Protein kinase CK2 activities in human prostatic and seminal-vesicle secretions and seminal plasma.

Human prostatic secretion and seminal plasma contain certain protein kinase activities. Protein kinases play important roles in regulating a vast variety of cellular functions. The objective of this study was to determine whether one of these protein kinase activities in human prostatic secretion and seminal plasma is due to CK2, a messenger-independent, serine/threonine protein kinase that has considerable potential as a regulatory enzyme.

Prostate specific origin of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (CD-26) in human seminal plasma.

Purpose: A number of peptidases which can metabolize certain bioactive peptides and growth factors have been identified in seminal plasma. Our goal in this study was to determine molecular properties and the tissue source(s) for one of these peptidases, dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV), in human seminal plasma.

Materials And Methods: We measured the activities of DPP IV with the dipeptide glycylprolyl-p-nitroanalide and its molecular forms using immunoblotting of seminal plasmas of men who were vasectomized or with different sperm concentrations, and in prostatic and seminal vesicle secretions of men undergoing prostatic surgery.

Analysis of fibronectin on human sperm.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to localize fibronectin on human sperm and correlate its distribution with the morphological and functional integrity of sperm.

Materials And Methods: Semen samples were collected and sperm fractionated by swim-up. Subsets of the swim-up sperm were capacitated and acrosome reacted.

Immunocytochemical localization of mu-opioid receptors in follicular cells and preimplantation mouse embryos.

It has been demonstrated that opioid peptides are involved in the regulation of mammalian reproduction. In our previous studies we demonstrated direct effects of opioids on preimplantation mouse embryos, and hypothesized the existence in preimplantation embryos of receptors similar to opioid receptors in the central neuronal system of adult animals. In the present study we addressed this issue by employing immunocytochemical staining for mu-opioid receptors using antisera raised against the C-terminal portion of the cloned mu-opioid receptors (MOR1, NHQLENLEAETAPLP, 384-398) predicted from the cloned receptor.

Testicular trauma: potential impact on reproductive function.

Purpose: The long-term effects of testicular trauma on reproductive function are unknown. In an effort to define the relationship between testicular injury and fertility in humans, we identified patients with a history of testicular trauma and assessed parameters commonly associated with fertility.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 15 patients 23 to 59 years old who underwent immediate exploration after testicular trauma between 1972 and 1991.