Sperm morphological assessment based on strict criteria and in-vitro fertilization outcome.

One-hundred-and-twenty-three in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles were analysed in order to clarify the influence of strictly normal morphology (SNM) of spermatozoa on IVF outcome. SNM was defined using strict criteria according to Kruger with our modifications. The IVF cycles studied were divided into three groups: %SNM less than 12% (13 cycles), 12 less than 40% (68 cycles), greater than or equal to 40% (42 cycles). The cleavage rates per oocyte were higher in the groups with 12-40% and greater than or equal to 40% of %SNM than in the group with %SNM less than 12%. The embryo transfer rate per cycle increased with increasing %SNM. The overall pregnancy rate per cycle increased with increasing %SNM (7.7% in %SNM less than 12%, 22.1% in 12-40% of %SNM, and 40.5% in %SNM greater than or equal to 40%). The ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle also increased with increasing %SNM (7.7% in %SNM less than 12%, 14.7% in 12-40% of %SNM, and 31.0% in %SNM greater than or equal to 40%). The miscarriage rate was lower in %SNM greater than or equal to 40% (23.5%) than in 12-40% of %SNM (33.3%). It was suggested that %SNM is a good predictor of IVF outcome.     

猕猴输精管内注射高分子聚合物HFMC后对睾丸组织结构的影响

本实验选用具有生育力成年雄性猕猴７只，在直视下行双侧ＨＦＭＣ输精管内注射，每侧剂量分别为３０ｍｇ１只，６０ｍｇ和１００ｍｇ各３只；于注射后２．５年和３．５年分别处死动物，取睾丸组织进行光镜和电镜观察．结果发现：猕猴注射ＨＦＭＣ２．５年后，睾丸光镜大部分曲细精管生精上皮结构完整，排列整齐。仅见局部少数管腔生精上皮层数减少，上皮细胞轻度水样变性等病理改变。电镜下曲细精管内除支持细胞内脂褐素增多，轻度基底膜增厚和精母细胞内质网扩张外，各级生精细胞，支持细胞及细胞间连接复合体等超微结构未见明显异常。注射ＨＦＭＣ３．５年后猕猴的光镜、电镜结果与注射后２．５年结果相似，但局部改变较２．５年组轻。上述结果表明：猕猴输精管内注射一定剂量ＨＦＭＣ节育不会引起睾丸组织的严重病理改变。但是，由于注射ＨＦＭＣ后，ＨＦＭＣ释放Ｈ＋及其对输精管的暂时阻塞，改变了精子生存的内环境，使睾丸出现局部轻度病理改变，随着ＨＦＭＣ逐渐溶解排出，睾丸功能相继恢复正常，配对产仔。为ＨＦＭＣ应用提供了安全性依据。     

人胎儿睾丸发生过程中表皮生长因子与细胞增殖核抗原的表达

目的　观察表皮生长因子 (EGF)与细胞增殖核抗原 (PCNA)在人胎儿睾丸发生过程中的表达特征 ,探讨两者在睾丸发生中的作用。　方法　用SP免疫细胞化学技术检测了人胎儿 12～ 32周睾丸间质细胞、支持细胞、生殖细胞EGF、PCNA阳性细胞表达率。　结果　EGF在胎儿 12周龄睾丸组织未见表达 ,16～ 32周龄睾丸间质细胞呈阳性表达 ,16～ 2 0周为表达高峰 ,随着胎龄的增长呈逐渐下降趋势 (P <0 0 1) ;PCNA在胎儿睾丸间质细胞、支持细胞和生殖细胞均有不同程度表达 ,16～ 2 0周为表达高峰 ,随着胎龄的增长呈逐渐下降趋势 (P <0 0 1)。　结论　EGF与PCNA在人胎儿睾丸发育过程中有不同程度的表达 ,表明EGF与PCNA在睾丸发育过程中起着一定的作用     

跖肌腱移植的应用解剖

目的:为临床进行跖肌腱移植提供解剖学依据。方法:对68例(共120侧,其中男84侧,女36侧)防腐固定标本下肢进行跖肌腱移植的应用解剖及形态学测量。结果:跖肌腱长(30.59±2.49)cm,与下肢长度之比为0.38±0.02。根据外形特点跖肌腱可划分为上、中、下3段,宽度分别为(3.58±0.76)mm,(2.44±0.52)mm,(1.67±0.30)mm;厚度分别为(0.45±0.11)mm,(0.56±0.13)mm,(0.74±0.17)mm。跖肌腱终止方式分为A,B,C,D4型,构成比分别为55.00%,28.33%,13.33%和3.33%;跖肌腱止端横截面积为(11.52±7.45)mm2。结论:提供的跖肌腱解剖学数据,为临床跖肌腱取材提供了形态学依据。     

豚鼠耳蜗Hensen细胞的分离、活性鉴定及其胞内静态游离Ca~(2+)分布

使用酶消化法及机械分离法对 Hensen细胞进行分离 ,置于倒置显微镜下用碘化丙啶及钙敏荧光染料 Fluo-3进行细胞活性鉴定并在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下观察静息状态 Hensen细胞内的游离 Ca2 +的时空分布。结果证明 ,每个豚鼠耳蜗可以得到单离的 Hensen细胞 5～ 12个。细胞活性良好 ,可保持 5～ 6h。当细胞变性、坏死时可见一系列的形态学变化。对此得出几点判断 Hensen细胞活性的标准 :(1)细胞体呈卵圆形或椭圆形 ,大小可不一致 ;(2 )细胞膜完整 ,细胞边界清楚 ,折光现象明显 ;(3 )细胞浆清澈透明 ,无布朗运动 ,无溢出 ;(4 )细胞浆内的脂滴清晰可辨 ,折光现象明显 ;(5 )细胞无水肿 (即无气球样变 )。在静息状态下 ,Hensen细胞内的 Ca2 + 在细胞内分布不均匀 ,脂滴所在部位没有 Ca2 + 的分布。随时间延长 ,细胞内的 [Ca2 + ] i可小幅度振荡 ,但基本处于一种稳定状态。本工作为进一步对 Hensen细胞的其他特性进行研究打下了基础     

Morphology and Thermal Properties of MCPA6/ABS by in situ Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactam

Summary: In this work, blends of monomer casting polyamide 6 (MCPA6) and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) were successfully prepared by in situ polymerization via the application of ε‐caprolactam as a reactive solvent. The morphology and thermal properties of MCPA6/ABS were investigated by means of wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The domain sizes of the ABS phase in MCPA6/ABS blends were much finer than those in corresponding polyamide 6 (PA6)/ABS blends prepared by simple melt blending. With an increased amount of ABS in MCPA6, the melt enthalpy (ΔH_f), the rate of crystallization (T_c) and the degree of crystallinity (X_c(DSC)) of MCPA6 in MCPA6/ABS blends were all decreased. The degree of supercooling (ΔT_d) showed a contrary trend. However, the melting temperatures of these blends were almost unchanged. All the results could be attributed to in situ polymerization and the hydrolysis reaction of ABS that occurred during the polymerization process. Furthermore, WAXD results showed that only α‐form crystals existed in the MCPA6/ABS blends, despite the ABS content and heat treatment.

SEM micrograph of the fractured surface of an MCPA6/ABS blend with an ABS content of 20 wt.‐% (×10 000).     

Sperm pathology: a step beyond descriptive morphology. Origin, characterization and fertility potential of abnormal sperm phenotypes in infertile men

Sperm pathology is presented as the discipline of characterizing structural and functional deficiencies in abnormal spermatozoa. This concept complements that of sperm morphology mainly concerned with the appearance of spermatozoa. These two notions collaborate in providing correlations of prognostic value with sperm fertilizing capacity, explaining the mechanisms of sperm inefficiency, suggesting strategies to improve fertilization and opening a door to molecular genetic studies. Phenotypes of genetic origin involving sperm heads, flagella and the neck region are presented describing their clinical manifestations, sperm structure, cytochemistry and genetic background. When available, animal models are used to highlight possible genetic mechanisms. Sperm pathologies secondary to andrological conditions or environmental factors are described, stressing the non-specific nature of the sperm response to noxious agents. The available literature on the prognostic value of sperm pathologies in ICSI is also reviewed. Flagellar anomalies bear a good prognosis, but those affecting the acrosome, sperm chromatin and the neck region entail an increasing chance of failure, which highlights the differential roles played by specific sperm components in fertilization, implantation and early embryonic development. A final discussion is devoted to genetic counselling and the risks involved in using immotile or abnormal spermatozoa in assisted reproduction.     

Morphological evaluation of human embryos and derivation of an embryo quality scoring system specific for day 3 embryos: a preliminary study

A scoring system specific for day 3 embryos has not been extensively explored. Most IVF laboratories continue to grade embryos solely on the basis of cell number and percentage fragmentation as was traditionally done for day 2 embryos. Additional morphological features, some unique to day 3 embryos, may be useful in selecting embryos most likely to blastulate and implant. The objective of this study was to derive an embryo scoring system for day 3 transfers which is predictive of positive pregnancy outcomes. A total of 316 transferred embryos from 93 patients was recorded on videotape and evaluated. The following parameters were used to grade the embryos: cell number, fragmentation pattern (FP), cytoplasmic pitting, compaction, equal sized blastomeres, blastomere expansion and absence of vacuoles. The clinical pregnancy rate was 41.9%, with an implantation rate of 18% per embryo transferred. The mean number of embryos transferred per patient was 3.4. Three formulae were derived to score embryo quality in each transfer based on the average score of individual embryos transferred. In the first scoring system, cell number alone was used to predict pregnancy outcome. The second scoring system was based on blastomere number and the observed FP. The third scoring system utilized both blastomere number and FP but also combined this with five morphological criteria to yield a final day 3 embryo quality (D3EQ) score. We found the D3EQ score to be prognostic of pregnancy outcome. This study suggests that although cell number and FP are certainly predictors of positive pregnancy outcomes, additional parameters specific to day 3 embryos should be used to stratify a cohort of embryos further.     

Vascular lesions in testes associated with male infertility in Cameroon

Summary Testicular biopsies in 40 of 41 infertile males with severe oligospermia in Cameroon presented massive subendothelial fibrinoid deposits in the small and medium sized vessels. Fibrinogen, complement and IgM were demonstrated in these deposits by immunofluorescence. Evidence strongly suggestive of parasitic testicular involvement was also observed in 2 cases.It is postulated that the fibrinoid deposits are the result of repeated formation and deposition of circulating immune complexes by reaction of antibodies with antigens. These antigens could be of various origins and in the cases described here they could be derived from living or dying parasites in the region. The accumulation and incorporation of the fibrinoid deposits may lead to vascular stenosis resulting in chronic ischaemia, tubular atrophy and fibrosis, and finally oligospermia.