Nitric oxide and oxidative stress in placental explant cultures.

Placental explant culture, and cellular cytolysis and cellular differentiation have been previously studied. However, oxidative stress and nitric oxide profiles have not been evaluated in these systems. The aim of this study was to determine the release of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide from placental explants cultured over a seven day period.

ATPases, ion exchangers and human sperm motility.

Human sperm has several mechanisms to control its ionic milieu, such as the Na,K-ATPase (NKA), the Ca-ATPase of the plasma membrane (PMCA), the Na(+)/Ca(2) (+)-exchanger (NCX) and the Na(+)/H(+)-exchanger (NHE). On the other hand, the dynein-ATPase is the intracellular motor for sperm motility. In this work, we evaluated NKA, PMCA, NHE, NCX and dynein-ATPase activities in human sperm and investigated their correlation with sperm motility.

TNF-alpha in bulls experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax: a pilot study.

There are few studies about the immune response during trypanosomosis in cattle. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of experimental infection with Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax) on serum levels of TNF-alpha in bulls and its relationship to hematocrit, body temperature and parasitemia.

Varicocele decreases epididymal neutral α-glucosidase and is associated with alteration of nuclear DNA and plasma membrane in spermatozoa.

Objective: To assess the relationship between a marker of epididymal function and both the fragmentation of the sperm nucleus and the integrity and maturity of the sperm membrane in patients with or without varicocele.

Patients And Methods: Semen samples were obtained from men with varicocele grades II and III (n = 60) and from a control group with zoospermia defined as normal (n = 30). Samples were evaluated by a spermiogram, a hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), neutral α-glucosidase (NAG) enzyme activity, sperm hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA) and DNA fragmentation using a sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test.

IFN-gamma alters the human sperm membrane permeability to Ca(2+).

Inflammation in the male genitourinary tract has been associated with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and elevated reactive oxygen species, which affects spermatozoa capacitation, motility, and the acrosome reaction, along with functions regulated by the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]cyto). Though Ca(2+) signaling is of particular significance in sperm, the effect of IFN-γ intracellular calcium on these cells is still unknown. The present study evaluated the effect of IFN-γ on the [Ca(2+)]cyto and Ca(2+) permeability on human sperm.

Effect of tumor necrosis factor-α on the intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis in human sperm.

Problem: Inflammation and genital infections promote the increase in leukocytes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxygen reactive species, impairing sperm functions such as motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. All these functions are primarily regulated by cytoplasmic concentration of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+) ]cyto ). This study evaluated the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the [Ca(2+) ]cyto and its regulation in human sperm.

Markers of accessory sex glands function in men with varicocele, relationship with seminal parameters.

Introduction: Varicocele has been associated with decreased semen quality, not much is known about the effect of varicocele on the accessory sex glands function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship among varicocele, seminal parameters and biochemical markers of accessory sex glands: neutral alpha glucosidase (NAG, epididymis), fructose (seminal vesicles), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and zinc (prostate).

Materials And Methods: A clinical study was performed in 190 men with varicocele and 100 men normozoospermic as control group.

Selenium, copper and zinc in seminal plasma of men with varicocele, relationship with seminal parameters.

Varicocele has been associated with decrease in seminal parameters. Selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are trace elements essential for normal spermatogenesis of mammals and play a critical role as antioxidant defense system enzymes. Se, Cu, and Zn are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men.

Effect of varicocele grade and age on seminal parameters.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of presence, grade and anatomical side of varicocele on semen parameters and to identify age-related modifications in semen quality in men with varicocele.

Methods: A prospective clinical study was performed in 363 men with varicocele and 155 normozoospermic men without varicocele. We determined the presence, grade and anatomical localization of varicocele: left (grades I-III), right or bilateral.

Effect of ultraviolet C irradiation on human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation.

Purpose: Ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation of aqueous solutions is known to be a good source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study is to examine the effect of increasing doses of UVC irradiation, in the presence and absence of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), on human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation of its membranes.

Materials And Methods: Human sperm samples were irradiated with UVC light (254 nm) for different periods of time.

Biochemical identification of dynein-ATPase activity in human sperm.

Dynein-ATPase is the intracellular motor for sperm motility. In the present work we assayed the dynein-ATPase activity in an axoneme-containing fraction of human sperm, free of plasma membranes, in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic donors. Axoneme-containing fractions were isolated from semen samples obtained from healthy donors with either normozoospermia or asthenozoospermia, as indicated by a sperm motility lower than 50% (WHO grade a + b).

Immunophenotype of peripheral T lymphocytes, NK cells and expression of CD69 activation marker in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions, during the mid-luteal phase.

Problem: Determination of subpopulations of T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) and activation status, in peripheral blood during the mid-luteal phase from patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Method Of Study: Peripheral blood samples from non-pregnant women with RSA and normal multiparous were taken and evaluated for subpopulations of T lymphocytes: CD4, CD8, ('naive-like' and 'memory-like'), TCR receptor (alphabeta and gammadelta), activation status by CD69(+surface or intracellular)/CD3(+), and NK cells (CD16(+)/CD56(dim)/CD3(-), CD16(+)/CD56 (bright)/CD3(-), CD69(+surface or intracellular)/CD56(+)/CD3(-) cells).

Results: The evaluation of T lymphocytes only showed an increase in the expression of CD69 (surface and intracellular) in the RSA group.

Human sperm DNA fragmentation: correlation of TUNEL results as assessed by flow cytometry and optical microscopy.

An association between DNA fragmentation in sperm determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and the incidence of reproductive failure has been reported, either using flow cytometry or optical microscopy. However, the results obtained using each of these two approaches are different. Since there is a relative lack of studies standardizing these two approaches, the direct comparison of the results described in the different articles is difficult at present.

Serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta and human chorionic gonadotropin in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancy.

Studies in placentas from the first trimester and in vitro models indicate that interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 induce the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). During pre-eclampsia there is an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, its relationship with hCG levels during the third trimester of pregnancy has not been determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between blood levels of IL-6, IL-1beta and hCG in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

Sperm lipid peroxidation and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Aim: To investigate if interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are able to stimulate the level of lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes, either alone or in the presence of leukocytes.

Methods: Semen samples from normozoospermic donors were prepared by density gradient. The sperms were exposed to the indicated cytokines, at physiological and infection-inflammation concentrations, in the absence or presence of leukocytes.

Protamine 2 precursors, protamine 1/protamine 2 ratio, DNA integrity and other sperm parameters in infertile patients.

Background: The protamine 1-to-protamine 2 ratio (P1/P2) is altered in the sperm cells of some infertile patients. Also, evidence for increased protamine 2 precursors (pre-P2) in a few patients has been reported. But so far, there have been no studies measuring simultaneously these two variables in a large number of patients.

[Changes in cervical cytology and immune response against Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual workers].

There are controversies about the relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infections and development of cervical carcinoma. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the relation between the presence of IgG against C.

Bioactive to immunoreactive ratio of circulating human chorionic gonadotropin as possible evaluation for the prognosis of threatened abortion.

Objective: In an effort to evaluate the prognosis of threatened abortion, we established the ratio of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), as measured by bioassay or radioimmunoassay techniques, of samples from patients with threatened abortion or normal pregnancy.

Study Design: Peripheral blood samples from patients in their first trimester of pregnancy with threatened abortion (n=24), or normal pregnancy (n=12), were assayed for progesterone (RIA), and for immunoactive (DELFIA) and bioactive (mouse Leydig cell testosterone production assay) hCG.

Results: Serum progesterone was not statistically different between the threatened-continuing and the threatened-miscarried groups.

[Prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis in female sex workers in Venezuela].

Objective: In Venezuela, female sex workers are submitted to a preventive control of syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, other very important sexually transmitted infections are not evaluated. A study was carried out to identify the sociocultural background of a group of sex workers and its association with the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C markers, in addition to routine evaluation.