1.Histochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates in the Male Reproductive System of the Horse.
Tae Young HA ; Mee Jung AHN ; Yong Duk LEE ; Jae Hyuk YANG ; Hee Seok KIM ; Tae Kyun SHIN
Journal of Veterinary Science 2003;4(1):21-28
Lectins are glycoproteins of plant and animal origin that have the ability to bind specific carbohydrate residues of cell glycoconjugates, particularly in terminal positions. In this study, the binding of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS-1 (isolectin B4), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), was studied in the reproductive systems of male thoroughbred horses.DBA was detected in the stereocilia of the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. It was weakly detected in connective tissue of the corpus epididymis. Strong SBA staining was seen in epithelial cells in the testis, stereocilia of the corpus and cauda epididymis, and in the vas deferens. There were intense positive reactions for isolectin B4 in interstitial cells in all tissue and serosa of the vas deferens. PNA staining was seen only in stereocilia in the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. Strong WGA staining was seen throughout the testis, except in Sertoli cells, stereocilia, and connective tissue. UEA-I was detected in secondary spermatids, stereocilia, and epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis.These results show that degenerating cells in the testis, epididymal tubules, and vas deferens have differential affinities for lectins, and suggest that lectins play a role in the reproductive system of the horse. The heterogeneity of the lectin staining pattern in the reproductive tubules of adult horses suggests that the carbohydrate composition of each cell type is region specific.
Animals
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Epididymis/cytology/*metabolism
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Horses/*metabolism
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Immunohistochemistry/veterinary
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Lectins/*metabolism
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Male
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Testis/cytology/*metabolism
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Vas Deferens/cytology/*metabolism
2.Relationship between plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and Sertoli cells.
Xiao-Yan WANG ; Cheng-Liang XIONG
National Journal of Andrology 2003;9(2):133-139
Plasminogen activator(PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI) are involved in many physiological or pathological events. The Sertoli cells, the important elements within the seminiferous epithelium, are thought to play a key role in spermatogenesis. The Sertoli cells secrete PA and PAI. The levels of them are modulated by hormonal and cell-mediated influences. They play a fundamental role in the maintenance of spermatogenesis, sperm motility and fertilization.
Humans
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Male
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Plasminogen Activators
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metabolism
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physiology
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Plasminogen Inactivators
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metabolism
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physiology
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Sertoli Cells
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metabolism
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physiology
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Testis
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cytology
3.Progress in the research of Sertoli cell cytoskeleton of the testis.
National Journal of Andrology 2008;14(8):675-679
This article introduces the structure and function of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton of the testis and the research progress in this aspect, focusing on the description of the function of vimentin, with some illustrations on the impact of physical and chemical factors on cytoskeleton, especially the structural changes of vimentin cell microfilament under simulated microgravity and space true microgravity. It for the first time proposes that the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton can be detected in semen, with a view to involving more researchers in further studies in this field.
Actin Cytoskeleton
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metabolism
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physiology
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Animals
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Apoptosis
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physiology
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Cytoskeleton
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metabolism
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physiology
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Humans
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Male
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Mice
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Rats
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Semen
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cytology
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metabolism
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Sertoli Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Testis
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cytology
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metabolism
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Vimentin
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metabolism
4.High temperature reduces the proliferation of and occludin expression in rat Sertoli cells in vitro.
Jian-Ting HU ; Cui-Hua SHAO ; Pei-Tao WANG ; Yong LIU ; Wei-Yu HAO ; You-Liang FENG ; Shi-Hai LIU ; Xin-Sheng WANG
National Journal of Andrology 2012;18(10):920-924
OBJECTIVETo explore the action mechanisms of temperature in male infertility or subfertility by observing the effects of different temperatures on the proliferation of and occludin (OCLN) expression in rat Sertoli cells in vitro.
METHODSWe isolated Sertoli cells from the testis of male Wistar rats, and performed oil red O staining and immunohistochemistry to identify their FasL. We cultured the Sertoli cells at 34 degrees C (control group) and at 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 degrees C (experimental groups) for 4 days. Then we measured their proliferation by CCK-8 assay, observed their morphology and structure by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and determined their OCLN expression level by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.
RESULTSThe purity of the isolated Sertoli cells was (96.20 +/- 1.95)%. CCK-8 assay indicated that the proliferation of the Sertoli cells was increased between 34 and 36 degrees C, and decreased at 36-39 degrees C. The pyknotic nuclei and fragmentation of the Sertoli cells were more obvious at > 36 degrees C. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed the highest level of OCLN expression at 36 degrees C, which, however, decreased while the temperature rose above 36 degrees C (P < 0. 01).
CONCLUSIONHigh temperature (> 36 degrees C) inhibited the proliferation of rat Sertoli cells in vitro, and decreased the expression of OCLN, which suggests that a higher temperature above 36 degrees C may reduce male fertility by affecting the proliferation of Sertoli cells and integrity of the tight junction among Sertoli cells or Sertoli cells and other cells.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Male ; Occludin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Temperature ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism
5.Update of the researches on the niche for spermatogonial stem cells.
National Journal of Andrology 2007;13(11):1028-1031
Spermatogonial stem cells are a population of immortal cells, capable of self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. The theory of the "stem cell niche" was originally proposed for the hematopoietic system, and niches also exist in testicular tissues. The niche for spermatogonial stem cells is a semi-isolation system, characteristic of specific number regulation and changing with the age. The self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells is regulated by two endogenous factors, nanos2 and Plzf, as well as by the niche cell-excreted factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).
Animals
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Carrier Proteins
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metabolism
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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metabolism
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Male
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Mice
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Spermatogonia
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cytology
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metabolism
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Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Testis
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cytology
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metabolism
6.Desert hedgehog regulates the proliferation and differentiation of Leydig cells: an update.
Sha-Sha ZOU ; Zheng LI ; Hong-Liang HU
National Journal of Andrology 2012;18(2):172-175
Hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating the development of endocrine glands. Desert hedgehog (Dhh) has become a recent focus for its regulation of testis development, especially of Leydig cells. Dhh, as a Sertoli cell product, regulates the proliferation and differentiation of Leydig cell lineage and functions to secrete testosterone through a paracrine signaling mechanism. Testosterone, as the most important sex hormone of the male, plays a critical role in testis development, spermatogenesis and maintenance of normal masculinization. Therefore, normal Dhh signaling pathway ensures normal spermatogenic function. Researches on the Hedgehog signaling pathway in the testis have a potential significance for studying the pathophysiological mechanisms of androgen deficiency and dyszoospermia, as well as for the clinical treatment of these diseases.
Cell Differentiation
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Cell Proliferation
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Hedgehog Proteins
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metabolism
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Humans
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Leydig Cells
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cytology
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Male
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Signal Transduction
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Spermatogenesis
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Testis
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cytology
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metabolism
7.Correlation of testis/sperm specific thioredoxin-1, 2 and 3 with male reproduction.
Bing-Zheng DONG ; Cong-Hui HAN
National Journal of Andrology 2007;13(7):639-642
Sptrx-1, 2 and 3 are a series of thioredoxins specifically expressed in the testis/sperm. They play a significant role structurally and functionally in the process of spermiogenesis. The genesis and mutation of sptrx-1, 2 and 3 are correlated to male reproduction. Taking sptrx-1, 2 and 3 as the target of study and treatment will open up a new field in the clinical study of male reproduction.
Humans
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Male
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Mutation
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Spermatogenesis
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genetics
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physiology
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Spermatozoa
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chemistry
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cytology
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metabolism
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Testis
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chemistry
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cytology
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metabolism
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Thioredoxins
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biosynthesis
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genetics
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physiology
8.Sertoli cell proliferation during the post hatching period in domestic fowl.
H Hakan BOZKURT ; Abit AKTA ; M Baak ULKAY ; Umay B FIRAT
Journal of Veterinary Science 2007;8(3):219-222
There has been no study aimed at directly determiningof the periods of Sertoli cell proliferation in birds evendomestic fowl. The aims of this study were to observe thecessation of post-hatching mitotic proliferation of Sertolicells in domestic fowl, and to determine the volumedensity of Sertoli and germ cells during this period. Atotal of 50 Leghorn chicks were used in this study. Thetestes sections of the animals were immunostained withBrdU to observe the proliferation of cells from one to 10weeks of age. The volume density of the Sertoli and germcells were determined using the standard point countingmethod. The volume density of the germ cell nuclei wasinitially less than that of the Sertoli cells but the volumedensity converged by week 6, and remained relativelyconstant until the commencement of meiosis. Clearlabeling of Sertoli and germ cells was observed from week1 to week 7. The only those cells still labeled after 8 weekswere germ cells, indicating that Sertoli cell proliferationhad ceased. Therefore, it is recommended that anyresearch into the testes of domestic fowl should considerthe cessation of Sertoli cell proliferation by approximately8 weeks.
Animals
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Bromodeoxyuridine/metabolism
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Cell Differentiation/physiology
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Cell Growth Processes/physiology
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Chickens/*physiology
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Histocytochemistry/veterinary
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Male
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Mitosis/physiology
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Sertoli Cells/*cytology/metabolism
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Spermatocytes/cytology
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Testis/*cytology/metabolism
9.STRA8 as a specific expression marker in postnatal male germ cells.
Xia-Ying LU ; Bei YANG ; Si-Fan XU ; Ting ZOU
National Journal of Andrology 2010;16(2):161-165
Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) is specifically expressed in mammalian germ cells before their transition from mitosis to meiosis. STRA8 expression is observed only in the postnatal testis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms but no mutations were identified in the coding or proximal promoter region of STRA8 in some gonadal dysgenesis patients. Studies on the teratocarcinoma cells and embryonic stem cells (ESC) transfected with STRA8-EGFP, a fusion construct harboring the promoter and coding region of the enhanced green fluorescence protein, have shown that the STRA8-EGFP positive cells may undergo meiosis, develop into sperm and generate live offspring mice. STRA8-EGFP positive cells derived from the bone marrow are able to differentiate into spermatogenic cells, but arrest in the premeiotic stage, and those from the adult mouse testis, when cultured in ESC culture conditions, may acquire ESC properties, pluripotency and redifferentiation capacity and act as a new stem cell source for tissue regeneration. The presence of oocytes renewed in postnatal mouse ovaries calls in question the absence of STRA8 in postnatal mouse ovaries.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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Animals
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Biomarkers
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metabolism
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Cells, Cultured
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Female
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Germ Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Humans
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Male
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Mice
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Oocytes
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metabolism
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Proteins
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metabolism
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Testis
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cytology
;
metabolism
10.Germ cell sex prior to meiosis in the rainbow trout.
Mingyou LI ; Qian SHEN ; Foong Mei WONG ; Hongyan XU ; Ni HONG ; Lingbing ZENG ; Lin LIU ; Qiwei WEI ; Yunhan HONG
Protein & Cell 2011;2(1):48-54
Germ cells make two major decisions when they move from an indeterminate state to their final stage of gamete production. One decision is sexual commitment for sperm or egg production, and the other is to maintain mitotic division or entry into meiosis. It is unclear whether the two decisions are made as a single event or separate events, because there has been no evidence for the presence of germ cell sex prior to meiosis. Here we report direct evidence in the fish rainbow trout that gonia have distinct sexuality. We show that dazl expression occurs in both male and female gonia but exhibits differential intracellular distribution. More strikingly, we show that boule is highly expressed in male gonia but absent in female gonia. Therefore, mitotic gonia possess sex, sperm/egg decision and mitosis/meiosis decision are two independent events, and sperm/egg decision precedes mitosis/meiosis decision in rainbow trout, making this organism a unique vertebrate model for mechanistic understanding of germ cell sex differentiation and relationship between the two decisions.
Animals
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Female
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Fish Proteins
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genetics
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Male
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Meiosis
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Oncorhynchus mykiss
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genetics
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physiology
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Ovary
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cytology
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metabolism
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Ovum
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cytology
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metabolism
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RNA, Messenger
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genetics
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metabolism
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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genetics
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Sex Determination Processes
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Spermatozoa
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cytology
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metabolism
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Testis
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cytology
;
metabolism