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Biomedical subjects

F Dondero

Publications and source records attributed to F Dondero.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Fertility and semen quality of workers exposed to high temperatures in the ceramics industry.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic occupational exposure to high temperatures may be detrimental to male reproduction. The study was based on 92 healthy ceramics oven operators with a long exposure to high temperatures, and 87 controls, recruited from the shipment department of the same industry. Interviews with all subjects provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and fertility problems. Semen analysis was carried out on 46 of the workers exposed to high temperatures, and 14 of the controls, and included evaluation of the sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, including computer-assisted sperm motion analysis (velocity, linearity, ALH, BCF). The results of the questionnaire showed that exposed individuals had a higher incidence of childlessness and of self-reported difficulty in conceiving than controls. The semen analysis showed no significant differences except in sperm velocity. Although differences in semen parameters, taken singly, were not statistically significant, the overall evaluation of the sperm parameters indicated a higher prevalence of pathologic sperm profiles among the exposed compared to the controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

In vitro sperm capacitation to treat antisperm antibodies bound to the sperm surface.

Our objective was to study antisperm antibody bound to the acrosome region during in vitro capacitation and to determine whether acrosome-antibody free sperm can be obtained from previously acrosome-antibody-coated sperm. The spermatozoa from a selected series of 14 patients were tested for sperm antibodies bound to the sperm surface using d-IBT and focusing on the acrosome positivity. The tests were carried out before the incubation and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 h of incubation in Tyrode's solution with 0.5% human serum albumin as the capacitation medium. Tests to evaluate acrosome region, sperm motion parameters, and zonae binding ability were carried out. In this way we were able to evaluate sperm function during capacitation protocol. The patients were 14 subjects selected according to good seminal characteristics, good post-rise sperm parameters, and high percentage of ASA bound to the sperm surface. In all cases the results showed that antisperm antibodies bound to the acrosome region were shed prior to the acrosome reaction. During sperm capacitation in human a modification, migration, or shedding of plasma membrane molecules takes place. The presence of antibodies in such an important area of the sperm head could certainly interfere in the fertilization process. Our data indicate that in vitro capacitation could provide an in vitro therapy capable of eluting antibodies from the acrosome region.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1992

[Metabolism and action of L-carnitine: its possible role in sperm tail function].

The authors report a review on the L-carnitine effects on the male genital tract. L-carnitine represents a cofactor in the transport of long chain fatty acids inside mitochondria and their subsequent oxidation. Therefore, its main role is that of intramitochondrial vehicle of acyl groups. In particular, the effects of L-carnitine on the male genital function seem connected mainly with the high concentration of L-carnitine in the epididymis; the uptake of the L-carnitine from the blood is an active, in part androgen-dependent, mechanism. Moreover, epididymal spermatozoa are able to concentrate L-carnitine (while they become progressively more impermeable to such a substance) during their passage from the caput to the cauda epididymis. The main function of the L-carnitine in the epididymis is to give to the spermatozoa an energetic substrate. In fact, this function should be of great importance since the epididymal spermatozoa employ fatty acid oxidation for their energy metabolism; on the contrary, the ejaculated sperm employ glycolytic process. As a consequence of the above-mentioned effects of L-carnitine the dosage of this substance in the evaluation of the integrity of the processes of maturation of the spermatozoa was proposed. Finally, there is growing interest in the use of L-carnitine as a therapeutic tool in some forms of male infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A comparison of the direct immunobead test and other tests for sperm antibodies detection.

The authors report the results of a correlation study between the direct Immunobead Test (d-IBT) and other techniques for antisperm antibodies detection. The Gelatin Agglutination Test (GAT) and Tray Agglutination Test (TAT) were used to detect antibodies in blood serum and seminal plasma ("indirect methods"). The Direct IgG Mixed Antiglobulin Reaction Test (d-MAR test) was used to detect sperm antibodies bound to the sperm surface ("direct method"). A good concordance between the methods, measured by phi and K tests, was found and satisfactory mathematical models were established by regression analyses.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

A highly sensitive chemiluminescent assay for glycerylphosphorylcholine in human seminal plasma.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC), one of the major phosphorus-containing-choline compounds of seminal plasma, is secreted mainly by the epididymal epithelium under androgenic control. This study reports a new method that uses chemiluminescence to determine seminal GPC content, comparing it with a spectrophotometric technique. The results, obtained with both techniques studying 20 fertile patients (as control), 35 infertile patients with normospermia, 23 infertile patients with oligozoospermia and impaired motility and 9 patients with excretory azoospermia, demonstrate that the GPC chemiluminescent assay is more sensitive, simple and rapid than the spectrophotometric assay. Our data confirm that GPC may be used as a marker of vas deferens and ejaculatory duct perviousness, suggesting a possible role of this glycerophosphodiester in sperm motility.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine↗
PubMed1990

[Enoxacin in the treatment of male genital infections in patients with antisperm autoimmune pathology].

Anti-sperm antibodies are frequently present in patients bearing infections of the genital tract and a cause-effect relationship is suspected in these two pathological conditions. In an open, uncontrolled study, the Authors tested the therapeutical effect on both autoimmune anti-sperm and infectious genital tract diseases. Thirty patients, age 30.3 +/- 3.6 years (mean +/- D.S.; range 25-42), were admitted to the study. In all patients the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by a positive sperm culture for enoxacin sensitive germs. Eleven out of 30 patients (36.7%) were also found to be positive by both immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic tests for Chlamydia Trachomatis at the beginning of the study. At day 0 (first menstrual cycle day of the patients' partner) enoxacin treatment (300 mg twice daily) was started with the patients and their partners for a period of 30 and 12 days respectively. Sperm culture and both the above mentioned tests for Chlamydia Trachomatis were subsequently repeated on day 5 of therapy (first control) and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th controls respectively) after the end of treatment. Statistical analysis of the results was performed by both Dunnett and Chi-square tests as appropriate. Isolated germs from pre-treatment sperm culture were classified as Enterococcus (17/30 cases: 56.7%) E. Coli (8/30: 26.6%), Klebsiella (2/30: 6.6%) and St Albus, Proteus and Enterococcus-Klebsiella coinfections (1/30 cases: 3.3% each).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Laser radiation and motility patterns of human sperm.

Human sperm were exposed in vitro to laser radiation. An increase in progressive sperm motility was associated with a faster rate of sperm ATP consumption. Computer-assisted analysis of sperm motility confirmed the positive effect of laser irradiation on velocity and linearity of sperm.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Immunobiology of male infertility.

Experimental and clinical data reported in the literature emphasize the important role that immune factors may play in the genesis of male infertility even if many problems still remain to be solved. Auto or homo-sensitization in animals (and in male volunteers) can be obtained with testicular homogenate or epididymal spermatozoa and complete Freund's adjuvant. Immune orchitis in spontaneous human pathology has also been reported. Vasectomy for the voluntary control of male fertility may be considered a particular form of experimental autoimmunization; and many vasectomized individuals develop antisperm antibodies in blood serum and/or in seminal plasma. In spontaneous male infertility antisperm antibodies can: (i) be a mere epiphenomenon; (ii) be a factor aggravating a pathologic situation already able to cause infertility; (iii) play a pathogenetic role in some forms of so-called idiopathic infertility and so could be defined as infertility due to antisperm antibodies. If the antisperm autoimmune reaction represents the casual factor of infertility, corticosteroid therapy seems to give the most satisfactory results, administered either in high doses for a very short time period or in low doses over a prolonged period, or even after transient pharmacologically induced azoospermia.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1988

Antisperm antibodies detection with the immunobead test as viewed by TEM.

The immunobead test (IBT) was used for the detection of antisperm antibodies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study ultrastructural aspects of this technique. This brief communication aims to present some ultrastructural evidence using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Antibodies↗
PubMed1987

Effects of kallikrein on the male reproductive system and its use in the treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia with impaired motility.

A single-blind study on the effects of kallikrein in idiopathic oligozoospermia was carried out. 8 of the 16 patients admitted to the trial were treated with kallikrein 100 K.U. t.i.d., the remaining patients received vitamin E 100 mg t.i.d. Treatment lasted 120 days in both groups. Kallikrein led to an increase in sperm concentration, total sperm count and sperm penetration capacity. Patients receiving vitamin E failed to show any improvement. It is postulated that the increase in sperm concentration could be explained by the positive action of kallikrein on spermatogenesis, due to a stimulatory effect of the drug directly on the Sertoli cell function and on the circulation in the vascular system of the testis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Post-vasectomy antisperm immune reaction after testosterone-induced azoospermia.

We describe preliminary experiments on the effects of testosterone-induced azoospermia on post-vasectomy antisperm antibody reaction in two subjects. Progressive resumption of spermatogenesis following gradual suspension of testosterone therapy was still associated with antisperm antibody formation. Post-vasectomy antisperm antibody production does not seem to be triggered exclusively by acute, sudden and massive reabsorption of spermatoza after vasectomy but also by slow, gradual and late sperm antigen reabsorption.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Role of seminal prostaglandins in male fertility. II. Effects of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition on spermatogenesis in man.

The effect of prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibition has been studied in two groups of infertile oligozoospermic patients with high or normal-low seminal prostaglandin (PG) levels. PGE and 19-OH PGE were assayed by means of a gas chromatographic method and the most important seminal parameters (volume, concentration, motility and morphology of spermatozoa) were evaluated in basal conditions and at the end of indomethacin treatment, at a daily oral dose of 100 mg for thirty days. A drop in prostaglandin levels following indomethacin was observed in both groups of patients but only in the group with high concentrations of prostanoid derivates the prostaglandin inhibition was correlated with a significant improvement in sperm count and motility.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effect of the inhibitory material from male genital tract on natural killing activities.

A male inhibitory material (HuSePl-Frl) was separated from normal human seminal plasma by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. This material has high avidity for cell membranes of human red blood cells (RBC). In vitro, PHA-M-induced blast transformation of human lymphocytes is inhibited by small quantities of HuSePl-Frl. This inhibition was also evident when RBC coated with HuSePl-Frl is added to mitogen stimulated lymphocytes in cultures. Small quantities of HuSePl-Frl are inhibitory to natural killer (NK) cell activation. The modulating role of the HuSePl-Frl in preventing the spermatozoal rejection during fertilization is discussed.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1985

Correlation between the direct IgG MAR test (mixed antiglobulin reaction test) and seminal analysis in men from infertile couples.

The direct IgG mixed antiglobulin reaction (IgG MAR) test was carried out in 395 male subjects from infertile couples, selected on the basis of their seminal characteristics (sperm concentration greater than 10 X 10(6)/ml, sperm motility greater than 10%); attempts were made to correlate results with the seminologic aspects of the ejaculate. A significant correlation was observed between a positive MAR test and spontaneous sperm autogglutination. No correlation was observed, however, between test positivity and concentration, motility and sperm morphologic features, the macroscopic aspects studied (viscosity, fluidification), or increased concentration of leukocytes.

Female↗
PubMed1985

Relationships among pleasure, anxiety and physiological response patterns during the sexual sequence in normal and dispermic subjects.

We examined the reported subjective level of pleasure and anxiety usually perceived during the four phases of the sexual sequence by 18 dispermic patients and 18 normal subjects. Relevant differences exist between the two groups in their perception of both emotions. The role of pleasure and anxiety in modulating some reflexive biological responses of the sexual sequence is discussed.

Adult↗