In vertebrates, one of the first recognizable sex differences in embryos is the onset of meiosis, known to be regulated by retinoic acid (RA) in mammals. We investigated in medaka a possible meiotic function of RA during the embryonic sex determination (SD) period and in mature gonads. We found RA mediated transcriptional activation in germ cells of both sexes much earlier than the SD stage, however, no such activity during the critical stages of SD. In adults, expression of the RA metabolizing enzymes indicates sexually dimorphic RA levels. In testis, RA acts directly in Sertoli, Leydig and pre-meiotic germ cells. In ovaries, RA transcriptional activity is highest in meiotic oocytes. Our results show that RA plays an important role in meiosis induction and gametogenesis in adult medaka but contrary to common expectations, not for initiating the first meiosis in female germ cells at the SD stage.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep34281 | DOI Listing |
S D Med
December 2024
Sanford Health Reproductive Medicine, Fargo, North Dakota.
Background: The following case report details the genetic evaluation and treatment of a 30-year-old male with a history of asthenoteratospermia and notable abnormalities of the sperm flagella.
Methods: Genetic evaluation was performed via a multi-gene panel of genes associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) prior to the couple's in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
Results: Genetic evaluation was performed via a multi-gene panel of genes associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) prior to the couple's in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Aqualife Medicine, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Republic of Korea.
The present study describes the differentiation process of male germ cells in Octopus vulgaris, the morphology of sperm in the testis and spermatophore, and the sperm released after the spermatophoric reaction. During spermatogenesis, the male sperm cell gradually elongates from a round shape, with cytoplasm shifting toward the head and the acrosome forming. Additionally, in the spermatid stage, the flagellum develops within the posterior nuclear channel and extends outside the cytoplasm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Res Commun
January 2025
Faculty of Agriculture, University Farm, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-4415, Japan.
The purpose of this study was to improve the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa through the optimization of glycerol concentration (GC) and freezing rate in the semen freezing protocol. Ejaculates from nine dogs were diluted with an extender containing 0%, 1.5%, 3%, 6%, or 9% glycerol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMov Disord
January 2025
Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disease. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are proviral remnants of ancient retroviral infection of germ cells that now constitute about 8% of the human genome. Under certain disease conditions, HERV genes are activated and partake in the disease process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtein Sci
February 2025
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
The TGF-β family ligand Nodal is an essential regulator of embryonic development, orchestrating key processes such as germ layer specification and body axis formation through activation of SMAD2/3-mediated signaling. Significantly, this activation requires the co-receptor Cripto-1. However, despite their essential roles in embryogenesis, the molecular mechanism through which Cripto-1 enables Nodal to activate the SMAD2/3 pathway has remained elusive.
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