[Sexual hormone levels in semen and germ cell apoptosis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between sexual hormones in semen and germ cell apoptosis in male population.

Methods: Sixty-six infertile patients and thirty fertile males were selected randomly. The levels of folicle stimulating hormone ( FSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in semen were measured by ELISA.

[Sodium nitroprusside facilitates human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction].

Objective: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR).

Methods: Different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were added to the sperm suspension from 48 healthy fertile men, and the suspension was incubated in 1 x Earle at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Progesterone was used to induce AR for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, and then acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in the suspension before and after capacitation and at different time of AR was measured by p-nitrophenyl sodium phosphate assay.

[Relationship between the amount of nitric oxide and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men].

Aim: To explore the relationship between nitric oxide(NO) and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men.

Methods: Copper-coated cadmium reduction fluorescence assay was used to detect nitrate, the metabolic product of NO. The apoptosis and ultrastructure of germ cells were detected and observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electronls microscope (TEM), respectively.