Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are seasonal animals with fertilisation taking place in summer (July/August). Thereafter, the embryo enters a 4-5-month period of embryonic diapause. This reproductive strategy, displaying a reduced embryonic developmental velocity at the blastocyst stage, leads to reactivation and implantation in late December-January and parturition in spring (May/June). The endocrine mechanisms governing reactivation, implantation and placentation remain poorly understood. Here, we applied ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to profile circulating progestogens from reactivation through late gestation (December-April) and in placental and luteal tissue. Notably, the neurosteroid pregnanolone (3α,5β-THP) appeared exclusively in pregnant does from late December/early January onwards, coinciding with the period of implantation. Pregnanolone was detected in placental but not luteal tissue, suggesting the placenta as a potential source of origin. Our results indicate a previously unrecognised shift in progestogens from reactivation/early placentation onwards, suggesting that non-classical progestogens may contribute to the endocrine regulation of implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Further investigation into the origin and functional roles of pregnanolone are needed to elucidate its contribution to pregnancy and reproductive success in roe deer.
This study provides the first comprehensive temporal transcriptomic atlas of the donkey endometrium, revealing conserved endocrine–immune–metabolic regulatory networks comparable to those in mares and cattle.
The data demonstrate that MRO is poised to play a role in the coordination of periovulatory events through the EGF and progesterone signaling pathways through the EGF and progesterone pathways.
Ketan Shrestha, Patrick R. Hannon, M. Wynn et al.· Biology of Reproduction· 0 citations
Understanding turtle reproduction is crucial for gaining insights into its life history, particularly of endangered species as the Atrato River Slider, Trachemys medemi, for which this aspect is unknown. We estimated the timing of mating, spermatogenesis, vitellogenesis, nesting, and the quiescence of T. medemi in relation to serum sexual hormone levels, the local precipitation and temperature, and field observations. We captured 29 wild adult individuals between January 2022 and February 2023, including 25 unique females with 1 recapture (5 were gravid and 20 nongravid) and 4 unique males. We estimated that mating and nesting occur from December to March during the dry season when river beaches are available. During this time, gravid females (n = 5) had higher estradiol and progesterone, nongravid females had generally higher testosterone, and males exhibited basal hormones. The quiescent period was difficult to assess because of lack of hormonal data from April to July, and from September to November, but we infer that in females it occurs during the wet season when hormones were low (August), and in males from February or March when testosterone was basal to some time before August when testosterone increased 5.7×, suggesting the beginning of the spermiogenesis period in males. In conclusion, T. medemi follows an annual reproductive cycle with a prenuptial pattern and a single nesting season.
Juliana Gaviria-Hernández, Claudia P. Ceballos· Chelonian Conservation and B...· 1 citation
Introduction: Snail mucus of Monacha cartusiana, a terrestrial snail with agricultural and medical significance, forms an adhesive and protective layer on the internal lining of the gastrointestinal tract, so prevents the ulcerative effects of acid-base digestive enzymes. This study discusses its reproductive strategy and embryonic development. Monacha cartusiana has been identified as an intermediate host for parasites that are aetiological agents of human and veterinary diseases, besides being an important agricultural pest. The objectives are to elucidate fertility patterns, staged embryonic development, and the linkage between adult shell length and reproductive output.
Methods: On farms in Al-Hussainiya, Karbala, Iraq, field- observations indicated that the reproductive period commenced herein above local climatology as early as October 2023. Fecundity was investigated in relation to adult shell length after calculating the number of eggs deposited during one spawn season. Embryonic development was observed using a non-invasive light-based method that enabled embryonic growth to be tracked within the eggshell. Embryogenesis was divided into five developmental stages during nine days, with hatching on the tenth day. The gonadal structure and maturity were assessed by histological cross sections of hermaphroditic gonads.
Results: There was a good correlation between shell length and fecundity. The maximum fecundity (39 eggs) was observed in an adult snail, which had a shell length of 16.2 mm, whereas the minimum fecundity (11 eggs) was recorded in snails with spawning occurred at 9.1 mm shell length. Histology revealed that a longer shell was related to more advanced gonad development and greater fecundity.
Conclusion: Shell length is a reliable indicator of sexual maturity and reproductive potential in Monacha cartusiana. Understanding the reproductive biology and population dynamics of this snail is essential for effective agricultural pest management, reducing the risk of parasite transmission, and supporting public and environmental health. These bear underscores of the importance of incorporating snail-targeted control strategies, alongside ongoing preventive chemotherapy to reduce diseases.
Hajir M. Kadhim, Israa N. Ghulam, Fatima K. Jassim· Kerbala Journal of Nursing a...· 0 citations
The alpaca (
Vicugna pacos
) is a domesticated South American camelid of increasing global relevance, valued for its high-quality fiber, cultural significance, and unique biological traits including heavy-chain-only antibodies. Its reproductive physiology differs fundamentally from that of conventional livestock, encompassing an induced rather than spontaneous ovulatory mechanism in females and an unusually viscous ejaculate in males, differences that constrain the direct application of protocols developed for cattle, sheep, and swine and that have historically limited the pace of genetic improvement in the species. This review provides an integrated account of alpaca reproductive anatomy, follicular and neuroendocrine physiology, seminal plasma biochemistry, and semen cryopreservation, together with the current state of artificial insemination, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, laparoscopic ovum pick-up,
in vitro
embryo production, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. By examining female and male reproductive biology within a single mechanistic framework rather than treating each in isolation, this review draws out the regulatory pathways that connect the two systems and identifies the knowledge gaps that a fragmented, single-sex treatment of the subject would otherwise leave unaddressed. Particular attention is given to the biological determinants that most directly limit ART efficiency and to the translational steps required to move current protocols from experimental proof of concept toward standardized, field-applicable practice. Building on prior reviews that have illuminated individual ART modalities and single-sex reproductive biology, this work is intended to support researchers and practitioners advancing reproductive technology in camelids and the broader effort to conserve and genetically improve alpaca populations worldwide.
J. Landinez-Aponte, Zhongde Wang· Frontiers in Veterinary Scie...· 0 citations
Background: Koalas are a vulnerable marsupial species with unique reproductive traits. Efforts to develop assisted breeding technologies have been hindered by a limited understanding of maternal recognition of pregnancy and physiological changes induced by the foeto-placental unit. Differences in the reproductive physiology of pregnant and non-pregnant koalas were examined to investigate the possibility of maternal recognition and identify potential pregnancy and/or embryonic loss biomarkers. Methods: Koalas were separated into three groups: pregnant (n = 4 cycles from three females), mated but non-parturient (n = 4 cycles from three females), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist-treated females (n = 7). Plasma was collected on day of mating/GnRH injection (D0) and on multiple subsequent days. Progesterone concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and plasma proteomes were analysed using filter-aided sample preparation followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), employing sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra. Results: Ovulation induction mechanisms influenced peri-ovulatory progesterone secretion (pregnant 40.7 ± 3.3 ng/mL vs. GnRH-treated 15.7 ± 1.8 ng/mL), with no significant differences in progesterone that occurred later in the luteal phase. LC-MS/MS identified 158 proteins, representing the first koala plasma proteome. Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG1) was significantly elevated at D2 in pregnant females compared to GnRH-treated females, and pregnant D9 and D19. In pregnant females, fibronectin (FN1) was significantly more abundant at D19 compared to D9 but not significantly different between treatments. Conclusions: These preliminary findings provide foundational data for further investigation into maternal recognition and pregnancy/embryonic loss in koalas.
Brooke E. Hartley, Stephen D. Johnston, Yolande Campbell et al.· Proteomes· 0 citations