The sexually dimorphic expression of glutamate transporters and their implication in pain after spinal cord injury

In addition to the loss of motor function,~60% of patients develop pain after spinal cord injury.The cellular-molecular mechanisms are not well understood,but the data suggests that plasticity within the rostral,epicenter,and caudal penumbra of the injury site initiates a cellularmolecular interplay that acts as a rewiring mechanism leading to central neuropathic pain.Sprouting can lead to the formation of new connections triggering abnormal sensory transmission.The excitatory glutamate transporters are responsible for the reuptake of extracellular glutamate which makes them a critical target to prevent neuronal hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity.Our previous studies showed a sexually dimorphic therapeutic window for spinal cord injury after treatment with the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen.In this study,we investigated the anti-allodynic effects of tamoxifen in male and female rats with spinal cord injury.We hypothesized that tamoxifen exerts anti-allodynic effects by increasing the expression of glutamate transporters,leading to reduced hyperexcitability of the secondary neuron or by decreasing aberrant sprouting.Male and female rats received a moderate contusion to the thoracic spinal cord followed by subcutaneous slow-release treatment of tamoxifen or matrix pellets as a control(placebo).We used von Frey monofilaments and the“up-down method”to evaluate mechanical allodynia.Tamoxifen treatment decreased allodynia only in female rats with spinal cord injury revealing a sexdependent effect.The expression profile of glutamatergic transporters(excitatory amino acid transporter 1/glutamate aspartate transporter and excitatory amino acid transporter 2/glutamate transporter-1)revealed a sexual dimorphism in the rostral,epicenter,and caudal areas of the spinal cord with a pattern of expression primarily on astrocytes.Female rodents showed a significantly higher level of excitatory amino acid transporter-1 expression while male rodents showed increased excitatory amino acid transporter-2 expression compared with female rodents.Analyses of peptidergic(calcitonin gene-related peptide-α)and non-peptidergic(isolectin B4)fibers outgrowth in the dorsal horn after spinal cord injury showed an increased calcitonin gene-related peptide-α/isolectin B4 ratio in comparison with sham,suggesting increased receptive fields in the dorsal horn.Although the behavioral assay shows decreased allodynia in tamoxifen-treated female rats,this was not associated with overexpression of glutamate transporters or alterations in the dorsal horn laminae fibers at 28 days post-injury.Our findings provide new evidence of the sexually dimorphic expression of glutamate transporters in the spinal cord.The dimorphic expression revealed in this study provides a therapeutic opportunity for treating chronic pain,an area with a critical need for treatment.

Sexuality after Childbirth: Analysis of the Experiences of Central African Women in Bangui

Introduction: In many societies, sexuality is still a taboo subject. In the Central African Republic, this topic is rarely discussed outside the context of gynecological consultations and infertility, whereas the sexual life of couples is often disrupted by the arrival of a child, particularly by the ordeal of childbirth. The aim of the study is to analyze the sexual experience of Central African women after childbirth in order to contribute to improving the health of the population, in particular that of mother and child, and to facilitate harmony within the couple. Methodology: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study covering the period from July 1 to August 30, 2023, at the maternity ward of the Center University Hospitalier Communautaire. The study concerned only women who had given birth between the second week and the sixth month postpartum. The sampling was exhaustive. Results: A total of 303 women agreed to take part in our study, aged between 15 and 44, more than half of whom had completed secondary school. The eagerness of the women to take part in the study shows that they are ready to express themselves about their sexuality despite certain biases linked to the method of patient selection. Resumption of sexual relations was initiated by the partners within six weeks in the vast majority of cases. Conclusion: Resumption of sexual intercourse was delayed, often at the partner’s initiative. Further studies are needed to understand the cultural, religious and psychological dimensions of postpartum sexuality in the Central African context.

Transgenerational and Sexual Auto-Dissemination Within Anopheles Mosquitoes of the Malaria Parasite Transmission Blocking Microsporidia Sp MB in Burkina Faso

Introduction: Malaria control needs the development of complementary and/or alternative strategies such as biological controls. Despite, malaria’s current control efforts, the spread and the emergence of insecticide resistance in vectors undermine the fight against vectors. Endonsymbiotic fungi can be a good candidate to include in the existence of Arsenal. However, we know little about endosymbiotic fungi transmission and its impact on malaria transmission. In this paper, the authors aimed to investigate Microsporidia sp MB transgenerational and sexual autodissemination and malaria parasites within Anopheline mosquitoes. Methods: An entomology survey was conducted in Burkina Faso for one year (June 2020 to June 2021) using the Residual Fauna Capture method. Infection rates in collected females, sexual autodissemination of Microsporidia sp MB in both Microsporidia sp MB negative females and Microsporidia sp MB negative males through mating, transgenerational prevalence from parents to offsprings and the correlation between Microsporidia sp MB and Plasmodium falciparum were investigated. Results: Results show Microsporidia sp MB infection in An. gambaie s.l in Burkina Faso. The prevalence was significantly higher (21.78%) in An. coluzzii than An. gambiae s.s (16.89%) (p-value = 0.03). Sexual auto-dissemination of Microsporidia sp MB in Microsporidia sp MB uninfected females was significantly 3-fold lower than those in Microsporidia sp MB uninfected males (9.23% and 33.33%, p-value = 0.03) during mating for An. coluzzii lines. Microsporidia sp MB prevalence was significantly higher through mosquitos’ generations in An. gambaie s.s than An. coluzzii (30.23% vs 26.41%, p-value Microsporidia sp MB and Plasmodium infection rate with 73% of Microsporidia sp MB positive mosquitoes which were negative at Plasmodium infection (p-value Conclusions: Our findings pave the road to developing new malaria control technologies by making Microsporidia sp MB-positive males sexually competitive with wild males to spread the fungus to wild female mosquitoes.

Emergency Care for Children and Adolescents after Sexual Violence, in Brazil’s Capital, Brasilia

Objective: Sexual violence affects women of all ages but, more commonly, children and adolescents. This study aimed to identify the extent to which services are being provided at the hospitals responsible for the emergency care of children and adolescents who have suffered sexual violence and to determine whether there is any difference in the provision of such services as a function of the victim’s age. Method: This cross-sectional study investigated differences in the care received by female children and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence in a capital city, comparing the treatment given to girls under 15 with that given to adolescents of 15 to 19 years of age. The data were extracted from the State Department of Health database between 01/01/2012 and 31/12/2016. Results: Children under 15 were much less likely to receive prophylaxis against HIV, sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis B, with the number of adolescent girls treated adequately corresponding to between twice and almost three times the number of children treated prophylactically. Only 10% of girls under 15 received emergency contraception. Conclusion: The lack of standard care established by the Ministry of Health highlights the need for urgent debates both locally and probably throughout the country, as the situation may be similar in other regions of the country.

Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproductive Characteristics in the Hainan Water Skink(Tropidophorus hainanus)from Hainan,South China

We studied sexual dimorphism in body size and shape and female reproductive characteristics in the Hainan Water Skink(Tropidophorus hainanus)from Hainan,South China.In our sample the largest female and male were 61.1 and 55.2 mm snout-vent length(SVL),respectively.The mean SVL was larger in adult females(52.0 mm)than in adult males(48.3 mm).Juveniles were sexually dimorphic in head length but not in other examined morphological variables.Adult males were longer in head length and shorter in abdomen length and fore-limb length than adult females of the same SVL.Ontogenetic shifts in sexual dimorphism in body shape were evident,as revealed by the fact that morphological differences between the sexes were more pronounced in adults than in juveniles.Females produced a single litter of 3–6 offspring per season from early August to early September.Litter size,litter mass and offspring(neonate)mass were positively related to female SVL.Neonate mass was independent of relative fecundity.From the above findings we draw three main conclusions.First,females are the larger sex in T.hainanus,and sexual dimorphism in body shape is more pronounced in adults than in juveniles.Second,larger female T.hainanus produce more and larger offspring and thus heavier litters than smaller ones.Third,the offspring size-number trade-off does is not evident in T.hainanus.

Changes in sexual activity in young women during pregnancy

Objective:To conduct changes in sexual activity during pregnancy and its related factors in pregnant women.Methods:The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on pregnant women who referred to the women's clinic of Afzalipour Hospital in the southeast of Iran.Participants were included in the study through convenient sampling.The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of two parts of personal social information of the couple and questions to measure the level of sexual activity and the attitude of the subjects during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy.Results:201 Pregnant women were included.The average age of pregnant women was(27.3±6.1)years and their average gestational age was(24.7±11.8)years.More than 62%of women had decreased sexual activity.There was a significant relationship between the amount of changes in sexual activity and delivery time(P=0.013),abortion history(P=0.001)and premature birth history(P=0.002).Most pregnant women believed that sex during pregnancy caused damage to the fetus(67.7%).A decrease in the intensity of sexual desire was reported in 63%of pregnant women.More than 60%of the subjects did not consult with doctors and midwives with regards to sexual issues(63.5%).The most common reason for not consulting was not feeling the need(32%).Most women experienced back pain during(42.8%)and after(39.8%)intercourse.Conclusions:Changes in sex life during pregnancy are often caused by the lack of sexual knowledge and the increase in misconceptions among couples,which can affect the quality of relationships.The role of education is essential.Therefore,it is suggested that by including sexual counseling along with pregnancy care,wrong beliefs and information among women will be corrected.

Determinants of Sexual Activity among HIV-Infected Adolescents in Cameroon

Introduction: Adolescence is a period of transition to adulthood, including for HIV-infected adolescents (HIA), when sexual problems emerge. Few studies have been carried out on the sexuality of HIA. This study aimed to assess the sexual behavior of HIV-infected adolescents in Cameroon. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three hospitals in the cities of Yaoundé and Douala, from November 2019 to June 2020. All HIA aged 13 to 19 years followed in the study who knew their HIV status were included in the study after obtaining their assent and their parent’s consent. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected, as well as sexual practices and the determinants of their sexual activity. A multivariate analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the different variables studied and the sexual activity of these adolescents. Results: Of 204 HIA enrolled in the study, 64 (31.7%) were sexually active, the mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.6 ± 2.8 years and the sex ratio was 0.94. Of the adolescents in the study, 75.7% of girls and 61.2% of boys had regular sexual activity, while 21.3% of girls and 35.4% of boys had multiple sexual relationships in the six months preceding the study. Nearly 16 (25.0%) of the sexually active HIA had more than 2 sexual encounters per month, 6 (9.3%) of these encounters had been paid for and 9 (27.2%) of the girls had already had at least one pregnancy. More than 7 out of 10 HIA (79.6%) had used a condom the last time they had sex. Age less than 18 years [OR = 11.1 (95% CI: 3.1 - 39.4), p = 0.001], lack of remuneration [OR = 9.8 (95% CI: 2.0 - 47.4), p = 0.001] and self-care were significantly associated with sexual activity in HIA, while school attendance was a protective factor. Self-funded HIAs were 21 times more likely to be sexually active [OR = 21.6 (95% CI: 2.3 - 179), p = 0.004]. Conclusion: More than a third of HIV-infected adolescents were sexually active and risky sexual practices were not negligible.

Sexual Assault and Its Psychopathological Repercussions in the Life of Female Students in Northeastern Benin (2023)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychic repercussions of sexual assault among female students in Parakou in 2023. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from December 2022 to July 2023 among all students at the University of Parakou. The sampling technique was stratified non-proportional at two levels. The dependent variable was self-reported sexual assault. The psychopathological repercussions linked to sexual assault and explored in these students were: post-traumatic stress disorder assessed with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 (PCL-5) scale;and current depression screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. Results: A total of 376 female students from the University of Parakou meeting the inclusion criteria were surveyed. The average age of the subjects surveyed was 20.56 ± 2.46 years, with extremes of 16 and 32 years. A predominance of subjects under 25 was observed. The prevalence of sexual assault among female students at the University of Parakou was 10.63%. The types of aggression suffered were mostly rape (18 people;45%) and sexual touching (16 people;40%), and the aggressors were mainly friends/boyfriends (13;32.5%), family members (12;30.0%) and people from the house/neighborhood (9;22.5%). Psychological repercussions included depression in 72.5% (29) of cases, with mild depression in 30% (12), moderate depression in 37.5% (15) and severe depression in 5% (2). Anxiety disorders were present in 27.50% (11) of victims. The risk factors associated with sexual assault in these students were gravidity (p = 0.014;OR = 15.32), unhappy life events (p = 0.01;OR = 17.24), and age of first sexual intercourse (p = 0.016;OR = 4.608). Conclusion: One in ten female students in Parakou has been sexually assaulted. Once again, preventive action through effective sex education is a means of fighting the problem that should be prioritized for every girl and boy from an early age. Psychological support by specialists should be offered to any victim discovered without delay. Communication on the subject should be multiplied in all family and academic educational environments, from the lowest to the highest levels.

Molecular Diagnosis of Sexual Differentiation Disorders in Burkina Faso

Sex development anomalies represent a group of congenital pathologies in which chromosomal, gonadal and anatomical sex differentiation is atypical. The aim of our study was to use molecular biology techniques to elucidate sex in cases of anomalies of sexual differentiation in Burkina Faso. This cross-sectional study took place from March 2023 to June 2023. Oral and blood samples were collected respectively using sterile swabs and stored on Swab Kits and NUCLEIcardTM (https://www.copangroup.com/product-ranges/nucleic-card/) were used to determine gonosome profiles. Extraction was carried out using the DNA Swap solution Kit and the DNA IQ System Kit, and a PowerPlex? 21 kit (Promega) for amplification. The Applied Biosystems 9700 thermal cycler was used for PCR followed by 36 cm capillary electrophoresis in the Applied Biosystems 3130 prism sequencer. Sequence files were analyzed using GeneMapper IDX v. 3.2 software. Seven (07) patients were registered during the study period. There were 4 cases of XX DSD or 46, XX DSD and 3 cases of XY DSD or 46, XY DSD. The median age of our patients was 16 years. Civilian sex was male in 4 cases and female in 3. The most frequent reason for consultation was micropenis in 3 cases, followed by primary amenorrhea and sex ambiguity. There were 03 cases of discrepancy between genetic sex and civil sex. The accessibility of molecular diagnosis is little known to clinicians. XX DSDs or 46, XX DSDs were the most frequent (4/7) in our study. The problem facing this situation is early diagnosis to help prevent complications in Burkina Faso.

Flower development and sexual dimorphism in Vernicia montana

The mu oil tree(Vernicia montana Lour.) is a dioecious species, but the genetic mechanisms underlying its phenotypic sexual dimorphism are unclear. In this study, we determined two pivotal phases of sex differentiation of mu oil tree via morphological and histological analyses of unisexual flowers:(Ⅰ) differentiation of male or female primordia to produce staminate flowers(SFs) or transient hermaphrodite flowers(HFs),and(Ⅱ) complete abortion of stamens in transient HFs to generate pistillate flowers(PFs). A total of 1621 sex-biased genes were identified by comparative transcriptome analysis which exhibited elevated rates of protein evolution than unbiased genes. The female-biased genes were enriched in the production of defense compounds while male-biased genes were focused on the production of viable pollens. Transcriptomebased analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between PFs and SFs in phase Ⅰ involved in abscisic acid(ABA), auxin(AUX), cytokinin(CK), ethylene(ET), and gibberellin(GA) biosynthesis and signaling showed higher expression levels in males than in females in general, whereas the DEGs involved in jasmonic acid(JA) and salicylic acid(SA) pathways displayed opposite expression patterns. Moreover,differentially expressed endogenous ABA, AUX, GAs, JA, and SA exhibited consistent biased expression patterns with the DEGs by UPLC-MSbased analysis. Exogenous application of an anti-ethylene plant growth regulator could promote the development of stamens in PFs and generated HFs. Comparative transcriptomic and hormonal analyses of PFs and SFs in phase Ⅱ indicated an increase in ET concentration when abortion of stamens in PFs occurred. This study suggested that phytohormones play key roles in sex dimorphism and ET may determine the development of stamens in PFs of mu oil tree, which provides an insight into plant sex differentiation mechanisms.

Morphological characteristics,developmental dynamics,and gene temporal expressions across various development stages of Aphis gossypii sexual female

Background Aphis gossypii(Hemiptera:Aphididae)is a worldwide polyphagous phloem-feeding agricultural pest,and it can produce offspring by sexual or asexual reproduction.Compared with dozens of generations by parthenogenesis,sexual reproduction is performed in only one generation within one year,and little is known about the sexual reproduction of A.gossypii.In this study,sexual females of A.gossypii were successfully obtained through a previously established induction platform,and the morphological characteristics,developmental dynamics,and temporal gene expression were examined.Subsequently,signaling pathways potentially involved in regulating the growth,development,and reproduction of sexual females were investigated.Results The morphological observation showed that from the 1st instar nymph to adult,sexual females exhibited a gradually deepened body color,an enlarged body size,longer antennae with a blackened end,and obviously protruding cauda(in adulthood).The anatomy found that the ovaries of sexual females developed rapidly from the 2^(nd)instar nymph,and the embedded oocytes matured in adulthood.In addition,time-course transcriptome analysis revealed that gene expression profiles across the development of sexual females fell into 9 clusters with distinct patterns,in which gene expression levels in clusters 1,5,and 8 peaked at the 2^(nd)instar nymphal stage with the largest number of up-regulated genes,suggesting that the 2^(nd)instar nymph was an important ovary development period.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis revealed that a large number of genes in the sexual female adult were enriched in the TGF-beta signaling pathway and Forkhead box O(FoxO)signaling pathway,highlighting their important role in sexual female adult development and reproduction.Conclusion The morphological changes of the sexual female at each developmental stage were revealed for the first time.In addition,time-course transcriptomic analyses suggest genes enriched in the TGF-beta signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway probably contribute to regulating the development and oocyte maturation of sexual females.Overall,these findings will facilitate the regulating mechanism research in the growth and development of sexual females by providing candidate genes.

Prospective randomized study to evaluate and compare the post-procedural sexual function in patients undergoing semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy for distal ureteric stones in three different operating room settings

Objective:To evaluate and compare the effect of semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy on post-procedural sexual function with three different operating room settings.Methods:In this prospective randomized study,consecutive sexually active patients with normal pre-operative sexual function undergoing uncomplicated semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy for distal ureteric stones were randomized into three groups,with three different operating room settings.Procedure-related anxiety and sexual function were assessed pre-operatively using Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale and Brief Sexual Function Inventory(in males)and Female Sexual Function Index-6(in females),respectively.All the participants were stented following the procedure,and the stent was removed after 3 weeks.Post-procedural sexual function and general discomfort were assessed and compared between three groups at 1 week,3 weeks,and 12 weeks.The effect of surgery-related anxiety,preoperative sexual function,age,and general discomfort(including stent-related discomfort)on post-procedural sexual function were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Totally,327 eligible patients were randomized into three groups.The group of patients who underwent the procedural with a screen separating the operating area from the patient vision,while the patient could watch the endoscopy through a separate monitor,had better post-procedural sexual function compared to those who had total vision of the operating area as well as to those whose eyes were blocked.This difference was statistically significant.This post-procedural reduction in sexual function could not be attributed to in situ stent alone.Conclusions:Our study showed that semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy can have significant negative effect on sexual function,which can be reduced with proper preoperative counseling and an ideal operating room settings.

Determination of Liability for Violation of “Sexual Autonomy” and Compensation for Mental Damages

At the legislative level in China,there has been insufficient theoretical preparation to explicitly include“sexual autonomy”within the scope of general personality rights.In handling the increasing number of disputes related to violations of“sexual autonomy,”judicial biases have emerged during the trial process when courts determine the attribute of the right to“sexual autonomy.”This situation necessitates a clear legal analysis of the concept and attributes of“sexual autonomy”to establish its essential attribute as a personality right,and,from the perspective of legal doctrine,enable the justification of the right to“sexual autonomy”as either a general personality right or other personality interests,thereby providing theoretical support for courts to“adjudicate according to law.”By delineating and categorizing instances of violations of“sexual autonomy,”the constitutive elements and fundamental characteristics of such violations can be clarified.By examining the legal norms governing civil litigation and civil litigation associated with criminal cases concerning violations of“sexual autonomy,”the responsibility determination,remedies,and existing regulatory loopholes regarding violations of“sexual autonomy,”especially in cases involving both criminal and civil matters,can be defined.Based on this foundation,the legal basis,determination mechanism,and compensation standards for claiming compensation for mental damages resulting from violations of“sexual autonomy”can be elucidated.

Politics of Sexual Violence in Ian McEwan’s The Innocent

This paper examines the role of sexual violence in Ian McEwan’s novel The Innocent and its relationship to the author’s examination of the boundary between the political and the personal. Contextualizing the protagonist Leonard Marnham’s violence against the heat of the geopolitical struggles of the Cold War, this study traces his transformation from an innocent technician to a violent agent of political and sexual aggression, and reads his attempted rape of his German lover, Maria, as a nexus between personal relationships and geopolitical struggles. It highlights how Leonard’s violence is a reflection of and at the same time a product of the postwar political landscape. By drawing on the body politic of sexual violence, it analyzes the feminized representation of Leonard, arguing that Leonard is both a perpetrator as well as a victim of the postwar political struggles. Hence the conclusion that sexual violence is employed by the author as a trope to dramatize the invasion of the political onto the personal, and the novel is a political novel that illustrates how the entanglement of international politics and private life can lead to a profound distortion of personal relationships, where the dynamics of power, dominance, and submission that define the public sphere can seep into and corrupt even the most intimate aspect of human interaction.

Smart Approaches to Efficient Text Mining for Categorizing Sexual Reproductive Health Short Messages into Key Themes

To promote behavioral change among adolescents in Zambia, the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, in collaboration with UNICEF, developed the Zambia U-Report platform. This platform provides young people with improved access to information on various Sexual Reproductive Health topics through Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages. Over the years, the platform has accumulated millions of incoming and outgoing messages, which need to be categorized into key thematic areas for better tracking of sexual reproductive health knowledge gaps among young people. The current manual categorization process of these text messages is inefficient and time-consuming and this study aims to automate the process for improved analysis using text-mining techniques. Firstly, the study investigates the current text message categorization process and identifies a list of categories adopted by counselors over time which are then used to build and train a categorization model. Secondly, the study presents a proof of concept tool that automates the categorization of U-report messages into key thematic areas using the developed categorization model. Finally, it compares the performance and effectiveness of the developed proof of concept tool against the manual system. The study used a dataset comprising 206,625 text messages. The current process would take roughly 2.82 years to categorise this dataset whereas the trained SVM model would require only 6.4 minutes while achieving an accuracy of 70.4% demonstrating that the automated method is significantly faster, more scalable, and consistent when compared to the current manual categorization. These advantages make the SVM model a more efficient and effective tool for categorizing large unstructured text datasets. These results and the proof-of-concept tool developed demonstrate the potential for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of message categorization on the Zambia U-report platform and other similar text messages-based platforms.

中国性别失衡与Sexuality:一个新的研究视角与框架

比较了性别失衡研究与sexuality研究在学科层面、研究视角、研究对象以及政策实践等方面的异同,探讨了在性别失衡研究领域引入sexuality视角的可行性。最后,以sexuality视角为着眼点,围绕性别失衡的理论拓展和政策实践,进行了性别失衡研究框架的创新。新研究框架的提出可以开拓性别失衡研究视野,纳入新的研究主题和内容,也有利于在多元化性差异的社会变迁中,准确把握社会舆论走向和社会需求,提升性别失衡研究和实践工作的科学性和长期性。

Seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in free-ranging male Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Huangshan, China

Although seasonal breeding has been documented in many non-human primates, it is not clear whether sexual behaviors show seasonal variation among male individuals. To test this hypothesis, the focal animal sampling method and continuous recording were used to investigate seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in five male Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） at Mt. Huangshan from Oct 2005 to Sept 2006. Both copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors （i.e., sexual chase, grimace, and sexual-inspection）, which were significantly higher in the mating season than non-mating season. Furthermore, seasonal variations of sexual behaviors, including copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors, were synchronized among males. The results shed light on sexual competition and tactics for reproductive success of male M. thibetana and other non-human primates with seasonal breeding.

草鱼不同月龄性腺组织学观察及性别特征基因cyp19a1a和amh的表达分析

为探讨草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella)性腺发生、性别分化及发育规律,本研究对1、2、3、4、5、6、12、24、36和48月龄草鱼性腺组织结构以及性别特征基因cyp19a1a和amh的表达差异进行了分析。组织切片结果显示,2月龄时,首次在生殖嵴中观察到原始生殖细胞,标志原始性腺形成。3月龄时,雌性草鱼性腺中观察到卵巢腔和卵巢小叶。4月龄时,观察到卵原细胞,表明其在3月龄时出现解剖学分化,4月龄时出现细胞学分化。4月龄雄性草鱼在性腺中观察到输精导管,5月龄时观察到精原细胞,表明其在4月龄出现解剖学分化,5月龄出现细胞学分化。12、24、36和48月龄草鱼卵巢分别处于发育的第Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ期,精巢则分别为发育的第Ⅱ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ期。荧光定量结果显示,雌性特征基因cyp19a1a在卵巢中的表达量总体呈先上升后下降再上升的趋势,2月龄时显著上调(P<0.05),3、6和48月龄时处于峰值。雄性特征基因amh在精巢中表达量总体呈先上升后下降的趋势。2月龄时显著上调(P<0.05),5月龄时达到峰值。综上,草鱼性腺发育启动时间约为2月龄,雌雄性腺分化时间分别约为3月龄和4月龄,至4龄时雌雄性腺发育成熟。本研究结果丰富了草鱼的繁殖生理学资料,也为其性别调控技术研究奠定了基础。

性别特异分子标记在斑鳢全雄育种上的应用

为了快速筛选培育出全雄斑鳢,本研究结合性别特异分子标记和三系配套育种技术,开发了全雄斑鳢的育种方法。将健康的七日龄斑鳢幼鱼随机分成3组进行雌化处理,在饲料中分别添加雌二醇(E2)100、300、600 mg/kg,饲养60 d。利用性别特异分子标记引物M12、P2鉴定筛选出决定型为XY型斑鳢,将XY型正常雄鱼与XY型伪雌鱼交配,获得的子代分为两组,一组为投喂正常饲料,另一组进行雌激素投喂,利用MX1和MX3引物筛选出YY超雄鱼,最后将YY超雄鱼和正常雌鱼作为亲本交配生产出全雄斑鳢子代。结果显示,600 mg/kg激素浓度组的性逆转率最高,达75%,从508尾经雌激素E2投喂的家系中筛选获得235尾具有XY基因型斑鳢。XY伪雌鱼与正常雄鱼交配获得的子代在2月龄时检测到22尾YY超雄鱼,7月龄时检测到14尾YY超雄鱼,筛选获得YY超雄鱼个体用于生产全雄子代。本研究方法显著提高了全雄化斑鳢育种效率,缩短了育种周期,展现出巨大的经济潜力和应用价值,为其他鱼类开展性别特别分子标记辅助育种提供借鉴或参考。

Sexualities研究介入男性研究的意义与展望

男性研究是以社会性别视角为出发点的,对传统社会性别模式影响下男性所做的研究,masculinities(男性气质)为其研究核心。在欧美,男性研究起源于20世纪七八十年代对女性主义的回应。男性研究涉及男性生活的各个方面,包括sexualities。中国两岸三地男性研究刚刚起步,男性研究中的sexualities则完全空白。在未来的研究中需要注意综合性、本土化、应用性、学术主流化问题。男性研究中的sexualities的一些具体项目设想。