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Biomedical subjects

E Umapathy

Publications and source records attributed to E Umapathy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Study on the origin of seminal leucocytes using split ejaculate technique and the effect of leucocytospermia on sperm characteristics.

The origin of seminal leucocytes and their biological significance were investigated in 76 whole ejaculate samples and 27 split ejaculate samples, obtained from patients attending the Zimbabwe Family Planning Council's Spilhaus Infertility Clinic at Harare. The leucocytes were more prevalent in fractions 1 and 2 than in fraction 3, implying that the testis, epididymis and prostate are the major sources of seminal leucocytes. The contribution from the seminal vesicles was minimal. An inverse relation is apparent between leucocyte count and sperm count (p < 0.01). The percentage of abnormal sperms was higher (p < 0.05) and the sperm motility poorer in leucocytospermic samples (p < 0.01). Fructose, the seminal vesicular marker, citric acid, the prostatic marker and alpha-glucosidase, the epididymal marker were not decreased in leucocytospermia. It is concluded that the epididymis and prostate are the major contributors of granulocytes in semen. Leucocytospermia affects sperm morphology and sperm motility but not the accessory sex gland functions. Probably these cytotoxic effects are mediated by hydrogen peroxide due to activation of seminal leucocytes. However, the presence of leucocytospermia in normozoospermic samples is indicative of the possible peaceful coexistence of leucocytes and sperms.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differential response of legumes and creep feeding on gut morphology and faecal composition in weanling pigs.

The effects of creep feeding and different levels of soybean meal (SBM) and cowpea meal on the intestinal morphology and faecal characteristics were investigated in weaners. Prior to the feeding trial, one group of piglets was creep-fed and the other noncreep-fed. The two groups of piglets were weaned at 28 days and randomly assigned to four different diets, the main protein sources of which were: T1--skimmed milk power (control); T2--31% soybean meal (high SBM), T3--15% soybean meal and 12% skimmed milk powder (low SBM), and T4--100% raw cowpea meal. Live weight gain was highest in the control group, and least in cowpea-fed piglets. At weaning, only the noncreep-fed weaners showed villus atrophy and crypt hyperplasia but at 7 days postweaning, these changes were evident in all groups except the control and were more severe in the noncreep SBM and cowpea-fed groups. At 21 days postweaning, only noncreep cowpea-fed pigs showed a reduced villus height when compared to the control group. A mild diarrhoea was generally observed in all noncreep-fed weaners, but its onset was more rapid (P < 0.01) and the duration much longer (P < 0.05) in the high SBM and cowpea-fed pigs than in low SBM and control groups. A lower faecal pH was observed in weaners that had diarrhoea when compared with a pH of 7.1 in pigs with normal faecal moisture. The observations of enteropathology and low growth performance in the cowpea group suggest that feeding raw cowpea to weaners may induce antigenicity in the intestinal mucosa, causing damage and a consequent decrease in productivity. However, the introduction of creep feeding before weaning appears to have some ameliorative effects.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Antifertility effects of cowpeas on male rats.

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were fed to rats from weaning to 250 days. At the end of feeding trial and mating trials, histological studies were done on testicular and epididymal tissues. Out of the 10 rats from the cowpea fed group, only six had fertile matings. The average litter size for control rats was 13.7 +/- 1.0, while for the cowpea fed group it was 8.2 +/- 7.0. Histological studies showed severe degenerative changes in the testis and the presence of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) in the epididymis of the cowpea fed group, that did not have fertile matings. It is proposed that cowpeas may contain some factors that could have antifertility effects, although the nature of such factors was not the object of this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Electron microscopic observations on the luminal contents of rat epididymis induced by cowpeas.

The ultrastructure of tubular inclusions of caput epididymis were studied in rats after feeding them with cowpeas alone, from weaning (20-22 days old) to 250 days. The results showed cellular inclusions of various types in the caput of experimental rats amid sperm clumps, and epithelial damage. The experimental tubules showed cytoplasmic droplets and trapped flagella at various stages of disintegration. Other inclusions included concentric membranous bodies, macrophages, coalesced disintegrated spermatids, and membrane-bound amorphous bodies. It is proposed that these changes might be due to an altered immune response induced by lectins, one of the anti-nutritional factors found in cowpeas, which causes epididymal dysfunction and possibly renders these animals infertile.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Estrogen and accessory sex gland lipids.

Administration of estradiol-17 beta elicited differential responses on accessory sex glands of rats. In caput epididymis, the estrogen treatment led to an accumulation of glycerides and phospholipids while in cauda epididymis, there was no significant change. However, in seminal vesicles, depletion of phospholipids was observed. In prostate, the treatment, resulted in an accumulation of glycerides.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of antiandrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate on testicular morphometry in mice.

Administration to albino mice of cyproterone (C), cyproterone acetate (CA) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for one week produced a marked decrease in volume, surface area and length of the seminiferous tubules besides inhibiting spermatogenesis. This response was elicited by all the three treatments but was assessed as mild in "C", moderate in "MPA" and severe in "CA" groups. On the basis of present work it is concluded that inhibition of spermatogenesis occurred even with low dose schedule of the two antiandrogens and MPA. The possible mechanism of action has been discussed in the light of available literature.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1980

Lipid pattern in split ejaculate and Klinefelter's syndrome.

Total lipids, phospholipids, and cholesterol are present in greater amounts in fraction I of split ejaculates of normal healthy volunteers than in other fractions. Glyceride concentrations are higher in fraction III. The cholesterol-phospholipid ratio varies significantly in different fractions. The free ester-cholesterol ratio is also altered in different fractions. The relative importance of these findings in relation to sperm survival and motility is discussed. In whole ejaculates of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, glyceride concentrations are higher, phospholipid concentrations are lower, and cholesterol concentrations remain unaltered as compared with samples from normal healthy volunteers.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Hormonal influence on uterine lipids.

The effects of oestrogen (OE), progesterone (P) and oestrogen plus progesterone (OEPP) on uterine lipids of adult ovariectomized rats were studied. Administration of gonodal hormones brought about considerable alterations in total lipids, mainly due to an increase in phospholipids and glycerides in the case of OE and P groups. Even though the total cholesterol remained unaltered, a marked alteration in its fractions was evident in all the groups. Oestrogen seems to decrease all the glyceride classes while progesterone induces accumulation ot triglycerides with concomitant decrease in mono- and diglycerides. Individual classes of phospholipids show marked alterations in their distribution in all the groups studied.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of castration on serum concentrations of gonadal hormones, insulin-like growth factor-I and its binding proteins in male pigs.

Ten male pigs (Large White x Landrace), 7 months old, were randomly allocated to two experimental groups. Five of them were castrated and the other five served as controls. Sera were collected on the day of castration and 1, 5, 6 and 7 weeks after castration for hormone assay. There was a significant rise in the splenic and pancreatic weights in the castrates (P < 0.01). The weights of prostate, seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the castrates, which is attributed to a fall in testosterone levels (P < 0.001). The fall in oestradiol concentrations (P < 0.001) in castrates confirms that the testis is the major source of oestrogens in males. Although there was no significant change in the body weight, serum IGF-I levels were elevated in the castrates as compared to the controls after 5, 6 and 7 weeks (P < 0.001). IGFBP bands of 43 and 39 kda predominate in both control and experimental groups indicating that castration had no effect on the IGFBP pattern. It is suggested that the increase in IGF-I levels may be due to uncoupling of GH/IGF-I axis induced by the decrease in steroid concentrations due to castration.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sperm characteristics and accessory sex gland functions in HIV-infected men.

A comparative study was carried out in the andrology clinic, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, to investigate the sperm characteristics and accessory sex gland functions in HIV-infected individuals. Sixty-two patients with infertility problems who attended the clinic were requested to donate semen and blood after consent was obtained. HIV antibodies in paired semen and blood samples, sperm morphology, sperm count, sperm motility, seminal leucocytes, seminal fructose, seminal neutral alpha-glucosidase, and citric acid were analyzed. Nine out of 31 blood samples tested positive, while 21 out of 62 semen samples were positive for HIV. Leucocytospermia was associated with HIV-seropositive men (p < .01). The accessory sex gland function, as evaluated by biochemical markers, was not affected in HIV-seropositive men. HIV causes impairment of sperm motility by activating seminal leucocytes, which in turn induce oxidative stress on the sperm. Leucocytospermia is almost always present in HIV-seropositive men.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

STD/HIV association: effects on semen characteristics.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 83 fertile/infertile men to investigate the association between STDs and HIV and their effects on semen characteristics and seminal leucocytes. HIV antibodies in semen, andrological parameters and seminal leucocytes were analyzed. Of the 83 subjects, 36 were HIV+ and 47 were HIV- . Only 9 out of 36 HIV+ men and 25 out of 47 HIV- men had no history of STD. The most common type of STD was gonorrhea (65%) and 60% of those who had gonorrhea were HIV+ . HIV+ men had low sperm motility (p < 0.02). HIV+ men with a history of STD had leucocytospermia compared to HIV- men irrespective of history of STD (p < 0.001). Leucocytospermia was prevalent in HIV+ men even with no history of STD (p < 0.05). Non-ulcerative STDs was a risk factor for HIV infection. There was a significant association between HIV- and no history of STD. Impaired sperm motility in HIV+ men may be mediated by activated seminal leucocytes, which could induce oxidative stress on sperm. Leucocytospermia may be a reliable indicator of HIV+ .

Fertility↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diet-induced changes in the male reproductive system of rats.

Either quantitative or qualitative modification of diet interferes markedly with the reproductive functions of the rat. The effect of chick mash or cowpeas (Vigna unquiculata) on body growth, accessory sex organ weights, serum testosterone, and epididymal histology was studied. Body growth was markedly decreased in cowpeas fed group. Binucleated, multinucleated giant cells (MGCs), and lymphocytes were found in large numbers in the lumen of caput and cauda epididymis of the cowpea-fed group. No noticeable effect was seen in chick mash-fed group. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased in cowpea-fed group. Presence of MGCs in cowpea-fed animals indicates epididymal dysfunction and probably renders them infertile.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrastructural changes in rat epididymides induced by cowpeas.

The ultrastructure of tubular inclusions of caput and cauda epididymides were studied in rats that were fed only cowpeas from weaning (20-22 days old) to 130 days. The results showed significant (p < .001) fall in body weight and testicular, caput, and cauda epididymal weights in the cowpea-fed animals. Although the walls of the epididymides remained intact, the lumina of both segments showed cellular inclusions of various types amid sperm clumps. Unlike controls, where sperm flagella and headpieces were free-floating in lumina of both segments of epididymides, the experimental tubules showed cytoplasmic droplets containing trapped flagella at various stages of disintegration. Other inclusions included multilobular giant cells, lymphocytes, and membrane-bound amorphous bodies. It is proposed that these changes might be due to an altered immune response induced by lectins, one of the antinutritional factors found in cowpeas, which causes epididymal dysfunction and possibly renders these animals infertile.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hormonal influence on epididymal lipids.

Single dose administration of Prolactin(P), Progesterone (PP) and a combination of both (PPP) affected the epididymal lipids considerably. Caput and Cauda showed differential responses. PP and PPP showed significant alterations in Caput epididymis. However, Prolactin was effective in Cauda epididymis. The importance of these changes in relation to physiological functions of epididymis is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of hormones on accessory sex glands in males.

Administration of testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin for seven days affected the epididymal lipids markedly whereas seminal vesicular and prostatic lipids were less affected. The increase in total lipids of caput epididymis by testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone was due to an elevation in neutral and phospholipid contents. However, progesterone alone caused an increase in total lipids of the cauda epididymides while oestrogen and prolactin decreased the same. In seminal vesicle and prostate, testosterone elicited a significant rise in total lipids. However, an opposite trend was obvious by the other three hormones. Testosterone alone was effective in elevating the total lipids, phospholipid, cholesterol and glycerides in prostates. Prolactin does not affect the prostatic lipids markedly. The significance of the lipid changes are discussed in relation to various physiological activities of sex accessories.

Animals↗