HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING TECHNOLOGY FOR MONITORING PHYTOHORMONE PRODUCTION IN MICROALGAE(1).

New miniaturized techniques for multiplying microalgae and estimating their phytohormone production were developed; in these methods, the strains to be tested are cultivated in microtitre plates, and the phytohormones in suspensions of the cultures are measured by direct ELISAs. Specific and sensitive ELISAs for determining abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cis- and trans-zeatin riboside, isopentenyladenosine (iPR), and other less common cytokinins were developed for this purpose. Polyclonal antibodies used in the ABA and IAA assays were raised against C1- and C1'- conjugates of the compounds with BSA, respectively, and thus were specific for the free acids and their respective C1-derivatives.

[The effect of low-dose pre-ovulatory progesterone administration on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-tubal gamete transfer (GIFT)].

The influence of application of low-dose progesterone 4 hours before induction of ovulation by HCG on the outcome of IVF and GIFT was investigated in a bilateral study. The number of patients was 38 from both clinics for IVF and 36 for GIFT. With a pregnancy rate of 35.

[A simple microphotographic method for the evaluation of sperm motility].

A simple objective method for examination of sperm quality, both for practical and research purposes, is described. The results obtained show that the evaluation of samples must be performed by 15 minutes after the removal of the spermatozoa from the culture system and by 5 minutes after the placement on the microscope slide, in order to avoid the influence of external conditions on sperm motility. From the comparison of parameters examined (percentage of sperm motility, mean velocity, lateral head displacement, number of waves per second, distribution in individual speed intervals) it follows that media used for sperm incubation (B2 and F 10) do not affect negatively sperm motility and may be exchanged with each other if necessary.