Complement and complement regulators in the male reproductive system

A Critical Role for Type I IFN–dependent NK Cell Activation in Innate Immune Elimination of Adenoviral Vectors In Vivo

Sera from three fertile men and four infertile men without sperm antibodies, 17 infertile men with sperm antibodies in serum and seminal plasma (S.P.), and 25 infertile men with sperm antibodies in S.P. were tested by Western Blot analysis against sperm membrane extracts and S.P. from fertile nonautoimmune men and infertile autoimmune men. Sera from fertile men reacted against common antigens with molecular weights (MW) of 28, 38, 48, 60, and 68 kD present on sperm from autoimmune and nonautoimmune men and special antigen of MW 76 kD on the sperm of fertile men. Sera from 15 of 17 (88%) autoimmune infertile men with sperm antibodies in serum and S.P. detected special antigens with MW of 58 kD (sera reactivity in 47% of these men), 43kD (in 29%), 30 kD (in 24%), 35 kD (in 18%), 52 kD (in 12%), 41 kD (in 6%), and 71 kD (in 6%) on the sperm of autoimmune men in addition to the common antigens. Sera from 15 of 25 (60%) men with sperm antibodies in their S.P. showed reactivity to special antigens with MW 52 kD (in 20%), 35 kD (in 16%), 41 kD (in 16%), 58 kD (in 8%), 70/71 kD (in 8%), 30 kD (in 8%), and 56 kD (in 4%). Sera from 18 of 42 (43%) infertile men with sperm antibodies also detected special antigens of MW 26, 46, and 76 kD present only in fertile men's sperm. Sera from only 15 of 42 (36%) autoimmune infertile men reacted against special antigens with MW 17, 20, 23, 30, 43, and 58 kD in the seminal plasma of autoimmune infertile men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mannan-binding protein (MBP) is a C-type serum lectin that is an important constituent of the innate immune defense because it activates the complement system via the lectin pathway. While the pig has been proposed to be an attractive source of xenotransplantable tissues and organs, little is known about porcine MBP. In our previous studies, phosphomannan, but not mannan, was found to be an effective inhibitor of the C1q-independent bactericidal activity of newborn piglet serum against some rough strains of Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, the inhibitory activities of phosphomannan and mannan were very similar in the case of MBP-dependent bactericidal activity against rough strains of Escherichia coli K-12 and S-16. Based on these findings, we inferred that an MBP-like lectin with slightly or completely different carbohydrate binding specificity might exist in newborn piglet serum and be responsible for the C1q-independent bactericidal activity. Herein we report that a novel phosphomannan-binding lectin (PMBL) of 33 kDa under reducing conditions was isolated from both newborn and adult porcine serum and characterized. Porcine PMBL functionally activated the complement system via the lectin pathway triggered by binding with both phosphomannan (P-mannan) and mannan, which, unlike MBP, was effectively inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate- or galatose-containing oligosaccharides. Our observations suggest that porcine PMBL plays a critical role in the innate immune defense from the newborn stage to adult-hood, and the establishment of a newborn piglet experimental model for the innate immune system studies is a valuable step toward elucidation of the physiological function and molecular mechanism of lectin pathway.

The aim of this dissertation is to present further information on the effects of boars' seminal plasma on sperm motility and female genitals, while paying particular attention to the boars' characteristics. On this occasion the seminal plasma was tested with regard to practical applicability as an additive to boar semen diluents in liquid form. The first series of tests served to analyse the effect of seminal plasma exchange among ejaculates of two boars on the sperm motility in vitro and mating ability in vivo. The effects on sperm motility were examined in a thermostability test. Furthermore, gilts were inseminated with sperm of either a good or a bad service boar with an additive of homologous or heterologous seminal plasma in the diluent. Success of fertility was determined by the number of recovered ova and embryos. In the course of the test, faeces were taken from the gilts to determine the P4\- progesteronecontent. That was carried out to observe reactions of gilts to the application of seminal plasma from good or bad service boars and of ovulation synchronisation. The objective of the second series of tests was to characterize the effect of a determinate part of seminal plasma in the fluid-preserved semen of boars on sperm motility and fertilisation results, whereby boar specificity was also considered. Ejaculates from five boars were used in the preliminary test for this, having first been treated with diluents containing 0 %, 10 %, 20 % or 40 % seminal plasma. In field trials 196 sows were inseminated with semen, which had been preserved with diluents containing either some 40 % or no seminal plasma. In the first part of the trial we additionally used seminal plasma from nine sires, which were good service boars in practice. In the second part we used seminal plasma from only one boar, whose seminal plasma in previous experiments had shown a constant stimulating effect on the motility of foreign sperm. We subsequently obtained the following results: * Homologous and heterologous seminal plasma can have different effects on the portion of movable sperms. Seminal plasma from ejaculates with a high sperm motility enhanced the motility of foreign sperms and was superior to diluents containing no seminal plasma with regard to the effect on activity of movement by sperm cells. * Inseminations of gilts with the sperm of both good and poor service boars, which had been preserved with diluents, which contained 30 % seminal plasma of a good service boar, resulted in high conception rates (70,1 (31,3) %or rather 77,7 (19,6) %). When seminal plasma from a poor service boar was used as an additive for diluents, only inseminations with such preserved homologous sperms obtained similar high conception rates (82,9 (29,2) %). The conception rate of sows, which were inseminated with preserved homologous sperms through the above mentioned mix of seminal plasma and diluent, was only 53,0 (34,7) %. Differences have not been proved by statistics (-> = 0,05). * These insemination attempts shared that with P4- progesterone-determination in faeces, it is possible to obtain information about the cycle activity of sows and to check the activity of corpus luteum. No connexion was found between the application of seminal plasma from good and poor service boars and the excretion of progesterone through faeces. * In laboratory experiments the additive of seminal plasma to diluent showed a positive effect on sperm motility when stored for 72 hours. In these studies no significant differences were found between the various seminal plasma portions in diluent (10 %, 20 %, 40 %). When ejaculates from routine sperm production were used, a generally stimulating effect of seminal plasma additives to diluent (seminal plasma 40 %) on sperm motility could only be shown during a storage period of about 24 hours. Only the seminal plasma of a determinate boar which clearly and constantly stimulated sperm motility had a significantly positive effect after 72 hours. * The insemination of adult sows with semen, which had been preserved with diluents containing either some or no seminal plasma achieved good results as regards farrowing rates (experimental ratio 1: 88,3 % or rather 85,7 %; experimental ratio 2: 90,5 % or rather 85,7 %), piglet indices (experimental ratio 1: 838,6 or rather 762,7; experimental ratio 2: 760,2 or rather 771,3) and product of the farrowing rate and the size of the litter (experimental ratio 1: 856,5 or rather 797,0; experimental ratio 2: 760,2 or rather 814,2). There are no significant differences. Tendentiously positive effect of a seminal plasma additive to diluent were only seen in the size of litter (+ 1,1) in the experimental ratio 2.

Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis

Preclinical toxicity testing in animal models is a cornerstone of the drug development process, yet it is often unable to predict adverse effects and tolerability issues in human subjects. Species-specific responses to investigational drugs have led researchers to utilize human tissues and cells to better estimate human toxicity. Unfortunately, human cell-derived models are imperfect because toxicity is assessed in isolation, removed from the normal physiologic microenvironment. Microphysiological modeling often referred to as 'organ-on-a-chip' or 'human-on-a-chip' places human tissue into a microfluidic system that mimics the complexity of human in vivo physiology, thereby allowing for toxicity testing on several cell types, tissues, and organs within a more biologically relevant environment. Here we describe important concepts when developing a repro-on-a-chip model. The development of female and male reproductive microfluidic systems is critical to sex-based in vitro toxicity and drug testing. This review addresses the biological and physiological aspects of the male and female reproductive systems in vivo and what should be considered when designing a microphysiological human-on-a-chip model. Additionally, interactions between the reproductive tract and other systems are explored, focusing on the impact of factors and hormones produced by the reproductive tract and disease pathophysiology.

Evidence suggests that disturbing the balance between reactive oxygen species levels and antioxidant contents in seminal plasma leads to oxidative stress resulting in male infertility. This study was carried out to identifying clinical significance of seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation in treatment strategies of male infertility in southwest Iran. Sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes were assessed in fertile (n=105) and infertile (n=112) men. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in seminal plasma were found to be higher significantly (p<.001) in patients. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in seminal plasma were significantly (p<.001) lower in infertile men. Significant negative correlations were observed between MDA levels and sperm motility and normal morphology. Spermatozoa with fragmented DNA were higher (p<.001) in infertile men and significantly correlated with MDA levels and SOD and GPx activities. MDA of 4.2nmol/ml, SOD of 4.89U/ml and GPx of 329.6mU/ml were optimum cut-off limits to discriminate infertile patients from fertile men. The results show the leading role of oxidative stress in aetiology of male infertility in southwest Iran and indicate that evaluation of seminal antioxidant status and DNA integrity can be helpful in men attending infertility clinics during fertility assessment.

Sda β-1,4-N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferaseⅡis a kind of carbohydrate transferases, whose main function is to catalyze and transfer GalNAc to Gal of [Neu5Acα2-3]Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Gal through β-1,4 bond, so that carbohydrate is linked to form the Sda structure. The structure was earliest found in the antigen structure on the blood corpuscle surface; in fact, however, it is widely distributed in the tissues and body fluids of the mammals, including stomach, intestine, kidney, serum, urine, and milk. Recent studies showed that the B4GALNT2 expression was obviously reduced in the gastric cancer and colon cancer cells of human being, causing decrease in the Sda antigen, and the said reduction was closely correlated with the metastasis of the cancer cells; this indicated the importance of B4GALNT2 and its correlation with the bio-system. However, very few studies have been conducted on its physiological functions. In 2003, the research team led by Dell first found the Sda structure in the female reproductive system. Before the physiological functions of the Sda structure was learned about, its invertase B4galnt2 needed to be studied. The research showed that B4galnt2 was correlated with the mouse’s embryo implantation and the maturation of its oocytes. It was presumed that the Sda structure played an important role in the female reproductive system. Therefore, to infer the role of the Sda structure, the regulation and control by the Sda invertase should be learned. The laboratory has found B4galnt2 in the cell strains (TM4) of the Sertoli cells, so it was supposed that B4galnt2 might play a certain role in the male reproductive system, but its functions in the male reproductive system remained unknown yet. In the experiment, a male mouse was taken as the subject. The Quantitative Real-Time PCR and immune fluorescent staining method were used to confirm the existence of B4galnt2 on the cell membranes of the primary Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell strains. The observation indicated that whether the proliferation of the Sertoli cells was declined or enhanced after the cell strains were treated with follicle stimulating hormone, the B4galnt2 gene expression showed no marked difference. In this way, it was presumed that B4galnt2 did not participate in the proliferation of the Sertoli cells. By using hormone to treat the Sertoli cell strains, the Sertoli cells might be induced into the state of maturity. The maturity of the Sertoli cells could be confirmed by the mature marker genes and post-maturation physiological features. In the process of maturation, the B4galnt2 gene expression was increased. The RNAi suppress gene expression experiment showed that when the B4galnt2 expression was reduced, the maturation marker gene expression decreased accordingly. This showed that the Sertoli cells could not enter the state of maturity. To sum up, it was presumed that B4galnt2 participated in the maturation of the Sertoli cells. In addition, the experiment on the primary Sertoli cells showed that the B4galnt2 expression in the mouse coming close to the puberty was higher than that when it was born. When the immature primary Sertoli cells were induced to be mature, the B4galnt2 gene expression in them was raised. Thus, it was presumed that B4galnt2 might participate in the maturation of the Sertoli cells in the mouse.

Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility affects millions of people and has an impact on their families and communities. In the female reproductive system, infertility may be caused by a range of abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the endocrine system, among others. In the male reproductive system, infertility is most commonly caused by problems with the ejection of semen, absence or low sperm count, or abnormal shape and movement of the sperm. Fertility care encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Equal and equitable access to fertility care remains a challenge in most countries.

Seed ferns and cycads in the Rhaetian flora of Wüstenwelsberg, Bavaria, Germany

The structure of the male and female genital systems of the astigmatid mite Psoroptes ovis (Hering) is described. The male genital system is composed of a paired testis, fused at its proximal part, two vasa deferentia, an ejaculatory duct, into which a single accessory gland opens, and a copulatory organ. The testis is characterized by a peripheric syncytial cell surrounding spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa which are distributed regularly in the gonad according to the sequence of spermatogenesis. The female genital system consists of a copulatory pore (the bursa copulatrix), a seminal receptacle, paired ovaries and oviducts, a glandular uterus and an ovipositor which leads to the oviporus. Ovaries are composed of somatic cells, germ cells and a central cell, with a multilobular nucleus, connected to oocytes by a stalk. Similarities with other astigmatic mites belonging to Psoroptidia and Acaridia are also discussed.

Total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma is different in fertile and infertile men

Infertile males were tested for the presence of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8, as well as lipid peroxidation in their sperm. A total of 75 infertile men, including 15 fertile men, were used as controls, with semen samples collected by masturbation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production in the sperm membrane was used to assess the degree of lipid peroxidation in the membrane. Statistics were used to examine the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in seminal plasma and the lipid peroxidation levels in sperm membranes. There was a statistically significant difference in the concentration of IL-6 in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men (p 0.05) between the two groups. On the other hand, the concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher than that of fertile men (p &lt; 0.05), and the degree of lipid peroxidation in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher than that of fertile men (p &lt; 0.05). In the seminal plasma, the levels of IL-6 and the process of sperm membrane lipid peroxidation were found to be positively correlated with each other (p &lt; 0.05), while the levels of IL-8 in the seminal plasma and sperm membrane lipid peroxidation were found to be positively correlated with each other (p &lt; 0.05). There seems to be a possible association between plasma IL-8, IL-6, sperm ranks, and sperm membrane lipid peroxidation based on these results.

OPINION article Front. Endocrinol., 08 November 2013 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2013.00169

Journal of Andrology & Gyneclogy: Current Research is an open access, peer-reviewed, half yearly, multidisciplinary journal that considers articles on reproductive system of males and females, and other related health issues. Andrology deals with basic and clinical aspects of the male reproductive system (gonads, endocrine and ccessory organs) in all species, including the diagnosis and treatment of medical problems associated with sexual development, infertility, sexual dysfunction, sex hormone action and other urological problems. Gynecology deals with the medical practice of health of the female reproductive system (vagina, uterus, and ovaries).