Showing papers in "Archives of Andrology in 1985"

Semen characteristics in pubertal boys. I. Semen quality after first ejaculation.

Abstract: Semen specimens from 134 pubertal boys were examined, and some 274 assays were made. An analysis of the biological quality of semen in relation to the period of time after first ejaculation brings high values of statistical dependence of the volume of semen, its liquefaction, spermatozoal concentration, percentage of morphologically normal forms of spermatozoa, and normal spermatozoal motility on the period of time after first ejaculation. Normal figures for semen volume, semen liquefaction, spermatozoal concentration, and morphology are observed 12-14 months after first ejaculation. The percentage of normally motile spermatozoa becomes standard 21-23 months after first ejaculation. There were changes in semen characteristics from azoospermia through cryptozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and asthenozoospermia to normospermia. Azoospermia dominates until the fifth month after the first ejaculation, oligozoospermia from the sixth to the eleventh month, asthenozoospermia from the twelfth to the twentieth month, and normospermia from the twenty-first month.

Fertility and hormonal function in patients with a nonseminomatous tumor of the testis.

Abstract: Semen quality and serum testosterone, LH, and FSH levels were studied in 54 patients with a unilateral nonseminomatous tumor of the testis--14 before and 40 after orchiectomy. Semen analyses before and after orchiectomy gave essentially no different results: a poor semen quality was found in most men. The additional effect of a recent orchiectomy on semen quality was not demonstrable in the patients described here. Before orchiectomy, increased testosterone levels were found in patients with a beta-hCG-producing tumor. After orchiectomy serum testosterone levels were decreased, and LH and FSH levels increased. With beta-hCG-producing tumors FSH was suppressed after orchiectomy, and testosterone levels did not exceed those in patients with a tumor not producing beta-hCG. The results of semen analysis and of hormonal studies after orchiectomy suggest a dysfunction of the remaining "normal" testis. Diminished spermatogenesis and insufficient testosterone production by the Leydig cells clearly indicate anomalies already present before orchiectomy.

Do non-spermatozoal cells mainly stem from spermiogenesis? Study of 106 fertile and 102 subfertile men.

Abstract: The various non-spermatozoal cell types in the semen of 106 fertile (F) and 102 subfertile (SF) men were described and their relative proportions estimated. About 94% (F) and 90% (SF) were found to be germinal elements, among which, respectively, about 27% and 51% were spermatids, 48% and 36% residual bodies, 19.4% and 2.6% primary spermatocytes, 0.03% and 0.61% spermatogonia. The epithelial cells and blood cells represented about 6% (F) and 10% (SF) of the non-spermatozoal cells; in F men 5.3% and in SF men 9.5% were found to be polymorphonuclear leucocytes. In SF men the predominance of spermatids might be due to a particular fragility of spermiogenesis. To the three stages of spermatogenesis-the gonial multiplication, meiosis, and spermiogenesis-might correspond three specific pathologies. A pathology of the very germ cell production was thus suggested, as well as a pathology of the means by which the final product would be controlled. The Sertoli cell was supposed to be mainly involved in the latter process.

Semen LDH-X Deficiency and Male Infertility

Abstract: Sperm-specific isozyme LDH-X (LDH-C4) in the semen of some infertile men with a normal sperm concentration was absent. This finding suggests a need for semen LDH-X isozyme determination in the evaluation of some causes of male infertility.

Tamoxifen and oligospermia.

Abstract: Thirty normogonadotropic oligospermic males were administered Tamoxifen (20 mg/day) for 4 months. A complete evaluation of seminal parameters before and after treatment was performed. An increase of both mean sperm concentration and total sperm count was noted after treatment with Tamoxifen (p less than 0.05), whereas no variation was observed for semen volume, sperm morphologic characteristics, or sperm motility. Hormonal patterns of 5 of these subjects before, during, and after 3 months of treatment with Tamoxifen showed a progressive increase of gonadotropin (especially LH) and 17 beta E2 values; testosterone variations were minimal, and PRL showed a slight decrease.

Activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by spermatozoa

Abstract: Human spermatozoa activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the presence of serum. Activation of PMN was studied by measuring the emission of chemiluminescence by the PMN. The amount of chemiluminescence emitted depended on the number of spermatozoa and the serum concentration, and the presence of antibody or complement. Spermatozoa were able to activate PMN in the presence of heat-inactivated serum (only antibody, no complement), serum obtained from a patient with agammaglobulinemia (without antibodies and only complement as opsonin), and in MgEGTA agammaglobulinemic serum (only the alternative pathway of complement intact). In the presence of heat-inactivated agammaglobulinemic serum no significant chemiluminescence was observed. It was concluded that spermatozoa activate the alternative pathway of complement. Dead spermatozoa were more able to activate PMN than viable spermatozoa.

Phosphorus-31 and proton NMR analysis of reproductive organs of male rats.

Abstract: Phorphorus NMR spectra of the whole reproductive organs of male rats and their perchloric acid extracts indicate the presence of phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine in the testis, glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) in the epididymis, and creatine phosphate, GPC, and GPE in the seminal vesicles. High amounts of carnitine and inositol were observed by the proton NMR of perchloric acid extract of the corpus and cauda epididymis. Smaller amounts of these compounds were observed in the caput epididymis and vas deferens; they were totally absent in the testis. Creatine is present in high concentrations in the testis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles. It is almost absent in all parts of the epididymis.

Effects of a met-enkephalin analogue on motility, O2 consumption, and ATP content of human spermatozoa

Abstract: Opioid narcotics are present in seminal plasma, although their physiological effect on spermatozoa is still unknown. This study reports data on metabolic parameters of human spermatozoa in the presence of a met-enkephalin analogue: D-Ala2-Mephe4-Met-(o)-ol-Enkephalin, FK 33824, Sandoz, Basel, Switzerland (DAMME), and its receptor antagonist naloxone hydrochloride, Endo Laboratories, Garden City, New York. Our findings indicate that the metenkephalin analogue reduces sperm motility and cellular O2 consumption without affecting cellular ATP content and viability. The hypothesis that DAMME acts on adenylate-cyclase is briefly discussed.

Seminal plasma levels of PAPP-A in normospermic and oligospermic men and tissue localization of PAPP-A in the male genital tract.

Abstract: Radioimmunoassay, gel filtration, isoelectric focusing, and immunoperoxidase methods were used to study the levels, properties, and localization of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in the human seminal plasma and male genital tract. Seminal plasma specimens from 20 normospermic and 20 oligospermic men were studied. PAPP-A was found in 30 of 40 samples, the levels ranging from undetectable to 135 μg/liter (median 35 μg/liter) in the normospermic group and from undetectable to 111 μg/liter (median 21 μg/liter) in the oligospermic group. There was no significant difference in the PAPP-A levels between the two groups, and no correlation was observed between the seminal plasma PAPP-A levels and the volume of seminal plasma or the sperm count or the viability of spermatozoa. Serial dilutions of seminal plasma and PAPP-A standard yielded parallel dose-response curves, and incubation with seminal plasma did not result in any change in the elution pattern of [125I] PAPP-A in gel filtration. PAPP-A-im...

Free l-carnitine in human semen

Abstract: Spectrophotometrical (412 nm) readings of known amounts of 1-carnitine gave absorbancy changes with minimal interassay variations (8%) in the range of 15.6-125 microM. A 100-microliters volume of seminal plasma was needed for optimal assay repeatability; recoveries of added carnitine were linear (r = 0.998), indicating a sensitivity limit of 0.70 microgram/ml. Intraassay and interassay repeatability gave variation coefficients of 2% and 1.2%, respectively. By this method, 20 samples in duplicate were analyzed within 2 h. Carnitine levels and semen volumes were inversely correlated (r = 0.49). The ejaculated amounts of carnitine (microgram/ejaculate) were not significantly different in 16 normozoospermic subjects and in 13 oligozoospermic patients. Undetectable levels of carnitine were found in case of deferential-vesicular agenesis, and very low levels were found in cases of monorchidism, confirming the epididymides as major producing organs of the substance. Very low levels were also found in semen of men with varicocele, suggesting that seminal carnitine would be regarded as an index of androgenization.

Semen characteristics in pubertal boys. II. Semen quality in relation to bone age.

Abstract: Semen specimens from 134 pubertal boys were examined and compared to bone age. Normal figures for semen volume, liquefaction, sperm concentration, and morphology were observed between 15 0/12 and 16 0/12 years of bone age. The number of normally motile spermatozoa became standard at 17 0/12 years of bone age. Azoospermia was noted from 13 0/12 to 14 0/12 years of bone age, oligozoospermia from 14 0/12 to 15 0/12, asthenozoospermia from 16 0/12 to 17 0/12, and normospermia from 17 0/12 on.

Effect of caffeine on human sperm penetration into zona-free hamster ova

Abstract: The effect of caffeine on spermatozoal ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova was examined on fresh and frozen-thawed semen samples. The mean motility of 10 fresh semen samples incubated with caffeine significantly increased from 29% to 35%. Sperm penetration into zona-free hamster ova did not differ between the control group and the specimens to which caffeine was added. The same effect of caffeine on sperm motility and hamster ova penetration was noted in the frozen-thawed sperm samples. Motility was enhanced by 21%, but hamster ova penetration did not significantly change. The increase in sperm motility caused by caffeine does not change the fertilizing ability of fresh and frozen-thawed human sperm.

Spermatogenesis in the Bandicoot Rat. I. Duration of the Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium

Abstract: The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was studied in a pest rodent, the bandicoot rat. Fourteen stages of the cycle were identified. The duration of the seminiferous epithelium cycle was determined to be 10.0 days.

Effect of boar seminal plasma and seminal vesicle fluid on porcine lymphocytes.

Abstract: Boar seminal plasma and seminal vesicle fluid inhibited mitogen-induced blastic transformation of porcine lymphocytes. Chromatographic separation of seminal vesicle fluid on Sephadex G-100 yielded four fractions. Only the SV-1 fraction displayed significant inhibition of blastic transformation. The results demonstrated that the immunosuppressive factor(s) in seminal plasma is secreted in seminal vesicles. Increased inhibition of blastic transformation of lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen indicates that seminal plasma inhibits mainly B lymphocytes. Both seminal plasma and seminal vesicle fluid inhibited unstimulated lymphocytes.

Hormone profile in hyperprolactinemic infertile men.

Abstract: Serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, and estradiol in 46 infertile men with hyperprolactinemia were compared with the same in 50 infertile and 30 fertile men with normal serum prolactin levels. Serum FSH levels in hyperprolactinemic men were significantly higher than in the other groups, indicating disturbance of spermatogenic process among those men. Significantly raised serum LH levels were in infertile men with serum prolactin over 1000 U/liter. All men with hyperprolactinemia had significantly lower serum testosterone levels than other infertile and fertile men. Although serum testosterone was not under the lower limit of normal range and high LH levels demonstrated disturbance of Leydig cell function in hyperprolactinemic infertile men, serum estradiol levels were not different among investigated groups. Azoospermic men with raised serum prolactin had higher serum FSH and LH levels than oligospermic men with hyperprolactinemia. These data demonstrated disturbance in hypothalamopituitary-testicular axis in infertile men with hyperprolactinemia. Further studies of prolactin in males with reproductive failure could probably clear this problem.

Sperm Motility and Interactions Among Seminal Uridine, Xanthine, Urate, and Atpase in Fertile and Infertile Men

Abstract: Semen was collected under standardized conditions from men who were divided into three groups: a control group from normal spermiograms, men with abnormal spermiograms, and azoospermic men following vasectomy. Ultracentrifuged seminal plasma was analyzed for uridine, xanthine, urate, and the pelleted material for Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and protein. No significant intergroup differences were noted except the significant elevation of xanthine of vasectomized men. Uridine that occurs in high concentration in seminal plasma displayed a positive correlation to percentage motile sperms from the 26 men with normal and abnormal spermiograms. It was concluded that an optimal secretory function of uridine may parallel the increasing percentage of sperm with a better quality of motility. A linear relationship between ATPase activity and sperm penetration ability existed only when taken into consideration those 13 specimens with lowest enzyme activity.

Testicular aging: vascularization and gametogenesis modifications in the Wistar rat.

Abstract: A light microscopic study was carried out on testicular aging in the Wistar rat at the ages of 7, 12, 24, 40, 56, 72, 104, and 124 weeks. The following tissular modifications were observed: a progressive decrease in capillary density, a gradually reduced spermatogenic production, and a progressive increase of degenerating tubular areas. The following two questions were raised: (1) Are the vascular modifications responsible for the other alterations? (2) Do the anomalies inducing a decreased number of spermatozoa simultaneously lead to genetic alterations in the morphologically normal spermatozoa with fertilizing ability? This question is particularly interesting owing to our current knowledge of the consequences of the father's age on offspring.

Seminal biochemistry and sperm characteristics in infertile men with bacteria in ejaculate.

Abstract: Sperm examination, quantitative sperm culture, citric acid, acid phosphatase, and fructose were assayed in three groups of men: fertile controls without significant bacteriospermia (group I), infertile men with significant bacteriospermia; idiopathic infertile men (group II), and infertile men with varicocele (group III). Level of significance of bacteriospermia was 104 germs/ml of ejaculate. In group II, motility and typical morphology percentages were lower, independently of the degree and the nature of bacteriospermia. Incidence of pathogenic bacteria was higher than in group III and linked to the degree of bacteriospermia. Fructose was unaltered in the two groups of infected men. No modification of prostatic markers was observed in any groups, except in group II, where they decreased when bacteriospermia was lower than 105 germs/ml and when biological pattern of semen evoked chronic prostatitis. Thus, the presence of germs in ejaculate alters the motility and the typical morphology percentages but doe...

Developmental pattern of androgen-binding protein secretion during the critical period of sexual differentiation.

Abstract: Androgen-binding protein (ABP) distribution in the fluids and tissues of fetal and neonatal rats was determined by radioimmunoassay during the critical period of sexual differentiation from 12 days postconception (PC) to 6 days postpartum. No significant differences in plasma ABP concentrations were detected between litters of the same age. Fetal plasma ABP in both sexes was high at 18 days PC and decreased to birth. At birth, this level increased, then continued its decline during the neonatal period. After 4 days, the level in females was significantly lower than that of males; this was the only time a significant difference in ABP levels between the sexes was observed. Amniotic fluid ABP was low at 12 days and increased to a peak at 18 days PC. Thereafter, it decreased as in plasma. ABP concentrations in fetal livers and placentas were almost negligible and changed in parallel with fluid concentrations. No ABP was detected in maternal plasma. Fetal production of ABP begins at the approximate time of gonadal differentiation and reaches a peak at 18 days, the time of peak androgen production. ABP may function as a protection against excessive concentrations of free androgen in the developing fetus and neonate.

Urinary Vasopressin in Male Infertility

Abstract: In 10 healthy but infertile men, semen analysis and urinary vasopressin levels were evaluated and correlated. A significant correlation was observed between sperm count and urinary vasopressin (r -0.86). Similar correlation was seen between sperm motility and urinary vasopressin (r -0.83). It thus appears that higher levels of vasopressin are associated with aspermia and oligozoospermia.

Semen Characteristics in Pubertal Boys. IV. Semen Quality and Hormone Profile

Abstract: The biological quality of semen was contrasted with levels of FSH, LH, and testosterone in plasma. The level of FSH rises significantly from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (3.87 +/- 1.1 mU/ml) to asthenozoospermia (5.73 +/- 2.11 mU/ml). In normospermia, however (4.63 +/- 1.88 mU/ml), the level of FSH decreases in a statistically significant manner and remains at the standard level. Comparing the level of LH to the quality of semen, it rises in a statistically significant manner from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (6.46 +/- 1.35 mU/ml) to oligozoospermia (9.03 +/- 3.35 mU/ml). The level decreases in a statistically significant manner in normospermia (7.15 +/- 1.69 mU/ml). The level of testosterone shows a progressive linear growth from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (6.03 +/- 2.09 micrograms/ml) to normospermia (6.55 +/- 2.12 micrograms/ml). The growth is statistically insignificant.

Value of intraprostatic injection of zinc and vitamin C and of ultrasound application in infertile men with chronic prostatitis

Abstract: Seventy infertile men with chronic prostatitis were treated by prostatic massage and wide-spectrum chemotherapy as basic treatment to which intraprostatic injection of zinc or vitamin C with or without ultrasound application was added as a new line of treatment. Comparison showed no significant improvement of the additive treatment over the conventional treatment used alone. Pus cells in the expressed prostatic smear diminished significantly after treatment, which was associated with significant increase of percentage of motile spermatozoa and significant decrease of abnormal forms. Bacterial flora was studied in comparison with findings in 20 cases of infertile males without prostatitis; staphylococci predominated in both patient and control groups.

Semen characteristics in pubertal boys. III. Semen quality and somatosexual development.

Abstract: The biological quality of semen in 134 pubertal boys was contrasted with somatosexual development. The absence or sparcity of pubic and axillary hair, the absence of facial hair, and infantile-type penile growth are prominent characteristics in azoospermic and cryptozoospermic boys. Sparse or meager pubic hair, absence or sparcity of axillary and facial hair, and puerile penile type are characteristic in oligozoospermia. Female or male pubic hair, meager or normal axillary hair, sparse facial hair, and puerile penile type are characteristic of asthenozoospermia. Female or male pubic hair, meager or normal axillary hair, sparse facial hair, and adult penile type are characteristic in normospermia. Along with the improvement of semen quality the area of the testis expanded and was the largest in normospermia.

Biochemistry of seminal plasma in azoospermic men

Abstract: Seminal plasma from 20 azoospermic and 4 vasectomized men and 75 samples from normal ejaculates were quantitated colorimetrically for zinc, fructose, and glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) contents. The results were similar to those obtained in the normal ejaculates, in 17 of 21 azoospermic ejaculates, whereas in the vasectomized ejaculates, GPC values were reduced. In the remaining 4 azoospermic ejaculates, less than 15% of fructose and GPC and a zinc content three times higher than normal were detected. Vasogram performed in these 4 azoospermic men revealed occlusion or aplasia of the ampula. The data suggest that biochemical evaluation may aid in differential diagnosis of the etiology of azoospermia.

Histochemistry of oxidative metabolism in epididymal epithelium of mouse.

Abstract: The activities of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial dehydrogenases were assessed histochemically in the lining epithelia of five segments of the proximal part and the medial and distal parts of the mouse epididymis. The cytochemical evaluation of enzyme activities revealed by nitro BT or tetranitro BT was well supported by the relative transmittance values. In the principal cells of the proximal part, the activities of dehydrogenases differed according to histological segmentation. In the medial and distal parts of the duct, a progressive increase in the intensity of all the reactions was observed. The “goblet cells” with apical nuclei in the proximal part and the “clear cells” in the medial and distal parts showed higher activities than the adjacent principal cells.

In vitro metabolism of 3H-pregnenolone and 3H-progesterone by adult and prepubertal human testicular tissue before and during gonadotrophic treatment.

Abstract: The in vitro conversion of tritiated pregnenolone and progesterone was studied in testicular tissue from three infertile adult males before and during 25-30 weeks of therapy with hCG alone or combined with hMG. Furthermore, the in vitro conversion of pregnenolone was studied in testicular tissue from five prepubertal boys with undescended testes, two of whom had been subjected to hCG treatment for 5 weeks. The gonadotrophic treatment appeared to augment the steroid conversion mediated by the enzymes 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 alpha-hydroxylase in adult as well as prepubertal testicular tissue. The conversion mediated by C17-20-lyase along the delta 4 metabolic pathway was not increased, causing a "trap" along the delta 4 metabolic pathway. The increased production of testosterone in vitro from tritiated pregnenolone, which was observed during gonadotrophic treatment, probably took place along the delta 5 metabolic pathway through the C17-20-lyase step, whereas C21 steroids converted to the delta 4 metabolic pathway were found to be "trapped" as 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone.

Effects of timing of ovum recovery, cumulus cells, sperm preincubation time, and pH on in vitro fertilization in C57BL/6 mice.

Abstract: The effects of the time of ova recovery following hCG injection, the presence of cumulus cells, duration of sperm preincubation time, and pH on in vitro fertilization in C57BL/6 mice were investigated. Significantly more ova were recovered at 14 h than at 12 h post-hCG injection. Although the number of ova recovered at 16 h was similar to that at 14 h, the percentage of ova showing degeneration increased. The presence or absence of cumulus cells had no effect on ovum fertilization rates, although sperm incubated with cumulus-intact ova underwent the acrosome reaction sooner than those incubated with ova lacking cumulus cells. Sperm motility was sustained slightly longer in the presence of cumulus-free ova than in the presence of cumulus-intact ova. The average percent fertilization of eggs combined with sperm preincubated 1 h was higher than that of sperm preincubated 0 and 0.5 h. Longer preincubation times resulted in a linear decrease in the percent motility and an increase in the percent acrosome reactions. A plot of the number of sperm attaching to the egg vs. coincubation time produced a bell-shaped curve in each case. The greatest number of sperm attaching to the egg occurred between 45 min and 1 h. When the medium was at pH 7.4, fertilization rates were higher than at pH 7.0, 7.2, or 7.6, as were the percent sperm motility and the number of sperm attached to ova. A pH of 7.6 induced 60% of the sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction immediately, and within 1 h all motility was lost.

Properties and regulation of GnRH receptors in the anterior pituitary and the testis of the rat: different response of Leydig cell LH and GnRH receptors to hormonal treatments.

Abstract: The properties (association and dissociation rates, affinity and specificity) of GnRH receptors in the rat pituitary and the Leydig cells are very similar. In addition, in vivo administration for 5 or 11 days of 10 μg of GnRH to adult rats resulted in an increase (p< 0.01) in both Leydig cell and pituitary GnRH receptors. In contrast, the same treatment caused a significant decrease (p< 0.01) of Leydig cell LH receptor number. Furthermore, testosterone propionate (500 μg/day), which had no effect on Leydig cell LH receptors, caused a significant increase (p< 0.01) of testicular GnRH receptors but a decrease (p< 0.01) of pituitary GnRH receptors. Estradiol 17β valerate (5 μg/day) reduced (p< 0.01) both testicular (5 days) and pituitary (5 and 11 days) GnRH receptors. Such treatment for 5 days also decreased (p< 0.05) the Leydig cell LH receptors. No effect of dexamethasone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone was seen after 5 or 11 days of treatment.Thus, although pituitary and Leydig cell receptors appear similar, ...

A new instant cryoprotectant for human sperm.

Abstract: A new instant cryoprotectant, mainly containing culture medium, human serum albumin, and kallikrein, and its laboratory handling in the cryoprotection of semen are described. A comparative study distributed to three cryobiological centers using either egg yolk citrate medium or instant cryoprotectant showed that neither had a significantly better or worse mean percentage recovery rate. The advantage of the new instant cryoprotectant presented consists clinically in the absence of egg yolk and technically in its easy handling. Therefore, ICP is judged as an alternative to ECM in the cryopreservation of human sperm.

Reduced Penetration of Zona-Free Hamster ova by Cryopreserved Human Spermatozoa

Abstract: The use of frozen semen for AID has gained wide acceptance, because of the relatively simple cryopreserving technique and the increased flexibility this method offers any donor insemination programme. Storage of frozen semen is even more important for the preservation of future fertility of young men who face permanent injury to spermatogenesis due to irradiation or chemotherapy for malignant diseases. Pregnancy occurs in 60–90% of women inseminated with freshly ejaculated semen from a donor1. Unfortunately, the conception rate with frozen semen remains about 50–60%2. This reduced pregnancy rate has been associated with morphological and biochemical changes as well as a 30–50% drop in motile spermatozoa of frozen-thawed semen3. With the introduction of the ‘human sperm penetration into zona free hamster ova’test the assessment of the fertilizing potential of human spermatozoa has been enhanced. The test has been shown to be of superior predictive value when compared with the standard semen analyses4.