Paternal treatment with cisplatin impairs reproduction of adult male offspring in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reproductive development and function of female rats exposed to di-eta-butyl-phthalate (DBP) in utero and during lactation

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

Juvenile development and growth patterns in the mud crab Eurytium limosum (Say, 1818) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Xanthidae) under laboratory conditions

The post-larval development of the mud crab Eurytium limosum was studied under laboratory conditions by using the offspring of ovigerous females collected at the Comprido River mangrove, SP, Brazil. The first crab stage is fully described and the juvenile development, until crab stage 10, is examined with emphasis on morphological change, sexual differentiation and growth patterns. The carapace of the first crab stage is nearly square as observed in other xanthids, becoming similar to adults only at stage 15. The sexes can be distinguished from stage four, based on the number of pleopods and their morphology. While the intermoult period increases, the moult percentage decreases at each stage. The abdominal allometric growth is sex-dependent, with males showing a negative (b=0.71) and females an isometric (b=0.95) relative growth pattern. Male gonopods undergo a positive allometric growth, and their shape changes remarkably until sexual maturity. The cheliped dentition can be observed after stage 4. Regardless of sex, most crabs have a molariform right cheliped, which is thought to aid the handling of asymmetric prey such as gastropods.

Development of a bioassay to quantify the ricin toxin content of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) seeds

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

On the development of the brown spider Loxosceles gaucho Gertsch (Araneae, Sicariidae): the nympho-imaginal period

Observations of the developmental biology of Loxosceles gaucho Gertsch, 1967, the brown spider of southeastern Brazil are scarce. The present study reports the method of individualized rearing of 18 populations of L. gaucho, kept in laboratory under varied diet conditions, and characterizes their nympho-imaginal period as well as factors related to their reproduction. Females built the first egg sac about 20 days after copulation and nymphs hatched 40 days after the laying date. Average offspring was 61.3 spiderlings and females usually built three to four successive egg sacs in a period of five to seven months. First nymphs initiated their predatory activity between the 5th and 8th days after hatching and the majority reached adulthood within six moults (range of five to eight) in approximately 15 to 17 months (male) and 15.5 to 18 months (female). The average sex ratio equaled 1.0:1.7 (male:female). The wide individual variability of this species intermoult intervals is herewith expressed by the intermoult rate, which was fairly uniform for both intra and interpopulations and gives a relevant aspect for a general idea of the life cycles of spiders.

Mother-offspring interactions in Zebu cattle

The knowledge of the interaction between mother and offspring might contribute to enhance the welfare of the offspring and to improve the reproductive efficiency of the cow. However, there is still little information available about such interaction in some cattle breeds. A series of observational studies were set up, addressing the mother-offspring relationships of Nelore, Guzerat and Gyr cattle breeds. Firstly, the behaviour of cows and calves around the time of parturition was described, and then, the underlying factors that affect the calves' survival and development were studied. Special attention was given to the failure or delay in the first suckling. The results together are indicative of genetic variability for some studied variables, indicating the possibility of selection for calf vigour (using latency to stand up and latency to suckle as its indicators) and maternal ability (using percentage of time in contact with the calves), in spite of the estimates of heritability were low and presented high standard deviation for all variables. The individual variability in their suckling behaviour and the efficiency in first suckling cannot be explained by a single isolated underlying factor. By now, there are some results available, although there are many questions without answers. The field is still open for the development of future research.

Broiler breeder trace mineral nutrition and feeding practices on embryo progeny development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of temperature on development and population growth of Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross and Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) on Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

The parasitic mite Acarophenax lacunatus kills the eggs upon which it feeds and seems to have potential as a biological control agent of stored grain pests. The lack of biological studies on this mite species led to the present study carried out in laboratory conditions at eight different temperatures (ranging from 20 to 41°C) and 60% relative humidity using Rhyzopertha dominica as host. The higher the temperature, the faster: (1) the attachment of female mites to the host egg (varying from 1 to 5 h); (2) the increase in body size of physogastric females (about twice faster at 40°C than at 20°C); and (3) the generation time (ranging from 40 to 220 h). In addition, the higher the temperature, the shorter the maximum female longevity (ranging from about 75 to 300 h). The two estimated temperature thresholds for development of A. lacunatus on R. dominica were 18 and 40°C. The average number of female and male offspring per gravid mite were 12.8 and 1.0, respectively, with sex ratios (females/total) ranging from 0.91 to 0.94 (maximum at 30°C). The net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase also presented maximum values at 30°C (12.1 and 0.04, respectively).

Long-term effects of perinatal androgenization on reproductive parameters of male rat offspring androgenization and male rat reproduction

It is known that during sex differentiation, fetal androgens are critical determinants of the male phenotype. Although testosterone is necessary for normal development of male sexual behavior, perinatal androgen treatment can result in disruption of normal male sexual reproduction. Pregnant Wistar rats were administered either corn oil (vehicle) or testosterone propionate at 0.2 mg/kg from gestational day 12 until the end of lactation and the reproductive function of male offspring was evaluated at 90 (adulthood) and 270 (middle age) days of age. Perinatal androgenization in the rat provoked a reduction in sperm production and reserves in adulthood that did not affect fertility and did not persist at more advanced ages, as shown by the results at post-natal day 270. If perinatal androgenization promotes similar effects in humans of reproductive age, the results of the present work can impact male reproduction health, given the less efficient spermatogenesis and lower sperm reserves in the human epididymis, compared to rodents. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart. New York.

Excess androgen during perinatal life alters steroid receptor expression, apoptosis, and cell proliferation in the uteri of the offspring

Exposure to environmental chemicals may contribute to reproductive disorders, especially when it occurs in critical periods of development. The female reproductive system can be a target for androgens derived from environmental contaminants or pathological conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term effects of androgens on uterine tissue after maternal exposure limited to the time of gestation and lactation. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) at 0.05. mg/kg, 0.1. mg/kg, 0.2. mg/kg or corn oil (vehicle), s.c., from gestational day 12 until the end of lactation. The results show changes in the pattern of expression of receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and androgen at all doses tested, and decreases in both apoptosis and cell proliferation indices at 0.1 and 0.2. mg/kg. We conclude that early TP exposure, under these experimental conditions, causes changes in cellular and molecular parameters that are essential for normal uterine function in the adult. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Perinatal Periodontal Disease Reduces Social Behavior in Male Offspring

Objective: Our objective was to verify whether prenatal maternal periodontitis is a risk factor for the development of central nervous system disorders in rats. Methods: Periodontitis was induced by placing a ligature around the upper and lower first molars in 9 female Wistar rats (experimental group); 9 rats were left unligated (control group). The maternal general activity in an open field was observed on gestational day (GD) 0, GD 4, and GD 14, and the maternal performance was assessed on the second day after birth. The pups' play behavior was assessed on postnatal day 30. The relative level of reelin was measured in the frontal cortex by real-time PCR analysis. Results: The results showed that, compared with the control group, (1) the general activity in female rats with periodontitis was decreased, (2) the maternal performance of these rats was not modified by periodontitis, (3) the play behavior of pups from dams with periodontitis was decreased, and (4) there were no differences in the frontal cortex reelin levels of pups from dams with periodontitis. Conclusions: We conclude that pre- and postnatal periodontitis induces maternal sickness behavior and reduces the pups' play behavior without interference with frontal cortex reelin expression. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Development of twenty-one polymorphic microsatellite markers for the fungus-growing ant, Mycocepurus goeldii (Formicidae: Attini), using Illumina paired-end genomic sequencing

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

Impact of gestational diabetes and lactational insulin replacement on structure and secretory function of offspring rat ventral prostate

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

Maternal Western Style Diet Increases Susceptibility to Chemically-Induced Mammary Carcinogenesis in Female Rats Offspring

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

Embryonic development and nourishment in the viviparous fish Poecilia vivipara (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae)

While viviparity confers protection to the embryos during gestation, it increases energetic costs for the mother, which acquires new relations to its offspring. Maternal-fetal transfer of nutrients can occur in different patterns: as lecithotrophy (nourished by yolk) or matrotrophy (nourished by the mother). The development of Poecilia vivipara embryos was described macroscopically and microscopically, and the form of nutritional provisioning was identified. Embryonic development was divided into three prefertilization and seven postfertilization stages. The first organ to appear is the notochord, followed by the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems, and then by muscles and eyes. Embryonic nutritional provisioning was lecithotrophic, with yolk persisting until the last developmental stages and rich in proteins and polysaccharides. This kind of embryonic nutrition confirms the pattern found in the family Poeciliidae.