The Transgenerational Transmission of the Paternal Type 2 Diabetes-Induced Subfertility Phenotype.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with many health complications due to the long-term damage and dysfunction of various organs. A consequential complication of diabetes in men is reproductive dysfunction, reduced fertility, and poor reproductive outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for diabetic environment-induced sperm damage and overall decreased reproductive outcomes are not fully established.

Gestational and pubertal exposure to low dose of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate impairs sperm quality in adult mice.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a compound widely used as a plasticizer, which can leach from plastics into the environment and thus influence human health. The aim of this study was to analyze whether exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of DEHP during mice fetal development or puberty can cause long-lasting changes detectable month/s after the last exposure. We used a DEHP concentration relevant to a daily human intake of 2.

Fluorescent analysis of boar sperm capacitation process in vitro.

Background: Capacitation involves physiological changes that spermatozoa must undergo in the female reproductive tract or in vitro to obtain the ability to bind, penetrate and fertilize the egg. Up to date, several methods have been developed to characterize this complex biological process. The goal of the presented study is to mutually compare several fluorescent techniques, check their ability to detect changes in molecular processes during the capacitation progress and determine their ability to predict the percentage of acrosome reacted (AR) sperm after the exposure to solubilized zona pellucida (ZP).

The impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus on male sexual functions and sex hormone levels.

Little is known about type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) impact on the male sexual and reproductive functions. We aim to evaluate the influence of T1DM on male sexual function, quality of sexual life, and sex hormone levels. A total of 57 male patients aged 18 to 50 years (mean = 33) with T1DM (duration mean = 15 years) had a medical examination and completed a set of questionnaires - International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Sexual quality of life questionnaire male (SQoL-M).

Transgenerational inheritance of susceptibility to diabetes-induced male subfertility.

Male infertility is a worldwide problem associated with genetic background, environmental factors, and diseases. One of the suspected contributing factors to male infertility is diabetes mellitus. We investigated the molecular and morphological changes in sperms and testicular tissue of diabetic males.

Target antigens for Hs-14 monoclonal antibody and their various expression in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.

Background: Poor semen quality is one of the main causes of infertility. We have generated a set of monoclonal antibodies to human sperm and used them to investigate sperm quality. Some of these antibodies found differences in the expression of proteins between normal sperm and pathological sperm displaying severe defects.

Evaluation of the expression of sperm proteins in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men using monoclonal antibodies.

Recent studies have shown that infertility affects estimated 15% of all couples. Male infertility is the primary or contributory cause in 60% of these cases. Consequently, the application of assisted reproduction is increasing.

Exposure to endocrine disruptor induces transgenerational epigenetic deregulation of microRNAs in primordial germ cells.

In mammals, germ cell differentiation is initiated in the Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs) during fetal development. Prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants such as endocrine disruptors may alter PGC differentiation, development of the male germline and induce transgenerational epigenetic disorders. The anti-androgenic compound vinclozolin represents a paradigmatic example of molecule causing transgenerational effects on germ cells.

Characterization and possible function of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-spermatogenic protein GAPDHS in mammalian sperm.

Background: Sperm proteins are important for the sperm cell function in fertilization. Some of them are involved in the binding of sperm to the egg. We characterized the acrosomal sperm protein detected by a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (Hs-8) that was prepared in our laboratory by immunization of BALB/c mice with human ejaculated sperms and we tested the possible role of this protein in the binding assay.

Protease in sturgeon sperm and the effects of protease inhibitors on sperm motility and velocity.

In mammals, proteases are present in sperm acrosome and play key role in fertilization. Sturgeon sperm has an acrosome, but its physiology, biochemistry, and potential role in fertilization are unknown. In the present study, we have observed high protease activity in acidic extract of intact sperm compared to that of seminal plasma in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus).

Expression analysis of MND1/GAJ, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR genes in testicular biopsies from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients.

Background: High-throughput studies provide a wide spectrum of genes for use as predictive markers during testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in combination with ICSI. In this work, we used the specimens from testicular biopsies of men with non-obstructive azoospermia who underwent TESE to investigate the expression of spermatogenesis-related genes MND1, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR.

Methods: Testicular biopsy specimens were subdivided into three groups: hypospermatogenesis (HS); maturation arrest (MA); and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO).

Adverse effect of tetracycline and doxycycline on testicular tissue and sperm parameters in CD1 outbred mice.

Tetracycline and doxycycline are commonly used antibiotics in acne treatment during puberty in humans. The long-term effect of these antibiotics on male reproductive tract development has not been fully elucidated. For this reason we tested the effect of antibiotics on the reproductive parameters of mice males during puberty with the therapeutic dose used in humans, and with lower and higher doses.

In vivo exposure to 17β-estradiol triggers premature sperm capacitation in cauda epididymis.

Estrogens play a crucial role in spermatogenesis and estrogen receptor α knock-out male mice are infertile. It has been demonstrated that estrogens significantly increase the speed of capacitation in vitro; however this may lead to the reduction of reproductive potential due to the decreased ability of these sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction. To date the in vivo effect of estrogens on the ability of sperm to capacitate has not been investigated.

Effect of tetrabrombisphenol A on induction of apoptosis in the testes and changes in expression of selected testicular genes in CD1 mice.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a substance widely used in industry as a flame retardant. TBBPA was found in the environment and was detected even in the human body. The effect of this chemical was observed in different cell lines in vitro and it is supposed that TBBPA may affect various hormonal systems in vivo.

The slower the better: how sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction is modified in the presence of estrogens.

In order for mammalian sperm to obtain a fertilizing ability, they must undergo a complex of molecular changes, called capacitation. During capacitation, steroidal compounds can exert a fast nongenomic response in sperm through their interaction with plasma membrane receptors, and activate crucial signaling pathways leading to time-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrP). Estrogen receptor beta was detected in epididymal mouse sperm; therefore, the effect of 17B-estradiol, estrone, estriol, and 17A-ethynylestradiol on mouse sperm capacitation in vitro was investigated.

Biodegradation of tetrabromobisphenol A by oxidases in basidiomycetous fungi and estrogenic activity of the biotransformation products.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) degradation was investigated using white rot fungi and their oxidative enzymes. Strains of the Trametes, Pleurotus, Bjerkandera and Dichomitus genera eliminated almost 1 mM TBBPA within 4 days. Laccase, whose role in TBBPA degradation was demonstrated in fungal cultures, was applied to TBBPA degradation alone and in combination with cellobiose dehydrogenase from Sclerotium rolfsii.

Effect of estrogens on boar sperm capacitation in vitro.

Background: Mammalian sperm must undergo a series of controlled molecular processes in the female reproductive tract called capacitation before they are capable of penetrating and fertilizing the egg. Capacitation, as a complex biological process, is influenced by many molecular factors, among which steroidal hormone estrogens play their role. Estrogens, present in a high concentration in the female reproductive tract are generally considered as primarily female hormones.

Comparison of follicular fluid and serum levels of Inhibin A and Inhibin B with calculated indices used as predictive markers of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in IVF patients.

Background: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a severe health complication observed in some patients undergoing hormonal stimulation during IVF. Presence of OHSS is often associated with a high count of growing follicles responding to FSH hyperstimulation. However, the number of responding follicles may not be sufficient enough to predict the onset and severity of OHSS.

Sperm antibodies, intra-acrosomal sperm proteins, and cytokines in semen in men from infertile couples.

Problem: The aim of this study was to investigate seminal sperm-agglutinating antibodies, intra-acrosomal proteins, sperm head abnormalities, and cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70 TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) in men from infertile couples.

Method Of Study: The direct mixed anti-immunoglobulin reaction test for IgG, IgA, and IgE in semen, and immunocytochemical method using monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence for the examination of intra-acrosomal proteins in the spermatozoa were used. Cytokines in seminal plasma were determined by multiplex immunoanalytic xMAP (LUMINEX) technology.

Effect of low dose of vinclozolin on reproductive tract development and sperm parameters in CD1 outbred mice.

The effect of a low dose of vinclozolin within the development of the reproductive tract during gestation (VIN-GD 15-22) and puberty (VIN-PND 23-44) in CD1 mice was tested. We found a decrease in the anogenital distance, prostate weight and pathology of testes in both experimental groups. Sperm counts decreased to 46% (VIN-GD) and to 81% (VIN-PND), and also the acrosomal state (evaluated by antiacrosomal antibody) decreased in both groups to 89% in comparison to the control group (100%).

Differential transferrin expression in placentae from normal and abnormal pregnancies: a pilot study.

Background: The placenta is an important site for iron metabolism in humans. It transfers iron from the mother to the fetus. One of the major iron transport proteins is transferrin, which is a blood plasma protein crucial for iron uptake.

Follicular fluid and serum levels of inhibin A and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A in patients undergoing IVF.

Objective: To elucidate transport of intrafollicular proteins Inhibin A and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) across the follicular fluid (FF)/blood barrier.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: IVF lab at a university hospital, academic, and industrial research labs.

Expression of beta-tubulin epitope in human sperm with pathological spermiogram.

Objective: To determine the location of the corresponding epitope on the tubulin molecule and to find any differences in its exposition in human sperm with normal and pathological spermiograms. The mature spermatozoon exhibits extraordinary structural compartmentalization that is related to the presence of cytoskeletal proteins and has a functional role in connection with fertilization and motility. Previously, we have shown that anti-beta-tubulin antibody TU-12 provided an unexpectedly strong reaction in human and boar sperm head.

Evaluation of reproductive potential after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of varied human semen tested by antiacrosomal antibodies.

Objective: To determine whether varied human spermatozoa, as detected with monoclonal antibodies against acrosomal proteins, have an influence on fertilization, transfer, pregnancy, and implantation rates when intracytoplasmic sperm injection is used.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: A private IVF center and academic research laboratory.