Reproduction, Fertility and Development

Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Reproduction, Fertility and Development has moved to a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 16 May 2024

RD23235Genotyping of rams based on melatonin receptor 1A gene polymorphisms: a tool in sire selection?

Victoria Peña-Delgado , Agustí Noya , Melissa Carvajal-Serna , Francisco Canto , María Carmen Sánchez, Eva Letosa, Antonio Vicente, Ignacio Morato, Ángel Macías, José Alfonso Abecia , Adriana Casao and Rosaura Pérez-Pe

 

Some variants of the melatonin receptor gene affect seasonal reproduction in sheep, but it is not clear how they affect males and their spermatozoa. This study explores the impact of two genetic variants of the melatonin receptor gene on ram seminal quality throughout the year. Results revealed that there is a detrimental effect on seminal quality, more pronounced during the reproductive season, depending on the variant carried, which highlights the potential of genotyping for optimal sire selection in breeding programs. Image by Victoria Peña-Delgado.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23235 Abstract  |  RD23235 Full Text  | RD23235PDF (1.8 MB)  | RD23235Supplementary Material (729 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 16 May 2024

RD23139Melatonin administration during the first half of pregnancy improves physiological response and reproductive performance of rabbits under heat stress conditions

Nesrein M. Hashem , Elshymaa A. Abdelnaby, Mahmoud Madkour and Hossam R. El-Sherbiny

 

Melatonin administration (1 mg/kg body weight) during the first half of pregnancy of heat-stressed rabbits improved heat-tolerance capacity, sex hormone production, and fetal viability. These positive effects were subsequently associated with improved conception rate and kindling rate. Image by authors.

This article belongs to the Collection Non-photoperiodic Actions of Melatonin.

RD23139 Abstract  | PDF (918 KB) - $35.00 

Published online 15 May 2024

RD24034The perils of poly- and perfluorinated chemicals on the reproductive health of humans, livestock, and wildlife

Mark P. Green, Cameron Shearer, Rebecca Patrick, Shervin Kabiri, Nicola Rivers and Brett Nixon

 

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants that can accumulate in body tissues and cause adverse health outcomes. This article combines the perspectives of chemists, soil scientists, reproductive biologists, and health policy researchers, to summarise the issue of PFAS contamination and its specific impact on the reproductive health of all animals. It also highlights the important role scientists have to play in educating the public and policy makers on the complexity of the planetary health issues surrounding PFAS. Images were obtained from iStock: https://www.istockphoto.com/

RD24034 Abstract  |  RD24034 Full Text  | RD24034PDF (905 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 May 2024

RD23082Maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation affects factors that regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis in the testis of adult progeny

Helen Viotti , Daniel Cavestany , Graeme B. Martin , Mark H. Vickers , Deborah M. Sloboda and Graciela Pedrana

 

In rats, we tested whether a high-fat diet fed to mothers during pregnancy and lactation would affect Sertoli cell function in their adult offspring. Changes in transcription factors and proteins that control proliferation and apoptosis in germ cells suggest that the high-fat diet alters the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, potentially reducing sperm production. Image by Graciela Pedrana, Grame Martin.

RD23082 Abstract  |  RD23082 Full Text  | RD23082PDF (6.3 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 07 May 2024

RD23219Impact of bull age, sperm processing, and microclimatic conditions on the viability and DNA integrity of cryopreserved bovine sperm

Burcu Cinar, Heinrich Bollwein, Mathias Siuda, Matthias Lautner, Claus Leiding and Eleni Malama

 

Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) plot for the categorical variables of season of semen collection and age class of 262 individual bulls. Points represent the score of each bull for the quantitative variables (percentage of sperm with intact plasma membrane and acrosome and percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (immediately after thawing and after 3 h of incubation at 38°C) in different seasons of the year. Photograph by Eleni Malama.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23219 Abstract  | PDF (2.5 MB) - $35.00   | RD23219Supplementary Material (7.9 MB)

Published online 07 May 2024

RD23239Sperm functionality is differentially regulated by porcine oviductal extracellular vesicles from the distinct phases of the estrous cycle

S. M. Toledo-Guardiola , P. Martínez-Díaz , R. Martínez-Núñez , S. Navarro-Serna , C. Soriano-Úbeda , J. Romero-Aguirregomezcorta and C. Matás

 

We examined the tiny structures called extracellular vesicles that come from the fluid in pig uterus in order to understand how these vesicles change during the reproductive cycle of female pigs. Those from the late stages of the cycle seemed to have a strong connection with sperm and a possible key role in fertility. These vesicles regulate sperm function and interaction with oocytes, and they could potentially be used in fertility treatments to improve the chances of successful fertilisation. Photograph by SM Toledo-Guardiola.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23239 Abstract  | PDF (2.5 MB) - $35.00   | RD23239Supplementary Material (1 MB)

Published online 09 April 2024

RD23215A ripple effect? The impact of obesity on sperm quality and function

Maria Inês Alfaiate, Renata Santos Tavares and João Ramalho-Santos

 

This review focuses on the potential impact of male obesity on sperm quality and function – a long-debated topic. The adverse effects of obesity on sperm parameters can significantly impair male and couple fertility, resulting in an increased necessity for fertility assistance among obese men. Furthermore, although more definitive research is needed, these individuals often experience poorer outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies. Image by João Ramalho-Santos.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23215 Abstract  | PDF (985 KB) - $35.00 

Published online 15 March 2024

RD23201The spatio-temporal distribution of aromatase cytochrome in ovary throughout the canine oestrous cycle

L. Lindh , M. P. Kowalewski, S. K. Goericke-Pesch, H. Lindeberg, G. Schuler and O. A. T. Peltoniemi

 

In clinical practice, contraception in female dogs is traditionally achieved by surgical gonadectomy. As this method is discouraged by new animal welfare legislation in some parts of the world and is also related to several side effects, alternative possibilities for contraception are needed. Here, we report the distribution of aromatase in the canine ovary during different stages of the oestrous cycle. In-depth knowledge of oestrogen synthesis in the female dog is mandatory for targeted inhibition of oestradiol, possibly by the use of aromatase inhibitors. Photograph by M. P. Kowalewski.

RD23201 Abstract  | PDF (4.8 MB) - $35.00 

Published online 12 March 2024

RD23212The future of equine semen analysis

Fernando J. Peña , Francisco Eduardo Martín-Cano, Laura Becerro-Rey, Cristina Ortega-Ferrusola, Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips, Eva da Silva-Álvarez and María Cruz Gil

 

Sperm analysis will evolve through the ‘omics’, telemedicine, advanced flow cytometry, and the artificial intelligence.Image by Biorender.com.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23212 Abstract  | PDF (2.9 MB) - $35.00 

Published online 07 March 2024

RD23218Antibiotics in semen extenders – a multiplicity of paradoxes

Jane M. Morrell , Aleksandar Cojkic, Pongpreecha Malaluang, Theodoros Ntallaris , Johanna Lindahl and Ingrid Hansson

 

Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem of monumental proportions, requiring radical action to stem its progress. One of the questionable uses of antibiotics is in semen doses used for artificial insemination, which may be contrary to current recommendations to restrict antibiotics for therapeutic purposes. This review describes some of the problems arising from antibiotic use in semen extenders and suggests some alternatives. Photographs by Jane M. Morrell.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD23218 Abstract  | PDF (985 KB) - $35.00 

Published online 28 February 2024

RD24014The case for considering the term ‘mitochondrial vesicle’ as a misnomer in publications about assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for amphibians

Robert K. Browne , Govindappa Venu and Svetlana A. Kaurova

 

The term ‘mitochondrial vesicle’ was first used in 2003 in a description of anuran sperm and persists to this day in the literature on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for amphibians. In the present paper, we argue that the term ‘mitochondrial vesicle’ is inappropriate because the widely accepted definition of a ‘vesicle’ refers to an integral structure with an enclosing lipid bilayer/membrane. Photograph by Robert Browne.

This article belongs to the Collection Dedication to Jim Cummins.

RD24014 Abstract  | PDF (366 KB) - $35.00 

Published online 26 February 2024

RD23171The role of the oviduct environment in embryo survival

Jennifer L. Juengel , Karen L. Reader , Paul H. Maclean, Laurel D. Quirke, Sylvia Zellhuber-McMillan, Neville A. Haack and Axel Heiser

 

Declining fertility is an issue in multiple mammalian species, with around 15% of couples experiencing infertility. Differential expression of genes involved in inflammation, linked with altered steroid signalling in the oviduct, was observed in peripubertal ewes, a model of poor fertility. Ensuring that the oviductal environment does not become hostile to fertilisation and early embryo development may provide a novel approach to improve fertility, particularly in conditions associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Photograph by Jenny Juengel.

RD23171 Abstract  |  RD23171 Full Text  | RD23171PDF (2.2 MB)  | RD23171Supplementary Material (655 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2024

RD23213Recent advances in reproductive research in Australia and New Zealand: highlights from the Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2022

Ella S. Green , Hon Y. Chan, Emily Frost , Meaghan Griffiths, Jennifer Hutchison, Jacinta H. Martin, Bettina P. Mihalas, Trent Newman and Jessica E. M. Dunleavy

 

Each year the Society for Reproductive Biology meets to showcase the latest advances in reproductive research in Australia and New Zealand. The 2022 meeting featured research across a diverse range of themes relevant to human health and fertility, exotic species conservation, and agricultural breeding practices. Here, we highlight the key advances presented across the main themes of the meeting. Image by Society for Reproductive Biology.

RD23213 Abstract  |  RD23213 Full Text  | RD23213PDF (417 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 09 February 2024

RD23117The semen microbiome of miniature pony stallions

C. Giselle Cooke , Zamira Gibb , Christopher G. Grupen , Kathrin Schemann , Nandan Deshpande and Joanna E. Harnett

 

To date, a detailed description of the microbiota that inhabit the semen of fertile stallions has not been reported. This study examined the composition of the semen microbiome of four fertile miniature pony stallions. By profiling the semen microbiota of these ponies, we aimed to provide data that can inform future studies exploring the relationship between stallion fertility and the reproductive microbiome. The image was created with Biorender.com

RD23117 Abstract  |  RD23117 Full Text  | RD23117PDF (721 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 02 February 2024

RD23136Lycopene inhibits apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes in varicocele via miR-23a/b-induced downregulation of PROK2

Hongqiang Wang, Baojuan Zhu, Tao Jing, Lei Yu, Kaishu Zhang, Yujie Liu and Hanshu Wang

 

Hypoxia is one of the most important factors to contribute to varicocele-associated impaired testicular function. Lycopene is a pharmacologically active carotenoid, which is the major bioactive constituent in many fruits and vegetables. Lycopene could attenuate hypoxia-induced spermatocyte injury through the miR-23a/b–PROK2 pathway. Lycopene might be an effective treatment for varicocele to improve testicular impairment. Image by Hongqiang Wang.

RD23136 Abstract  | PDF (2 MB) - $35.00   | RD23136Supplementary Material (844 KB)

More content

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

RD24065, Accepted 14 May 2024

From cardiovascular protection to cardiovascular risk: the metamorphosis of menopausal hormone therapy

Bronwyn Stuckey

 

RD24065Abstract

RD24001, Accepted 09 May 2024

Protocol for the controlled reproduction of the edible frog Aubria subsigillata in aquaculture hatcheries in the Republic of Benin

Houénafa Gansa and Hyppolite Agadjihouèdé

 

RD24001Abstract

RD23132, Accepted 20 April 2024

Clustering of spermatozoa examined through flow cytometry provides more information than the conventional assessment: a resilience to osmotic stress example

Julián Valencia , Sebastián Bonilla-Correal, Elizabeth Pinart, Sergi Bonet and Marc Yeste

 

RD23132Abstract

RD20302, Accepted 03 February 2021

RAF1 mediates the FSH signaling pathway as a downstream molecule to stimulate estradiol synthesis and secretion in mouse ovarian granulosa cells

Xuan Luo, Hui Liu, Hongzhou Guo, Longjie Sun, Kemian Gou and Sheng Cui

 

RD20302Abstract

Most Read

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1. The perils of poly- and perfluorinated chemicals on the reproductive health of humans, livestock, and wildlife

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (9)

   Mark P. Green, Cameron Shearer, Rebecca Patrick, Shervin Kabiri, Nicola Rivers , Brett Nixon

2. From fertilised oocyte to cultivated meat – harnessing bovine embryonic stem cells in the cultivated meat industry

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

   Eldar Zehorai, Ayelet Maor-Shoshani, Natali Molotski, Anastasya Dorojkin, Nitzan Marelly, Tami Dvash, Neta Lavon

3. The role of the oviduct environment in embryo survival

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (5)

   Jennifer L. Juengel , Karen L. Reader , Paul H. Maclean, Laurel D. Quirke, Sylvia Zellhuber-McMillan, Neville A. Haack, Axel Heiser

4. Recent advances in reproductive research in Australia and New Zealand: highlights from the Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2022

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (4)

   Ella S. Green , Hon Y. Chan, Emily Frost , Meaghan Griffiths, Jennifer Hutchison, Jacinta H. Martin, Bettina P. Mihalas, Trent Newman, Jessica E. M. Dunleavy

5. Understanding conceptus–maternal interactions: what tools do we need to develop?

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

   Zenab Butt, Haidee Tinning, Mary J O’Connell, Jonathan Fenn, Ramiro Alberio, Niamh Forde

6. The semen microbiome of miniature pony stallions

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (4)

   C. Giselle Cooke , Zamira Gibb , Christopher G. Grupen , Kathrin Schemann , Nandan Deshpande, Joanna E. Harnett

7. Production of light-coloured, low heat-absorbing Holstein Friesian cattle by precise embryo-mediated genome editing

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

   Jingwei Wei , Brigid Brophy, Sally-Ann Cole, Shane Leath, Björn Oback, Jens Boch, David N. Wells, Götz Laible

8. Impact of COVID-19 disease on the male factor in reproductive medicine – how-to advise couples undergoing IVF/ICSI

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (3)

   Julia Stark , Stefan P. Kuster, Vera Hungerbühler

9. Effect of arachidonic acid on pre- and post-hatching in vitro bovine embryo development

   Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35 (12)

   L. González-Brusi, A. Pérez-Gómez, A. C. Quiroga, C. Tamargo, P. Ramos-Ibeas, P. Bermejo-Álvarez

10. Differential expression and localisation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) in the testis and epididymis of Sonid Bactrian camels

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35 (10)

    Gaowa Hasi, Liyasu Wu, Tserennadmid Sodnompil, Ruhan Yi, Rihan Wu, Rui Zhang, Haya Na, Hejie Liu, Musi Ji, Wangwei Xie, Narenhua Nasenochir

11. The intertwining roles of caveolin, oxytocin receptor, and the associated signalling pathways in prostate cancer progression

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35 (9)

    M. L. Gould

12. Paternal determinants of early embryo development

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

    Kelsey N. Lockhart, Lindsey C. Fallon, M. Sofia Ortega

13. Maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation affects factors that regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis in the testis of adult progeny

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (9)

    Helen Viotti , Daniel Cavestany , Graeme B. Martin , Mark H. Vickers , Deborah M. Sloboda , Graciela Pedrana

14. The future of equine semen analysis

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (6)

    Fernando J. Peña , Francisco Eduardo Martín-Cano, Laura Becerro-Rey, Cristina Ortega-Ferrusola, Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips, Eva da Silva-Álvarez, María Cruz Gil

15. Increased DNA strand breaks in spermatozoa of Pxt1 knockout mice

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35 (11)

    Bernadetta Pawlicka, Michal Duliban , Mateusz Zieba, Michal Bochenek, Kamila Zieba, Ibrahim Adham, Maja Studencka-Turski, Andreas Meinhardt, Pawel Grzmil

16. Aquaporin 7 is upregulated through the PI3K-Akt pathway and modulates decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35 (14)

    Min Liu , Yong-Jie Mi, Juan Dai

17. Mammalian embryo culture media: now and into the future

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

    Deirdre L. Zander-Fox , Leanne Pacella-Ince, Daniel K. Morgan, Mark P. Green

18. The oocyte: the key player in the success of assisted reproduction technologies

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

    Trudee Fair , Pat Lonergan

19. Looking back at five decades of embryo technology in practice

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (2)

    John F. Hasler

20. A ripple effect? The impact of obesity on sperm quality and function

    Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36 (7)

    Maria Inês Alfaiate, Renata Santos Tavares , João Ramalho-Santos