A new species of the Cyrtodactylusquadrivirgatus complex (Chordata, Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Sumatra Barat, Indonesia.

Among the six species of Cyrtodactylus occurring in Sumatra, two species were described based on non-Sumatran type series, C.consobrinus and C.quadrivirgatus. The latter species was described originally from Thailand thus the wider distribution in Sumatra should be clarified taxonomically. Cyrtodactylusquadrivirgatus from Sumatra Barat was examined using both morphology and the Natrium Dehydrogenase Subunit 2 (ND2) gene to clarify its taxonomic status and phylogenetic placement. It was found that these specimens form a sister clade to all other species of the sworderi group from Peninsular Malaysia and the genetic distance ranges from 20-24.3%. This subset is herein described as a new species. The new species is readily distinguished from C.quadrivirgatus and other Sumatran species by a combination of characters: small size SVL 37.5-53.78 mm; longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles 16-19; paravertebral tubercles 31-41; ventral scales 32-43; 24-49 enlarged precloacal and femoral scales; precloacal pores rarely present; no precloacal depression; two postcloacal tubercles on each side; 14-19 subdigital lamellae on forth toe; 9-15 supralabial scales; 9-12 infralabial scales; three or four internasal scales; and 3-6 gular scales that border the first pair of postmental scales. This work underscores the importance of clarifying widely distributed species for taxonomic validation.

Common but ignored: a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Chordata, Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae) from lowland Sumatra Barat, Indonesia.

The lowland region of Sumatra Barat has received little attention in previous biodiversity studies. Past studies have mainly focused on highland habitat and conservation areas. However, many populations of Cyrtodactylus in the lowland habitats of Sumatra Barat were not correctly identified. A phylogenetic tree based on the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene showed that the lowland Sumatran population is the sister group of the Malaysian lowland species, C.semenanjungensis, together nesting within the agamensis group. The genetic divergence within the Sumatra Barat population is 0-4.2% and 18.3-20% to C.semenanjungensis. Further examination of morphological characters revealed that they differed from the sister clade and other Sumatran Cyrtodactylus members by a unique combination of characters such as absence of tubercle on brachium, presence of tubercle on ventrolateral fold, 32-41 paravertebral tubercles, 38-46 ventral scales, enlarged femoral scales, presence of precloacofemoral pores and 22-23 subdigital lamellae under fourth toe. Based on the morphological and molecular evidence, the lowland Sumatran population is herein described as a new species, increasing the number of species in Sumatra to seven. More comprehensive and intensive sampling efforts would most likely yield further discoveries in the group of Sumatran Cyrtodactylus in the near future.

Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene haplotype distribution in normozoospermic and azoospermic men.

The human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor (FSHR) gene possesses single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in exon 10, which influence serum FSH levels in women, but not in men. In the present study we extend our previous investigation and for the first time analyze a novel, common SNP at position -29 of the FSHR core promoter in men. The SNP in codon 680 was analyzed in 438 men with nonobstructive azoospermia and in 304 controls. The SNP in codon 307 and at position -29 was analyzed in 345 men with nonobstructive azoospermia and 186 controls. SNPs were determined by allelic discrimination. No significant difference in the frequency of the polymorphism at position 680 and serum FSH levels was found. At position -29 (A/G) the A(-29) allele was less frequent than the G(-29) allele both in controls (25% vs 75%) and in patients (30% vs 70%) (P not significant). Together the three SNPs form four discrete haplotypes (A-Thr-Asn, G-Thr-Asn, A-Ala-Ser, and G-Ala-Ser) occurring in 10 combinations. A statistically significant difference in the allelic distribution between controls and azoospermic men was found (P < .05 by chi2 test). The A-Ala-Ser allele was more frequent in patients (9.1%) than in controls (5.4%), whereas the G-Thr-Asn allele was less frequent in patients (33.1%) than in controls (40.6%) (P < .01 by Fisher's exact test). No significant correlation between serum FSH levels and FSHR allele was found. We conclude that the FSHR haplotype does not associate with different serum FSH levels but it is differently distributed in normal and azoospermic men. The A-Ala-Ser and the G-Thr-Asn allele might represent genetic factors contributing to phenotypic expression of severe spermatogenetic impairment.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region influence the expression of the human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human FSH receptor (FSHR) promoter region. DESIGN: Retrospective and basic research study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Women (202 from Germany and 55 from Indonesia) with male or tubal factor infertility undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Frequency, distribution, and correlation with clinical data of the SNPs. Dual luciferase assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). RESULT(S): We identified two SNPs and three mutations in the promoter region of the human FSHR which could be allocated to positions -29, -37, -114, -123, and -138 upstream of the translational initiation codon. One SNP showed a high incidence (-29: 44%, n = 202), but no correlation with basal FSH serum levels or ovarian response with the SNP at position -29 was found. Luciferase reporter assays, using pGL3 vector constructs, showed that mutations at positions -37 and -138 lead to significantly higher promoter activity. EMSA indicate that putative binding sites for transcription factors are affected by the SNPs. CONCLUSIONS: The newly identified SNPs do not seem to influence clinical parameters substantially, but modulate expression of the FSHR via changes in transcription factor binding sites.