Sperm Antibody Testing in Infertile Men

Six hundred male patients were examined for circulating spermagglutinating antibodies by the Kibrick sperm-agglutination test and 20% demonstrated autoantibodies. The high incidence of positive findings may be explained by the select population studied. Of 80 men tested who demonstrated more than 10% agglutination in their semen, but were otherwise normospermic, 41% demonstrated positive titers by the Kibrick method. Of 300 men examined for circulating sperm-immobilizing antibodies by the Isojima sperm-immobilizing test, 6% had autoantibodies. This high incidence of positive findings demonstrates the need for these tests in males who otherwise appear normospermic or demonstrate an unexplained infertility.     

Optimum Measurement Time for Human Sperm Velocity Determination

The optimal time-duration required by spermatozoa to travel distances from which their average velocity can be accurately determined was investigated. For this purpose, 180 motile spermatozoa, from 12 seminal specimens, were photographed while being illuminated by six light pulses, given at 1-sec intervals. From these photographs, distances traveled by each spermatozoon were measured over identical time periods. Most individual spermatozoa showed slight deviation of their velocity when measured sequentially for 5 sec. Nevertheless, when mean sperm velocity of grouped spermatozoa were determined from 1- or 5-sec measurement time, the results were almost identical. This was attributed to a pure statistical law, that is, the mean deviation decreases as the number of spermatozoa in the sample increases. It was concluded that the sperm velocity of a certain specimen can be determined properly using a 1-sec measurement time. An extended period of time does not seem to contribute to the accuracy of sperm velocity determination.     

Copper: a biphasic regulator of caprine sperm forward progression

Abstract

Copper is essential for spermatogenesis and its presence has been demonstrated in male and female reproductive fluids in several mammalian species. However, little is known about the physiological significance of this trace element in the regulation of forward progression of mammalian sperm cells which is essential for sperm fertility potential in vivo. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the physiological role of the bivalent copper ion (Cu²⁺) on mammalian sperm forward motility using a chemically-defined medium and caprine cauda epididymal sperm model. Sperm forward motility was significantly enhanced by Cu²⁺ in a dose-dependent manner; maximal activation (approx 20%) was noted at the 5?µM level of the metal. Above 10?µM Cu²⁺ sperm motility decreased, showing that Cu²⁺ exerts a biphasic regulation on sperm motility. These findings have been confirmed using a spectrophotometric motility assay, an objective method of motility analysis. At lower concentrations (up to 5?µM), copper enhanced sperm membrane lipid peroxidation as well as the level of intra-sperm cyclic adenosine mono phosphate (c-AMP), but at a higher level it caused marked inhibition of both of the biochemical parameters. The observed correlation of Cu²⁺-dependent biphasic modulation of sperm membrane lipid peroxidation and intrasperm c-AMP with sperm forward motility is consistent with the view that Cu²⁺ regulation of sperm motility is mediated by membrane lipid peroxidation, which in turn modulates the level of intra-sperm c-AMP, a well-known activator of sperm motility.     

Announcements

Rotating head-to-head agglutinates of human spermatozoa were always observed to turn counterclockwise. The phenomenon seems to suggest a unidirectional rotatory component in the tail movement that may be related to the substructure of the axoneme.     

Restoration of myoelectrical propagation across a jejunal transection using microsurgical anastomosis

The aim of this study was to determine whether microsurgical anastomosis can restore propagation of jejunal pacesetter potentials (PPs) across a site of canine jejunal transection and preserve motility and transit in bowel distal to the transection. A complete jejunal transection with exact microsurgical anastomosis was performed in five dogs, while five dogs with intact jejunum and five dogs with complete transection and end-to-end conventional macrosurgical anastomosis were used as controls. Long-term recording electrodes and intraluminal, open-tipped pressure catheters were implanted in all dogs. The mean frequency of PPs decreased distal to the transection in both groups of transected dogs. However, aborad propagation of PPs across the anastomosis occurred episodically by 3 months in each dog that had a microsurgical anastomosis, but never occurred in any dog with a conventional macroanastomosis. Moreover, the motility and transit in bowel distal to the transection were unaltered in the dogs with a microsurgical anastomosis, whereas they decreased in the dogs with a macroanastomosis. The conclusion was that microsurgical anastomosis of transected canine jejunum restored episodic propagation of PPs across the anastomosis, and preserved motility and maintained transit in bowel distal to the anastomosis. The conventional macroanastomosis did none of these. Supported by the Mayo Foundation and the Nigrn Grant. Presented in part at the Thirty-Seventh Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, May 19–22, 1996, San Francisco, Calif.     

人精子顶体反应的检测及其与穿卵试验的相关性

选择正常生育男子（生育组）、输精管结扎再吻合（吻合组）、不育症患者（不育组）各２５例的精液进行人精子顶体蛋白酶及酸性磷酸酶测定,顶体组织化学三色染色和人精子穿透去透明带金黄仓鼠卵试验,比较不同生育条件下精子功能和生育能力的相关性。结果显示,精子获能后顶体反应率明显高于获能前（Ｐ＜０．０１）。生育组顶体反应率和穿透试验高于吻合组和不育组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果表明,精子穿卵试验结合精子顶体反应测定可作为客观评价人类精子受精能力的依据     

阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外对精子活力的影响

目的 :研究阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外对人精子活力的影响。　方法 :阴道毛滴虫体外培养 ,除去虫体 ,留取培养液 ,稀释成三个浓度 ;将 10例正常生育男性的优化精子分为等体积的 4份 ,组成以下 4组 :A组加入未培养滴虫的空白培养液 ,B ,C ,D组依次加入前述浓度梯度的培养液 (1.2× 10 9/L、6× 10 8/L、1.2× 10 8/L) ,分别于 30s、1、2、4和 6h时采用计算机辅助精子分析系统 (CASA)分析精子运动参数。　结果 :阴道毛滴虫浓度在 6× 10 8/L以上时 ,精子的活率和活力与对照组相比都显著降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,并呈浓度依赖性和时间依赖性。　结论 :阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外能抑制精子活力 ,可能是造成不孕不育的原因之一。     

弗司扣林对人精子运动功能的影响

目的 通过研究弗司扣林(forskolin)对体外人精子的运动功能有无影响，了解环磷酸腺苷／蛋白激酶A(cAMP／PKA)信号传导途径是否参与人精子运动功能的调节。方法 10例健康成年男性手淫获得新鲜精液，经上游优化处理后与不同浓度的forskolin一起孵育20、30、60min后，采用计算机辅助的精子分析系统(CASA)检测精子的各项运动参数，并进行对比分析。结果 forskolin在体外能显著提高人精于的活率及前向性运动百分率，而对精子的形态及直线速度(VSL)和曲线速度(VCL)无明显影响。结论 forskolin在体外能提高人精子的运动功能，此结果为证实cAMP/PKA信号传导通道参与调节人精子运动功能提供了一定的实验依据。     

胆囊结石患者CCK受体mRNA测定的临床意义

目的:探讨胆囊结石患者缩胆囊素(CCK)受体基因表达及其与胆囊排空功能的关系.方法:术前用B超测定100例胆囊结石患者和50例胃癌无胆囊结石患者的胆囊排空功能.胆囊壁CCK受体mRNA表达的测定用RT-PCR法.结果:胆囊结石组CCK受体mRNA表达(0.59±0.11)明显低于对照组(0.91±0.06)(P<0.01),该基因表达的降低与胆囊结石胆囊排空功能损害有关.胆囊结石患者的胆囊平滑肌细胞膜CCK受体mRNA表达与胆囊残余指数(RV/FV×100%)呈负相关(Y=0.61-0.45X,r=-0.65,P<0.01).结论:胆囊结石患者CCK受体基因表达下调与胆囊排空功能的损害有关.     

A pilot study using total colonic manometry in the surgical evaluation of pediatric functional colonic obstruction

Background/purpose

Total colonic manometry (TCM) can directly measure intraluminal pressures and contractile function of the entire colon. The utility of TCM to guide the surgical management of functional colonic obstruction has not been reported.

Methods

Total colonic manometry was performed on all patients referred for surgical evaluation of refractory functional colonic obstruction. Manometric tracings were obtained while fasting, after feeding, and after pharmacologic stimulation.

Results

Nine patients were referred for refractory colonic obstruction. The mean age was 4.8 years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 29 months. Two patients had functional obstruction after repair of Hirschsprung’s disease, and 7 patients had idiopathic functional obstruction. In the idiopathic group, 4 distinct motility patterns were identified: (1) normal colonic motility, (2) dysmotility with massive distension, (3) persistent segmental dysmotility, and (4) global neuropathy/myopathy. Both Hirschsprung’s patients showed globally abnormal motility. Surgical management was guided by TCM results. There was significant improvement in bowel function and weight gain after manometry-guided intervention. An unnecessary laparotomy was avoided in 2 patients.

Conclusions

TCM can be valuable in deciding the need for and timing of diversion, the extent of resection required, and the suitability of the patient for restoring bowel continuity in refractory functional obstruction.