In the original version of the article, a correction in Table 2 was inadvertently missed. The text for the ACIDFORM gel previously read as “13.7% [42] (n=1183) (7-cycle cumulative typical-use pregnancy rate or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed. Amphora was applied 0–60 min before coitus.)”. However, the correct text is “13.7% [42] (n=1183) (7-cycle cumulative typical-use pregnancy rate).

The strain of Trueperella pyogenes described in the original manuscript is incorrect and should read T. pyogenes MS249. The MS249 strain was the only T. pyogenes used throughout this study. Intrauterine infusion of E. coli MS499 and T. pyogenes MS249 was used to induce uterine infection in cattle.

Nutrient restriction (NR) has the potential to negatively impact birthweight, an indicator of neonatal survival and lifelong health. Those fetuses are termed small for gestational age (SGA). Interestingly, there is a spectral phenotype of fetal growth rates in response to NR associated with changes in placental development, nutrient and waste transport, and lipid metabolism. A sheep model with a maternal

Preeclampsia (PE) is a placental disorder caused by endothelial dysfunction via trophoblast inadequate invasion activity. Adrenomedullin (ADM) and ADM2 are multi-functional peptides that can support vascular activity and placental growth. However, correlation between ADMs and trophoblast functions is currently unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in expression of ADMs in placenta

This review focuses on current knowledge of paternal contributions to preimplantation embryonic development with particular emphasis on large animals. Specifically, the included content aims to summarize genomic and epigenomic contributions of paternally expressed genes, their regulation and chromatin structure that are indispensable for early embryo development. The accumulation of current knowledge

Acquisition of endometrial receptivity for embryo implantation is one of the crucial processes during pregnancy and is induced mainly by progesterone and enhanced by conceptus signals. Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) is characterized as a secretory protein with diverse functions in various tissues, including the reproductive tract. PROK1, with its receptor PROKR1, are up-regulated in the porcine endometrium

Double homeobox genes are unique to eutherian mammals. It has been proposed that the DUXC clade of the double homeobox gene family, which is present in multicopy long tandem arrays, plays an essential role in zygotic genome activation (ZGA). We generated a deletion of the tandem array encoding the DUXC gene of mouse, Dux, and found it surprisingly to be homozygous viable and fertile. We characterize

The genus Mus consists of many species with high genetic diversity. However, only one species, Mus musculus (the laboratory mouse), is common in biomedical research. The unavailability of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) for other Mus species might be a major reason for their limited use in laboratories. Here, we devised ARTs for Mus spretus (the Algerian mouse), a commonly used wild-derived

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

Conditional knockout (cKO) mice have contributed greatly to understanding the tissue- or stage-specific functions of genes in vivo. However, the current cKO method requires considerable time and effort because of the need to generate two gene-modified mouse strains (Cre transgenic and loxP knockin) for crossing. Here we examined whether we could analyze the germ cell-related functions of embryonic

Female fertility relies on successful egg development. Besides chromosome segregation, complex structural and biochemical changes in the cytoplasmic compartment are necessary to confer the female gamete the capacity to undergo normal fertilization and sustain embryonic development. Despite the profound impact on egg quality, morphological bases of cytoplasmic maturation remain largely unknown. Here

Infection by human-papillomavirus (HPV) represents one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in both men and women worldwide. Recently, the detection of HPV-virions in the semen of a large percentage of sexually active men has been associated with detrimental effects on both sperm parameters and on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) treatment outcomes. Conventional semen washing procedure

Actinomycin D (ActD) has been considered as one of the most effective and safe chemotherapeutic medications for treating a number of cancers. Although ActD has been used in the treatment of gynecological tumors and pediatric tumors for more than 50 years, the toxic effects of ActD on mammalian oocytes remain unknown. In this study, the influence of ActD on mouse and human oocyte maturation and the

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, is widely studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-senescent properties. Recently, two studies reported seemingly conflicting findings on the actions of resveratrol on decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). One study by Ochiai, et al. demonstrated that resveratrol inhibits decidual transformation of primary cultured HESCs. The other

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), can have far reaching health effects, including transgenerational abnormalities in offspring that never directly contacted either chemical. We previously reported reduced fertilization rates and embryo survival at F2 and F3 generations caused by 7-day embryonic exposure (F0) to 100 μg/L BPA or 0.05 μg/L

Ephrins are ligands of Eph receptors (Ephs); both of which are sorted into two classes, A and B. There are five types of ephrin-As (ephrin-A1–5) and three types of ephrin-Bs (ephrin-B1–3). Also, there are ten types of EphAs (EphA1–10) and six types of EphBs (EphB1–6). Binding of ephrins to the Eph receptors activates signaling cascades that regulate several biological processes such as cellular proliferation

Studying selection of multiple dominant follicles (DF) in monovulatory species can advance our understanding of mechanisms regulating selection of single or multiple DF. Carriers of the bovine high fecundity Trio allele select multiple DF whereas half-sib noncarriers select a single DF. This study compared follicle selection during endogenous gonadotropin pulses vs during ablation of pulses with Acyline

In animals, spermatogonial transplantation in sterile adult males is widely developed; however, despite its utility, ovarian germ-cell transplantation is not well developed. We previously showed that the interspecific hybrid offspring of sciaenid was a suitable model for germ-cell transplantation studies as they have germ cell-less gonads. However, all these gonads have testis-like characteristics

The physiological functions of progesterone (P4) in female reproductive organs including the mammary glands are mediated via the progesterone receptor (PR), but not all P4 functions can be explained by PR-mediated signaling. Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) a potential mediator of P4 actions plays an important role in the ovary and uterus in maintaining female fertility and pregnancy

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

Evidence suggests that maternal obesity can aggravate placental function causing severe pathologies during the perinatal window. However, molecular changes and mechanisms of placental dysfunction remain largely unknown. This work aimed to decipher structural and molecular alterations of the placental transfer zone associated with maternal obesity. To this end, mice were fed a high fat diet to induce

Oxidative stress and apoptosis of trophoblasts are involved in preeclampsia (PE). Numerous studies have shown that acetylcholine (ACh), the principal vagal neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in a variety of human diseases. However, the role of ACh in PE management remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of ACh on TNF-α-treated

There has been a significant annual increase in the number of cases of uterine leiomyomas or fibroids amongst women of all races and ages across the world. A fortune is usually spent by the healthcare sector for fibroid related treatments and management. Molecular studies have established the higher mutational heterogeneity in UF as compared to normal myometrial cells. The contribution of DNA damage

Human placental vessels (HPVs) play important roles in the exchange of metabolites and oxygen in maternal-fetal circulation. Endothelial-derived prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2, PGI2) is a critical endothelial vasodilator in the body. However, the physiological and pharmacological functions of endothelial PGI2 in the human placenta are still unclear. Human, sheep, and rat blood vessels were used in

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling regulates multifaceted reproductive processes. It has been shown that the type 1 receptor of TGFβ (TGFBR1) is indispensable for female reproductive tract development, implantation, placental development, and fertility. However, the role of TGFβ signaling in decidual development and function remains poorly defined. Our objective is to determine the impact

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

The release of late spermatids from the seminiferous epithelium requires the internalization of intercellular junctions by Sertoli cell specific structures called ‘tubulobulbar complexes’ (TBCs). These large, endocytic devices likely evolved from classic clathrin-mediated endocytosis machinery (CME), but have several important morphological differences to CME vesicles. Most notable among these differences

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormonal supplementation can improve oocyte quality in women with diminished ovarian function. However, it is unclear whether DHEA supplementation can also enhance ovarian function during the perimenopause (i.e., when the number of follicles in the ovary has undergone a marked reduction). To address this question, we examined the impact of 2.5-months of daily 5-mg oral

Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is an autocrine/paracrine growth factor that plays critical roles in embryonic and organ developments and is involved in diverse physiological events. Loss-of-function of FGF9 exhibits male-to-female sex reversal in the transgenic mouse model and gain of FGF9 copy number was found in human 46, XX sex reversal patient with disorders of sex development. These results

Preexisting/pregestational diabetes enhances the risk of birth defects. Several factors have been involved during the implantation process, such as cytokines (GM-CSF). The objective was to evaluate the effects of two levels of diabetes on the redox status of preimplantation embryos during the implantation process to comprehend how both are involved in embryo and fetal viability against maternal diabetes

Proper oocyte maturation is a prerequisite for successful reproduction and requires the resumption of meiosis to the metaphase II stage (MII). In bovine oocytes, nuclear maturation has been shown to occur in in vitro maturing cumulus-enclosed oocytes (COCs) in the absence of transcription, but their developmental capacity is reduced compared to transcriptionally competent COCs. To assess the impact

Some stallions yield ejaculates which do not tolerate conservation by refrigeration prior to artificial insemination (AI), showing improvement after removal of most of the seminal plasma (SP) by centrifugation. In this study, the SP-proteome of 10 different stallions was defined through HPLC/MS/MS and bioinformatic analysis in relation to the ability of the ejaculates to maintain semen quality when

Monitoring the health of a pregnancy is of utmost importance to both the fetus and the mother. The diagnosis of pregnancy complications typically occurs after the manifestation of symptoms, and limited preventative measures or effective treatments are available. Traditionally, pregnancy health is evaluated by analyzing maternal serum hormone levels, genetic testing, ultrasonographic imaging, and monitoring

Embryo implantation is an intricate process which requires competent embryo and receptive endometrium. The failure of endometrium to achieve receptivity is a recognized cause of infertility. However, due to multiplicity of events involved, the molecular mechanisms governing endometrial receptivity are still not fully understood. Traditional one-by-one approaches including western blotting and histochemistry

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

The Arctic aphids live briefly and must breed quickly to survive. Shortened life cycle, with only two generations: the stem-mother and sexuales—oviparous females and males is an adaptation for optimal use of the short breeding period, which lasts from late July to the end of August. Using Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum, an endemic High Arctic aphid species, we describe the structure of the reproductive

Development and functions of the ovary rely on appropriate signaling and communication between various ovarian cell types. FOXL2, a transcription factor that plays a key role at different stages of ovarian development, is associated with primary ovarian insufficiency and ovarian cancer as a result of its loss-of-function or mutations. In this study, we investigated the impact of aberrant, constitutive

The transcription factor FOXL2 regulates sex differentiation and reproductive function. Elevated levels of this transcription factor have been observed in the diseases of the uterus, such as endometriosis. However, the impact of elevated FOXL2 expression on uterine physiology remains unknown. In order to determine the consequences of altered FOXL2 in the female reproductive axis we generated mice with

The development and maturity of follicles are regulated by sex hormones and growth factors. It has been proven that peri-ovarian adipose tissue plays an important role in folliculogenesis and fertility in the female ICR and KM mice. The aim of the present study was to further investigate whether removal of bilateral peri-ovarian adipose tissue affected follicular development and lipid metabolism in

Kisspeptin (KISS1) is encoded by the KISS1 gene and was initially found to be a repressor of metastasis. Natural mutations in the KISS1 receptor gene (KISS1R) were subsequently shown be associated with idiopathic hypothalamic hypogonadism and impaired puberty. This led to interest in the role of KISS1 in reproduction. It was established that KISS1 had a fundamental role in the control of GnRH secretion

Deciphering mechanisms of oocyte development in female fishes still remains challenging and a comprehensive overview of this process at the level of the organ is still needed. The recent development of optical tissue clearing methods has tremendously boosted the 3D imaging of large size biological samples that are naturally opaque. However, no attempt of clearing on fish ovary that accumulates extremely

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are characterized by endocrine disorders accompanied by a decline in oocyte quality. In this study, we generated a PCOS mice model by hypodermic injection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA),and metformin was used as a positive control drug to study the effect of pachymic acid (PA) on endocrine and oocyte quality in PCOS mice.Compared with the model group, the

Sex steroids regulate insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. We had characterized a lean type 2 diabetes (T2D) rat model using gestational low protein (LP) diet programming. Our objective was to identify if endocrine dysfunction leading to decreased sex hormone levels will precede the development of T2D and if steroid replacement will prevent the onset of the disease. Pregnant rats were fed control

Maternal aging affects various aspects of oocytes’ physiology, including the functionality of their nuclear apparatus and mitochondria. In the present paper, we wished to investigate whether advanced reproductive age impacts also oocytes’ ability to generate proper Ca2+ oscillations in response to monospermic fertilization. We examined three different mouse strains/crosses: inbred C57BL/6Tar, outbred

Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily, plays an essential role in ovarian follicular development in mono-ovulatory mammalian species. Studies using a biallelic knockout mouse model revealed BMP15 potentially has just a minimal impact on female fertility and ovarian follicular development in poly-ovulatory species. In contrast, our

Mammalian fertilization involves a physical interaction between a sperm and an egg followed by molecular interactions amongst their various cell surface molecules. These interactions are initially mediated on the egg’s outermost matrix, zona pellucida (ZP), and then its plasma membrane. To better understand this process, it is pertinent to find the corresponding molecules on sperm that interact with

Although sexual transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) is well-documented, the viral reservoir(s) in the male reproductive tract remains uncertain in humans and immune-intact animal models. We evaluated the presence of ZIKV in a rhesus macaque pilot study to determine persistence in semen, assess the impact of infection on sperm functional characteristics, and define the viral reservoir in the male reproductive

This special issue of Biology of Reproduction, focused on contraception, was galvanized by the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Contraceptive Development Meeting that was hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The timing of the meeting (November 3–6, 2019) and the freedom that we had to interact and socialize was fortuitous

Spermiation is a multiple-step process involving profound cellular changes in both spermatids and Sertoli cells. We have observed spermiation defects, including abnormalities in spermatid orientation, translocation and release, in mice deficient in the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) and upon treatment with a pan-RAR antagonist. To elucidate the role of retinoid signaling in regulating spermiation

Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA), a nuclear receptor protein, has been validated as a target for male contraception by gene knockout studies and also pharmacologically using a pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist. Retinoic acid receptor alpha activity is indispensable for the spermatogenic process, and therefore its antagonists have potential as male contraceptive agents. This review discusses

Sympathetically mediated contractions of smooth muscle cells in the vasa deferentia are mediated by neuronally released adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and noradrenaline, which stimulate P2X1-purinoceptors and α1A-adrenoceptors, respectively. This process is crucial for sperm transport, as demonstrated in knockout mouse studies where simultaneous genetic deletion of P2X1-purinoceptors and α1A-adrenoceptors

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a member of the larger cell cycle regulating CDK family of kinases, activated by binding partner cyclins as its name suggests. Despite its canonical role in mitosis, CDK2 knockout mice are viable but sterile, suggesting compensatory mechanisms for loss of CDK2 in mitosis but not meiosis. Here, we review the literature surrounding the role of CDK2 in meiosis, particularly

Postcoital tests (PCTs) have been used for over a century in the clinical evaluation of infertile couples, and for nearly 70 years in the evaluation of new vaginal contraceptive products. PCTs have been largely replaced by more modern methods in the study of infertility, but they remain the most useful way to obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of vaginal contraceptive products. The World

One of the mechanisms that cells have developed to fulfil their specialized tasks is to express different molecular variants of a particular protein that has unique functional properties. Na,K-ATPase (NKA), the ion transport mechanism that maintains the transmembrane Na+ and K+ concentrations across the plasma membrane of cells, is one of such protein systems that shows high molecular and functional

There is concern that using depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) for pregnancy prevention heightens HIV susceptibility. While no clinical data establishes causal link between HIV acquisition and use of this injectable progestin, prior work from our laboratory showed that DMPA comparably lowers genital levels of the cell-cell adhesion molecule desmoglein-1 (DSG1) and weakens genital epithelial barrier

WEE2 oocyte meiosis inhibiting kinase is a well-conserved oocyte specific kinase with a dual regulatory role during meiosis. Active WEE2 maintains immature, germinal vesicle stage oocytes in prophase I arrest prior to the luteinizing hormone surge and facilitates exit from metaphase II arrest at fertilization. Spontaneous mutations at the WEE2 gene locus in women have been linked to total fertilization

The development of non-hormonal contraceptives is critical to increase options for women. In combination with prevention against sexually transmitted infections, they can become an important component of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) which address multiple reproductive health needs with a single product. Resulting from multiple rounds of expert consultations, this framework aims to guide

Sexually transmitted infections are highly prevalent, and over 40% of pregnancies are unplanned. We are producing new antibody-based multipurpose prevention technology products to address these problems and fill an unmet need in female reproductive health. We used a Nicotiana platform to manufacture monoclonal antibodies against two prevalent sexually transmitted pathogens, HIV-1 and HSV-2, and incorporated