摘要:

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 chrom

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01028.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryGossypol acetic acid was administered orally to 35 male volunteers at a dose of 20 mg once a day for 52–70 days in the loading phase and twice a week for 22 months in the maintenance phase. Sperm counts and the serum concentrations of LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and oestradiol were monitored regularly during treatment and for a follow‐up period of 12 months. At around 90 days after treatment, all treated participants approached or attained azoospermia and remained at this level throughout the maintenance phase. By the end of the follow‐up phase, eight treated men were still azoospermic, while sperm counts in the other 27 men were restored to normal levels. The only hormone that changed significantly during and after the treatment was FSH. From the 6th month of the treatment to the end of the follow‐up phase, serum concentrations of FSH in the eight participants that reached irreversible azoospermia were significantly higher than in the other 27 men or in controls. It is suggested that monitoring of FSH levels might be of diagnostic use for identifying those participants with irreversible azoospermia during gossypol tr

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01029.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummarySemen samples from 179 patients with longstanding infertility were allowed to penetrate capillaries filled with a fraction of fresh hens' egg white (HEW) as a substitute for cervical mucus (CM) for the in‐vitro sperm‐cervical mucus penetration test (SCPMT). Results were correlated with those obtained from human CM (HCM) used in parallel on the same semen sample, compared to results of sperm analysis and post‐coital testing (PCT) and analysed for their prognostic value for a subsequent pregnancy in a prospective study. The overall pregnancy rate after 6 months was 26.3% (47/179). Whereas routine semen analysis (semen volume, pH, sperm count, progressive motility, morphology and fructose concentration) did not differentiate between patients who achieved pregnancy and those who did not, significant differences were found for the penetration distance (P<0.02) and the motility grade of sperm in HEW (P<0.02). Although the mean sperm velocity in HEW was reduced compared to HCM, a close positive correlation was found between the sperm density and the penetration distance (P<0.001). The percentage of samples with good HEW penetration increased significantly in parallel with better results of post‐coital testing (P<0.001). The results indicate that, when fresh human CM is not available, HEW can be used as a medium for the SCPMT as a valuable adjunct to semen analysis which provides information about sperm functional c

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01030.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryTo measure testicular volume accurately, an ultrasonographic method was developed and the results obtained from this compared with those obtained by conventional measurements, namely (1) comparison with testis models, (2) an orchidometer, and (3) measurement of testicular volume by calipers through the scrotal skin. Data from these methods were compared with the actual volume measured at operation by slide calipers placed directly on the testis. The volume obtained by comparison with testis models or with an orchidometer tended to overestimate the actual volume. The volume measured by slide calipers on scrotal skin was also found to be incorrect. On the other hand, the volume measured by ultrasonography proved to be closer to, and to correlate well with, the actual volume, and was considered to be the best method.

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01031.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummarySeminal culture and leucocyte elastase measurements were undertaken on samples from 30 men attending an infertility clinic. Elastase levels over 1000 ng ml‐1 were obtained in 14 men and positive bacterial culture in 11 men, but there was no correlation between these two sets of measurements. While granulocyte elastase measurement in semen may reflect inflammation, our study suggests that it cannot be used as a simple marker of infection particularly in a population such as ours where the prevalence of prostatitis and genital infection is lo

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01032.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe CellSoft computer‐assisted sperm analysis system was evaluated as to the optimal setting of three components of the internal running conditions. These ‘set up’ parameters were the lower setting for cell size range (PIXMIN), threshold velocity (MINVEL) and maximum velocity (MAXVEL). The decision for the PIXMIN setting was founded on observed sizes of sperm with low instant velocities combined with a study of the relationship between false positive observations for sperm and the PIXMIN setting. Our recommendation for this setting is three pixels. From the observation that 97.5% of immobilized sperm exhibit instant velocities of<15 μ sec‐1, this is our proposal for the MINVEL setting. Correspondingly, the 97.5 percentile for instantaneous velocities in a population of some 14 000 cells (30 men with type ‘a’ motility, WHO) was 168 μ sec‐1. We recommend that MAXVEL be set at this limit. Alternative settings for both MINVEL and MAXVEL are presented as some users may wish to apply other percentiles. From the above results a setting for PIXMAX at 25 pixels could be inferred. We recommend that these settings be applied in semen laboratories analysing human native samples at r

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01033.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

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 o

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01034.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummarySeminal α‐glucosidase had been used clinically as a maker of epididymal function. In this study enzyme inhibitors were used to increase the specificity of the human seminal α‐glucosidase assay and improved its diagnostic value as an indicator of distal epididymal occlusion in cases of azoospermia. Sodium dodecyluphate was added to the sample to eliminate the intetfering acid isoenzyme secreted by the prostate gland, and castonospermine was used with semen pools to provide a semen blank for the assay by eliminating non‐glucosidase‐regulated degradation of the substrate. with both inhibitors included in the assay, glucosidase activity in semen samples from 17 fathers was measured to provide reference values for the clinic (lower threshold 18 mU per ejaculate). With the improved assay glucosidase was non‐detectable in 8 mU per ejaculate). With the improved assay glucosidase was non‐detectable in 8 out of 11 cases of proven and 5 out of 8 cases of suspected ductal obstruction; other azoospermic patients with distal had values below 11 mU

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01035.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

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

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01036.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe spermatogenic cycle of the blue fox was divided into eight distinct stages, based on an analysis of different cell associations of the seminiferous epithelium. The criteria used for classification of the stages were the type of spermatogonia, the occurrence of meiotic figures, and the shape and location of spermatids. The relative frequencies of the stages I to VIII were 25.7, 9.8, 8.7, 5.9, 13.8, 9.9, 10.6 and 15.5%, respectively. The duration of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was 12.0 ± 0.2 days as determined from the progression of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxy‐uridine (BrdU)‐labelled cells at various time intervals. The absolute duration of stages I to VIII was calculated to be 3.1, 1.2, 1.0, 0.6, 1.7, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.9 days, respectively. The estimated life span of primary spermatocytes was 19.2 days, of secondary spermatocytes<0.6 days, of spermatids with round nuclei 9.2 days and of spermtids with elongated nucle

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb01037.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1990

数据来源: WILEY