Normal Morphologies Research Articles

Pretreatment with 4-methylumbilliferon improves anxiety-like behaviors and memory impairment in stressed rats via modulation of neuronal cell death and oxidative stress

This work was done to investigate the ameliorating impact of 4-methylumbilliferon (4-MU) on spatial learning and memory dysfunction and restraint stress (STR)-induced anxiety-like behaviors in male Wistar rats and the underlying mechanisms. Thirty-two animals were assigned into 4 cohorts: control, 4-MU, STR, and STR+4-MU. Animals were exposed to STR for 4 h per day for 14 consecutive days or kept in normal conditions (healthy animals without exposure to stress). 4-MU (25 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered once daily to STR rats before restraint stress for 14 consecutive days. The behavioral tests were performed through Morris water maze tests and elevated-plus maze to examine learning/memory function, and anxiety levels, respectively. The levels of the antioxidant defense biomarkers (GPX, SOD) and MDA as an oxidant molecule in the brain tissues were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Neuronal loss or density of neurons was evaluated using Nissl staining. STR exposure could cause significant alterations in the levels of the antioxidant defense biomarkers (MDA, GPX, and SOD) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, induce anxiety, and impair spatial learning and memory function. Treatment with 4-MU markedly reduced anxiety levels and improved spatial learning and memory dysfunction via restoring the antioxidant defense biomarkers to normal values and reducing MDA levels. Moreover, more intact cells with normal morphologies were detected in STR-induced animals treated with 4-MU. 4-MU could attenuate the STR-induced anxiety-like behaviors and spatial learning and memory dysfunction by reducing oxidative damage and neuronal loss in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus region. Taken together, our findings provide new insights regarding the potential therapeutic effects of 4-MU against neurobehavioral disorders induced by STR.

Study on Anti-Inflammatory Effects of and Muscle Recovery Associated with Transdermal Delivery of Chaenomeles speciosa Extracts Using Supersonic Atomizer on Rat Model.

Repetitive motion or exercise is associated with oxidative stress and muscle inflammation, which can lead to declining grip strength and muscle damage. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be extracted from Chaenomeles speciosa through ultrasonic sonication. We investigated the association between grip strength declines and muscle damage induced by lambda carrageenan (LC) injection and exercise exposure in rats. We also assessed the reparative effects of transdermal pretreatment and post-treatment with C. speciosa extracts (CSEs) by using a supersonic atomizer. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CSEs for cells was 10.5 mg/mL. CSEs significantly reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1β) in in vitro cell tests. Rats subjected to LC injection and 6 weeks of exercise exhibited significantly increased inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6). Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed inflammatory cell infiltration and evident muscle damage in the gastrocnemius muscle, which exhibited splitting and the appearance of the endomysium and perimysium. The treated rats' grip strength significantly declined. Following treatment with CSEs, the damaged muscles exhibited decreased IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and normal morphologies. Moreover, grip strength significantly recovered. Pretreatment with CSEs yielded an immediate and significant increase in grip strength, with an increase of 180% and 165% occurring in the rats exposed to LC injection and exercise within the initial 12 h period, respectively, compared with the control group. Pretreatment with CSEs delivered transdermally using a supersonic atomizer may have applications in sports medicine and training or competitions.

3D facial approximation and endocast analysis of the Mummy of Minirdis (Ancient Egypt, ca. 2,300 Before Present)

The present article offers the facial approximation of the mummy of the ancient Egyptian adolescent named Minirdis (ca. 2300 years BP) by means of anatomical analysis of video-images and through a facial approximation protocol implemented on more historical personages. An evaluation of the mummy's endocast is also offered. A potential diagnosis of Sotos syndrome is cautiously considered but its inherent limitations are detailed. Finally, the methodology is presented as a valuable tool both for bio-historical research and for further studies on normal and pathologic morphologies of the cranio-facial district.

A novel sexual system in male gametophytes of Laminaria pallida (Phaeophyceae)

ABSTRACT Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) exhibit a wide diversity of sexual systems, reproductive modes and life histories. The evolution of this diversity has often involved transitions between sexual systems, which may influence genetic diversity and diversification, and phenotypic evolution. This study reports a novel sexual system in kelp. We identified male gametophyte strains of Laminaria pallida that, despite presenting morphological features typical of a male, developed both antheridia and egg-like structures, which suggest an incomplete suppression of femaleness during sexual determination of gametophytes. The sperm released by these variant male gametophytes successfully fertilize eggs produced by female gametophytes, developing into sporophytes with normal morphologies. However, morphologically abnormal sporophytic offspring were formed in isolated variant male gametophytes, indicating that the egg-like structures were not successfully self-fertilized by sperm. The causes of the unsuccessful intragametophytic selfing are unknown, but absence of pheromone production by the egg-like structures is a hypothesis suggested by available evidence. Partial co-sexuality is clearly inherited, as all male gametophyte strains descended from the same sporophyte developed egg-like structures. Further investigation into the genetics and maturation of male partheno-sporophytes will help to estimate the potential effects of this mechanism on natural populations.

ChatGPT's innovative application in blood morphology recognition.

Recently, the rapid advancement in generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, such as ChatGPT-4, has sparked discussions, particularly in image recognition. Accurate results are critical for hematological diagnosis, particularly for blood morphology identification. Despite advanced hematology analyzers, reliance on professional hematopathologists for manual identification remains in cases of abnormal or rare conditions, a process prone to human subjectivity and potential errors. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the potential of ChatGPT-4 to assist with blood morphology identification. We conducted a retrospective study using blood images obtained from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). These images comprised a range of normal and abnormal morphologies. Each sample was analyzed by expert technicians (control group) and classified using ChatGPT-4 (test group). Preliminary results showed that ChatGPT-4 could identify normal blood cells with an accuracy of 88%, exceeding the accuracy of identifying abnormal blood cells at a rate of 54%. Regarding identifying abnormal cells, the accuracy of ChatGPT-4 was slightly higher than that of the manual method, which was 49.5%. This study shows that although generative AI shows the potential for blood type identification, it has not yet reached the point where it can replace the professional judgment of medical staff. The results showed that ChatGPT-4 is excellent for identifying red blood cell morphology, particularly inclusion bodies. It can be used as an auxiliary tool for clinical diagnosis. However, the overall recognition accuracy must be further improved. Our study produced innovative results in this field, establishing a foundation for future studies and highlighting the potential of generative AI in aiding blood morphology recognition. Future research should focus on enhancing the effectiveness of AI to improve overall standards of medical care.

Sperm morphology, and macro and microscopic description of male and female reproductive tract in the North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)

Ex-situ conservation programs are useful tools for preserving endangered species, and knowledge of their reproductive physiology is essential for achieving conservation objectives in captive breeding programs. The North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) is a vulnerable bird species bred in captivity to restore its natural populations. To better understand the reproductive biology of this species, we first described the anatomy and histology of the reproductive tracts of male and female North African houbara bustards. We described and classified the normal and abnormal sperm morphologies for the species. The reproductive tracts of males and females were collected during the breeding season (BS) (21 males and 14 females) and the non-breeding season (NBS) (four males and two females). Pictures and measurements of the testes and oviducts were taken, and testis colour was graded from 1 (black) to 6 (white). Organs were fixed and processed for histological analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The testis, epididymis, oviduct size, testicular capsule thickness, seminiferous tubule (ST) diameter, and histological layers of the oviduct were compared between the BS and NBS groups. Sperm morphometry was evaluated using fixed ejaculates (n=22, from 22 males). Ejaculates (n=417, 166 males) were collected and fixed during the BS, and their morphology and morphometry were evaluated using phase-contrast microscopy. Ejaculate mixes (n=12) were fixed and analysed using SEM and TEM. Overall, the anatomical structure and histology of the male and female reproductive tracts were similar to those of other avian species. The testes were symmetric, and a regression of testis and oviduct size, the thickness of the mucosa and serosa of the oviduct, and ST diameter (p<0.001) were observed during NBS compared with those during BS. Sperm storage structures are located inside the oviduct at the uterovaginal junction and infundibulum. Melanin granules were observed in the interstitial space of the seminiferous epithelium, which explains the testis pigmentation. Melanin was also found in the ovaries and the uterus. Houbara sperm have an elongated nuclear form and a round-shaped acrosome lacking perforatorium and rostrum. Most analysed samples were limitrophe normospermic (normal= 68.5 ± 14.7%), houbara sperm morphology could be classified into eight categories: normal sperm, acrosome, head, midpiece, tail, and teratogenic defects, swollen head, and cytoplasmic droplet. This study provides the first anatomical and histological descriptions of the male and female reproductive tracts of the North African houbara bustard. Further investigation into the functional role of melanin in the testes is warranted.

Generation of control iPSC lines CBRCULi008-A and CBRCULi009-A derived from lymphoblastoid cell lines

The generation of control human iPSC lines is important in fundamental research to understand the physiological and physiopathological mechanisms underlying human diseases. We generated and characterized two control hiPSC lines from lymphoblastoid cells collected from apparently healthy individuals. These hiPSCs display pluripotency markers, can differentiate into three embryonic germ layers, possess normal karyotypes and colony morphologies, and have no reprogramming viral vectors.

Healed injuries, ontogeny and scleritome construction in a Late Ordovician machaeridian (Annelida, Aphroditiformia)

AbstractMachaeridians are armoured annelids that were morphologically diverse during the Palaeozoic. The scleritome developed from fleshy protrusions at the base of each parapodium, with alternating segments giving rise to differentiated inner and outer shell plates. The elytra‐like anatomy of the shell‐bearing soft tissues and distinctive jaw apparatus support an affinity of machaeridians with aphroditacean scaleworms. While frequently found as disarticulated remains, whole scleritomes of machaeridians are rare. Only a few species are represented by multiple articulated individuals, rendering many aspects of our knowledge of scleritome construction and growth uncertain. Here we describe a collection of articulated scleritomes of the plumulitid machaeridian Plumulites tafennaensis Chauvel from the Upper Ordovician (Katian) Upper Tiouririne Formation of Morocco that includes individuals representing both adult and juvenile stages. These scleritomes shed light on the morphology of the anterior region in plumulitids and show an increase in the number of shell plates with increasing size, suggesting that unlike some derived lepidocoleids, at least some plumulitids added segments repeatedly during ontogeny. Shell plates with a distinctive umbo have previously been assigned exclusively to the anterior region, but our material shows that they are present along the scleritome, with corresponding sclerites on the opposite side of the skeleton showing normal morphologies. We suggest that these plates are abnormal and best explained as healed injuries, replacing plates that had been previously removed from the body, demonstrating the capacity for machaeridians to regenerate lost body parts, a feature that is widespread in living annelids.

Changes in the Cell Division of Chang Liver Cells Induced by Simulated Microgravity

Background: Simulated microgravity (SMG) has not been well characterized in terms of its impact on cell division structures. This research aimed to assess the changes in cell division in Chang liver cells (CCL-13 cells) under SMG conditions. Methods: CCL-13 cells were exposed to SMG conditions via a 3D clinostat for 72 h. The cells from the control group were kept under the same conditions, without exposure to SMG. The changes in cell division were assessed via cell cycle progression analysis, the transcript expression of the genes associated with the cell cycle, and the appearance of the contractile ring, microvilli, and spindle in CCL-13 cells. Results: The CCL-13 cells from both the control group and the SMG group exhibited a typical epithelial-like shape. The CCL-13 cells of both groups displayed normal nuclear morphologies and were devoid of fragmentation and condensation, which are signs of apoptosis. There were changes in the cell cycle of CCL-13 cells in the SMG condition, which were shown via an increase in the cell percentage in the G0/G1 phase and a decrease in the S phase and G2/M phase. The cell area of the SMG-exposed CCl-13 cells increased, while their nuclear area decreased, which led to a reduction in the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Moreover, the transcript expression of cyclin b1, cyclin d1, cdk2, and cdk6 was downregulated in CCL-13 cells under SMG conditions compared to the control group. Interestingly, SMG-exposed CCL-13 cells exhibited a decreased appearance of microvilli, changes in the formation of the contractile ring, and polar spindle microtubules during cytokinesis. Conclusions: SMG attenuated the cell division of CCL-13 cells by driving cells into the arrest phase and altering the cell division structures.

1542-P: Commercially Available Aspartame-Based Sweetener Damages Morphology of Major Organs Both in Normal and Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) such as aspartame have become highly popular as sugar substitutes for diabetics. Majority of studies have reported controversial results and used aspartame in its pure form, which is not consumed by people practically. Hence, the present study was aimed at investigating the effects of commercially available aspartame-based sweetener on diabetes related parameters and its associated complications in both normal and type 2 diabetic rats. Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely: Normal Control (NC), Toxicological Aspartame (TASP), Diabetic Control (DBC) and Diabetic Aspartame (DASP). Type 2 diabetes was induced experimentally in the DBC and DASP groups only and animals with non-fasting blood glucose levels &amp;gt;300 mg/dL were considered as diabetic. During 13 weeks experimental period, the control groups received normal drinking water, whilst TASP and DASP groups were given aspartame-containing NNS solutions, ad libitum, at concentrations equivalent to the sweetness of 20% and 10% sucrose solution, respectively. Treatment with toxicological aspartame resulted in significantly reduced serum fructosamine and creatinine levels in normal rats, when brain, heart, liver, kidney and pancreatic tissue morphologies were significantly damaged in both normal and diabetic rats. The data of this study suggest that although aspartame-based NNS may not have higher degree of detrimental effects on diabetes associated parameters, the significantly damaged morphology of the major organ tissues as well as deterioration of related serum biomarkers both in normal and diabetic conditions raises a concern of its use as a NNS in various food and food products. Disclosure S.N.Dlamini: None. S.Islam: None. Funding South African Sugar Association (Project 233)

Enhanced Resistance to Fungal and Bacterial Diseases Due to Overexpression of BSR1, a Rice RLCK, in Sugarcane, Tomato, and Torenia.

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is one of the most devastating sugarcane diseases. Furthermore, Rhizoctonia solani causes severe diseases in various crops including rice, tomato, potato, sugar beet, tobacco, and torenia. However, effective disease-resistant genes against these pathogens have not been identified in target crops. Therefore, the transgenic approach can be used since conventional cross-breeding is not applicable. Herein, the overexpression of BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE 1 (BSR1), a rice receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, was conducted in sugarcane, tomato and torenia. BSR1-overexpressing tomatoes exhibited resistance to the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and the fungus R. solani, whereas BSR1-overexpressing torenia showed resistance to R. solani in the growth room. Additionally, BSR1 overexpression conferred resistance to sugarcane smut in the greenhouse. These three BSR1-overexpressing crops exhibited normal growth and morphologies except in the case of exceedingly high levels of overexpression. These results indicate that BSR1 overexpression is a simple and effective tool for conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance to many crops.

Generation of four myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient iPSC lines (CBRCULi002-A, CBRCULi003-A, CBRCULi004-A, CBRCULi005-A) and a control (CBRCULi001-A) derived from lymphoblastoids cell lines

Myotonic dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is a severe inherited neuromuscular disease and is the most prevalent form of muscular dystrophy in adults. DM1 involves not only the striated muscles including skeletal, and cardiac but also other organs such as the eye, brain and gonads. We have generated and characterized 4 adult heterozygous DM1 iPSC lines carrying between 1300 and 1600 CTG repeat expansion in the DM1 protein kinase gene, and a control from an apparently healthy individual. They all show strong pluripotency markers, differentiation capacity, the absence of residual viral vectors as well as normal karyotypes and colony morphologies.

Genital Examination of the Prepubertal Female: Essentials for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Genital Examination of the Prepubertal Female: Essentials for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Viscous Cervical Environment-on-a-Chip for Selecting High-Quality Sperm from Human Semen.

When ejaculated sperm travels through the vagina to the uterus, mucus secreted by the cervical canal generally filters out sperm having low motility and poor morphology. To investigate this selection principle in vivo, we developed a microfluidic sperm-sorting chip with a viscous medium (polyvinylpyrrolidone: PVP) to imitate the biophysical environment mimic system of the human cervical canal. The material property of the PVP solution was tuned to the range of viscosities of cervical mucus using micro-viscometry. The selection of high-quality human sperm was experimentally evaluated in vitro and theoretically analyzed by the convection-diffusion mechanism. The convection flow is shown to be dominant at low viscosity of the medium used in the sperm-sorting chip when seeded with raw semen; hence, the raw semen containing sperm and debris convectively flow together with suppressed relative dispersions. Also, it was observed that the sperm selected via the chip not only had high motilities but also normal morphologies and high DNA integrity. Therefore, the biomimetic sperm-sorting chip with PVP medium is expected to improve male fertility by enabling the selection of high-quality sperm as well as uncovering pathways and regulatory mechanisms involved in sperm transport through the female reproductive tract for egg fertilization.

Circadian regulation of apolipoprotein gene expression affects testosterone production in mouse testis

The circadian clock system plays an important role in regulating testosterone synthesis in mammals. Male Bmal1−/− mice are infertile with low serum testosterone levels and decreased expression of testicular steroidogenic genes, suggesting that circadian clock genes regulate testosterone biosynthesis by activating steroidogenic gene transcription. However, whether the circadian clock regulates testosterone production via other genes remains unknown. Using Bmal1−/− mice and their wild-type (WT) siblings, we aimed to identify additional genes by which the circadian clock regulates testosterone synthesis. WT and Bmal1−/− mouse testes sections had similar normal morphologies, although there was a decrease in testicular spermatozoa in the Bmal1−/− mice. Low serum testosterone levels were detected in the Bmal1−/− mice. RNA sequencing identified 37 and 48 genes that were differentially expressed between WT and Bmal1−/− mouse testes at circadian time (CT2 and CT14), respectively. The cholesterol metabolism pathway was significantly enriched in the KEGG pathway analysis, and there was lower expression of three apolipoprotein genes (Apoa1, Apoa2, and Apoc3) at CT2 in the testes of Bmal1−/− mice than in those of WT mice. These decreases in Apoa1, Apoa2, and Apoc3 expression were verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, which also revealed downregulation of the expression of the circadian clock (Per2, Dbp, and Nr1d1) and steroidogenic (StAR, Cyp11a1, and Hsd17b3) genes. The expression of circadian clock genes was relatively stable in WT mice over a 20-h period, whereas there was clear circadian rhythmic expression of Apoa1, Apoa2, Apoc3, StAR, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b2, and Hsd17b3. Bmal1−/− mice showed severely reduced expression of testicular circadian clock genes at three time points (CT4, CT12, and CT20), and a reduction in mRNA expression levels of Apo (Apoa1, Apoa2, and Apoc3) and steroidogenic (StAR, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b2, and Hsd17b3) genes. Oil Red O staining showed decreased lipid aggregation in the Leydig cells of Bmal1−/− mouse testes. Considering the vital role of Apo genes in high-density lipoprotein formation and cholesterol transport, the present data suggest that the circadian clock system regulates testosterone production by orchestrating the rhythmic expression of Apo genes. These data extend our understanding of the role of the circadian clock in regulating testosterone production in mammals.

Interobserver agreement and clinical disparity between the Graf method and femoral head coverage measurement in developmental dysplasia of the hip screening: A prospective observational study of 198 newborns.

Ultrasonography is the ideal tool for assessing hip morphology in infants younger than 6-month-old. This study assessed the interobserver agreement and clinical disparities of the 2 most widely used ultrasound (US) methods, the Graf method, and femoral head coverage (FHC) measurement.A prospective observational study (STROBE compliant) of 2024 newborns was conducted between January 2017 and December 2018. Hip US was conducted on all newborns with abnormal Barlow and Ortolani maneuvers as well as on 50 randomly selected normal newborns. The physical examination and US were performed by a senior pediatric orthopedic surgeon with musculoskeletal sonography certification. Three observers with different levels of experience interpreted the images by using the Graf method and FHC. We analyzed the intraclass correlation coefficient, Cohen kappa, and the disparity between the clinical findings of the 2 methods.A total of 198 newborns (9.8%) presented with clinical instability, including 193 subluxatable hips in 168 patients (84.8%) and 45 dislocatable/dislocated hips in 30 patients (15.2%). The mean age at US examination was 11.69 days (range: 0–18 days). The intraclass correlation coefficient was .71 (95% CI: 0.55–0.83) for FHC, 0.63 (95% CI: 0.38–0.78) for the alpha angle, and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.16–0.69) for beta angle. The Cohen kappa coefficients of Graf type were 0.19 (95% CI: 0.03–0.35), 0.39 (95% CI: 0.20–0.58), and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.02–0.32) between observers 1 and 2, observers 1 and 3, and observers 2 and 3, respectively. Based on the Graf method, 14% of the stable hips had abnormal USs; by contrast, 19.2% of the subluxatable hips and 17.8% of the dislocatable/dislocated hips had normal Graf morphologies. In USs interpreted using FHC, 16% of stable hips demonstrated abnormal coverage, whereas 13.5% of subluxatable hips and 4.4% of dislocatable/dislocated hips had normal FHC.Incidence of clinically detectable hip instability was 9.8% among newborns in our series. Both alpha angle and FHC ratio revealed substantial interobserver agreement while beta angle achieved moderate agreement. FHC ratio possesses higher sensitivity and similar specificity compared with the Graf method when screening unstable hips.Level II, development of diagnostic criteria on basis of consecutive patients

Hexarelin Modulation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt Pathways in Neuro-2A Cells Inhibits Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptotic Toxicity.

Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, exerts cyto-protective effects at the mitochondrial level in cardiac and skeletal muscles, both in vitro and in vivo, may also have important neuroprotective bioactivities. This study examined the inhibitory effects of hexarelin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in Neuro-2A cells. Neuro-2A cells were treated for 24 h with various concentrations of H2O2 or with the combination of H2O2 and hexarelin following which cell viability and nitrite (NO2−) release were measured. Cell morphology was also documented throughout and changes arising were quantified using Image J skeleton and fractal analysis procedures. Apoptotic responses were evaluated by Real-Time PCR (caspase-3, caspase-7, Bax, and Bcl-2 mRNA levels) and Western Blot (cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-7, MAPK, and Akt). Our results indicate that hexarelin effectively antagonized H2O2-induced damage to Neuro-2A cells thereby (i) improving cell viability, (ii) reducing NO2− release and (iii) restoring normal morphologies. Hexarelin treatment also reduced mRNA levels of caspase-3 and its activation, and modulated mRNA levels of the BCL-2 family. Moreover, hexarelin inhibited MAPKs phosphorylation and increased p-Akt protein expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of hexarelin, suggesting that new analogues could be developed for their neuroprotective effects.

Interactive Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors on Testicular Function among Healthy Adult Men: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan.

Recently, the role of lifestyle factors in testicular function has developed into a growing area of interest. Based on cross-sectional data on 3283 Taiwanese men, we investigated whether interactive effects of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were associated with testicular function. The men were recruited from a private screening institute between 2009 and 2015. Lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity (PA), sleeping habits, and diet) were obtained by a validated self-reported questionnaire. The men provided a semen sample and had blood drawn for sex hormone measurement. Men who smoked and drank had higher testosterone (T) levels (β = 0.81, p < 0.001) than those who neither smoked nor drank. Men who smoked and had high Western dietary pattern scores had higher T levels—by 0.38 ng/mL (p = 0.03). Those who drank and did not get enough sleep or had high Western dietary pattern scores had elevated T levels—by 0.60 ng/mL (p = 0.005) or 0.45 ng/mL (p = 0.02), respectively. Light PA and insomnia were associated with decreased T levels—by 0.64 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Those who smoked and drank or had light PA or had high Western dietary pattern scores had lower normal sperm morphologies (NSMs)—by 2.08%, 1.77%, and 2.29%, respectively. Moreover, drinkers who had high Western dietary pattern scores had higher sperm concentrations—by 4.63 M/mL (p = 0.04). Awareness and recognition of the long-term impact of lifestyle behaviors and better lifestyle choices may help to optimize the chance of conception amongst couples.

Comparison of three sperm selection methods for ICSI-DGC, Cumulus column, and incubation with supernatant product of adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells: An experimental study.

BackgroundThe examination of sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity are necessary for male fertility expression. These parameters can be affected by method of sperm separation.ObjectiveTo measure the damage of each sperm separation method on the sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity.Materials and MethodsIn this experimental study, semen samples of 20 infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia (Infertility Research Center, Qom, Iran, 2017) were processed in three ways: density gradient centrifugation (DGC), cumulus column, and incubation with supernatant products of adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells (SPAS). The results of sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation before and after the process were statistically analyzed.ResultsThe number of separated sperms by normal morphologies during the SPAS and the cumulus column was significantly more than the corresponding population in the DGC group. In addition, although all three methods have the same ability to increase total sperm motility and the number of recovered sperms, in the field of forwarding movement and DNA fragmentation, the SPAS method performed more efficiently (p = 0.021).ConclusionSperm parameters and DNA fragmentation in the SPAS group were better than those in the DGC and cumulus column groups. Furthermore, it has been shown that the sperm capacity was increased with the SPAS method. However, the rearrangement of sperm chromatin by reducing the disulfide bridges and providing the possibility of re-histone over capacity causes a significant reduction in DNA fragmentation.

RAB39B Deficiency Impairs Learning and Memory Partially Through Compromising Autophagy.

RAB39B is located on the X chromosome and encodes the RAB39B protein that belongs to the RAB family. Mutations in RAB39B are known to be associated with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID), Parkinson’s disease, and autism. However, the patho/physiological functions of RAB39B remain largely unknown. In the present study, we established Rab39b knockout (KO) mice, which exhibited overall normal birth rate and morphologies as wild type mice. However, Rab39b deficiency led to reduced anxiety and impaired learning and memory in 2 months old mice. Deletion of Rab39b resulted in impairments of synaptic structures and functions, with reductions in NMDA receptors in the postsynaptic density (PSD). RAB39B deficiency also compromised autophagic flux at basal level, which could be overridden by rapamycin-induced autophagy activation. Further, treatment with rapamycin partially rescued impaired memory and synaptic plasticity in Rab39b KO mice, without affecting the PSD distribution of NMDA receptors. Together, these results suggest that RAB39B plays an important role in regulating both autophagy and synapse formation, and that targeting autophagy may have potential for treating XLID caused by RAB39B loss-of-function mutations.