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This study tested the hypothesis that a plant compound, 6-methoxybenzoxazoline (6-MBOA), can affect the annual reproductive cycle of wild rabits by acting as an agonist or antagonist of melatonin. Preliminary investigations into seasonal changes in the reproductive endocrinology of wild-caught adult female rabbits kept in outdoor cages revealed an annual cycle of pituitary (release of LH) and ovarian (release of progesterone) responses to exogenous GnRH. The largest responses were between March and May (during the peak breeding season in the wild), followed by a decrease in July. Pituitary responsiveness returned by late November, whereas ovarian responsiveness did not increase until after the winter solstice. Studies of the responses to GnRH of adult female rabbits kept indoors under regulated photoperiod demonstrated that the decrease in pituitary and ovarian responsiveness in July was due to declining daylength. Seasonal regrowth of the reproductive system at the winter solstice was stimulated by transfer to `long days' (16L:8D). This stimulation by long days was not observed if rabbits were also treated with daily, timed intra-muscular (i.m.) injections of melatonin, but injections of 6-MBOA were ineffective. Daily, timed injections of 6-MBOA did not stimulate the reproductive system of seasonally-anoestrus adult female rabbits in the autumn. Treatment of adult female rabbits with sub-cutaneous (s.c.) implants of 6-MBOA failed to prevent a decrease in pituitary and ovarian responsiveness to GnRH on transfer to `short days' (8L:16D). Sexually mature male rabbits under long days received daily, timed i.m. injections of 6-MBOA or melatonin. Only those treated with melatonin showed testicular regression. A dose-response relationship for 6-MBOA was tested by treating adult male rabbits with 6-MBOA in different size s.c. implants. All sizes tested failed to induce testicular regression. No evidence was found that 6-MBOA can affect the annual reproductive cycle in wild rabbits by acting as an agonist or antagonist of melatonin.

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Spawning and parental care in the pink variety of Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (Gunther) was studied from September 1970 to May 1971. The objectives of the study were to determine: (1) the spawning behavior of C. nigrofasciatum when isolated as pairs; (2) the spawning behavior of a pair when sharing an aquarium with other cichlid species. The study was conducted in two parts.In Part 1 three aquaria were set up, each containing a pair of sexually mature pink convicts. Twelve different pairs were observed over a period of 120 days. Pre-spawning and post-spawning activities were noted. These were recorded in a pictograph form developed by the author. Eight of these activities were observed in the pre-spawning period and 46 were observed during the days following spawning. The interactions between the members of any one pair differed very little from the interactions of any other pair.One spawning was observed from start to finish and every egg placement was recorded. The eggs appeared to be deposited in an irregular pattern, but form a relatively compact mass when the spawning is completed. When a pair is isolated the female cares for both the eggs and the wigglers. The male takes an active role in the care of the fry when they are just starting to swim. The male becomes the more ardent parent once the fry are free swimming and spends much of his time keeping the female in close proximity to the young.In Part 2 the presence of other fishes in the aquarium changed the male's behavior appreciably. He became much more involved in the early post-spawning stages, actively involved in the defense of the eggs and wigglers. These changes were not limited to the male; the female's behavior also changed. She was a much more conscientious parent in the later stages of fry care. The male spent very little time driving the female toward the fry. Both parents became more attentive in Part 2.Six aquaria were used in Part 2. This section placed the pink convicts in aquaria with six other species. The interspecific activity was the prime observation. All of the species observed acted alike. The spawning of several of the species was observed, as was the activity of caring for the young of a different species. The most notable observation here was the similarity of behavior of the cichlids representing three different genera.In both parts all pairs spawned in or on a flowerpot provided. The egg and fry care was almost the same for all of the fishes. The interspecific interactions were as intense as most of the intraspecific. The level of intensity observed declined in the following order: (1) same sex same species; (2) same sex related species; (3) different sex same species; and (4) different sex different species.All of the species in Part 2 that spawned used the same behavioral displays used by the convicts in Part 1. All display with lateral weaving, erected fins, flared opercula, and lowered branchiostegals. All of the spawning pairs attempted to occupy a large territory, but none insisted on more than 5t of their spawning tank. Generally the pairs observed in this study established pair bonds and spawned within two weeks of their introduction to the aquarium.The pink convict lends itself well to this kind of behavioral study because it is a hardy, easy to spawn species large enough to observe easily. They tolerate laboratory conditions very well. The pink variety of C. nigrofasciatum is much less aggressive and more attractive than the native variety.

Endometriosis, characterized by the growth of endometrium outside the uterine cavity, is a disease which causes pelvic pain, inflammation and associated with infertility. Endometrium, which exits the uterus through retrograde menstruation, must establish a new blood supply as it attaches and invades into ectopic tissues to form an endometriosis lesion. Angiogenesis is therefore essential in endometriosis disease progression. The inhibition of blood vessel growth by anti-angiogenic agents is a potential strategy to manage endometriosis disease progression. This thesis investigated angiogenesis of endometriosis lesions, and evaluated a novel anti-angiogenic peptide as a potential therapeutic to manage endometriosis. An atlas on the microscopic anatomy of the pregnant mouse uterus is also presented. Synuclein-γ (SNCG), a protein involved in cellular proliferation, was found to have elevated expression in endothelial cells of endometriosis tissue compared to eutopic endometrium. In an alymphoid xenograft mouse model of human endometriosis, where human endometrium is engrafted into the peritoneal cavity of Rag2-/-/IL2r-/- female mice, peptide inhibition of SNCG resulted in reduced vascularization of endometriotic lesions. This study indicates that SNCG has a potential role in angiogenesis of endometriosis lesions. Using the same alymphoid mouse model, we evaluated the effect of an anti-angiogenic thrombospondin-1 mimetic peptide, ABT-898, on angiogenesis of endometriotic lesions. ABT-898 inhibited endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation in vitro. Mice treated with ABT-898 showed reduced vascularity of endometriosis lesions compared with control. Angiogenesis is also an essential process in the female reproductive system. Females with endometriosis are of reproductive age, so it is essential to establish that anti-angiogenic therapies do not iii interfere with reproduction. We evaluated the effect of ABT-898 on angiogenesis in the female reproductive tract in non-pregnant mice. ABT-898 did not affect estrous cyclicity, or vascularity of the uterus or ovary in non-pregnant animals. ABT-898 did not alter litter size or pup weight when given to pregnant mice throughout gestation. In summary this thesis implicated a role for SNCG in angiogenesis of endometriosis lesions, and found that ABT-898 could be a useful therapeutic to manage endometriosis disease progression as it reduces angiogenesis of endometriotic lesions, while having no observable effect in reproductive organs. / Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2014-05-01 14:42:32.655

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