ABSTRACT
Across a diversity of animals, male seminal fluid coagulates upon ejaculation to form a hardened structure known as a copulatory plug. Previous studies suggest that copulatory plugs evolved as a mechanism for males to impede remating by females, but detailed investigations into the time course over which plugs survive in the female's reproductive tract are lacking. Here, we cross males from eight inbred strains to females from two inbred strains of house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Plug survival was significantly affected by male genotype. Against intuition, plug survival time was negatively correlated with plug size: long-lasting plugs were small and relatively more susceptible to proteolysis. Plug size was associated with divergence in major protein composition of seminal vesicle fluid, suggesting that changes in gene expression may play an important role in plug dynamics. In contrast, we found no correlation to genetic variation in the protein-coding regions of five genes thought to be important in copulatory plug formation (Tgm4, Svs1, Svs2, Svs4 and Svs5). Our study demonstrates a complex relationship between copulatory plug characteristics and survival. We discuss several models to explain unexpected variation in plug phenotypes.
Subject(s)
Copulation , Mice, Inbred Strains/genetics , Reproduction/genetics , Reproduction/physiology , Animals , Crosses, Genetic , Exome , Female , Genotype , Linear Models , Male , Mice , Phenotype , Proteome/genetics , Semen/physiology , Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Transglutaminases/geneticsABSTRACT
Six patients underwent hemodynamic studies at 2 to 34 months (mean 15 months) following a modified Fontan operation. Only one patient had a valve at the inferior vena cava (IVC)-right atrium (RA) junction. Average age at surgery was 12 years (range 5-26 years). Three patients were catheterized twice. Postoperative studies showed four patients to be in sinus rhythm and two in junctional rhythm. Two patients had a RA-left pulmonary artery (LPA) gradient across the conduit of 1.5-10 mm Hg. The RA pressure was elevated an average of 17 mm Hg (10-34). All patients showed good atrial transport function regardless of their rhythm. The average arterial saturation was 92% (87%-97%), which was an improvement of 13% over preoperative values. Residual hypoxemia was due to pulmonary vein desaturation and to atrial right-to-left shunting early after surgery and to atrial right-to-left shunt alone, later. Death followed re-operation for removal of the porcine valves in the patient with two valves inserted. Macroscopically, both valves were found to have fibrous tissue ingrowth that had fixed them in a semi-open position.
Subject(s)
Hemodynamics , Tricuspid Valve/surgery , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Heart Valve Prosthesis , Humans , Male , Transplantation, Heterologous , Tricuspid Valve/abnormalitiesABSTRACT
Fourteen patients underwent a physiological operation for tricuspid atresia. Seven patients survived up to 3 years after operation. Six patients underwent hemodynamic studies 2 to 34 months postoperatively (mean, 15 months). Average age at the time of operation was 14 years (range, 5 to 25 years). Postoperative studies showed 4 patients to be in sinus rhythm and 2 in junctional rhythm. Right atrial pressure was elevated an average of 17 mm Hg (range, 10 to 34 mm Hg). All patients showed good atrial transport function regardless of their rhythm. Two had a right atrium-left pulmonary artery gradient of 1.5 to 10 mm Hg across the conduit. Average arterial saturation was 92% (range, 87 to 97%), on improvement of 13% over preoperative values. Residual hypoexmia was due to pulmonary vein desaturation and to atrial right-to-left shunting early postoperatively and later, to atrial right-to-left shunting alone.
Subject(s)
Tricuspid Valve Stenosis/congenital , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/surgery , Heart Valve Prosthesis , Humans , Male , Myocardial Revascularization , Tricuspid Valve Stenosis/surgeryABSTRACT
Twelve patients with tricuspid atresia underwent physiological operative repair. The criteria for their selection for operation included normal pulmonary vascular resistance and normal left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures. Four patients died (30% mortality). The 8 surviving patients developed pleural effusion, ascites, and hepatomegaly, which markedly improved in the subsequent weeks. Five of the 8 survivors underwent cardiac catheterization. The arterial oxygen saturation in these patients averaged 82% preoperatively, 89% immediately postoperatively, and 94% or better six months later. All had improved subjectively and developed increased exercise tolerance.
