Callicarpa is an important medicinal plant in China, which has hemostatic, antibacterial, and antioxidant pharmacological effects, and the efficacy of astringing and arresting bleeding, clearing heat and detoxification, activating blood, and resolving stasis is outstanding. At the same time, Callicarpa can be used as an ornamental plant because of its gorgeous flowers and fruits. Callicarpa has good market development prospects, but the long seed reproduction cycle directly limits the large demand for seedlings in its industrial development. Asexual reproduction technology is the basis for the industrialization development of Callicarpa, which is helpful in producing high-quality seedlings and medicinal materials. Although Chinese and foreign scholars have achieved remarkable results in the study of asexual reproduction of Callicarpa, there is no report on the large-scale production of seedlings of Callicarpa. Integrating and improving its asexual reproduction technology can promote the development and utilization of Callicarpa, improve its medicinal value, and create significant economic benefits. Therefore, the authors reviewed the effects of cutting, season, plant growth regulators, substrates, environment, and management measures on the cutting of Callicarpa and the research progress of tissue culture propagation affected by explants, basic media, exogenous additives, subculture cycles, culture conditions, and transplanting substrates. The mechanism of adventitious root formation was reviewed at the cellular, physiological, and biochemical levels, so as to put forward the problems and corresponding solutions in the study of asexual propagation technology and regulatory mechanism of Callicarpa and point out the future research directions. The study aims to provide a reference for in-depth research on the asexual propagation technology of Callicarpa and the commercial production of its high-quality seedlings.
Reproduction, Asexual ; Plants, Medicinal/physiology* ; Seedlings/growth & development* ; Tissue Culture Techniques

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional growth factors of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. They regulate steroid secretion from mammalian granulosa cells, promote granulosa cell survival and proliferation, and inhibit follicular atresia, luteinization, and granulosa cell apoptosis, thereby promoting the development and maturation of mammalian follicles. At the same time, BMPs play an important role in embryonic morphogenesis, induction of uterine receptivity, and blastocyst attachment. This paper describes the effects of BMPs on mammalian follicular and embryonic development and the roles of BMPs in female reproduction, focusing on the process in which BMPs promote follicular maturation by regulating steroid secretion from granulosa cells during mammalian oocyte maturation. This review aims to provide a reference for further research on mammalian oocyte culture and improvement of reproductive efficiency in female animals.
Animals ; Embryonic Development/drug effects* ; Female ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/pharmacology* ; Reproduction/physiology* ; Humans ; Granulosa Cells/cytology* ; Oocytes

Fetuin-B (FETUB) is a glycoprotein mainly synthesized and secreted by the liver. It is involved in many physiological and pathological processes including glucose metabolism, inflammatory response, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, myocardial infarction, tumor and so on. In recent years, FETUB has also been confirmed to play roles in the female reproductive system. FETUB may affect follicular development and play an important role in in vivo and in vitro fertilization. In addition, serum FETUB level is elevated significantly during pregnancy and labor. FETUB expression is changed in a variety of reproductive diseases (polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy). In this review, we summarize FETUB related studies in female reproduction, and focus on the roles of FETUB in female reproductive physiology and pathology, in order to provide information for the pathogenesis of reproductive disorders.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/physiopathology* ; Fetuin-B/physiology* ; Pregnancy Complications/metabolism* ; Animals ; Diabetes, Gestational/physiopathology* ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/metabolism* ; Reproduction/physiology* ; Ovarian Follicle/physiology*

Animals ; Antigens, Surface/genetics* ; Cell Communication/genetics* ; Copulation/physiology* ; Fallopian Tubes/metabolism* ; Female ; Fertilization/genetics* ; GPI-Linked Proteins/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism* ; Litter Size ; Luminescent Proteins/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Reproduction/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility/genetics* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Uterus/metabolism*

Exosomes ; physiology ; Female ; Genitalia, Female ; physiology ; Genitalia, Male ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Reproduction ; physiology

The growth parameters,clonal propagation parameters and sexual reproduction parameters of Acanthopanax giraldii population were systematically investigated and analyzed by means of population ecology in this study. The correlation among the above mentioned parameters and the correlation among canopy density,topography and soil fertility factors were analyzed. It is clear that there was a significant correlation among the clonal ramets,the fruit production capacity of the cluster and the new shoot production capacity of the A. giraldii. Sexual reproduction and clonal reproduction played an important role in the continuation of the population. Illumination was the key ecological factor that determined growth type. The increase in canopy density changed the population from " group clonal growth" to " guerrilla clonal growth",and the higher stand closure degree and low-strength herb layer competition was a necessary condition for seed germination and colonization. Under the background of natural forest protection and sustainable development of resources,the reproductive characteristics of wild A. giraldii resulted in the decrease of its recoverable quantity.
Ecosystem ; Eleutherococcus ; growth & development ; physiology ; Forests ; Reproduction ; Soil

The human quest to master the anatomy and physiology of living systems started as early as 1600 BC, with documents from the Greeks, Indians, and Romans presenting the earliest systematic studies and advances. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the progress slowed until the Renaissance renewed scientific interest in anatomy and physiology, ushering in an era of spectacular advances. Alongside the discoveries of modern science, innovations in media such as printing, photography and color reproduction, improved the accuracy of communicating science. Techniques for noninvasively viewing the human body, such as magnetic resonance imaging, opened up new ways of exploring and understanding anatomy, physiology, and disease pathogenesis. Advances in three-dimensional (3D)-technologies, including computer graphics and animation are directly linked to many advances in medicine and surgery. Anatomy education has come a long way from papyrus leaf inscriptions to computerized 3D modeling, holographic representation, and virtual reality-based software. The future presents unlimited options for studying and understanding anatomy as Google glasses, bioprinting, virtual reality, and allied technologies transform the world into a classroom. This review summarizes the journey of mankind to master anatomy and physiology.
Bioprinting ; Computer Graphics ; Education ; Eyeglasses ; Glass ; Human Body ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Photography ; Physiology ; Reproduction ; Roman World

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, serves numerous physiological functions in the body, particularly during puberty and reproduction. The exact mechanism by which leptin activates the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons to trigger puberty and reproduction remains unclear. Given the widespread distribution of leptin receptors in the body, both central and peripheral mechanisms involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis have been hypothesized. Leptin is necessary for normal reproductive function, but when present in excess, it can have detrimental effects on the male reproductive system. Human and animal studies point to leptin as a link between infertility and obesity, a suggestion that is corroborated by findings of low sperm count, increased sperm abnormalities, oxidative stress, and increased leptin levels in obese men. In addition, daily leptin administration to normal-weight rats has been shown to result in similar abnormalities in sperm parameters. The major pathways causing these abnormalities remain unidentified; however, these adverse effects have been attributed to leptin-induced increased oxidative stress because they are prevented by concurrently administering melatonin. Studies on leptin and its impact on sperm function are highly relevant in understanding and managing male infertility, particularly in overweight and obese men.
Animals ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/physiopathology* ; Leptin/physiology* ; Male ; Obesity/complications* ; Overweight/complications* ; Reproduction/physiology*

ObjectiveTo explore the antagonistic effect of vitamin E (VE) on male reproductive toxicity induced by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in pubertal SD rats and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThirty 5-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, corn oil control, low-dose (10 mg/kg/d), medium-dose (100 mg/kg/d) and high-dose DEHP exposure (500 mg/kg/d), and VE intervention (high-dose DEHP + VE ［100 mg/kg/d］), and treated respectively for 30 successive days. At 3 days after treatment, the testes of the animals were harvested for determination of the oxidative stress index, serum reproductive hormone levels, cauda epididymal sperm parameters, and expressions of cell apoptosis-related genes and proteins.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats of the medium- and high-dose DEHP groups showed significant decreases in the levels of such serum reproductive hormones as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T), sperm parameters as average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness (STR), linearity (LIN) and wobble (WOB), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), but significant increases were observed in the latter two groups in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA)(［3.32±0.87］ nmol/mg pro vs ［2.13±0.49］ nmol/ mg pro), mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3. In comparison with the high-dose DEHP group, the VE intervention group exhibited remarkably increased serum LH and T levels, sperm VAP, VSL, VCL, STR and WOB, and activities of SOD and GSH-Px, but markedly decreased mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3 in the testis tissue (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExposure to DEHP induces androgen secretion disorders, causes oxidative damage to the testicular tissue, activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the testis, and ultimately reduces the quality of epididymal sperm, while VE can protect the rat testis from DEHP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5 ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Epididymis ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds (SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol (4 mg·mL). In SMpol (4 mg·mL) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; drug effects ; physiology ; Longevity ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; drug effects