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Survival benefit of extended D2 resection for proximal gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The long-term survival of patients with adenocarcinoma of the proximal stomach remains dismal. Despite its increasing frequency and poor prognosis, a general consensus has not been reached on the extent of surgical resection. The significance of extended lymph node dissection (D2 gastrectomy) for the surgical treatment of patients with proximal gastric cancer was evaluated. METHODS: Sixty-two patients who underwent a potentially curative total or proximal gastric resection were retrospectively divided by extent of lymphadenectomy into two groups: the extended resection group (D2,D2.5) and limited resection group (D1,D1.5). Survival rates were estimated by the method of Kaplan and Meier [J Am Stat Assoc 53:457-486, 1958] and the differences compared by the log rank test. Multivariate analysis of prognostic parameters was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The median overall survival time for the extended resection group (D2,D2.5) was 34 months compared to 18 months for patients treated by a more limited resection (D1,D1.5). Patients treated with extended resection had an estimated 5-year overall survival rate of 37% compared to 21% for patients treated with limited resection. This difference was statistically significant with a P value of 0.04. The median disease-free interval for the extended resection group was 31 months compared to 17.6 months for patients in the limited resection group. The 5 year disease-free survival rate for both groups was 37% and 17%, respectively (P = 0.09). Extent of lymphadenectomy and stage of disease were found to be independent predictors of overall and cancer-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with an extended lymph node dissection (D2 gastrectomy) were more likely to survive 5 years, had longer disease-free intervals, and prolonged median survival times (particularly patients with T1-3,N0-1,M0 cancers) as compared to those patients treated with a more limited lymph node dissection (D1,D1.5). These differences reached or approached statistical significance.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Supracapsular bed nucleus of the stria terminalis contains central and medial extended amygdala elements: evidence from anterograde and retrograde tracing experiments in the rat.

Neurons that accompany the stria terminalis as it loops over the internal capsule have been termed collectively the supracapsular bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTS). They form two cell columns, a lateral column and a considerably smaller medial column. The lateral column merges rostrally with the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and caudally with the central amygdaloid nucleus (central extended amygdala components). The medial column is continuous with the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial amygdaloid nucleus (medial extended amygdala districts). The connections of the BSTS were investigated in the rat by placing injections of Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) or retrograde tracers in different parts of the extended amygdala or in structures related to the extended amygdala. BSTS inputs and outputs were identified, respectively, by the presence of varicose fibers and retrogradely labeled neurons within the stria terminalis. The results suggest that the medial-to-lateral compartmentalization of BSTS neurons reflects their close alliance with the medial and central divisions of the extended amygdala. The medial BSTS contains primarily elements that correspond to the posterodorsal part of the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the medial column of the posterior division of the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the lateral BSTS contains elements that correspond to the medial and lateral parts of the central amygdaloid nucleus and lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These results add strong support to the concept of the extended amygdala as a ring-like macrostructure around the internal capsule, and they are of theoretical interest for the understanding of the organization of the basal forebrain.

Afferent Pathways↗

Comparative studies with six extenders for sperm cryopreservation in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Ejaculated spermatozoa from cynomolgus monkeys and rhesus monkeys were frozen in straws with six different extenders (TTE, DM, mDM, LG-DM, G-DM, and TCG) containing glycerol. Sperm motility and head membrane and acrosomal integrity were evaluated after freezing and thawing, and the cryoprotective effects were compared among the extenders and the two species studied. The results showed that sperm motility and motility recovery with the six extenders were comparable for the cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys. There was no significant difference in sperm motility and head membrane integrity among the six extenders in either the cynomolgus or rhesus monkeys (P>0.05). However, a slightly but statistically lower percentage of acrosomal integrity was found with TCG in both species compared to the other extenders (P<0.05). These findings demonstrate that TTE, DM, mDM, LG-DM, G-DM, and TCG are equally suitable extenders for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa from cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys.

Acrosome↗

Extended-field radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy in carcinoma of the uterine cervix: clinical experience with and without concomitant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: It has long been recognized that many patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix harbor occult paraaortic metastases. A randomized study demonstrated that elective paraaortic irradiation improved survival and reduced distant metastases. More recently, concomitant chemotherapy with pelvic irradiation has improved survival among patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix. This has led to a reexamination of the role of extended-field irradiation. An important issue is the toxicity of concomitant chemotherapy and extended-field radiotherapy. The authors report a retrospective analysis of their experience with extended-field radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy. METHODS: The authors treated 54 women with biopsy-confirmed carcinoma of the cervix using extended-field radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy. The histology was squamous cell carcinoma in 49 patients (91%) and nonsquamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients (9%). The median size of the primary tumor was 7 cm (range, 3-10 cm). Each patient received 45 grays (Gy) of external beam radiotherapy to the pelvis and the paraaortic region, followed by a parametrial boost (9 Gy) in the patients with disease extension to the parametrium or the pelvic side wall(s). Each patient also underwent two applications of high-dose-rate brachytherapy, 1 week apart. The median dose delivered to Point A from each application was 9 Gy. Forty-four of the 54 patients (81%) received concomitant chemotherapy (cisplatin, 20 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days) during the first and the fourth weeks of external beam radiotherapy, and once after the second high-dose rate application. Chemotherapy was not assigned randomly. RESULTS: One of the 10 patients (10%) treated without chemotherapy experienced acute toxicity, whereas 41 of 44 patients (93%) who received chemotherapy suffered from acute toxicity, including hematologic toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and deep venous thrombosis. During a median follow-up period of 28 months (range, 12-70 months), 6 of the 54 patients have died (11%). The actuarial rate of local control at 3 years is 100% among the patients treated without chemotherapy, compared with 85% among those receiving chemotherapy. No one failed in the paraaortic region. The actuarial rates of freedom from distant metastases are 90% and 95% among the patients treated without and with chemotherapy, respectively. The actuarial incidence of late toxicity is 10% among the patients treated without chemotherapy and 6% among those receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The regimen of extended-field radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin and high-dose-rate brachytherapy produced substantial acute toxicity, but its long-term toxicity is low and the preliminary tumor control excellent, albeit with limited follow-up. Only prospective, randomized trials can evaluate whether these results are truly better than those of pelvic radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, or those of other regimens of extended-field radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy. Cancer 2003;97:1781-8.

Adult↗

A novel approach to prepare extended DNA fibers in plants.

BACKGROUND: The extended DNA fiber preparation procedure is still imperfect in plants due to the existence of a hard cell wall; thus, high quality of extended DNA fibers for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis is often difficult to be obtained rapidly and efficiently. In this study we have developed a fast and widely effective method to prepare DNA fibers from various plant species and the fibers are suitable for fiber FISH mapping. METHODS: Fresh young leaves were chopped with a sharp sterile scalpel in a Petri dish that contained ice-cold nucleus isolation buffer followed by filtration through 33-mum nylon mesh. Nuclei were obtained by centrifuging the filtrates at high speed (16,000g) for 40 s. Nucleus lysis buffer (0.5% sodium dodecylsulfate, 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 100 mM Tris, pH7.0) was added to nuclei on slides, and DNA fibers were dragged and extended with a clean coverslip. RESULTS: The key of this method is that liquid nitrogen grinding of leaves is replaced by chopping with a blade in ice-cold nucleus isolation buffer. With the liquid nitrogen method, over- or under-grinding of leaves occurs more frequently, and DNA fibers with the desired quality are not obtained easily. In contrast, it is easier to release nuclei from cells in nucleus isolation buffer by chopping, which results in fewer nuclei being destroyed. Highly extended, intact, and long DNA fibers can be generated to a great probability with this method. In addition, this method is very simple and rapid, requiring only 20 min for the entire process, and is also safe because poisonous mercaptoethanol is replaced by dithiothreitol. The results of fiber-FISH with maize genomic DNA and 45S rDNA as probes showed that DNA fiber size as long as 1.96 Mb could be measured. The successful and reliable preparation of maize, wild rice, and barley DNA fibers suitable for FISH mapping proves that this technique is a widely effective approach for obtaining extended DNA fibers in plants. CONCLUSIONS: A simple, rapid, safe, and widely effective method for getting extended DNA fibers has been developed in plants. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chromatin↗

Short term infusion of glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulates both proliferation and formation of aberrant crypt foci in rat colonic mucosa.

Evidence is accumulating that gastrin precursors may act as growth factors for the colonic mucosa in vivo and for colorectal carcinoma cell lines in vitro. The effect of short term administration of synthetic gastrins on the colonic mucosa in vivo, however, has not been reported. The aim of our study was to determine whether continuous systemic infusion of glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulated proliferation and accelerated carcinogenesis in the colorectal mucosa. A significant increase in colonic mucosal proliferation as assessed by metaphase index was seen in the caecum (23%, p < 0.02) and distal colon (27%, p < 0.001), but not the rectum, after treatment of intact rats with glycine-extended gastrin(17) for 1 week using implanted miniosmotic pumps. Defunctioning of the rectum reduced both the proliferative index and crypt height of the rectal mucosa of untreated rats. Treatment of rectally defunctioned animals with glycine-extended gastrin(17) for either 1 or 4 weeks resulted in a significant increase in both the proliferative index (40% and 93%, respectively) and crypt height (11% and 19%, respectively) of the rectal mucosa. The total number of aberrant crypt foci in intact rats treated with the procarcinogen azoxymethane plus glycine-extended gastrin(17) was increased by 48% compared to the value in controls treated with azoxymethane only (p = 0.01). We conclude that short term administration of glycine-extended gastrin(17) to mature rats not only has a proliferative effect upon colonic mucosa, but also increases the number of aberrant crypt foci formed in the colorectal mucosa after treatment with azoxymethane. Glycine-extended gastrin(17) could thus potentially act as a promoter of carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Survival and fertility of boar spermatozoa after freeze-thawing in extender supplemented with butylated hydroxytoluene.

This study evaluated the protective effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a lipid-soluble antioxidant, against cryopreservation injuries to boar spermatozoa. In experiment 1, the lowest BHT concentrations able to reduce lipid peroxidation in boar spermatozoa were determined. Nine BHT concentrations (ranging from 0.025 to 3.2 mM) were evaluated, and the lowest (P <.05) production of malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was obtained when BHT ranged from 0.2 to 1.6 mM. In experiment 2, sperm survivability was evaluated when BHT was added to a postthaw freezing extender by measuring the degree of sperm lipid peroxidation (using MDA production) and by measuring parameter such as motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, and cell apoptosis. The ability of thawed spermatozoa to fertilize in vitro-matured oocytes and of embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro was also assessed. Pooled sperm-rich fractions collected from 3 mature Pietrain boars were frozen in 0.5-mL straws after dilution with lactose-egg yolk-glycerol-Orvus ES Paste extender supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM BHT. Postthaw sperm survival, evaluated 30 and 150 minutes after thawing, was higher in BHT-treated spermatozoa, being significant (P <.05) when the freezing extender was supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mM BHT. The addition of BHT to the freezing extender resulted in a significant (P <.05) decrease in the MDA concentration in thawed spermatozoa, irrespective of the level of BHT used. BHT had no effect on oocyte cleavage rates, but the development to blastocyst was improved for embryos derived from spermatozoa frozen in extender supplemented with 0.4 mM BHT (16% vs 29% of blastocysts per total oocytes; P <.05). In conclusion, under the conditions tested in the present study, the addition of BHT to the freezing extender improved the overall efficiency of thawed boar spermatozoa.

Animals↗

Desipramine prevents the sustained increase in corticotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactivity induced by repeated immobilization stress in the rat central extended amygdala.

Clinical and experimental studies have shown that the activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and noradrenergic systems mediate stress-induced anxiety. Repeated immobilization stress (RIS) has been shown to induce long-lasting anxiety behavior and changes in noradrenaline turnover. The present work was aimed at studying the effect of RIS on the in situ expression of CRH-LI in the central extended amygdala and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Our results showed that RIS for 15 days induces a significant increase of CRH-LI expression in the central extended amygdala. The increase in CRH-LI expression in the central extended amygdala was sustained even after a 25-day stress-free period. The concomitant administration of desipramine (DMI), a specific noradrenaline uptake inhibitor, fully prevented the RIS-induced increase in CRH expression. RIS also induced an increase of CRH-LI expression in the PVN that was prevented by the concomitant DMI administration. In contrast to the sustained effect observed in the central extended amygdala, the RIS-induced increase of CRH-LI expression in the PVN was nonlasting. DMI administration also prevented the RIS-induced increase of adrenal gland weight. The present findings showing that RIS induces a sustained increase of CRH expression in the central extended amygdala suggest that the repeated activation of CRH neurons and CRH receptors in the central extended amygdala may underlie the long-lasting anxiety behavior induced by RIS. Further studies should address the mechanisms involved in the effect of DMI and its eventual relevance in the therapeutic actions of DMI.

Adrenal Glands↗

Biochemical characteristics of extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases.

Extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases such as TEM-3 (CTX-1), TEM-5 (CAZ-1), TEM-10 and RHH-1 were purified and found to have lower specific activities than the TEM-1 or TEM-2 beta-lactamases. Total hydrolytic activity in crude extracts was also lower for the extended broad spectrum enzymes. These beta-lactamases hydrolyzed not only penicillins such as carbenicillin, cloxacillin and piperacillin, but also cephalosporins and monobactams. The most notable differences in substrate profiles between the extended broad spectrum enzymes and TEM-2 enzymes occurred with oxime-containing antibiotics. Although all the extended broad spectrum enzymes described above hydrolyzed cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam, the four enzymes could be easily differentiated: TEM-3 hydrolyzed cefotaxime preferentially, TEM-5 and RHH-1 hydrolyzed ceftazidime approximately three times faster than cefotaxime, whereas TEM-10 hydrolyzed ceftazidime 42 times faster than cefotaxime. All the enzymes were inhibited well by clavulanic acid, with I50 values ranging from 4.3 to 12 nM, compared to 130 nM for TEM-2. Inhibition by sulbactam was also better for the extended broad spectrum than for the TEM-2 beta-lactamases, with I50 values of 12-940 nM for the extended broad spectrum enzymes, compared to 1600 nM for the TEM-2 beta-lactamase.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer. Does extended lymphadenectomy provide a better outcome?

The rate of curative resection of pancreatic cancer has increased as a result of extended operations, but this has not led to any significant improvement in postoperative outcome. No definite conclusions were drawn in retrospective studies comparing outcome after standard and extended operations, and there was almost no difference in outcome between the two groups in a recent prospective randomized study. In addition, extended procedures are very stressful operations that, in most instances, impair the patient's quality of life (QOL). As a result, the need for performing extended surgery to treat pancreatic cancer has come into question. The outcome of advanced cancer in patients in whom curative resection cannot be achieved by extended operations is extremely poor, and we believe that, in such patients, priority should be given to QOL, by selecting bypass or limited operations instead. It is hoped that the value of extended surgery will be clarified by a very carefully planned multicenter prospective randomized study in the future.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Efficacy and safety of extended-release isosorbide mononitrate for stable effort angina pectoris.

The efficacy and safety of extended-release isosorbide mononitrate tablets were evaluated in patients with stable effort angina. In a double-blind study, 313 patients with stable effort-induced angina were randomized to receive placebo or extended-release isosorbide mononitrate: 30, 60, 120 or 240 mg once daily in the morning. Serial exercise testing was performed using the standard Bruce treadmill protocol on days 1, 7, 14, 28 and 42 immediately before morning drug administration, and 4 and 12 hours after administration. After initial dosing, all groups that received extended-release isosorbide mononitrate had significant (p < 0.01) increases in mean total exercise time of approximately 30 to 50 seconds in relation to placebo 4 and 12 hours after administration. On day 42, mean changes from baseline in total exercise time of patients who received 120 or 240 mg of extended-release isosorbide mononitrate exceeded placebo by approximately 50 to 60 seconds 4 hours after dosing (p < 0.01), and by 30 to 35 seconds 12 hours after dosing (p < or = 0.05). No significant difference was detected between responses to extended-release isosorbide mononitrate and placebo 24 hours after administration (i.e., immediately before the next dose). Thus, there was neither significant activity nor demonstrable rebound of effort-induced angina (zero-hour effect) at the end of the dosing interval. Transient headache was the most prevalent adverse experience. Extended-release isosorbide mononitrate (120 and 240 mg administered orally once daily) significantly prolonged exercise time to development of moderate effort-induced angina 4 and 12 hours after dosing during long-term therapy, without development of nitrate tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Corneal ulcers associated with daily-wear and extended-wear contact lenses.

Over a 21-month period, we treated corneal ulcers in 11 patients using daily-wear contact lenses and 29 patients using extended-wear contact lenses. Since more patients use daily-wear than extended-wear lenses, this suggests that patients using extended-wear lenses are at greater risk for the development of corneal ulcers. Positive bacterial cultures were obtained from the corneal scrapings of nine of 11 patients using daily-wear lenses and 20 of 29 patients using extended-wear lenses. In the daily-wear group, all 11 patients failed to exercise satisfactory care in using and disinfecting their contact lenses: three did not wash their hands before manipulating the contact lenses, eight wore them overnight, two did not use any disinfecting system, and four had contaminated contact lens cases, solutions, or drops. In the extended-wear group, 17 patients failed to exercise satisfactory care in using and disinfecting their contact lenses: 12 had contaminated contact lens care systems, two did not use any disinfection system, five reported not washing their hands before contact lens manipulation, and two disinfected their contact lenses at intervals of more than a month. We were unable to identify any defect in the way 12 patients took care of their extended-wear lenses, suggesting that there may be a problem with these contact lenses even when care is satisfactory.

Adult↗

Differential effects of extended sleep in narcoleptic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extended night sleep on subsequent daytime sleep propensity in narcoleptic patients. The possible differentiation between REM and NREM sleepiness was of particular interest. Ten unmedicated narcoleptic inpatients (8 men, 2 women) aged 23-61 years (mean, 47.9 years) participated in this study. Adapting the patients to the hospital schedule (nocturnal sleep period from 22:00 to 6:00 h and ad lib, nap during daytime) for at least 2 weeks, we conducted a baseline PSG from 22:00 to 6:00 h and subsequent 5-trial daytime sleep recordings with naps (lying on the bed for 20 min light-out period) at 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 and 17:30 h (the baseline condition: BC). After a 1-5 day interval, we conducted an extended PSG from 22:00 to 10:00 h. Subsequent to the extended PSG, we carried out 5-trial daytime sleep recordings. We adjusted the start time of the first nap trial at least 90 min after waking time and start time in the 5th nap trial before 19:00 h (the extended condition: EC). Mean TST was 417.0 min in the baseline PSG, and 595.2 min in extended PSG. Mean number of daytime naps per subject exhibiting a sleep latency shorter than 10 min was decreased in EC. Mean sleep latency in EC was significantly prolonged in comparison with that in BC. This prolongation of mean sleep latency per subject was positively correlated with S4 duration and % S4 obtained in the morning of the extended PSG (from 6:00 to wake time).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Intrauterine injection of recombinant ovine interferon-tau extends the interestrous interval in sheep.

The ability of recombinant ovine interferon-tau (roIFNtau) to extend the interestrous interval (IEI) in sheep was studied. Ewes were fitted with bilateral uterine catheters 7 or 8 days post estrus and were assigned to receive either 10 or 20 million antiviral (AV) units/day i.u. ( approximately 100 or 200 ug) of roIFNtau or ovine conceptus secretory proteins containing equivalent AV units of native oIFNtau (noIFNtau; 4 ewes/treatment). Four control ewes received ovine serum proteins (SP). Total protein injected was 6 mg per day, half at 0700 hours and half at 1730 hours. The treatments were administered from Day 11.5 (estrus=Day 0) to Day 16. Blood samples were collected by jugular vienipuncture daily from Day 11 until ewes returned to estrus. Concentrations of progesterone (P) in plasma were determined by RIA. Treatment with either noIFNtau or roIFNtau extended IEI beyond that of SP-treated ewes (19.1 vs 31.2+/-3.4 days P<0.03). Of the ewes receiving 100 mug/day of oIFNtau, 2 of 4 receiving noIFNtau (23.6+/-5.2 days) and 3 of 4 receiving roIFNtau (34.2+/-5.2 days) had an extended IEI. All ewes receiving 200 mug/day of noIFNtau or roIFNtau had an extended IEI (28.8 and 38.5+/-5.2 days. respectively). Ewes receiving roIFNtau had a longer IEI than those receiving noIFNtau (36.7 vs 26.2+/-3.4 days; P=0.07). Ewes with an extended IEI had functional corpora lutea, as assessed by P production. The results demonstrate that 10 or 20 million AV units ( approximately 100 or 200 ug) of roIFNtau extends the IEI and that the length of the IEI is longer for ewes receiving roIFNtau than noIFNtau following injection of equivalent AV units.

Journal Article↗

Use of two freezing extenders to cool stallion spermatozoa to 5 degrees C with and without seminal plasma.

Motion characteristics of cooled stallion spermatozoa in 2 freezing extenders were studied. Ejaculates from 8 stallions were split into treatments and cooled in thermoelectric cooling units at each of 2 rates. Cooling started at 37 degrees C for Experiments 1 and 3 and at 23 degrees C for Experiments 2 and 4, at a rate of -0.7 degrees C/min to 20 degrees C and from 20 to 5 degrees C, at either -0.05 degrees C/min (Rate I) or -0.5 degrees C/min (Rate II). Percentages of motile (MOT) and progressively motile spermatozoa (PMOT) were determined at 6, 24 and 48 h. Treatments in Experiment 1 were modified skim milk extender (SM); SM + 4% egg yolk (EY); SM + 4% glycerol (GL); and SM + 4% egg yolk + 4% glycerol (EY + GL). At 24 and 48 h, MOT and PMOT were lowest (P < 0.05) for spermatozoa extended in SM + EY; spermatozoa in SM + GL had the highest MOT and PMOT. Thus, glycerol partially protected spermatozoa against the effects of cooling after long-term storage. Treatments in Experiment 2 were SM, semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in SM (SMc), SM + EY, and semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in SM + EY (EYc). Spermatozoa in SM + EYc had the highest (P < 0.05) PMOT at 24 h and MOT and PMOT at 48 hours. Spermatozoa in SM + EY (not centrifuged) had the lowest MOT and PMOT at 24 and 48 h, respectively. There was a detrimental interaction between egg yolk and seminal plasma. Extenders in Experiment 3 were Colorado extender (CO3), CO3 + 4% egg yolk (EY), CO3 + 4% glycerol (GL), and CO3 + 4% egg yolk + 4% glycerol (EY + GL). Spermatozoa in CO3 + EY had the lowest (P < 0.05) PMOT at 24 and 48 h. CO3 did not protect spermatozoa cooled in the presence of seminal plasma. Therefore, in Experiment 4 we tested CO3 with seminal plasma present (control) and semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in CO3 (CO3c), CO3 + EY (EYc), CO3 + GL (GLc) and CO3 + EY + GL (EY + GLc). Spermatozoa in CO3 had the lowest (P < 0.05) MOT and PMOT at all time periods, which suggested a detrimental interaction of this extender with seminal plasma.

Journal Article↗

Effect of seminal extenders containing egg yolk and glycerol on motion characteristics and fertility of stallion spermatozoa.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of egg yolk and(or) glycerol added to a nonfat dried skim milk-glucose (NDSMG) extender on motion characteristics and fertility of stallion spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, ejaculates from each of 8 stallions were exposed to each of 4 extender treatments: 1) NDSMG, 2) NDSMG + 4% egg yolk (EY), 3) NDSMG + 4% glycerol (GL), and 4) NDSMG + 4% egg yolk + 4% glycerol (EY + GL). Samples were cooled at -0.7 degrees C/min from 37 to 20 degrees C; subsamples were then cooled at -0.05 or -0.5 degrees C/min from 20 to 5 degrees C. Percentages of motile spermatozoa (MOT) and progressively motile spermatozoa (PMOT) were determined at 6, 24 and 48 h after initiation of cooling. There was no overall effect (P > 0.05) of cooling rate. PMOT was highest (P < 0.05) for spermatozoa extended in NDSMG + GL at 48 h. At 24 and 48 h, MOT and PMOT were lowest (P < 0.05) for spermatozoa extended in NDSMG + EY. In Experiment 2, ejaculates from 8 stallions were exposed to each of 4 treatments: 1) NDSMG, 2) NDSMG + EY, 3) semen centrifuged in NDSMG and resuspended in NDSMG, and 4) semen centrifuged in NDSMG and resuspended in NDSMG + EY. Samples were cooled from 20 to 5 degrees C at each of 2 rates (-0.05, -0.5 degrees C/min). A detrimental interaction between seminal plasma and egg yolk was noted for PMOT at 6 h and for both MOT and PMOT at > or = 24 h postcooling. Experiment 3 determined if egg yolk or glycerol affected fertility. The seminal treatments were 1) NDSMG, 2) NDSMG + EY with previous removal of seminal plasma, and 3) NDSMG + GL. All samples were cooled to 5 degrees C and stored 24 h before insemination. Embryo recovery rates 7 d after ovulation were lower for mares inseminated with spermatozoa cooled in NDSMG + EY (17%, 4/24) or NDSMG + GL (13%, 3/24) extenders, than semen cooled in NDSMG (50%, 12/24). We concluded that egg yolk (with seminal plasma removal) or glycerol added to NDSMG extender did not depress MOT or PMOT of cooled stallion spermatozoa but adversely affected fertility.

Journal Article↗

Comparisons between three different extenders for canine intrauterine insemination with frozen-thawed spermatozoa.

Ejaculates from 7 dogs were obtained on the same day and were pooled. This pooled semen was separated into 3 equal fractions and processed simultaneously, the only difference being in the extender used for freezing. The extenders were laiciphos (containing laiciphos, egg yolk, distilled water and glycerol- Group 1); Tes/Tris (containing Tes/Tris, egg yolk, distilled water and glycerol- Group 2); and biociphos (containing biociphos with glycerol in it, egg yolk and distilled water- Group 3). Spermatozoa were conditioned in 0.5ml French straws and presented normal characteristics before freezing and after thawing. The sperm concentration of the pooled was 683 x 10(6) sperm/ml; sperm motility was above 95%, the percentage of live spermatozoa was above 95% and was of good quality and mobility. Characteristics of the spermatozoa after thawing were the same for spermatozoa frozen with laiciphos and Tes/Tris. Mean sperm concentration was 201.5 +/- 4.95 x 10(6) sperm/ml, sperm motility was 65%, the percentage of live spermatozoa was 80% and the quality of motility.was good. Spermtozoa frozen with biociphos had the following post-thaw characteristics: sperm concentration was 201 x 10(6) sperm/ml, sperm motility was 50%, the percentage of live spermatozoa was 78% and the quality of mobility was medium. Abnormalities were less than 15% for all spermatozoa after thawing. Intrauterine artificial inseminations were performed by laparoscopic intrauterine insemination twice at Days 3 and 5 after the estimated LH peak in 15 normally cyclic Beagle bitches (5 per group) presenting normal hormonal profiles. There were no differences between groups. The females were inseminated with 1.0 ml of spermoatozoa (concentration of 200 x 10(6) sperm/ml) diluted with 1.0 ml of extender. A 60% pregnancy rate was obtained in bitches inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa extended with laiciphos or Tes/Tris and 100% in bitches inseminated with spermatozoa extended with biociphos. Females inseminated with laiciphos, Tes/Tris and biociphos had a mean litter size of 5 +/- 2.6, 3 +/- 1 and 3.4 +/- 1.3 pups, respectively. This study demonstrated that post-thaw assessment of sperm characteristics is not the best technique for evaluating sperm fertility after freezing or for assessing different semen extenders.

Journal Article↗

Processing of the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) precursor in Xenopus skin and bovine hypothalamus: evidence for the existence of extended forms of TRH.

Acid extracts of Xenopus laevis skin were fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G50 ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Peptides related to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were identified in the eluted fractions by trypsin digestion and radioimmunoassay (RIA) using antibodies to the TRH tripeptide pGlu-His-Pro amide or to a TRH-related pentapeptide pGlu-His-Pro-Gly-Lys. In addition to the tripeptide hormone, evidence was obtained for the presence of peptides containing 10-20 amino acid residues which were extended on the NH2-terminal or COOH-terminal side of TRH. The peptides extending on the NH2-terminal side predominated and were shown to comprise 5 components present in differing concentrations, indicating that the processing sites in the TRH prohormone vary in their susceptibility to proteolysis. Evidence was also obtained for the presence of small amounts of the TRH-related pentapeptide pGlu-His-Pro-Gly-Lys. Using similar procedures it was demonstrated that TRH extended peptides were present in bovine hypothalamus. In this species the peptides extended at the NH2-terminus of TRH occurred in similar concentrations to the peptides extended at the COOH-terminus. The results show that processing of the TRH prohormone in Xenopus and ox leads to the formation of peptides intermediate in size between the prohormone and the tripeptide amide; the TRH extended peptides occur in significant quantity and in Xenopus are formed with a high degree of specificity.

Animals↗