A sertoli cell-specific knockout of connexin43 prevents initiation of spermatogenesis

The predominant testicular gap junctional protein connexin43 (cx43) is located between neighboring Sertoli cells (SCs) and between SCs and germ cells. It is assumed to be involved in testicular development, cell differentiation, initiation, and maintenance of spermatogenesis with alterations of its expression being correlated with various testicular disorders. Because total disruption of the cx43 gene leads to perinatal death, we generated a conditional cx43 knockout (KO) mouse using the Cre/loxP recombination system, which lacks the cx43 gene solely in SCs (SCCx43KO), to evaluate the SC-specific functions of cx43 on spermatogenesis in vivo. Adult SCCx43KO(-/-) mice showed normal testis descent and development of the urogenital tract, but testis size and weight were drastically lower compared with heterozygous and wild-type littermates. Histological analysis and quantitation of mRNA expression of germ cell-specific marker genes revealed a significant reduction in the number of spermatogonia but increased SC numbers/tubule with only a few tubules left showing normal spermatogenesis. Thus, SC-specific deletion of cx43 mostly resulted in an arrest of spermatogenesis at the level of spermatogonia or SC-only syndrome and in intratubular SC clusters. Our data demonstrate for the first time that cx43 expression in SCs is an absolute requirement for normal testicular development and spermatogenesis.     

Is auditory evoked potential augmenting/reducing affected by acute tryptophan depletion?

Several lines of evidence suggest that the auditory evoked potential (AEP) augmenting/reducing slope may serve as a biological marker of central serotonergic activity. According to Hegerl and Juckel (Biol. Psychiatry, 33, 1993, 173), reduced serotonergic activity is hypothesized to increase the slope of the AEP amplitude stimulus intensity function (ASF-slope). Hints for this hypothesis were investigated by employing the acute tryptophan depletion paradigm in 18 healthy females. A within-subject, placebo controlled double-blind cross over design was used for that purpose. Subjects ingested both a 50 g amino-acid drink with (placebo condition) and without tryptophan (depletion condition). With respect to the N1/P2-slope, test-retest reliability of a 1 week interval ranged between r=0.56 and 0.58 for the pre-ingestion baseline recording sessions. Affect was not altered by tryptophan depletion and not related to the ASF-slope. The comparison between placebo and depletion conditions did not reveal significant alterations of the ASF-slope, neither after 5 nor 6 h post-ingestion. Thus, the results do not support the assumption of the ASF-slope reflecting central serotonergic function.     

Clinical characteristics indicating adenomyosis at the time of hysterectomy: a retrospective study in 291 patients

Purpose

To better characterize adenomyosis as a disease entity.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of women undergoing hysterectomy with a histologic diagnosis of adenomyosis, adenomyosis and leiomyomas, and leiomyomas alone.

Results

The study included 291 women: 38 with adenomyosis alone, 56 with adenomyosis and leiomyomas, and 197 with leiomyomas alone. In univariate analysis, women with adenomyosis were younger (p?=?0.018) and had lower uterine weights (p?p?=?0.008). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, a lower uterine weight (OR 0.99, CI 95% 0.99–1.0), pelvic pain (OR 4.8, CI 95% 1.5–15.2), a history of smoking (OR 2.6, CI 95% 1.1–6.5) and at least one delivery (OR 4.3, CI 95% 1.5–12.3) were associated with a greater likelihood of having adenomyosis but not leiomyomas alone.

Conclusions

Women undergoing hysterectomy with adenomyosis alone have different clinical characteristics from women with adenomyosis and leiomyomas and from those with only leiomyomas.     

Patients undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer have similar live birth rates in spontaneous and artificial cycles

Purpose

To evaluate the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) when freezing takes place at the pronuclear stage, a retrospective analysis was performed comparing spontaneous and artificial cycles.

Methods

148 women received FET in a spontaneous cycle (Group A) and 55 women received FET in an artificial cycle (Group B) induced by administering estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P). Pregnancy rates, endometrial thickness and serum levels of E2, P and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured. Statistical analysis included the mean, the standard deviation, the Chi-squared test and the T-test.

Results

The clinical pregnancy rate was 34.5% for Group A and 21.8% for Group B (p = 0.084), with a live birth rate of 20.9% and 12.7% respectively (p = 0.15). There was no difference in endometrial thickness or the P levels, while LH and E2 levels were significantly higher in group B (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Our retrospective study shows a trend towards higher pregnancy rates and live birth rates with the administration of FET during a spontaneous cycle compared to FET during an artificial cycle. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this trend.