A histological study of the seminal vesicle of the armoured catfish Corydoras aeneus

Most species of Corydoras exhibited a reproductive behaviour called 'T-position', and exhibited an accessory gland in the male genital tract, called the seminal vesicle. It appeared that both the structure and the composition of the fluid varied considerably between the species investigated. Consequently, different opinions were proposed regarding the possible role of seminal vesicle on this particular reproductive behaviour. Male adults of Corydoras aeneus were collected, anaesthetized, and samples of seminal vesicle were fixed in Bouin's solution. The sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff. The seminal vesicle showed a system of anastomosed secretory tubules, forming a vesicular collective network, which gave rise to the vesicular ducts. The latter fused with the testicular efferent ducts and formed the spermatic ducts. Considering this fusion, when the sperm cells reached the spermatic ducts, the fluid produced at the seminal vesicle covered them. Histochemical studies evidenced the presence of neutral and acid glycosaminoglycans in the seminal fluid. Considering the reproductive behaviour of C. aeneus, it is believed that the protection associated with the immobilization of the sperm cells assures the sperm integrity during the passage through female's intestine until fertilization.

Impairment of adult male reproductive function in rats exposed to ethanol since puberty

The objective of this work was to evaluate reproductive function in adult male rats exposed to ethanol since puberty. Male Wistar rats, 50 days old, received a liquid diet with 36% of the daily calories derived from ethanol or an isocaloric control diet for 55 days. The ethanol treatment impaired sexual behavior and only 22% of these rats reached ejaculation. The fertility of ethanol-treated animals was significantly reduced, mainly after natural mating. Serum testosterone levels, daily sperm production and sperm count in the epididymis were also significantly diminished after ethanol treatment, associated with an acceleration of the sperm transit time in the cauda epididymidis, decrease in sperm motility and increased percentage of abnormal shaped sperm cells. The results showed that chronic consumption of ethanol beginning at puberty impairs the reproductive function of adult male rats. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrastructure of the ducts of the reproductive tract of males of Melipona bicolor bicolor Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Meliponini)

The present paper describes the ultrastructural features of seminal vesicle, post-vesicular vas deferens and ejaculatory duct of Melipona bicolor bicolor from newly emerged and mature males. Although the results do not show very consistent morphological signs of secretory activity by the epithelium of these organs, lipidic droplets and lamellar granules present in mature males' seminal vesicles and the vacuoles present in post-vesicular vas deferens are probably secretion. Besides, the spermatozoa in the lumen are immersed in a material of characteristic structure, which must be produced in superior regions of the reproductive system of immature males, not studied here. The presence of sperm cells, apparently in cytoplasm vesicles of seminal vesicle and post-vesicular vas deferens, suggests spermiophagy by their epithelium.

Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis in the white-lined broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Testicular reabsorption in adult males of Melipona bicolor bicolor lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

The present paper reports morphological features of the testes reabsorption in adult male of Melipona bicolor bicolor. The ultrastructural features of the degenerating sperm cells and cyst cells are described. It is suggested that the material of the reabsorbed testes may serve as nutritional source for the adult male.

Spermiophagy in the spermatheca of Melipona bicolor lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

The presence of spermatozoa in vesicles in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells that constitute the spermathecal wall of Melipona bicolor queen (Meliponini) is discussed in relation to the organ structure. The epithelial wall is lined by an apparently continuous cuticle in the luminal surface that should be a non-transposable barrier to the luminal spermatozoa. However, some spermatozoa were seen crossing the cuticle through interruptions that was first interpreted as sectioning defects. Nevertheless, the sperm cells in well-structured cytoplasmic vesicles, bound by membranes and sometimes associated to multivesicular bodies, as well as cytoplasmic structures representative of intracellular digestion and the occurrence of the phenomenon in two of the three spermathecae studied, suggest a real spermiophagic hole in the spermathecal epithelial cells.

Use of bayesian inference to correlate in vitro embryo production and in vivo fertility in Zebu Bulls

The objective of this experiment was to test in vitro embryo production (IVP) as a tool to estimate fertility performance in zebu bulls using Bayesian inference statistics. Oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro using sperm cells from three different Zebu bulls (V, T, and G). The three bulls presented similar results with regard to pronuclear formation and blastocyst formation rates. However, the cleavage rates were different between bulls. The estimated conception rates based on combined data of cleavage and blastocyst formation were very similar to the true conception rates observed for the same bulls after a fixed-time artificial insemination program. Moreover, even when we used cleavage rate data only or blastocyst formation data only, the estimated conception rates were still close to the true conception rates. We conclude that Bayesian inference is an effective statistical procedure to estimate in vivo bull fertility using data from IVP. © 2011 Mateus José Sudano et al.

Spermatogenesis of Zaprionus indianus and Zaprionus sepsoides (Diptera, Drosophilidae): Cytochemical, structural and ultrastructural characterization

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Uso de antioxidantes no meio diluente tris para refrigeração e congelação de células espermáticas provenientes de epidídimo de cães submetidos à orquiectomia eletiva

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Congelação e efeito do meio sobre as características físico-químicas do sêmen suíno no inverno e verão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Criopreservação de sêmen do epididimo de gatos domésticos (felis catus) após refrigeração por 24 horas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Maturação in vitro de ovócitos equinos : comparação entre os meios TCM 199, SOFaa e HTF:BME, e avaliação de FSH bovino, FSH equino e do hormônio de crescimento equino por meio da transferência de ovócitos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da exposição aos crioprotetores glicerol e metilformamida sobre a viabilidade e fertilidade do sêmen equino

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Morfologia do testículo e espermatogênese em Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): estudo citoquímico e ultraestrutural

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo da interação in vitro entre Tritrichomonas foetus e espermatozoides bovinos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)