Cui, Ju. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-136). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Declaration --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.viii / Table of Contents --- p.ix / List of Tables and Figures --- p.xi / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiii / Chapter 1 General introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 Literature review --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Structural changes in ovary and thelycum of penaeid shrimp during maturaiton --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3 --- Biochemical changes in ovary of penaeid shrimp during maturation --- p.7 / Chapter 2.4 --- Endocrine control of ovarian maturation in penaeid shrimp --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Peptides --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Steroids --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Terpenoids --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Biogenic amines --- p.21 / Chapter 2.6 --- Reproductive biology of the shrimp Metapenaeus ensis --- p.23 / Chapter 2.6 --- Proteomics --- p.27 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Identification of proteins differentially expressed during ovarian maturation in the shrimp Metapenaeus ensis --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Histological observation --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Protein isolation and identification by MALDI-TOF MS/MS --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- General ovarian histology --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Morphometric analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Comparison of proteomic patterns of shrimp ovaries and image analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Identification of differentially expressed proteins in shrimp ovaries by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.61 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Identification of proteins by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Potential functions of the identified ditterentially expressed proteins in shrimp reproduction --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Characterization of cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) and retinoic X receptor (RXR) in the shrimp Metapenaeus ensis --- p.69 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Experimental animals --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Preparation of total RNA --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Rapid Amplification of 5' and 3' cDNA Ends (RACE) --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Subcloning --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Sequencing --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Phylogenetic analysis --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Reverse transcription (RT) --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Real-Time RT-PCR --- p.80 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- In situ hybridization --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Tissue culture and in vitro ovary explant assay --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Full-length RXR cDNA derivation --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses --- p.86 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Spatiotemporal expression profiles of MeCRABP and MeRXR mRNA in female shrimp --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Effect of exogenous retinoic acids on the expression of MeCRABP and MeRXR in shrimp ovaries --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Cloning and characterization of the M. ensis RXR --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Developmental expression of CRABP and RXR in shrimp ovary --- p.102 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effects of exogenous retinoic acids --- p.104 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General conclusion --- p.106 / References --- p.110

As women who are sub-fertile, infertile or whose children have died, kanyalengs play a special role at public gatherings and celebrations as performers in The Gambia. The collective activities of kanyalengs speak to the hardships that are associated with the inability to meet cultural expectations for a sufficiently large family They traditionally take the form of bold song and dance performances which enable kanyalengs to shame themselves before Allah in hopes that their outrageous behavior will convince divine will to take pity and make them fertile or allow their children to survive. Drawing on data from interviews, participant observation and archival research conducted in Gambia over an eight month period in 2004, this dissertation considers the reproductive concerns of kanyalengs in the context of marriage and kinship as well as their micro political-economic interests in creating and maintaining an appropriately large family. It investigates Gambian women's explanations of and responses to reproductive disruptions including various healing modalities as well as kanyaleng membership. Kanyaleng performances often reveal gender disparities in various aspects of Gambian life as well as the burden of successful reproduction that lies squarely on women's shoulders. However, this dissertation argues that the goal of kanyaleng yaa ("being a kanyaleng") is not to permanently transform reproductive expectations, but to ultimately fulfill them. Kanyaleng yaa operates both as an individual identity and as an expression of group solidarity, with members working together to attain their personal and collective goals, reproductive and otherwise, through ritual and work. Increasingly, the lines between these two categories of action have become blurred with kanyalengs' entrée into development work as "traditional communicators." This dissertation examines how kanyalengs' concerns correspond to or conflict with the reproductive health agendas that national and international agents have set for Gambian women and asserts that new opportunities for kanyalengs in development present chances to parlay their liminal status into social and economic advantages. Further, it explores the unique way in which kanyalengs are engaged with the dissemination of messages as development educators that may ultimately be at odds with what they perceive to be their best reproductive interests.

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Typescript (photocopy). Thesis submitted under title: Biochemical aspects of early pregnancy in the pig; but doctorate conferred to title: Biochemical aspects of early pregnancy in the sow Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-205) and list of personal publications related to pig physiology (leaves vi-vii) Examines aspects of early pregnancy in pigs, aimed to identify determinants of the high level of embryonic mortality which occurs prior to implantation

Graduation date: 2004

From 1996 through 1998 I collected mature female black rockfish off Oregon and examined ovaries and otoliths to estimate weekly, age-specific larval production. In all reproductive seasons, older black rockfish extruded larvae earlier in the season, followed by progressively younger fish. Each year, beginning in May, I collected young-of-the-year (YOY) benthic juveniles that settled out in nearshore waters and determined their birthdates from counts of daily rings of lapillar otoliths. I compared the birthdate distribution of juvenile survivors to the age-specific temporal distribution of larval production to estimate the contribution of each adult female age group, ages 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15+ to juvenile recruitment. The results from 1996 show a disproportionately greater contribution to benthic YOY recruitment by older fish. 1997 results show a relatively even contribution among maternal age groups. In 1998 most of the YOY recruits came from younger fish extruding larvae late in the season. I then examined larvae per recruit (LPR) models to evaluate the effects of fishing mortality on spawning potential of black rockfish, incorporating my estimates of age-specific maternal reproductive success. When it is evident that certain age groups are more successful at reproducing, as observed in black rockfish, changes in that population's age composition must be considered beyond simply reducing the estimate of total larval production. / Graduation date: 2003

Mares have an atypical hormone profile during pregnancy. Systemic progesterone (P4) levels approach zero by day 220 of gestation. Other reduced pregnanes such as 5��-pregnane-3, 20-dione (5��), 5��-pregnane-3��, 20��-diol (����), 3��-hydroxy-5��-pregnan-3-one (3��) and 20��-hydroxy-5��-prenan-3-one (20��), increase to near ��g/mL levels in the peripheral system of the mare until directly before parturition when they decrease. This unusual hormone profile during gestation indicates the possibility that other pregnanes, not P4, are responsible for uterine quiescence and gonadotropin inhibition during pregnancy. Three experiments were conducted to determine if these steroids have biologic activity. Experiment 1 consisted of jugular vein blood samples taken from mares from ten days pre-partum until the foal heat ovulation, approximately 15 days postpartum. Samples were analyzed for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and pregnane content. Concentrations of these hormones were analyzed for serial correlations. There was a serial negative correlation with pregnanes and FSH (p=0.0138), which were analyzed on a same day basis, day -5 to day of foaling. There also was a positive correlation with pregnanes and FSH analyzed from day of foaling to 10 days post-foaling (p<0.00l). There was also a significant negative correlation (p=0.0196) between pregnanes and LH, analyzed on a lag basis, day -5 to day of foaling for pregnanes, and day -5 to day of ovulation for LH. There was also a significant negative correlation when pregnanes were analyzed from day of foaling to 10 days post foaling, and LH was analyzed from 10 days before ovulation to day of ovulation (p=0.004). Maximum pre-partum pregnane levels did not affect time to ovulation (p=0.34). In experiment 2 equine anterior pituitary glands were harvested and the cells plated to begin a primary cell culture. After attachment, the cells were divided into treatment groups: P4, 5��, ����, 20��, 3�� or a control and each group subjected to a 1.0nM Gonadotropin Hormone Releasing Hormone (GnRH) challenge. Subsequently cells and medium were collected and analyzed for LH and FSH content using radioimmunoassay (RIA). The cells did exhibit a response to GnRH (p=0.015 between positive and negative controls) and there was a treatment effect for FSH (p=0.0058); only 3�� resulted in significantly more FSH release than the positive control (p=0.043) after stimulation with GnRH. There was no treatment effect on LH (p=0.56). Experiment 3 analyzed the response of equine uterine myometrial tissue to pregnane treatment. Myometrial tissue was harvested and placed in a 37��C Krebs buffered saline bath, connected to a physiograph and repetitive spontaneous smooth muscle contraction was induced with oxytocin. Tissue was then treated with P4, 5��, ����, 20��, 3�� or a control (ethanol). The amplitude and frequency of the spontaneous contractions were measured and compared to the control. There were no differences between post treatment responses of the control and pregnane treated samples in either frequency (p=0.78) or amplitude (p=0.63) of myometrial contractions. From these data we conclude that in vivo there is a significant and differential physiologic relationship between pre-partum pregnanes and gonadotropins. Due to lack of response it is unlikely that pregnanes inhibit pituitary secretion, and thus may exert their effects elsewhere, such as at the hypothalamus. The involvement of pregnanes in modulating myometrial contractions remains unclear. It is likely that P4 does play a role in decreasing myometrial responses to OT, however, that result was inconsistent in this study. / Graduation date: 2003

Female and male mammals have different behavioral strategies for maximizing their reproductive success. Pregnancy and lactation obligate female mammals to provide greater parental investment than males; thus, females compete with each other for food and space to rear their offspring, while male mammals compete with each other for female mates. Therefore, natural selection should favor any behavior among females that increases their access to food and space to rear successful offspring and any behavior among males that increases their access to females. In two enclosure experiments, the gray-tailed vole, Microtus canicaudus, was used as a model species to study (1) the relative influence of male competition versus access to females on space use by males and (2) facultative sex-ratio adjustment at the population level in response to low and high population densities, skewed adult sex ratios, and season. Home-range sizes of male voles did not appear to expand beyond an overlap with about five members of either sex. Intrasexual competition with 3-4 males and/or overlap with five females appear to set the upper limits to home-range size. Space use by males is influenced by intrasexual competition and by access to females with an upper limit of overlap with either sex. Additionally, facultative sex-ratio adjustment in response to changing population densities and skewing adult sex ratios did not occur, but a seasonal effect was detected with significantly more males produced in autumn than in spring. Under the conditions of this experimental study, I was not able to measure sex ratios of individual litters, but if any sex-ratio adjustment occurred in response to densities and adult sex ratios, it was not detectable at the population level. / Graduation date: 1999