Sperm Mobility Research Articles

Clinical-experimental data influence Speroton on the fertility parameters of ejaculate

The article analyzes the experience of studying the properties of patients ejaculate. They were 30 men with normal semen, idiopathic infertility secretory type and varicocele in the postoperative period. The total number of patients was 30, 10 in each group. The study was conducted with dietary supplement Speroton (without the inclusion of ancillary components) to the maximum effective concentration. Stages of the study consisted of the evaluation of the main indicators of semen (WHO, 5 th edition). The study was conducted over 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours and 24 hours after the addition of the dietary supplement Speroton. Set material was 3 months. The study dietary supplement Speroton was used in three different concentrations (1:100,1:200,1:1000). Was used to estimate the mobility, viability and morphology of spermatozoa within a specified time of incubation by mixing the dietary supplement and ejaculate. The study of sperm motility in groups separated by disease, showed the following changes: the best results were in group 1 – active mobility increase by 46 % in the first hour of incubation, total – 15 % for the first hour of incubation. In second place were indicators of mobility in the third group after surgery for varicocele – 22 and 14 %, respectively, in last place in the group, with a secretory infertility is increasing the activity and overall mobility was 14 %. The study of the dietary supplement in the experiment revealed Speroton positive effect on sperm motility active. Maximum effect was obtained at a dilution of 1:200 – active mobility increased by 27 % for the 1 st hour experiment. The results obtained allow to recommend the dietary supplement Speroton as part of precomplex conservative therapy in patients referred for treatment methods of assisted reproductive technologies, as well as in patients with a change in fertility due to varicocele in the postoperative period and idiopathic patozoospermia.

Penetración espermática intracervical e intrauterina en la infertilidad funcional por factor cervical

En 14 mujeres con infertilidad funcional por factor cervical se realizaron 30 pruebas postcoitales en días preovulatorios, con recuentos exactos de espermatozoides en moco cervicaI y contenido intrauterino. Los valores se comparan con los de 19 mujeres senos, multíparas. Una paciente normal y dos infértiles fueron seguidas con determinaciones seriadas a través de un ciclo completo. La cuantificación exacta de la cristalización del moco, realizada mediante un nuevo método, resultó ser un buen criterio de evaluación de la penetrabilidad cervical. A nivel intracervical los resultados del grupo infértil no fueron significativamente diferentes de los controles; una leve disminución de los espermios móviles direccionales carece de valor práctico. Por el contrario, a nivel intrauterino, en el grupo infértil se detectaron espermios sólo en 7 de los 30 casos, con concentraciones muy bajas; en el grupo control fueron 18 de 19 casos. Se insiste en el valor del recuento espermático intrauterino, muy superior a las pruebas intracervicales. La técnica empleada permite obtener resultados cuantitativos más exactos que los reportados por la literatura. El tratamiento consistió principalmente en estrógenos a dosis baja en días 8 o 14 del ciclo. Se consiguió mejoría de la calidad del moco en 11 pacientes y gestación en 8 (57%).

A Cascade of epistatic interactions regulating teratozoospermia in mice.

Infertility in humans and subfertility in domestic animals are two major reproductive problems. Among human couples, ~15% are diagnosed as infertile, and males are considered responsible in about 50% of the cases. To examine male fertility, various sperm tests including analyses of sperm morphology, sperm count and sperm mobility are usually performed. Teratozoospermia, a condition characterized by the presence of morphologically abnormal sperm, is considered as a symptom of infertility. B10.MOL-TEN1 (TEN1) mice (Mus musculus) show inherited teratozoospermia at high frequencies (~50%). In this study, the polygenic control of teratozoospermia in the TEN1 strain was analysed. A quantitative trait loci analysis indicated three statistically significant loci, Sperm-head morphology 3 (Shm3; logarithm of the odds (LOD) score, 29.25), Shm4 (LOD score, 6.80), and Shm5 (LOD score, 3.58). These three QTL peaks were mapped to 24.3 centimorgans (cM) on chromosome 1, 32.0 cM on chromosome X, and 63.8 cM on chromosome 6, respectively. Another locus that is yet to be determined was also predicted. Shm3 was found to be the major locus responsible for teratozoospermia, and a sequential cascade of interactions of the other three loci was apparent. These results are expected to help understand the mechanisms underlying reproductive problems in humans or domestic animals.

Researches Regarding the Influence of the Bulls Age on the Raw and Processed Semen

The researches were made within S.C. Semtest BVN Targu Mures on a sample of 1946 ejaculates collected from eight bulls, with the age between two and nine years, of Fleckvieh breed, collected between the year 2000 and 2006. In this direction, to identify main variation sources and the way this factors act upon sperm production and implicitly on the quality of the semen material, sperm parameters were evaluated by the bulls age. Thus, they were determined the following parameters: the volume of the ejaculate, sperm concentration, sperm mobility in raw semen material, sperm mobility in defrosted semen material, obtained and admited doses. Following the researches it was confirmed that the ejaculates volume rises from 6.07 ml at two years category up to 9.61 ml at six years category, after that decreases; the concentration of raw sperm is higher at young bulls, and regarding the number of obtained and admited doses, the age of the bulls has a signifiant influence, with variations showing an ascendent trend depending on the ageing of the bulls. The results are showing, that depending on the age, the volume of the ejaculate grows, raw sperm mobility and concentration is highier at young age and regarding the obtained and admited doses number, they grow along with the age. Semen production, quantitative and also qualitative, is also influenced by the age of the bulls. Â

Variations of motility and survival with storage time at 4°C of epididymal spermatozoa Ouled-Djellal breed rams in Eastern Algeria.

Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate some reproduction performances in Ouled-Djellal rams.Materials and Methods:This study involved genital organs removed after slaughter from 54 rams at the municipal slaughterhouse of Batna (East Algeria).Results:The measurements of survival and mobility of epididymal sperm followed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after collection, revealed significant (p<0.05) to highly significant differences (p>0.001) according to time. Thus, concerning the sperm motility the values were 91.00±2.40%, 89.20±2.40%, 77.00±6.20% and 62.60±1.20% at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Indeed, in live sperm, the viability rates were 82.15±1.48%, 77.67±1.74%, 66.56±1.95% and 52.30±1.46% at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively.Conclusion:This study revealed that epididymal spermatozoa stored at 04°C for 72 h kept their mobility and vitality at nearly a half of their the original parameters.

Sonographic Evaluation of Mobile Echogenicities Within the Epididymis

Current ultrasound systems have significantly improved spatial and temporal resolution secondary to increased transducer frequencies, increased bandwidth, and complex signal processing such as harmonics and compound scanning. The case presented describes the differential diagnoses of small, linear, mobile echogenic foci visualized by sonography in the left epididymal tail. Differentiation of moving parasites associated with filariasis versus mobile sperm may become more difficult as the resolution of ultrasound equipment continues to improve.

A unique mechanism of successful fertilization in a domestic bird.

Fertilization is an indispensable step for formation of a zygote in sexual reproduction, leading to species survival. When mating occurs, sperm is transported to the female reproductive tracts via the seminal plasma (SP). SP is derived from male accessory sex glands and it plays pivotal roles for fertilization in animals. However, molecular mechanisms of SP or a fluid derived from male accessory sex glands for successful fertilization remain unclear. Here, we report that in male quail the cloacal gland (CG) produces prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) that contributes to successful fertilization. PGF2α, as well as the secretion of CG (CGS), induced vaginal contractions and caused the opening of the entrance of the sperm storage tubules, the structures responsible for the long-term sperm storage and fertilization. The removal of CGS from the male before mating reduced the fertility, but the supplementation of CGS or PGF2α rescued the subfertility. We further showed that male CG contains glucose that is utilized as energy source for the intrinsic sperm mobility after transportation to female vagina. This mechanism, in concert with the excitatory effects of PGF2α enables successful fertilization in the domestic bird.

Physiological effects of heat stress on Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila: genome-wide expression patterns and stress-related traits.

Climate change is compounding the threats to the future of biodiversity, already impacted by habitat loss, invasive species and diseases. In the Hawaiian Islands, many of the endemic species have narrow habitat ranges that make them especially vulnerable to climate change. The Hawaiian Drosophila, a remarkably diverse group of species with 11 listed as federally endangered, are thought to be sensitive to temperature changes. To examine the species differences in sensitivity of Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila to temperature changes, wild populations of Drosophila sproati, a relatively common species, and Drosophila silvestris, a rare species, were collected from two locations on Hawaii Island and bred in common laboratory conditions. Adult flies were exposed to hot and cold temperatures and compared with adult flies at control temperatures. Drosophila silvestris adults were less tolerant to heat stress than D. sproati for both survival and sperm mobility. In contrast, D. silvestris adults were more tolerant to cold stress than D. sproati for adult survival. The expression of 4950 Gene Ontology annotated gene transcripts was also analysed in high-temperature-treated and control males to identify candidate genes related to heat tolerance. There were more than twice as many transcripts differentially expressed after high temperature treatment for D. silvestris (246 transcripts) as for D. sproati (106 transcripts), with 13 Gene Ontology terms enriched between temperatures for D. silvestris and merely three in D. sproati. The combined results are consistent with D. sproati occurring more widely today as well as occurring at lower elevations than D. silvestris and with a genetically based temperature response, which is more severe in D. silvestris at high temperatures than that in D. sproati. These experiments demonstrate the potential for different capacities of species to adapt to future climate change conditions as well as providing an explanation for historical changes in the distribution of species.

Protective Effect of Administered Rolipram against Radiation-Induced Testicular Injury in Mice.

PurposePelvic irradiation for the treatment of cancer can affect normal cells, such as the rapidly proliferating spermatogenic cells of the testis, leading to infertility, a common post-irradiation problem. The present study investigated the radioprotective effect of rolipram, a specific phosphodiesterase type-IV inhibitor known to increase the expression and phosphorylation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB), a key factor for spermatogenesis, with the testicular system against pelvic irradiation.Materials and MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were treated with pelvic irradiation (2 Gy) and rolipram, alone or in combination, and were sacrificed at 12 hours and 35 days after irradiation.ResultsRolipram protected germ cells from radiation-induced apoptosis at 12 hours after irradiation and significantly increased testis weight compared with irradiation controls at 35 days. Rolipram also ameliorated radiation-induced testicular morphological changes, such as changes in seminiferous tubular diameter and epithelial height. Additionally, seminiferous tubule repopulation and stem cell survival indices were higher in the rolipram-treated group than in the radiation group. Moreover, rolipram treatment counteracted the radiation-mediated decrease in the sperm count and mobility in the epididymis.ConclusionsThese protective effects of rolipram treatment prior to irradiation may be mediated by the increase in pCREB levels at 12 hours post-irradiation and the attenuated decrease in pCREB levels in the testis at 35 days post-irradiation in the rolipram-treated group. These findings suggest that activation of CREB signaling by rolipram treatment ameliorates the detrimental effects of acute irradiation on testicular dysfunction and the related male reproductive functions in mice.

Researches Regarding the Influence of the Season on the Raw and Processed Semen Production

The objective of this study was to present productivity performances regarding semen production of eight Fleckvieh bulls maintained in S.C. Semtest Targu-Mures center and the manner in wich the season acts on the semen production and implicitly on the quality of semen material. In this way they were made researches on the quality of the semen material after collection and after dilution, at a number of 1946 ejaculates and which were analized and evaluated depending on the season and per calendar year. Thus, they were determined the following parameters: the volume of the ejaculate, sperm concentration, sperm mobility in raw semen material, sperm mobility in defrosted semen material, obtained and admited doses. Following the researches it was established that the semen material volume is influenced by the conditions of the collection year, the environment being a strong influence on the studied character; the mobility and the sperm concentration they are not influenced by the season in which the collection was done, and regarding the average number of obtained and admitted dosages per ejaculate, was the highest in the autumn season, when were obtained 485 doses, respectively 441 doses, and the most reduced values were obtained in the winter season 434 doses respectively 374 admitted doses.

Ram seminal plasma proteome and its impact on liquid preservation of spermatozoa.

Extensive analysis of the ram seminal plasma proteome reveals a complex and diverse protein composition. This composition varies between males with different sperm preservation abilities. Several proteins were shown to originate from the spermatozoa and positively correlate with sperm liquid preservation, indicating that these proteins can be traced as sperm biomarkers within the seminal plasma. The zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein (ZAG) was found to have a biphasic effect on sperm mobility, with a short-term stimulation followed by a long-term exhaustion of sperm mobility after a 24h preservation period.

PD24-03 A PREOPERATIVE PROGNOSTIC NOMOGRAM FOR PREDICTING CHANGES IN SEMEN PARAMETERS IN INFERTILE MEN AFTER VARICOCELE REPAIR

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Therapy1 Apr 2014PD24-03 A PREOPERATIVE PROGNOSTIC NOMOGRAM FOR PREDICTING CHANGES IN SEMEN PARAMETERS IN INFERTILE MEN AFTER VARICOCELE REPAIR Mary Samplaski, Changhong Yu, Michael W. Kattan, Kirk Lo, Ethan Grober, and Keith Jarvi Mary SamplaskiMary Samplaski More articles by this author , Changhong YuChanghong Yu More articles by this author , Michael W. KattanMichael W. Kattan More articles by this author , Kirk LoKirk Lo More articles by this author , Ethan GroberEthan Grober More articles by this author , and Keith JarviKeith Jarvi More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2014.02.1994AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES In most men with abnormal semen parameters, varicocele repair results in improved semen parameters. However, there is no way to predict which men will respond and the expected seminal changes. We formulated a nomogram to predict improvements in post-varicocele repair semen parameters, based on pre-repair varicocele characteristics and semen parameters. METHODS Men presenting for a fertility evaluation from 2008-2012 undergoing varicocele repair (surgical or radiographic embolization) were identified via a prospectively collected database. The improvement in semen parameters after repair were modeled using multivariable linear regression models based on patient age, varicocele grade on the L or R, mean pre-repair ejaculate volume (mL), total motile sperm count (TMC) (million), motility (%), and normal morphology (%). Model performance was quantified by concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Pearson correlation coefficient after internal validation. RESULTS 383 men underwent varicocele repair. 315 (82.2%) were repaired microsurgically and 68 (17.8%) via radiologic embolization. Left-sided varicoceles were present in 198 (51.7%), and bilateral varicoceles in 178 (46.5%). Predictors for post-repair TMC were: L varicocele grade, ejaculate volume, concentration and motility. Predictors for post-repair sperm concentration were: L varicocele grade, sperm concentration and motility. Predictors for post-repair sperm motility were: age, L varicocele grade, motility, normal morphology and TMC. Predictors for post-repair sperm morphology were: age, R varicocele grade, normal morphology and TMC. Nomograms to predict post-repair TMC (Figure 1), sperm concentration, motility and morphology were constructed. These nomograms proved to be accurate as quantified by CCC and Pearson’s correlation for all models based on 1000 bootstrap resamples. The CCCs were 0.45, 0.47, 0.65 and 0.36 for sperm concentration, mobility, morphology and TMC respectively. CONCLUSIONS Clinical factors provide substantial predictive ability to predict post-varicocele repair semen parameters. These nomograms may be used by clinicians to predict improvements in post-varicocele repair semen parameters, based on pre-repair varicocele characteristics and semen parameters. © 2014FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 191Issue 4SApril 2014Page: e731-e732 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2014MetricsAuthor Information Mary Samplaski More articles by this author Changhong Yu More articles by this author Michael W. Kattan More articles by this author Kirk Lo More articles by this author Ethan Grober More articles by this author Keith Jarvi More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Membrane pacman: small steps for the voltage‐sensitive phosphatases

The voltage-sensitive phosphatases (VSPs) are a fascinating family of membrane-associated enzymes consisting of a voltage-sensing domain (VSD), similar to that found in canonical voltage-gated channels, and an intracellular catalytic domain. Although found in every eukaryotic organism, their functions are not at all clear. Since many of these phosphatases catalyse the degradation of important signalling lipids such as phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), they serve several important functions. For example, they control sperm mobility and play a role in depolarization-induced calcium transients upon egg fertilization. It has been speculated that they are important in the control of cell proliferation and organ differentiation; however, our understanding of the physiological roles of these proteins is still developing (Villalba-Galea, 2012). Voltage-dependent control of enzymatic activity in VSPs was first demonstrated by Murata et al. (2005). It was also shown that changes in voltage produce charge movement mediated by the VSD that can be recorded as transient sensing currents, related to the gating currents of voltage-dependent ion channels. One of the major questions still needing clarification is what is the mechanism by which the VSD controls the enzymatic activity. Progress in this area of research has been rapid and the article by Sakata and Okamura in this issue of The Journal of Physiology (Sakata & Okamura, 2014) represents an important advance into this problem. In the case of the tetrameric voltage-gated ion channels, four VSDs are coupled to the opening of a single pore domain, which can be thought of as the analogue of the catalytic domain in VSPs. It has been known for some time that membrane depolarization causes outward movement of the VSDs and that this is coupled to opening of the channel pore through a specialized linker domain. For these proteins, the electromechanical coupling process is strict, meaning that all four VSDs have to be in an activated position for the pore to be open and this relationship can be evidenced experimentally because charge movement, in the form of gating or sensing currents, precedes channel opening at all voltages. It also means that spontaneous or voltage-independent opening of the channel pore is exceedingly improbable. An important similar question for the VSPs relates to the interplay between VSD movements, as reported by the transient sensing current, and the activity of the phosphatase domain. Does the VSD need to be fully activated upon depolarization for the enzymatic activity to take place? The X-ray structures of the catalytic domain suggest a direct and graded control of the catalytic domain by voltage through activation of the VSD, but this point still requires clarification (Kohout et al. 2010). Sakata & Okamura (2014) now shed light on this matter in their novel studies that make use of a clever combination of diverse mutants of the Danio rerio (zebrafish) phosphatase, known as Dr-VSP. Their present findings demonstrate that the phosphatase activity is linked to VSD movement in a graded fashion. In other words, the voltage sensor domain does not need to be fully activated to trigger the enzymatic activity. The experiments in this work thus are consistent with a coupling between charge movement and enzyme activity that is different from what has been observed in voltage-gated potassium ion channels. These data suggest instead that, in contrast to voltage-gated channels, an allosteric coupling model could explain the relationship between activation of the voltage sensor and the catalytic domain of Dr-VSP (Fig. 1). In such a mechanism, both the resting and the activated state(s) of the voltage sensor can drive the activation of the phosphatase domain, although with different efficiencies. If this is the case, one immediate prediction of an allosteric coupling model is that there should be some phosphatase activity at negative potentials. In reality such spontaneous and voltage-independent activity might be very difficult to detect. Another consequence of the allosteric mechanism is that charge movement should have different voltage dependence when the phosphatase is in the active or the inactive conformation. Sakata & Okamura (2014) have thus opened the gates for such future experiments, which will enhance our understanding of the inner workings of these mesmerizing proteins. The resting states of the voltage-sensing domains, Ri, are occupied at negative voltages, while depolarization shifts the equilibrium towards activated states, Ai. The orange arrows represent the charge-moving transitions that give rise to the sensing current. Canonical voltage-gated channels follow the path enclosed in grey, in which the open state is reached only after all charge-moving transitions take place, while the voltage-sensitive phosphatase Dr-VSP can access the activated (catalytic) states, Ai, from any of the resting states, Ri. None declared.

Intrapopulational variation of ejaculate traits and sperm depletion in red‐sided garter snakes

AbstractFemale sexual promiscuity is a prevalent element of mating systems. One consequence of female sexual promiscuity is that male‐male competition often continues post‐copulation within the female's reproductive tract. According to theory, the number of sperm a male inseminates relative to his rivals strongly predicts his fertilization success. However, sperm quality is also important, especially when males are sperm limited and female sperm storage is prevalent. In this study, we examined intrapopulational variation in sperm numbers and ejaculate quality (sperm mobility) in male red‐sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, and determined whether these traits varied with male body size and condition over successive matings. We obtained sperm by dissolving copulatory plugs collected from natural matings, which enabled us to also test whether males allocated more sperm to larger, more fecund females. We found significant variation in ejaculate quality among males and that small males transferred as many sperm as large males. Total sperm numbers declined significantly from a male's first to second ejaculate suggesting that males may become significantly sperm depleted across successive matings. The mass of the relatively sperm‐free posterior portion of the copulatory plug that remained after liberation of sperm was correlated with copulation duration. Males copulated longer with larger females; however, longer copulation durations did not correlate with total sperm. Thus, males may allocate more copulatory plug material to larger females to guard against her remating, instead of allocating more sperm.

Influence of oxidative stress on sperm quality in animal

Oxidative stress has negatively influence on semen quality in human and animals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by oxidants and antioxidants imbalance lead to DNA including DNA fragmentation, deletions and mutations as well as base degradation, protein and lipids damage in sperm due to poor antioxidant system and high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In addition, excess ROS can adversely affect plasma membrane fluidity as well as permeation leading to apoptosis. Furthermore, ROS resulted in declined sperm mobility, viability and sperm-oocyte fusion due to a reduction in axonemal protein phosphorylation. In general, oxidative stress can impair the sperm quality affecting reproductive performance.

Premises for fowl sperm preservation based on applied bioenergetics1

The primary goal of this work was to test whether the sperm mobility assay could be used to derive mathematical relationships from which predictions could be made about sperm cell function. A precondition was random sampling from a pool of sperm. This precondition was met by centrifuging mobile sperm through 12% (wt/vol) Accudenz containing the Ca(2+) chelator 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) and then holding washed sperm at 20°C within buffered potassium chloride. These 2 conditions rendered washed sperm immobile at 20°C. Resumption of sperm mobility was independent of time (P > 0.8558) when sperm were reactivated at body temperature with 2 mM Ca(2+) in isotonic sodium chloride at pH 7.4. Reactivated sperm mobility was 93% of the prewash control. Subsequent experiments served to define a dose response, predict optimal conditions for in vitro sperm mobility, and show how sperm can recover from an imposed non-physiological condition. Thus, functions were derived from which predictions were made. Whereas the utility of BAPTA treatment was confirmed in a new context, such utility did not address the question of whole-cell Ca(2+) flux during sperm cell manipulation. This issue is pivotal for the application of bioenergetics to fowl sperm preservation. Therefore, the secondary goal of this research was to investigate sperm cell Ca(2+) flux using a simulation of conditions encountered by sperm during centrifugation through 12% (wt/vol) Accudenz. These conditions included a temperature of 30°C, a Ca(2+) sink, and no exogenous substrate. Sperm motion was measured with a Hobson SpermTracker. Data points conformed to parabolic functions when motile concentration and velocity were plotted as functions of time. In each case, maximums were observed, e.g., 26 min for motile concentration. The upswing was attributed to a redistribution of intracellular Ca(2+) whereas the downswing was attributed to sperm cell Ca(2+) depletion. A pronounced isothermal increase was observed for each variable when the Ca(2+) sink was overcome with exogenous Ca(2+). Experimental outcomes supported four testable premises applicable to fowl sperm preservation research: 1) the importance of sperm mobility phenotype, 2) the relationship between mitochondrial Ca(2+) cycling and sperm mobility, 3) the utility of the sperm mobility assay for predicting experimental outcomes, and 4) understanding mitochondrial Ca(2+) cycling in terms of whole-cell Ca(2+) flux.

Molecular Cloning and Subcellular Localization of Tektin2-Binding Protein 1 (Ccdc 172) in Rat Spermatozoa

Tektins (TEKTs) are composed of a family of filament-forming proteins localized in cilia and flagella. Five types of mammalian TEKTs have been reported, all of which have been verified to be present in sperm flagella. TEKT2, which is indispensable for sperm structure, mobility, and fertilization, was present at the periphery of the outer dense fiber (ODF) in the sperm flagella. By yeast two-hybrid screening, we intended to isolate flagellar proteins that could interact with TEKT2, which resulted in the isolation of novel two genes from the mouse testis library, referred as a TEKT2-binding protein 1 (TEKT2BP1) and -protein 2 (TEKT2BP2). In this study, we characterized TEKT2BP1, which is registered as a coiled-coil domain-containing protein 172 (Ccdc172) in the latest database. RT-PCR analysis indicated that TEKT2BP1 was predominantly expressed in rat testis and that its expression was increased after 3 weeks of postnatal development. Immunocytochemical studies discovered that TEKT2BP1 localized in the middle piece of rat spermatozoa, predominantly concentrated at the mitochondria sheath of the flagella. We hypothesize that the TEKT2-TEKT2BP1 complex might be involved in the structural linkage between the ODF and mitochondria in the middle piece of the sperm flagella.

Effect of Guava (Psidium guajava) Leaves Essential Oil on Some Reproductive Parameters in Male Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)

Aim: To assess the effects of essential oil from guava leaves on some reproductive parameters. Methods: Thirty-two male guinea pigs (Cavia porcelus) of three months old and weighing between 350 and 400 g were used. These guinea pigs were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each. Each group was randomly attributed orally for 60 days one of the following guava leaf essential oil doses: 0 (control group), 80, 100 and 120 μl of oil per kg body weight. At the end of treatment, all animals were sacrificed to assess the reproductive parameters. Results: Body weight, relative weight of the seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and epididymis were not significantly increased (p>0.05) with the considered guava leaves essential oil doses. The testes weights significantly increased (p<0.05) in animals who received 100 and 120 μl/kg body weight compared to control. A significant increase (p<0.05) in sperm concentration, mobility and viability was observed in animals which received the essential oil doses compared to control. Also, the level of proteins and testosterone in serum and testes significantly increased (p<0.05) with the essential oil doses. Conclusion: Guava leaves essential oil can be used to improve male reproductive performances.

How do y-chromosomes modulate genome-wide epigenetic States: genome folding, chromatin sinks, and gene expression.

The Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans contain only a handful of protein-coding genes, which are related to sperm mobility and reproductive fitness. Despite low or absent protein coding polymorphism, the Drosophila Y chromosome has been associated with natural phenotypic variation, including variation in the expression of hundreds to thousands of genes located on autosomes and on the X chromosome. Polymorphisms present in the large blocks of heterochromatin and consisting of differences in the amounts and kinds of sequences for satellite DNA and transposable elements may be the source of this modulation. Here we review the evidence and discuss mechanisms for global epigenetic regulation by repetitious elements in the Y chromosome. We also discuss how the discovery of this new function impacts the current knowledge about Y chromosome origin, its current dynamics, and future fate.

To the question of spermatozoa mobility evaluation adjusted for MAR-test results

MAR-test (Mixed agglutination reaction) performs in order to determinate the sperm antibody - Ig G, A and/or M in ejaculate. We calculated the spermatozoa mobility adjusted for MAR- test results. Finally the new approach to the normal MAR- test criteria interpretation in case of spermatozoa mobility parameters between 32 % and 35 % was found out. Even if indicators of spermatozoa mobility are within the range of its normal values - 32, 33, 34 and 35%, the astenozoospermia takes place at values of MAR- test more or equal then 2, 5, 7 and 10% respectively. Finally the range of MAR-test parameters from 0 to 10 % cannot be estimated as a standard normal value if the number of progressively active forms of spermatozoa less than 35 %.