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.     

THYROID HORMONES: THEIR ROLE IN TESTICULAR STEROIDOGENESIS

Thyroid hormones are important for growth and development of many tissues. Altered thyroid hormone status causes testicular abnormalities. For instance, juvenile hypothyroidism/neonatal transient hypothyroidism induces macroorchidism, increases testicular cell number (Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells) and daily sperm production. Triiodothyronine (T3) receptors have been identified in sperm, developing germ cells, Sertoli, Leydig, and peritubular cells. T3 stimulates Sertoli cell lactate secretion as well as mRNA expression of inhibin- &#102, androgen receptor, IGF-I, and IGFBP-4. It also inhibits Sertoli cell mRNA expression of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), aromatase, estradiol receptor, and androgen binding protein (ABP) and ABP secretion. T3 directly increases Leydig cell LH receptor numbers and mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. It stimulates basal and LH-induced secretion of progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol by Leydig cells. Steroidogenic factor-1 acts as a mediator for T3-induced Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Although the role of T3 on sperm, germ, and peritubular cells has not yet been completely studied, it is clear that T3 directly regulates Sertoli and Leydig cell functions. Further studies are required to elucidate the direct effect of T3 on sperm, germ, and peritubular cells.     

TESTICULAR PERITUBULAR MYOID CELLS ARE A TARGET FOR ADRENOMEDULLIN

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a recently cloned vasorelaxing peptide that belongs to the calcitonin generelated peptide family. AM inhibits the contraction of several types of smooth muscle cells and is present in the testis as well as in many other organs.The authors investigated whether testicular peritubular myoid cells (PMC) possess specific receptors for AM. Binding of AM to PMC was saturable in a time-dependent manner and ¹²⁵I-AM binding was effectively displaced by cold AM. The study documents that testicular peritubular myoid cells are a target for adrenomedullin and suggests a role for this peptide in the paracrine regulation of the testis.     

急性闭角型青光眼患者角膜内皮细胞形态学研究

目的：探讨急性闭角型青光眼(acute angle-closure glaucoma,AACG)患者角膜内皮细胞形态计量学变化,并分析影响角膜内皮细胞形态改变的相关因素。方法：选择单眼发病AACG患者27例54只眼,根据病情分为两组,以发作眼（27只眼）为实验组,未发作眼（27只眼）为对照组。将实验组按发作时最高眼压分为A1组(＜60mmHg)、B1组(≥60mmHg);按病程分为A2组（＜7d）与B2组（≥7d）。所有患者均应用非接触型角膜内皮显微镜观察和测量角膜内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞的百分数、平均细胞面积等各项指标。对各组角膜内皮细胞各项测量指标行统计学分析。结果：实验组与对照组相比,实验组内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞的百分数均显著减小（P＜0.01）,而平均细胞面积等指标显著增大（P＜0.01）。A1组与B1组、A2组与B2组相比内皮细胞密度、平均细胞面积等指标差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：AACG患者发作眼角膜内皮细胞密度明显下降,细胞多形性改变增加。角膜内皮细胞形态计量学改变与病程和眼压有显著相关。     

金银花中抗紫外线照射诱导的细胞凋亡作用的活性成分

目的：研究金银花中抗紫外线照射诱导的细胞凋亡作用的活性成分。方法：以体外活性筛选为活性追踪体系，采用硅胶、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱法和重结晶等进行化学成分分离，通过化合物的理化性质和谱学数据确定化合物的结构。结果：从金银花活性部位中分离鉴定4个化合物，分别为5-O-咖啡酰基奎尼酸丁酯（1）、4-O-咖啡酰基奎尼酸（2）、绿原酸（3）和芦丁（4），其中化合物2和3具有较强的抗紫外线照射诱导细胞凋亡的作用。     

介入放射工作人员血液指标调查分析

目的 了解介入放射工作人员健康状况,及时发现健康损害,防止职业性放射性疾病的发生和发展。方法 选择山东省5所医院的介入放射工作人员156名为介入组,介入组根据工龄分为 ≤ 10、10~20、≥ 20年3个组,选择非放射工作人员134名为对照组,比较对照组和介入组及不同工龄组外周血淋巴细胞染色体畸变率、抗氧化功能和外周血细胞检测结果。结果 介入组染色体畸变率高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;不同工龄组染色体畸变率随工龄的增加逐渐升高,且差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。介入组SOD活性和GSH活性均低于对照组,且差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）,MDA含量高于对照组,但差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;不同工龄组SOD活性、GSH活性和MDA含量差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。介入组白细胞异常检出率和血红蛋白异常检出率均高于对照组,且差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;不同工龄组白细胞异常检出率随工龄的增加逐渐升高,且差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。结论 低剂量电离辐射对介入放射工作人员的血液指标产生影响,应加强介入放射的辐射防护工作,定期进行职业健康检查。     

Exogenous IL-15 in Combination With IL-15Rα Rescues Natural Killer Cells From Apoptosis Induced by Chronic Alcohol Consumption

Background:  Chronic alcohol consumption reduces the percentage and number of peripheral natural killer (NK) cells in mice and in humans. The underlying mechanism for these changes is only partly known. We recently found that chronic alcohol consumption inhibits NK cell release from the bone marrow (BM) and that this is associated with a decrease in splenic NK cells. The number of peripheral NK cells is tightly controlled by homeostatic proliferation. It is not known whether this mechanism is initiated in response to the reduction in splenic NK cells, or if so, why the steady state levels of NK cells are not restored.
Methods:  To examine this mechanism, female C57BL/6 mice were given 20% w/v alcohol in the drinking water for 3 months. NK cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined before and after treatment with IL-15 alone or combined with its alpha receptor.
Results:  Chronic alcohol consumption invoked homeostatic proliferation of splenic NK cells in an attempt to return NK cells to normal levels; however, this did not happen due to enhanced apoptosis of NK cells relative to proliferation. Chronic alcohol consumption decreased IL-15 producing cells in the spleen but not in the BM. The numbers of NK cells in the alcohol-consuming mice returned to normal levels in the spleen and were higher than normal in the BM after 2 daily injections of IL-15; however, the enhanced rate of apoptosis due to alcohol consumption was not decreased in the spleen or BM. Combined IL-15 and IL-15Rα treatment decreased apoptosis of NK cells from alcohol-consuming mice to levels similar to untreated water-drinking mice and greatly increased the percentage and number of NK cells in both the spleen and BM.
Conclusion:  Chronic alcohol consumption causes a self-unrecoverable loss of NK cells in the spleen by compromising NK cell release from the BM and enhancing splenic NK cell apoptosis that can be reversed with IL-15/IL-15Rα treatment.     

Increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of fructose-fed rats

BackgroundMeasuring of oxidative stress in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a suitable model of dietary induced systemic oxidative stress. Thus, we aimed to evaluate whether a chronic high fructose intake could induce oxidative damage in peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells of rats.MethodsAnimals were randomly assigned to the following groups: Control group (standard rat chow and tap water n = 8), and Fructose group (standard rat chow and a 10% fructose solution in the drinking water n = 8). Reactive oxygen species and cytokines were measure using flow cytometry in peripheral blood and bone-marrow mononuclear cells. Apoptotic cell death and the advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were also determined.ResultsWe observed a significant increase in ROS production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of fructose group as compared to control rats. Apoptosis and the AOPP were higher in those animals underwent high fructose intake. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-12 were also increased after 12 weeks of high fructose intake.ConclusionWe concluded that fructose intake leads to systemic oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory condition which affect peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bone-marrow mononuclear cells viability.     

Sympathetic Input to Multiple Cell Types in Mouse and Human Colon Produces Region-Specific Responses

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Xanthogranulomatous Appendicitis - An Incidental Finding of Localized Pathology

The clinical, histopathological, and electron microscopic features of an unusual case of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis are reported. The patient, a 37-year-old female, presented with typical signs of acute appendicitis and the appendix appeared slightly dilated at laparatomy. The histopathological sections showed numerous xanthoma cells mixed with inspissated fecaliths. Electron microscopy disclosed the presence of xanthoma cells filled with electron-lucent lipid droplets of variable size. The ultrastructural characteristics of these cells enabled the distinction of two types of lipid-laden histiocytes, in relationship to the size of the lipid droplets. Since the lipid droplets were seen also in cells other than histiocytes, it appears that these changes are secondary to a common mechanism,comprising factors such as obstruction, hemorrhage, inflammation,and local hypoxia.