Housing and Husbandry Factors Affecting Zebrafish () Novel Tank Test Responses: A Global Multi-Laboratory Study.

The reproducibility crisis in bioscience, characterized by inconsistent study results, impedes our understanding of biological processes and global collaborative studies offer a unique solution. This study is the first global collaboration using the zebrafish () novel tank test, a behavioral assay for anxiety-like responses. We analyzed data from 20 laboratories worldwide, focusing on housing conditions and experimental setups.

Effects of cigarette smoking on semen quality, reproductive hormone levels, metabolic profile, zinc and sperm DNA fragmentation in men: results from a population-based study.

Background: Cigarette smoking seems to have a negative impact on men's reproductive health, but our knowledge of its effects on the reproductive function of Russian men is still very limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on semen quality, including sperm DNA fragmentation, hormonal, zinc and metabolic status in young men from the general multi-ethnic Russian population (n=1,222, median age 23 years) and to find out the ethno-specific effects of smoking by comparing male groups of different ethnicity.

Methods: Each participant filled out a standardized questionnaire, provided one blood and semen sample.

Age-Related Changes in Sperm Morphology and Analysis of Multiple Sperm Defects.

Background: Analysis of sperm morphology defects (amorphous heads, abnormal acrosome, etc.) is useful for estimating the efficiency of spermiogenesis and sperm maturation. An advanced paternal age (more than 40 years) is associated with decreasing sperm count and reduced motility; however, there is little information on the effect of aging relating to sperm morphological defects.

Androgen Receptor Gene CAG Repeat Length Varies and Affects Semen Quality in an Ethnic-Specific Fashion in Young Men from Russia.

Male infertility is a multi-factorial and multi-genetic disorder, and the prevalence of male infertility in the world is estimated at 5-35%. The search for the causes of male infertility allowed for identifying a number of genetic factors including a single X-linked gene of the androgen receptor (), and some of its alleles are assumed to negatively affect male fertility. Our aim was (1) to study the variability of the length of CAG repeats of the gene and possible associations in the CAG genetic variants with semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in a population-based cohort of men and (2) to estimate distributions of CAG repeat alleles and associations with semen parameters in different ethnic subgroups.

Impaired semen quality, an increase of sperm morphological defects and DNA fragmentation associated with environmental pollution in urban population of young men from Western Siberia, Russia.

Poor sperm morphology and an elevated DNA fragmentation level are considered to be related to spermiogenesis malfunctions as a result of genetic mutations and effects of environmental factors, including industrial pollution. Standardized cross-sectional population studies of sperm morphology defects and sperm DNA fragmentation, especially in regions with increased environmental pollution may be helpful to investigate an influence of industrial pollution and other population-related factors on spermiogenesis process. The aim of present study was to estimate an influence industrial pollution on sperm morphogenesis and sperm DNA fragmentation in men from the general population of the Western Siberia.

Impact of seminal and serum zinc on semen quality and hormonal status: A population-based cohort study of Russian young men.

Background: Trace elements are important factors in human reproductive health. Among them, special attention is paid to zinc, which is an essential trace element and is necessary for the normal functioning of the male reproductive system and the process of spermatogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between seminal and serum zinc concentrations and semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in population of Russian young men.

A Catalog of Human Genes Associated With Pathozoospermia and Functional Characteristics of These Genes.

Genetic causes of the global decline in male fertility are among the hot spots of scientific research in reproductive genetics. The most common way to evaluate male fertility in clinical trials is to determine semen quality. Lower semen quality is very often accompanied by subfertility or infertility, occurs in many diseases and can be caused by many factors, including genetic ones.

Regional and ethnic differences in semen quality and reproductive hormones in Russia: A Siberian population-based cohort study of young men.

Background: This is the first large-scale Russian study describing semen quality and reproductive hormone levels among young men.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in young men of four cities and three ethnic groups living in the Siberian region of Russia and to find out ethnic or environmental reasons for regional differences.

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of 1291 young men from Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Ulan-Ude, and Yakutsk, including 1013 men of three most numerous ethnic groups: Slavs, Buryats, and Yakuts.

Gastric Cancer in BRCA1 Germline Mutation Carriers: Results of Endoscopic Screening and Molecular Analysis of Tumor Tissues.

Introduction: There is some evidence suggesting a link between BRCA1/2 germline mutations and increased risk of gastric cancer.

Methods: Endoscopic screening for stomach malignancies was performed in 120 BRCA1 mutation carriers in order to evaluate the probability of detecting the tumor disease.

Results: No instances of gastric cancer were revealed at the first visit.

Disruptive natural selection by male reproductive potential prevents underexpression of protein-coding genes on the human Y chromosome as a self-domestication syndrome.

Background: In population ecology, the concept of reproductive potential denotes the most vital indicator of chances to produce and sustain a healthy descendant until his/her reproductive maturity under the best conditions. This concept links quality of life and longevity of an individual with disease susceptibilities encoded by his/her genome. Female reproductive potential has been investigated deeply, widely, and comprehensively in the past, but the male one has not received an equal amount of attention.

Study of Semen Quality, Reproductive Hormone Levels, and Lipid Levels in Men From Arkhangelsk, a City in North of European Russia.

Male populations in the European North of Russia have not previously been investigated for semen quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels, and lipid levels in volunteers from the general urban population of the European North of Russia, to compare the data published for men from the neighboring Northern or Eastern European countries, and to evaluate associations between sperm quality and serum hormonal and lipid levels. Ninety-nine volunteers aged 23-63 years residing in the city of Archangelsk were enrolled in the study.

Natural Selection Equally Supports the Human Tendencies in Subordination and Domination: A Genome-Wide Study With Confirmation and Validation in Mice.

We proposed the following heuristic decision-making rule: "IF {an excess of a protein relating to the nervous system is an experimentally known physiological marker of low pain sensitivity, fast postinjury recovery, or aggressive, risk/novelty-seeking, anesthetic-like, or similar agonistic-intolerant behavior} AND IF {a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causes overexpression of the gene encoding this protein} THEN {this SNP can be a SNP marker of the tendency in dominance} WHILE {underexpression corresponds to subordination} AND ." Using this decision-making rule, we analyzed 231 human genes of neuropeptidergic, non-neuropeptidergic, and neurotrophinergic systems that encode neurotrophic and growth factors, interleukins, neurotransmitters, receptors, transporters, and enzymes. These proteins are known as key factors of human social behavior.