Effect of phenytoin on semen

Male patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have often complained of hyposexuality. Few studies have been done on semen analysis, which is relevant for assessment of potential and possible reproductive outcome in such cases. We evaluated the effect of epilepsy itself and/or phenytoin (PHT) on the male reproductive system. Fifty-five patients with epilepsy (42 with PHT and 13 untreated) and 28 healthy normal controls were studied by semen analysis. Serum samples from 21 of the 55 patients were also analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone. Results showed lower volume of seminal fluid, spermatozoa concentration, and total sperm count in untreated and PHT-treated patients as compared with controls, although no difference was evident between the patient groups. Morphologically abnormal sperm were more increased in untreated patients than in PHT treated and control subjects. Hormonal analysis showed lower levels of testosterone in 9 patients. LH levels were increased in one third of the patients. Our results suggests an effect of seizures on the male reproductive system, and PHT may have a slight additive (if any) influence.

Sister-chromatid exchanges are increased in epileptics, but not by sodium valproate

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency has been studied from peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures of 21 patients with epilepsy on sodium valproate, 20 patients who had not started therapy (untreated) and 20 normal healthy controls. Treated and untreated patients with epilepsy were observed to have higher SCE frequencies (mean 9.05 and 9.82 respectively) than healthy controls (mean 4.8; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SCE frequency between treated and untreated patients. This suggests that the disease itself may be associated with an increased frequency of SCEs.

XY sex reversal associated with a deletion 5' to the SRY "HMG box" in the testis-determining region

The human testis-determining factor resides within a 35-kilobase (kb) region of the Y chromosome immediately adjacent to the pseudoautosomal boundary. A candidate gene for human sex determination (SRY) was isolated in this region. Here, we describe a study of 25 cases of XY females with pure gonadal dysgenesis for mutations on the Y chromosome short arm, including SRY. Southern blotting revealed a sex-reversed female harboring a deletion extending from approximately 8 kb from the pseudoautosomal boundary of the Y chromosome to at least 33 kb and no more than 60 kb upstream, toward the centromere. The deletion begins no more than 1.8 kb upstream from the first ATG of the SRY open reading frame present in the clone pY53.3. To our knowledge, no mutation has been described previously outside the SRY "HMG box" on the short arm of the Y chromosome, which is associated with sex reversal. Since the 5' extent of the SRY transcriptional unit has not been defined, the deletion may remove upstream exons of SRY and/or transcriptional regulatory motifs, either situation resulting in lack of testicular development. It cannot be formally excluded that the mutation removes a second locus, independent of SRY, that is critical for sex determination. Denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the SRY open reading frame in the remaining 24 cases revealed de novo single base-pair transitions in the SRY conserved domain in 4 cases.

A transsexual male with 47,XYY karyotype

Transsexuals are usually found to have a normal chromosome complement. The literature to date documents four transsexuals with 47,XYY pattern. This paper reports a fertile male with major cell line of 47,XYY and a gender identity disorder.

Induction of sister chromatid exchanges in phenytoin treated & untreated patients with epilepsy

The mutagenic potential of phenytoin (PHT) was studied using the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay. Twenty nine PHT treated epileptics, 32 untreated and 32 normal healthy controls were analysed. Similar SCE frequencies were observed in untreated patients and patients on PHT monotherapy. Both groups had significantly increased SCE frequency as compared to controls. No positive correlation of SCE frequency with sex and duration of therapy was observed. The results of the present study suggest the role of the disease condition in inducing genetic damage as assessed by increased SCE frequencies.

A minority of 46,XX true hermaphrodites are positive for the Y-DNA sequence including SRY

A total of 30 cases of 46,XX true hermaphroditism was analysed for Y-DNA sequences including the recently cloned gene for male testis-determination SRY. In 3 cases, a portion of the Y chromosome including SRY was present and, in 2 cases, was localised, to Xp22 by in situ hybridisation. Since previous studies have shown that the majority of XX males are generated by an X-Y chromosomal interchange, the Xp22 position of the Yp material suggests that certain cases of hermaphroditism can arise by the same meiotic event. The phenotype in the 3 SRY-positive cases may be caused by X-inactivation resulting in somatic mosaicism of testis-determining factor expression giving rise to both testicular and ovarian tissues. Autosomal or X-linked mutation(s) elsewhere in the sex-determining pathway may explain the phenotype observed in the remaining 27 SRY-negative cases.

Gonadal dysgenesis with no uterus or vagina in a female. A case report

An 18-year-old girl presented with primary amenorrhea and absence of secondary sexual characteristics. She had gonadal dysgenesis, clitoromegaly, absence of the vagina and a 46,XY chromosome pattern.

Primary amenorrhoea in a triple X female

The incidence of trisomy X in the newborn population is estimated to be 1 in 1,000 liveborn females. Most of them have normal physical appearance and puberty. Therefore, the reported number of triple X females in the literature is low. We herein report one patient with triple X chromosomes, primary amenorrhoea and normal intelligence. Steroid hormonal levels, clinical and ultrasound findings were suggestive of ovarian failure/gonadal dysgenesis. This case emphasizes the need for chromosomal analysis in women presenting with premature ovarian failure leading to primary or secondary amenorrhoea.

Inhibitory action of garlic oil on the initiation of benzo[a]pyrene-induced skin carcinogenesis in mice

When garlic oil was topically applied during the initiation phase of benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P)-induced skin carcinogenesis in random bred adult female Swiss albino mice of two different substrains, there was a decline in the number of tumor-bearing mice as well as in the mean number of tumors per effective mouse.

Semen analysis in alcohol dependence syndrome

Analysis of seminal fluid samples from 20 ADS cases is reported for the first time. A significant decrease in the total volume of complete semen sample and sperm concentration was observed. Percentage of morphologically abnormal sperms was higher in samples from ADS cases than controls, though no linear correlation was observed with amount and duration of alcohol consumption. Analysis of blood samples from five ADS cases, using radio immunoassay techniques showed low testosterone values. LH, FSH and Prolactin values were within normal range. The study shows that alcohol consumption fo a considerable period, affects spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis and causes oligozoospermia. The effect probably are reversible.

An Indian family with postaxial polydactyly in four generations

An Indian family was observed with postaxial polycactyly in four generations. Of the twelve affected cases, eleven were male and one was female. The affected males showed postaxial polydactyly Type A in both hands and feet. The affected female showed polysyndactyly and both Types A and B postaxial polydactyly. Study of this family strongly suggests a common causal factor for postaxial polydactyly Types A and B and polysyndactyly. The observations also support an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and a high degree of genetic heterogeneity in ths malformation.

Fetal liver transplantation in aplastic anemia

Fetal liver transplantation was attempted in 7 patients with aplastic anemia. 4 of these patients showed a partial response as evidenced by decrease in blood transfusion requirements and increase in the peripheral blood counts and hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrow culture studies revealed evidence of a temporary mixed lymphoid chimerism (cases 1 and 3). While case 1 lived for 16 months, case 3 is surviving at 17 months. None of the patients showed apparent graft-versus-host disease. Increased incidence of infections was noticed. Possible causes for the same are discussed. 3 patients failed to respond. Fetal liver transplant may be of therapeutic value in management of aplastic anemia.

A familial tetraphocomelia syndrome involving limb deformities, cleft lip, cleft palate, and associated anomalies--a new syndrome

This paper reports a rare malformation syndrome which is observed in two sibs (brother and sister) of a family. It consists of nearly symmetric reductive defects of the limbs, flexon contractures of various joints, cleft lip and cleft palate, multiple minor abnormalities including capillary hemangioma of the forehead, hypoplastic cartilages of ears and nose, micrognathia, intrauterine growth retardation, and possibly mental retardation. Chromosomes of both parents and propositi are normal. Genetic data suggest autosomal recessive inheritance.