Oval Forms Research Articles

Induction of Varicocele in the Dog: I. Partial Ligation of the Left Renal Vein Does Not Induce a Varicocele in the Dog

Induction of varicocele was attempted by partial ligation of the left renal vein in 10 male dogs. The effects on sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology, as well as on hemodynamics, were assessed. Furthermore, testicular, vascular, and kidney morphology was studied. Changes in the diameter and consistency of the left spermatic cord were found to be temporary. Total sperm count, sperm motility, and the total number of oval forms were not significantly altered. Hemodynamic studies revealed a renocaval pressure gradient, but retrograde flow in the distal part of the left testicular vein could not be observed by arteriography. A collateral network was found to compensate for the restricted left renal vein. Histologic examination revealed no damage to the seminiferous epithelium. Changes were not found in the kidney and left pampiniform plexus. Although some temporary changes induced by the partial ligation of the left renal vein are suggestive of varicocele, this hemodynamic study shows that the presented dog model does not mimic varicocele as encountered in man.

Internal contact between cylindrical bodies with nearly circular oval forms

Internal contact between cylindrical bodies with nearly circular oval forms

Relationship of hamster ovum sperm penetration assay to seminal fluid analyses in the evaluation of infertile couples.

The males of 279 infertile couples were evaluated with hamster ovum sperm penetration assay (SPA) and seminal fluid analysis. The mean SPA score for the total population was 23.0% penetration with a range of 0-97%. Twenty five percent of the patients demonstrated scores within the abnormal range (0-10%), and 15% were in the "equivocal" range (11-14%). Comparing each individual with the total population using linear regression analysis, it was noted that sperm concentration, percent motility, and percent oval forms varied directly with the SPA, and the slopes of the relationships are positive and statistically significant (p less than 0.0001, 0.002, and 0.0001, respectively). The relationship between SPA and volume is not statistically significant (p greater than or equal to 0.354). To determine whether the SPA could be utilized to establish appropriate normal parameters for various components of SFA, these were analyzed in 169 men who had SPAs of greater than or equal to 15%. Although most SFA values fell within the normal range for this group, there were several exceptions, particularly with respect to percent motility and the presence of leukocytes in the semen. Comparing the percentage of males with abnormal SPA in groups of couples with or without a demonstrable abnormality affecting fertility in the wife, no statistically significant differences could be found. The value of the SPA and SFA in investigating males of infertile couples is discussed.

Entry of immotile spermatozoa into zona‐free hamster ova

AbstractWe studied six men whose spermatozoa were immotile and possessed a variety of sperm tail structural abnormalities by electron microscopy. The semen of all six subjects had a normal percentage of oval forms and sperm undergoing capacitation and acrosome reaction. Despite the absence of motility, when incubated sperm from these subjects was added to a microdrop of medium containing zona pellucida‐free hamster ova, sperm penetration or entry into the cytoplasm of from 1–9% of the eggs was evident with phase contrast microscopy. This latter finding suggests that, at least in this system, oocytes actively facilitate sperm incorporation. Penetration was absent when sperm of fertile men were rendered immotile, though still viable, by heat treatment.

Comparison of the morphology of vital and dead human spermatozoa

Summary. The distribution of different morphological types of spermatozoa have been compared in the live and dead populations of an eosin-stained dry film. There were significant differences between the distribution of sperm types within each of the 80 individuals studied (P < 0·05) and between the two groups taken as a whole (P < 0·001). Normal oval, and small oval forms appeared preferentially in the vital population while spermatozoa with defects of the tail were preferentially found in the dead population. It is concluded that assessment of the total number of functional spermatozoa in an ejaculate should be made by reference to the percentage of normal oval forms in the live population.

Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Infertility: The Effect of Different Antibiotic Regimens on the Semen Quality

Objective criteria of semen quality were evaluated in 243 men treated for Ureaplasma urealyticum genital tract infection with 1 of 4 different antibiotic regimens. Significant improvement was observed in motility, quantity, quality, and percentages of oval and small forms. Doxycycline, whether used for 2 or 4 weeks, at a dosage of 100mg. twice daily resulted in the same cure rate (79 and 81 per cent, respectively). Tetracycline regimens of 500mg. 3 times daily for 2 or 4 weeks had significantly inferior cure rates (17 and 55 per cent, respectively). These findings suggest that antibiotic therapy could be valuable in improving semen quality when Ureaplasma is isolated, and that followup culture for the organism should decide the endpoint in therapy, since resistant strains for doxycycline and tetracycline are emerging.

Experimental Infections in Rabbits and Humans with Pityrosporum orbiculare and P. ovale

The purpose of this investigation was to produce experimental tinea versicolor in rabbits and humans with Pityrosporum orbiculare and P. ovale. P. orbiculare and P. ovale were inoculated, with and without occlusion, on the inside of the ear in 10 male rabbits and on the upper arm in 10 patients with a history of tinea versicolor, and in 3 healthy volunteers. After 1 week tinea versicolor-like lesions were produced with both P. orbiculare and P. ovale in 8 of 10 rabbits. Likewise experimental infections, similar to those found clinically in tinea versicolor, were seen, after 1 week, in 5 patients with a history of tinea versicolor and in the 3 healthy volunteers. Two of 5 patients inoculated for only 4 days showed identical but less pronounced lesions. Experimental infections could only be produced with occlusion. Microscopically short hyphae and transformation between round and oval forms were seen in both P. orbiculare and P. ovale. This investigation adds to the identity of P. orbiculare and P. ovale and also to the identity of these 2 fungi and the fungus seen in tinea versicolor. Spontaneous healing and the fact that experimental infections were produced only under occlusion illustrates the importance of predisposing factors in tinea versicolor.

Seminal Characteristics in the Presence of a Varicocele as Compared with those of Expectant Fathers and Prevasectomy Men

One hundred and thirty-one semen analyses were performed on men found to have a varicocele on a routine physical examination. The seminal characteristics of these men were contrasted with those of 87 men who were desirous of having a vasectomy and with those of 25 expectant fathers. No significant differences were found in the mean sperm density in these three groups of men. However, it was noted that a greater percentage of men with a varicocele had a sperm count of 20 million or less as compared with the control groups. It was also found that a greater percentage of the men with either a large or medium-sized varicocele had a sperm count of 20 million or less than those with a small varicocele. There was no significant difference in the percentage of oval forms, motility, or tapered forms in the three groups of men with a varicocele as compared with expectant fathers and men desirous of a vasectomy.

Absence of alterations in antigenic determinats inSalmonella typhimurium after mecillinam-induced morphological changes

Oval forms ofSalmonella typhimurium resulting from exposure to mecillinam demonstrated electrophoretic differences in the intracellular soluble proteins as compared to the normal organisms. No differences were found, however, in the electrophoretic patterns of cell wall protein.Salmonella rods, or oval forms stained with specific fluorescein-coupled antibodies raised in rabbits against normal or mecillinam-induced abnormal forms, showed identical patterns of fluorescence. Identical lines of precipitins in Ouchterlony system were produced between any combination of antibodies and cytosol protein from normal or mecillinam-exposedSalmonella or with cell wall extracts of either forms. These results indicated that the induced ovoid transformation produced by mecillinam is not accompanied by any demonstrable alterations in the antigenic determinants ofS. typhimurium.

The vessels of the inner ear (author's transl)

The inner ear as an example of a highly specialized sensory organ also possesses a highly specialized vascularisation. This represents an impressive example for a reasonable adaption of the terminal blood vessels to a specific function of the organ fulfilling more than only the nutrition. In this paper the microvascular bed of the cochlea is examined using both the injection method of the vessels and the biomicroscopic observation in vivo. The combination of these technics supported by histologic and stereoscan microscopic examinations has made it possible to give an account of the functional morphology of the inner ear vessels. As a detailed structural analysis of the vessels morphology with the help of dyes that fill the whole of the vessels space (i.e. Berlin blue) is not possible, perfusion experiments with silver nitrate were performed on the inner ear. After the perfusion the vessels are cleaned again, the silver however imbibes the intercellular reticular substances and after exposure produces a continous and sharp framework of the endothelium and--when present--muscular cells, thus showing the angioarchitectural contours. There is a very clear division of the cochlear vessels in a three dimensional space: The arterial and venous vessels are vividly separated from one another, forming two systems of microvascular units in the lateral wall and the spiral lamina. Each unit begins with special blood vessel convoluts in the modiolus, consisting of loops of arterioles. They are weakly muscularized whereas no muscle structures are seen elsewhere in the other parts of the inner ear vessels. There are no a.-v. anastomoses or sphinkters at all. The function of the vessel loops in the modiolus is to flatten the pulse wave as well as to regulate the blood flow in the microvascular bed by vasomotion. This was proved by statistical examinations of 1200 measurements of the widths of the vessels at several points of the cochlea in a blind study with and without vasoactive drugs. The terminology of the vessels is not standardized. The nomenclature in this paper has regard to the classification of the vessels, the course and the topographic localisation. Silver staining reveals changes in the form of the endothelium cells from the arterial towards the venous end. While the arteries show a long stretched spinle or lancet like form they change over blunt, oval, triangular or rhomboid forms into polygonal cells with spiked border lines at the venules. All experiments together give an account that the blood supply of the inner ear is in close correlation with the blood supply of the brain and too possesses autoregulative mechanisms, which must be localized in the convoluts at the beginning of every microvascular unit of the cochlear vessels.

The Effects of Prior Experience With Visual Shapes Under Differing Conditions of Reinforcement On Subsequent Discrimination Learning in the Rat

This experiment examined the effects of prior visual experience under varying conditions of reinforcement on learning of a circle/triangle discrimination. Albino rats were given nonreinforced, nondifferentially reinforced, or differentially reinforced experience with oval and rhombus forms in their home cages. Subsequent performance on circle/triangle discrimination was compared with that of animals given no prior experience with the shapes. The group given nonreinforced experience did not differ from the control group. The nondifferentially reinforced and differentially reinforced groups, while showing no significant effects in terms of trials to criterion, did show significantly enhanced performance during the early stages of learning, the effect being stronger for the differentially reinforced group. The results suggest that reinforcement is a significant factor in producing successful transfer of learning from prior visual experience.

T-Mycoplasmas and Human Infertility: Correlation of Infection with Alterations in Seminal Parameters

The presence of T-mycoplasmas in semen specimens from 625 men with infertility of unknown etiology was correlated with seminal cytologic findings. A change in the distribution toward higher ejaculate volumes and lower counts was demonstrated in the 246 patients with positive T-mycoplasma cultures, compared with the 379 patients with negative cultures. There was a significant increase in the number of tapering forms and spermatids in the T-mycoplasma-positive group. The increases in aberrant forms occurred at the expense of the oval and microcephalic forms. This change in the cytologic picture is consistent with the "stress" pattern seen in viral infections and allergic reactions, with the exception of the specific decrease in microcephalic forms. Relatively fewer patients with T-mycoplasmas in their semen had a high-level spermatozoal motility, compared with those lacking T-mycoplasmas. More than half again as many patients with T-mycoplasma infections had the poorest levels of spermatozoal motility. Infertile patients with T-mycoplasma infections had an over-all decrease in semen quality compared with those lacking demonstrable T-mycoplasmas.

Bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus infection: virus replication in bovine embryonic cell cultures and virion separation by rate-zonal centrifugation

Replicative sequences of a bovine strain of parainfluenza type 3 virus in bovine embryonic kidney and spleen cell cultures were investigated by light and fluorescence microscopy and by ultrathin section and negative-contrast electron microscopy. Observations from light and fluorescence microscopy showed that intracytoplasmic inclusions were detected as small granules surrounding the nuclei of more than 90 percent of the cell population by day 2 postinoculation. With the increase of postexposure times, these inclusions coalesced into larger bodies which occupied large portions of the cell. Ultrastructurally, the first sign of virus development was the appearance of aggregates of viral nucleocapsids in the vicinity of the nucleus. With the concomitant accumulation of viral nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm, the virus maturation was expressed by budding processes through the cell membrane into round, oval, or elongated forms. Eosinophilic inclusions were demonstrable in many mitotic cells. Ultrastructurally, these cells were observed to produce virus particles by a process identical to that of resting cells. Virions, prepared from infected culture fluid and negatively stained, appeared to be pleomorphic and their diameter ranged from 200 to 600 mm. The virions were separated, by rate-zonal centrifugation, into two subclasses in a sucrose gradient (15 to 60 percent, wt/wt). The slowly sedimenting virions had a density approximately 1.20 gm/cm3 and an average size of 200 nm in diameter, whereas the faster-sedimenting virions had a density of 1.24 gm/cm3 and average diameter of 400 nm.

The taxonomic identity and physiological ecology ofChlamydomonas hedleyisp. nov. algal flagellate symbiont from the foraminiferArchaias angulatus

The fine structure of the symbiotic alga isolated from the formainiferan Archaias angulatus (Fichtel et Moll) DeMontfort is typical of the Chlorophyceae of the volvocalean and chlorococcalean lines. Spherical non-motile cells, 10–14 μm in diameter, characterise the dominant life cycle phase. Long oval motile forms with truncated apices are present 3–5 days after transfer to fresh medium. The pyrenoids are embedded anteriorly in the singly bilobed chloroplast and are surrounded by a sheath of starch platelets. In spite of the non-motile state of cells in older cultures (which is perhaps a reflection of its normally symbiotic condition), the alga is identified as a species of the volvocalean genus Chlamydomonas and is named C. hedleyi sp. nov. The symbiont has no vitamin or organic requirements but growth is increased threefold in the presence of thiamine, and twofold in the presence of 1 μm glutamic acid, histidine and methionine. Urea was the best nitrogen source tested. Purines and pyrimidines did not serve as nitrogen sources. Chlamydomonas hedleyi grows well in a salinity range of 6->52‰. and a pH range of 6–8·5, 7·04 × 10-7 m carbon h-1 g-1 was fixed by the symbiont, 57% being released into the medium as a chromatographically homogeneous organic molecule provisionally identified as mannitol.

Histopathological observations in experimental cryptococcosis caused by a hypha-producing strain of Cryptococcus neoformans (Coward strain) in mice.

Three distinct types of lesions were recognizable viz: histiocytic granulomata; tuberculoid granulomata with central necrosis surrounded by epithelioid cells and micro-abscesses.The inflammatory reaction was most severe with hyphal fragments and small, round or oval forms; it tended to diminish when larger round cells appeared and capsules increased in thickness. Large cells with wide capsules were not associated with any significant inflammatory reaction.

A Coelomomyces infection of Aedes australis in New Zealand

A Coelomomyces isolated from the introduced Australian mosquito Aedes australis closely resembled Coelomomyces opifexi, recently described from the endemic New Zealand species Opifex fuscus. Despite the similarity of the morphology and the pathologic manifestation of the fungus in the two infections, the crenated sporangium was absent and the size maxima of oval and spherical forms were slightly less in the newly found fungus. A laboratory experimental crossing of C. opifexi from Opifex fuscus to Aedes australis larvae, however, produced an infection similar to that obtained from naturally infected A. australis larvae. It is suggested therefore, that in the New Zealand environment, where A. australis shares the ecology and the breeding habitat of O. fuscus, it also serves as an alternative host to C. opifexi.

Morphogenesis of type 2 parainfluenza virus examined by light and electron microscopy.

The development of type 2 parainfluenza virus in HeLa and stable human amnion cells was examined by use of antisera labeled with fluorescein and ferritin. Serum containing antibody predominantly to soluble viral antigen gave specific fluorescence which was first detectable in small cytoplasmic foci 8 to 10 hr after initiation of infection. By 20 to 24 hr, when the production of infective virus and hemagglutinin was maximal, large perinuclear aggregates of fluorescence were observed which corresponded in distribution and time of appearance to the eosinophilic inclusions seen in similar preparations stained with azure eosin. The inclusions, examined by electron microscopy, were composed of fibrils, presumably viral ribonucleoprotein, which specifically bound the antibody labeled with ferritin. With antiserum to concentrated virus, on the other hand, specific fluorescence was most marked at the surface of infected cells. Foci of fluorescence at the surface represented segments of membrane which had become differentiated morphologically and antigenically to resemble the viral envelope. These were the sites where mature virions appeared. The latter exhibited marked pleomorphism; in some instances, particles were formed which lacked recognizable internal fibrils but which possessed an enclosing membrane bearing viral antigen. Filamentous forms showing an organized internal structure were also observed at the cell surface, but were never encountered in negatively stained preparations. No clear relationship between these filaments and the spherical or oval forms could be established. In negatively stained preparations, nucleocapsid released by rupture of viral particles was similar in appearance to that reported for other paramyxoviruses. It seems probable that this component has a helical configuration.

Characteristic abnormal cell forms of some microorganisms: A contribution to taxonomy

The effect of penicillin upon morphology was studied with two species of bacteria and with streptococci. The morphology of Miyagawanella psittaci varied considerably under the influence of penicillin in contrast to the lack of such effect upon viruses. Classification of miyagawanellae outside the viruses is justified. Appropriate dosages of penicillin induced extensive branching in Lactobacillus bifidus. This contrasted with the lack of such effect upon L. acidophilus. Removal from the family Lactobacillaceae is justified and indicates relationship to the actinomycetes. Cells of five species of the streptococcus showed development of oval and elongated forms while four strains of micrococci revealed changes in size and not in shape. This indicates lack of close relationships between streptococci and micrococci.

The fine structure of mitochondria in the frog nephron correlated with cytochrome oxidase activity

The high cytochrome oxidase activity of the proximal tubule of the nephron of Rana pipiens markedly decreases under certain environmental conditions. Proximal tubular cells with high cytochrome oxidase activity have mitochondria with transverse cristae and numerous dense mitochondrial granules in the matrix. Proximal tubular cells with low or absent cytochrome oxidase activity have a heterogeneous population of mitochondria, some having transverse cristae, others having longitudinally oriented internal membranes. Mitochondrial granules are virtually absent from the latter forms. “Ring”, crescentic, and oval forms with parallel, concentric internal membranes are also seen in the absence of cytochrome oxidase activity. Distal tubular cytochrome oxidase activity does not vary significantly, and the mitochondria uniformly have transverse cristae and dense mitochondrial granules in the matrix. The relationship of the modified mitochondria to similar forms reported previously in other situations under physiological and pathological conditions, and to mitochondria in tissues known to have low oxidative capacity, is discussed. It is concluded that no similar mitochondrial forms have previously been associated with low cytochrome oxidase activity, and, conversely, no mitochondria of low oxidative capacity have previously been reported to have structural transformations similar to those described. A possible relationship to defective oxidative phosphorylation is discussed. It is suggested that some of the internal lamellar membranes of “myelin” figures may be remnants of mitochondrial internal membranes, but no strong or conclusive evidence can be offered. It is thought that both the enzymatic and the structural changes in mitochondria reflect a specific adaptive response of the proximal tubular cell. The modified mitochondria may well have acquired specific metabolic and functional properties, but the possibility of their being degenerative in nature has not been excluded.

Variation in spermiogenesis in the teleost family Cottidae

AbstractIn the family Cottidae there is a greater variation in the shape of the sperm than has been found, with one exception, among all the remainder of the teleosts. There is an oval and a slender type of sperm with intergrading forms. The oval and the slender types vary, so that there is a more or less complete gradation from a nearly round, disc‐shaped sperm to a slender, flattened sperm.Spermatid masses have been found only in some of the oval sperm forms. They have been found in seven species and subspecies of the genus Cottus and in three other genera of the family, but have not been found outside of the Cottidae. They occur in widely separated places, such as Norway and China, and in both fresh‐ and salt‐water forms. In Cottus bairdii they are not found in all localities, their presence apparently being due to some external factor, perhaps temperature. It is highly probable that further investigation will show that in other species of the family, also, spermatid masses are present in some localities and not in others.