A combination of interleukin-6 and its soluble receptor impairs sperm motility: implications in infertility associated with endometriosis

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that the level of interleukin (IL)-6 is increased in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) on in vitro sperm motility. METHODS: Sperm (n = 20) were cultured with IL-6 or sIL-6R, or with a combination of both. After 24 h cultures, sperm motility was evaluated using a computer-assisted semen analysis system. Gene and protein expressions of IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and glycoprotein 130 (gp130) were examined in sperm by RT-PCR analysis and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Addition of IL-6 or sIL-6R individually to the culture media had no affect on sperm motion. However, adding a combination of IL-6 and sIL-6R dose-dependently reduced the percentage of motile and rapidly moving sperm. Adding anti-IL-6R antibody abolished these adverse effects. Sperm expressed the gp130 gene and protein, but not IL-6 or IL-6R. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of IL-6 and sIL-6R may be associated with gp130 expressed in the sperm and reduce sperm motility. IL-6 and sIL-6R may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis-associated infertility.     

Protective role of superoxide dismutase in human sperm motility: superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxide in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa.

The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a highly specific scavenging enzyme for superoxide anion radicals (O2-), and lipid peroxide produced by oxygen free radicals were measured in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Seminal plasma contained 366.8 +/- 20.9 U/ml (mean +/- SE) of SOD activity. SOD activity in human spermatozoa showed a significant correlation to the number of motile spermatozoa, while the activity in seminal plasma did not relate to the sperm concentration or motility. The lipid peroxide concentration in seminal plasma was 6.22 +/- 0.46 nmol/ml and had no significant relationship to sperm concentration or motility. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in spermatozoa was significantly related to the number of immotile spermatozoa. A decrease in the motility of spermatozoa incubated in medium without seminal plasma was observed after 120 min, while the MDA concentration of the spermatozoa increased. Addition of exogenous SOD (400 U/ml) to the sperm suspension significantly decreased this loss of motility and the increase of the MDA concentration. These data suggest a significant role for SOD in sperm motility. It seems that lipid peroxidation of human spermatozoa may cause loss of motility and that SOD may inhibit this lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that SOD may have a possible clinical application in the use of spermatozoa for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or artificial insemination.     

Fibrinolytic system of the armadillo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetophractus villosus</Emphasis> (Xenarthra,Dasypodidae)

The fibrinolytic mechanism in the armadillo Chaetophractus villosus (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Dasypodidae) quite unknown until now was studied. Results were compared with those corresponding to healthy adult human beings. Whole blood lysis time and diluted blood lysis time were not detectable in armadillos. Euglobulin clot lysis time and plasminogen activity (Plg) were lower than in healthy humans. We established the presence of the fibrinolytic system in Ch. villosus through the measurement of fibrin fibrinogen degradation products. The activity of the plasminogen activator inhibitor was two to four times greater than in healthy humans. The activity of the alpha 2 anti-plasmin (α2AP) was similar and displaced toward lower values. The Plg/α2AP relation was lower. The results obtained suggest that Ch. villosus has a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic profile. Our findings are not only the first contribution to elucidate the physiology of the fibrinolytic system in Xenarthra but also contribute to develop an animal model for studies in haemostasis and thrombosis.     

胃动素对血管灌流大鼠离体胃运动的作用

通过血管灌流大鼠离体胃,探讨胃动素对胃运动的影响。结果表明:(1)胃动素可以明显地兴奋胃窦自发的胃运动;(2)胃动素抗血清可以完全消除胃动素兴奋胃窦运动的作用;(3)阿托品可以阻断胃动素兴奋胃窦运动的作用。上述结果提示,胃动素可特异性兴奋血管灌流大鼠胃窦收缩运动,该作用通过壁内胆碱能神经介导。     

Biological properties and gene expression associated with metastatic potential of human osteosarcoma

Lung metastasis has a great influence on the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. We previously established two high-metastatic sublines, M112 and M132, from the HuO9 human osteosarcoma cell line by in vivo selection. In this study, we newly isolated a high-metastatic subline, H3, and three low-metastatic sublines, L6, L12 and L13, from HuO9 by the dilution plating method. Three high-metastatic sublines produced more than 200 metastatic nodules in the lung, while three low-metastatic sublines produced no or few nodules after injection of 2 × 10⁶ cells into the tail vein of nude mice. There were significant differences in the motility and invasiveness between high- and low-metastatic sublines, whereas the growth rates in vitro and the tumorigenicity in vivo showed no correlation with their metastatic abilities. Early adherence to culture plates was significantly lower in two of three low-metastatic sublines, which occupied smaller surface areas on the culture plates than other sublines did. Comparison of the expression of 637 cancer-related genes by cDNA microarray revealed that seven genes were differentially expressed between high- and low-metastatic sublines. Among them, five genes (AXL, TGFA, COLL7A1, WNT5A, and MKK6) were associated with adherence, motility, and/or invasiveness. These results suggest that the differences in motility/invasiveness and adhesive abilities are key determinants of lung metastasis in osteosarcoma. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于fMRI加权约束的FOCUSS迭代脑电源定位方法及其初步应用

脑电(Electroencephalography, EEG)和功能磁共振(Functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI)技术的结合,可以实现两者优势的互补,获得更加合理的源定位结果.本文报道的是一种将fMRI先验信息结合到脑电源定位中的新方法.在该方法中,先利用SPM方法计算获得fMRI的统计映射参数,然后将基于计算获得的统计参数构造的权矩阵结合到FOCUSS的迭代过程中,对脑电的反演提供具有fMRI先验空间位置信息的约束,提高脑电的源空间定位精度,从而获得更加合理的定位结果.通过对一形状知觉实验fMRI和脑电数据的结合定位分析,结果初步证实了改进方法能获得和生理更加一致的结果.     

鞭毛抗原与细菌的群集运动

群集运动是指在培养基表面某些运动细菌依赖鞭毛的群体迁移行为,涉及繁殖体细胞分化成群集细胞,发生形态、代谢以及蛋白表达等显著变化。菌细胞密度、表面接触和生理学信号均可成为群集运动的刺激因素。群集运动的关键是鞭毛的生物合成,flhDC鞭毛操纵子是支配分化和迁移的细菌调控网络的焦点。     

羊精子在成熟和获能过程中表面的凝集素标记变化

用辣根过氧化物酶结合的麦芽凝集素和大豆凝集素，对绵羊睾丸和附睾内精子及体外获能精子细胞化学标记，麦芽凝集素在睾丸内精子的顶体区有强标记，在附睾头前段精子顶体区的标记减弱，但在附睾头后段精子顶体区的标记又增强，且尾部也出现弱标记，获能后部分精子的顶体后区出现弱至中等标记。大豆凝集素在睾丸内精子的顶体区有中等标记，在附睾体出现强标记，但获能后标记减至很弱，结果提示，麦芽凝集素记糖复合物可能与肥精有关。     

利用脉搏波特征参数连续测量血压的方法研究

通过研究血压与脉搏波特征参数的关系，提出了一个选择多个与血压相关的脉搏波特征参数,通过回归分析建立适合不同人的特征方程，进行血压的连续测量的新方法，为了验证测量结果的准确性；研制了张力计。实验结果表明：该方法具有较高的测量精度，可以应用于临床危重病人的血压监护和一般医学研究中，经过进一步地改进和完善后可应用于载人航天和日常动态环境。