Understanding the biology of reproduction of an organismal lineage is important for retracing key evolutionary processes, yet gaining detailed insights often poses major challenges. Planktonic Foraminifera are globally distributed marine microbial eukaryotes and important contributors to the global carbon cycle. They cannot routinely be cultured under laboratory conditions across generations, and thus details of their life cycle remain incomplete. The production of flagellated gametes has long been taken as an indication of exclusively sexual reproduction, but recent research suggests the existence of an additional asexual generation in the life cycle. To gain a better understanding of the reproductive biology of planktonic Foraminifera, we applied a dynamic, individual-based modelling approach with parameters based on laboratory and field observations to test if sexual reproduction is sufficient for maintaining viable populations. We show that temporal synchronization and potentially spatial concentration of gamete release seems inevitable for maintenance of the population under sexual reproduction. We hypothesize that sexual reproduction is likely beneficial during the adaptation to new environments, while population sustenance in stable environments can be ensured through asexual reproduction.
- Keywords
- individual-based model, planktonic eukaryotes, population dynamics, reproduction ecology, sexual versus asexual reproduction, survival capacity,
- MeSH
- Biological Evolution MeSH
- Eukaryota * MeSH
- Reproduction, Asexual MeSH
- Oceans and Seas MeSH
- Plankton * MeSH
- Reproduction MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Oceans and Seas MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Bisphenols are one of the most widespread endocrine disruptors that the population of west world countries is exposed to. Objective of this study is to summarize information about influence of bisphenols on reproduction health. DESIGN: Review article, Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno. METHODS: PubMed was searched for articles in English indexed bisphenol and reproduction up to October 2018. RESULTS: Increased levels of bisphenol A and S have been proven in body fluids and tissues. Bisphenol molecules have effect similar to estrogens therefore they influence hormonal regulation and activity of estrogen receptors. Their negative influence on oocyte maturation, spermatogenesis and development of reproductive system has been shown. Bisphenol S, which has replaced bisphenol A, has comparable negative effects on reproduction. CONCLUSION: Bisphenols are widespread endocrine disruptors that could cause severe fertility disorders of men and women.
- Keywords
- bisphenol, endocrine disruptor, oocyte, reproduction, spermatozoa,
- MeSH
- Benzhydryl Compounds pharmacology MeSH
- Endocrine Disruptors pharmacology MeSH
- Phenols pharmacology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Estrogens, Non-Steroidal pharmacology MeSH
- Oocytes drug effects MeSH
- Reproduction drug effects MeSH
- Spermatogenesis drug effects MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Benzhydryl Compounds MeSH
- bisphenol A MeSH Browser
- Endocrine Disruptors MeSH
- Phenols MeSH
- Estrogens, Non-Steroidal MeSH
The World Health Organization defines obesity as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that is harmful to health. Obesity and overweight have a negative effect not only on general health, but also on reproductive health. Obesity is associated with reduced fertility, more frequent pregnancy losses and other pregnancy complications. Due to an obesity pandemic, an increasing proportion of women seeking medical help for infertility will be overweight or obese. Obesity is involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), approximately 40-70% of PCOS patients are overweight or obese. The risk of miscarriage is increased in obese women who become pregnant after in vitro fertilisation, regardless of whether their own oocytes or donated oocytes are used. In men, the link between obesity and reduced fertility is less well-studied than in women. Mechanisms by which obesity may affect spermatogenesis include thermal effects, hyperestrogenism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, diabetes mellitus, sexual dysfunction, and sperm epigenetic disorders. Obesity in both women and men negatively affects the results of assisted reproduction. Overweight or obese women should be informed about the overall health and obstetric risks and about the lower success rate of infertility treatment with assisted reproduction methods.
- Keywords
- In vitro fertilization, Polycystic ovary syndrome, assisted reproduction, in vitro fertilization, infertility, obesity, overweight,
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Overweight complications MeSH
- Obesity complications MeSH
- Reproduction MeSH
- Semen MeSH
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome * complications MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Infertility, Female * etiology therapy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) is a cyprinid fish that originated in eastern Eurasia and is considered as invasive in European freshwater ecosystems. The populations of gibel carp in Europe are mostly composed of asexually reproducing triploid females (i.e., reproducing by gynogenesis) and sexually reproducing diploid females and males. Although some cases of coexisting sexual and asexual reproductive forms are known in vertebrates, the molecular mechanisms maintaining such coexistence are still in question. Both reproduction modes are supposed to exhibit evolutionary and ecological advantages and disadvantages. To better understand the coexistence of these two reproduction strategies, we performed transcriptome profile analysis of gonad tissues (ovaries) and studied the differentially expressed reproduction-associated genes in sexual and asexual females. We used high-throughput RNA sequencing to generate transcriptomic profiles of gonadal tissues of triploid asexual females and males, diploid sexual males and females of gibel carp, as well as diploid individuals from two closely-related species, C. auratus and Cyprinus carpio. Using SNP clustering, we showed the close similarity of C. gibelio and C. auratus with a basal position of C. carpio to both Carassius species. Using transcriptome profile analyses, we showed that many genes and pathways are involved in both gynogenetic and sexual reproduction in C. gibelio; however, we also found that 1500 genes, including 100 genes involved in cell cycle control, meiosis, oogenesis, embryogenesis, fertilization, steroid hormone signaling, and biosynthesis were differently expressed in the ovaries of asexual and sexual females. We suggest that the overall downregulation of reproduction-associated pathways in asexual females, and their maintenance in sexual ones, allows the populations of C. gibelio to combine the evolutionary and ecological advantages of the two reproductive strategies. However, we showed that many sexual-reproduction-related genes are maintained and expressed in asexual females, suggesting that gynogenetic gibel carp retains the genetic toolkits for meiosis and sexual reproduction. These findings shed new light on the evolution of this asexual and sexual complex.
- Keywords
- Asexual reproduction, Carassius gibelio, Differential expression analysis, Evolution of sexual reproduction, Gynogenesis, Meiosis, Oogenesis, Reproduction, Transcriptomics,
- MeSH
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide MeSH
- Carps * genetics physiology MeSH
- Reproduction, Asexual * genetics MeSH
- Ovary metabolism MeSH
- Reproduction * genetics MeSH
- Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
- Transcriptome MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Factors affecting human reproduction following the demographic transition are examined. In particular, the author looks at the prospects for the countries that first experienced the transition of raising levels of fertility that will ensure population replacement. (SUMMARY IN CZE)
- Keywords
- Demographic Factors, Demographic Transition *, Fertility *, Population, Population Dynamics, Population Replacement *, Reproduction *, World *,
- MeSH
- Demography MeSH
- Fertility * MeSH
- Population MeSH
- Population Dynamics * MeSH
- Reproduction * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Assisted reproduction is an integral part of infertility treatment. The basic method is in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection into the oocyte, cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes and embryos is also commonly used. The proportion of embryos tested with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for chromosomal aneuploidy or defects in specific genes is increasing. The use of donated oocytes is also significant, particularly because of the depletion of ovarian reserve in women over 40 years of age. The effectiveness of treatment is always very fundamentally dependent on the age of the woman. Assisted reproductive treatment is very well available in the Czech Republic, as is fertility preservation by sperm/oocyte freezing.
- Keywords
- Cryopreservation, IVF, PGT, assisted reproduction, success rate, trends,
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Fertilization in Vitro MeSH
- Genetic Testing methods MeSH
- Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Oocytes MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Reproduction * MeSH
- Semen * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unexpected worldwide situation, and all countries have implemented their own policies to curb the spread of the virus. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 has opened numerous hypotheses of functional alterations in different physiological aspects. The direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the urogenital organs of males and females is still to be assessed. Nevertheless, based on biological similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, several hypotheses have been proposed. In this study, we will discuss the possible mechanism of action, and potential effects on the male/female reproductive system and fertility.
- Keywords
- COVID-19, Fertility, Reproduction, SARS-CoV-2,
- MeSH
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 immunology metabolism MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- Fertility * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Genitalia immunology metabolism virology MeSH
- Reproduction * MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
- Serine Endopeptidases immunology metabolism MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- ACE2 protein, human MeSH Browser
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 MeSH
- Serine Endopeptidases MeSH
- TMPRSS2 protein, human MeSH Browser
The organs of many female animals are remodeled by reproduction. Using the mouse intestine, a striking and tractable model of organ resizing, we find that reproductive remodeling is anticipatory and distinct from diet- or microbiota-induced resizing. Reproductive remodeling involves partially irreversible elongation of the small intestine and fully reversible growth of its epithelial villi, associated with an expansion of isthmus progenitors and accelerated enterocyte migration. We identify induction of the SGLT3a transporter in a subset of enterocytes as an early reproductive hallmark. Electrophysiological and genetic interrogations indicate that SGLT3a does not sustain digestive functions or enterocyte health; rather, it detects protons and sodium to extrinsically support the expansion of adjacent Fgfbp1-positive isthmus progenitors, promoting villus growth. Our findings reveal unanticipated specificity to physiological organ remodeling. We suggest that organ- and state-specific growth programs could be leveraged to improve pregnancy outcomes or prevent maladaptive consequences of such growth.
- Keywords
- Fgfbp1, SGLT3a, adult organ remodeling, intestinal epithelium, isthmus progenitor, lactation, plasticity, pregnancy, reproduction, small intestine,
- MeSH
- Enterocytes metabolism cytology MeSH
- Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Cell Movement MeSH
- Reproduction * physiology MeSH
- Intestines * growth & development MeSH
- Intestinal Mucosa metabolism MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Intestine, Small * growth & development metabolism MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Mice MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The number of cycles of assisted reproduction using donor body parts is increasing significantly. In Europe alone, around one hundred thousand children are born each year who have some relationship to three or more parents. The European expert guarantor European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology therefore issued a recommendation in 2022 to inform donors, recipients and children born in this way. Our article analyses developments in this area and proposes a solution for the Czech Republic. It is necessary for providers to immediately respond to the fact that the anonymity of donation can no longer be guaranteed, and to adapt the content of consultations and informed consents of potential donors and applicants accordingly. Legislation then has two possible solutions: first to adopt a system of "polyparenthoods" or second to fundamentally limit donation cycles.
- Keywords
- assisted reproduction, children’s rights, counselling, family, gamete donation, informed consent,
- MeSH
- Tissue Donors MeSH
- Oocyte Donation * MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Reproduction MeSH
- Germ Cells MeSH
- Disclosure * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Keywords
- Genetics and Reproduction,
- MeSH
- Reproductive Techniques, Assisted * MeSH
- Databases, Factual MeSH
- Social Control, Formal MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Registries MeSH
- Social Control, Informal MeSH
- Government Regulation MeSH
- Health Facilities MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
