Sexual transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) accounts for the majority of newly acquired infections. Vaccination efforts have induced only modest protection in HIV clinical trials. HIV-1 induces a robust local immune response in genital mucosa of exposed individuals. Understanding the function of naturally occurring antibodies against HIV-1 in genital mucosa, the primary site of transmission, might be instrumental to improving vaccines and antibody-based microbicides. This study focused on HIV-specific antibody responses in the male genital tract (MGT), which is underexplored. We characterized antibody subclasses and specificities in genital tract secretions (seminal plasma, urethral secretions) and blood from a cohort of HIV-1-infected men to determine the origin and distinct nature of antibodies in the MGT. We detected similar HIV-1 IgG titers and specificities in all three body fluids, indicating that MGT IgG likely originates from blood. In contrast, gp41-specific IgA was restricted to genital secretions suggesting a local niche of IgA antibody production. Genital secretions from a subset of individuals neutralized cell-free HIV-1 and blocked cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Statistically, these functions correlated positively with gp41 IgA titers. HIV-specific IgA monoclonal antibodies were also effective in these assays. To explore cell-dependent activities of HIV-specific antibodies in genital mucosa we surveyed Fc receptor expression in mucosal epithelial tissue. The IgG-engaging neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), the IgA receptor FcαRI and the high-affinity intracellular Fc receptor TRIM21 were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blots. In stratified squamous epithelia (foreskin, vagina) FcRn+ epithelial cells were detected primarily in the basal layer, FcαRI+ epithelial cells in suprabasal layers and TRIM21 throughout. Deposits of immunoglobulins in the stratified squamous epithelium colocalized with FcRn, FcαRI and TRIM21. Our findings indicate that the MGT is capable of expressing a local anti-HIV IgA response to achieve antiviral defense through antibody neutralization and cell-dependent functions involving classical immune effector cells and epithelial cells.

The aim of the study was to describe the reproductive biology of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi) and to relate this to aspects of their ecology and social organisation. Within this general framework the specific aims were: (a) To determine the reproductive potential of female chimpanzees and to assess the limits this places on species' reproduction; (b) To examine the adaptive significance of female reproductive physiology in terms of optimal reproductive success; (c) To examine environmental constraints on reproduction; (d) To describe copulatory behaviour and the nature of the three mating patterns shown by wild chimpanzees, and to assess the adaptive significance of the flexible mating system; (e) To relate reproductive behaviour to social organisation in an attempt to assess the role of sexual selection in the evolution of chimpanzee social behaviour and structure.

Two rare Banksia species, B. chamaephyton A.S. George and B. elegans Meissner, were the subject of this study. B. chamaephyton is gazetted as rare under the Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia and B. elegans has been recorded by various authors as restricted in range and habitat.Data were collected on the distribution, habitat, reproduction and fire responses of each species. Both were found to occur predominantly in the Irwin Botanical District. B. chamaephyton is found in low heath on sand over laterite and B. elegans in scrub or thickets on deep, yellow sands. Data on species co-occurring with B. chamaephyton were gathered for the purpose of identifying habitats with actual or potential populations of the rare species. Several species appeared to be reliable indicators.Both species are represented in areas set aside for conservation although some populations are vulnerable and their loss would considerably reduce the range of each species. Of particular concern are the southernmost populations of B. chamaephyton and the northernmost populations of B. elegans. The latter appears to represent a size variant within the species. Although neither species is currently endangered, it is recommended that B. chamaephyton remain a gazetted rare species and that consideration be given to the gazettal of B. elegans.Both species are xenogamous and probably bird-pollinated although pollination by small mammals is a possibility. Both also have very low fruit and seed set. In B. chamaephyton, this is probably related to resource availability but B. elegans possesses a malformed stigma which may prevent the normal reproductive process from taking place. Most populations of B. elegans are sterile. Further research into the sexual reproduction and propagation of B. elegans is recommended.Fire is important to both species. In B. chamaephyton, fire, together with subsequent ++ / wet/dry cycles, is necessary for seed release from the follicles. Seedling recruitment is negligible in B. elegans. Mature individuals of both species survive fire and in B. elegans fire stimulates root suckering. Autumn burns appear to be most suitable for recruitment in both species, preferably at a minimum interval of ten years.

Chinese spined loach, Cobitis sinensis complex are primary benthic fishwater fishes with inhabiting on the substratum of small pebbles or coarse sand in mountain streams. In Taiwan, C. sinensis complex has been recorded from most drainages of western side of the Central Mountain Ridge including from Ilan, Taipei, even to Pingtung County. In Taiwan, all Cobitis populations have been considered as C. sinensis which types assigned from the Szechuan province, Yangtsi River basin by Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant (1874). Due to very limited diagnostic morphological features can be detected and studied in detail, it¡¦s more important for reconstructing the molecular phylogenetic relationship by DNA sequences. We also study in the reproductive biology by the samples in Kao-ping River, and to compare the realationship by the samples in Tan-shuei River. By morphological analysis and mtDNA D-loop sequences clustering, we can recognize the C. sinensis complex of Taiwan and southern China into three group: (1) northern and middle Taiwan (NT) (as typical C. sinensis); (2) three River basins in southern Taiwan (ST) (C. sp1); (3) other samples from the Fujian provinces (ST) (C. sp2). They can be distinguished by very distinct differentiations of the scale of Canestrini. The type of NJ tree and MP tree are the overall same topology, mean that the trees of result are the stable phylogenetic tree of the whole C. sinensis complex. By the result of reproductive biological study, GSI index rise in May and drop off in September, the high peak time is close to five months. The increasing tendency of GSI is later than the temperature rising, but earlier than the rainfall begin in July. They share the similar trend among the comparison of the mature of gonad¡Bthe distribution of egg diameter and GSI index.

Abstract Most male individuals of all species of the genus Scarus which were reversed from females, are called ¡§secondary males¡¨. However, a few individuals of ¡§primary males¡¨ would have male¡¦s reproductive ability, but never process sex reversal in their lifespan, and keeping female¡¦s outlook (initial phase). Because parrotfishes have these two kinds of males existing in the same species, they belong to ¡§diandry¡¨ protogynous hermaphroditisms. Previous studies suggested that the mechanisms that cause primary male might be due to social effect or genetic control. In our experiments, Blue barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) and rivulated parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus) were used to study the sex reversal model of parrotfish and the possible reasons that cause the juveniles develop to be primary males. This study including three major parts: (1) the relationship between body size and sexual types of two species. (2) the comparison of the tissue structures of the testes in both male types by histological observation. (3) the possible karyotypes difference, i.e. the genetic differences between primary and secondary male. This study shown that the body size of blue barred parrotfish (initial phase: 100-475 mm; terminal phase: 275-525 mm) were larger than rivulated parrotfish (initial phase: 126-270 mm; terminal phase: 246-350 mm), and there was a wider overlap zone between both color phases in Blue Barred parrotfish (S. ghobban: 47.2%, then S. rivulatus: 10.7%). Histological results showed that no matter primary or secondary males, they all had classical lobular testes. But, by contrast of the pure testis tissue of primary male, there were many mature or atric oocytes that remained in the testis of secondary male. Additionally, a few secondary males of the blue barred parrotfish were discovered whose process of sex reversal occurred earlier or faster than that for normal secondary males. Histological evidence further suggested that these individuals had never had a female reproductive function. Furthermore, these males which had no difference with other secondary males was found on the chromosome level. In our study, a heteromorphic chromosome was observed between primary males and secondary males of the rivulated parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus), which could prove that being a primary male is predetermined by a genetic factor. Based on the ecological interactive diversity of the two species, a preliminary hypothesis was put forth to explain those phenomena. Due to the spawning tactics used, the proportion of primary males in rivulated parrotfish populations is much higher than that in blue-barred parrotfish populations. On the other hand, the appearance of premature males was suggested to be a way of supplying sperm which was lacking in the population of the blue-barred parrotfish.

The evolution of wind pollination (anemophily) has occurred at least 65 times in the flowering plants and over 10% of angiosperm species are wind pollinated. However the pollination and mating of anemophily species is poorly understood, particularly in comparison with animal-pollinated species. My thesis employs a range of approaches and tools to examine the evolution and ecology of wind pollination. These include comparative analyses, theoretical modeling, field and glasshouse experiments, the use of genetic markers and quantitative genetics. Experimental studies on diverse taxa were used to address questions concerned with the efficacy of outcrossing mechanisms, the ecological and demographic context of pollination and mating, and the plasticity of sex allocation. Comparative analyses indicated that wind pollination is correlated with unisexual flowers, reduced ovule number, small unshowy flowers, an absence of nectar, and open habitats. These analyses also demonstrated that anemophily originates more often in lineages with unisexual flowers. This suggests that wind pollination evolves in diclinous taxa as a mechanism of reproductive assurance because autonomous selfing is mechanically precluded. Empirical data on stigmatic pollen loads in 19 anemophilous species challenge the widespread assumption that anemophilous plants commonly have uniovulate flowers because they capture few pollen grains. Further, a model based on floral costs and the aerodynamics of pollen capture demonstrated that when flowers are inexpensive it is optimal to produce many flowers each with few ovules, because this allows more efficient sampling of the airstream. Manipulative field experiments on seven Carex species indicated that neither monoecy nor protogyny, two putative outcrossing mechanisms, are effective at limiting selfing. Based on these results I suggest that geitonogamy can provide reproductive assurance in anemophilous species with unisexual flowers. Field experiments and the application of sex-specific markers in Rumex nivalis revealed that the local neighbourhood of maternal plants affects pollination intensity and progeny sex ratios. Finally, I demonstrated that plant density in Ambrosia artemisiifolia affects stigmatic pollen loads but not outcrossing rates. Through a quantitative genetics experiment in A. artemisiifolia, I detected significant genetic variation for plasticity in sex allocation, potentially enabling adaptive adjustment of sex allocation to local environmental conditions.

Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic semen analysis plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of male infertility and makes a significant contribution to the diagnostic process in andrology, gynecology and clinical urology. In 1902, the man considered to be ―the founding father of modern andrology‖ Edward Martin, proposed that an analysis of a semen sample should be incorporated into all infertility assessments. Following this suggestion in 1956, the scientist John MacLeod advanced the basic semen analysis from beyond a mere observation and introduced the importance of certain semen parameters such as morphology, motility and viscosity. The present day examination includes the analysis of certain established semen parameters, which can provide key information about the quality of a patient‘s semen and the functional competence of the spermatozoa. A semen analysis is also a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing possible disorders of the male genital tract and the secretory pattern of the male accessory sex glands. This information can help to determine the reproductive capacity of the male and can be used in conjunction with the partner to indicate the impact of male genital pathophysiology in the assessment of a couple‘s prospect for fertility. Patients attending the andrology laboratory at Tygerberg Academic Hospital for a semen analysis are referred based on primary, secondary or idiopathic infertility. Amongst these patients, an increase in semen viscosity has been observed over a period of time and created the need to assess the possible causes behind this trend. Despite viscosity being included in a routine spermiogram, it raises a considerable amount of concern as it is assessed semi-quantitatively. In the first part of this study, the possible correlation between seminal hyperviscosity and leukocytospermia was assessed. To achieve the most comprehensive assessment of viscosity, a new approach was used, which is a highly quantitative method to record viscosity in the international unit, centipoise (cP). The analysis of semen samples for possible leukocytospermia was approached by three methods the first of which was cytological. During this method granulocyte grading was performed on stained semen smears during the normal determination of morphology. The same approach was taken for the second method, whereby white blood cell concentrations were quantified with a leukocyte peroxidase test in the total sample group (n=200). Viscosity was compared between the samples classified as leukocytospermic positive or negative, according to the set reference values of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Correlation analysis between the two variables was also performed. In the biochemical approach of detecting leukocytospermia, an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) was used to quantify the concentration of the extracellular polymorphonuclear (PMN) enzyme released from leukocytes. This test was performed on 124 randomly selected samples. All samples were fractionated before storage in liquid nitrogen, to allow for multiple assessments to be performed on each sample. The PMN elastase concentration was assessed against viscosity to investigate a possible correlation and relationship with the presence of leukocytospermia. All three methods of detecting possible infection showed a significantly positive relationship with increased viscosity in semen samples. The second approach in the study was to assess increased viscosity and leukocytospermia against parameters included in the spermiogram. An evaluation of hyperviscosity and its correlations to the various other semen parameters can allow for a detailed study into the effects that this anomaly may elicit. With the assessment of each of the sperm parameters against the leukocyte count and viscosity (cP), volume, concentration and morphology showed significance. To further the study, the third angle was to investigate a possible correlation between viscosity and the functional status of the male accessory sex glands. The biochemical approach of assessing the secretory patterns of the prostate and seminal vesicles against markers of infection can possibly further the understanding behind hyperviscous semen and leukocytospermia. Citric acid and fructose, secretory products of the prostate and seminal vesicles respectively, showed no significance when assessed against the leukocyte count and viscosity. However, this project was a pilot study and this approach offers an exciting avenue for further research. These research findings may provide a more comprehensive assessment of a man‘s fertility status. Seen in the context of patients attending the andrology laboratory of Tygerberg Academic Hospital, this is greatly needed as the majority of these patients cannot afford advanced assisted reproductive therapies. The introduction of a more accurate method of quantifying viscosity may possibly help to identify, diagnose and treat patients suffering from leukocytospermia in order to ultimately enhance their fertility potential. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die basiese semenanalise speel 'n belangrike rol in die diagnose van manlike infertiliteit en maak dus 'n betekenisvolle bydrae tot die diagnostiese proses in andrologie, ginekologie en kliniese urologie. In 1902 het Edward Martin, wat deur sommige navorsers as die vader van moderne andrologie beskou word, voorgestel dat 'n semenanalise deel moet vorm van alle infertiliteitsondersoeke. In 1956 het die wetenskaplike John MacLeod aanvoorwerk gedoen om die grondslag van 'n basiese semenanalise daar te stel, wat beteken het dat, in plaas van net 'n observasie studie te doen, 'n semenmonster kwantitatief analiseer moes word en dat parameters soos spermmorfologie, motiliteit en viskositeit as deel van die volledige analise gedoen moet word. Die hedendaagse analise sluit, behalwe die basiese semenparameters, ook inligting in oor die funksionele aspekte van spermatozoa. Die semenanalise is dus ook ‗n belangrike diagnostiese hulpmiddel om inligting rakende moontlike abnormaliteite in die manlike genitale traktus en die sekretoriese funksies van die manlike bykomstige geslagskliere te verskaf. Hierdie inligting kan help om 'n moontlike diagnose van die man se fertiliteitspotensiaal te maak. Terselftertyd kan dit ook tesame met die metgesel se reproduktiewe inligting meer lig werp op die impak van die man se genitale patofisiologie op die paartjie se fertilitetspotensiaal. Pasiënte wat die andrologielaboratorium van die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal besoek word verwys op grond van primêre, sekondêre of idopatiese infertiliteit. Gedurende die laaste aantal jare is daar ‗n toename in voorkoms van verhoogde semenviskositeit onder hierdie groep pasiënte waargeneem. Dit het die behoefte laat ontstaan om die moontlike redes hiervoor te ondersoek. Ten spyte van die feit dat viskositeit deel vorm van die roetine semenanalise is dit tog kommerwekkend aangesien dit op 'n semi-kwantitatiewe manier bepaal word. In die eerste deel van hierdie studie is 'n moontlik korrelasie tussen seminale hiperviskositeit en leukositospermie ondersoek. Om die beste moontlike verwantskap te kon bepaal is 'n nuwe en hoogs kwantitatiewe metode gebruik om viskositeit in numeriese waardes volgens internasionale standaarde in centipoise (cP) te meet. Daar is van drie metodes gebruik gemaak om die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie in 'n semenmonster te ondersoek. Die eerste metode was die sitologiese metode waar die teenwoordigheid van granulosiet op die gekleurde semensmeer tydens die standaard morfologie beoordeling bepaal word. Die tweede was deur middel van 'n leukosietperoksidase toets waarmee daar 'n kwantitatiewe telling gedoen kan word, soos teenwoordig in 'n voorbereide semenmonster. Hierdie twee bepalings is op die totale studiepopulasie van 200 pasiënte gedoen. Die viskositeit van monsters met of sonder die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie, soos bepaal met die voorafgaande metodes en gebaseer op die WGO riglyne, is met mekaar vergelyk. Korrelasies is ook tussen hierdie twee veranderlikes en verskeie semenparameters van hierdie twee groepe gedoen. Die derde metode was 'n biochemiese ontleding met behulp van 'n ensiemgekoppeldeimmuunsorberende essai (ELISA) vir die bepaling van die ekstrasellulêre konsentrasie van polimorfonukleêre (PMN) elastase ensiem in die seminale plasma. Hierdie toets is op 124 lukraak gekose semenmonsters uitgevoer. Alle monsters is gefraksioneer voor berging in vloeibare stikstof om meervoudige analises van elke monster moontlik te maak. Die PMN elastase konsentrasies is vergelyk met die viskositeit van die semenmonsters vir 'n moontlike korrelasie en verwantskap met die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie. Die resultate van al drie hierdie metodes, vir die moontlike bepaling van infeksie, het 'n betekenisvolle positiewe verwantskap met die toename in graad van viskositeit in semenmonsters aangetoon. Die tweede benadering van hierdie studie was om die viskositeitsgradering en die kwantitatiewe leukositopermie waardes te vergelyk met die semenparameters wat bepaal is tydens die semenanalise. Die doel van hierdie benadering was om enige verwantskap of effek van viskositeit asook die teenwoordigheid van witbloedselle op die semenparameters te ondersoek. Daar is betekenisvolle verwantskappe gevind tussen die viskositeitstatus van 'n semenmonster, die teenwoordigheid van witbloedselle en die semenparameters, soos motiliteit, morfologie en spermatosoa konsentrasie. Die derde benadering was om 'n ondersoek te doen na die moontlike verwantskap tussen viskositeit en die sekretoriese funksies van die manlike bykomstige geslagskliere, te wete die prostaat en seminale vesikula. Die biochemiese ondersoek na die sekresies van hierdie twee organe, naamlik fruktose en sitroensuur, is gedoen om te bepaal of die teenwoordigheid van infeksies van die manlike traktus, en waargeneem as leukositospermia, ook in verband gebring kan word met die viskositeitstatus van 'n semenmonster. Daar is geen verband gevind tussen die sekresies van hierdie twee kliere en die viskositeit van die semenmonsters nie. Aangesien hierdie deel van die studie net as 'n loodsprojek beskou is, is die biochemiese bepalings slegs op 'n beperkte aantal semenmonsters uitgevoer en kan hierdie tipe ondersoek as 'n moontlike verdere studie onderneem word. Hierdie navorsingsresultate kan lei tot ‗n meer omvattende assessering van mans se fertiliteitstatus. Dit is uiters noodsaaklik in die konteks van omstandighede van die pasiënte wat die andrologielaboratorium van die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal besoek aangesien die meerderheid nie gevorderde in vitro behandeling kan bekostig nie. Die akkurate bepaling van 'n semenmonster se viskositeit kan dus moontlik waarde toevoeg tot die identifisering, diagnose en behandeling van pasiënte met leukositospermie om sodoende hulle fertiliteitspotensiaal te verbeter.

Cryopreservation of fish ovarian tissue fragments can be a viable alternative to cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos. The ability to cryopreserve both maternal and paternal gametes would provide a reliable source of fish genetic material for scientific and aquaculture purposes. The main aim of the present study was to develop an in-vitro culture protocol and cryopreservation protocol for zebrafish ovarian tissue fragments. In-vitro culture protocol for the tissue fragments containing stage I and stage II follicles were developed and the growth assessment of follicles were evaluated using biomarkers. To develop the cryopreservation protocol using control slow cooling method, the effect on freezing medium, cryoprotectants and cooling rate on the tissue fragments were investigated. The in-vitro culture experiments showed that L-15 medium (pH 9) containing 100mIU/ml FSH along with 20% FBS was effective for tissue fragments containing stage I and II follicles to grow in-vitro. The growth of the ovarian follicle stages was confirmed by the level of expression of p450aromA and vtg1 gene. The optimal cryopreservation protocol for the ovarian tissue fragments was found as 2M methanol+ 20%FBS in 90% L-15 medium with the cooling rate of 4°C/min. Although the highest survival rate obtained for stage II follicles within the fragments was 68.2±1.9% and stage I follicles within the fragments was 55.4±2.3% using TB staining, it showed a significant decrease in their ATP levels. This is the first study carried out on the zebrafish ovarian tissue fragments. Study on cryopreservation of the ovarian tissue fragments and development of the in-vitro culture protocol and use of biomarkers for the ovarian tissue fragments were reported here for the first time. The outcomes of this study have provided useful information for future cryopreservation protocol development.

Bonefish (Albula spp.) support an economically important sport fishery, yet little is known regarding the reproductive biology of this genus. Analysis of oocytes histology and sex hormone levels was conducted on wild female bonefish sampled during and outside the spawning season in Grand Bahama, Central Andros, and South Andros, The Bahamas to assess reproductive state. Bonefish are commonly found along shallow water flats, or in pre-spawn aggregations (PSA) during spawning months. 17β-estradiol levels suggest vitellogenic consistency between habitats. However, fish are more reproductively developed at PSA based on the occurrence of larger, more prevalent vitellogenic oocytes and evidence of final maturation. Variability in hormone levels and spawning readiness existed between Grand Bahama and Andros PSAs, suggesting peak spawning may differ by region. Findings from this study will contribute baseline data to the captive bonefish restoration project at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and to the limited ecological data regarding bonefish reproduction. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Relying on field research to complete the life history for certain fish species can be inadequate, but laboratory research can be used to fill these gaps. These gaps exist for Bonefish (Albula spp.), a tropical marine fish and popular sportfish. In this study, aquaculture techniques were applied to Bonefish in a captive setting at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) to induce spawning and describe early ontogeny. Photothermal manipulations and hormone injections were used to induce gonad maturation and spawning, which was achieved once at CEI and is the first record of hormone-induced spawning for Bonefish. From that spawn, egg and larval development were recorded and described through 26 hours and 56 hours respectively, representing the first record of these early life stages for Bonefish. This work expands upon what is known about Bonefish reproductive biology and will be useful for management and future captive research. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection