The effects of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and 2,3-dimercaptopropane sulphonate (DMPS) on body beryllium burden, hepatic lipid peroxidation, glutathione, alkaline and acid phosphatase and some biochemical variables of porphyrin metabolism were studied in beryllium-poisoned rats. It was observed that beryllium poisoning is associated with a slight increase in lipid peroxidation, significant depletion of alkaline phosphatase and elevation of acid phosphatase activities in the liver and increased beryllium concentration in blood and other soft organs. Evidence is presented that both DMSA and DMPS during concomitant administration prevented most of the above beryllium-induced biochemical alterations. Tissue beryllium concentration and histopathological lesions in liver and kidneys were also significantly less marked following simultaneous administration of DMPS compared to beryllium-exposed controls; DMSA was comparatively less effective.

Animals↗

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Should we ban B6 supplementation of INH therapy in childhood tuberculosis?

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Child↗

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Sperm immunity in infertile couples: antibody titers are higher against the husbands' sperm than to sperm from controls.

Titers of hemagglutination and cytotoxic antibodies to sperm were determined in the sera, seminal plasma, cervical mucus, and vaginal secretions from 69 infertile couples, using sperm from the husbands and from normal control subjects. Titers of hemagglutination and cytotoxic antibodies were significantly higher (p = 0.002 and p less than 0.001, respectively) against autologous sperm as contrasted with sperm from control subjects in sera from 55 autoimmune males. Hemagglutination and cytotoxic antibody titers were also significantly higher (p = 0.044 and p less than 0.001, respectively) against their husbands' sperm as contrasted with control sperm in sera from 46 females with isoimmunity to sperm. Ninety percent of males and females with sperm immunity were positive for histocompatibility antigens HLA-B7, HLA-B8, and/or HLA-BW35. In males, the presence of increased serum cytotoxic antibody titers against autologous versus control sperm was significantly associated with the presence of HLA-B7 allele (p = 0.0017) and with HLA-B7, HLA-B8, and/or HLA-BW35 in general (p less than 0.05). In the females, increased serum antibody titers to their own husbands' versus control sperm were not preferentially associated with HLA-B7, HLA-B8, or HLA-BW35 antigens.

Antibodies↗

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Effect of early antibiotic treatment on the formation of sperm antibodies in experimentally induced epididymitis.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate whether or not experimentally produced epididymitis could induce the development of cytotoxic sperm antibodies and if effective antibiotic therapy could reverse the development of immunity to sperm. Escherichia coli was injected into the tail of the epididymis in adult Lewis rats to induce epididymitis and was allowed to incubate for 24 h, 72 h, 8 days, or 15 days. Serum titers of cytotoxic sperm antibodies at these time intervals were determined. Sperm antibody titers began to rise 3 days after inoculation, peaked, and plateaued at 8 days. The titers were negligible in the control rats. Two other groups of rats were inoculated with E. coli in a similar manner and were treated with tetracycline 25 mg/kg/day starting at either 24 h or 8 days after inoculation, for 7 days. The antibody titers became negligible in these two treated groups, the results being statistically significant when contrasted with the infected but untreated groups (p < .001 and < .05, respectively, for the 24-h and 8-day groups). However, histological examination of the antibiotic-treated and untreated specimens revealed significant inflammation and infection of the epididymis in both treated groups. Testicular alterations were consistent in both groups. It is concluded that epididymitis consequent to infection with E. coli can induce cytotoxic antibody formation in Lewis rats. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics may suppress the antibody response either through a direct immunosuppressive effect of the antibiotic or through a decrease in the antigenic load of killed sperm secondary to eradication of the infection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of nicotine on sperm attachment and penetration of zona-free hamster eggs.

A previous study from this laboratory showed that nicotine in vitro has deleterious effects on sperm motion characteristics. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of nicotine on the ability of human spermatozoa to attach and penetrate zona-free hamster eggs. Spermatozoa from fertile donors, washed free of seminal plasma, were incubated with medium (control) and 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 mM concentrations of nicotine (concentrations estimated to approximate residual concentrations of nicotine in the testes of heavy smokers) for 18 h at 37 degrees C in a humid 5% carbon dioxide incubator. The sperm preparations were then mixed with enzymatically denuded hamster eggs and incubated for 3 h at 37 degrees C. The oocytes were examined by phase-contrast microscopy to enumerate the rates of sperm attachment and penetration. The data were analyzed by a paired t test and repeated measures analysis of variance using the arcsine transformation of the percentages. The percentages of eggs with attached spermatozoa significantly declined in a dose-dependent manner, the highest inhibition being at 10 mM (F = 24). The rate of sperm penetration was even more significantly decreased with the increase in nicotine concentrations in the following order: 10 mM (F = 56) > 5 mM (F = 30) > 1 mM (F = 44) > 0.1 mM (F = 12). Nicotine concentrations of 0.1 mM and above negatively affected sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs.

Adult↗

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Sperm antibodies and human leukocyte antigens in couples with early spontaneous abortions.

Twenty-six couples with two or more early spontaneous abortions and 53 couples with recently proven fertility (control group) were typed for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of A and B loci and screened for the presence of cytotoxic and hemagglutinating antibodies to sperm. Eighteen other couples with two or more abortions were tested for sperm antibodies alone. Both partners in 24 of 44 (54%) aborting couples were positive (titers of greater than or equal to 32), whereas the control group had sperm antibodies in the negative range (titers of 0 to 16; P less than .0001). Thirty-one husbands (70%) and 24 wives (54%) were positive for sperm antibodies in the study group. Sharing of HLA-A and/or -B antigens between partners was similar in the control and study groups. Fourteen of 26 (54%) couples with two or more abortions did not share HLA-A and/or -B antigens, in contrast to 14 of 53 (26%) in the control fertile group (P less than .02). Antigenic frequencies of HLA-B7 singly and in combination with HLA-B35 were increased in females in the aborting but not in the fertile control group (P less than .001). The combined incidence of HLA-B7, -B8, and -B35 in both partners was significantly higher in the aborting couples as contrasted with the control group. It is suggested that the presence of sperm antibodies is associated with early pregnancy wastage. Histocompatibility antigens B7 and B35 may play a role through their association with sperm antibodies and early spontaneous abortions.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

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Local autoimmunity in mild endometriosis.

Forty-four patients with and without mild endometriosis were tested for the presence in peritoneal fluid of autoantibodies against endometrial and ovarian antigens. Five patients with endometriosis and one patient in the control group had significantly elevated titers, and the mean of titers was similar in each group. These results suggest that local autoimmunity is not a likely phenomenon in patients with mild endometriosis.

Ascitic Fluid↗

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Anti-implantation activity of some indigenous plants in rats.

Various extracts of one hundred and eight medicinal plants were screened for their anti-implantation activity in female albino rats. Out of these, 50% ethanolic extract of Codonospis ovata Benth (PL); 50% ethanolic, acetone and benzene extracts of Puararia tuberosa DC (TUB); aqueous and methanolic extracts of Punica granatum Linn. (PX) and ethanolic and acetone extracts of Rubus ellipiticus Smith (PX) inhibited pregnancy in 70-90% of rats. Similarly ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees (LF) and Kigelia pinnata DC (PL); ethanolic and acetone extracts of Acrostichum aureum Linn. (PL), Juniperus communis Linn. (SD), Lepidium capitatum H.f. & T. (PL); ethanolic and benzene extracts of Citrulus colocynthus Schrad (LF) and acetone extract of Codonopsis ovata Benth (PL) showed 60-70% anti-implantation activity. Extracts of a few plants VIZ. Dolichos biflorus Linn. (SD), Ferule orientalis Linn. (PL), Nerium odoratum Lamk (RT), Randia dumetorum Lamk (SD) and Ruta graveolens Linn. (PL) could inhibit pregnancy in 50-60% of rats. The rest of the plants were either inactive or showed insignificant antifertility activity.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Taste deficiency for phenylthiocarbamide in Mathur Kayasths community of Hyderabad, A.P.

The ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been investigated in 422 individuals representing both sexes among the Mathur Kayastha community of Hyderabad, A.P. There is a great excess of non-tasters with a high 't' gene frequency (0.76). There is no significant difference between the males and females for the t-gene. It is suggested that the high incidence of non-tasters in Mathurs is possibly due to their Aryan origin or even endogamdus customs.

Adolescent↗