The major events of spermiogenesis (acrosome formation, nuclear elongation/DNA condensation, and flagellar development) resemble that of other squamates; however, specific ultrastructural differences can be observed between Cottonmouths and other squamates studied to date. During acrosome formation vesicles from the Golgi apparatus fuse at the apical surface of the nuclear membrane prior to making nuclear contact. At this stage, the acrosome granule can be observed in a centralized location within the vesicle. As elongation commences the acrosome complex becomes highly compartmentalized and migrates laterally along the nucleus. Parallel and circum-cylindrical microtubules (components of the manchette) are observed with parallel microtubules outnumbering the circum-cylindrical microtubules. Flagella, displaying the conserved 9 + 2 microtubule arrangement, sit in nuclear fossae that have electron lucent shoulders juxtaposed on either side of the spermatids basal plates. This study aims to provide developmental characters for squamates in the subfamily Crotalinae, family Viperidae, which may be useful for histopathological studies on spermatogenesis in semi-aquatic species exposed to pesticides. Furthermore, these data in the near future may provide morphological characters for spermiogenesis that can be added to morphological data matrices that may be used in phylogenetic analyses. J. Morphol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Life stages and reproductive components of the Marmorkrebs (marbled crayfish), the first parthenogenetic decapod crustaceanJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Günter Vogt Abstract Recently, we briefly reported on the first case of parthenogenesis in the decapod Crustacea which was found in the Marmorkrebs or marbled crayfish, a cambarid species of unknown geographic origin and species identity. Curiously, this animal is known only from aquarium populations, where it explosively propagates. By means of light and electron microscopic techniques we have now investigated the reproductive components of this crayfish, using more than 100 specimens ranging from hatchling to repeatedly spawned adult. Additionally, we documented its principal life stages. Our results revealed that the external sexual characters and also the gonads of the marbled crayfish are purely female, making this fast-reproducing species a good model for investigating female reproductive features in crayfish. Testicular tissues, ovotestes, or male gonoducts, gonopores, or gonopods were never found, either in small juveniles or large adult specimens, confirming the parthenogenetic nature of this crayfish. Parthenogenesis may have arisen spontaneously or by interspecific hybridization since Wolbachia -like feminizing microorganisms were not found in the ovaries. The external sexual characters of the marbled crayfish are first recognized in Stage 4 juveniles and are structurally complete ,2 months after hatching in specimens of ,2 cm total length. In the same life stage the ovary is fully differentiated as well, although the oocytes are in previtellogenic and primary vitellogenic stages only. The architecture of the mature ovary and also the synchronous maturation of cohorts of primary vitellogenic oocytes by secondary vitellogenesis are in general agreement with data published on ovaries of bisexual crayfish. New results were obtained with respect to the muscular nature of the ovarian envelope and its extensive proliferation after the first spawning, the distribution of hemal sinuses in the ovarian envelope and in the interstitium around the oogenetic pouches, the high transport activity of the follicle cells, and the colonization of oogenetic pouches by previtellogenic oocytes that originate in the germaria. Investigation of the nuclei of oocytes in the germaria and oogenetic pouches revealed no signs of meiosis, as usually found in females of bisexual decapods, suggesting that parthenogenesis in the marbled crayfish might be an apomictic thelytoky. The detection of new rickettsial and coccidian infections in the ovary and further organs raises fears that the marbled crayfish might endanger native European species by transmission of pathogens once escaped into the wild. J. Morphol. 261:286,311, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Biochemical and histopathological effects in pearl dace (Margariscus margarita) chronically exposed to a synthetic estrogen in a whole lake experimentENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2006Vince P. Palace Abstract Potential effects of exposure to the synthetic estrogen 17,-ethynylestradiol (EE2) were examined in several species of fish from a lake experimentally treated with environmentally relevant concentrations of the contaminant. Ethynylestradiol was added to Lake 260, a small Precambrian shield lake at the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario, Canada, from May to October of 2001, 2002, and 2003. Mean concentrations of EE2 in epilimnetic waters ranged between 4.5 and 8.1 ng/L during the three years, with overall means of 6.1 (±2.8), 5.0 (±1.8), and 4.8 (±1.0) ng/L for the three years, respectively. Male and female pearl dace (Margariscus margarita) captured after EE2 additions began contained up to 4,000-fold higher concentrations of the egg yolk precursor vitellogenin than fish captured from the same lake before the EE2 additions or when compared to fish from reference lakes. Edema in the ovaries, inhibited development of testicular tissue, intersex, and histopathological kidney lesions were all evident in fish exposed to EE2. Some indications that EE2 exposure affected in vitro steroidogenic capacity of the ovaries and the testes existed, although results were not always consistent between years. Pearl dace abundance was similar in the lake treated with EE2 and the reference lake. A trend exists toward a reduced overall population of pearl dace from the treated and reference lakes, as do indications that young-of-the-year size classes are less abundant in the EE2-treated lake. Biochemical and histopathological impacts observed in fish exposed to EE2 in this study have not yet been linked to clear population level impacts in pearl dace. Monitoring of these populations is ongoing. [source] Dynamic expression of the prion-like protein Doppel in ovine testicular tissueINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 3 2006Arild Espenes Summary Transgenic knockout of the gene encoding the prion-like protein Doppel (Dpl) leads to male infertility in mice. The precise role of Dpl in male fertility is still unclear, but sperm from Dpl-deficient mice appear to be unable to undergo the normal acrosome reaction that is necessary to penetrate the zona pellucida of the ovum. We have investigated the expression pattern and some biochemical properties of Dpl in sheep testicular tissue and spermatozoa. Neither the Dpl protein nor its mRNA was detected in pre-pubertal sheep testis. This was in contrast to the findings in adult rams where both Dpl mRNA and protein were present. The molecular mass and glycosylation pattern of sheep Dpl were similar to that of mice Dpl. The Dpl protein was detected in the seminiferous epithelium during the two final (7 and 8) and the two initial (1 and 2) stages of the spermatogenic cycle in a characteristic pattern. In stage 8, an intense brim of granular Dpl-immunoreactivity associated with maturation phase spermatids was observed, while after the release of spermatozoa in stages 1 and 2, the Dpl-staining was disseminated more diffusely in the epithelium, reaching the basal lamina. From stage 3 to stage 6, Dpl-immunoreactivity could not be detected, indicating that the Dpl protein had disappeared between stages 2 and 3. Dpl was not detected on ejaculated spermatozoa. These patterns of staining indicate that Dpl is enriched in residual bodies, which are phagocytosed and destroyed by Sertoli cells after release of sperm into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. [source] Xanthogranulomatous orchitis: Review of the published work and report of one caseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 5 2007Sami Al-Said Abstract: Xanthogranulomatous orchitis is an extremely rare inflammatory non-neoplastic destructive lesion of the testis. We report a 44-year-old man who presented with right scrotal swelling and two discharging sinuses. Testicular tumor markers were normal. Scrotal ultrasound showed heterogeneous testicular areas and irregular margin of the tunica. Surgical exploration revealed infected, unhealthy testicular tissue with necrosis and tumor-like lesion. Orchidectomy was done and histopathology showed xanthogranulomatous orchitis. [source] Cadmium accumulation and binding characteristics in intact Sertoli/germ cell units, and associated effects on stage-specific functions in vitro: insights from a shark testis modelJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Leon M. McClusky Abstract The increased human use of cadmium (Cd) and its increased occurrence in the environment is of concern. The testis is sensitive to Cd because of the steroid-mediated regulation of spermatogenesis, high levels of DNA synthesis and gene transcription, all of which varies in a stage-related manner. Validated techniques (acridine orange vital staining to detect apoptosis and dextran-rhodamine exclusion to assess blood,testis barrier function) were recently developed and the shark testis was proposed as an alternative model for assessing stage-specific functions in living testicular tissue and to study toxicant actions on spermatogenesis. The present paper shows that 109Cd accumulation and binding in vitro was stage-dependent (premeiotic, PrM > meiotic, M > postmeiotic, PoM), rapid and persisted in spermatocysts (intact germ cell/Sertoli cell units) 49 h after washout. In competitive binding analyses of all three spermatocyst stages, Hg, but not Zn, could replace bound 109Cd, suggesting that Cd binding was specific. These findings were associated with a biphasic apoptotic response in the PrM spermatocysts, which was maximal at 10 µm CdCl2 and 1 µm CdCl2 after 2 and 4 days in culture, respectively. Although Cd uptake in PoM cysts was more than 2-fold less than uptake in PrM cysts, the percentage dextran-rhodamine permeant PoM cysts was ,8-fold greater than in controls in the presence of both 10 µm CdCl2 and 30 µm CdCl2 after 4 days culture, indicating that blood,testis barrier function in PoM spermatocysts was compromised. These findings demonstrate that this model has utility for use in screening assays of environmental toxicants. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Malignant seminoma with systemic metastases in a dogJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 7 2001M. Takiguchi A three-year-old male crossbred dog was presented with multiple cutaneous nodules on the dorsum. Unilateral testicular enlargement ensued. Histopathological examination of testicular tissue and the skin lesions revealed a malignant seminoma. Despite the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, the dog died three months later due to systemic metastases of the seminoma to the skin, scrotum, eyes, liver, kidney and peritoneum. [source] Diabetic rat testes: morphological and functional alterationsANDROLOGIA, Issue 6 2009G. Ricci Summary Reproductive dysfunction is a consequence of diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated the histological and molecular alterations in the testes of rats injected with streptozotocin at prepuperal (SPI rats) and adult age (SAI rats) to understand whether diabetes affects testicular tissue with different severity depending on the age in which this pathological condition starts. The testes of diabetic animals showed frequent abnormal histology, and seminiferous epithelium cytoarchitecture appeared altered as well as the occludin distribution pattern. The early occurrence of diabetes increased the percentage of animals with high number of damaged tubules. The interstitial compartment of the testes was clearly hypertrophic in several portions of the organs both in SPI and SAI rats. Interestingly, fully developed Leydig cells were present in all the treated animals although abnormally distributed. Besides the above-described damages, we found a similar decrease in plasma testosterone levels both in SPI and SAI rats. Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the pathogenesis of various diabetic complications, and in our experimental models we found that manganese superoxide dismutase was reduced in diabetic animals. We conclude that in STZ-induced diabetes, the altered spermatogenesis, more severe in SPI animals, is possibly due to the effect of OS on Leydig cell function which could cause the testosterone decrease responsible for the alterations found in the seminiferous epithelium of diabetic animals. [source] Ovotesticular disorder of sex development with a prostatic gland and review of literatureANDROLOGIA, Issue 6 2009H. C. Irkilata Summary Ovotesticular disorder of sex development (OTDSD) is a rare condition and defined as the presence of ovarian and testicular tissue in the same individual. Most of patients with OTDSD have female internal genital organs. In this report, we present a case in which, we demonstrated prostate tissue using endoscopic and radiologic methods in a 46-XX, sex determining region of the Y chromosome negative male phenotypic patient, with no female internal genitalia. Existence of prostate in an XX male without SRY is rarely seen and reveals a complete male phenotype. This finding is critical to figure out what happens in embryonal period. [source] Effects of testosterone and vitamin E on the antioxidant system in rabbit testisANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2004N. Aydilek Summary. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of testosterone propionate and vitamin E on the antioxidant system in the testis. Thirty-two male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was used as control. The second group was injected with testosterone propionate, the third group vitamin E and the fourth group vitamin E and testosterone propionate combination. All treatments were carried out during 6 weeks and oxidative parameters were evaluated in homogenized testicular tissue. The levels of vitamin E and the activity of glutathione peroxidase were lower (P < 0.05) in the testosterone group than in controls. However, vitamin C and malondialdehyde levels were higher (P < 0.05) in this group than in controls. The levels of reduced glutathione, , -carotene, vitamin C and E increased, but malondialdehyde levels decreased in the vitamin E group, when compared with controls (P < 0.05). Vitamin E and , -carotene levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the combination group than in testosterone group. However, MDA levels were lower (P < 0.05) in combination group than in the testosterone group. In conclusion, administration of testosterone propionate led to a significant elevation of oxidative stress. Vitamin E is quite an effective antioxidant which protects rabbit testis against lipid peroxidation, and, testosterone-induced lipid peroxidation could be improved by additional vitamin E treatment. [source] Leptin exists in tubuli seminiferi and in seminal plasmaANDROLOGIA, Issue 4 2002H.-J. Glander Summary. Leptin is a 167-amino acid protein that stimulates gonadotrophin-releasing hormone secretion and exerts indirect effects on the gonads via neuropeptide Y, NPY. Recent research has suggested that leptin may also have an effect on testosterone secretion. To investigate the role of leptin in reproduction, leptin in testicular tissue and seminal plasma was examined in relation to leptin in serum, semen sample qualities and vasectomy. Seminal plasma and serum of 64 infertility patients, and 15 individuals after vasectomy, were assayed for leptin using a competitive ,in house' radioimmunoassay. The concentration of leptin in seminal plasma was significantly lower in the ,normal' semen sample group than in the ,pathological' group (Mean ± SEM; 1.45 ± 0.18 vs. 3.19 ± 0.57 ng ml,1; P <,0.05), and showed a significantly negative correlation with percentage of motile spermatozoa (r=,0.46; P=0.0005) and with the velocity straight line, VSL, (r=,0.30; P= 0.029). In contrast, leptin concentration in serum did not show any relationship with the spermiogram parameters. In testicular tissue, leptin was preferentially found within the tubuli seminiferi using anti-leptin polyclonal antibody, Ob A-20 Sc 842. The amount of leptin per ejaculate did not significantly change after vasectomy, and was not correlated to fructose, zinc or neutral alpha glucosidase in seminal plasma (P > 0.05). These results suggest that the amount of leptin in the genital tract, including the tubuli seminiferi, may influence the mechanisms involved in the motility development of spermatozoa. [source] Increased testicular 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine in patients with varicoceleBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2007Tomomoto Ishikawa OBJECTIVES To assess immunohistochemically 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a sensitive biological marker of oxidative damage and stress) in testicular tissue from patients with varicocele, to determine whether 8-OHdG is related to spermatogenesis, as oxidative stress in testicular DNA is associated with poor semen quality and reduced fertility. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS Testicular tissue samples were collected from the testes of 36 patients with varicocele and five normal volunteers. The mean (sd) age of the patients was 35.3 (5.4) years. The prevalence of immunostained germ cells among all the germ cells in >20 seminiferous tubules was calculated. RESULTS The mean (sd) sperm concentration and Johnsen's score in the varicocele group was lower than in the normal group, at 27.6 (11.8) vs 80.4 (21.7) million/mL (P < 0.001) and 7.6 (1.1) vs 9.0 (0.7), respectively (P < 0.05). In all patients, 8-OHdG was mainly expressed in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubule. Immunostained germ cells correlated negatively with sperm concentration (r = ,0.48, P = 0.01) and Johnsen's score (r = ,0.46, P = 0.02), but not with follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone or testosterone level. Immunostained germ cells were significantly more prevalent in the varicocele group, at 53.6 (5.7)%, than that in the normal group, at 14.3 (2.3)% (P < 0.001). The prevalence of immunostained germ cells and clinical grades were positively related; the ratio recorded for varicocele grades I, II and III was 38.0 (10.0)%, 41.0 (9.1)%, and 57.0 (9.3)%, respectively (grade I vs grade III, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Increased 8-OHdG expression in the testis was associated with deficient spermatogenesis in infertile men with varicocele. [source] Mixed germ cell tumour arising from abdominal testicular tissue after apparent orchidectomyBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2001R. Miano No abstract is available for this article. [source] Testicular tissue bleeding as an indicator of gonadal salvageability in testicular torsion surgeryBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2001I.S. Arda Objective To investigate the reliability of using bleeding from the cut surface of testicular tissue during surgery for testicular torsion to assess testicular viability, compared with the duration of symptoms and preoperative findings on testicular Doppler ultrasonography (DUS). Patients and methods The study comprised 19 children with testicular torsion who underwent surgery; all underwent DUS before surgery. During surgery the tunica vaginalis of the affected gonad was incised and a deep incision made through the medulla after obtaining a wedge biopsy for histological examination. After waiting up to 10 min to assess any fresh arterial bleeding from the cut surface, the patients were categorized using three grades; grade I (sufficient bleeding, i.e. bleeding or oozing when the biopsy was obtained); grade II (insufficient bleeding, no bleeding immediately after the incision but starting within 10 min); and grade III (no bleeding within 10 min). The final surgical decision on whether to save the testis was made according to the grade of testicular tissue bleeding; grade I and II testes were saved and grade III testes were removed. The biopsies were histopathologically examined and classified as haemorrhagic, necrotic or indeterminate. The patients were followed up at 15 days and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with the affected testis examined using DUS. At the end of the study, the sensitivity and specificity of the duration of symptoms, characteristics of blood flow on DUS and grading of testicular tissue bleeding at surgery were calculated for predicting testis viability, using the histopathological diagnosis as the reference standard. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were respectively 100%, 90%, 90% and 100% for a duration of symptoms of > 10 h, 78%, 80%, 78% and 80% for DUS findings, and 100%, 78%, 83% and 100% for testicular tissue bleeding in predicting gonad viability after torsion, respectively. Conclusion Although the 10 h limit for the duration of symptoms seems a more accurate predictor of the fate of a twisted testis than were the other variables, testicular tissue bleeding may also be a good indicator of gonadal viability during surgery. The surgeon should wait up to 10 min after incising the testicular tissue deep to the medulla before deciding the type of surgery. In cases where bleeding from the cut surface is sufficient or insufficient (according to the proposed grading system), orchidopexy is the treatment of choice. The salvaged testes should be assessed during follow-up, especially in those who had had insufficient bleeding at surgery and/or a duration of symptoms > 10 h, to assess for any delayed damage to the untwisted testis. If no bleeding is seen during surgery the best option is to remove the affected testis. [source] Expression of Fas and Fas ligand in human testicular germ cell tumoursINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 2 2009E. Baldini Summary In the present study, we analysed the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) and its cognate receptor Fas in 14 seminomatous testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) and six normal testicular tissues obtained following orchiectomy. Tissue samples have been processed to prepare either total RNA or protein extracts or fixed and embedded in paraffin for immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments demonstrated in TGCT a significant (p < 0.01) increase of the FasL mRNA expression of 21.1 ± 5.4 fold, with respect to normal tissues. On the contrary, in the same cancer tissues, the levels of Fas mRNA were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced to 0.27 ± 0.06 fold. These observations were confirmed in western blot experiments showing a significant increase of FasL and a concomitant decrease of Fas proteins in testicular cancer tissues, with respect to normal testis. Moreover, IHC experiments showed a strong FasL immuno-reactivity in six out of eight TGCT samples analysed, while Fas immuno-positivity was found in cancer cells of only two TGCT tissues. In addition, in all tumour samples, infiltrating lymphocytes were Fas positive. However, no correlation could be observed between Fas or FasL mRNA variations and clinical parameters such as patient's age, TNM stage or tumour size. We also compared the serum levels of soluble FasL (sFasL) of 15 patients affected by seminomatous TGCT, of four patients with non-seminomatous TGCT and six age-matched healthy males. No significant differences in sFasL serum level could be identified. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the majority of seminomas are characterized by an increased expression of FasL and a concomitant reduction of Fas, with respect to human normal testis, and that sFasL serum level is not a tumour marker for patients affected by TGCT. [source] Role of transcription factors Ad4bp/SF-1 and DAX-1 in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in human testicular development and idiopathic azoospermiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 6 2006YOSHIYUKI KOJIMA Background:, Ad4bp/SF-1 and DAX-1 are orphan members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of transcription factors. In order to obtain better understandings of human testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, we examined the expression levels of both factors in human normal and idiopathic azoospermic testes and investigated their physical meaning. Methods:, First, we examined the expression level of Ad4bp/SF-1 and DAX-1 by quantitative reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction (RT,PCR), immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis using eight normal human testicular tissues from infants to adults. Second, we performed quantitative RT,PCR using testicular biopsy samples obtained from 22 idiopathic azoospermic patients to examine the expression of Ad4bp/SF-1 and DAX-1, and analysed the correlation between the expression levels of both factors and the serum hormone levels or histological evaluation to study their potential correlation with steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis on idiopathic azoospermia. Results:, The expression levels of both factors in the normal testes increased with testicular development. Ad4bp/SF-1 was abundantly expressed in Leydig cell, whereas DAX-1 was expressed in Sertoli cells. The expression level of Ad4bp/SF-1 in idiopathic azoospermic patients testes positively correlated with serum testosterone (P < 0.05). The average expression levels of DAX-1 mRNA for patients with maturation arrest (0.39 ± 0.19) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (0.13 ± 0.08) were lower than that with hypospermatogenesis (1.60 ± 1.32) and normal spermatogenesis (1.30 ± 1.41). Conclusion:, Ad4bp/SF-1 is important for the maintenance of steroidogenesis in the human testis. DAX-1 plays a critical role in spermatogenesis in the human testis, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome and maturation arrest may result from abnormal Sertoli cell function that disrupts the normal progression of spermatogenesis. [source] Age and size compositions, growth and reproductive biology of the breaksea cod Epinephelides armatus, a gonochoristic serranidJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007S. E Moore Details of the reproductive biology, size and age compositions and growth of the breaksea cod Epinephelides armatus, the sole representative of Epinephelides, were obtained by collecting monthly samples of a wide total length (LT) range of individuals from coastal marine waters at 31,32° S on the lower west coast of Australia. Although the modal LT class of females (250,299 mm) was markedly less than that of males (400,449 mm), the modal ages of the two sexes were similar, i.e. 4 v. 5 years, respectively. The similarity in the age compositions and the histological demonstration that the gonads of all E. armatus consist solely of either ovarian or testicular tissues demonstrate that this species is gonochoristic, which is highly unusual for an anthiinine serranid. The absence of a central, membrane-lined ,ovarian' lumen in the testes of juveniles would account for adult testes containing neither this ovarian remnant nor the peripherally located sperm sinuses that are found in the mature testes of almost all other serranids. The results demonstrate that E. armatus exhibits a very unusual pattern of sexual development for a serranid. The spawning period of E. armatus lasts for c. 9 months, which is long for a species in temperate Western Australian waters, but comparable with that of many other relatively small serranids elsewhere. Females grow slower than males, attaining LT at 3, 5 and 10 years of c. 200, 285 and 420 mm, respectively, compared with c. 215, 315 and 450 mm, respectively. Females, however, attain maturity at a greater LT and older age than males. [source] Expression of morphogenic genes in mature ovarian and testicular tissues: Potential stem-cell niche markers and patterning factorsMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006Kristian R. von Schalburg Abstract Morphogens are developmental regulators that modulate different tissue patterning, proliferation, differentiation, or remodeling processes in embryonic and adult tissues. Morphogens may also evoke specific regulatory programs in stem cells. Some of the morphogens involved in these processes have been characterized, while others remain unidentified. A microarray containing 3,557 salmonid cDNAs was used to compare the transcriptomes of rainbow trout precocious ovary at three different stages during second year (June, August, and October) with a reference (June normal ovary) transcriptome. During this study, we detected morphogen transcript hybridizations to salmonid elements and the study was enlarged to investigate these activities in various developmental stages of both ovary and testis. Genes from diverse development regulator families such as Anterior gradient-2, BMP, Epimorphin, Flightless, Frizzled, Notch, Tiarin, Twisted gastrulation, and Wnt were demonstrated to be expressed in the adult trout gonads. In mice or rats, expression of mammalian bmp-4, epimorphin, flightless, twisted gastrulation, and GW112 transcripts were localized to cell types isolated from the developed ovary and testis. Comparisons of salmonid and mammalian morphogens at the amino acid residue level show high similarities, suggesting functional conservation. This report provides evidence for local regulation by various morphogens and their potential to control distinct programs of gene expression in the gametes and their accessory cells during gametogenesis. Mol. Reprod. 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