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Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals

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A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2024 | Viewed by 24782

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Luigi Rosati

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
Interests: developmental biology; cells biology; histology; environmental toxicology; citotoxicology; reproduction; endocrine disruptors; sexual hormones; testis; ovary; xenobiotic toxicity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gametogenesis in animals is a very complex and finely regulated process that leads to the formation of mature gametes. The entire process is regulated by gonadotropins, steroid hormones, and a complex network of local factors whose functions are mediated by different intracellular signalling pathways.

All these molecules play a crucial role in the gonads, regulating reproductive processes through the promotion of gametogenesis and the development and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. However, these mechanisms can be altered by synthetic molecules that mimic endogenous hormones such as endocrine disruptors.

This special issue aims to expand our knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate male and female gametogenesis in animals and how these can be altered by exogenous molecules. Therefore, I would like to invite the scientific community to submit research or review articles that address new knowledge on this topic, including the molecular mechanisms underlying germ cell differentiation/maturation. Understanding the multitude of proteins and factors that regulate the dynamics of this process and their possible alteration is undoubtedly of crucial importance.

Dr. Luigi Rosati
Guest Editor

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Keywords

gametogenesis
sex hormones
reproduction
animals
endocrine disruptors

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Vaccination against Recombinant FSH or LH Receptor Subunits on Gonadal Development and Functioning Male Rats

by Fuqiang Pan, Wanzhen Fu, Bochao Zhang, Mengdi Han, Huihui Xie, Qing Yi, Wei Qian, Jiankun Cui, Meng Cao, Yanqiuhong Li, Yuke Jia, Fugui Fang, Yinghui Ling, Yunsheng Li and Ya Liu

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(4), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11040176 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 616

Abstract

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) play key roles in regulating testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis in male mammals, respectively, and they maintain the fertility of male animals by binding to their corresponding receptors. We designed and prepared a recombinant LH receptor (LHR) subunit vaccine and a recombinant FSH receptor (FSHR) subunit vaccine and used male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as a model to examine their effects on testicular development, spermatogenesis, and testosterone secretion in prepubertal and pubertal mammals. Both vaccines (LHR-DTT and FSHR-DTT) significantly decreased the serum testosterone level in prepubertal rats (p < 0.05) but had no effect on the testosterone secretion in pubertal rats; both vaccines decreased the number of cell layers in the seminiferous tubules and reduced spermatogenesis in prepubertal and pubertal rats. Subunit vaccine FSHR-DTT decreased the sperm density in the epididymis in both prepubertal and pubertal rats (p < 0.01) and lowered testicular index and sperm motility in pubertal rats (p < 0.05), whereas LHR-DTT only reduced the sperm density in the epididymis in pubertal rats (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the FSHR subunit vaccine may be a promising approach for immunocastration, but it still needs improvements in effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals)

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13 pages, 3069 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ovarian Dynamics and Changes in Estradiol-17β and Progesterone Relationship with Standing Estrus, Preovulatory Follicles, and Ovulation Using Single Prostaglandin F2α Injection in Barbari Goats

by Tariq Sohail, Muhammad Farhab, Liuming Zhang, Yan Kang, Xiaomei Sun, Dejun Ji and Yongjun Li

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(10), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100624 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2565

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to define ovarian follicular dynamics and plasma endocrine profiles in response to a single PGF_2α injection, administered indiscriminately during the breeding season of Barbari goats. Ovarian dynamics were observed at every 12 h interval by using B mode ultrasonography, blood samples for hormonal analysis such as estradiol 17β and progesterone were collected at every 12 h interval, and bucks with aprons were used to identify standing estrus at every 6 h interval. Relative to PGF_2α, the start of standing estrus and ovulation differ (p < 0.05) between early- (n = 7), intermediate- (n = 6), and late-responding (n = 6) goats. The highest plasma level of estradiol 17β was detected 12 h prior to ovulation. The average diameter of the ovulatory follicle and length of standing estrus were comparable (p > 0.05) between the goats. The corpus luteum degenerated more quickly (p < 0.05) in early- than intermediate- and late-responding goats. Dominant follicle diameter and estradiol 17β concentration also differ (p < 0.05) among groups. Although the plasma level of progesterone did not vary (p = 0.065), the variation in progesterone concentration with time differed (p < 0.05) amongst the goats. As a result, this research indirectly reveals that the beginning of standing estrus, end of estrus, and ovulation after PGF_2α might fluctuate in Barbari goats because of follicular and hormonal dynamics during the luteal phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals)

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11 pages, 1614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activin A Reduces Porcine Granulosa Cells Apoptosis via ERβ-Dependent ROS Modulation

by Fang Chen and Xiaoqing Zhu

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(12), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120704 - 18 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2356

Abstract

Unfavorable conditions compromise animal reproduction by altering the ovarian granulosa cells’ follicular dynamics and normal physiological function (GCs), eventually resulting in oxidative damage and cell apoptosis. Activin is produced in the GCs and plays a vital role in folliculogenesis. This study investigated the effects of activin A (ACT-A) treatment in vitro on the apoptosis of porcine GCs and the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that ACT-A could attenuate the apoptosis of the GCs and enhance the synthesis of estrogen (E2). ACT-A also enhanced FSH-induced estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) expression, inhibiting ERβ aggravated intracellular accumulation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. The E2 levels in the culture medium, the mRNA expression pattern of the apoptosis-related genes (CASPASE 3, BCL2, and BAX), steroidogenesis-related gene (CYP19A1), and cell viability were analyzed to confirm the results. In summary, this study indicated the protective role of ACT-A in apoptosis by attenuating the ROS accumulation through ERβ. These results aim to enhance the follicular functions and improve animal reproductive performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals)

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13 pages, 5997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Learning Based Egg Fertility Detection

by Kerim Kürşat Çevik, Hasan Erdinç Koçer and Mustafa Boğa

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(10), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9100574 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3068

Abstract

This study investigates the implementation of deep learning (DL) approaches to the fertile egg-recognition problem, based on incubator images. In this study, we aimed to classify chicken eggs according to both segmentation and fertility status with a Mask R-CNN-based approach. In this manner, images can be handled by a single DL model to successfully perform detection, classification and segmentation of fertile and infertile eggs. Two different test processes were used in this study. In the first test application, a data set containing five fertile eggs was used. In the second, testing was carried out on the data set containing 18 fertile eggs. For evaluating this study, we used AP, one of the most important metrics for evaluating object detection and segmentation models in computer vision. When the results obtained were examined, the optimum threshold value (IoU) value was determined as 0.7. According to the IoU of 0.7, it was observed that all fertile eggs in the incubator were determined correctly on the third day of both test periods. Considering the methods used and the ease of the designed system, it can be said that a very successful system has been designed according to the studies in the literature. In order to increase the segmentation performance, it is necessary to carry out an experimental study to improve the camera and lighting setup prepared for taking the images. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals)

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Review

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14 pages, 593 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cocaine Effects on Reproductive Behavior and Fertility: An Overview

by Luigi Rosati, Teresa Chianese, Aldo Mileo, Maria De Falco and Anna Capaldo

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(8), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10080484 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 14629

Abstract

Cocaine is one of the most widely used drugs that, due to its molecular properties, causes various behavioral alterations, including sexual behavior. In vivo and in vitro studies conducted mainly in mammals have shown various disorders of sexual activity and morpho-functional dysfunctions of the gonads in both sexes. Although the modalities are still unclear, cocaine has been shown to alter the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, and alter sperm motility. In females, this drug alters the formation of the meiotic spindle as well as may obstruct the ovulation mechanism of mature oocytes. The data provided in this review, in addition to reviewing the current literature on the main effects of cocaine on spermatogenesis and oogenesis mainly in mammals, will hopefully provide a basic overview that may help and support further future studies on the molecular interaction of cocaine and its metabolites with germ cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Reproductive Control in the Animals)

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