Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

6-14

Authors: Omolaoye Temidayo S, du Plessis Stefan S

Infertility is prevalent in about 10%-25% of couples in their reproductive age, analogous to 60-80 million infertile couples globally. Of these infertility cases, 10%-30% are exclusively attributed to a problem of the male. Several diseases have been implicated as contributors to deteriorating male fertility and diabetes mellitus (DM) is included. DM, a chronic noncommunicable disease, has been considered as one of the most appreciable health threats, as it affects 9% (422 million) of the world’s population as of 2014. It is characterised by hyperglycaemia, which can result from the inability of the pancreatic β-cells to secrete insulin or from the target tissue becoming insensitive to insulin. DM has been reported to influence male reproductive function through diverse pathways and mechanisms. The adverse effects of reactive oxygen species and successive development of oxidative stress that occur due to DM have been investigated and implicated by several studies. The products of nonenzymatic glycosylation are reported to be widely distributed in the reproductive tract of diabetic men. Additionally, DM has been implicated to impair the processes of male sexual acts. Data reported in this review were extracted from PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus with diabetes and male infertility as the key search words. In light of the aforementioned, the aim of this review is to provide brief background information on DM as well highlight and explain the likely mechanisms of male fertility which DM impacts

19-21

Authors: Fulvia Gloria-Bottini, Neri A, Pietropolli A, Magrini A, Bottini E

Objective: To investigate the cooperative interaction among five genetic systems (phosphoglucomutase locus 1, adenosine deaminase locus 1, acid phosphatase locus 1, adenylate kinase locus 1, and haptoglobin) concerning their effects on natural fertility in humans. Natural fertility has been evaluated by a model of age related differences between the distributions of types among pregnant women. Methods: A total of 137 nonsmoking consecutive puerperaes from the white population who had delivered their first born baby in the Maternity Department of S. Massimo Hospital of Penne were studied. The phenotypes of the five systems studied were determined by starch gel electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package for the social science. Results: There was a highly significant negative correlation between maternal age and the number of genetic factors showing a lower maternal age at the birth of the first child, which suggested a positive cooperative interaction among these factors concerning their effects on fertility. Conclusions: In the relationship of mother-fetus, besides nutritional factors, genetic factors involved in immunological interaction of the embryo with the mother are of paramount importance. Haptoglobin and adenosine deaminase locus 1 polymorphisms are involved in immune reactions and our data indicate that genetic variability within these systems gives a more important contribution to variation of human fertility as compared to acid phosphatase locus 1, phosphoglucomutase locus 1 and adenylate kinase locus 1 that are mainly involved in metabolic functions.

27-32

Authors: Bharath B, Nirmalraj S, Mahendrakumar M, Perinbam K

Objective: To evaluate the effect of marine brown alga Sargassum polycystum extract on growth and biochemical parameters of Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo. Methods: Different concentrations of algal extracts (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, 4.0%, and 5.0%) were prepared and applied to the crops at every 10-day intervals under natural conditions. After 30 d, the plants were harvested to evaluate the growth and biochemical parameters. Results: Seaweed liquid fertilizers treated seedlings showed maximum growth in 3.0% concentration when compared to the untreated seedlings. Similarly, biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic pigments, protein, reducing sugar, total sugar and amino acids exhibited increases in 3.0% concentration seaweed extract. Decreases in growth and biochemical parameters were noticed in concentrations higher than 3.0%. Conclusions: Presence of micronutrients and growth regulating substances in the liquid extract help healthier and faster productivity of the crop.

39-46

Authors: Mohammed KM, Kamal EL-den MA, Dahmoush AY

Objective: To study the genetic and non-genetic factors and their interactions affecting growth rate and body weights at birth, weaning and at 6 months of age in Saudi Ardi, Damascus goats and their crosses. Methods: Crossbreeding program between Saudi Ardi(A) goats with Damascus(D) was carried out to improve the meat productivity of Ardi goats through crossbreeding. The pedigree records of the body weights were obtained from 754 kids (397 males and 357 females) produced from 46 Sires and 279 Dams. Birth weight, weaning weigh and 6 months weight as well as average daily gain during different growth stages from birth to weaning (D1), weaning to 6 months (D2) and from birth to 6 months of age (D3) were recorded during winter/autumn and summer/spring. Data were classified according to breed, generation, sex, season, year, and type of birth. Data were analyzed using GLM procedure for the least-squares means of the fixed factors. Heritability and genetic parameters were estimated with derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood procedures using the MTDFREML program. Results: The percentages of variations were moderate for body weights and high for daily gains. Genetic groups had a highly significant (P<0.01) effect on the body weights traits. Damascus goats had higher (P<0.01) birth and weaning weights, but ½D½A group kids had a higher (P<0.01) body weight at 6 months. The genetic groups had a significant effects on the daily weight gains for D1 (P<0.01) and D3 (P<0.05) periods, whereas, it had no effects on D2 period. The fixed effects of sex, season, year and type of birth were significant differences for body weights. Male kids were heavier (P<0.01) than females for different growth stages. Body weights and daily gains during winter/autumn were significantly higher (P<0.01) than summer/ spring. Kids born and raised as singles were significantly (P<0.01) heavier than those were born as twins or triplets. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between birth and weaning weights were positive for both Damascus and Ardi goats. Conclusions: Genetic program for Ardi goats through upgrading with Damascus is possible to improve meat production.