The effect of bacterial contamination of semen on sperm chromatin integrity and standard semen parameters in men from infertile couples.

A considerable proportion of male factor infertility cases are associated with inflammatory processes. The most common sexually transmissible agents causing sexually transmitted diseases in industrial countries are Chlamydia trachomatis, genital Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma spp. This study was undertaken to investigate whether these bacterial contaminants in semen affect sperm quality parameters and particularly DNA integrity (detected by sperm chromatin structure assay) in males from infertile couples (n = 293).

Genetic polymorphisms influence the susceptibility of men to sperm DNA damage associated with exposure to air pollution.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds on sperm quality in a group of city policemen in Prague during a period of increased concentrations of ambient air-pollutants (winter season) compared to a period of low exposure (spring). Polymorphisms in metabolic genes (CYP1A1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1), folic acid metabolism genes (MTR, MTHFR) and DNA repair genes (XRCC1, XPD6, XPD23, hOGG1) were evaluated in these men as potential modifiers of associations between air pollution exposure and changes in sperm quality. The study population was a group of 47 policemen working in the center of the city.

Fertile bull sperm aneuploidy and chromatin integrity in relationship to fertility.

Aneuploidy is associated with spontaneous abortions, perinatal mortality, mental retardation and with embryonic and foetal mortality. Most of these abnormalities originate as a result of meiosis errors during gametogenesis. The main purpose of the study was to analyse frequency of aneuploidies of sex chromosomes and chromosome 6 by three-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 47 young bulls, candidates for artificial insemination programme with cryopreserved semen and to investigate the influence of aneuploidies and disturbed sperm chromatin integrity on non-return rates, the frequencies of abortions, perinatal mortality and stillbirths.

Sperm chromatin integrity in young men with no experiences of infertility and men from idiopathic infertility couples.

Damage to the genetic component of spermatozoa seems to play the main role in a majority of cases where current approaches fail to reveal the specific cause of male infertility. In this study, we compared semen quality in men assigned to two defined groups: men from couples with unexplained infertility - idiopathic infertility (A) and young men with no experiences of infertility (B). All samples were examined by standard ejaculate analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA).

[Infection with Chlamydophila pneumoniae as a cause of female infertility of tubal origin?].

Objective: A contribution to the role of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in women from the IVF program.

Design: A serological study proving the antibodies against the antigens of Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C.

Chlamydiae in the ejaculate: their influence on the quality and morphology of sperm.

Background: Given the lack of information concerning the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in male fertility, the aim of this study was to ascertain and analyze the quality of Chlamydiae-positive and -negative semen.

Material And Methods: Sperm count was performed according to the 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory manual for examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interaction, and sperm survival was assessed by a 120-min test. The evaluation of the morphological examination of ejaculates was carried out using the sasmo (strict morphological analysis of ejaculates) computer program.

[Importance of regular screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents].

Objective: Determination of prevalence of genital chlamydiosis in similar group of adolescents as in that examined two years ago. Comparison of the results with the previous ones to confirm positive impact of a repeated screening on drop of prevalence of the infection. Another objective is to make the epidemiological data on genital chlamydiosis in the countries of the "Eastern Block" more accurate, and at the same time to assess the most suitable screening method.

[Noninvasive screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents in Brno].

Objective: To run a screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents living in the town Brno as the first action of this type in the Czech Republic and to use the results of the screening for the elaboration of recommendations for running similar actions on the national scale.

Design: Prospective epidemiological study.

Setting: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno; Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague; Section of Public Health, Municipal Authorities of Brno; Bioplus Ltd.

Interaction of bull, stallion and boar seminal plasma proteins and sperms with acidic polysaccharides.

The interaction of seminal plasma proteins, sperms and detergent-released sperm proteins of three species with different types of acidic polysaccharides was studied. Heparin-binding activity of boar, bull and stallion seminal plasma proteins, sperms and sperm proteins was compared with their ability to interact with polysaccharides differing in the presence of the sulfate groups or in their saccharide moiety (chondroitin sulfate, dextran sulfate, fucoidan, hyaluronic acid). Bull seminal plasma proteins were characterized by higher affinity to heparin, fucoidan and dextran sulfate, while significant differences between different types of polysaccharides were detected in the case of boar proteins.

Effects of oral intake of nitrates on reproductive functions of bulls.

Effects of oral intake of nitrates on selected biochemical and endocrinological indices and its impact on reproductive functions were investigated in five feeder bulls aged 16-18 months. The bulls were tested prior to (30 days), during (30 days) and after (35 days) the period of the nitrate administration. The initial dose of 100 g potassium nitrate per day was increased at weekly intervals by 50 g up to 250 g per day.

[Direct and indirect detection of Chlamydia in infertile married couples in the assisted reproduction program].

The authors pay attention to the relationship of pregnancy in women enlisted in the IVF programme and the detection of Chlamydia infection. A group of 74 infertile couples were investigated. A significant relationship was found between confirmed Chlamydia infection in women and men.

[Occurrence of antibodies to chlamydial group antigens in the population of the Czech Republic].

A set of 4,178 human blood sera was tested including 3,093 samples collected from blood donors, 624 randomly collected samples. 124 samples collected from persons possibly exposed to Chlamydia infection, and 337 samples from patients of various hospitals in the districts of Brno, Olomouc and Rumburk. All the sera were examined using the complement fixation microtest and the antigen of Chlamydia psittaci for CFR (Bioveta, Ivanovice na Hané, CzR).

[Detection of Chlamydia in inflammation of the cervix and uterus in cows].

Clinical findings in cows of seven farms with a frequent occurrence of birth canal inflammations were matched against results of serological and direct immunofluorescence tests for Chlamydia sp. infection. Normal clinical picture, weak to moderate and serious inflammations were found in 16.

[Detection of chlamydia in the intestines and lungs in pigeons and humans].

Attempts were made to detect Chlamydia sp. by direct immunofluorescence (IF) in intestinal and lung tissues collected from wild town pigeons, young reared pigeons, and human corpses. Chlamydia in any organ were detected in 86.

[Detection of chlamydiae in animal and human semen using direct immunofluorescence].

Frequency of elementary and reticular chlamydial bodies was investigated by direct immunofluorescence tests in ejaculates collected from 52 men, 60 stallions, 42 bulls, and 66 boars using the kits of Progen Biotechnic GmbH and the microscope Labophot-2 Nikon. At the same time, qualitative semen tests, including ejaculate volume, sperm motility, percentage of live and dead sperms and morphological' analyses (Vĕzník and Svecová, 1992) were done. Repeatability of the findings was checked in a group of nine bulls housed at the institute and sampled at weekly intervals for 3 to 4 months (Tab.

Average testosterone levels in bulls after GnRH stimulation at breeder bull rearing stations and A. I. stations.

Base average testosterone levels and testosterone levels in 60 and 90 min after GnRH administration were determined in bulls at five breeder bull rearing stations at their age of 13 months and at nine A. I. stations at their age of 17-34 months.

[Testosterone production after in vitro stimulation of testicular cells with gonadotropins in bulls].

The response of bulls' testicular cells to the stimulation by serum gonadotropin ad us. vet. (Bioveta, Ivanovice in Haná) was investigated in in vitro tests.

Significance of progesterone determination in milk.

The determination of progesterone in milk sampled on the day of insemination is used for fertilization check in dairy cattle. Thus, the corpus luteum function confirms insemination failures due to the false estrus. By this way it is possible to detect 10 to 20 per cent of cows which cannot be successfully inseminated.

[The effect of the light schedule on biochemical indicators in the blood, serum and urine of heifers during their estrus cycle].

The dynamics of 38 biochemical parameters of blood, serum and urine was studied in ten heifers during their oestrous cycle in a light house (80-340 lux) and a dark small house (10-40 lux). In the light stable a significant influence (P less than 0.05) was found to be exerted on five parameters and in the dark stable nine parameters, four being influenced in the same way in both houses: haematocrit value and haemoglobin in blood and cholesterol and progesterone in serum; the relationship of progesterone content in serum to the days of oestrous cycle was particularly high in the light house.

[Determination of the activity of luteinizing hormone in PMSG preparations using testosterone synthesis in vitro].

The activity of luteinizing hormone (LH) in serum gonadotropin (PMSG) was studied by a bioassay in vitro, using the cells of mouse testes prepared by the combination of enzymatic and mechanical diffociation. The activity of individual preparations was calculated according to the amount of produced testosterone measured by radioimmunoassay. Comparison with the 2nd international standard of PMSG (WHO) showed that in the PMSG substandard (Dessau) the activity of LH was twice lower, and in three charges of the commercial PMSG preparation (Bioveta, Ivanovice in Haná) four-and-a-half times lower than declared.

[The effect of different cell concentrations and incubation time of testicular tissue testosterone synthesis].

The cells of the testes of mice were enzymatically separated and the amount of Leydig cells was determined in different stages of dispersion and after washing the separated tissue. This amount ranged from 2 to 9%. The largest quantity of Leydig cells (9%) was obtained when separated tubuli were washed.

[Development of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine and gamma-glutamyltransferase in the blood serum of dairy cows during the last month of pregnancy and the puerperium in relation to liver function].

Over the period of two years, the blood serum of dairy cows from three localities was examined repeatedly for the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.

[Determination of the gonadotropin activity of biological preparations by testosterone synthesis in mouse testes in vitro].

The ability of mouse testicular tissue to respond to stimulation by a commercial preparation of human choriongonadotropin (Praedyn Spofa) was tested in vitro, using whole testes, fragments and cell suspension. In each experiment seven gonadotropin concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 50 i.

[Influencing superovulation in cattle with serum gonadotropin antibody].

The effectiveness of GnRH (Luliberin) and goat anti-PMSG serum prepared at the Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, was studied during the superovulation of heifers treated with PMSG and Estrumate. The use of GnRH did not exert any positive influence on superovulation, as compared with the control groups,. when anti-PMSG serum was administered five hours from the determined beginning of oestrus (46-53 hours from the first administration of Estrumate), the length of oestrus was reduced in comparison with the control group (25.