Facial Nerve Schwannoma: The Rare/Great Mimicker of Vestibular Schwannoma/Neuroma.

Schwannomas are benign tumors arising from Schwann cells which are a protective casing of nerves, composing myelin sheath and can develop in any nerve where Schwann cells are present. Most common are vestibulocochlear nerve schwannomas. Facial nerve schwannomas (FNSs) are uncommon tumors involving seventh nerve of which geniculate ganglion involvement is most common.

Prediction of semen quality using artificial neural network.

Examination of semen characteristics is routinely performed for fertility status investigation of the male partner of an infertile couple as well as for evaluation of the sperm donor candidate. A useful tool for preliminary assessment of semen characteristics might be an artificial neural network. Thus, the aim of the present study was to construct an artificial neural network, which could be used for predicting the result of semen analysis based on the basic questionnaire data.

Human Sperm Characteristics with Regard to Cobalt, Chromium, and Lead in Semen and Activity of Catalase in Seminal Plasma.

We analyzed cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) concentrations in human semen and catalase CAT activity in seminal plasma and the effects of their relations on the sperm quality. We obtained semen samples from men (n = 168) undergoing routine infertility evaluation. Studies included two groups based on the ejaculate parameters: I (n = 39; normal ejaculate; normozoospermia); II (n = 129; pathological spermiogram).

Generation of transgenic chickens by the non-viral, cell-based method: effectiveness of some elements of this strategy.

Transgenic chickens have, in general, been produced by two different procedures. The first procedure is based on viral transfection systems. The second procedure, the non-viral method, is based on genetically modified embryonic cells transferred directly into the recipient embryo.

Cryoconservation of Chicken Blastodermal Cells: Effects of Slow Freezing, Vitrification, Cryoprotectant Type and Thawing Method during In Vitro Processing.

Cryoconservation of blastodermal cells (BCs) can preserve genetic material for the future reconstruction of poultry breeds. The aim of our study was to compare the effects of three slow freezing programs and vitrification, different cryoprotectants (5% DMSO, 10% DMSO, or multi-component cryoprotectant (MC) and two thawing methods on the viability of chicken BCs. Significant differences in the survival of slowly frozen BCs using program 3 (2°C/min.

The employment of IVF techniques for establishment of sodium, copper and selenium impact upon human sperm quality.

We analysed sodium (Na), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) levels in human semen and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) in seminal plasma and examined their relationships with sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from men (n=168) undergoing routine infertility evaluation. The study design included two groups based on standard ejaculate parameters: Group I (n=39) with normal ejaculates (normozoospermia) and Group II (n=129) with a pathological spermiogram.

Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Human Sperm and Association with Semen Quality.

The aim of the present study was to measure lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), europium (Eu), and gadolinium (Gd) concentrations in human semen and correlate the results with sperm quality. The median semen content of La was 19.5 µg kg(-1) dry weight (dw) (range 2.

Obtaining chicken primordial germ cells used for gene transfer: in vitro and in vivo results.

Recently, several attempts have been made to create a generation of transgenic chickens via chimeric intermediates produced by primordial germ cells (PGCs) transfer. This study aimed to compare the influences of different chicken PGCs isolated from circulating blood (bPGCs) or gonads (gPGCs), purification (ACK, Percoll or trypsin) and transfection methods (electroporation or lipofection) on the expression of transgenes in vitro and the migration of modified donor cells to the recipient gonads. The highest average frequency of pEGFP-N1 plasmid-transfected bPGCs (75.

Influence of chemical elements on mammalian spermatozoa.

Exposure to heavy metals is the most important risk factor in the assessment of spermatogenesis. About 30-40 % cases of infertility are caused by the male factor, and most of them are due to the small quantity of spermatozoa or to inferior spermatozoa quality. The negative impact on sperm motility, morphology and concentration of such chemical elements as Al, Cr, Cd, Pb or Fe was observed, while positive influence was noticed for Zn, Mg, and Ca.

Identification of the rate of chimerism of different tissues with microsatellite markers in chicken chimeras.

The goal of our study was to evaluate whether private alleles can be defined in microsatellite markers for the breeds under investigation; to evaluate if these private alleles distinguish chicken chimera when using different tissues; to trace them back to the donor: Green-Legged Partridgelike and recipient: White Leghorn chicken breeds, and further on, to estimate the level of chimerism in each tissue. Private and common alleles were defined for donor and recipient chicken breeds in 3 loci. The rate of chimerism was defined based on private alleles present in liver, heart, breast muscle, femoral muscle and gonads.

Zinc and iron concentration and SOD activity in human semen and seminal plasma.

The aim of the present study was to measure zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentration in human semen and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in seminal plasma and correlate the results with sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from men (N = 168) undergoing routine infertility evaluation. The study design included two groups based on the ejaculate parameters.

Influence of electroporation on chicken blastoderm cell viability in vitro.

The aim of this study was to compare two types of devices used for blastoderm cell (BC) transfection: the Nucleofector (Amaxa, Biosystems) and the Multiporator (Eppendorf). To assess the influence of electric current on BCs, different conditions of both nucleofection and electroporation were used. Next, the viability of cells was assessed.

Sex steroids level in blood plasma and ovarian follicles of the chimeric chicken.

The study was performed to determine the hormonal status of mature germline chimeras obtained by blastodermal cell transfer from chicken embryos of a donor breed [Green-legged Partridgelike breed (GP) x Araucana (AR)] to those of a recipient breed [White Leghorn (WL)] being at the same stage of embryonic development. The egg-laying chimeras and WL hens (control) of the same age were used in the experiment. At first, blood samples were taken from each bird at 0.

Generation of cloned and chimeric embryos/offspring using the new methods of animal biotechnology.

The article summarizes results of studies concerning: 1/ qualitative evaluation of pig nuclear donor cells to somatic cell cloning, 2/ developmental potency of sheep somatic cells to create chimera, 3/ efficient production of chicken chimera. The quality of nuclear donor cells is one of the most important factors to determine the efficiency of somatic cell cloning. Morphological criteria commonly used for qualitative evaluation of somatic cells may be insufficient for practical application in the cloning.

Expression of exogenous genes in blastodermal cells of chicken in vitro.

Chicken blastodermal cells (BCs) from stage X embryos produce both somatic and germline chimeras when injected into the subgerminal cavity of recipient embryos. Transfection of the donor cells in vitro could lead to the production of chimeras capable of transmitting the transgene to their offspring. The aim of this study was to transfer and express foreign genes under control of the ovalbumin promoter in the BCs.

Reconstitution of a chicken breed by inter se mating of germline chimeric birds.

Blastoderm cells from chicken embryos of a donor breed (Green-legged Partridgelike; GP) were transferred to embryos of a recipient breed (White Leghorn; WL) to form chimeric progeny that, after inter se mating, permitted successful reconstitution of the donor breed. Among 23 chimeric chicks hatched from WL embryos injected with GP cells, 20 (87%) were raised until maturity, and progeny were tested by mating with GP birds to determine the ability of blastodermal cells to form germline chimeras. Six of the tested birds (30%) produced recipient-derived and donor-derived offspring, indicating that they were germline chimeras.

Improvement of hatchability of chicken eggs injected by blastoderm cells.

In our first experiment, we studied the effect of injection method of blastoderm cells (BC) into the subgerminal cavity of White Leghorn embryos on hatchability of chicken chimeras. Freshly laid eggs were injected through a hole made in the equatorial plane of the eggshell (Method A). In Method B, eggs were stored pointed end down for 5 to 7 d prior to injection, and a hole was cut in the blunt end of the eggshell.