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PubMed1990

Chemosensory identity and the Y chromosome.

Genes in the extended major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the mouse (H-2: Qa:T1a) impart to each mouse an odor that reflects its genetic constitution at this region of chromosome 17. Sensory recognition of these differential odors influences reproductive behavior and evokes neuroendocrine responses critical to the maintenance of pregnancy. To determine whether other parts of the mouse genome contribute to individual odor, and so may similarly exert a selective force on loci other than the MHC, mice differing genetically only in their X and/or Y chromosomes were tested for individuality of scent in the Y-maze system previously employed to investigate MHC-related scent distinctions. It was found that the X and Y chromosomes each confer individuality of scent related to genotype, but differences at the H-2 locus are considerably more salient. Nevertheless, chemosensory cues controlled by differences on the Y chromosome could play a role in individual recognition, mate selection, aggressive interactions, and perhaps other aspects of mouse chemosensory behavior.

Animal Communication↗
PubMed1985

Oral sex in an adolescent population.

The incidence of oral sex in an adolescent population is discussed. More girls have either given or received oral-genital stimulation than have had intercourse. More boys have had intercourse than have either given or received oral-genital stimulation. Oral sex is more common than intercourse for females because they are more likely to have received oral-genital stimulation than to have either had intercourse or given oral-genital stimulation. For both sexes, fellatio is less common than is either intercourse or cunnilingus. For both sexes, oral sex is considerably more frequently reported than was the case in the Kinsey surveys.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for histologically confirmed benign breast tumors.

A case-control study of 156 cases of various types of benign breast disease (BBD) and 156 population controls was conducted to investigate the role of various behavioral, reproductive, and hormonal factors in the etiology of these breast disorders. Our results indicate that the distinct histological groups of BBD differ from each other in respect to possible risk factors. Small sample size poses severe restrictions on the conclusiveness of the results and thus they should be considered as preliminary and suggestive. Our results do not support the notion that BBD could be considered as a uniform entity with common risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ultrasonic vocalizations by adult prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster.

Male and female Microtus ochrogaster were presented with anesthetized and awake conspecifics while ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were monitored. Males produced significantly more USVs than females during 5-min testing sessions. Males tended to produce more USVs to unfamiliar females than to familiar female siblings. Sexual experience led to increased USV scores by males. These results suggest that USVs by male prairie voles communicate to females the male's gender and his availability for reproductive behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Thalamic stimulation evokes sex-color change and gamete release in a vertebrate hermaphrodite.

Sperm and egg release and sex-color patterns specific for the male and female phases of reproductive behavior were elicited by electrical stimulation in the thalamus of anesthetized sea bass. Thalamic switching of the sex-role specific motor activities in response to visual signals from the mate is considered an important feature regulating the complex mating activity of these simultaneous hermaphrodites.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Bacterial colonization of intrauterine devices (IUDs).

The bacterial colonizing of the intrauterine device (IUD) and its tail were studied in 152 IUDs obtained from 70 symptomless IUD wearers, 13 women with dysfunctional bleeding, 23 women with pelvic inflammatory disease, 31 women in whom the tail of an IUD was no longer visible and 17 women who were pregnant with an IUD in situ. The IUDs were either removed by the transcervical route or through a fundal incision in the uterus after hysterectomy. Most IUD were heavily contaminated by bacteria, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococci and anaerobic Lactobacilli. The number of colonies was higher in women with dysfunctional bleeding and pelvic inflammatory disease than in others with a predominance of pathogenic bacteria, namely beta-hemolytic Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Almost half of the IUDs without a tail protruding through the cervix were sterile. With pregnancy in the presence of an IUD, 71% of devices grew bacteria which were mainly anaerobic.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1996

Genetic variation in "first" male effects on egg laying and remating by female Drosophila melanogaster.

Male Drosophila melanogaster from lines artificially selected to have divergent life histories were tested to determine if they differed in their effects on female reproductive behavior. During the first 5 days after mating, males from short-generation populations caused females to lay eggs at a faster rate than did males from long-generation populations. This faster oviposition rate resulted in greater numbers of adult progeny produced by short-generation males. During the period 6-21 days after mating, long-generation males fathered more adult progeny. Females that were first mated to short-generation males were more likely to remate than were females first mated to long-generation males. Rematings were interrupted in order to prevent transfer of second-male accessory fluid and sperm. Females that were first mated to long-generation males produced more progeny after interrupted matings than did females that were first mated to short-generation males.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The hypocretins/orexins: novel hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in different physiological systems.

The hypothalamus regulates diverse physiological functions, including the control of energy metabolism, circadian rhythms, stress and anxiety, sexual and reproductive behaviors. An overview of the most prevalent hypothalamus-enriched mRNAs revealed that this area of the brain specializes in producing intercellular signaling molecules. Two new secreted peptides derived from a single neuropeptide precursor, named hypocretins and orexins by two different groups, are synthesized in a small set of neurons in the perifornical area of the hypothalamus. Intracerebroventricular injection of the hypocretins/orexins increases food consumption in rats. Here we review recent progress in identifying the role of the hypocretins/orexins in the control of energy balance and in other physiological systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[Electron microscopy studies of the human vomeronasal organ].

The vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, is essential for pheromone detection and reproductive behavior in most mammals. In humans, it has been described as a blind diverticulum in the anterior nasal septum, but without a documented function. The purpose of this study is to describe the fine structure of the human adult vomeronasal organ in 14 specimens. Our studies showed a duct-like invagination of the epithelium that was surrounded by numerous exocrine glands with short ducts. The fine structure of these glands suggested a serous secretion. In the depth of the invagination, pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells were seen that had plump processes, kinocilia and microvilli at the apical cell membrane. Several cell types were seen that differed regarding their organelles and electron density, with light sensory cells exhibiting neurofilaments. Underneath the typical basement membrane, numerous myelinated and unmyelinated axons were present in the very vascular lamina proprion. These morphological findings are unique in the human body and suggest that a chemosensory epithelium corresponding to a vomeronasal organ may exist. Its central connections and the possible functional significance of this tubed organ for pheromone detection are unknown and need further study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

In vitro germination and transient GFP expression of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) pollen.

The development of the male reproductive structures of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is described to advance our understanding of its reproductive behavior. This information has been vital in the development of a strategy to collect pollen grains from male catkins suitable for in vitro germination and transformation experiments. Cutting male catkins into small segments and rolling them over a culture plate resulted in evenly dispersed and large amounts of pollen with minimal unwanted accessory floral parts. To optimize pollen viability, the effect of various storage conditions on in vitro germination was examined. Our results showed that initial storage at 4 degrees C for 2 weeks significantly increased percent germination as compared to freshly collected pollen and those stored directly at -20 degrees C or -80 degrees C. This also means that for long-term storage of American chestnut pollen, the catkins should first be kept at 4 degrees C for a couple of weeks and then at -80 degrees C. The use of pollen grains with high viability is necessary for the transformation of American chestnut pollen. To optimize pollen transformation via particle bombardment, the effects of target distance, target pressure, and pollen developmental stage were examined. Statistical analysis showed that bombardment of ungerminated pollen at 1,100 psi resulted in the highest percent transient GFP expression (4.1%).

Fagaceae↗
PubMed2000

Electrical stimulation of the preoptic area in Eigenmannia: evoked interruptions in the electric organ discharge.

The functional role of the basal forebrain and preoptic regions in modulating the normally regular electric organ discharge was determined by focal brain stimulation in the weakly electric fish, Eigenmannia. The rostral preoptic area, which is connected with the diencephalic prepacemaker nucleus, was examined physiologically by electrical stimulation in a curarized fish. Electrical stimulation of the most rostral region of the preoptic area with trains of relatively low intensity current elicits discrete bursts of electric organ discharge interruptions in contrast to other forebrain loci. These responses were observed primarily as after-responses following the termination of the stimulus train and were relatively immune to variations in the stimulus parameters. As the duration and rate of these preoptic-evoked bursts of electric organ discharge interruptions (approximately 100 ms at 2 per s) are similar to duration and rate of natural interruptions, it is proposed that these bursts might be precursors to natural interruptions. These data suggest that the preoptic area, consistent with its role in controlling reproductive behaviors in vertebrates, may be influencing the occurrence of electric organ discharge courtship signals by either direct actions on the prepacemaker nucleus or through other regions that are connected with the diencephalic pre-pacemaker nucleus.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2005

Food habits and the evolution of energetics in birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae).

Basal rates of metabolism, minimal thermal conductances, and body temperatures are reported for 13 species of birds of paradise that belong to nine genera. Body mass alone accounts for 91.7% of the variation in their basal rates. Basal rate in this family also correlates with food habits and the altitudinal limits to distribution. Species that feed almost exclusively on fruit have basal rates that average 79.4% of species in which >10% of the diet is insects, and species restricted to altitudes <1,000 m have basal rates that are 90.6% of those found at higher altitudes. The combination of body mass, food habits, and altitudinal distribution accounts for 99.0% of the variation in basal rate in the species studied. The application of food habits to a cladogram of the studied Paradisaeidae implies that frugivory and low basal rate were plesiomorphic in this family. The evolution of omnivory, defined as including >10% of the diet as insects, appears to have occurred at least twice, and in each case was associated with an increase in basal rate of metabolism. Basal rate increased at least thrice with a movement into the highlands. Basal rate, however, does not correlate with plumage dimorphism or with reproductive behavior. The basal rates of metabolism in manakins and birds of paradise, i.e., passerine frugivores, are greater than those found in nonpasserine frugivores. Thermal conductance correlates with body mass, which accounts for 85.8% of its variation in this family. Body temperature in paradisaeids, the mean of which was 40.2 degrees C, may correlate with basal rate of metabolism.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1996

Tympanal hearing in tachinid flies (Diptera, Tachinidae, Ormiini): the comparative morphology of an innovation.

Tympanal hearing organs have been reported only recently for Diptera. All the cases documented so far relate to parasitoid tachinid flies of the ormiine tribe. In the ormiine flies, the presence of tympanal hearing is functionally linked to their reproductive behavior. Indeed, female ormiine flies detect and localize their host, typically singing orthopterans, by hearing their calling songs. The three ormiine fly species investigated here at the comparative level share the key morphological features associated with tympanal hearing. The extent of these structural modifications becomes evident in the light of comparison with the closely related atympanate tachinid Myiopharus doryphorae. We document a series of eight characters that constitute specialized modifications of the ventral prothorax: (1) an inflation of the probasisternum, providing a rigid frame to span the large tympanal membranes; (2) an increased surface area of the prosternal membranes that constitute very thin, corrugated tympanal membranes; (3) a forked, broad presternum with tympanal pits to which the sensory organs directly attach; (4) several modifications of the tracheal system comprising the enlargement of the prosternal air sac, a supplementary tracheal tube to the prosternal air sac accompanied by a subpartioning of the spiracular atrium, and larger mesothoracic spiracles; (5) the presence of two scolopophorous chordotonal organs in the unpartitioned prosternal air sac; (6) stiff cuticular apodemes linking the chordotonal organs to the presternum; (7) reduction in size of the cervical sclerites; and (8) several structural modifications of the prosternal apophyses, creating new attachment sites for neck muscles. This comparative approach brings out differences and similarities of the homologous cuticular structures found on the ventral prothorax of both tympanate and atympanate tachinids. It is proposed that, given the degree of similarity between the ormiine hearing organs, the ormiine tribe is monophyletic, whereby all members of this tribe evolved from a common ancestor, an acoustic parasitoid of a singing orthopteran insect.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Localization of leech excitatory peptide, a member of the GGNG peptides, in the central nervous system of a leech (Whitmania pigra) by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

We have recently isolated a myoactive peptide, called leech excitatory peptide, belonging to the GGNG peptide family from two species of leeches, Hirudo nipponia and Whitmania pigra. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were employed to localize leech excitatory peptide-like peptide(s) and its gene expression in the central nervous system of W. pigra. A pair of neuronal somata were stained by both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in the supraesophageal, subesophageal, and segmental ganglia. In addition, several other neurons showed positive signals by either immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization in these ganglia. An immunoreactive fiber was observed to run in the anterior root of segmental ganglion 6, which is known to send axons to the sexual organs, though we failed to detect immunoreactivity in possible target tissues. Antiserum specificity was established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using different leech excitatory peptide-related peptides. Leech excitatory peptide elicited muscular contraction of isolated preparations of penis and intestine at concentrations of 10(-8 )M. These results suggest that leech excitatory peptide is a neuropeptide modulating neuromuscular transmission in multiple systems, including regulation of reproductive behavior.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Reproductive attitudes of couples having a child with cystic fibrosis in Brittany (France).

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has an incidence of one in 2,636 livebirths and a carrier rate of one in 26 inhabitants in Brittany. One objective of a major enquiry among parents having a CF child as well as CF adolescents and adults was to evaluate the reproductive behavior of 124 couples attending a CF care center. Knowledge of recurrence risk resulted in deciding against further progeny or in reducing the number of children (average number of children: 1.96; ideal mean number of children: 3.7). Thirty-five percent adopted or changed their method of contraception after the birth of their affected child, but the change was due to the birth of the CF child in only 14.3% of the couples. Prenatal diagnosis (PD) was favored by 95.1%, and 41.2% had used it; 68.6% were in favor of pregnancy interruption for CF and 76.2% would interrupt the pregnancy should PD reveal that their fetus had CF. All 123 respondents thought that genetic counseling was useful, but only 87.1% knew of its availability. Our results are quite different from those previously published. Although results could be population-specific, one cannot exclude the fact that they reflect a change of attitudes among parents, the other studies being much older.

Attitude↗
PubMed2006

Trends of breast cancer incidence and risk factor prevalence over 25 years.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the trends in the prevalence of breast cancer risk factors in relation to breast cancer incidence trends and to explore whether the changes in risk factors differed by ethnicity in Hawaii over a 25-year period. METHODS: We pooled 17 population-based epidemiological studies conducted in Hawaii between 1975 and 2001. The study population of 82,295 women included subjects of Caucasian, Japanese, Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Filipino ancestry. We computed age-adjusted prevalence estimates by ethnic group for 5-year time periods. Logistic regression was used to evaluate trends over time. RESULTS: The prevalence of an early age at menarche, nulliparity, and parity of fewer than three children, but not that of a late age at first live birth, increased during the study period. Whereas current smoking decreased for all ethnicities over time, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight, obesity, college education, and alcohol use increased. Trends differed by ethnicity. For Native Hawaiians, the prevalence of overweight, obesity, alcohol use and nulliparity rose over time. For Japanese, the prevalence of overweight, early age at menarche, and having fewer than three children increased. Caucasians showed an increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity, college education, and nulliparity. In Filipina women, we observed changes in reproductive behavior and increasing obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a slowing trend for some breast cancer risk factors, the overall risk profile in this population may lead to further increases in breast cancer incidence. Different ethnic groups may benefit from specific prevention strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Reproductive patterns and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk in Danish women and men.

Reproductive patterns have been inconsistently linked to risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in women, and fathering patterns in relation to NHL risk have not been studied. The authors conducted a register-based cohort study of 4.1 million Danes to investigate associations of livebirths with subsequent NHL incidence (85 million person-years, 3819 NHL cases). The impact of induced abortions, ectopic pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, missed abortions, stillbirths, and hydatidiform moles on subsequent NHL incidence was studied in a subcohort of 1.2 million women. Ratios of NHL incidence rates, accompanying trend tests and two-sided p-values were calculated by log-linear Poisson regression analyses. Pregnancies, whether ending in livebirths or not, were unrelated to NHL incidence in women. The only statistically significant finding in women was that, among parous women, age at first child-birth was inversely associated with NHL incidence (p-trend = 0.001). In men, there was no overall difference in NHL incidence between fathers and non-fathers. However, in men with children, NHL risk declined with increasing number of children (p-trend = 0.02) and increased with time since birth of the most recent child (p-trend < 0.001). Pregnancies have limited impact, if any, on subsequent NHL risk in women. Our findings in men need replication, but, if verified, they may reflect lymphomagenesis-associated male subfertility prior to NHL diagnosis.

Cohort Studies↗