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[The adaptation of an isolate of the hepatitis A virus to reproduction in cell cultures].

A HAV strain derived from a patient in Moscow multiplied in a continuous cell line PLC/PRF/5 at 32 degrees C (variant MI-1) and at 37 degrees C (variant MI-1.1). These two variants of the strain MI retained the ability for reproduction both at 32 degrees C and 37 degrees C after passages in cell culture. The strain MI also replicates in MK cells. Negative results on HAV cultivation were obtained in HEF-240 and FRhK-4 cell cultures. The MI-1 and MI-1.1 variants are typical of hepatitis A viruses by their physicochemical properties, the results of ELISA, protein electrophoresis and dot hybridization tests.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Pathologic effects of intrauterine deposition of pseudorabies virus on the reproductive tract of swine in early pregnancy.

Pseudorabies virus was inoculated into the uterus of 15 gilts within 6 hours after natural breeding, and gilts were necropsied at postbreeding days (PBD) 3, 6, 10, 14, and 28; 3 control gilts were treated similarly, except for inoculation with pseudorabies virus and were necropsied at PBD 6, 10, and 14. Tissues were collected for virus isolation, fluorescent antibody staining, and histopathologic examination. Pseudorabies virus was isolated from the reproductive tract up to day 14. Lesions in the reproductive tract consisted of multifocal to diffuse lymphohistiocytic vaginitis and endometritis, and lymphoplasmacytic aggregates in the corpora lutea. Multiple ulcers were seen in the vagina or endometrium of several gilts at PBD 3, 6, and 10. Corpora lutea of 1 gilt were necrotic at PBD 14 and contained large numbers of inflammatory cells. Focal aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells were seen in vagina and endometrium of 3 gilts and in the ovary of 1 gilt at day 28.

Animals↗

Epidermal growth factor binding in the developing male reproductive duct and its regulation by testosterone.

It was shown previously that epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a role in the testosterone-dependent fetal Wolffian duct differentiation. In this communication, the role of EGF was further investigated by determining whether EGF receptor plays a role in mediating the effect of EGF during Wolffian duct (male duct) differentiation, and experiments were designed to test this hypothesis. EGF-binding activity in cultured cells isolated from the reproductive ducts of 14- to 18-day-old fetal mouse was determined, and the results were evaluated by saturation/Scatchard analysis. Using this analysis, we demonstrate that the fetal mouse Wolffian duct contains EGF-saturable EGF-binding proteins with a binding affinity of 10(-10) M. The binding was temperature, time, and cell concentration dependent. Affinity cross-linking analysis of EGF binding of this tissue indicated the presence of an EGF receptor protein of 150 kilodaltons mol wt. The binding activity increased in parallel with the progression of Wolffian duct differentiation during the 14th to 18th day of gestation, which is the critical period of Wolffian duct differentiation. The binding activity was barely detectable at the onset of differentiation, i.e. on the 14th day of gestation. Binding activity in the male duct was higher than that in the female duct. Prenatal administration of testosterone during days 13-17 of gestation increased the EGF receptor concentration in the masculinized female fetuses, suggesting a role of fetal testicular testosterone in determining EGF-binding activity. Prenatal treatment of cyproterone acetate (an antiandrogen at the level of androgen receptor binding to androgen), however, produced no effect on EGF-binding activity in male fetuses. Thus, a role for the EGF receptor is indicated during Wolffian duct differentiation. Testosterone appears to play a role in modulating EGF-binding activity. Further work is necessary to determine the mechanism by which testosterone modulates EGF-binding activity in this tissue.

Androgen Antagonists↗

Grass-herbivore interactions altered by strains of a native endophyte.

Many plants support symbiotic microbes, such as endophytic fungi, that can alter interactions with herbivores. Most endophyte research has focused on agronomically important species, with less known about the ecological roles of native endophytes in native plants. In particular, whether genetic variation among endophyte symbionts affects herbivores of plant hosts remains unresolved for most native endophytes. Here, we investigate the importance of native isolates of the endophyte Epichloë elymi in affecting herbivory of the native grass host, Elymus hystrix. Experimental fungal isolate-plant genotype combinations and endophyte-free control plants were grown in a common garden and exposed to natural arthropod herbivory. Fungal isolates differed in their effects on two types of herbivory, chewing and scraping. Isolates exhibiting greater sexual reproduction were associated with greater herbivore damage than primarily asexual isolates. Endophyte infection also altered patterns of herbivory within plants, with stroma-bearing tillers experiencing up to 30% greater damage than nonstroma-bearing tillers. Results suggest that intraspecific genetic variation in endophytes, like plant genetic variation, can have important 'bottom-up' effects on herbivores in native systems.

Animals↗

Novel inter-series hybrids in Solanum, section Petota.

Sexual hybrids between distantly related Solanum species can undergo endosperm failure, a post-zygotic barrier in inter-species hybridizations. This barrier is explained by the endosperm balance number (EBN) hypothesis, which states that parents must have corresponding EBNs for viable seed formation. Tests for inter-crossability were made involving the Mexican species Solanum pinnatisectum Dunal. (series Pinnatisecta, ApiApi, 1EBN), autotetraploids of this species, Solanum verrucosum Schlechtd. (series Tuberosa, AA, 2EBN), haploids (2x, 2EBN) of the South American S. tuberosum L. (series Tuberosa, A1A1A2A2, 4EBN), and F2 haploid-species hybrids with South American species (AA, 2EBN) S. berthaultii Hawkes, S. sparsipilum (Bitter.) Juz. and Bukasov and S. chacoense Bitter. The development of hybrid endosperms was investigated for these combinations by confocal microscopy with regard to cell-division timing and tissue collapse. Novel sexual diploid (AApi) and triploid (AApiApi) inter-series hybrids were generated from S. verrucosum x S. pinnatisectum crosses by using post-pollination applications of auxin. F1 embryos were rescued in vitro. The hybrid status of recovered plants was verified by microsatellite marker analysis, and the ploidy was determined by chromosome counting. The application of phytohormones in inter-ploidy S. pinnatisectum x S. tuberosum crosses, however, did not delay endosperm collapse, and embryos were not formed. Other diploid, 1EBN species tested in remote hybridizations with Group Tuberosum were S. cardiophyllum Lindl., S. trifidum Correll, and S. tarnii Hawkes and Hjert., series Pinnatisecta, and S. bulbocastanum Dunal., series Bulbocastana. Based on the analysis of post-zygotic reproductive barriers among isolated species of section Petota, we propose strategies to overcome such incompatibilities.

Breeding↗

Comparative study of vaginal Lactobacillus phages isolated from women in the United States and Turkey: prevalence, morphology, host range, and DNA homology.

Lactobacilli play an important role in maintaining vaginal health. However, during bacterial vaginosis lactobacilli decrease for unknown reasons. Our preliminary study showed that phages could infect vaginal lactobacilli. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the distribution, virulence, and types of vaginal Lactobacillus phages isolated from women of two countries: the United States and Turkey. A total of 209 vaginal lactobacilli were isolated from reproductive-aged women in the United States (n = 107) and Turkey (n = 102). By analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and by comparison of protein profiles, most lactobacilli were identified as L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii. After mitomycin C induction, 28% of American lactobacilli and 36% of Turkish lactobacilli released phages. A total of 67 phages were isolated and further characterized by their host range, electron microscopy, and DNA homology. All 67 phages were infective against lactobacilli from both collections. The host ranges of most phages were broad, including multiple Lactobacillus species. Even though the phages were all temperate, they were able to cause lytic infection in various strains. The electron micrographs of these phages showed a hexagon-shaped head and a long tail with or without a contractile tail sheath. Based on their morphology, these phages belonged to Bradley's phage groups A and B, and could be further classified into four morphotypes. All four types were found among American phages, but only three were found among Turkish isolates. DNA hybridization with labeled probes of the four types of phages revealed that additional genetic types existed within each morphotype among these phages. The phage genomic sizes ranged between 34 and 55 kb. Many of the lysogenic Lactobacillus strains released phages spontaneously at a high frequency of 10(-3) to 10(-4) PFU/cell. In conclusion, lysogeny in vaginal lactobacilli is widely spread. Some lysogenic lactobacilli spontaneously release phages with a broad host range, which can be lytic against other vaginal lactobacilli regardless of their geographic origin.

Adult↗

Yolk protein synthesis in the riceland tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus, measured by in vitro incorporation of 3H-leucine.

Investigation of reproductive control within the tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus, required the isolation and characterization of the yolk protein (vitellin, Vn). To this end, tadpole shrimp were cultured in environmental chambers (29 degrees C-22 degrees C, with 14:10 light:dark cycle). Desiccated cysts hatched in 2-3 days after inundation. The tadpole shrimp began egg deposition 7 to 8 days after hatching and exhibited a mean growth rate of 1.85 +/- 0.24 mm/day. It was observed that 4-day-old shrimp had visible eggs in their ovaries. In addition, Vn was isolated and characterized from reproductive animals, resolving as one protein on native PAGE, and possessing a molecular weight (MW) of 376,000 +/- 2,900 as determined by FPLC. Examination by SDS-PAGE revealed that Vn is composed of a single molecule with a MW of 214,000 +/- 2,000. Methyl farnesoate (MF), a crustacean compound whose role in reproduction is still being elucidated and is structurally similar to juvenile hormone III (JH III) was incubated with ovarian explants. These explants were incubated for 24 h at room temperature in EAGLE's medium adjusted to Van Harreveld's solution in six concentrations (1 pM to 100 nM) of MF and JH III. Methyl farnesoate and JH III had no direct in vitro effect on yolk protein synthesis (P < or = 0.545 and P < or = 0.815, respectively).

Animals↗

Pregnancy wastage and reproductive aging: the oocyte donation model.

Women are most successful in achieving pregnancy and delivering a healthy child when in their twenties. Natural selection against conception contributes to pregnancy wastage as women age. This phenomenon is principally a result of detrimental changes occurring within the pool of available oocytes. Oocyte donation provides a unique opportunity to study the effect of individual components of the reproductive tract by isolating the uterus from the gamete. When oocytes from young women are used to create embryos for transfer to older recipients, implantation and pregnancy rates mimic those seen in younger individuals. Furthermore, following oocyte donation, the number of miscarriages and chromosomal anomalies dramatically decreases, implying that the uterus is not responsible for the poor outcomes normally experienced by women of advanced reproductive age.

Age Factors↗

Multiple drug resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus in semen but not blood of a man on antiretroviral therapy.

The concept that the male reproductive tract harbors isolated reservoirs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has now been widely accepted. The significance of semen viral burden to sexual transmission of HIV is obvious; however, its contribution to disease progression is unknown. We report a case study that demonstrates the emergence of resistance-conferring mutations to antiviral therapy in infected seminal leukocytes from a man with asymptomatic prostatitis associated with leukospermia. This finding demonstrates the potential importance of male reproductive tract organs to the development of therapy resistance in HIV-infected men.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Excretion of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in semen after experimentally induced infection in boars.

Four boars intranasally inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus were monitored for 56 days after exposure for changes in semen characteristics and for the presence of virus in the semen. Clinically, 2 of 4 boars had mild respiratory signs of 1 day's duration after infection. Changes in appetite, behavior, or libido were not detected. All boars seroconverted on the indirect fluorescent antibody and serum virus neutralization tests by day 14 after inoculation. Virus was isolated from serum between days 7 and 14 after inoculation. During the monitoring period, semen volume decreased and pH correspondingly increased; however, this change began 7 to 10 days prior to infection. Differences in sperm morphologic features, concentration, or motility between the preinfection and postinfection samples were not observed. The PRRS virus was detected in semen at the first collection in each of the 4 boars (ie, 3 or 5 days after challenge exposure). Virus was detected in nearly all semen samples collected from the 4 infected boars through days 13, 25, 27, and 43, respectively. Neither gross nor microscopic lesions attributable to PRRS virus were observed in tissues collected at the termination of the experiment (day 56), and virus isolation results from reproductive tissues were negative.

Animals↗

Phase variation and conservation of lipooligosaccharide epitopes in Haemophilus somnus.

The bovine-specific pathogen Haemophilus somnus is capable of undergoing structural and antigenic phase variation in its lipooligosaccharide (LOS) components after in vivo and in vitro passage. However, commensal isolates from the reproductive tract have not been observed to vary in phase (T. J. Inzana, R. P. Gogolewski, and L. B. Corbeil, Infect. Immun. 60:2943-2951, 1992). We now report that specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the LOSs of Haemophilus aegyptius, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Haemophilus influenzae, as well as H. somnus, reacted with some phase-variable epitopes in H. somnus LOS. All reactive MAbs bound to LOS components of about 4.3 kDa in the same H. somnus isolates, including a non-phase-varying strain. Following in vitro passage of a clonal variant of strain 738 that was nonreactive with the MAbs, 11.8% of young colonies shifted to a reactive phenotype. A digoxigenin-labelled 5'-CAATCAATCAATCAATCAATCAATCAAT-3' oligonucleotide probe hybridized to genomic DNA from strain 738 but did not react with DNA from a non-phase-varying strain. Sequence analysis of the gene containing 5'-CAAT-3' tandem sequences revealed 48% amino acid homology with the lex-2B gene-encoded protein of H. influenzae type b. Our results indicate that some LOS epitopes are conserved between H. somnus and other Haemophilus and Neisseria species, that LOS phase variation may occur at a high rate in some strains of H. somnus, and that phase variation may, in part, be due to 5'-CAAT-3' tandem sequences present in H. somnus genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Spermatozoa and spermatids retrieved from frozen reproductive organs or frozen whole bodies of male mice can produce normal offspring.

Cryopreservation of male germ cells is a strategy to conserve animal species and strains of animals valuable to biomedical research. We tested whether mouse male germ cells could be cryopreserved without cryoprotection by simply freezing epididymides, testes, or whole bodies. The reproductive organs were isolated from killed mice and frozen for 1 week to 1 year at -80 degrees C before spermatozoa and spermatids were collected and injected into mature oocytes. Normal pups were born irrespective of strains tested (ICR and C57BL/6). Epididymides and testes frozen and transported internationally to another laboratory by air could produce pups of inbred C57BL/6 mice. Testicular spermatozoa retrieved from the bodies of male mice (BALB/c nude and C3H/He strains) that had been kept frozen (-20 degrees C) for 15 years could also produce normal offspring by microinsemination. Thus, freezing of either male reproductive organs or whole bodies is the simplest way to preserve male germ cells. Restoration of extinct species could be possible if male individuals are found in permafrost.

Animals↗

[Isolation of recipient yeast strains for the stable reproduction of 2-micron DNA vectors].

Most Leu- clones of yeast transformants (cir0, pJDB219) can stabilize the replication of 2 micron-vectors with REP3, the stability obtained being comparable to the one for the standard cir0 strain. One of the Leu- clones was used to isolate a plasmid with Rep 1.2 functions ("Rep-helper plasmid"). The plasmid was shown to carry a partially active LEU2 gene by transforming both E. coli and S. cerevisiae to Leu+ phenotype. A restriction analysis performed demonstrated that the Rep-helper plasmid has lost approximately 1.9 kb compared to the parent pJDB219, deletion and rearrangement having taken place at the bacterial and 2 mem components boundary. The Rep-helper plasmid carrying host strains allows to quantify the REP3 function on different 2 microns vectors. Some but not all cir+ stabilized vectors show greater stability in Rep-helper strains compared to the standard cir0 ones. Manipulating the Rep-helper plasmid level, by selecting for Leu+ phenotype, stabilized REP3 +/- plasmid p3030, but mostly destabilizes REP3+ plasmid YEp13HIS3.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Changes in morphogenetic hormone titers in isolated workers of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar).

The daily titers of juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids were determined for workers of the Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) following isolation of the workers from soldiers and reproductives. Experiments have demonstrated that isolation leads to biochemical and physiological changes that result in a presolider molt. Juvenile hormone (JH) and molting hormone (MH) titers were determined in hemolymph samples using radioimmunoassay. The identity of the ecdysteroids as predominantly 20-hydroxyecdysone (90%) and ecdysone (10%) was determined by HPLC using pooled extracts of hemolymph.

Animals↗

Structural polypeptides of the American (VR-2332) strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

The structural polypeptides of the isolate VR-2332 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus were analyzed in sucrose gradient-purified virions. The virus had an average density of 1.15 g/cm3 and contained, by SDS-PAGE, three major polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 15, 19 and 26-30 kDa, which were designated as nucleocapsid (N), matrix (M) and envelope (E), respectively. The predominant structural protein was N. N-glycosidase F digestion only affected E whereas O-glycosidase or endoglycosidase H digestion had no effect, suggesting that the viral glycoproteins contain only complex N-linked carbohydrates.

Arterivirus↗

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of bovine Campylobacter fetus strains isolated in Brazil.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the phenotypic and molecular aspects of Campylobacter fetus strains isolated from bovine herds with reproductive problems. Thirty-one Brazilian field isolates, together with one reference strain of each subspecies of C. fetus, were analyzed. The strains were submitted to phenotypic identification followed by subspecies characterization using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and numeric evaluation of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Phenotypically, 4 isolates (12.1%) were classified as C. fetus subsp. fetus, and 29 isolates (87.9%) were classified as C. fetus subsp. venerealis. However, according to molecular analysis, only 1 isolate (3.0%) was classified as C. fetus subsp. fetus (the reference strain), whereas 32 isolates (97.0%) were considered C. fetus subsp. venerealis. SalI digestion of C. fetus genomic DNA, obtained from the 33 strains, yielded 7-10 DNA fragments ranging in size from 40 to 373kb, with 12 distinct patterns. Furthermore, the numeric analysis by neighbor-joining of the DNA from the 33 strains resulted in a dendrogram in which 2 distinct groups were identified. It was concluded that phenotypic characterization of C. fetus subspecies might lead to erroneous classification of field isolates. Although RFLP-PFGE is a powerful and reliable technique to characterize C. fetus, it has the inconvenience of being time consuming and laborious. Whereas PCR, besides providing rapid results, was found to be reliable and convenient for the characterization of field isolates of C. fetus.

Animals↗