Evidence for the function of hyperactivated motility in sperm.

After insemination, mammalian sperm undergo a striking change in flagellar beat pattern, termed hyperactivation. In low-viscosity culture medium, nonhyperactivated sperm flagella generate relatively symmetrical, low-amplitude waves, while hyperactivated sperm flagella generate an asymetrical beating pattern that results in nonprogressive movement. Since sperm encounter highly viscous and viscoelastic fluids in the female reproductive tract, the progress of hyperactivated sperm was compared with that of nonhyperactivated and transitional sperm in media of increasing viscosity.

Fertilizing capacity of bovine sperm may be maintained by binding of oviductal epithelial cells.

The ability of the bovine oviduct to maintain the motility and fertilizing capacity of bovine sperm was investigated by incubating frozen-thawed sperm with endosalpingeal epithelial cells cultured on either tissue culture plastic (nonpolarizing) or Matrigel-coated Millicell (polarizing) substrata. Sperm were also incubated in medium alone or with cultured bovine tracheal epithelial cells. Motility was determined at 6-h intervals over a 48-h period.

Bullous photosensitivity to naproxen: "pseudoporphyria".

Pseudoporphyria is a photo-induced cutaneous bullous disease characterized by distinct clinical, histologic, and most recently, immunofluorescent features. By definition, results of porphyrin studies are normal in this disease. We describe here a woman with naproxen-induced pseudoporphyria, and we review previously reported cases of pseudoporphyria.

Idiopathic atrophy of the nails: a possible hereditary association.

Idiopathic atrophy of the nails has been described as an acquired condition of childhood wherein the changes may lead to permanent loss with scarring of the nail bed. Three patients with idiopathic atrophy are described here, two of whom are siblings, ages 9 and 11 years. The authors suggest that all family members of patients with this condition be examined for possible involvement.

Unusual serotypes of Escherichia coli from piglet diarrhea in north Spain.

Eighteen strains of Escherichia coli isolated from piglet diarrhea were examined with a wide range of antisera and were found not to belong to the common serotypes found in this disease. Several different serotypes were found; nine strains belonged to O153, and an O group (not commonly associated with piglet diarrhea) belonged to four different serobiotypes.

Plasmodium falciparum glycolipid synthesis: constant and variant molecules of isolates and of strains with differing knob and cytoadherence phenotype.

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes were metabolically labeled with tritiated glucosamine. Lipid extracts were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography to compare labeled molecules of eleven isolates from patients, six cytoadherent in vitro strains, and two knobbed and two knobless strains from Aotus monkeys. Up to nineteen labeled bands were identified.

Hamster sperm motility transformation during development of hyperactivation in vitro and epididymal maturation.

The transformation of hamster sperm motility during capacitation in vitro and during maturation in the caudal epididymis was analyzed and compared using videomicrography. Sperm recovered from the distal portion of the caudal epididymis, as well as ejaculated sperm recovered from the uterus exhibited low amplitude, planar flagellar beating. By 3 hr of incubation under capacitating conditions, the caudal epididymal sperm were swimming in helical patterns apparently produced by significantly increased acuteness of flagellar bending and by torsion seen as abrupt, periodic turning of the head.

Hyperactivated motility induced in mouse sperm by calcium ionophore A23187 is reversible.

The reversibility of hyperactivated motility was tested in caudal epididymal mouse sperm by treating them with 1 microM calcium ionophore A23187 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), followed 2 min later by the addition of medium containing high levels of bovine serum albumin (BSA) (final concentrations: 0.5 microM A23187, 22 mg/ml BSA). Controls received DMSO alone, followed by BSA.

The ovulated ovum of the horse: cytology of nonfertilized ova to pronuclear stage ova.

Fertilization and early development in the horse were studied by recovering oviductal ova at various times after postovulatory mating. Ova collected between 7 and 22 h post coitum (pc) were examined for evidence of fertilizing sperm, cellular changes accompanying fertilization, and pronuclear development. Five ova collected between 7 and 9 h pc contained a marginal metaphase plate, but had no indication of sperm components; three of these, however, showed reduced numbers of cortical granules.

Sorbinil partially prevents decreased erythrocyte deformability in experimental diabetes mellitus.

The ability of red blood cells (RBCs) to undergo an adaptation in shape that permits passage through the smallest vessels is reportedly impaired in diabetes. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain decreased erythrocyte deformability, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications, but the mechanisms responsible for this change have not been clearly delineated. In view of the fact that sorbitol accumulates in RBCs in diabetes and the postulate that increased sorbitol could alter deformability properties, we examined the influence of the aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil on erythrocyte deformability.

Initiation of hyperactivated flagellar bending in mouse sperm within the female reproductive tract.

To determine where and when hyperactivation is initiated in vivo, the flagellar curvature ratios (fcr) of mouse sperm within the female reproductive tract were measured from videotape recordings and compared with those of epididymal sperm incubated under capacitating conditions in vitro. The fcrs and linearities of trajectory were significantly lowered after 90 min of incubation in vitro, indicating that hyperactivation had been initiated by that time. The flagellar curvature ratios of sperm at the colliculus tubarius, within the uterotubal junction, and in the isthmus, measured at 1-2 h postcoitus and approximately 1 h before and 1 h after ovulation, were found to have fcrs that were not different from those of sperm incubated for 90 min in vitro.

Sperm transport and motility in the mouse oviduct: observations in situ.

Sperm transport and motility were studied through the transparent walls of the mouse oviduct by direct microscopic observation and videomicrography. Observations were made on excised female tracts 1-2 h post-coitus (pc) and 1-2 h before and after the approximate time of ovulation. Motile sperm were seen at the uterine entrance to the uterotubal junction (UTJ) in all females at 1-2 h pc, but in fewer females at later times.

Selective killing of T lymphocytes by phototoxic liposomes.

Two-fold specificity in drug delivery obtained through the localized activation of drugs by physical means and the attachment of drugs to proteins that bind to target cells might be used for highly selective cancer chemotherapy or for immunosuppression. Toward this end, a monoclonal antibody against an antigen on the surface of T lymphocytes was covalently attached to liposomes containing a phototoxic drug, pyrene, bound to the lipid bilayer. When unfractionated peripheral blood lymphocytes, or B- and T-cell lines, were irradiated after treatment with these liposomes, T cells were killed while B cells were spared, demonstrating the validity of the approach in a simple in vitro assay.

Features of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains of porcine origin that express K88 and 987P fimbrial antigens.

Escherichia coli strains of porcine origin express K88 and 987P pilus-antigens in vitro. This study reports their enterotoxin producing ability, serological features and plasmid content. The bipiliated strains were enterotoxigenic and all contained a large plasmid of uniform size.

Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity in patients with head and neck cancer.

ADA is a key enzyme in the mammalian purine salvage pathway. The lack of ADA activity has been linked to a lack of cellular immunity in various immune and myeloproliferative disorders. Data on its role in patients with solid tumors are scant and inconclusive.

Social responding to mirrors in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Effects of changing mirror location.

Two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with a lifetime of continuous exposure to mirrors showed a dramatic and reliable reinstatement of social behavior directed toward the mirror when it was simply moved to a new location. These data are discussed in the context of repeated failures to find self-recognition in monkeys and several recent claims that a cessation of social behavior directed toward mirrors can be used as evidence for the beginning of self-recognition in nonhuman primates.

Face touching in primates: a closer look.

Dimond and Harries (Neuropsychologia 22, 227-233, 1984) claim that monkeys, unlike great apes and humans, rarely touch their faces. These authors reported the existence of a left-hand preference for face touching in great apes and humans. Using two species of macaques, we found an incidence of face touching by monkeys which was much higher than that reported by Dimond and Harries.

Open-field behaviour in chickens: A replication revisited.

In an attempt to show that the open field can still be used as a valid measure of fear, Jones (1983) has reported a failure to replicate some of our findings. The present studies show that this was due to procedural and methodological differences. For instance, we found that birds tested in a novel environment behaved quite differently from those, as in Jones' case, which were placed in one resembling the home cage.

Movement characteristics and acrosomal status of rabbit spermatozoa recovered at the site and time of fertilization.

Rabbit spermatozoa were recovered from the oviductal ampullae 11 h postcoitus by an oil microflush technique. Their movement was evaluated in the ampullar fluid, or in ampullar fluid diluted with in vitro fertilization medium, in slide preparations which were approximately 25 micron or 100 micron deep. The movement of these sperm was compared with the movement of ejaculated sperm in diluted semen.