Papers by Maria Jose Berlanga Palomo
Volume that collects a large group of Classical Archeology studies dedicated in tribute to Prof. ... more Volume that collects a large group of Classical Archeology studies dedicated in tribute to Prof. Pedro Rodríguez Oliva, Professor of Archeology at the University of Malaga (Spain). ISBN: 978-84-1369-040-7.
Theriogenology, 2005
Photoperiod is an important factor in the modulation of male reproduction in mammals. In boars, h... more Photoperiod is an important factor in the modulation of male reproduction in mammals. In boars, however, it is a controversial factor. The main aim of this work is to determine the precise effect of the natural, Mediterranean photoperiod on boar-semen quality. To do this, boars were housekept in strictly controlled temperature and humidity conditions, whereas light periods were also strictly adjusted to obtain a light-cycle in the farm. The work was performed over a period of one year, thus allowing for the determination of the putative yearly oscillations of boar-semen quality. Variations of the natural Mediterranean photoperiod do not induce substantial changes in overall semen-quality parameters like the percentages of viability, morphological abnormalities and total motility, the response to the osmotic resistance test and sperm motion characteristics. Only the motile-sperm subpopulation structure was significantly (P < 0.05) changed depending on the variations of the natural photoperiod. Furthermore, the boar-semen ability for storage at 15-17 8C in a commercial extender was not modified by photoperiod changes. Our results indicate that the natural Mediterranean photoperiod does not induce strong changes in boar-M.M. Rivera et al. / Theriogenology xxx (2005) xxx-xxx
Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2000
The glycogen content in fresh raw dog spermatozoa was 0.22 Ϯ 0.03 mol/mg protein. This matched wi... more The glycogen content in fresh raw dog spermatozoa was 0.22 Ϯ 0.03 mol/mg protein. This matched with the presence of a glycogenlike staining in the head and midpiece. Glycogen levels lowered to 0.05 mol/mg protein after incubation for 60 min without sugars. Addition of either 10 mM fructose or 10 mM glucose increased glycogen content to 0.70 mol/mg protein. On the other hand, glycogen synthase activity ratio of fresh dog sperm (0.35 Ϯ 0.07, measured in the absence and the presence of glucose 6-P) increased to 0.55 with 10 mM fructose for 20 min, whereas glucose had a smaller effect. Spermatozoa extracts had also a protein of about 100 Kd, which reacted against a rat liver glycogen synthase antibody. This was located in sperm head and midpiece. Furthermore, glycogen phosphorylase activity ratio measured in presence and absence of AMP (0.25 Ϯ 0.03 in fresh samples) decreased to 0.15 by 10 mM glucose for 20 min, whereas fructose was less potent in this regard. The maximal effect of glucose and fructose were observed from 10-20 mM onwards. This work is the first indication for a functional glycogen metabolism in mammal spermatozoa, which could play an important role in regulating sperm survival in vivo. Mol.
Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2003
Immunocytochemistry of glycogen deposition in dog sperm from fresh ejaculates showed that 53.7% o... more Immunocytochemistry of glycogen deposition in dog sperm from fresh ejaculates showed that 53.7% of the population had glycogen at the midpiece, whereas 27.3% of the whole population accumulated glycogen only in the post-acrosomal region of the head. A similar distribution was observed when glycogen synthase, the enzyme which controls glycogen deposition, was studied. Incubation of spermatozoa with fructose increases the intracellular glycogen levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, after incubation with 2 mM fructose for 30 min, 47.3% of the spermatozoa had glycogen located in both the midpiece and post-acrosomal zone, 25.4% of the population showed the polysaccharide only in the midpiece, and 24.7% of the spermatozoa showed a uniform distribution of glycogen all over the cell. Similar results were observed after incubation with 10-mM fructose. The distribution of glycogen synthase followed a similar pattern to that of glycogen. Incubation with glucose also induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase of glycogen content, whereas incubation with 2 mM glucose for 30 min showed that the majority of the population (81.2%) had the glycogen distributed throughout either the midpiece or the midpiece and the post-acrosomal zones together. There were practically no cells with a uniform glycogen distribution. Similar results were obtained after incubation with 10-mM glucose, whereas glycogen synthase suffered a similar glucose-induced distribution change. These results indicate that dog-sperm glycogen metabolism is modulated by changes in the activity of their controlling enzymes and also by changes in the specific location places where glycogen synthesis is produced.
Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2008
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pre-treating mature bovine oocytes wit... more The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pre-treating mature bovine oocytes with Taxol before vitrification by the open pulled Straw method (OPS). We evaluated the effects of pre-treating the oocytes with 1 microM Taxol on chromosome organization, spindle morphology, cortical granule distribution and the ability of fertilized oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage. After calf or cow oocyte vitrification without Taxol, significantly higher proportions of spindle abnormalities in the form of abnormal spindle structures or dispersed or decondensed chromosomes were observed compared to fresh control oocytes. In contrast, when we compared calf oocytes pre-treated with Taxol before vitrification with control calf oocytes, similar percentages of oocytes showing a normal spindle morphology were observed. The percentages of oocytes with a peripheral cortical granule (CG) distribution increased when the oocytes were pretreated with Taxol and vitrified, while oocytes vitr...
Human Reproduction, 2007
BACKGROUND: Diabetes induces great alterations in female reproductive function. We analyzed the e... more BACKGROUND: Diabetes induces great alterations in female reproductive function. We analyzed the effects of tungstate, an anti-diabetic agent, on the reproductive function of healthy and diabetic female rats. METHODS: Healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with sodium tungstate (2 mg/ml in their drinking water) for 12 weeks. Markers of reproductive function and diabetes were measured in serum, and in uterus and ovaries by Western blot or RT -PCR. Reproductive function was also assessed by mating. RESULTS: Diabetic rats showed great impairment of libido, which was accompanied by a total loss of fertility (P < 0.05) and a decrease in the serum levels of FSH (P < 0.05) and LH (P < 0.05) compared with healthy rats. Tungstate treatment of diabetic rats partially recovered libido while fertility rate increased to 66.6%. This improvement was accompanied by a recovery of serum FSH (to a level higher than healthy rats) and LH. Moreover, tungstate treatment normalized ovarian expression of GLUT 3 hexose transporter, and estrogen, progesterone and FSH receptors, whereas only GLUT 3 and FSH receptors were normalized in the uterus. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the alterations in female reproduction in diabetes were partially reversed after tungstate treatment by a mechanism(s) involving the normalization of serum FSH and LH levels, and ovarian and uterine expression of FSH receptors and GLUT3.
Cryobiology, 2004
Studies were conducted to compare viability of immature and mature porcine oocytes vitrified in e... more Studies were conducted to compare viability of immature and mature porcine oocytes vitrified in ethylene glycol (EG) using open-pulled straws (OPS). Oocytes that had been allowed to mature for 12 h (germinal vesicle group; GV) and 40 h (metaphase II group; MII) were divided into three treatments: (1) control; (2) treated with cytochalasin B and exposed to EG; and (3) treated with cytochalasin B and vitrified by stepwise exposure to EG in OPS. After warming, a sample of oocytes was fixed and evaluated by specific fluorescent probes before visualization using confocal microscopy. The remaining oocytes were fertilized and cleavage rate was recorded. Exposure of GV oocytes to EG or vitrification had a dramatic effect on spindle and chromosome configurations and no cleavage was obtained after in vitro fertilization. When MII oocytes were exposed to EG or were vitrified, 18 and 11% of oocytes, respectively, maintained the spindle structure and either EG exposure or vitrification resulted in substantial disruption in microfilament organization. The cleavage rates of mature oocytes after being exposed to EG or after vitrification were similar (14 and 13%, respectively) but were significantly less than that of control oocytes (69%). These results indicate that porcine oocytes at different meiotic stages respond differently to cryopreservation and MII porcine oocytes had better resistance to cryopreservation than GV stage oocytes.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2002
Intra-testicular inoculation of an adenoviral vector carrying the fusion gene Aequorea victoria g... more Intra-testicular inoculation of an adenoviral vector carrying the fusion gene Aequorea victoria green fluorescence protein/rat-liver glycogen synthase (GFP/LGS) resulted in the presence of GFP/GLS in spermatozoa from 7 days to, at least, 16 days after inoculation. The GFP/LGS was detected in the sperm heads after an ''in vitro'' fertilization procedure, either before or after the oocyte penetration. Our results indicate that spermatozoa carrying GFP/LGS protein conserved their fertilizing ability and were also detectable after oocyte penetration. This technique will allow to develop an easy system to follow the fate of mature sperm proteins.
My talks by Maria Jose Berlanga Palomo
Margarita Díaz-Andreu “Arqueología e interdisciplinaridad: una nueva mirada a la historia de la a... more Margarita Díaz-Andreu “Arqueología e interdisciplinaridad: una nueva mirada a la historia de la arqueología”; Francisco José Moreno “El tesoro de Guarrazar. Su hallazgo, devolución, exhibición y uso a partir intersecciones disciplinares”; Mª José Berlanga “Arqueología y Ciencia en España en los siglos XIX y XX: Las Sociedades de Ciencias Físicas y Naturales y su vinculación con la Arqueología”; Isabel Ordieres “Las relaciones de los arquitectos y arqueólogos frente a la conservación monumental desde la segunda mitad del siglo XIX hasta la actualidad”; Ana Gómez Díaz “El arqueoturismo y su influencia en la evolución de la presentación al público de los yacimientos arqueológicos a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX”; Enrique Gozalbes “Arqueología e interdisciplinaridad en la arqueología colonial en el norte de Marruecos (1903-1945)”; Francisco Sánchez Salas “Italia, territorio de encuentros interdisciplinares en el siglo XX”; Salomé Zurinaga Fernández-Toribio “Periodistas en acción: España y Polonia en la Campaña de Salvamento de la UNESCO”; Ruth Maicas “Modelos transferidos. De las ciencias naturales a la práctica arqueológica”. Organizado por el proyecto Inter-Arq (HAR2016-80271-P).
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Papers by Maria Jose Berlanga Palomo
My talks by Maria Jose Berlanga Palomo