The fertilizing ability of human epididymal sperm

Purpose: Membrane cofactor protein (MCP), CD46, whose primary function is to protect host cells from homologous complement, has been presumed to serve as a sperm adhesion molecule for oocytes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the properties of MCP expressed on epididymal sperm and their fertilizing ability in a recently developed strategy for assisted reproduction. Methods: We collected ejaculated sperm from normal subjects and epididymal sperm from vasectomized subjects and patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens. Western blotting and cofactor activity assay were performed to investigated the structural and functional properties of MCP. Results: Epididymal spermatozoa which showed a reduced fertilizing ability tended to react poorly with antibodies against MCP and also showed low cofactor activity, indicating weak complement regulatory activity compared to that of ejaculated spermatozoa. Conclusions: MCP is sufficiently expressed in ejaculated sperm in men with a normally developed epididymis but is diminished in epididymal sperm from men with congenital or acquired obstruction of the vas deferens.     

Cytomorphologic, cytometric and histomorphologic observations after laser therapy for cervical lesions.

To analyze the healing process after laser therapy for cervical lesions, the clinical, cytologic, histologic and colposcopic features in 109 cases were studied chronologically. The healing process of the cervical epithelium usually began from both the squamous and columnar epithelial borders, starting around the 10th day after laser therapy; the process covered the whole tissue defect with multilayered epithelium within seven weeks. Inflammatory changes also usually abated within that time. Cytomorphologically, laser therapy resulted in the occurrence of (mostly degenerated) "fiber-type" and orangeophilic cells in smears taken during the first two weeks after treatment. Tissue repair cells were seen in smears collected from the first posttherapy day through the fourth week after laser therapy. Using computer-assisted image cytometry, the reparative cells in samples taken shortly after treatment (roughly, the first to fifth days) exhibited more hyperchromatic (3-4N) nuclei than did those in later samples; however, the mean DNA content of the early reparative cells was generally concentrated around that of the 2N reference cells. These findings suggest that follow-up, including cytologic and colposcopic examination, for the early detection of residual or recurrent lesions should start in the eighth week and continue periodically for at least one year.     

Genetic Aspects of Male Infertility

Abstract Genetic factors affecting male infertility are reviewed. Male infertility is classified under four general causes: spermatogenic disorder, obstruction of the seminal tract, inflammation, sexual disorders. Idiopathic spermatogenic disorder accounts for more than 50% of all of them. The cause of spermatogenic disorder is not yet identified. In recent years it has become obvious that some of the crucial genes expressed during male germ cell differentiation exist on the long arm of Y chromosome (Yq). Identification of a gene specifically involved in sperm production could provide a more rational basis for the treatment of male infertility. In this paper I review the history of azoospermia factor (AZF), which is involved in sperm production, and describe our research on a novel AZF candidate. In 1993 Ma and coworkers isolated an AZF candidate named YRRM; and in 1995 Reijo and coworkers reported another AZF candidate known as DAZ. The existence of additional genes on Yq is strongly suspected. We are now seeking a novel AZF candidate using positional cloning and an exon trapping method. The candidate should be included in the YAC yOX21 covering microdeleted portion of Yq found by analyzing DNA obtained from many infertile men. Several unknown sequences were identified by the analysis. Ongoing studies on AZF will prove useful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. E-pub: 14 August 2000     

Gender difference of clinical features in Japanese patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis]

Gender difference of alcohol intake and laboratory data was investigated in 165 Japanese patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Mean age of first drinking and habitual drinking were higher in female. Duration of drinking was shorter in female. Although cumulative alcohol intake was larger in male, mean daily alcohol intake did not differ in both gender. Moreover, daily alcohol intake adjusted to body weight was significantly larger in female. Body mass index, serum levels of total protein, albumin and cholinesterase were significantly decreased in female. Platelet counts on admission did not differ in both gender. However, it was significantly increased in female after one month abstinence. C reactive protein, ammonia and serum levels of total bilirubin were significantly higher in female as compared to male. In conclusion, female alcoholics seems to progress to liver cirrhosis earlier because of high daily alcohol intake adjusted to body weight, poor nutritional condition and inflammation caused by endotoxin.     

Effect of warm ischemia time and organ perfusion technique on liver microvascular preservation in a non-heart-beating rat model

BACKGROUND: Current organ shortage has led to a reconsideration of non-heart-beating cadaveric donation. METHODS: We assessed the effectivity of dual, i.e., arterial and portal-venous versus exclusive, arterial gravity perfusion for procurement of rat livers after 30 min and 60 min of cardiac arrest, analyzing the rate and homogeneity of microvascular perfusion by in situ fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: After 30 min of cardiac arrest, a nearly 100% recovery of acinar perfusion with a sinusoidal density not significantly different from that of normal, nonischemic livers was achieved by dual gravity perfusion. Prolongation of cardiac arrest to 60 min caused an almost 50% deficit of acinar and sinusoidal perfusion (P<0.05) with a concomitant 2-3-fold increase of heterogeneity of hepatic microperfusion. Regardless of the warm ischemic time period, dually perfused livers exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher rates of both acinar and sinusoidal perfusion with increased homogeneity of microcirculation when compared with exclusive arterial perfusion. CONCLUSION: These data underline the need and benefit of dual perfusion as well as the limitation of warm ischemic tolerance to 30 min for safe liver procurement of non-heart-beating donors.     

Diagnosis of chest wall invasion by lung cancer: useful criteria for exclusion of the possibility of chest wall invasion with MR imaging

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of thin-section CT, conventional static MR imaging (conventional MRI), and breathing dynamic echo planar magnetic resonance imaging (BDEPI) in evaluating lung cancer invasion to the chest wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thin-section CT, conventional MRI, and BDEPI were performed preoperatively in 20 patients suspected of having primary lung cancers adjacent to the chest wall on conventional CT. The results of imaging findings were compared with those of surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: All patients were confirmed to have no chest wall invasion after surgery. By thin-section CT, 10 of 20 patients were correctly diagnosed as having no chest wall invasion (50% specificity). Two of the 20 patients were incorrectly diagnosed as having chest wall invasion by conventional MRI and BDEPI (90% specificity). CONCLUSION: When chest wall invasion is suspected on CT scans, static and breathing dynamic MRI are recommended to avoid false positive interpretations.     

Atrophy of the corpus callosum associated with a decrease in cortical benzodiazepine receptor in large cerebral arterial occlusive diseases

OBJECTIVES: It remains controversial whether selective neuronal ischaemic change develops in patients with occlusion of the large cerebral arteries. Previous studies have shown atrophy of the corpus callosum with reduced cortical oxygen metabolism in large cerebral arterial occlusive diseases, which might be indirect evidence of loss of the neurons in cortical layer 3. Recent studies of patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular diseases have demonstrated reduced central benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) binding in the normal appearing cortical areas, which might be more direct evidence of changes of the neurons. Although pathophysiology of the decreased BZR is unclear, a decrease in the cortical BZR binding with neuronal loss would cause atrophy of the corpus callosum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether atrophy of the corpus callosum is associated with a decrease in cortical BZR binding in large cerebral arterial occlusive diseases. METHODS: Seven patients with occlusive diseases of the middle cerebral or internal carotid artery and only minor subcortical infarctions were studied. Single photon emission tomographic images of (123)I labelled iomazenil (IMZ) obtained 180 minutes after injection were analysed for BZR binding. The midsagittal corpus callosum area/skull area ratio (on T1 weighted magnetic resonance images) was compared with the cerebral IMZ uptake/cerebellar IMZ uptake ratio. RESULTS: Compared with 23 age and sex matched control subjects, the patients had significantly decreased callosal area/skull area ratio. The degree of corpus callosum atrophy was significantly and strongly (rho=0.99, p<0.02) correlated with that of the decreases in the mean cerebral cortical IMZ uptake ratio. CONCLUSION: Corpus callosum atrophy may occur in association with a decrease in cortical BZR binding in large cerebral arterial occlusive diseases. Corpus callosum atrophy with decreased cortical BZR binding might reflect cortical neuronal damage in large cerebral arterial occlusive diseases.     

Effects of portal-systemic shunt following 90% partial hepatectomy in rats

We studied the effects of portal-systemic shunt after massive hepatectomy. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: one group underwent laparotomy alone (C group) and in the other group a portal-systemic shunt was placed through laparotomy (S group). After 90% hepatectomy was performed, 3-day and 1-week survival rates and histopathology were examined, and hepatic hemodynamics during the early stage after hepatectomy were measured using dye-containing microspheres. The 3-day survival rate in the S group was significantly higher, and the 1-week survival rate was slightly higher, than those in C group. Sinusoidal dilation 7 days after hepatectomy in the S group was significantly milder than that in the C group. Fatty degeneration of hepatocytes in the S group was significantly milder than that in the C group. With respect to hepatic hemodynamics during the early stage after hepatectomy, the rate of shunt (26.3%) in the S group was significantly higher than that (9.5%) in the C group. Portal pressure, total hepatic blood flow, and total hepatic blood flow per gram of liver in the S group were significantly lower than those in the C group. These results suggest that approximately 26% shunt after 90% hepatectomy in rats increases the early survival rate and improves histological changes in surviving rats 7 days after resection.