Changes of Cytokines Levels in Peritoneal Fluids of Patients with Endometriosis and Its Effect on Reproductive Activity

To study the changes of cytokines in peritoneal fluids of patients with endometriosis and their effects on reproductive activity, levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in peritoneal fluids and peritoneal macrophages' culture supernatant were studied by using enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) in 14 infertile patients with endometriosis (EMT group) and 11 infertile women with normal pelvis (control group). The effects of peritoneal fluids in patients with endometriosis in vitro on sperm motility and development of 2-cell mouse embryos were also studied. The results showed that the levels of TNF and IL-6 in peritoneal fluids and peritoneal macrophages' supernatant in EMT group were elevated significantly as cohipared with thai in the control group (P <0. 01). The percent of sperm straight line movement and total sperm motility were decreased significantly in EMT group (P<0. 01 ). The percent of 2-cell mouse embryos developing to 16-cells was 32. 5 % in EMT group, while 47. 6 % in control group after 48 h co-culture with peritoneal fluid (P <0. 01). It is likely that the elevation of peritoneal fluid cytokines in patients with endometriosis may play a role in infertility associated with endometriosis.

Reproductive strategies in males of the world’s southernmost lizards

Reproductive and life history patterns in reptiles are tightly related to the environmental conditions,so male reproductive cycles have been historically characterized as continuous,for tropical lizards,or seasonal,for temperate lizards.However,males of Liolaemus and Phymaturus lizards(Liolaemidae),from cold temperate climates of high altitudes or latitudes in Argentina and Chile,have developed a variety of reproductive cycles to coordinate with the short female reproductive season and to deal with the low frequency of reproductive females in the population.Using gonadal histology and morphological analysis,we describe the male reproductive biology,fat storage and sexual dimorphism of the viviparous lizards Liolaemus sarmientoi and Liolaemus magellanicus that inhabit an austral grass steppe at 51°S,in the southern limit of the American continent.Males of L.sarmientoi and L.magellanicus are reproductively available during the entire activity season of approximately 5 months.In addition,males of both species exhibit greater body sizes than females in morphological variables relevant in sexual selection.Meanwhile,females of both species exhibit larger inter-limb length than conspecific males,which suggests fecundity selection to increase space for a larger litter size.The continuous sperm production throughout the activity season allows these liolaemids to mate at any time when females ovulate,representing a selective advantage to deal with the short activity season and the adversities of the cold environment they inhabit.

Habitat use and demography of Mus musculus in a rural landscape of Argentina

The main goal of the paper was to determine the habitat distribution of the house mouse(Mus musculus)within a rural landscape of Buenos Aires province,Argentina.We also studied the seasonal variation in abundance and reproductive activity.The habitats studied were poultry farms,human houses in a small village,cropfields,pastures,cropfield and pasture edges,riparian habitats(streams),railway embankments and woodlots.We captured 817 M.musculus and 690 individuals of 5 native rodent species.M.musculus was captured in poultry farms,houses,riparian habitats,cropfield and borders,but it showed a significantly higher abundance in poultry farms compared to the other habitats.Its presence outside poultry farms was significantly related to the distance to streams and poultry farms.The mean trapping success index of M.musculus did not show significant variations between periods,but the proportion of active males was significantly higher in the spring-summer period than in the autumn-winter period.All captures of M.musculus in cropfields,borders and riparian habitats occurred in the spring-summer period.The capture of M.musculus in many types of habitats suggests that it can disperse outside poultry farms,and streams may be used as corridors.