Periplaneta americana is an important medicinal insect. A series of new drugs developed from it have remarkable clinical effects and are in great demand in the market. Because of unclear biology, the quality and yield of P. americana are affected. Understanding the developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature of P. americana can provide theoretical basis for standardized culture of P.americana. Under climate chamber, the threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature for egg development of P. americana to were determined through effective accumulated temperature law. The threshold temperature was （15.8±0.71）°C, the effective accumulated temperature was 415.8±38.05 degree days. A model of the relationship between temperature and developmental rates was established.
Animals ; Ovum ; physiology ; Periplaneta ; physiology ; Temperature

Sperm-egg plasma membrane interaction is one of the important steps of mammalian fertilization. Many sperm and egg surface proteins are reported to be involved in sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Sulfogalactosylglycerolipid(SGG) is the major sulfoglycolipid in the germ cells of mammalian and lower vertebrates, mainly in the sperm head. It is a differentiation marker in spermatogenesis restricted to the zygotene and early pachytene spermatocytes. Sulfolipidimmobilizing protein 1 (SLIP1) is the major sulfoglycolipid of mammalian germ cells and eggs, with the same localization as SGG in the sperm. SLIP1 binds specificity to SGG, both playing a vital role in sperm-egg interaction. This article is aimed at reviewing the localization of SGG and SLIP1 in the germ cell surface and their role and related mechanism in gamete formation.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; physiology ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Female ; Galactolipids ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology

Rat protein DE is an androgen-dependent cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) synthesized by proximal epididymal regions. DE, also known as CRISP-1, is localized on the equatorial segment of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa and participates in gamete fusion through binding to egg complementary sites. Immunization of rats with DE inhibits fertility and sperm fusion ability, suggesting that DE represents a good epididymal contraceptive target. Recombinant DE fragments and synthetic peptides revealed that DE binds to the egg via a 12-amino acid region of an evolutionarily conserved motif, Signature 2 (S2). The ability of other CRISP to bind to the rat egg was correlated with their S2 amino acid sequences. Although testicular protein Tpx-1 (CRISP-2) was capable of binding to rodent eggs, human epididymal AEG-related protein (ARP) and helothermine (from lizard saliva) were not. The S2 region presented only two substitutions in Tpx-1 and four in ARP and helothermine, compared with the DE S2, suggesting that this amino acid sequence was relevant for egg interaction. Studies with Tpx-1 and anti-Tpx-1 revealed the participation of this protein in gamete fusion through binding to complementary sites in the egg. In competition studies, DE reduced binding of Tpx-1 dose-dependently, indicating that both CRISP share the egg complementary sites. That anti-DE and anti-Tpx-1 inhibit sperm-egg fusion while recognizing only the corresponding proteins, suggests functional cooperation between these homologous CRISP to ensure fertilization success. These results increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of gamete fusion and contribute to the development of new and safer fertility regulating methods.
Animals ; Cell Fusion ; Epididymis ; Female ; Germ Cells ; physiology ; Glycoproteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; physiology ; Ovum ; physiology ; Rats ; Sperm Capacitation ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

The present experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of follicular fluid on maturation of bovine follicular oocytes. TC medium 199 seemed to be in adequate for this purpose since a high proportion (ranging 84.1. to 97.0%) of the oocytes were able to resume meiotic division in both media-with or without the addition of follicular fluid. This implies a possible similarity between TC medium 199 and follicular fluid with regard to the components initiating meiosis. Actually, TC medium 199 contains amino acids, vitamins and carbohydrates most of which are also found in follicular fluid. For this reason, the effect of follicular fluid on the ovum maturation was investigated by applying Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (SECM), which was main1y composed of the salts, pyruvate and lactate. When the oocytes were cultured in SECM without the addition of follicular fluid, only 7-14% of them resumed meiotic division within 30 hours. However, when follicular fluid was added, the proportion of oocytes undergoing maturation was sharply increased to about 70%. Among the groups cultured in media containing different concentrations of follicular fluid, the proportion of the oocytes in meiosis remained constant, In pure follicular fluid, 87-89% of the oocytes showed enhancement of meiotic division. The presence of the follicular fluid contributed to a decrease in the production of degenerative oocytes. As a consequence it has been noted that addition of follicular fluid to the culture medium provides a more beneficial environment for cow oocytes. Meiotic division is initiated and production of degenerative oocytes is inhibited.
Animal ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Female ; Meiosis ; Oocytes/physiology* ; Ovarian Follicle/physiology* ; Ovum/physiology*

OBJECTIVETo study the biological characteristics of Dorysthenes hydropicus in the farm of Cirtus grandis, and offer scientific evidence for prevention and controlling of D. hydropicus.

METHODIndoor-rearing and light trap were applied to study the biological characteristics, development course and harmful effect of D. hydropicus.

RESULTD. hydropicus reproduces one generation in 1-2 year in Guangdong province, and overwinters in the form of larvae. Its imago comes out of the earth mainly in late May after mature. The body length has great individual diversity normally ranged from 25-60 cm, It also shows strong phototaxy. One lamp can trap more than 2 000 of them per night. Female imago has a large egg load with the maximum amount of 543. The eggs hatching is in depth of 1-3 cm soil. The dominant hatching period of egg is from late June to early July, and hatchability is over 85%. The living space of larva ranges from 15-60 cm in soil. D. hydropicus has caused serious harm and lead to thousands of Cirtus grandis trees death every year.

CONCLUSIONDorysthenes hydropicus showed serious threat to the growth of Cirtus grandis and should be prevented and controlled.

Animals ; Citrus ; parasitology ; Coleoptera ; physiology ; Insect Control ; Larva ; physiology ; Ovum ; physiology ; Plant Diseases ; parasitology

The osmotic challenges facing maturing spermatozoa and their responses to them are discussed in relation to the concept of sperm maturation, defined as the increased ability of more distally recovered epididymal spermatozoa to fertilize eggs when inseminated into the female tract. One explanation could be that the more distal cells are better able to regulate their volume, and reach the oviducts, as a consequence of uptake of epididymal osmolytes. Increased motility, zona binding and oolemma fusion capacities are also acquired within the epididymis and are necessary for those cells that finally arrive at the site of fertilization.
Animals ; Epididymis ; physiology ; Female ; Fertilization ; physiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mammals ; Mice ; Ovum ; physiology ; Sperm Maturation ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

Human sperm-egg recognition, adhesion and fusion are key steps in the whole reproductive process. Some abnormalities in human gamete interaction have been shown to be due to defects in the sperm, others attributed to defects in the zona pellucida (ZP) and the egg plasma membrane. This paper reviews the molecular basis and molecular mechanisms of human sperm-egg interaction. More and more advances in the studies of these aspects are shown to be of significant value to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility as well as to the development of assisted reproductive techniques.
Acrosome Reaction ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology ; Zona Pellucida

OBJECTIVETo study the biological character of Hepialus introduced from Yunnan province.

METHODH. jianchuanensis introduced from Yunnan was bred artificially to observe its biological character.

RESULTThe pupa duration was about 40 d, pupa emergence lasted for one day, female to male ratio was about 1.2:1, the mating peak was 19:30-20:30, the adults duration was about 25 d, the average life time of female was 5-6 d and that of male 6-7 d, the average number of the producing egg was about 300, the average weight of the 100 eggs was 10.33 mg. Lasting period of the larva is 350 d and the infancy larva showed the character of the polyphagy and cold endurance.

CONCLUSIONResults indicate that there are some differences in the whole duration, weight of the 100 eggs and the number of the eggs left in the abdomen between H. jianchuanensis and others bred at the Kangding base.

Animals ; Arachnid Vectors ; microbiology ; physiology ; China ; Cold Temperature ; Feeding Behavior ; physiology ; Female ; Larva ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Male ; Moths ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Oviposition ; physiology ; Ovum ; physiology ; Pupa ; physiology

The luminal fluid environment of the female reproductive tract is considered critical for the sperm to undergo a series of molecular events leading to the final acquisition of their fertilizing capacity. It has been shown that the fluid in the female reproductive tract contains high content of HCO3- and it plays an important role in sperm functions including sperm motility, capacitation, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction. This review summarizes the effects of HCO3- on sperm functions occurring in the female reproductive tract and discusses the transport mechanisms involved in mediating uterine HCO3- secretion. New evidence is also presented to show possible cause of female infertility due to defective HCO3- transporting mechanism.
Animals ; Bicarbonates ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertilization ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Capacitation ; physiology ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology ; Uterus ; metabolism ; secretion

Sperm membrane fluidity is one of the causes of male infertility, and it is thought to be related with temperature, reactive oxygen species, oxygen free radicals, anti-sperm antibodies, stilbestrol, and fenvalerate. A deeper insight into the influencing factors of sperm membrane fluidity is of vital importance for in vitro sperm preservation, revival of frozen-thawed sperm, in vitro fertilization and management of male infertility.
Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Membrane Fluidity ; Semen Preservation ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Spermatozoa ; physiology