Objective: The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2) seems to be influenced by the endocrine environment. Numerous reports demonstrate the diverse expression of Bcl-2 family members under sex steroid regulation. With...Objective: The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2) seems to be influenced by the endocrine environment. Numerous reports demonstrate the diverse expression of Bcl-2 family members under sex steroid regulation. With the exception of estrogen-related tumors, androgen-related tumors have shown their characteristics in Bcl-2 expression. In this study, the status of Bcl-2 expression in male hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients was examined to verify the high incidence of HCC in males.Methods: Tumor tissue microarray was used to examine Bcl-2 expression levels in 374 HCC cases including 306 males and 68 females. Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to investigate the predictive value of Bcl-2 in HCC patients.Results: Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that male patients with higher Bcl-2 levels had significantly longer median survival time and recurrence time than those with lower levels. However, no significant differences in outcomes were found between different Bcl-2 levels in female patients. When the male patients were stratified into several age points, the level of Bcl-2expression showed poorer predictive efficiency in the 45–49 and 55–60 age groups in andropause-age patients compared with other age groups. Bcl-2 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival(P < 0.0001) and recurrence time(P =0.0001) in male patients. After excluding male patients in the 45–60 age group, the predictive efficiency was enhanced(n = 147,OS, P = 0.0002, TTR, P < 0.0001).Conclusions: Bcl-2 expression is an independent predictor of survival and recurrence in male HCC. Bcl-2 levels may also be regulated by androgens or androgen receptors in male HCC patients. Bcl-2 levels change and exhibit poor predictive efficiency when androgen levels vary dramatically(andropause age).展开更多
Genetic, life history, and environmental factors dictate patterns of variation in sexual traits within and across popula- tions, and thus the action and outcome of sexual selection. This study explores patterns of inh...Genetic, life history, and environmental factors dictate patterns of variation in sexual traits within and across popula- tions, and thus the action and outcome of sexual selection. This study explores patterns of inheritance, diet, age, and mate-choice copying on the expression of male sexual signals and associated female mate choice in a phenotypically diverse group of Schizo- cosa wolf spiders. Focal spiders exhibit one of two male phenotypes： ＇omamented＇ males possess large black brushes on their fo- relegs, and ＇non-ornamented＇ males possess no brushes. Using a quantitative genetics breeding design in a mixed population of ornamented/non-ornamented males, we found a strong genetic basis to male phenotype and female choice. We also found that some ornamented males produced some sons with large brushes and others with barely visible brushes. Results of diet manipula- tions and behavioral mating trials showed no influence of diet on male phenotype or female mate choice. Age post maturation, however, influenced mate choice, with younger females being more likely to mate with ornamented males. A mate-choice copy- ing experiment found that, following observations of another female＇s mate choice/copulation, virgin mature females tended to match the mate choice （ornamented vs. non-ornamented males） of the females they observed. Finally, analyses of genetic varia- tion across phenotypically pure （only one male phenotype present） vs. mixed （both phenotypes present） populations revealed ge- netic distinction between phenotypes in phenotypically-pure populations, but no distinctionin phenotypically-mixed populations. The difference in patterns of genetic differentiation and mating across geographic locations suggests a complex network of fac- tors contributing to the outcome of sexual selection .展开更多
Social conditions experienced prior to sexual maturity influence reproduction later in life in many animals. In simulta- neous hermaphrodites, variation in mating group size influences reproductive investment. As the ...Social conditions experienced prior to sexual maturity influence reproduction later in life in many animals. In simulta- neous hermaphrodites, variation in mating group size influences reproductive investment. As the mating group size increases, re- productive resources devoted to the female function decrease in favor of the male function. Prior to sexual maturity, many her- maphrodites have a protandrous phase during which they produce sperm and can fertilize hermaphrodites＇ eggs. In the simulta- neously hermaphroditic polychaete worm Ophryotrocha diadema, the cost of male reproduction during adolescence is spread over the whole energy budget of worms as shown by a reduced growth rate, a delayed age at sexual maturity and the shortening of life span compared to protandrous males that do not reproduce. Little is known on whether social conditions experienced dur- ing development affect reproductive investment of immature individuals. We investigated whether social conditions affected the length of the protandrous phase, body size and also the subsequent female fecundity of same-age protandrous individuals of O. diadema, which did not had to face competition for egg fertilization. Results show that in large group sizes protandrous males lengthened their protandrous phase, slowed down body growth and decreased their individual investment at the first egg laying compared to protandrous males that were reared in isolation. In the successive egg layings worms adjusted their egg output to the current social conditions. We interpreted these results as an indication that early social conditions represent a social stress result- ing in a reduction of the overall reproductive resources up to the first egg laying .展开更多
文摘Objective: The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2) seems to be influenced by the endocrine environment. Numerous reports demonstrate the diverse expression of Bcl-2 family members under sex steroid regulation. With the exception of estrogen-related tumors, androgen-related tumors have shown their characteristics in Bcl-2 expression. In this study, the status of Bcl-2 expression in male hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients was examined to verify the high incidence of HCC in males.Methods: Tumor tissue microarray was used to examine Bcl-2 expression levels in 374 HCC cases including 306 males and 68 females. Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to investigate the predictive value of Bcl-2 in HCC patients.Results: Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that male patients with higher Bcl-2 levels had significantly longer median survival time and recurrence time than those with lower levels. However, no significant differences in outcomes were found between different Bcl-2 levels in female patients. When the male patients were stratified into several age points, the level of Bcl-2expression showed poorer predictive efficiency in the 45–49 and 55–60 age groups in andropause-age patients compared with other age groups. Bcl-2 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival(P < 0.0001) and recurrence time(P =0.0001) in male patients. After excluding male patients in the 45–60 age group, the predictive efficiency was enhanced(n = 147,OS, P = 0.0002, TTR, P < 0.0001).Conclusions: Bcl-2 expression is an independent predictor of survival and recurrence in male HCC. Bcl-2 levels may also be regulated by androgens or androgen receptors in male HCC patients. Bcl-2 levels change and exhibit poor predictive efficiency when androgen levels vary dramatically(andropause age).
文摘Genetic, life history, and environmental factors dictate patterns of variation in sexual traits within and across popula- tions, and thus the action and outcome of sexual selection. This study explores patterns of inheritance, diet, age, and mate-choice copying on the expression of male sexual signals and associated female mate choice in a phenotypically diverse group of Schizo- cosa wolf spiders. Focal spiders exhibit one of two male phenotypes： ＇omamented＇ males possess large black brushes on their fo- relegs, and ＇non-ornamented＇ males possess no brushes. Using a quantitative genetics breeding design in a mixed population of ornamented/non-ornamented males, we found a strong genetic basis to male phenotype and female choice. We also found that some ornamented males produced some sons with large brushes and others with barely visible brushes. Results of diet manipula- tions and behavioral mating trials showed no influence of diet on male phenotype or female mate choice. Age post maturation, however, influenced mate choice, with younger females being more likely to mate with ornamented males. A mate-choice copy- ing experiment found that, following observations of another female＇s mate choice/copulation, virgin mature females tended to match the mate choice （ornamented vs. non-ornamented males） of the females they observed. Finally, analyses of genetic varia- tion across phenotypically pure （only one male phenotype present） vs. mixed （both phenotypes present） populations revealed ge- netic distinction between phenotypes in phenotypically-pure populations, but no distinctionin phenotypically-mixed populations. The difference in patterns of genetic differentiation and mating across geographic locations suggests a complex network of fac- tors contributing to the outcome of sexual selection .
文摘Social conditions experienced prior to sexual maturity influence reproduction later in life in many animals. In simulta- neous hermaphrodites, variation in mating group size influences reproductive investment. As the mating group size increases, re- productive resources devoted to the female function decrease in favor of the male function. Prior to sexual maturity, many her- maphrodites have a protandrous phase during which they produce sperm and can fertilize hermaphrodites＇ eggs. In the simulta- neously hermaphroditic polychaete worm Ophryotrocha diadema, the cost of male reproduction during adolescence is spread over the whole energy budget of worms as shown by a reduced growth rate, a delayed age at sexual maturity and the shortening of life span compared to protandrous males that do not reproduce. Little is known on whether social conditions experienced dur- ing development affect reproductive investment of immature individuals. We investigated whether social conditions affected the length of the protandrous phase, body size and also the subsequent female fecundity of same-age protandrous individuals of O. diadema, which did not had to face competition for egg fertilization. Results show that in large group sizes protandrous males lengthened their protandrous phase, slowed down body growth and decreased their individual investment at the first egg laying compared to protandrous males that were reared in isolation. In the successive egg layings worms adjusted their egg output to the current social conditions. We interpreted these results as an indication that early social conditions represent a social stress result- ing in a reduction of the overall reproductive resources up to the first egg laying .
