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Díaz Ruiz E, Delgado Bermejo JV, González Ariza A, León Jurado JM, Arando Arbulu A, Navas González FJ. Effects of meteorology and lunar cycle on the post-thawing quality of avian sperm. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1394004. [PMID: 38818498 PMCID: PMC11137667 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1394004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Various climatological and lunar cycle parameters have a direct impact on animal reproduction, and in the case of the avian species, spermatozoa are extremely sensitive to heat stress. These parameters could influence sperm freezability, which will ultimately affect post-thawing semen quality, being sperm motility in roosters a relevant indicator of this quality as it is highly related to fertility. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to determine which are the climatological and lunar cycle parameters that have a greater effect on sperm freezability in roosters. Methods Sperm was obtained from 16 Utrerana breed roosters and a total of 27 replicates were performed. A pool was made with those ejaculates that met the minimum quality criteria for each replicate, and four freezing-thawing samples per replicate were analyzed. The straws were thawed, and sperm motility was evaluated, classifying the results obtained into four seminal quality groups according to the guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Group 1: Good, Group 2: Satisfactory, Group 3: Acceptable but undesirable and Group 4: Unsatisfactory). The following traits were recorded for each day of semen collection: maximum temperature, minimum temperature, maximum barometric pressure, minimum barometric pressure, maximum gust, wind direction, mean wind speed, sunshine hours, rainfall, moon phase, and percentage of illuminated lunar surface over the total area. Results A discriminant canonical analysis was performed to determine which of these parameters offered the most information when classifying an ejaculate in each quality group, with minimum temperature, the new moon as moon phase, minimum barometric pressure, and rainfall being the most significant variables. Discussion According to the results obtained, semen quality decreases when temperature and precipitation are lower, pressure is higher, and when there is a new moon phase. Therefore, these environmental conditions should be avoided for sperm collection and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Díaz Ruiz
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Ander Arando Arbulu
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
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Perea MF, Fernández EA, Garzón JP, Rosales CA, Hernández-Fonseca H, Perdomo DA, Perea FP. The moon cycle influences reproductive and productive traits in guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus) from a tropical Andean area. Chronobiol Int 2024; 41:127-136. [PMID: 38093623 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2023.2294044] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
There is currently innumerable evidence showing that the lunar cycle affects various reproductive aspects in farm animals. However, there is very little information on the effect of the lunar cycle on productive traits in these species. A retrospective study was conducted (2015-2018) to evaluate the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive and productive traits in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) production system in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. A total of 7352 productive and reproductive records of guinea pig females housed in 3 m2 cages with a breeding male were analyzed. The following variables were considered: offspring sex ratio, litter size per cage, number of weaned guinea pigs, mortality, individual and litter weaning weight of guinea pigs, and calving frequency. The lunar cycle was split into eight periods of ~3.7-d length each. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and general linear model, and means were compared by the least mean squares method of the SAS. The offspring sex ratio was not correlated to the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle at mating and calving influenced the litter size per cage, number of weaned, and mortality of guinea pigs. The individual and litter-weaning weights were influenced by the lunar cycle at calving. The frequency of calving was greater around the new and full moon than in the remaining periods of the lunar cycle. In conclusion, the lunar cycle influenced several productive and reproductive traits in guinea pigs, such as litter size, mortality, number of pups weaned, and individual and litter weaning weights. This valuable information may have practical applications in management of guinea pig production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel F Perea
- Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Escuela de Biología, Ecología y Gestión, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Estefanía A Fernández
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan P Garzón
- Estación Experimental del Austro, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP), Azuay, Ecuador
| | - Cornelio A Rosales
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Hugo Hernández-Fonseca
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, West Indies
| | - Daniel A Perdomo
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Los Andes, Trujillo, Venezuela
| | - Fernando P Perea
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Los Andes, Trujillo, Venezuela
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Iglesias Pastrana C, Navas González FJ, Delgado Bermejo JV, Ciani E. Lunar Cycle, Climate, and Onset of Parturition in Domestic Dromedary Camels: Implications of Species-Specific Metabolic Economy and Social Ecology. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040607. [PMID: 37106807 PMCID: PMC10136027 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Given energy costs for gestating and caring for male offspring are higher than those of female newborns, external environmental conditions might be regarded as likely to affect the timing of delivery processes differentially depending on the sex of the newborn calf to be delivered. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the association between environmental stressors such as the moon phase and weather-related factors and the onset of labor in female dromedaries. A binary logistic regression model was developed to find the most parsimonious set of variables that are most effective in predicting the probability for a gravid female dromedary to give birth to a male or a female calf, assuming that higher gestational costs and longer labor times are ascribed to the production of a male offspring. Although the differences in the quantitative distribution of spontaneous onset of labor across lunar phases and the mean climate per onset event along the whole study period were deemed nonsignificant (p > 0.05), a non-negligible prediction effect of a new moon, mean wind speed and maximum wind gust was present. At slightly brighter nights and lower mean wind speeds, a calf is more likely to be male. This microevolutionary response to the external environment may have been driven by physiological and behavioral adaptation of metabolic economy and social ecology to give birth to cooperative groups with the best possible reduction of thermoregulatory demands. Model performance indexes then highlighted the heterothermic character of camels to greatly minimize the impact of the external environment. The overall results will also enrich the general knowledge of the interplay between homeostasis and arid and semi-arid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Iglesias Pastrana
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | | | | | - Elena Ciani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
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Chen J, Katada Y, Okimura K, Yamaguchi T, Guh YJ, Nakayama T, Maruyama M, Furukawa Y, Nakane Y, Yamamoto N, Sato Y, Ando H, Sugimura A, Tabata K, Sato A, Yoshimura T. Prostaglandin E 2 synchronizes lunar-regulated beach spawning in grass puffers. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4881-4889.e5. [PMID: 36306789 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms living along the coastlines synchronize their reproduction with the lunar cycle. At the time of spring tide, thousands of grass puffers (Takifugu alboplumbeus) aggregate and vigorously tremble their bodies at the water's edge to spawn. To understand the mechanisms underlying this spectacular semilunar beach spawning, we collected the hypothalamus and pituitary from male grass puffers every week for 2 months. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 125 semilunar genes, including genes crucial for reproduction (e.g., gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 [gnrh1], luteinizing hormone β subunit [lhb]) and receptors for pheromone prostaglandin E (PGE). PGE2 is secreted into the seawater during the spawning, and its administration activates olfactory sensory neurons and triggers trembling behavior of surrounding individuals. These results suggest that PGE2 synchronizes lunar-regulated beach-spawning behavior in grass puffers. To further explore the mechanism that regulates the lunar-synchronized transcription of semilunar genes, we searched for semilunar transcription factors. Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization showed co-localization of the semilunar transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ (cebpd) and gnrh1, and cebpd induced the promoter activity of gnrh1. Taken together, our study demonstrates semilunar genes that mediate lunar-synchronized beach-spawning behavior. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Chen
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuma Katada
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kousuke Okimura
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Taiki Yamaguchi
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ying-Jey Guh
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomoya Nakayama
- Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Michiyo Maruyama
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Furukawa
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nakane
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Fish Biology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshikatsu Sato
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hironori Ando
- Sado Marine Biological Station, Sado Island Center for Ecological Sustainability, Niigata University, 87 Tassha, Sado 952-2135, Niigata, Japan
| | - Asako Sugimura
- Toyota Boshoku Corporation, 1-1 Toyoda-cho, Kariya 448-8651, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Tabata
- Toyota Boshoku Corporation, 1-1 Toyoda-cho, Kariya 448-8651, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ayato Sato
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshimura
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan.
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Osorio-Avalos J, Garza-Camargo DM, Robles-Jimenez LE, Plaza J, Abecia JA, Palacios C, Gonzalez-Ronquillo M. Influence of Mediterranean climate and lunar calendar on milk production in Lacaune breed ewes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:1191-1197. [PMID: 35301590 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02268-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors affect daily milk production in dairy animals. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of environmental factors, specifically mean temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), temperature-humidity index (THI), solar radiation (°), pluvial precipitation (mm) and lunar calendar (full moon, waxing quarter, waning quarter, new moon), on milk production (kg/d). The analysis was based on 96,195 morning and evening milking records documented on 109 consecutive days, from 869 Lacaune ewes. Ewes were housed in groups of 174 individuals. The analysis was performed in two independent procedures, a Pearson correlation analysis and a multivariate analysis of the ewe's interrelationships, which was based on the total variance estimate and a Varimax-rotated factorial analysis. Milk yield (kg/d) was significantly (p < 0.05) negatively correlated with mean temperature (-0.24), relative humidity (-0.16), THI (-0.24), and radiation (-0.18), which suggests that the higher these environmental factors, the lower the milk yield. Lunar calendar had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on milk production yield; specifically, yields were higher on the full moon and new moon (2.25 ± 0.05 kg/day) than they were on the crescent or waning moon (2.17 ± 0.05 kg/day). In conclusion, ewes that had been exposed to higher mean temperature, relative humidity, THI and solar radiation had the lowest milk yield, and milk yields are highest on full and new moons. The results of this work may be helpful in making predictions for milk production in Lacaune ewes in the Mediterranean region throughout the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Osorio-Avalos
- Departamento de Produccion Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zoortecnia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico. Campus El Cerrillo, Instituto Literario 100, Toluca, 50000, México
| | - Daniela M Garza-Camargo
- Departamento de Produccion Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zoortecnia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico. Campus El Cerrillo, Instituto Literario 100, Toluca, 50000, México
| | - Lizbeth E Robles-Jimenez
- Departamento de Produccion Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zoortecnia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico. Campus El Cerrillo, Instituto Literario 100, Toluca, 50000, México
| | - Javier Plaza
- Animal Production Group, Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, University of Salamanca, Av. De Filiberto Villalobos 199, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José A Abecia
- Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragón, University of Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Carlos Palacios
- Animal Production Group, Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, University of Salamanca, Av. De Filiberto Villalobos 199, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Manuel Gonzalez-Ronquillo
- Departamento de Produccion Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zoortecnia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico. Campus El Cerrillo, Instituto Literario 100, Toluca, 50000, México.
- Animal Production Group, Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, University of Salamanca, Av. De Filiberto Villalobos 199, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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Gudziunaite S, Moshammer H. Temporal patterns of weekly births and conceptions predicted by meteorology, seasonal variation, and lunar phases. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2022; 134:538-545. [PMID: 35608674 PMCID: PMC9300502 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-022-02038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Data reporting the number of births given by women resident in Vienna for each week between 1999 and 2019, and the duration (in weeks) of their pregnancies, were used to estimate the week of conception. When preliminary examinations detected cyclical patterns for births and conceptions, a series of Poisson regressions for births and conceptions were performed to assess whether these cycles could be associated with lunar or solar phases. Methods To that end 2 sine-cosine functions, 1 with a wavelength of 1 year (365.25 days) and 1 with a wavelength of 29.529 days, the latter resembling the average length of a lunar cycle, were constructed. In addition, also average weekly temperatures were included in the models. Results Same week temperature was a strong non-linear predictor for both births and conceptions. Extreme temperatures, especially hot temperatures, increased the number of births while the numbers of successful conceptions were decreased by extreme temperatures. Regarding annual variation in conceptions, the lowest values were found in May and the highest in late autumn and early winter. Therefore, the highest numbers of births are observed in the summer. As per lunar variations, the highest numbers of conceptions occurred at the full moon and the highest numbers of births at the waxing crescent to first quarter moon. Discussion The latter results should be treated with caution, as they are not hypothesis driven. Furthermore, literature reports on this topic are conflicting. Nevertheless, these findings will be useful in further analyses examining air pollution effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gudziunaite
- Department of Environmental Health, ZPH, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences, BASc, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hanns Moshammer
- Department of Environmental Health, ZPH, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Department of Hygiene, Medical University of Karakalpakstan, Nukus, Uzbekistan.
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Aguirre AA, Palomares RA, De Ondiz AD, Soto ER, Perea MS, Hernández-Fonseca HJ, Perea FP. Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions. J Biol Rhythms 2021; 36:160-168. [PMID: 33446001 DOI: 10.1177/0748730420983638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto A Palomares
- Group for Reproduction in Animals, Vaccinology and Infectious Diseases (GRAVID), Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Aitor D De Ondiz
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
| | - Eleazar R Soto
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
| | | | - Hugo J Hernández-Fonseca
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint George's University, True Blue, Grenada
| | - Fernando P Perea
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Los Andes, Trujillo, Venezuela
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Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA. Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabe1358. [PMID: 33571128 PMCID: PMC7840133 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success. In humans, a lunar influence on reproductive behavior remains controversial, although the human menstrual cycle has a period close to that of the lunar cycle. Here, we analyzed long-term menstrual recordings of individual women with distinct methods for biological rhythm analysis. We show that women's menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the Moon's luminance and/or gravimetric cycles. With age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony. We hypothesize that in ancient times, human reproductive behavior was synchronous with the Moon but that our modern lifestyles have changed reproductive physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Helfrich-Förster
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany.
| | - S Monecke
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany
| | - I Spiousas
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - T Hovestadt
- Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biocenter, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - O Mitesser
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - T A Wehr
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Yan K, Men J, Wang Y, Zhong L. Relationship of the lunar cycle with Down's syndrome screening and its effects. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e23792. [PMID: 33350765 PMCID: PMC7769297 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000023792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the positive rate of Down syndrome in second-trimester pregnant women in 1 lunar cycle and calculate variation coefficients of daily person numbers and daily positive rates in this population so as to explore the relationship of the lunar cycle with Down syndrome screening and its effects.Data and laboratory results of 51,450 second-trimester pregnant women who underwent Down syndrome screening between May 2013 and June 2017 of the Chinese lunar calendar were collected. The patients were allocated into groups according to the time period of the lunar cycle based on the start date of their last menstruation. In the Chinese lunar calendar, 1 lunar cycle is divided into eight time periods. The positive rate of Down syndrome in pregnant women with the same start date of last menstruation and changes in their variation coefficients of daily person numbers and daily positive rates were analyzed.The findings displayed the lowest positive rate of Down syndrome in the group of pregnant women who had the start date of last menstruation within the full-moon time period. The greatest variation coefficients of daily person numbers and daily positive rates were also found in the same group.The study showed that the moon indeed affected pregnant women, and the effect reached the peak by the full moon. The effect interfered with the body homeostasis of pregnant women to a certain degree. Therefore, the relationship of the lunar cycle with Down syndrome screening reflected the interaction of the moon with the homeostasis of pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yan
- Gansu Center for Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou
| | - Juan Men
- North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Gansu Center for Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou
| | - Lanjun Zhong
- Gansu Center for Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou
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Wang RR, Hao Y, Chen J, Wang MQ, Zheng RY, Shi LS, He J. Sex differences in the effects of the moon on ischemic stroke incidence: new findings from Beijing, China. Chronobiol Int 2020; 37:935-945. [PMID: 32654529 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1696811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in China, and no therapies have proven effective to prevent it. Popular belief holds that the lunar cycle affects human physiology, behavior, and health. The aim of our study is to determine whether the lunar cycle impacts the incidence of stroke subtypes [intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS)]. We retrospectively extracted the discharge registry data of all patients with first-ever acute stroke hospitalized in the affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine during 2002-2015. The onset times of stroke were assigned to four primary lunar phases based on NASA definitions. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between the lunar cycle and stroke incidence with adjustment for age, sex and season. A total of 5,965 patients with stroke (4,909 admissions for ischemic stroke IS, 754 admissions for ICH, and 302 admissions for TIA) were evaluated in our study. Subgroup analysis indicated that the admission rates of different sexes for IS tended to have opposite variation during the four moon phases. More female patients were admitted during the new moon than in the first and third quarters, while fewer male patients were admitted during the new moon than in the first and third quarters (χ2 = 15.589, P = .001). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that men were more likely to be admitted for IS in the first quarter than during the new moon (odds ratio [OR] = 1.252, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.076-1.456) (P = .004), and a corresponding trend was also identified for the third quarter (OR = 1.235, 95% CI = 1.062-1.437) (P = .006). No significant gender differences were shown in ICH or TIA. No sex difference is obvious during the full moon. Moon phases seem to affect both genders, but in very different ways. It seems that the new moon is a protective factor for male ischemic stroke patients and a risk factor for female ones. Woman tends to be more vulnerable than ever at the new moon, so deserves more attention and care. The mechanisms underlying this observation are worth studying further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran-Ran Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Yu Hao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Qi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Yun Zheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Ling-Sheng Shi
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Juan He
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
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Wang RR, Hao Y, Guo H, Wang MQ, Han L, Zheng RY, He J, Wang ZR. Lunar cycle and psychiatric hospital admissions for schizophrenia: new findings from Henan province, China. Chronobiol Int 2020; 37:438-449. [PMID: 32252567 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1625054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ran-Ran Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Hao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Guo
- Department of psychiatry, The Psychiatric Hospital of Zhumadian, Zhumadian City, Henan province, China
| | - Meng-Qi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Han
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Yun Zheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Juan He
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Ren Wang
- Psychiatry research center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
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Sasaki Y, Kitai N, Uematsu M, Kitahara G, Osawa T. Daily calving frequency and preterm calving is not associated with lunar cycle but preterm calving is associated with weather conditions in Japanese Black cows. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220255. [PMID: 31335883 PMCID: PMC6650079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several external factors including lunar cycle and weather conditions might be associated with calving conditions. Our objective here was to determine the effects of lunar cycle and weather conditions on calving frequency and the occurrence of preterm calving in Japanese Black cows. Calving records were obtained from 905 farms in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. Data were collected from 41,116 calvings. We conducted two studies: Study 1 investigated the effects of lunar cycle and weather conditions on daily calving frequency (DCF) with the observational unit of each day and Study 2 investigated those effects on the occurrence of preterm calving with the observational unit for each calving. Preterm calving was defined by whether or not a cow calving before 280 days of gestation, lower 10th percentile of gestation length of the collected data, and by whether or not a cow calving before 289 days of gestation, median of the gestation length. For Study 1, lunar cycle was not associated with DCF in all cows, in only primiparous cows and in only multiparous cows. As well as lunar cycle, weather conditions such as temperature, diurnal temperature variation, the temperature-humidity index, precipitation amount, barometric pressure, relative humidity and solar radiation, were also not associated with DCF. For Study 2, lunar cycle phases were not associated with the occurrence of preterm calving. However, preterm calving was associated with all of the weather conditions (P < 0.05) except for precipitation amounts and solar radiation. Temperature, the temperature-humidity index and relative humidity were positively associated with the occurrence of preterm calving. In contrast, diurnal temperature variations and barometric pressure were negatively associated with the occurrence of preterm calving. In conclusion, the lunar cycle was not associated with DCF and preterm calving, but the weather conditions were associated with preterm calving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Sasaki
- Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Narumi Kitai
- Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Mizuho Uematsu
- Miyazaki Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Go Kitahara
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Takeshi Osawa
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Marco-Gracia FJ. The influence of the lunar cycle on spontaneous deliveries in historical rural environments. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019; 236:22-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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El-Darawany AHA, El-Tarabany MS, Al-Marakby KM, Atta MA. Effect of lunar cycle on some reproductive aspects of female goats. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2019.1600264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud S. El-Tarabany
- Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Khaled M. Al-Marakby
- Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Mostafa A. Atta
- Biological Applications Department, Radioisotopes Applications Division, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
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Navas González FJ, Jordana Vidal J, Pizarro Inostroza G, Arando Arbulu A, Delgado Bermejo JV. Can Donkey Behavior and Cognition Be Used to Trace Back, Explain, or Forecast Moon Cycle and Weather Events? Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:ani8110215. [PMID: 30463193 PMCID: PMC6262452 DOI: 10.3390/ani8110215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Donkeys have been traditionally attributed the ability to inform humans about the environment. Carefully observing the behavior and cognitive reactions of donkeys in their habitat may enable to quantify such reactions to develop informative mathematical models. These models can be used to explain present environmental situations, trace back past events or even predict future conditions. Our results suggest, environmental stressing situations may affect donkeys in a way that they register the cognitive adaptations or sequels derived from such situations. Furthermore, such environmental events may not only affect the present cognitive status of the animals, but they may drive this cognitive record affecting the behavioral patterns donkeys display through their lives. Our model is able to explain 75.9% of the variability in response type and intensity, mood, or learning capabilities. Conclusively, donkeys can be used as an environment informative sensitive tool and may therefore, predict and register slight human-unappreciable climatic variations to which they may behaviorally adapt beforehand. Abstract Donkeys have been reported to be highly sensitive to environmental changes. Their 8900–8400-year-old evolution process made them interact with diverse environmental situations that were very distant from their harsh origins. These changing situations not only affect donkeys’ short-term behavior but may also determine their long-term cognitive skills from birth. Thus, animal behavior becomes a useful tool to obtain past, present or predict information from the environmental situation of a particular area. We performed an operant conditioning test on 300 donkeys to assess their response type, mood, response intensity, and learning capabilities, while we simultaneously registered 14 categorical environmental factors. We quantified the effect power of such environmental factors on donkey behavior and cognition. We used principal component analysis (CATPCA) to reduce the number of factors affecting each behavioral variable and built categorical regression (CATREG) equations to model for the effects of potential factor combinations. Effect power ranged from 7.9% for the birth season on learning (p < 0.05) to 38.8% for birth moon phase on mood (p < 0.001). CATPCA suggests the percentage of variance explained by a four-dimension-model (comprising the dimensions of response type, mood, response intensity and learning capabilities), is 75.9%. CATREG suggests environmental predictors explain 28.8% of the variability of response type, 37.0% of mood, and 37.5% of response intensity, and learning capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Navas González
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Jordi Jordana Vidal
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Gabriela Pizarro Inostroza
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Ander Arando Arbulu
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujjwal Chakraborty
- Life Science Division, Moulasole R.B. High School, Moulasole, Bankura, West Bengal, India
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Raible F, Takekata H, Tessmar-Raible K. An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks. Front Neurol 2017; 8:189. [PMID: 28553258 PMCID: PMC5428424 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms have evolved to cope with geophysical cycles of different period lengths. In this review, we focus on the adaptations of animals to the lunar cycle, specifically, on the occurrence of biological rhythms with monthly (circalunar) or semi-monthly (circasemilunar) period lengths. Systematic experimental investigation, starting in the early twentieth century, has allowed scientists to distinguish between mythological belief and scientific facts concerning the influence of the lunar cycle on animals. These studies revealed that marine animals of various taxa exhibit circalunar or circasemilunar reproductive rhythms. Some of these rely on endogenous oscillators (circalunar or circasemilunar clocks), whereas others are directly driven by external cues, such as the changes in nocturnal illuminance. We review current insight in the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in circalunar rhythms, focusing on recent work in corals, annelid worms, midges, and fishes. In several of these model systems, the transcript levels of some core circadian clock genes are affected by both light and endogenous circalunar oscillations. How these and other molecular changes relate to the changes in physiology or behavior over the lunar cycle remains to be determined. We further review the possible relevance of circalunar rhythms for terrestrial species, with a particular focus on mammalian reproduction. Studies on circalunar rhythms of conception or birth rates extend to humans, where the lunar cycle was suggested to also affect sleep and mental health. While these reports remain controversial, factors like the increase in "light pollution" by artificial light might contribute to discrepancies between studies. We finally discuss the existence of circalunar oscillations in mammalian physiology. We speculate that these oscillations could be the remnant of ancient circalunar oscillators that were secondarily uncoupled from a natural entrainment mechanism, but still maintained relevance for structuring the timing of reproduction or physiology. The analysis and comparison of circalunar rhythms and clocks are currently challenging due to the heterogeneity of samples concerning species diversity, environmental conditions, and chronobiological conditions. We suggest that future research will benefit from the development of standardized experimental paradigms, and common principles for recording and reporting environmental conditions, especially light spectra and intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Raible
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hiroki Takekata
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
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