Novel expression of zona pellucida 3 protein in normal testis; potential functional implications

Information regarding the normal morphology of uterine blood vessels at ultrastructural level in mammals is scarce Electron microscopy studies dealing with endometrial vasculature despite the functional implications due to hormone priming are not available. Light microscopy observations with combined injection of dyes and microradiography along with histochemical studies does not enable us to know the detailed fine structure of the possible various types of blood vessels in this tissue. The present work has been designed to characterize the blood vessels of endometrium of mice as well as the behavior of the endothelium to injection of low molecular weight proteins during the normal estrous cycle in this animal. One hundred and forty female albino mice were sacrificed after intravascular injection of horse radish peroxidase (HRP) at 30 seconds, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes.

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Intraindividual Variability and Stability of Affect and Well-Being

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000094 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 185-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Christina Röcke ◽

Annette Brose

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Short Term ◽

Regulatory Processes ◽

Functional Implications ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

Underlying Processes

Whereas subjective well-being remains relatively stable across adulthood, emotional experiences show remarkable short-term variability, with younger and older adults differing in both amount and correlates. Repeatedly assessed affect data captures both the dynamics and stability as well as stabilization that may indicate emotion-regulatory processes. The article reviews (1) research approaches to intraindividual affect variability, (2) functional implications of affect variability, and (3) age differences in affect variability. Based on this review, we discuss how the broader literature on emotional aging can be better integrated with theories and concepts of intraindividual affect variability by using appropriate methodological approaches. Finally, we show how a better understanding of affect variability and its underlying processes could contribute to the long-term stabilization of well-being in old age.

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Effectiveness of zona pellucida protein ZPB as an immunocontraceptive antigen

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/120.1.19 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 19-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

ML Martinez ◽

JD Harris

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Recombinant Protein ◽

Antibody Titre ◽

Zona Pellucida ◽

Protein A ◽

Papio Cynocephalus ◽

Cynomolgus Monkeys ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Normal Menstrual Cycle

Immunization of female mammals with native zona pellucida (ZP) proteins is known to cause infertility. Since each human ZP protein is now available as a purified recombinant protein, is it possible to compare the immunocontraceptive potential of each ZP protein. A breeding study was conducted in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fasicularis) after immunization with recombinant human ZP (rhZP) proteins (ZPA, ZPB, ZPC) separately and in combinations. This study demonstrated that immunization with recombinant human ZPB (rhZPB) protein caused cynomolgus monkeys to become infertile for 9-35 months. A second study was conducted in baboons (Papio cynocephalus), which yielded a similar result. The baboons immunized with rhZPB became infertile for 9 to > 20 months. During the time of maximum antibody titre, some animals experienced disruption of the menstrual cycle, but eventually all of the animals resumed normal menstrual cycles. Control animals and animals immunized with other rhZP proteins all became pregnant before any of the rhZPB-treated animals. This is the first study in which a recombinant ZP protein has consistently induced infertility in a primate without permanent disruption of the normal menstrual cycle.

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Reproductive characteristics of the african pygmy hedgehog, atelerix albiventris

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/120.1.143 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 143-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

JM Bedford ◽

OB Mock ◽

SK Nagdas ◽

VP Winfrey ◽

GE Olson

Keyword(s):

Fallopian Tube ◽

Zona Pellucida ◽

Sperm Head ◽

Reproductive Characteristics ◽

Cumulus Oophorus ◽

The Matrix ◽

Main Components ◽

Initial Binding ◽

Structural Matrix

To obtain further perspective on reproduction and particularly gamete function among so-called primitive mammals presently grouped in the Order Insectivora, we have examined the African hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris, in light of unusual features reported in shrews and moles. Atelerix proves to share many but not all of the characteristics seen in these other insectivores. The penis of Atelerix has a 'snail-like' form, but lacks the surface spines common in insectivores and a number of other mammals. Hedgehog spermatozoa display an eccentric insertion of the tail on the sperm head, and they manifest the barbs on the perforatorium that, in shrews, probably effect the initial binding of the sperm head to the zona pellucida. As a possible correlate, the structural matrix of the hedgehog acrosome comprises only two main components, as judged by immunoblotting, rather than the complex of peptides seen in the matrix of some higher mammals. The Fallopian tube of Atelerix is relatively simple; it displays only minor differences in width and in the arborized epithelium between the isthmus and ampulla, and shows no evidence of the unusual sperm crypts that characterize the isthmus or ampulla, depending on the species, in shrews and moles. In common with other insectivores, Atelerix appears to be an induced ovulator, as judged by the ovulation of some 6-8 eggs by about 23 h after injection of hCG. The dense cumulus oophorus appeared to have little matrix, in keeping with the modest dimensions of the tubal ampulla and, while it was not quite as discrete as that of soricids, it did show the same insensitivity to 0.5% (w/v) ovine or bovine hyaluronidase.

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Differences between antigenic determinants of pig and cat zona pellucida proteins

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/119.1.15 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 15-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

K Jewgenow ◽

M Rohleder ◽

I Wegner

Keyword(s):

In Vitro Fertilization ◽

Zona Pellucida ◽

Antigenic Determinants ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

Contraceptive Vaccine ◽

Sperm Binding ◽

Dependent Inhibition ◽

Dose Dependent Inhibition ◽

Dose Dependent

Despite many efforts, the control of reproduction in feral cat populations is still a problem in urban regions around the world. Immunocontraception is a promising approach; thus the present study examined the suitability of the widely used pig zona pellucida proteins (pZP) for contraception in feral domestic cats. Purified zona pellucida proteins obtained from pig and cat ovaries were used to produce highly specific antisera in rabbits. Antibodies against pZP raised in rabbits or lions were not effective inhibitors of either in vitro sperm binding (cat spermatozoa to cat oocytes) or in vitro fertilization in cats, whereas antibodies against feline zona pellucida proteins (fZP) raised in rabbits showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro fertilization. Immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and immunohistology of ovaries confirmed these results, showing crossreactivity of anti-fZP sera to fZP and to a lesser extent to pZP, but no interaction of anti-pZP sera with fZP. It is concluded that cat and pig zonae pellucidae express a very small number of shared antigenic determinants, making the use of pZP vaccine in cats questionable. A contraceptive vaccine based on feline zona pellucida determinants will be a better choice for the control of reproduction in feral cats if immunogenity can be achieved.

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Interspecific variation of zona pellucida glycoconjugates in several species of marsupial

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/119.1.111 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 111-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

JA Chapman ◽

OW Wiebkin ◽

WG Breed

Keyword(s):

Glycine Max ◽

Sialic Acid ◽

Zona Pellucida ◽

Fluorescein Isothiocyanate ◽

Interspecific Variation ◽

Lectin Histochemistry ◽

Sialic Acids ◽

Arachis Hypogea ◽

Marsupial Species ◽

Similar Intensity

The zona pellucida glycoconjugate content of several marsupial species was investigated using differential lectin histochemistry. Ovaries from fat-tailed dunnarts, a southern brown bandicoot, grey short-tailed opossums, brushtail possums, ringtail possums, koalas and eastern grey kangaroos were fixed, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned and stained with ten fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated lectins. Sections were also incubated with either neuraminidase or saponified, respectively, before incubation with the lectins to identify saccharide residues masked by sialic acids or O-acetyl groups on sialic acids. The zonae pellucidae surrounding the oocytes of the marsupials demonstrated interspecific variation in glycoconjugate content, with mannose-containing glycoconjugates exhibiting the greatest variation. Some of the zona pellucida glycoconjugates of all species, except those of the opossums, were masked by sialic acid with an increase in fluorescence with lectins from Arachis hypogea (PNA), and Glycine max (SBA), after desialylation. The disaccharide beta-galactose(1-4)N-acetyl-D-glucosamine appeared to be conformationally masked by O-acetyl groups of sialic acids in the zonae pellucidae of all species, with an increase in fluorescence with the lectin from Erythrina cristagalli (ECA), after saponification. Similar intensity and localization of beta-(1-4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, as shown by staining of the lectin from Triticum vulgaris (WGA), to the inner and outer regions of the zona pellucida, were found to those reported in eutherian species. WGA fluorescence became uniform throughout the zonae pellucidae after saponification, indicating differential O-acetylation of sialic acids on the internal compartment of the zonae pellucidae.

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Effect of ornidazole on fertility of male rats: inhibition of a glycolysis-related motility pattern and zona binding required for fertilization in vitro

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/118.1.127 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 127-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

W Bone ◽

NG Jones ◽

G Kamp ◽

CH Yeung ◽

TG Cooper

Keyword(s):

Zona Pellucida ◽

Glucose Utilization ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Glycolytic Enzyme ◽

Male Rats ◽

Fertilization In Vitro ◽

Swimming Pattern ◽

Principal Piece ◽

Free Media

The effects of the male antifertility agent ornidazole on glycolysis as a prerequisite for fertilization were investigated in rats. Antifertility doses of ornidazole inhibited glycolysis within mature spermatozoa as determined from the lack of glucose utilization, reduced acidosis under anaerobic conditions and reduced glycolytic enzyme activity. As a consequence, cauda epididymidal spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed rats were unable to fertilize rat oocytes in vitro, with or without cumulus cells, which was not due to transfer of an inhibitor in epididymal fluid with the spermatozoa. Under IVF conditions, binding to the zona pellucida was reduced in spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed males and the spermatozoa did not undergo a change in swimming pattern, which was observed in controls. The block to fertilization could be explained by the disruption of glycolysis-dependent events, since reduced binding to the zona pellucida and a lack of kinematic changes were demonstrated by control spermatozoa in glucose-free media in the presence of respiratory substrates. The importance of glycolysis for binding to, and penetration of, the zona pellucida, and hyperactivation in rats is discussed in relation to the glycolytic production of ATP in the principal piece in which local deprivation of energy may explain the reduced force of spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed males.

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