Heterochromatin variants of human chromosome 9 belong to the most common variabilities of human karyotype. The variability involves the large block of constitutive heterochromatin in the pericentric region of chromosome 9, which is composed of various types of repetitive DNA sequences. Those variants can be studied from population epidemiologic, molecular cytogenetic and clinical genetic point of view. We have performed a broad epidemiologic study of the incidence of pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 (inv(9)) and other variants of chromosome 9 in 6 different laboratory cohorts, which included the evaluation of more than 26.000 of cytogenetic reports, the study we published is currently the largest in the world. We expressed the overall incidence of inv(9) to be 1.6% and the total incidence of variants of chromosome 9 to be 3.3-3.9%. Inv(9) was more common in females, however the difference was not statistically significant. Molecular cytogenetic part of the project was based on our own diagnostic approach, which involved the combination of three different commercial FISH probes. Combination of those probes allowed us to differentiate particular subvariants of chromosome 9, which cannot be analyzed only by using G- or C-banding. Using our method, we tested 49 carriers of chromosome 9...

Breeding site fidelity and its effect on reproductive success was investigated in two diving ducks species, i.e. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) in the Trebon region and the surroundings using caught and individually marked females, searching for nests, and monitoring of marked individuals and its broods. In both studied species, the fidelity ratio (apparent survival, MARK software) was around 65 %. Evaluating the influencing factors, impact of previous reproductive success in the phase of rearing ducklings was found to be the only one statistically significant factor. Furthermore, we compared reproductive parameters (i.e clutch size, laying date, reproductive success) in the first and subsequent year of study. The statistically significant relationship was found between the timing of nesting in the first and in any subsequent year in the Tufted Duck . When comparing the reproductive success in relation to hatched or unhatched clutches and reared or not reared ducklings, we do not confirm any significant shift. Successful females were not able to improve or even repeat their reproductive success in the following years, which could result in subsequent lower degree of fidelity. Subsequently, there is a female dispersion and reduction of the reproductive success of...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15% of couples in reproductive age suffer from infertility problems, and up to 60% of cases are caused by male factor. Causes of this condition could be genetic background, environmental factors and various diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DM on reproductive parameters and expression of selected testicular genes using mouse model (FVB inbred mouse strain). DM (type 1) was artificially induced by chemical substance streptozotocin, which causes destruction of pancreatic β cells. These mice were exposed to diabetic condition for 6 weeks and then subjected to analysis. Our results have shown that diabetic condition had an impact on body weight, weight of reproductive organs as well as kidneys and livers. We also observed decreased concentration and viability of diabetic sperm compared to control. Moreover, we noticed increased staining with apoptotic marker annexin V. Further, we evaluated changes of sperm nuclear proteins - protamines. In diabetic animals, we observed higher number of sperm with insufficient protamination. Nevertheless, protamine 1 to protamine 2 ratio (P1/P2), a marker of male fertility, was not altered in sperm of diabetic animals compared to control. Regarding the...

Anti-predator behaviour, sexual selection and reproductive success in the House Sparrow Passer domesticus Alena Klvaňová Summary of the thesis Individual components of parental care are disproportionally distributed among the parents in the House Sparrow. While the female broods the nestlings more often and feeds them more frequently, the male defends the nest more intensely. In an experimental study the parents did not adjust their nest defence intensity to behaviour of their partners, nor to brood parameters. Only males tended to defend the sooner broods more intensely, which is in concordance with the "brood value hypothesis". Male contribution to nestling feeding affected their body mass. Male nest defence intensity increased with the size of their melanin ornament. Thus, we assume that the ornament could signal male investment in this component of parental care, while it does not correlate with feeding frequency and time spent by incubation. This output is probably caused by pleiotropic effect of genes regulating melanogenesis, affecting e. g. testosterone plasma level, which is associated with increased agression and lower intensity of other components of parental care as nestling provisioning or incubation. We have also aked the question whether the anti-predator strategy in House Sparrow is stable...

Infertility is defined as an inability to conceive a child within one year of regular sexual intercourse. It affects up to 15 % of couples worldwide (WHO, 2010). The male factor contributes to the total infertility with more than 50 %. Fertility of a man is influenced by several factors such as genetic background, environment and various diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes mellitus is a serious health problem that affects 451 million people worldwide (18-99 years) and the number of people with this disease still increases (Cho a spol., 2018). In addition, parenthood is postponed to middle age when the fertility decreases and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) appear. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of type 2 diabetes on reproductive parameters of mouse inbred line C57BL/6J compared to the control group and the possible effect of paternal diabetes on the first filial generation. In the evaluation of the effect of DM2 on reproductive parameters, we used innovative methods to study internal state of sperm and testes. Results of our work showed that DM2 influenced the weight of body, prostate and liver. The weight of testes, epididymis and liver was reduced in the offspring. Furthermore, sperm morphology and intraacrosomal protein status were...

Reproduction health means ability to become pregnant, bear the full term and give birth to a healthy child. Every woman is responsible for her care for reproduction health. Health is also closely connected with love for family. Family is very important for Romani people as it is a source of power and deep roots and satisfies life necessities of its members. The thesis titled Romani Women and Reproduction Health deals mainly with the issues of reproduction health of Romani women which includes family planning of Romani women, pregnant Romani women, abortion, childbirth, contraception and also climacteric and preventive screening mammography. The issues connected with reproduction health are quite serious as preventive medical examinations are essential for subsequent treatment when a disease is diagnosed. The aim of the thesis was to find out whether or not there is any education in the area of family planning of Romani women; whether or not Romani women plan their parenthood; whether or not family planning is affected by the traditional Romani family pattern; at what age they give their first birth; whether or not Romani women undergo preventive gynaecological examinations; whether or not Romani women are informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer; and whether or not Romani women use hormonal substitution therapy during their climacteric. The hypotheses below were defined for these aims. The aim of the first hypothesis was to verify that there is no education in the area of family planning of Romani women. The hypothesis was verified by a questionnaire and its subsequent statistical evaluation. The aim of the second hypothesis was to verify that Romani women plan their pregnancy but this hypothesis was not verified. The aim of the third hypothesis was to verify that family planning of Romani women is affected by the traditional Romani family pattern which was not verified. The aim of the fourth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women give their first birth at the age of 17 or so. This hypothesis was verified by a questionnaire and its subsequent statistical evaluation. The aim of the fifth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women undergo preventive gynaecological examinations. This hypothesis was verified. The aim of the sixth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women are not informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer. This hypothesis was not verified. The aim of the seventh hypothesis was to verify that Romani women do not use hormonal replacement therapy during their climacteric. This hypothesis was verified. There were four research questions defined for a qualitative check. The first question concerned the fact how the lower socioeconomic status of Romani families affects the number of children being born. The second research question concerned the most frequent gynaecological diseases occurring of Romani women. The third question concerned the issues connected with pregnancy of Romani women. The fourth question concerned the fact whether or not Romani women let their daughters be vaccinated against uterine suppository cancer. The results of the research questions show that the informants did not have problems to become pregnant; when they had health problems during pregnancy they went to hospital to avoid complications; their lower socioeconomic status does not have any impact on the number of children in Romani families; five informants out of nine did not have any gynaecological problems; all Romani informants are informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer; and only three women out of nine would not let their daughters be vaccinated. A combination of quantitative and qualitative checks was used for the practical part of the thesis. A non-standardized interview and a questionnaire were used as the data collection technique. The research group consisted of Romani women of all age categories from České Budějovice.

Several changes in land use during the last 50 years of 20th century had a significant impact on the composition of traditional meadows. The abundance of many plant species typical for traditionally managed meadows has declined. But some of these species have found a refuge in habitats such as field margins and road verges. The aim of this study was to describe how the reproduction success of two related Achillea species A. millefolium agg. and A. ptarmica depends on (i) the particular habitat in which they grow (meadow/verge); (ii) the abundance of pollinators in the study site; and (iii) timing of flowering within the season. Moreover, the longevity of individual flowers of the two taxa has been studied in order assess the width of the time frame the reproduction takes place in. These objectives were achieved by means of measuring plant total seed production and germination as proxies of reproductive success both in meadow and verge populations at the beginning, peak and end of the flowering season of the two species in 2012. The plants were chosen at plots, where concurrently a pollinator survey has been conducted as the part of the broader project. The durations of the male and female phases of individual flowers have been studied in separate experiments.

The scope of this dissertation focuses on issues related to family planning from the men´s point of view. Studies on fertility and family planning were focused overwhelmingly on women. The men´s participation in studies on family planning and reproduction is increasingly recognized as important; both men and women make important contributions to bringing children into life. Data of qualitative research were collected in interviews with 170 Czech men aged between 25 and 50. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data. The results show strong social pressure determining the ideal form of material and psychosocial background for offspring confronts current generation with very demanding decision-making on parenthood timing. Although men are in need of negotiations, the responsibility and practical decision-making is mainly left up to women. The inability of men to father their own genetic child has been identified as a main concern and an important infertility topic. However, the results have shown a low attention paid to the prevention of disorders of the men´s reproductive health.

Understanding the genetic basis of reproductive isolation is the ultimate goal of the study of speciation. Here I present the results of a study of gene flow and its barriers at sex chromosome markers across the central European portion of the hybrid zone between two house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We identified strong introgression of Y musculus chromosome into the domesticus area accompanied by a perturbation of the census sex ratio. In addition, we detected stochastic effects that can distort results of hybrid zone studies. Finally, we confirmed a strong effect of sex chromosomes on reproductive isolation and hence their important role in the process of speciation.

The relationship between religion and reproductive behavior in demographic perspective Abstract The aim of this thesis is to provide a deeper discussion of the relationship of religion to reproductive behavior at the theoretical, methodological and practical level. The secondary objective is to introduce a recently formed branch called religious demography. The main part of the thesis is of a theoretical and methodological character, and is built on the comprehensive elaboration of the foreign literature, which is dealing with the theme of religion and reproductive behavior. In the first chapter, the latest processes and changes that occur on the religious scene and difficulties associated just with the research in this area are described. The second chapter is dealing with general methodological problems, which are mainly related to the operationalization of religion and the availability of data needed to examine the relationship of religion to reproductive behavior. The third chapter then presents two demographic prospects, which reveal two different ways of relationships, showing how to deal with the religion and the demographic reproduction. In the final part a model example is introduced, based on principles of religious demography. The example is built on data of the individual categories of...