bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seminal fluid from men with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts: zinc‐binding properties and effects on sperm chromatin stability
Authors: KVIST U. , KJELLBERG S. , BJÖRNDAHL L. , SOUFIR J.‐C. , ARVER S. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryZinc‐binding properties were studied in ‘prostatic fluid’, i.e. in seminal plasma from patients with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts, and in split‐ejaculate fractions dominated by seminal vesicular fluid. The effect of seminal fluid, with different zinc‐binding properties, on the stability of zinc‐dependent sperm chromatin was assessed by exposing sperm to 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) for 60 min. Citrate was the only zinc ligand in ‘prostatic fluid’, as revealed by gel chromatogra‐phy. Zinc in this fluid enhanced the stability of sperm chromatin. In contrast, the stability of sperm chromatin was decreased in seminal plasma dominated by vesicular fluid. These results are in accordance with the concept that prostatic fluid ensures the appropriate zinc content and stability of sperm chromatin, whereas abundance of vesicular fluid may jeopardize chromatin stability by reducing chromatin zinc content.
Changes in human sperm chromatin stability during preparation for in‐vitro fertilization
Authors: ROSENBORG L. , RAO K. M. , BJÖRNDAHLt L. , KVIST U. , POUSETTE A. , ÁKERLOF EVA , FREDRICSSON B. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThis study was designed to define the effects of sperm preparation on sperm chromatin stability in relation to in‐vitro fertilization (IVF). Semen samples used for IVF‐embryo transfer (ET) in the treatment of infertility due to tubal factors were studied. Cases with semen variables below reference limits in previous samples were excluded. Sperm were prepared by a swim‐up technique employing either of two different tissue culture media, Ham's F‐10 or Earle's balanced salt solution. Sperm chromatin stability was tested by exposure both to sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) only and SDS together with a zinc‐chelating agent, disodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate (SDS‐EDTA). Sperm head swell scores were defined under different experimental conditions and the relationship to sperm motility, morphology, fertilization rate and pregnancy occurrence was tested. No differences were seen between the chromatin stability of sperm from the original sample and that after swim‐up preparation, neither immediately after completion of the swim‐up procedure, nor at the time of insemination of ova. With time, the chromatin became more stable, which occurred to a similar extent both in the original sample and in swim‐up preparations using Ham's F‐10. Otherwise, sperm chromatin stability was unaffected by either of the two media used for swim‐up. At higher incubation temperatures, decondensation in SDS was enhanced. Altogether, no correlation was found between sperm chromatin stability or enhancement of decondensation by temperature and the success of IVF treatment expressed in fertilization rates or pregnancies. The results are reassuring in that only small changes in sperm chromatin stability occurred during the preparation for IVF. As long as semen of presumably good quality is used, these changes in chromatin stability do not seem to be of clinical importance.
Plasminogen activator is involved in the hCG‐induced neutrophil extravasation and vasopermeability increase in the rat testis
Authors: LOUKUSA ANNA‐KAISA , VEIJOLA M. , RAJANIEMI H. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe role of proteolytic enzymes in the hCG‐induced increase in testicular vasopermeability and neutrophil extravasation was studied using protease inhibitors. An intra‐testicular injection of hCG together with incubation medium conditioned by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) caused a significant increase in vasopermeability and a coincident extravasation of PMN's from the postcapillary venules in the rat testis. When p‐aminobenzamidine, a serine protease inhibitor which inhibits urokinase‐type plasminogen activator, was administered together with hCG in the incubation medium, both the permeability increase and PMN extravasation were prevented. Aprotinin, another serine protease inhibitor, and Eglin C, a specific neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G inhibitor were, however, without effect. None of these inhibitors caused any non‐specific vascular effects in the testis at the concentrations used. These results support the concept that the hCG‐induced increase in vasopermeability in the rat testis is related to extravasation of PMNs and suggest that urokinase‐type plasminogen activator is involved in migration of these cells through the postcapillary venular walls.
Cellular oncogenes in human teratocarcinoma cell lines
Authors: TESCH H. , FÜRBAβ R. , CASPER J. , LYONS J. , BARTRAM C. R. , SCHMOLL H. J. , BRONSON D. L. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryWe have analysed, by Northern blots, the expression of 14 cellular oncogenes in nine cell lines established from human teratocarcinomas. All lines expressed considerable amounts of p53, c‐Ki‐ras2, c‐Ha‐ras1, craf1, N‐myc, and c‐fos. Low level expression of c‐myc was detected in some lines. Southern blot experiments revealed no amplification or rearrangement of the c‐Ki‐ras2, N‐myc or c‐fos genes. Using a rapid dot‐blot screening procedure, based on a combination of in‐vitro amplification of ras‐specific sequences and oligonucleotide hybridization, we could detect no activation of Ha‐ras or Ki‐ras or any unexpressed N‐ras sequences secondary to a point mutation at codons 12, 13, or 61.
Are eosinophil leucocytes involved in the oestrogenic response of the postnatal rat epididymis?
Authors: GAYTÁN F. , ACEITERO J. , BELLIDO C. , PINILLA L. , AGUILAR R. , AGUILAR E. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe effects of oestrogens and androgens, alone or in combination, on several epididymal parameters have been studied in 15–day‐old rats after neonatal treatment. Oestrogens induced several responses, such as increased growth of the fibromuscular stroma and eosinophil leucocyte accumulation, whereas the prolif‐erative activity of the epithelium was decreased significantly. Otherwise, the density of intra‐epithelial leucocytes was not modified. Different oestrogen‐induced responses, such as the increase in volume of the fibromuscular stroma and eosinophil leucocyte accumulation were inhibited by treatment with testosterone, whereas dihydrotestosterone had no appreciable effect. This study raises the possibility that eosinophils are mediators of some of the oestrogenic responses in the early postnatal rat epididymis.
Edward Martin (1859–1938). The founding father of modern clinical andrology
Authors: JEQUIER ANNE M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryEdward Martin (1858–1938) was the first surgeon to treat successfully the problem of obstructive azoospermia, a feat that he first described in 1902. He subsequently carried out a total of 11 such operations that resulted in seven patencies and three pregnancies. He also demonstrated that the epididymis was the major site of these obstructive lesions. He pointed out the need for semen analysis in diagnosis and also demonstrated that azoospermia could have two causes, namely spermatogenic failure and ductal obstruction. He also made some important observations on sperm movement. He was probably the first clinician to demonstrate surgically ejaculatory duct obstruction, vasal atrophy and congenital absence of the vas. Most important of all, he demonstrated the need for accurate diagnosis in the treatment of male infertility. An argument is put forward that Edward Martin deserves the title of the ‘Founding Father of Modern Clinical Andrology’.
Quantitative assessment of the serum‐induced stimulation of human sperm motility
Authors: de LAMIRANDE EVE , GAGNON C. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryIn previous studies, sperm populations with high motility and fertilizing potential have been isolated using Percoll gradients and/or addition of serum or caffeine, but no objective measurements of the motility parameters affected have been presented. In addition, the types of sperm populations and the incidence of positive or negative responses to these treatments have never been documented. In this paper, the proportion of samples responding positively or negatively to these treatments and the type of motility stimulation observed was measured using the Cell Soft computer‐assisted digital image analysis system. Semen, obtained from the Infertility Clinic, was washed on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Sperm motility parameters were measured in the original semen and after washing through a Percoll gradient in the presence or absence of serum or caffeine. Percoll washing permitted a good recovery of essentially pure sperm. The Percoll treatment had little effect on the percentage of motile sperm but caused a decrease in the linearity‐related parameters. A high proportion of the washed sperm samples supplemented with serum showed an increase in at least one of the motility parameters when compared to sperm populations in the original semen (68% of cases) or after Percoll washing (96% of cases). These effects were maintained for several hours. The stimulation of motility was concentration‐dependent, with an optimum around 25–30% serum. Caffeine (4 mM) increased linear velocity but lowered linearity. In contrast to caffeine, which stimulated sperm motility for less than 1 h, the effects of human serum lasted for more than 16 h.
The physiological significance of pulsatile LHRH secretion in man: gonadotrophin responses to physiological doses of pulsatile versus continuous LHRH administration
Authors: MATSUMOTO A. M. , GROSS K. M. , BREMNER W. J. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThis study tested whether pulsatile LHRH stimulation of the pituitary is required for normal gonadotrophin secretion in man. Four men with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH) and presumed endogenous LHRH deficiency were taken off all hormonal replacement for 5–6 weeks, then 5 μg LHRH was administered every 2 h for 1 week in order to prime pituitary gonadotrophin responsiveness. A physiological dose of LHRH (10 μg every 2 h) was then administered in both pulsatile and continuous regimens, in varying order, to each man. Pulsatile LHRH was capable of stimulating LH (as measured by bioassay) and FSH secretion, while continuous administration of LHRH was not. Serum LH, measured by RIA and bioassay, and FSH and free a‐subunit levels, measured by RIA, increased significantly (P<0.05) over pretreatment levels during pulsatile LHRH administration. In contrast, bioactive LH and immunoactive FSH did not change significantly compared to pretreatment values during continuous infusion of the same total LHRH dose, although immunoactive LH and free α‐subunit levels did increase significantly (P<0.05). The ratio of LH bioactivity to immunoactivity was significantly lower during the continuous compared to pulsatile LHRH regimen (P<0.001). Similar serum LHRH levels were achieved during pulsatile and continuous infusions. Serum testosterone and oestradiol levels did not increase significantly from pretreatment levels during either regimen of LHRH administration. It is concluded that a pulsatile LHRH signal pattern is essential for normal pituitary gonadotrophin secretion in men with IHH. Continuous infusion of a physiological dose of LHRH, which produced serum LHRH levels which were indistinguishable from those found during pulsatile administration. failed to stimulate FSH or bioactive LH secretion.
Arginine‐vasopressin induced changes in testicular blood flow
Authors: WIDMARK A. , DAMBER J.‐E. , BERGH A. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryAs arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) has been suggested as a possible paracrine regulator in the testis, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of AVP on testicular blood flow and vascular permeability. Intratesticular injection of AVP caused a dose‐dependent decrease in total testicular blood flow, with 1 ng AVP being the lowest dose that induced a decrease. The AVP‐induced decrease in blood flow was blocked completely by treatment with an AVP antagonist, but the latter had no effect on its own. High doses of AVP (100 and 1000 ng) decreased testicular IF volume and slightly increased the IF testosterone concentration. At 10 min and 1 h after intratesticular injection of 100 ng AVP testicular blood flow was decreased, followed by an increase at 6 h; testosterone concentrations were increased at both 10 min and 6 h after this treatment. The microcirculatory blood flow pattern (vasomotion) was not influenced by AVP. The present study shows that AVP in low doses influences testicular blood flow rather selectively because AVP was without any major effect on vasomotion, interstitial fluid volume and testosterone production. AVP might therefore be of importance in the regulation of testicular blood flow.
Effect of cryptorchidism on testicular and Leydig cell androgen production in the mouse
Authors: MURPHY LYN , O'SHAUGHNESSY P. J. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryUnilateral cryptorchidism was induced surgically in adult mice and the effects on testicular and Leydig cell steroidogenesis were studied after 7 weeks. There was a 60% reduction in weight of the cryptorchid testis and this was associated with a significant reduction in intratesticular androgen content, both under basal conditions and following an injection of hCG. Testicular androgen production in vitro was also significantly lower in the cryptorchid testis compared to the scrotal testis, again under both basal conditions (29 ± 6% of control) and in the presence of hCG (46 ± 9% of control). Scrotal testes from the unilaterally cryptorchid animals did not show any significant difference in steroidogenic capacity compared to testes from untreated control animals. The decrease in steroidogenic capacity of the cryptorchid testis was due, at least in part, to a reduction in activity for each Leydig cell. In four experiments, androgen production by Leydig cells isolated from cryptorchid testes was 48 ± 9% of cells from scrotal testes in the presence of a saturating dose of hCG. Under basal conditions the effect was more variable between experiments with steroid secretion by Leydig cells from cryptorchid testes being 58 ± 32% of that for cells from scrotal testes. Leydig cell steroidogenesis in the scrotal testes of unilaterally cryptorchid animals did not differ significantly from untreated controls. These results show that induced cryptorchidism in the mouse causes a significant reduction in Leydig cell activity. This is apparently different from the effects of this procedure on the rat and raises the possibility that intratesticular regulation differs between the two species.
Sperm count and motility influence the results of human fertilization in vitro
Authors: ÅKERLÖF EVA , FREDRICSSON B. , GUSTAFSON O. , LUNELL N.O. , NYLUND L. , ROSENBORG L. , SLOTTE H. , POUSETTE Å. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryIn order to select sperm characteristics that can predict the outcome of in‐vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (IVF‐ET), semen samples delivered in conjunction with this treatment were studied carefully. We have analysed these data retrospectively in relation to the outcome of treatment. Ninety‐one couples were treated for tubal infertility by IVF‐ET. Fifteen women became pregnant. Sperm were isolated from semen using a swim‐up technique and in most cases 40–80 × 103 (range 20–120 × 103) motile sperm per ovum were used for insemination. The couples were divided into three groups: group A who achieved pregnancies, group B who achieved cleaved ova but no pregnancies, and group C who achieved no ova that were cleaved 48 h after oocyte recovery. Comparisons between these groups showed that some characteristics of the native semen samples and the swim‐up preparations were significantly different: the sperm concentration (P=0.001) and total sperm count (P=0.003) in the native sample, the number of sperm recovered during 30 min of swim‐up (P=0.001), and the specific progressive motility of sperm in the swim‐up preparation, both at the time of insemination and on each day, up to 5 days thereafter (P=0.002–0.028). No pregnancy was achieved with a sperm concentration below 26 × 106 ml‐1 in the native sample. Some of the sperm characteristics studied in this paper may be of value in the pretreatment evaluation for IVF treatment.
Origin of the human seminal plasma motility inhibitor within the reproductive tract
Authors: LUTERMAN M. , IWAMOTO T. , GAGNON C. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe origin of a human seminal‐plasma sperm‐motility inhibitor was investigated. Seminal vesicle and prostatic fluids, testes, epididymides, prostate and seminal vesicles were collected from young cadavers. The motility inhibitor, as measured by its capacity to block the motility of demembranated‐reactivated sperm was present in significant amounts only in seminal vesicle fluid. The level of biological activity in this fluid was 13.6‐fold higher than in seminal plasma. However, the concentration of motility inhibitor, as measured by ELISA, using an antibody generated against the motility inhibitor purified from human seminal plasma, was only 1.54‐fold higher than in seminal plasma. The data suggest that the seminal plasma motility inhibitor originates from seminal vesicle fluid and that it is processed into a nine‐fold less biologically active form when seminal vesicle fluid is mixed with other accessory gland secretions at ejaculation.
Testicular steroidogenesis in X/X sex‐reversed mice
Authors: O'SHAUGHNESSY P. J. , ABBOTT D. H. , LEIGH A. J. , CATTANACH B. M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe sex‐reversed X/X Sxr mouse is phenotypically male but lacks germ cells. This provides the opportunity to examine Leydig cell function in the absence of a normal germinal epithelium and without experimental manipulation of the testis. Serum testosterone was lower in Sxr males compared to normal (X/Y) males but there was no significant difference in intratesticular testosterone levels. Serum immunoactive and bioactive luteinizing hormone levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) increased intratesticular testosterone in Sxr males more than in normal males although there was no difference in serum testosterone levels. These differences in circulating and intratesticular testosterone levels may be related to reduced blood flow through the Sxr testis. Both basal and hCG‐stimulated androgen production by whole testes in vitro were not significantly different between normal and Sxr males. Androgen production per Leydig cell, however, was significantly reduced in cells from Sxr males; this difference was apparent under basal conditions and following stimulation with hCG, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 22R‐hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone. Results show that in the absence of a normal germinal epithelium there is a decrease in the steroidogenic capacity of the Leydig cells although steroidogenesis by the whole testis is not impaired significantly.
Prolactin and α‐1, 4‐glucosidase activity in normal and poorly coagulated human semen
Authors: MANDAL A. , BATABYAL S. K. , BHATTACHARYYA A. K. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryProlactin and α‐1,4‐glucosidase levels in seminal plasma were measured in poorly coagulated (I), deficiently coagulated (II) and normally coagulated (III and IV) human ejaculates having 0–20%, 21–50% and 51–100% coagulum respectively 4 min after emission. The prolactin concentration (ng ml‐1, mean ± SEM) in poorly coagulated (5.2 ± 0.48) and deficiently coagulated (7.6 ± 0.72) samples was significantly lower than in the normally coagulated groups III (51–75% coagulum, 8.2 ± 0.43) and IV (76–100% coagulum, 9.9 ± 0.59) as well as the presumably fertile samples (9.2 ± 0.74). A highly significant positive correlation was observed between the profactin level and the percentage coagulum of the ejaculates (r = 0.686, n=58, P<0.001). In contrast, the epididymal marker, α‐glucosidase showed no relationship to seminal coagulation.
Ejaculatory sequence in men with low sperm chromatin‐zinc
Authors: BJÖRNDAHL L. , KJELLBERG S. , KVIST U. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe composition of seminal plasma in the sperm‐rich split ejaculate fraction was studied in a group of men with a low zinc content in their sperm chromatin, to evaluate the availability of zinc at ejaculation. Men with low‐chromatin zinc had, in the sperm‐rich split‐ejaculate fraction, high amounts of seminal‐vesicular fluid, a low zinc:fructose molar ratio, and a high percentage of zinc bound to high molecular weight ligands of seminal vesicular origin (HMW‐Zn). This indicates premature admixture of vesicular fluid at ejaculation. It is suggested that the zinc:fructose molar ratio and HMW‐Zn in the sperm‐rich fractions could be used as a measure of the availability of zinc in seminal plasma.
‘Water‐test’: a simple method to assess sperm‐membrane integrity
Authors: LOMEO A. M. , GIAMBERSIO A. M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe functional integrity of the membrane of sperm from semen samples collected from 10 fertile men (Group A) and from 50 infertile men (Group B) was assessed by studying the swelling reaction of sperm when suspended in a medium of distilled water (‘Water‐test’). The results were correlated with routine semen‐analysis and with the results of Eosin‐Y staining. The mean values for the ‘Water‐test’ were significantly different (P<0.01) between Groups A and B (84.8 ± 3.5 versus 70.9 ± 13.3, respectively). No significant correlations were observed in either Group A or B, between values for the ‘Water‐test’ and values for the sperm count, the percentage of sperm with normal morphology and the percentage of motile sperm. There was a good correlation in both Group A (r = 0.86, P<0.01) and Group B (r = 0.92, P<0.01) between values for the ‘Water‐test’ and those for the Eosin‐Y test. These results indicate that the ‘Water‐test’ is a simple and reliable test for evaluating sperm membrane integrity.
Effects of piperine on hamster sperm capacitation and fertilization in vitro
Authors: PIYACHATURAWAT P. , SRIWATTANA W. , DAMRONGPHOL P. , PHOLPRAMOOL C. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe effect of piperine on the fertilizing ability of hamster sperm was investigated in vitro. Sperm were incubated in a capacitation medium for 3 h prior to co‐incubation with hamster eggs in a fertilization medium for another 3 h. Addition of 0.18–1.05 mM piperine to the capacitation medium reduced both the percentage of eggs fertilized and the degree of polyspermia in a dose‐dependent manner. When piperine was added to the fertilization medium alone, a significant reduction in fertilization was observed only at high doses (0.70–1.05 mM). The presence of piperine in the capacitation medium inhibited the acrosome reaction in a dose‐dependent manner but had no effect on sperm motility, whether this was measured quantitatively or qualitatively. Piperine also inhibited the influx of calcium into sperm during capacitation. It is suggested that such an inhibition might be a major cause of a reduction of the acrosome reaction and the subsequent impairment of fertilizing ability of sperm.