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Shankey NT, Cohen RE. Neural control of reproduction in reptiles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:307-321. [PMID: 38247297 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Reptiles display considerable diversity in reproductive behavior, making them great models to study the neuroendocrine control of reproductive behavior. Many reptile species are seasonally breeding, such that they become reproductively active during their breeding season and regress to a nonreproductive state during their nonbreeding season, with this transition often prompted by environmental cues. In this review, we will focus on summarizing the neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling reproductive behavior. Three major areas of the brain are involved in reproductive behavior: the preoptic area (POA), amygdala, and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). The POA and VMH are sexually dimorphic areas, regulating behaviors in males and females respectively, and all three areas display seasonal plasticity. Lesions to these areas disrupt the onset and maintenance of reproductive behaviors, but the exact roles of these regions vary between sexes and species. Different hormones influence these regions to elicit seasonal transitions. Circulating testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) peak during the breeding season and their influence on reproduction is well-documented across vertebrates. The conversion of T into E2 and 5α-dihydrotestosterone can also affect behavior. Melatonin and corticosterone have generally inhibitory effects on reproductive behavior, while serotonin and other neurohormones seem to stimulate it. In general, there is relatively little information on the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in reptiles compared to other vertebrate groups. This review highlights areas that should be considered for future areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Shankey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rachel E Cohen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, Minnesota, USA
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Migliore SN, Ramalho RA, Araújo GS, Almeida-Santos SM. Cycle of the sexual segment of the kidney: histological insights into the role of the urinary tract in the reproduction of male Notomabuya frenata (Squamata: Scincidae). ZOOLOGY 2024; 162:126146. [PMID: 38266542 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2024.126146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The kidneys of male Squamata have an important reproductive function as some portions of the nephron may undergo hypertrophy, characterizing the sexual segment of the kidney (SSK). Although its function is still not completely understood, it is believed that the secretions produced by the SSK may act in the maintenance of spermatozoa. In this study, we investigated the reproductive biology of males of Notomabuya frenata based on the seasonal variation of the SSK. We performed macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of the male reproductive tract of museum specimens to characterize the SSK cycle. The nephron portion in which hypertrophy was observed was the collecting duct with secretory granules accumulation in the apical portion. SSK hypertrophy was observed in all seasons, with the tubule diameter in autumn differing from spring and the epithelium height showing no variation. Alcian Blue reacted positively to acid mucopolysaccharides in all seasons. Periodic acid-Schiff's reacted positively to neutral mucopolysaccharides in all seasons, except autumn. Both stains reacted only in the collecting duct. In addition, spermatozoa were found in the lumen of the SSK of one specimen examined. Cycle of the SSK varied seasonally as does the chemical composition of the secretions produced by the collecting duct. The reflux of spermatozoa into SSK may indicate that (1) these secretions act in sperm maintenance, and (2) possibly there is communication between the seminal and urinary ducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena N Migliore
- Squamata Reproduction Research Group (GERES), Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renan A Ramalho
- Squamata Reproduction Research Group (GERES), Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", R. Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Gabrieli S Araújo
- Squamata Reproduction Research Group (GERES), Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", R. Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Selma M Almeida-Santos
- Squamata Reproduction Research Group (GERES), Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", R. Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
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Demas G, Greives T, Lutterschmidt D. Introduction to a brain for all seasons: Using seasonality as a model to uncover brain-behavior mechanisms across species. Horm Behav 2023; 150:105328. [PMID: 36805608 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Demas
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Timothy Greives
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Deborah Lutterschmidt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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