A set of novel microsatellite markers developed for an economically important tree, Dracontomelon duperreanum, in China.

Dracontomelon duperreanum, the most representative species of the family Anacardiaceae, is an important multipurpose tree in China and Vietnam. However, no genetic diversity studies have been reported on this species. In this study, we identified 11 microsatellite markers for D. duperreanum by using the restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) method and examined their polymorphisms in 22 samples obtained from the South China Botanical Garden, South China. We could detect only two or three alleles for each microsatellite marker. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.41 and 0.39, respectively, which were lower than those reported for the species with similar life history forms. These relatively low genetic diversities in this common plant species are unexpected and might have resulted from its extensive cultivation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of microsatellite markers in the genus Dracontomelon. These microsatellite markers will be valuable for studying the genetic diversities and structures in D. duperreanum and other Dracontomelon species.

Congenital absence of vas deferens treated by artificial spermatocele constructed from the tunica vaginalis; report of six cases.

Six patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens were treated by artificial spermatoceles (ASCs) in an attempt to collect sperm for subsequent artificial insemination (AI). The ASC was constructed from a flap of tunica vaginalis from the patient. Sperm were aspirated from the ASC each month; there was wide variation in the concentration of sperm recovered [33.0 +/- 48.2 x 10(6) mL-1 (range 0.1-200)] and motility and normal morphology of the sperm were 19.0 +/- 17.9% and 48.8 +/- 23.4% respectively. Although a total of 14 cycles of AI was performed using the aspirated sperm, pregnancy did not result. Both poor sperm recovery and poor motility contributed to this failure. The condition of the epididymis observed during scrotum examination is reported. It is suggested that in some patients with congenital absence of vas deferens, the paired Wolffian ducts may differ from each other in their development.