Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1947. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Infertility and spontaneous abortion (SAB) affect up to one-third of couples planning a family.1–3 While common, there are few known risk factors. Medication use may play a role but the extent is unknown because, for most agents, use during reproduction has been understudied. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the associations between use of common pharmacologic agents and reproductive outcomes in three interrelated prospective cohort studies of pregnancy planners in Denmark, the United States, and Canada. In study 1, we examined fecundability, the average per-cycle probability of conception and a measure of time-to-pregnancy (TTP), in relation to past contraceptive use. Exposures of interest included oral contraceptives, IUDs (hormonal, copper), rings, implants, patches, injectables, natural methods, and barrier methods. Among 9,350 female pregnancy planners, we first examined TTP by the last method of contraception used before pregnancy attempt. We then examined the association between total lifetime duration of use of hormonal contraceptive methods and TTP. On average, injectable users had the longest delay in the return of fertility (8 cycles), followed by OC, ring, implant and patch (3 cycles), hormonal IUD (2 cycles), and copper IUD users (1 cycle). We did not find any evidence that long-term use of these methods was detrimental to fecundability. Study 2 examined the association between male use of pain medications and fecundability among 1,065 couples planning pregnancy in North America. Medications examined include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and aspirin. We examined fecundability in relation to any use and cumulative monthly dose of each of these medications. Our study showed little evidence of a deleterious effect of male preconception use of common pain medications on fecundability. In study 3, we examined use of pain medications between pregnancy conception and 12 gestational weeks and risk of SAB. Medications examined include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, aspirin, and opioids. In the three cohorts of women recruited before conception, we observed 9,196 pregnancies and 1,597 SABs (17.4%). We found that low-dose use of ibuprofen, naproxen, or opioids before 12 weeks of gestation was associated with slightly increased risk of SAB. Overall, low-dose use of acetaminophen or aspirin did not appreciably increase risk of SAB.

No description available.

Pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, have the potential to increase reproduction as a defence against pathogens, though how frequently this occurs or how infection with live pathogens influences this response is not well understood. Here we determine the minimum infective dose of an environmentally common bacterium and possible aphid pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae, to determine the likelihood of pathogenic effects to pea aphids. Additionally, we used P. syringae infection to investigate how live pathogens may alter reproductive rates. We found that oral bacterial exposure decreased subsequent survival of aphids in a dose-dependent manner and we estimate that ingestion of less than 10 bacterial cells is sufficient to increase aphid mortality. Pathogen dose was positively related to aphid reproduction. Aphids exposed to low bacterial doses showed decreased, although statistically indistinguishable, fecundity compared to controls. Aphids exposed to high doses reproduced significantly more than low dose treatments and also more, but not significantly so, than controls. These results are consistent with previous studies suggesting that pea aphids may use fecundity compensation as a response to pathogens. Consequently, even low levels of exposure to a common plant-associated bacterium may therefore have significant effects on pea aphid survival and reproduction.

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, is a serious weed of agriculture and forestry in New Zealand. The mite Tetranychus lintearius feeds on gorse in Europe and was released in New Zealand during autumn 1989 as a potential biological control agent. The aim of my laboratory study was to increase available knowledge on its development and aggregation. As the quality of gorse declined as a food resource (as indicated by chlorophyll content) a significant decline in egg production, and an increase in development time of mites was found. Mean egg production at 15℃ ranged from 37.8 to 45.2 eggs/female over 10 days in the experimental treatments and development time from 39.2 to 43.3 days. Density of adult female mites (1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20/spine) also had a significant effect on the number of eggs produced/female over ten days (mean daily egg production/female, 0.78-0.88). Mean development time from egg to adult decreased from 40.6 to 39 days as density increased from 1 to 50 mites/spine. The resident New Zealand strain of T lintearius, imported originally from Cornwall, is now widely established but has not established successfully on the west coast of the South Island or in the north of the North Island. Four new strains recently introduced from coastal Portugal and Spain, areas climatically similar to these New Zealand regions, may be more successful. Thus, although egg production and survival of all strains were significantly reduced when subjected to daily periods of simulated rainfall in laboratory experiments, those of the newly introduced strains were least affected. Laboratory experiments with the resident New Zealand and Cambados strains also showed that individuals aggregated actively at 10-20℃, but the latter aggregated more strongly at these temperatures. This strong aggregation behaviour may increase survival in warm, wet climates and suggests that Cambados strain mites could become established and so increase gorse control in Westland and Northland.

Hagfish are one of the more lucrative commercial opportunities in the world with fisheries harvesting them specifically for food and for their skin for leather-based products. In 2013 a three year experimental fishery opened off the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in order to determine the sustainability of a Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) and Black hagfish (Eptatretus deani) fishery. In this study, I examined the reproductive biology of both species including: length-weight relationships, sex ratios, fecundity, and size-at-gonadal development. This study corroborates previous suggestions that Pacific hagfish are juvenile protogynous hermaphrodites while black hagfish are likely to be dioecious with an unknown juvenile stage. Sexual dimorphism appears in both species of hagfish, which is likely the result of inter- and intraspecific morphological differences. For both species fecundity decreases throughout developmental stages, and the average fecundity is very low (27-32 eggs per female). Additionally, in both species females commence gonadal development prior to males. Furthermore, both species exhibited extreme female: male sex ratios across length-classes, however, in opposite directions. The reproductive biology of Pacific and Black hagfish models that of a k-selected species, which is a species that tends to live long and has a slow growth rate, low fecundity, and late maturity. As a result there are a variety of concerns that should be addressed when developing a sustainable hagfish fishery to prevent collapses observed in previous hagfisheries. / Graduate / 2017-08-23

Orientador: Wilma De Grava Kempinas / Banca: Flávia Karina Delella / Banca: Suzana de Fátima Paccola Mesquita / Banca: Raquel Fantin Domeniconi / Banca: Luis Alberto Domingo Francia Farje / Banca: Daniela Cristina Caeccatto Gerardin / Banca: Arielle Cristina Arena / Banca: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega / Banca: Caral Dal Bianco Fernandez / Banca: André Sampaio Pupo / Resumo: A bupropiona é um antidepressivo amplamente utilizado no tratamento da cessação tabágica que atua inibindo a recaptura neuronal de dopamina (DA) e noradrenalina (NE) com pouco efeito na recaptação da serotonina. Estudos prévios demonstraram que o tratamento com sibutramina, um bloqueador da recaptura de NE que age aumentado disponibilidade desta monoamina na fenda sináptica, influenciou a qualidade espermática diminuindo a fertilidade de ratos machos submetidos ao tratamento com este fármaco. A bupropiona possui ação sobre algumas funções sexuais como a ejaculação e a excitação, no entanto, não são encontradas na literatura informações sobre a influência desta droga na qualidade espermática de humanos ou de modelos animais. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar os efeitos da administração de bupropiona sobre o comportamento sexual, parâmetros espermáticos e fertilidade de ratos machos e sobre a reatividade farmacológica do ducto epididimário isolado. Para tanto, 27 ratos machos (90 dias) foram aleatoriamente alocados em três grupos experimentais que receberam 15 mg/kg de bupropiona (BPP15, n=9), 30 mg/kg de bupropion (BPP30, n=9) e água destilada (veiculo, VEH, n=9) via oral durante 30 dias consecutivos. Ao final do tratamento os animais foram eutanaziados e tiveram seus órgãos reprodutores (testículos, epidídimos, próstata, vesícula seminal cheia e vazia) pesados. Os níveis séricos de testosterona, hormônio luteinizante e hormônio folículo estimulante foram determinados por radioimunoensaio e os testículos e epidídimos direitos foram coletados e processados para contagem espermática, determinação da produção diária de espermatozoides e determinação do tempo de transito espermático pela cabeça/corpo e cauda epididimária. Além disso, os espermatozoides da cauda do epidídimo direito foram utilizados para análise da motilidade e morfologia espermática. Em uma ... / Abstract: Bupropion is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with lower effect on the serotonine reuptake widely used as smoking cessation and antidepressant drug. Previously studies showed that the treatment with the norepinephrine uptake blocker sibutramine, that acts increasing the level of this monoamine at the synaptic cleft impaired the sperm quality and fertility of the animals treated with this drug. Bupropion influences some sexual functions as ejaculation and arousal however, to our knowledge, there is no study investigating the effects of bupropion on human or animals model sperm quality. In this context, the present study investigated the effects of bupropion on sexual behavior, sperm parameters and fertility of male rats as well as its influence on epididymal duct contraction in vitro. For this, 27 male rats (90 days) were randomly allocated into three experimental groups that received 15 mg/kg of bupropion (BPP15, n=9), 30 mg/kg of bupropion (BPP30) and distillate water (vehicle, VEH, n=9) orally during 30 days. At the end of the treatment the animals were killed and his reproductive organs (testis, epididymis, prostate, full and empty seminal vesicle) were weighted. The levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone serum were determinate by radioimmunoassay and the right testis and epididymis were collected and processed to sperm count, daily sperm production and determination of sperm transit time trough epididymis. Furthermore, spermatozoa collected by the right epididymal cauda were used to analysis of sperm motility and morphology. In a second stage of this study 30 animals (n=10/experimental group), allocated and treated as describe previously, were used to analysis of male sexual behavior and fertility after natural matting. At the least stage of the study 18 animals (n=6/experimental group) were used to evaluating the effects of the treatment with ... / Mestre

Identifying the genetic basis for phenotypic variation is a central question in evolutionary biology and can be studied in detail using model organisms. Fecundity variation in different isolates of C. briggsae has been observed previously, but the genetic causes of this variation are unclear. Crosses between C. briggsae advanced-intercross recombinant inbred lines (AI-RILs) and parental strains yield near isogenic line (NIL) strains, which I created to provide a powerful genetic resource to fine-map the basis for fecundity and other trait differences. Phenotypic analysis of the NILs shows the complexities of possible epistatic interactions on phenotypic expression. These NIL strains contribute a valuable genetic resource toward the long-term goal of identifying the genes responsible for differences in fecundity in this species. The elucidation of the basis for this trait variation will also contribute further into the mechanisms for how genotype and phenotype and environment all interact.

Identifying the genetic basis for phenotypic variation is a central question in evolutionary biology and can be studied in detail using model organisms. Fecundity variation in different isolates of C. briggsae has been observed previously, but the genetic causes of this variation are unclear. Crosses between C. briggsae advanced-intercross recombinant inbred lines (AI-RILs) and parental strains yield near isogenic line (NIL) strains, which I created to provide a powerful genetic resource to fine-map the basis for fecundity and other trait differences. Phenotypic analysis of the NILs shows the complexities of possible epistatic interactions on phenotypic expression. These NIL strains contribute a valuable genetic resource toward the long-term goal of identifying the genes responsible for differences in fecundity in this species. The elucidation of the basis for this trait variation will also contribute further into the mechanisms for how genotype and phenotype and environment all interact.

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, is a serious weed of agriculture and forestry in New Zealand. The mite Tetranychus lintearius feeds on gorse in Europe and was released in New Zealand during autumn 1989 as a potential biological control agent. The aim of my laboratory study was to increase available knowledge on its development and aggregation. As the quality of gorse declined as a food resource (as indicated by chlorophyll content) a significant decline in egg production, and an increase in development time of mites was found. Mean egg production at 15℃ ranged from 37.8 to 45.2 eggs/female over 10 days in the experimental treatments and development time from 39.2 to 43.3 days. Density of adult female mites (1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20/spine) also had a significant effect on the number of eggs produced/female over ten days (mean daily egg production/female, 0.78-0.88). Mean development time from egg to adult decreased from 40.6 to 39 days as density increased from 1 to 50 mites/spine. The resident New Zealand strain of T lintearius, imported originally from Cornwall, is now widely established but has not established successfully on the west coast of the South Island or in the north of the North Island. Four new strains recently introduced from coastal Portugal and Spain, areas climatically similar to these New Zealand regions, may be more successful. Thus, although egg production and survival of all strains were significantly reduced when subjected to daily periods of simulated rainfall in laboratory experiments, those of the newly introduced strains were least affected. Laboratory experiments with the resident New Zealand and Cambados strains also showed that individuals aggregated actively at 10-20℃, but the latter aggregated more strongly at these temperatures. This strong aggregation behaviour may increase survival in warm, wet climates and suggests that Cambados strain mites could become established and so increase gorse control in Westland and Northland.