H-Y Antigen Expression Patterns in Human X- and Y-Chromosome-Bearing Spermatozoa

PROBLEM: Restricted expression of H-Y antigen on Y-chromosome-bearing sperm has been reported in some species, although such preferential expression for H-Y antigen in human sperm has yet to be described. In this study, an immunomagnetic approach was used to characterize antigen expression patterns as a function of sex-chromosome content. METHOD OF STUDY: Human sperm was treated with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies directed against H-Y antigen. This preparation then was incubated with sheep antimouse IgM antibody affixed to paramagnetic beads, which then were exposed to a magnetic field and sorted. X- and Y-chromosome frequencies in the two subgroups of sperm were assayed by multiprobe fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Sperm were immunomagnetically separated into two populations: a reactive group (presumably, H-Y Ag+); and a nonreactive group (presumably, H-Y Ag-). Triple-color FISH analysis of 1,600 spermatozoa (800 in each group) showed the antigen's expression to be somewhat more prevalent among Y-chromosome-bearing sperm (54.1%), but a large proportion of Y-chromosome-bearing sperm (49.0%) did not express this antigen. The difference was not significant (P = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of H-Y antigen has a slightly higher frequency in human sperm containing the Y-chromosome, but its expression among X-chromosome-bearing sperm also is considerable. Current immunologic techniques relying on this antigen are unlikely to effect the sex selection of human sperm.     

Decrease in intrahepatic CD56+ lymphocytes in gastric and colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases

Gulubova M, Manolova I, Kyurkchiev D, Julianov A, Altunkova I. Decrease in intrahepatic CD56⁺ lymphocytes in gastric and colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases. APMIS 2009; 117: 870–9. The aim of the study was to examine the main intrahepatic lymphocyte subpopulations, namely CD3⁺ lymphocytes, natural killer (NK)‐like T lymphocytes (NKT) expressing the CD3⁺ CD56⁺ phenotype, CD56⁺ NK cells, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T cells in livers of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer with and without hepatic metastases. The proportion of each lymphocyte subset was determined in 34 patients with gastric or colorectal cancer (18 with and 16 without liver metastasis) by two‐color flow cytometry after extraction of hepatic mononuclear cell fraction. The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in selected areas of liver metastases and adjacent liver tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemistry for CD4, CD8, and CD56. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a significant decrease in the proportion of CD3⁺ CD56⁺ cells in metastatic livers, but not in nonmetastatic livers (11.9 ± 10.3 vs 24.2 ± 13.6%, p = 0.02). The percentage of intrahepatic CD3^?CD56⁺ cells was also decreased in patients with metastases compared to those without (10.1 ± 11.6 vs 16.6 ± 8.9%, p = 0.039). Immunohistochemically, three types of lymphocytes (CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD56⁺) were present in the metastatic tissue, although the number of CD56⁺ cells was almost twice lower. We found a low prevalence of tumor‐infiltrating CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD56⁺ cells in livers with multiple metastases, whereas in cases with solitary metastasis a higher degree of lymphocyte infiltration was observed. The number of CD3^?CD56⁺ and CD3⁺ CD56⁺ cells was decreased in metastatic livers compared to those unaffected by metastases. Therefore the prevalence of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes seems to be related to the progression of metastatic liver disease. Depletion of hepatic innate lymphocytes may reveal susceptibility to metastatic liver disease and could be a reason for the escape of metastatic cells from the mechanisms of liver immune control.     

Testicular function in eight patients with seminoma after unilateral orchidectomy and radiotherapy

Testicular function was monitored in eight patients with low stage seminoma who were treated with radiotherapy following unilateral orchidectomy. The absorbed gonadal radiation dose ranged from 15 to 157.5 rad. At 10-24 months after radiotherapy, serum hormone levels, sperm analysis, sperm penetration into zona-free hamster ova (HOP-test) and lymphocyte chromosome abnormalities were evaluated. Two patients were azoospermic with elevated serum levels of LH and FSH. The remaining six patients had slightly decreased (n = 3) or normal (n = 3) seminal parameters. Their HOP rates were within the normal range. A low incidence of polyspermy (i.e. only one penetrating sperm per ovum) was found in the patients, suggesting low penetrability of motile sperm. A highly significant correlation was found between sperm count or sperm penetrability and time post-irradiation. The results indicate that restitution of testicular function is time-dependent.     

Oral florid papillomatosis in the course of lichen planus

The causal relationship between oral florid papillomatosis and lichen planus is discussed in the light of the literature and a case report.     

Morphological and Immunological Observations in Experimentally Induced Torsion of Testis in Rats

ABSTRACT: In an experimentally established model of torsion of the testis, morphological and immunological observations were evaluated on 180 Wistar rats. Torsion of the testis was carried out to observe in animals the biological phenomenon that naturally occurs in man. The effect of the twisted testis on the contralateral testis was carefully checked. The morphological observations revealed serious damage to the seminiferous tubules in the contralateral testis. In four rats, persistent infertility was observed as an effect of torsion. The infertility was confirmed by total atrophy of seminiferous epithelium in testis section. The cell-binding abilities of sera obtained from rats at different times after torsion were studied by cell-binding radioimmunoassay with different types of germinal cells. The presence of autoantibodies to epididymal spermatozoa was revealed in most cases, being a secondary effect of the thus-far unknown, nonspecific factors responsible for damage of the contralateral testis.