Effects of STS 557 on semen and sperm functions in bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)--a preliminary report

Intramuscular administration of STS 557 (17 alpha C-cyanomethyl-17 beta-hydroxy-estra-4,9(10)-diene-3-one) at a daily dose of 12 mg/monkey for 8 weeks induced severe oligospermia to complete azoospermia by the 9th week of initiation of treatment with concomitant decrease in the serum level of testosterone. The sperm motility was reduced from the 3rd week of treatment. Complete recovery was observed by the 14th week after withdrawal of treatment. STS 557 may have the potentiality to be used as a chemical contraceptive in the male.     

Changes in the Quality of Rabbit Semen in 14 Consecutive Ejaculates Obtained Every 15 Minutes

Modifications of semen quality related to ejaculation frequency is one of the most important and neglected factors from the standpoint of artificial insemination or sperm competition. New Zealand white rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) offer an advantageous experimental model because they have characteristic sexual behavior, they present rapid ejaculation after a single intromission, they have a very short interval between successive ejaculations, and semen can be easily collected. The authors studied the modifications on sperm quality (semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility) produced by 14 consecutive ejaculations recovered every 15 min using stimulus females and an artificial vagina. Bucks were exposed every 15 min to a sexually receptive female. After each ejaculation the female was removed and reintroduced 15 min later. Sperm concentration showed a clear biphasic conduct. The amount of spermatozoa per milliliter decreased rapidly until ejaculate number 6, showed a highly significant increase in ejaculates 7-9, and decreased to nil in the last 2 ejaculates. Total number of ejaculated spermatozoa was 557 &#50 10 6, 76% of which were recovered from the first 4 ejaculates. Ejaculate volume also showed a biphasic conduct. In the first ejaculates the volume decreased linearly until ejaculate number 6, showed a significant increase in ejaculates 7-10, and then decreased. The total semen volume recovered during the experiment was 2.44mL, 40% of which (0.98mL) was recovered from the first 2 ejaculates. Individual motility in the first 6 ejaculates was preferentially progressive (60% of the sperms) and turned to random or in situ from the seventh ejaculate up. The proportion of spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets increased from ejaculates 6 and 7 up. The results seem to reflect an acceleration of semen transport through the epididymis when the demands for spermatozoa increase.     

男性不育患者精浆锌含量与精液主要参数相关性研究

目的:探讨不育男性精浆的锌含量与精液质量的关系。方法:回顾性分析2011年8月～2012年1月在广西壮族自治区妇幼保健院生殖中心就诊的343例男性不育患者的相关资料,依据精浆锌含量分为正常A组(n=274例)和异常B组(n=69例),比较两组间精液参数的差异;同时根据精液黏稠度分为黏稠C组(n=54例)与非黏稠D组(n=289例),比较两组间精浆锌含量及其他精液参数的差异。结果:A组与B组患者年龄比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。A组的精液量、每次射精精子总数、前向运动精子总数显著高于B组,而黏稠精液的比例明显低于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。其他精液各指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);C组与D组精液圆细胞浓度、精液量、精子浓度、精子总数比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);D组的前向运动精子百分率、前向运动精子总数、活动率、精浆锌明显高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。精浆锌含量与精液量、每次射精精子总数、前向运动精子总数显著正相关,与其他参数无显著相关性。结论:精浆锌含量直接影响精液量、精子总数、前向运动精子总数和精液黏稠度,精浆锌含量是男性生殖力的重要评估指标。     

Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves seminal antioxidant status and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) dietary supplementation on semen quality, fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and DNA fragmentation. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 74 subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to either the placebo group (n=32) or to the DHA group (n=42) to consume three 500-mg capsules of oil per day over 10 weeks. The placebo group received 1,500 mg/day of sunflower oil and the DHA group 1,500 mg/day of DHA-enriched oil. Seminal parameters (semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and vitality), total antioxidant capacity, deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation, and lipid composition were evaluated prior to the treatment and after 10 weeks. Finally, 57 subjects were included in the study with 25 in the placebo group and 32 in the DHA group. No differences were found in traditional sperm parameters or lipid composition of the sperm membrane after treatment. However, an increase in DHA and Omega-3 fatty acid content in seminal plasma, an improvement in antioxidant status, and a reduction in the percentage of spermatozoa with deoxyribonucleic acid damage were observed in the DHA group after 10 weeks of treatment.     

STS 557, a new orally active progestin with antiprogestational and contragestational properties in rabbits

STS 557 (17α-cyanomethyl-17β-hydroxy-estra-4,9(10)-diene-3-one) is a potent progestin. This compound was 10 times as potent as the standard levonorgestrel as judged by the classic Clauberg-McPhail Assay. The antiprogestational response is significant when STS 557 treatment starts 2 days before progesterone administration. It does not disturb the priming activity of estradiol. This compound alone is adequate for endometrial priming. Early pregnancy is maintained in ovariectomized does. Administration on day 1 of pregnancy reduces the number of implantations. In comparison with chlormadinone acetate and d-norgestrel, only STS 557 treatment causes complete inhibition of egg fertilization.     

汞对男工生殖功能影响的研究

本文对某荧光灯厂３７名男工的生殖功能调查研究的结果表明：工人在作业环境汞浓度超标情况下作业，导致休内汞负荷水平的增高。血汞和精汞含量（分别为０．０５８１ｍｇ／Ｌ和０．０２７０ｍｇ／Ｌ）均比对照组（分别为０．０１０９ｍｇ／Ｌ和０．１３９ｍｇ／Ｌ增高，Ｐ＜０．０１。工人的生殖功能也受到一定的影响，表现为精液量减少，液化时间延长，精子的密度减小、一次射精子数减少、活精率下降，精子畸形率增高。同时，还观察     

STS 557 as an interceptive in rodents and baboons

Studies with mice, rats, guinea pigs and baboons were undertaken to define the interceptive action of the new progestin STS 557 (17α -cyanomethyl-17β-hydroxy-estra-4.9(10)-diene-3-one) and to compare it with other progestins used in oral contraceptives. STS 557, norethindrone and norethindrone acetate reduced deciduoma formation as well as the number of implantations in mice and rats. Chlormadinone acetate and levonorgestrel when administered at the appropriate dose could not prevent early pregnancy or deciduoma formation. But in contrast to STS 557, levonorgestrel maintained early pregnancy in ovariectomized rats. On the other hand, STS 557 was ineffective as a postcoital agent in guinea pigs. When 0.4 mg STS 557 was orally administered to 37 female baboons 3 or 6 h after the mating period, only one pregnancy occurred in a total of 60 cycles investigated (controls: 11 pregnancies in 12 cycles investigated). The results are discussed in view of the development of an interceptive method based on STS 557.     

Effects of STS-557 and 20 Aet-1 on sperm functions and serum level of testosterone in bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata).

Treatment of adult male bonnet monkeys with STS-557 (17 alpha-cyanomethyl 17 beta-hydroxy estra-4, 9(10)-dien-3-one; 12 mg/monkey daily for 15 weeks; i.m.) reduced the sperm count from the 9th week, leading close to azoospermia on the 2nd post-treatment week which persisted until the 10th post-treatment week and normalcy was restored on the 13th post-treatment week. The sperm motility was reduced from the 9th week of treatment to 8th post-treatment week. The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa (formation of swollen sperm head or pronuclei in zona-free hamster eggs) was abolished from the 8th week of treatment to the 7th post-treatment week. The serum level of testosterone was reduced from the 2nd to 12th week of treatment (data on subsequent weeks were not collected). When 20 Aet-1 (testosterone-trans-4-n butyl cyclohexyl carboxylate; 40 mg/monkey, single; i.m.) was administered on the first day of STS-557 treatment, the sperm count was reduced from the 10th week, with near azoospermia ensuing on the 13th week which continued until the 8th post-treatment week; recovery was observed on the 12th post-treatment week. The motility was low from the 8th week of treatment to 6th week after withdrawal of treatment. The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa was abolished from the 8th week to the 12th week of treatment (data on last week of treatment were not collected). The serum level of testosterone was maintained within normal range except on the 2nd, 6th and 12th week of treatment. 20 Aet-1 alone had no significant effect on these parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

电脑辐射对精液活性氧含量及精子质量影响

目的探讨电脑辐射对男性精液活性氧含量及精子质量的影响。方法 56例成年男性按照电脑使用情况分成2组:未使用电脑者为对照组,每天使用电脑>2 h者为暴露组;按照WHO标准方法对研究对象的精液常规参数、精液活性氧含量、精子顶体酶活性及精子去透明带穿卵率进行检测,并对2组的各项参数进行比较分析。结果 2组比较,电脑暴露组的精液活性氧[分别为(24.2±17.1)(、12.2±8.1)]含量升高,精子顶体酶活性[分别为(78.9±19.8)(、110.3±23.3)]和精子去透明带穿卵率[分别为(24.2±17.1)(、47.4±19.6)]降低,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);电脑暴露组与对照组的精液常规参数比较,pH、精液量、精子密度、精子活率、活力、活动率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但精子形态正常率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论电脑辐射可使精液活性氧含量增高,改变精子形态和受精功能。     

Semen Characteristics of Gossypol-Treated Langurs (Presbytis Entellus Entellus Dufresne)

Gossypol isolated from cottonseed was fed to sexually adult male langurs at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight per day for 90 days. Semen was collected every 2 wk, and the observations made on semen characteristics showed gossypol's detrimental effect. The gossypol administration caused a significant decline in percent sperm cells motility and a significant rise in abnormalities. The semen characteristics returned to normal levels during a 180-day recovery period following the discontinuation of gossypol treatment. A clear relationship exists between the inhibition of sperm cell motility and dose as well as duration of gossypol treatment. The testicular biopsies taken from two langurs after 90 days of gossypol treatment showed normal histoarchitecture at both the dose levels.