Abstract P1-07-04: Comparison of HER2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using automated imaging system and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A retrospective analysis of 2853 cases

Background: Accurate assessment of HER2 status is critical for selecting patients who will benefit from trastuzumab therapy. There is still no consensus regarding the optimal method to assess HER2 status. Computerized image analysis has been shown to provide a more accurate and objective way for quantification of HER2 expression by IHC than manual evaluation. It has been suggested that the use of image analysis may help to resolve some of the discrepancies between IHC and FISH assay.

We compared the results of HER2 expression by IHC using automated image analysis with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay.

Design: Testing for HER2 expression by IHC and FISH was performed on 2853 specimens at UT Southwestern Medical Center between the years 2002 to 2011. Quantification of IHC HER2 expression was done by image analysis and scored as positive (>2.0), borderline (1.5 to 2.0) and negative. (<1.5). The PathVysion kit was used for FISH assay to evaluate HER2 amplification. Ratios >2.0, 1.8 to 2.0 and <1.8 were defined positive, borderline and negative amplification respectively.

Results: IHC compared to FISH

Generating periodic terahertz structures in a relativistic electron beam through frequency down-conversion of optical lasers

We report generation of density modulation at terahertz (THz) frequencies in a relativistic electron beam through laser modulation of the beam longitudinal phase space. We show that by modulating the energy distribution of the beam with two lasers, density modulation at the difference frequency of the two lasers can be generated after the beam passes through a chicane. In this experiment, density modulation around 10 THz was generated by down-converting the frequencies of an 800 nm laser and a 1550 nm laser. The central frequency of the density modulation can be tuned by varying the laser wavelengths, beam energy chirp, or momentum compaction of the chicane. This technique can be applied to accelerator-based light sources for generation of coherent THz radiation and marks a significant advance toward tunable narrow band THz sources.

[Effect of platelet-rich plasma injection on early healing of Achilles tendon rupture in rats]

OBJECTIVE

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote wound healing. To observe the effect of PRP injection on the early healing of rat's Achilles tendon rupture so as to provide the experimental basis for clinical practice.

METHODS

Forty-six Sprague Dawley rats were included in this experiment, female or male and weighing 190-240 g. PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were prepared from the heart arterial blood of 10 rats; other 36 rats were made the models of Achilles tendon rupture, and were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, PPP group, and PRP group), 12 rats for each group. In PPP and PRP groups, PPP and PRP of 100 microL were injected around the tendons once a week, respectively; in the control group, nothing was injected. The tendon tissue sample was harvested at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after operation for morphology, histology, and immunohistochemistry observations. The content of collagen type I fibers also was measured. Specimens of each group were obtained for biomechanical test at 4 weeks.

RESULTS

All the animals survived till the end of the experiment. Tendon edema gradually decreased and sliding improved with time. The tendon adhesion increased steadily from 1 week to 3 weeks postoperatively, and it was relieved at 4 weeks in 3 groups. There was no significant difference in the grading of tendon adhesion among 3 groups at 1 week and at 4 weeks (P > 0.05), respectively. The inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and collagen fibers were more in PRP group than in PPP group and control group at 1 week; with time, inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis gradually decreased. Positive staining of collagen type I fibers was observed at 1-4 weeks postoperatively in 3 groups. The positive density of collagen type I fibers in group PRP was significantly higher than that in control group and PPP group at 1, 2, and 3 weeks (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found among 3 groups at 4 weeks (P > 0.05). The biomechanical tests showed that there was no significant difference in the maximal gliding excursion among 3 groups at 4 weeks postoperatively (P > 0.05); the elasticity modulus and the ultimate tensile strength of PRP group were significantly higher than those of control group and PPP group at 4 weeks (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PRP injection can improve the healing of Achilles tendon in early repair of rat's Achilles tendon rupture.

Evidence of high harmonics from echo-enabled harmonic generation for seeding x-ray free electron lasers

Echo-enabled harmonic generation free electron lasers hold great promise for the generation of fully coherent radiation in x-ray wavelengths. Here we report the first evidence of high harmonics from the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique in the realistic scenario where the laser energy modulation is comparable to the beam slice energy spread. In this experiment, coherent radiation at the seventh harmonic of the second seed laser is generated when the energy modulation amplitude is about 2-3 times the slice energy spread. The experiment confirms the underlying physics of echo-enabled harmonic generation and may have a strong impact on emerging seeded x-ray free electron lasers that are capable of generating laserlike x rays which will advance many areas of science.

A vaccine approach for breast cancer immunotherapy by targeting HER2/neu antigen to B cells via CD19 molecule

287

Background: Trastuzumab has been proven to be effective in the immunotherapy for Her-2/neu-positive breast cancer. However, this adoptively transferred therapeutic Ab must be continuously given to the patient with huge financial cost. Thus, it would be desirable if tumor vaccines could elicit long-lasting trastuzumab-like Ab.

Methods: Constructing fusion protein of anti-mouse CD19 single chain variable fragment (anti-CD19-scFv) with human Her-2/neu extracellular domain P3-4 (P3-4) by extracting total RNA from Rat anti-mouse CD19 hybridoma (1D3) and first strand cDNA was synthesized accordingly. VH and VL were amplified using designed primers. Single chain Fv (VL-VH) was then synthesized by overlapping PCR. Then constructs were sequenced and cloned into pET-20b(+) vectors. Fragments P3-4 of extracellular domains of human Her-2/neu was cloned from pcDNA3.1-Her2 and then cloned into pET-20b(+)-scFv. Series of constructs were expressed and purified according to standard protocol and verified by Western Blot.

Results: Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that fusion proteins anti-CD19-scFv and anti-CD19-scFv-P3-4 but not P3-4 could specifically bind to B cells with high affinity. Mice immunized with anti-CD19-scFv-P3-4 secreted higher titers of IgG and IgM than those from controls (p<0.05). Studies also demonstrated that sera from anti-CD19-scFv-P3-4 but not anti-CD19-scFv or P3-4 immunized mice stained with Her-2/neu expressing SKOV-3 tumor cells. These Abs also competitively inhibited trastuzumab-mediated Ag binding, suggesting that trastuzumab-like Ab responses were elicited. WT mice immunized with anti-CD19-scFv-P3-4 fusion protein then challenged with D2/F2-Her-2 mammary tumor cells showed significantly reduced tumor burden compared to those immunized with control fusion proteins (p<0.05) and had enhanced median overall survival to 45 days versus 34 days in WT mice immunized with either anti-CD19-scFv or P3-4.

Conclusions: Targeting of Her-2/neu antigens to B cells stimulates Th-dependent humoral immune responses with anti tumor effect in mouse model. These findings provide a novel avenue for successful development of breast cancer vaccination strategy and help to fight for cancer.

Demonstration of the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique for short-wavelength seeded free electron lasers

We report the first experimental demonstration of the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique, which holds great promise for generation of high-power, fully coherent short-wavelength radiation. In this experiment, coherent radiation at the 3rd and 4th harmonics of the second seed laser is generated from the so-called beam echo effect. The experiment confirms the physics behind this technique and paves the way for applying the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique for seeded x-ray free electron lasers.

A unique antibody gene signature is prevalent in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis

B cells isolated from the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a unique accumulation of somatic hypermutation within the B cell receptor, termed the antibody gene signature (AGS). The focus of this study was to investigate whether the AGS could also be detected in MS brain tissue. Genetic analysis of B cells isolated from post-mortem CNS tissue samples from four MS brains demonstrated that signature enriched B cells are present at the site of tissue injury as well as in the circulating CSF.

Generating ultrashort coherent soft X-ray radiation in storage rings using angular-modulated electron beams

A technique is proposed to generate ultrashort coherent soft x-ray radiation in storage rings using angular-modulated electron beams. In the scheme a laser operating in the TEM01 mode is first used to modulate the angular distribution of the electron beam in an undulator. After passing through a special beam line with nonzero transfer matrix element R54, the angular modulation is converted to density modulation which contains considerable high harmonic components of the laser. It is found that the harmonic number can be 1 or 2 orders of magnitude higher than the standard coherent harmonic generation method which relies on beam energy modulation. The technique has the potential of generating femtosecond coherent soft x-ray radiation directly from an infrared seed laser and may open new research opportunities for ultrafast sciences in storage rings.

Plasma thermogram profiling: A novel biomarker for lung cancer

e22074

Background: Currently, there are no clinically useful biomarkers for lung cancer (LC). We developed a novel approach by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to analyze the plasma proteome of LC patients. Our assay produces a signature snapshot of the plasma proteome based on the thermal properties of the constituent proteins within the mixture. Each individual protein has a unique and characteristic melting temperature and melting enthalpy. These biophysical properties are as intrinsic and unique for each protein as are its sequence, mass, and charge. The denaturation of plasma results in a composite signature thermogram that represents the sum of all of the individual proteins within the proteome, weighted according to their concentration within the plasma or serum. Our goal is to identify unique thermogram profiles as biomarkers for lung cancer evaluation. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from LC patients and healthy volunteers. Sample analysis was performed using an automated capillary DSC. Comparison of plasma thermograms from controls and diseased individuals was done using quantile-quantile plots and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results: One hundred samples were obtained from healthy volunteers. DSC thermograms from control plasma were highly reproducible and yielded a characteristic signature with a well-defined shape and temperature maxima. Twenty samples from LC patients were obtained at diagnosis. Plasma from LC individuals yielded a unique thermogram that differs from that of healthy controls. Preliminary results suggested that DSC was sensitive to properties of the plasma proteins other than their charge and mass. We hypothesize that changes in thermogram shapes and positions in LC can arise from changes in the concentrations of plasma proteins, from disease-induced protein-protein interactions, or from the secretion into plasma of disease-related peptides that can bind to the most abundant plasma proteins. Conclusions: Lung cancer may have a characteristic signature thermogram that may serve as a biomarker for LC; further studies are needed to elucidate the biophysical and molecular mechanisms of different thermograms between normal individuals versus those with disease or cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Serologic and molecular characterization of the B(A) blood group in the Chinese population

B(A) phenotype individuals have normal B antigen and a small amount of A antigen on the RBCs with anti-A in the plasma. Some highly potent monoclonal anti-A reagents are capable of agglutinating B(A) RBCs, which therefore usually results in a discrepancy between RBC and plasma ABO grouping. To date, five B(A) alleles (ABO B(A)01, B(A)02, B(A)03, B(A)04, and B(A)05) have been defined by nucleotide sequences. To get a more complete picture of B(A) phenotypes found in the Chinese population and resolve blood donor typing problems caused by B(A) alleles,a serologic and molecular study of nine unrelated Chinese individuals and three families carrying B(A) alleles was conducted. Allele B(A)02 with a 700C>G mutation, allele B(A)04 with a single 640A>G substitution, and allele B(A)05 with a 641T>C mutation were detected in multigenerational families and unrelated blood donors. Neither the B(A)01 nor B(A)03 alleles with 703A>G substitutions were observed in this study. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction with a sequence-specific primer genotyping assay was developed for rapid identification of B(A)02, B(A)04, and B(A)05 alleles using genomic DNA samples.

[Dynamic monitoring of sIL-2R, IL-2 and IL-6 levels of serum after double-hand transplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of monitoring cytokines in serum after human double-hand allotransplantation.

METHODS

We detected solube interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R), interleukin-2(IL-2) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels of the serum in the patient who were performed double-hand transplantation with immunosuppressive from September 2000 to November 2000, and in 15 healthy volunteers by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

The IL-2 and IL-6 levels decreased quickly during inducing period (P < 0.05), and then increased gradually. While the sIL-2R level increased. The IL-2 level was lower(P < 0.05), the IL-6 and sIL-2R levels were slightly higher when compared with those before transplantation. There was significant difference in the IL-2 level between the patient and healthy volunteers both before and after transplantation, in the IL-6 level between the patient and healthy volunteers during inducing period.

CONCLUSION

IL-2, IL-6 and sIL-2R levels of serum may be useful in diagnosis of rejection, prevention of opportunistic infection, tumor and graft versus host disease.

[Effects of mixed cord blood serum on long-term culture of bone marrow hematopoietic cells]

AIM

To demonstrate the role of cord blood serum on dte long-term culture of bone marrow and provide the experimental foundation for its clinical use, the response of the bone marrow mononuclear cells to the mixed cord blood serum was investigated on the basis of Dexter culture system.

METHODS

In ten samples of human bone marrow, 1 x 10(6) bone marrow mononuclear cells were planted onto the stromal cells layer and cultured for five weeks, Cobblestone area forming cells (CAFC), long-term colony-initiation cells (LTC-IC), and the nuclear cells count in the supernatant was observed.

RESULTS

CAFC, LTC-IC were 37.1 +/- 12.4/(ml. well), 40.9 +/- 10.6/(ml. well) respectively in control group. The accounts were increased in the group of 10% MCBS, although it was less than that in mixed cytokines group. When combined with cytokines, 10% MCBS enhanced the growth of CAFC and LTC-IC obviously compared with that when cytokines were used alone. 20% MCBS failed to substitute the role of mixed cytokines plus fatal calf serum on the expansion of CAFC, LTC-IC and NCC.

CONCLUSION

MCBS have the activity of stimulation for hematopoietic stem cells, which is analogous to SCF, IL-3, etc. Its nature and concentration remain to be investigated extensively.

[Clinical study on hepatitis D virus-positive patients died from severe hepatitis B]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of hepatitis D virus (HDV) in the development of severe hepatitis B.

METHODS

Seventy-six HDV-positive patients died from severe hepatitis B were compared with 244 HDV-negative patients from severe hepatitis B in clinical manifestations, signs, complications and main biochemical indexes at the same period.

RESULTS

HDV-positive patients had obvious ascites, abdominal distension, digestive tract hemorrhage as compared with the HDV-negative ones (P<0.05). There were significant differences in hepatorenal syndrome, bacterial infection, manifold complications, the levels of total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase, and the activity of prothrombin between the patients of the two groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

HDV can aggravate severe hepatitis B.

A comparative study of factors affecting chiral separations under reversed-phase conditions using cellulosic and Pirkle-type chiral selectors

Limited studies have been conducted in reversed-phase chiral chromatography despite the relevance to water soluble chiral analytes. Systematic investigation and interpretation of factors affecting chiral separation in reversed-phase LC is crucial to efficient chiral method development. Two of the most useful chiral stationary phases (CSPs), a cellulosic (Chiralcel OJ-R) and a Pirkle-type (Chirex 3005), were chosen as the chiral selectors in this study to systematically investigate the factors affecting chiral separation of a series of Fmoc-amino acids. The effects of temperature, pH, buffer concentration, buffer type and organic modifiers on retention and chiral selectivity were compared between the cellulosic and the Pirkle-type selectors. Temperature affected retention and selectivity, as predicted by thermodynamics, using both types of chiral selectors. On the cellulosic CSP, buffer pH was the only factor which caused a significant change in chiral selectivity, while several factors, including buffer concentration and organic modifier type, affected chiral selectivity on the Pirkle-type CSP. The results also indicated that the cellulosic CSP had a retention mechanism analogous to conventional reversed-phase LC, however, the Pirkle-type selector appeared to show a mixed mode retention mechanism for these analytes.

[Reevaluation of the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria in 477 patients with severe hepatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the possibility of establishing more reasonable nomenclatures and diagnostic criteria for patients with severe hepatitis (SH) through analyzing clinical data of 477 cases of SH.

METHODS

The clinical characteristics and outcomes of SH were analyzed according to different criteria.

RESULTS

Chronic severe hepatitis (CSH) made up 88.5% of total cases of SH. The survival rate in the patients with hepatic encephalopathy was much lower than that without hepatic encephalopathy. About 1/5 of cases of subacute severe hepatitis (SSH) and CSH had neither ascites nor hepatic encephalopathy. When the period of 2 weeks was used in replace of 10 days for the diagnosis for acute severe hepatitis (ASH), the newly added cases were consistent with the characteristics of ASH.

CONCLUSION

We suggest dividing SH into 2 types: encephalopathy and non-encephalopathy by using the nomenclature of fulminant hepatitis and severe type hepatitis, respectively. The late-onset form should be added besides of acute form and subacute form. It seems to use the period of 2 weeks as the new definition of onset time for ASH. The criteria of dividing SH into 3 forms, i.e. ascites, encephalopathy and ascites plus encephalopathy, and the nomenclature recommended by the International Association for the Study of the Liver Subcommittee are not satisfactory when used in clinical cases. The typing of CSH remains to be clarified.

[Effect of calcitonin on the proliferation and membrane fluidity of human osteoblast-like cells]

The effects of calcitonin (CT) on the proliferation and membrane fluidity of human osteoblast-like cells line OS-732 were compared with the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3. The rate of DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, cell cycle and membrane fluidity of OS-732 cells were observed. Results showed that 1IU/ml CT stimulated cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. The percentage of cell in the G2 + M phase was increased and the percentage of cell in the synthetic phase was decreased. The membrane fluidity of OS-732 cells was increased after 0.1 mumol/L and 0.01 mumol/L 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment and was decreased after 1IU/ml CT treatment. It is concluded that calcitonin might increase the cell proliferation and decrease the membrane fluidity.

Relationship between expression of type III collagen and phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells in neointimal of stented coronary artery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the secretive features of type III collagen in restenosis of the stented coronary artery and the relationship between the expression of type III. collagen and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODS

An animal model of restenosis was established by implanting oversized tantalum stents into the coronary arteries in 26 dogs. At the 7th, 14th and 28th days after implantation, the stented coronaries were harvested. Transmission electronic microscopy and immunohistochemistry were employed to investigate the features of type III collagen secretion and VSMCs' phenotype. The expression of type III collagen was quantified and compared for the three stages.

RESULTS

Migration and proliferation of VSMCs were the main features at the 7th day after injury. At the 14th day, proliferation of VSMCs reached the peak while much more secretion of collagen was noticeable. VSMCs began to transform from the synthetic phenotype to the contractile phenotype at the 28th day, when a great quantity of collagen was also secreted. The quantity of secreted type III collagen was greater at the 14th and 28th day than that at the 7th day (P < 0.05). The stain density of type III collagen was positively correlated to neointimal thickness at both of 14th and 28th day.

CONCLUSION

The pathological bases of restenosis are variant in different period of restenosis formation. Type III collagen may play an important role in the late stage of restenosis after coronary stenting.

Ultrasonics research in the NIST Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

The Ultrasonic Standards Group in the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) performs research, develops standards, and offers calibration services in support of United States industry. In this paper, two areas of recent experimental research using a thin film piezoelectric polymer are briefly reviewed. One is the development and application of a large aperture lensless line-focus transducer for time-resolved pulsed-wave measurements. The second is the effect of nonlinear wave propagation on pulsed waveforms in industrial ultrasonic nondestructive testing applications.

Empirical relationship between chiral selectivity and mobile phase modifier properties

An empirical relationship was derived which relates properties of the mobile phase modifier to the chiral selectivity factor for a given analyte/chiral selector combination. Using carbon dioxide and heptane-based mobile phases, the effect of various mobile phase modifiers on Pirkle-type stationary phases may be accurately modeled using a two-parameter equation. Similar results are obtained using cellulosic stationary phases with carbon dioxide-based mobile phases. Modeling separations performed using heptane-based mobile phases with cellulosic stationary phases were not successful. The predictive ability of this modeling approach was demonstrated using novel modifiers and chiral analytes.

[Management of destructive electrical burns of wrist]

OBJECTIVE

To reduce amputation rate of most severe pattern (Type III) of electrical burns of wrist.

METHODS

Early wrist decompression followed by selective transfusion of dextran, PGE1, low molecule heparin to prevent thrombosis of injured radial and ulnar arteries, vascular bridging across the distal forearm and wrist to the hand soon after the appearance of circulatory failure to the hand. Free tissue transfer, especially the use of greater omentum and the innovated abdominal flaps, to repair the circumferential wounds of the wrists are recommended.

RESULTS

A group of 102 limbs of 90 patients were treated in the last 10 years, among them the amputation rate of most severe pattern (Type III) of electrical burns of wrists was significantly reduced from 80% to 38.9% compared with 10 years before.

CONCLUSION

A comprehensive treatment including the use of anticoagulation drugs, vascular reconstruction, sophisticated surgical repair of the wound are effective in reducing the amputation rate of electrical burns of wrists.

[Experimental high-voltage electrical burns on limbs of rabbits]

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to investigate the changes in some rheological parameters and ET-1 in venous blood following electrical burns.

METHODS

One of the hind limbs of rabbits was subjected to 3000 V, 2.5 A charge of alternative electric current for 3 seconds. Rheological parameters such as red cell deformability (RED) and platelet aggregation rate (PAR), as well as endothelin-1 (ET-1) in venous blood drained from electrical burn wounds and contents of ATP in damaged muscle were measured at time intervals of 2 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h postburn.

RESULTS

The changes in the parameters mentioned above were significant following electrical injury. The administration of PGE1 showed an advantageous effect in prevention of thrombosis and muscle "progressive necrosis" through improvement in RCD, reduction of PAR and the content of ET-1 in local circulation.

CONCLUSION

RCD, PAR and the content of ET-1 in local circulation changed significantly following electric injury and may play an important role in the process of "progressive necrosis". The potential use of PGE1 in the treatment of electrical injury is proposed.

Statistical error analysis of time and polarization resolved ultrasonic measurements

The time and polarization resolved ultrasonic technique which we previously developed has been demonstrated to simultaneously provide measurements of the wave velocity in the coupling liquid, and the leaky surface wave and leaky longitudinal wave velocities in solid samples. To document the measurement precision associated with this technique, a statistical method is employed for the data fit and error analysis. With the help of statistical analysis, the simple ray model used to determine wave velocities in this technique is first confirmed by theoretical data which are predicted by the Green's function. Error analysis is then applied to the experimental data. The results show that this technique has a relative expanded uncertainty (equal to twice the standard deviation) of 0.03% for the wave velocity in water, and an uncertainty less than 0.2% and 2%, respectively, for the leaky surface and leaky longitudinal wave velocities in a crown glass sample. The uncertainty in the repeatability for leaky surface wave measurements is observed to be much less than the expanded uncertainty of a single measurement set. This methodology also has been applied to a set of steel samples. The results allow that the expanded uncertainty for leaky surface wave velocities is less than 0.07%, enabling a correlation of the measured velocities with specific sample heat treatments.

[Comparison of defibrase and heparin in the prevention of thrombosis after coronary intervention]

To evaluate the effects of defibrase on thrombosis after coronary intervention. 12 dogs were randomized into group to be treated with defibrase (n = 6) and another group with heparin (n = 6) after coronary intervention. After implanting stents in coronary arteries, canine platelets labeled with 99mTc-hexamethyl propylene amine oxime were re-transfused into blood circulation. The stenting vessels were imaged with gamma-camera in vivo and in vitro at the 4th and 24th hour, then the relative radioactivity of stenting vessels was quantified. The isolated stenting vessels were weighted and measured with gamma-counter and the number of deposited platelets was calculated. The relative radioactivity and the number of deposited platelets were lower in the group of defibrase than in the group of heparin (P < 0.01). Compared with heparin, defibrase has more potent effect on the prevention of thrombus formation and may reduce the early-reocclusion after coronary intervention.

[Effect of HFMC injection of various concentrations on patency of vas deferens and resumption of fertility in rats]

Great efforts have been made to develop non-occlusive or non-ever-lasting-occlusive contraception devices in vas deferens during the recent decade at home and abroad. In our previous studies both in vivo and in vitro, polymer HFMC was found to have a spermicidal effect. In this investigation in SD rats, the relationship between the concentration of HFMC injected into the vas deferens and the resumption of fertility was studied by means of continual observations on the existence of sperms in vaginal smears from the caged female and on pup-birth delaying, so as to determine occlusion of the vas lumen and the effect of HFMC on contraception in male. The histopathological changes in the vas deferens and caudal epididymis of the HFMC-injected male rats were also observed. The results indicated: (1) HFMC in concentration over 7.5% could show temporary contraception effect by its slow releasing of H+; (2) HFMC could induce definite contraception effect which lasted longer as the concentration of HFMC given increased; (3) HFMC had no effect on the descendents in number, mortality, sex ratio, body weight and appearance; (4) the bilateral internal reproductive structures were identified normal after resumption of fertility, but 20% HFMC induced vas deferens occlusion and spermatoceles; (5) moderate concentration of HFMC was considered favorable for reversible intra-vas deferens contraception.