Reproduction Abstracts

The reproductive homeobox X-linked, Rhox, genes encode transcription factors that are expressed selectively in reproductive tissues. While there are 33 testis-expressed Rhox genes in mice, only Rhox5 and Rhox8 are produced by Sertoli cells, suggesting that they alone regulate somatic-cell gene products crucial for germ-cell development. We used the Rhox5 promoter to drive tissue-specific RNAi to knockdown (KD) RHOX8 in vivo...

Seedstock bulls in Australia are commonly fed high-energy supplements prior to sale. These supplements contain readily fermentable carbohydrates, which may precipitate ruminal acidosis. We hypothesise that a single transient acidotic SARA event would decrease semen production sufficient to preclude bulls from BBSE thresholds and thereby sale.Santa Gertrudis bulls (n=10, age 20±6 months) were fed in yards on ad lib hay with daily in...

Catsper is a Ca2+ permeable ion channel in the principal piece of the sperm flagellum that is crucial in regulation of motility. It is multimodally sensitive, being activated by voltage, pHi and diverse agonists including progesterone. Elevation of pHi and progesterone both shift voltage-sensitivity of the channel to more negative potentials and thus may act synergistically to enhance Ca2+-influx.1 However, intracellular alkalinisation of human...

Gamete final maturation, fertilization, and embryo cleavage occur in the oviduct. It is known that oviductal luminal fluid composition differentially changes in the presence of oocytes, spermatozoa or embryos, prompting for a molecular cross-talk between the gametes/embryo and the oviductal epithelium. However, our understanding of the regulatory molecular mechanisms of gamete/embryo-maternal cross-talk is still fragmentary and controversial. The deciphering of these mechanism...

Background: A large population of apparently normal males have problem impregnating their partners even when their fertility status by physical examination and endocrine laboratory test is considered normal.Aim: To investigate the effects of alcohol on sperm DNA and fertility outcomes.Materials and methods: The experiment involved four groups of 20 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats which were randomly divided into groups of five ...