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| Open AccessStructure and electromechanical coupling of a voltage-gated Na+/H+ exchanger
Upon hyperpolarization, the S4 voltage-sensing segment of sea urchin SLC9C1 moves down, removing inhibition caused by an intracellular helix and enabling Na+/H+ exchange, leading to pH-dependent activation of sAC and sperm chemotaxis.
- Hyunku Yeo
- , Ved Mehta
- & David Drew
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Article
| Open AccessComplete human day 14 post-implantation embryo models from naive ES cells
The culture of genetically unmodified human naive embryonic stem cells in specific growth conditions gives rise to structures that recapitulate those of post-implantation human embryos up to 13–14 days after fertilization.
- Bernardo Oldak
- , Emilie Wildschutz
- & Jacob H. Hanna
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Article
| Open AccessA spatially resolved timeline of the human maternal–fetal interface
A multiomics approach is used to produce a spatiotemporal atlas of the human maternal–fetal interface in the first half of pregnancy, revealing relationships among gestational age, extravillous trophoblasts and spiral artery remodelling.
- Shirley Greenbaum
- , Inna Averbukh
- & Michael Angelo
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Article |
Testosterone histories from tusks reveal woolly mammoth musth episodes
Comparisons of steroid hormone concentrations in dentin samples from fossil mammoth tusks with those from a modern elephant tusk provide evidence of periodic increases in testosterone in the male mammoth characteristic of musth episodes.
- Michael D. Cherney
- , Daniel C. Fisher
- & Alexei N. Tikhonov
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Article |
Generation of functional oocytes from male mice in vitro
Mouse induced pluripotent stem cells derived from differentiated fibroblasts could be converted from male (XY) to female (XX), resulting in cells that could form oocytes and give rise to offspring after fertilization.
- Kenta Murakami
- , Nobuhiko Hamazaki
- & Katsuhiko Hayashi
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Article
| Open AccessA male steroid controls female sexual behaviour in the malaria mosquito
The discovery of a male-specific sex hormone in the mosquito <em>Anopheles gambiae</em> may allow new strategies for the control of this notorious disease vector.
- Duo Peng
- , Evdoxia G. Kakani
- & Flaminia Catteruccia
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Article |
MC3R links nutritional state to childhood growth and the timing of puberty
MC3R deficiency is associated with a delay in the onset of puberty, and a reduction in growth and lean mass.
- B. Y. H. Lam
- , A. Williamson
- & S. O’Rahilly
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Article |
Genetic insights into biological mechanisms governing human ovarian ageing
Hundreds of genetic loci associated with age at menopause, combined with experimental evidence in mice, highlight mechanisms of reproductive ageing across the lifespan.
- Katherine S. Ruth
- , Felix R. Day
- & John R. B. Perry
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Article |
Structure of a mammalian sperm cation channel complex
A structure of the sperm-specific CatSper complex features a number of additional components; together, these components and the CatSper complex are termed the CatSpermasome.
- Shiyi Lin
- , Meng Ke
- & Jianping Wu
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Article |
Inherent mosaicism and extensive mutation of human placentas
Phylogenies of human placental cells based on whole-genome sequencing of bulk samples and microdissections reveal extensive mutagenesis in placental tissue, and suggest that mosaicism is a typical part of normal placental development.
- Tim H. H. Coorens
- , Thomas R. W. Oliver
- & Sam Behjati
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Article |
Enteric neurons increase maternal food intake during reproduction
A multi-organ circuit is activated in female flies after mating, leading to changes in enteric neurons that increase food intake.
- Dafni Hadjieconomou
- , George King
- & Irene Miguel-Aliaga
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Feature |
Reproductive biology: Breeding opportunities
The reproductive sciences offer an unusual variety of career options — but some are more fertile than others.
- Charlotte Schubert
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News Feature |
Reproductive biology: Fertile mind
Jonathan Tilly defied decades of dogma by suggesting that women can make new eggs throughout their lives. Now some of his critics are taking a second look.
- Trisha Gura
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News |
Light-sensing chip captures sperm on the move
Lens-free system provides first direct evidence of spiralling swimming pattern.
- Helen Shen
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News |
In-law infighting boosted evolution of menopause
Conflict between generations of unrelated childbearing women affects offspring survival.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News |
Nerve-growth protein linked to ovulation
Chemical that stimulates egg production in llamas might help to explain human infertility.
- Kathryn Lougheed
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News |
Birth control for men edges closer
Researchers make male mice reversibly infertile without using hormones.
- Amy Maxmen
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News |
Pregnancy alters resident gut microbes
Third-trimester microbiota resembles that of people at risk of diabetes.
- Monya Baker
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Research Highlights |
Cheating cuts offspring fitness
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Research Highlights |
Jellies reproduce as little larvae
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News & Views |
Human reproductive assistance
What is the biological explanation for menopause, and for female survival beyond it? A study suggests that competition for help in ancestral societies may have been key to the evolution of this unusual human trait.
- Kim Hill
- & A. Magdalena Hurtado
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Research Highlights |
Molecular clues to infertility
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Research Highlights |
To make a new species
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News & Views |
Bone returns the favour
There are well-established links between the reproductive system, metabolism and skeletal growth. But it comes as a surprise that the skeleton — more specifically, the bone hormone osteocalcin — modulates fertility.
- Sonya M. Schuh-Huerta
- & Renee A. Reijo Pera
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News & Views |
Clarification
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News & Views |
In vitro sperm maturation
Anticancer therapies can impair male fertility. Whereas men can opt to freeze their sperm before treatment, young boys don't produce mature sperm and so lack this choice. Work in mice offers hope for such patients. See Letter p.504
- Marco Seandel
- & Shahin Rafii
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News & Views |
Progesterone's gateway into sperm
The hormone progesterone rapidly activates intracellular signalling in human sperm, regulating key aspects of their physiology. An ion channel unique to the sperm tail seems to relay progesterone's signal. See Letters p.382 & p.387 See Clarification p.598
- Steve Publicover
- & Christopher Barratt
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Letter |
Progesterone activates the principal Ca2+ channel of human sperm
Progesterone stimulates an increase in Ca2+ levels in human sperm, but the underlying signalling mechanism is poorly understood. Two studies now show that progesterone activates the sperm-specific, pH-sensitive CatSper calcium channel, leading to a rapid influx of Ca2+ ions into the spermatozoa. These results should help to define the physiological role of progesterone and CatSper in sperm, and could lead to the development of new classes of non-hormonal contraceptives.
- Polina V. Lishko
- , Inna L. Botchkina
- & Yuriy Kirichok
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Letter |
The CatSper channel mediates progesterone-induced Ca2+ influx in human sperm
Progesterone stimulates an increase in Ca2+ levels in human sperm, but the underlying signalling mechanism is poorly understood. Two studies now show that progesterone activates the sperm-specific, pH-sensitive CatSper calcium channel, leading to a rapid influx of Ca2+ ions into the spermatozoa. These results should help to define the physiological role of progesterone and CatSper in sperm, and could lead to the development of new classes of non-hormonal contraceptives.
- Timo Strünker
- , Normann Goodwin
- & U. Benjamin Kaupp
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News |
Of femurs and fertility
Mouse studies suggest bone hormone affects male fertility.
- Tiffany O'Callaghan
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Research Highlights |
Genetics: Sex and the social slime mold
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News & Views |
Of worms and women
In roundworms, age-related decline in egg quality is regulated by specific humoral signalling pathways. If similar mechanisms operate in mammals, these findings may suggest ways to delay reproductive ageing in women.
- Kevin Flurkey
- & David E. Harrison
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News |
MicroRNAs mediate an early birth
Researchers uncover the molecular process that triggers contractions during labour.
- Joseph Milton
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Research Highlights |
Zoology: No sons for snake that shuns sex
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News |
Variety sparks sexual evolution
A changeable environment encourages a move away from asexual reproduction.
- Joseph Milton
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Brief Communications Arising |
Evidence for male allocation in pipefish?
- Darryl T. Gwynne
- , Kevin A. Judge
- & Clint D. Kelly
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News |
Mosquito spray affects bird reproduction
House martin numbers hit by 'environmentally friendly' insect control.
- Natasha Gilbert
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News |
Evolutionary insights caught on camera
Spying on wild crickets in the field yields secrets of reproductive success.
- Janelle Weaver
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News |
Sperm wars illuminated
Insect sperm fight one another with brute force and chemical weapons.
- John Whitfield
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Letter |
Post-copulatory sexual selection and sexual conflict in the evolution of male pregnancy
Male pregnancy is restricted to seahorses, pipefishes and their relatives, in which young are nurtured in the male's brood pouch. It is now clear that the brood pouch has a further function. Studies of Gulf pipefish show that males can selectively abort embryos from females perceived as less attractive, saving resources for more hopeful prospects later. This is the only known example of post-copulatory sexual conflict in a sex-reversed species.
- Kimberly A. Paczolt
- & Adam G. Jones
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Article |
Somatic sex identity is cell autonomous in the chicken
In mammals, embryos are considered to be sexually indifferent until the action of a sex-determining gene initiates gonadal differentiation. Here it is demonstrated that this situation is different for birds. Using rare, naturally occurring chimaeric chickens where one side of the animal appears male and the other female, it is shown that avian somatic cells possess an inherent sex identity and that, in birds, sexual differentiation is cell autonomous.
- D. Zhao
- , D. McBride
- & M. Clinton
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Research Highlights |
Biology: Stayin' alive
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Letter |
Sister chromosome pairing maintains heterozygosity in parthenogenetic lizards
The existence of all-female species of whiptail lizard, formed as a hybrid between sexual species, has been known since 1962; however, how the meiotic program is altered to produce diploid eggs while maintaining heterozygosity has remained unclear. Here it is shown in parthenogenetic species that meiosis initiates with twice the number of chromosomes compared to sexual species, and that pairing and recombination takes place between genetically identical sister chromosomes instead of between homologues.
- Aracely A. Lutes
- , William B. Neaves
- & Peter Baumann
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Research Highlights |
Evolutionary biology: How girls go solo
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News |
Brother sperm train together
Mouse sperm cells team up with their kin in the race to fertilize eggs.
- John Whitfield
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Letter |
Competition drives cooperation among closely related sperm of deer mice
Sperm can increase their swimming velocity and gain a competitive advantage over sperm from another male by forming cooperative groups, such that selection should favour cooperation of the most closely related sperm. Sperm of deer mice are now shown to aggregate more often with conspecific than heterospecific sperm, in accordance with this theory, whereas in a monogamous species lacking sperm competition, sperm indiscriminately group with unrelated conspecific sperm.
- Heidi S. Fisher
- & Hopi E. Hoekstra