scholarly journals Uncovering the Sex-Specific Endocrine Responses to Reproduction and Parental Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne H. Austin ◽  
Jesse S. Krause ◽  
Rechelle Viernes ◽  
Victoria S. Farrar ◽  
April M. Booth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Columba Livia ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Male Response ◽  
Similar Treatment ◽  
Nestling Development ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Reproductive Processes ◽  
Circulating Levels ◽  
Nest Loss

Hormones mediate physiological and behavioral changes in adults as they transition into reproduction. In this study, we characterize the circulating levels of five key hormones involved in reproduction in rock doves (Columba livia): corticosterone, progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, and prolactin using univariate and multivariate approaches. We show similar patterns as previous studies in the overall patterns in circulating levels of these hormones, i.e., testosterone (males) and estradiol (females) high during nest-building or egg-laying, prolactin increasing at mid-incubation and peaking at hatching (both sexes), and elevated corticosterone levels in later incubation and early nestling development. In our investigation of hormone co-variation, we find a strong correlation between prolactin and corticosterone across sampling stages and similarities in earlier (early to mid-incubation) compared to later (late incubation to nestling d9) sampling stages in males and females. Finally, we utilized experimental manipulations to simulate nest loss or altered caregiving lengths to test whether external cues, internal timing, or a combination of these factors contributed most to hormone variation. Following nest loss, we found that both males and females responded to the external cue. Males generally responded quickly following nest loss by increasing circulating testosterone, but this response was muted when nest loss occurred early in reproduction. Similar treatment type, e.g., removal of eggs, clustered similarly in hormone space. These results suggest internal drivers limited male response early in reproduction to nest loss. In contrast, circulating levels of these hormones in females either did not change or decreased following nest manipulation suggesting responsiveness to external drivers, but unlike males, this result suggests that reproductive processes were decreasing.

MICROSCOPIC AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF Ascaridia spp. IN DOMESTIC PIGEONS(Columba livia domestica) IN BAGHDAD CITY,IRAQ

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1220-1225
Author(s):  
Faraj & Al- Amery
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Diagnosis ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Ascaridia Galli ◽  
Molecular Assay ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Ascaridiosis is a very important parasitic disease of birds, it is caused by Ascaridia. This study was conducted to identify the Ascaridia species by microscopic and molecular assay in Baghdad city. One hundred and sixty fecal samples were collected from domestic pigeons during the period from 1/1/ 2019 to 31/3/ 2019.  Results showed that the rate of infection for Ascaridia spp. 15.62% by microscopic examination.  Significant difference was observed in infection rates between males and females pigeons. Fifty samples randomly selected and subjected to molecular diagnosis of Ascaridia  spp.. Molecular examination results, the total infection rate showed 16%(8/50). The eight  positive PCR products were sequenced and deposited in Gene bank data base, phylogenic analysis demonstrated that 4 sequences belongs to Ascaridia galli ( MK918635.1, MK918636.1, MK918847.1, MK919081.1), while 2 (MK919199.1, MK919200.1) belong to  Ascaridia nymphii and 2 (MK919207.1, MK919264.1)  belong to Ascaridia numidae. It is the first study in Iraq to diagnosis of  Ascaridia nymphii and Ascaridia numidae  in domesticed pigeons by using conventional PCR.

The influence of temperature on development, longevity, and fecundity in the Rutherglen bug, Nysius vinitor (Hemiptera : Lygaeidae)

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kehat ◽  
M Wyndham
Keyword(s):  
Egg Laying ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Threshold Temperature ◽  
Nymphal Development ◽  
Influence Of Temperature On ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fluctuating Temperatures ◽  
Significant Mortality

The mean duration of the egg stage of N. vinitor at constant temperatures ranged from 36.8 days at 15C to 3.8 days at 32C and that of the nymphs from 45 days at 20C to 12.0 days at 32C. Within the range 20-35C egg and nymphal mortalities were low; temperatures of 12 or 40C were lethal to both eggs and nymphs. Mean nymphal development times for males and females were similar. The threshold temperature for egg development was 14.5C and that for nymphs 15C; 70 and 225 day-degrees were required for completing egg and nymphal development respectively. The immature stages developed more rapidly at fluctuating temperatures out of doors than they did indoors at constant temperatures equal to the mean of the fluctuating temperatures. Within the range of screen temperatures 21.5-23.0C the difference between mean development in shade and in sun was 9-10 days. Age-specific fecundity and mortality schedules were determined for N. vinitor at constant temperatures. Temperature and longevity were inversely related and males survived longer than females. Thus at 22OC mean longevity of males was 115 days and of females 90 days, as compared with 31 and 18 days respectively at 30�C. After a maturation period that was longer at lower temperatures, daily egg-laying per female decreased with age from a maximum that occurred before there was significant mortality of females. The rates of the cumulative egg-laying increased with temperature from 22 to 35C. Mean total number of eggs per female was significantly higher at 25 and 30�C than at 22 or 35�C. However, life-table calculations revealed that a temperature of 35�C yielded the maximum rate of population increase. Within the range 22-35C, temperatures and rc values were linearly related. Unmated females laid significantly fewer eggs than those that had mated, but survived longer.

Nutrient Reserve Dynamics of Breeding and Molting Brant

The Auk ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Davison Ankney
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Muscle Protein ◽  
Nutritional Stress ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Branta Bernicla ◽  
Nutrient Reserve ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Nutrient Reserves

Abstract I collected 150 Brant (Branta bernicla) at East Bay, Southampton Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1979 and 1980 to evaluate how much these birds rely on reserves of fat, protein, and calcium during egg production, incubation, and the subsequent wing molt. Egg laying resulted in decreases in body weight and nutrient reserves of females. These decreases could have accounted for all of the fat but only 70% of the protein in an average clutch. Neither males nor females had sufficient reserves when incubation began to enable them to fast during that period. Only 11% and 22% of the energy required by males and females, respectively, could have been derived from their reserves during incubation. Brant evidently did not use body reserves to obtain nutrients for feather growth during wing molt. Rather, molting males and females accumulated muscle protein, which supports my hypothesis that wing molt is not a nutritional stress for waterfowl.

scholarly journals Factors affecting individual variation in nest-defense intensity in colonially breeding Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris)

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 938-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kentaro Kazama ◽  
Yasuaki Niizuma ◽  
Kentaro Q. Sakamoto ◽  
Yutaka Watanuki
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Defense ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Corvus Macrorhynchos ◽  
Males And Females

The physiological state of parent birds combined with the value of their clutch may affect the intensity of their nest defense. In colonially breeding birds, nest-defense intensity may also be affected by the behavior of neighbors. We investigated individual variation in the nest-defense intensity among colonial Black-tailed Gulls ( Larus crassirostris Vieillot, 1818) over 2 years. Only 30%–40% of males attacked a decoy of an egg predator (Large-billed Crow ( Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827)), and the other males and females rarely attacked. Males attacking the decoy had higher levels of plasma testosterone than males that did not attack. Each male’s, but not female’s, nest-defense intensity was consistent throughout the incubation period and also across years. The intensity was not related to egg-laying date, clutch size, or age of offspring. The intensity was likely to be higher when individuals had one or more neighbors, representing higher nest-defense intensity in the year where gulls had larger number of adjacent neighboring nests (5.23 nests), but this trend was not observed in the year where they had smaller number of the neighboring nests (3.73 nests). Thus, in addition to testosterone levels, behavior of neighbors also influences the nest-defense intensity.

Mating Behaviour of the Oriental Fruit Moth, Grapholitha molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae)

1964 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 1087-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Dustan
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Codling Moth ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Oriental Fruit Moth ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Grapholitha Molesta ◽  
Early Evening ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Bait Traps ◽  
Peach Orchard

AbstractExperiments and observations on Oriental fruit moths in cages and in a peach orchard showed that both males and females may mate more than once. The maximum recorded number of matings was 7 for males and 5 for females. Mating usually occurred in the late afternoon and early evening during the daily flight and egg-laying period. Males seldom mated oftener than once in 24 hours and they transferred only one spermatophore to the female per mating. In cages, males mated approximately 1.4 times each when confined with equal numbers of females. Of the females taken in bait traps in a peach orchard, an average of 2.9% had not mated, 78.8% had mated once, 14.6% twice, and 3.7% more than twice. The mating behaviour of the Oriental fruit moth was shown to be similar to that of the codling moth.

Reproduction in the curly-tailed lizard Leiocephalus psammodromus from the Caicos Islands

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2147-2151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Smith ◽  
John B. Iverson
Keyword(s):  
West Indies ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
British West Indies ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Fat Body Mass

Reproduction and population structure were examined for the curly-tailed lizard Leiocephalus psammodromus from the Caicos Islands, British West Indies, from 1973 to 1978. Females and males mature at about 65–70 and 75–80 mm snout–vent length, respectively, and at about 1.5–2 years of age. Both male and female reproduction were seasonal, with egg-laying beginning late in the dry season (late April) and ending well into the wet season (September), with hatching during the wet season (late June to December). Multiple annual clutches are probably produced. Clutch size was typically two eggs (mean = 1.72 for 42 clutches). Eggs (preserved) averaged 19.9 × 9.2 mm, and mean preserved egg mass was 1.04 g. Fat-body mass in both males and females decreases with the onset of the reproductive season. The age/size structure of the population varied from month to month, depending on recruitment of hatchlings. Reproduction in Leiocephalus psammodromus is similar to that of other tropical lizards in seasonal environments.

Identification of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) as a potential marker of impaired growth in the newborn piglet

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Caperna ◽  
Amy E. Shannon ◽  
Le Ann Blomberg ◽  
Margo Stoll ◽  
Timothy G. Ramsay
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Predictive Biomarker ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Acid Glycoprotein ◽  
Neonatal Pigs ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Circulating Levels ◽  
Regression Correlation

Two studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between circulating levels of haptoglobin and α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and growth in neonatal pigs. Circulating serum AGP, but not haptoglobin, was higher (P < 0.001) in newborn runts than average-sized littermates. At 1 and 3 weeks, AGP and haptoglobin were similar among control and runt piglets. To determine the possible association between AGP and growth rate, blood was collected between the first and second day after birth in piglets from 10 average litters. Birthweight was positively correlated with growth rate through 21 days (linear regression correlation coefficient (CC), 0.43 (P < 0.006); 0.299 (P < 0.003) in males and females, respectively). Plasma AGP at birth was negatively correlated with growth (CC, –0.429 (P < 0.006); –0.351 (P < 0.01) in males and females, respectively). When AGP was calculated on a per kg birthweight basis, the CC with growth improved by 25 and 34% in males and females, respectively, compared with birthweight alone. Haptoglobin in blood was not correlated with growth. These data suggest that AGP at birth is reflective of growth conditions in utero or fetal maturation and may serve as an early predictive biomarker for pre-weaning growth rate.

scholarly journals Functional Activity of Recombinant Forms of Amh and Synergistic Action with Fsh in European Sea Bass Ovary

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 10092
Author(s):  
Cinta Zapater ◽  
Ana Rocha ◽  
Gregorio Molés ◽  
Alessia Mascoli ◽  
Soledad Ibañez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Sea Bass ◽  
Orthologous Genes ◽  
European Sea Bass ◽  
System A ◽  
Lower Vertebrates ◽  
Mullerian Ducts ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Reproductive Processes

Although anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has classically been correlated with the regression of Müllerian ducts in male mammals, involvement of this growth factor in other reproductive processes only recently come to light. Teleost is the only gnathostomes that lack Müllerian ducts despite having amh orthologous genes. In adult teleost gonads, Amh exerts a role in the early stages of germ cell development in both males and females. Mechanisms involving the interaction of Amh with gonadotropin- and growth factor-induced functions have been proposed, but our overall knowledge regarding Amh function in fish gonads remains modest. In this study, we report on Amh actions in the European sea bass ovary. Amh and type 2 Amh receptor (Amhr2) are present in granulosa and theca cells of both early and late-vitellogenic follicles and cannot be detected in previtellogenic ovaries. Using the Pichia pastoris system a recombinant sea bass Amh has been produced that is endogenously processed to generate a 12–15 kDa bioactive mature protein. Contrary to previous evidence in lower vertebrates, in explants of previtellogenic sea bass ovaries, mature Amh has a synergistic effect on steroidogenesis induced by the follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh), increasing E2 and cyp19a1a levels.

Egg-laying site, fecundity and degree of sexual size dimorphism in frogs

2020 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-610
Author(s):  
Nelson Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Bianca V M Berneck ◽  
Helio R da Silva ◽  
Célio F B Haddad ◽  
Kelly R Zamudio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Selective Force ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Space Limitation ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Oviposition Sites

Abstract Female fecundity is an important selective force leading to female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in frogs. Because anurans exhibit diverse reproductive modes, we investigated whether variation in SSD and fecundity are related with oviposition site. We asked whether arboreal breeding species show pronounced female-biased SSD and if, paradoxically, females have lower fecundity because of the costs of carrying oocytes and amplectant males. Conversely, we tested whether species that deposit eggs in concealed sites show less pronounced SSD, because females do not carry males and space limitation may reduce female size and fecundity. Our results showed that, in general, males were approximately 20% smaller than females. However, for species with hidden oviposition sites, males and females exhibited more similar body sizes and arboreal hylids showed more pronounced female-biased SSD. Overall, fecundity was higher in aquatic breeders, as expected, but in hylids, fecundity was smaller in arboreal breeders, which suggests that arboreality may impose restrictions on fecundity. By analysing SSD in a broader and more specific lineage (Hylidae), we found that reproductive microhabitat may also influence female size and fecundity, playing an important role in the evolution of SSD in frogs at different evolutionary scales.

Hormonal and Experiential Factors Influencing the Nestbox Oriented Behaviour of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus Undulatus)

Behaviour ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara F. Brockway
Keyword(s):  
Prior Experience ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Males And Females

AbstractOther workers have shown that gonadal hormones can stimulate avian nest building and that there are species differences concerning the identity of the efficacious hormones. Nest building may be stimulated by estrogenic but not by androgenic material in one species. In another species, the converse is true. Budgerigars do not build nests. Their eggs are laid in tree-cavities. The female performs an easily quantified behaviour that is oriented to her prospective egg-laying site (a nestbox in the laboratory). This nestbox-oriented behaviour (NBOB) consists of remaining within the nestbox for various intervals throughout the day. This occurs daily, and she spends progressively more time within the nestbox as the day of initial oviposition approaches. Thus, NBOB is temporally and situationally related to nest building. A male rarely enters a nestbox unless he is engaging in courtship activities oriented to his mate. This report concerns laboratory studies that were conducted to determine: (1) the effects of different quantities of exogenous testosterone, estradiol and progesterone upon the NBOB of male and female budgerigars when they were individually-caged and unable to see or to hear members of the opposite sex, and (2) the effects of prior breeding experience(s) upon hormonally-induced NBOB. Four experiental types were studied: (V) virgins of either sex which, since fledging, had been visually isolated from the opposite sex and nestboxes; (Ex) males and females which had participated in at least one successful breeding cycle prior to this study; (V1) virgin females which were induced to perform NBOB but to maintain undeveloped ovaries; and (V2) virgin females which were induced to undergo full ovarian development and oviposition in the absence of nestboxes. Both intact and castrated males were studied. Ovarian hormones were given only to castrated males. No ovariectomized females were studied. Birds were injected thrice weekly and observed for 3 weeks. 1) Sexual identity and hormonal factors. Estradiol with or without progesterone stimulated NBOB by V and Ex males and females. The presence or absense of testicular androgens did not induce any male to perform NBOB. Larger (1.0 mg) quantities of testosterone induced females to perform NBOB, but such NBOB was atypically erratic. Testosterone-induced NBOB by females may have been a more direct manifestation of a testosterone-increased ovarian activity; however, the oviducts and ovaries of females receiving either 0.5 mg of 1.0 mg quantities of testosterone were not significantly heavier or larger than those of controls receiving only oil. Progesterone, alone, was just as ineffective as was the oil placebo: neither promoted any significant NBOB by males or females. These findings suggest that NBOB and nest building are not only related in temporal and situational ways, but share a common endocrinological denominator as well. Since NBOB appears to be primarily influenced by increased plasma levels of estrogenic material rather than by decreased levels of androgenic material, the NBOB of burgerigars is similar to the nest building of canaries and ring doves and diametrical to the androgen-stimulated nest building of black-crowned night herons. Estradiol with or without progesterone prompted females but not males to perform advanced phases of NBOB. Also females performed many phases of NBOB sooner than did males. Thus, males seem to be (genetically) less responsive to hormonal stimuli prompting NBOB than are females. 2) Experiential factors. In general, V birds of both sexes began to perform each phase of NBOB later and spent less time in nestbox occupation than did Ex birds receiving identical treatments. A previous study showed that Ex females, stimulated by either visual or vocal male courtship displays performed NBOB sooner than did V females. This prompted me to compare the ovarian follicle sizes and oviductal weights between Ex and V females receiving identical treatments and to examine the hormonally induced NBOB of V1 and V2 females. Since there were no significant differences in the ovarian and oviductal measurements between V and Ex females receiving identical injections, the differential response in the NBOB of V and Ex females does not seem to be solely due to a difference in the development of their reproductive tracts. Accordingly, we cannot say that male courtship more readily promotes NBOB with Ex than with V females because V females require more male stimulation in order to attain a given endogenous hormonal level or physiological state than do Ex females. Indeed prior experience may affect neural thresholds for response to given endogenous hormonal states without altering the response of reproductive organs. Perhaps Ex females are more readily induced to perform NBOB due to some factor involved in previous NBOB or a general familiarity with nestboxes. Data on V1 and V2 females supports this latter hypothesis. The onsets of each phase of NBOB and the amount of nestbox occupation were both potentiated by prior cxperience(s) concerning nestboxes. Prior experience(s) concerning heterosexual interactions or full ovarian activity and oviposition did not significantly affect hormonally induced NBOB.

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