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Biomedical subjects

A B Dudkiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to A B Dudkiewicz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Clinical significance of beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies in the reproductive autoimmune failure syndrome: correlation with conventional antiphospholipid antibody detection systems.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies may represent a superior marker of reproductive risk than do conventional antiphospholipid antibodies. STUDY DESIGN: The incidence of beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent and beta 2-glycoprotein I-independent anticardiolipin antibodies and of six conventional antiphospholipid antibodies was statistically compared between study groups with and without autoantibody-associated features of reproductive failure. Sera from 356 women were randomly selected from the frozen sera bank at the Center for Human Reproduction, Chicago. They included sera from 259 patients with autoantibody-associated features of reproductive failure such as unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and repeated pregnancy loss and 97 infertile controls. Autoantibody levels by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent and beta 2-glycoprotein I-independent anticardiolipin antibodies and a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anticardiolipin antibody and five other antiphospholipid antibodies were then compared. RESULTS: Patients demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies (5.4%) than did controls (0%) in a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (p = 0.01). No such difference was, however, noted for beta 2-glycoprotein I-independent anticardiolipin antibodies or any one of six antiphospholipid antibodies. Two or more among six antiphospholipid antibodies, especially if involving anticardiolipin antibodies, antiphosphatidylserine and antiphosphatidylinositol, as assayed by standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were significantly more often (p = 0.02) positive in the patients (5.0%) than in the controls (0%). Moreover, positivity in two of those three antiphospholipid antibodies correlated in 59% of cases to positivity in the beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody. CONCLUSIONS: As a single test beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody appears to be superior to cofactor-independent anticardiolipin antibody or any other single conventional antiphospholipid antibody for the detection of autoantibody-associated conditions of reproductive failure. A broadly based panel of conventional antiphospholipid antibodies, especially if inclusive of anticardiolipid antibody, antiphosphatidylserine, and antiphosphatidylinositol, may, however, achieve similar results.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1994

beta 2-Glycoprotein I-dependent and -independent anticardiolipin antibodies in healthy pregnant women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI)-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and beta 2GPI-independent aCL and their respective relevance to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, we prospectively studied 210 normal pregnant women, utilizing a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for beta 2GPI-dependent and -independent aCL. Seven of the 210 pregnant women (3.3%) demonstrated evidence for beta 2GPI-independent immunoglobulin G (IgG)-aCL. Two patients, who also appeared positive for beta 2GPI-dependent IgG-aCL, were proven to be false positives. Amongst the 210 patients, not one was thus positive for beta 2GPI-dependent aCL. Women with beta 2GPI-independent aCL demonstrated no adverse pregnancy outcomes. These results suggest that the presence of beta 2GPI-independent aCL is not associated with the presence of beta 2GPI-dependent aCL, though it may give rise to false positive results. Since the presence of beta 2GPI-independent aCL does not appear to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, beta 2GPI-dependent assays may represent better markers of miscarriage risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ovarian stimulation protocol for in vitro fertilization with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist widens the implantation window.

Pregnancy rates vary considerably with the type of ovarian stimulation used for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The window of implantation may represent one of the rate-limiting steps in IVF success. We therefore investigated estimated implantation times of 10 consecutive IVF singleton pregnancies, achieved using pituitary suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) before and during ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), and compared those with 9 consecutive IVF pregnancies achieved by hMG stimulation only. Estimated implantation times were calculated by regression analysis of serial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurements between days 7 and 16 after ET. The GnRH-a/hMG pregnancies implanted between days 7 and 11, whereas hMG pregnancies implanted between days 7 and 9 after ET. The hCG regression curve for the GnRH-a/hMG pregnancies revealed a delay of 1.5 days in estimated implantation time compared with the hMG only group. There were no significant differences in pretransfer in vitro embryos development between the two groups. Thus, the delay in hCG rise probably reflects a delay in embryo implantation. We therefore conclude that a GnRH-a/hMG stimulation protocol appears to widen the implantation window in comparison with a hMG only protocol. This observation may at least in part explain the improved IVF pregnancy success with GnRH-a/hMG stimulation protocols.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1987

Penetration of bacteria and spermatozoa into bovine cervical mucus.

It has been reported that bacteria may attach to motile spermatozoa, be carried through the cervix and uterus to the fallopian tubes, and cause acute salpingitis. In an attempt to mimic these conditions in vitro, we incubated Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus with motile spermatozoa which then were allowed to migrate through a capillary filled with bovine cervical mucus. After satisfactory sperm migration through the mucus, the capillaries were broken and cultured at different distances from the original insemination site. Mucus fractions in proximity to bacterial inocula grew varying amounts of the pathogens. More distal fractions of mucus columns were generally culture-negative even though they contained motile sperm which had been exposed to bacteria. Migration of spermatozoa exposed to bacteria through bovine cervical mucus did not result in enhanced bacterial penetration.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of sperm motility and agglutination of sperm cells by free fatty acids in whole semen.

The effects of a serial dilution of linoleic acid on human spermatozoa in whole semen was tested on 21 semen samples obtained from 11 normal volunteers. The minimal concentration of linoleic acid required to stop the movement of at least 75% of the moving sperm ranged from 1 to greater than 100 mg/dl. Fifteen of 21 (71%) of the semen samples were inhibited by added free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations that were less than or close to the physiologic concentration ranges of FFA in blood plasma (1 to 30 mg/dl). The immobilized sperm often formed aggregates similar to those formed by the action of autoantibodies against sperm cells. Preliminary studies conducted on a variety of other FFA have indicated that oleic acid (18/1) was less toxic than linoleic acid (18/2) and that linolenic acid (18/3) was more toxic than linoleic acid. The saturated FFA palmitic acid (16/0) and stearic acid (18/0) at concentrations up to 100 mg/dl showed little or no toxicity to sperm cells. It is suggested that FFA toxicity be included among physiologic factors that affect the motility and spontaneous aggregation of sperm cells.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1986

Effect of ejaculation frequency on sperm quality.

Sixty-four normozoospermic and 19 oligozoospermic males underwent sperm analyses of two successive specimens obtained at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals. The first specimen was produced after 3 days of abstinence. Sperm volume of normozoospermic males declined from 2.3 +/- 1.0 to 1.6 +/- 1.0 ml, 2.6 +/- 1.0 to 2.0 +/- 0.9 ml, and 2.1 +/- 0.9 to 1.9 +/- 1.0 ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Similarly, oligozoospermic males showed declines from 2.3 +/- 1.2 to 1.7 +/- 1.5 and 2.3 +/- 1.1 to 1.8 +/- 1.2 and an increase from 1.2 +/- 1.2 to 1.5 +/- 0.7 ml, respectively. Sperm counts of normozoospermic males declined from 65 +/- 54 to 55 +/- 34, 83 +/- 57 to 69 +/- 47, and 97 +/- 51 to 81 +/- 46 million spermatozoa/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Oligozoospermic males showed declines from 5.1 +/- 5.4 to 3.8 +/- 4.1 and 8.2 +/- 8.6 to 7.2 +/- 5.2 and an increase from 3.8 +/- 0.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.1 million spermatozoal/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Sperm motility of normozoospermic males varied from 41 +/- 20 to 38 +/- 18, 55 +/- 14 to 56 1/3 pm 14, and 52 +/- 15 to 52 +/- 20% at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ejaculation↗
PubMed1986

Intrauterine inseminations with washed human spermatozoa.

The success of intrauterine inseminations with washed human spermatozoa was evaluated in four groups of patients. The first two groups were couples in whom either the man or the woman had detectable circulating sperm-agglutinating antibodies. The third group included couples where the woman exhibited hostile or absent cervical mucus, whereas the fourth group represented couples with oligozoospermic males. The couples underwent 3.7 +/- 2.1 insemination cycles, with a 30% overall pregnancy rate for all four groups. Intrauterine inseminations of women with hostile cervical mucus yielded a 68% conception rate. Couples with either male or female serum sperm-agglutinating antibodies showed 25% and 40% pregnancy rates, respectively. However, none of the couples with oligozoospermic males achieved pregnancy. Intrauterine inseminations with washed human spermatozoa thus represent a satisfactory method of achieving pregnancy in women with hostile cervical mucus and in couples with circulating sperm agglutinating antibodies. Couples in whom oligozoospermia has been identified as the principal cause of infertility do not seem to benefit from this therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Proteolysis of specific porcine zona pellucida glycoproteins by boar acrosin.

The morphologic and biochemical effects on the structure and constituent glycoproteins of the zona pellucida (ZP) by a specific sperm enzyme, acrosin, and a nonsperm enzyme, trypsin, have been evaluated. Intact porcine ZP matricies, exposed to either acrosin or trypsin, were analyzed microscopically. Changes in specific glycoproteins were monitored by high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and the silver-based color stain, GELCODE. Although these enzymes did not alter the macroscopic properties of the ZP matrix, the 2D-PAGE ZP protein patterns were markedly altered. The high molecular weight glycoprotein families (II and III) were sensitive to proteolytic digestion, whereas the major glycoprotein family (I) of the porcine zona was only partially proteolyzed by acrosin and trypsin. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that acrosin had unique substrate specificity compared to that of trypsin, since the ZP peptide patterns were found to be different. These studies are the first to demonstrate which integral glycoproteins of the native porcine ZP matrix are specifically proteolyzed by acrosin from the homologous species and that this proteolysis occurs without the dissolution of the native porcine matrix.

Acrosin↗
PubMed1984

Purification of boar acrosomal arylsulfatase A and possible role in the penetration of cumulus cells.

Arylsulfatase A was extracted and purified from boar epididymal sperm acrosomes. Acrosomes were extracted by sonication in 50 mM Tris-maleate buffer containing 50 mM MgCl2, pH 6.1, followed by treatment with 50 mM Tris-maleate plus 0.2% Brij-35, pH 6.1. Purification of arylsulfatase A was performed with a three-step procedure consisting of centrifugation (85,000 X g), affinity chromatography with p-aminobenzamidine-Sepharose followed by chromatography on diethyaminoethyl (DEAE) Sephadex. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 54 mumol/h per mg protein. The purified arylsulfatase did not contain any detectable acrosin or hyaluronidase activities. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a major band with an estimated molecular weight of 65,000 daltons. Properties of arylsulfatase A, determined by hydrolysis of p-nitrocatechol sulfate, indicated that the enzyme was inhibited 46% by 3.1 microM Ag+ and had a pH optimum of 4.2. Boar acrosomal arylsulfatase A dispersed the cumulus cells of ovulated hamster and rabbit eggs as well as those of follicular pig eggs. No effect of the enzyme on the zona pellucida or the oolemma was observed.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1982

Immunological relationships between rabbit acrosin and pancreatic trypsin.

Specific anit-rabbit acrosin antibodies were prepared by immunizing female guinea pigs with rabbit acrosin. Acrosin was purified by molecular sieve and proflavin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Inhibition studies to characterize unique antigenic determinants of acrosin compared to pancreatic trypsin indicate that anti-rabbit acrosin gamma-globulins specifically reduced the catalytic effects of acrosin but not trypsin on Azocoll. Anti-acrosin antibodies had no effect on altering the catalytic activities of either acrosin or trypsin on the substrate N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester.

Acrosin↗
PubMed1978

Rabbit acrosin: immunological dissimilarity to rabbit trypsin (1).

Antibodies obtained from guinea pigs injected with rabbit pancreatic trypsin together with antibodies raised in rabbits against bovine acrosin or bovine pancreatic trypsin were reacted against various mammalian trypsins and acrosins in double diffusion tests. The results of immunodiffusion analyses reveal antigenic dissimilarity between rabbit acrosin and rabbit trypsin.

Acrosin↗
PubMed1976

Interaction of rabbit sperm and egg. Examination of the same cryofractured specimens with scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Rabbit ova fertilized in vitro were prepared for scanning electron microscopy by ethanol-cryofracturing and critical-point drying methods and were also embedded and sectioned for transmission electron microscopy. Study of a region of interaction between sperm and zona pellucida with scanning electron microscopy reveals the latter to be composed of a complex network of fibers interspersed with numerous pores. Transmission electron microscopy of the same region reveals a "typical" homogeneous composition of the zona pellucida. Ultrastructural observations of thin sections passing through the region of sperm-egg interactions or through other regions of the ovum or its investments reveals very little methodological distortion of the various intracellular organelles or matrix. Application of the procedures described provides not only an elucidation of surface detail but also reveals intracellular cytoplasmic information about the same specimen during in vitro fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Inhibition of implantation in the golden hamster by zona-precipitating antibody.

Antisera prepared against saline extracts of hamster ovary, and made specific to ovary by absorption with small intestine, precipitated the zona pellucida of provulatory hamster ova and all early embryonic stages examined, including the pronuclear, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages; this indicates that (1) the zona antigen is present during oocyte maturation and early embryonic development and (2) the antigen does not change its ability to react with zonaprecipitating antibody. Embryos in the morula and blastocyst stages, treated in vitro with zona-precipitating antibody, pre-immunization rabbit serum, or control media were transferred into synchronized pseudopregnant recipients. Precipitation of zonae by specific antibody inhibited implantation by blocking the process known as zona shedding, and thereby prevented the embryo from making contact with the uterus.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Inhibition of sperm-egg interaction by specific antibody.

Treatment of hamster ova, in vitro, with ovary specific antibody interferes with sperm-egg interaction by inhibiting sperm attachment to the zona pellucida and subsequent zona penetration. This inhibition results from precipitation of the zona by the specific antibody.

Animals↗