Autostage sperm tracing system for semen evaluation

To overcome the limitation of the microscope field, the study proposed an autostage sperm tracing system (ASTS), which could trace a particular sperm for a long time and distance. The ASTS was constructed by assembling a commercial microscope, an image frame grabber, a personal computer, and a motorized stage. Its performance was tested by evaluating 6 semen samples and by comparing the evaluation with those of other semen evaluations. The ASTS broke through the limitation of the microscope field and traced a particular sperm as long as possible. It analyzed the sperm track and calculated the motility parameters, such as curvilinear velocity (Vcl), straight-line velocity (Vsl), and linearity (L(in)). The sperm quality was then evaluated in real time, and the user could decide to capture or abandon a particular sperm in the IVF The ASTS enables users to evaluate sperm progression for a long time and to have the global quality of a particular sperm in real time. Its open structure has the flexibility for micromanipulating a semen sample, and has the potential application associated with a modern IVF technique.

Somatic electrical nerve stimulation regulates the motility of sphincter of Oddi in rabbits and cats: evidence for a somatovisceral reflex mediated by cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin (CCK) plays an important role in regulating the biliary motility in herbivorous and carnivorous animals. Little is known about how the motility of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) is regulated through a somatic stimulation. It was our aim to test the hypothesis that somatic electrical nerve stimulation (SENS) affects SO motility in animals with different types of SO through CCK-related mechanisms. The activity of SO in anesthetized rabbits and cats was measured by using a continuously perfused open-tip manometric method. SENS was brought about by applying an electric current (2/15 Hz alternatively, 20 min) to two needles positioned near spinal nerves in the 6th and 7th intercostal space in the right midclavicular line. The SO motility before and X min after the start of SENS, designated as pre-SENS and SENS-X respectively, were recorded and saved in a computer equipped with off-line analysis software. The SO activity in rabbits, in terms of phasic contraction pressure and duration of summation peak during SENS were significantly higher than that before SENS. The phasic contraction pressure of pre-SENS, SENS-10, and SENS-16 were 6.83 +/- 0.39 mm Hg, 9.23 +/- 0.83 mm Hg and 10.46 +/- 0.81 mm Hg, respectively (P < 0.03, N = 13). The duration of summation peak in pre-SENS, SENS-10, and SENS-16 were 7.26 +/- 0.41 sec, 10.22 +/- 0.46 sec, and 13.49 +/- 2.31 sec, respectively (P < 0.05, N = 13). The SENS-induced SO hyperactivity was not inhibited by pretreatment with atropine, propranolol, phentolamine, or naloxone, but was blocked by pretreatment with the CCK receptor antagonist, proglumide, and by injection of anti-CCK-8 antibody during SENS in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, SENS induced an inhibitory SO response in cats. However, in both circumstances, an obvious elevation of plasma CCK level determined by radioimmunoassay was noted after SENS. We conclude that SENS causes secretion of CCK, which in turn affects biliary tract motility in animals with different types of SO. This provides an easily applicable method for those patients who have hyperactive SO function.

New system for long-term monitoring of sperm motility: EDTA effect on semen

Many drugs act as sperm stimulants and are of clinical value for male infertility. Current research deals with the physiological mechanisms of sperm motility/sperm stimulation and how long the effect lasts. For such a study, long-term monitoring of sperm motility becomes essential for traditional semen evaluation. A new system was designed to deal with the microscopic images of semen. Its performance was evaluated by studying the effect of EDTA on sperm motility. EDTA increased sperm curvilinear velocity (Vcl) and straight-line velocity (Vsl) by 31 and 20%. EDTA also prolonged the duration of motility by 68 and 61%, respectively. However, EDTA had less effect on the linearity of forward progression (Lin). The proposed system can analyze semen and does well at monitoring sperm motility for short term and long term. It may be valuable to test the possible role of sperm stimulation for male infertility and assisted reproduction.

Differential regulation of major surface promoter in hepatitis B virus

The major surface promoter of human hepatitis B virus can produce three distinct groups of S transcripts. The initiation sites of these transcripts are in close proximity. Encompassing the ATG for the middle surface protein, the largest S transcript (+1) encodes the middle surface protein whereas the other two (+20 and +31) can only code for small surface protein. Sequence analysis does not reveal any TATA element. In this study, we employ deletion, linker scanning, and linker insertion analyses to study systematically the sequence requirements for the initiations of all three transcripts and their upstream regulatory sequences. Our study reveals that the sequence downstream of -16 is sufficient for precise initiation of all three groups of S transcripts. The 3' boundary of minimal promoter element is +15 for the +1 transcript, whereas it is +39 for both +20 and +31 transcripts. Furthermore, there are distinct sequence requirements for the initiations of three groups of S transcripts. The sequences from -17 to -10 and from -1 to +7 are required for the initiation of +1 transcript, the sequence from +16 to +39 is essential for the +20 transcript, and the sequences from -17 to -10 and from +24 to +39 are required for the + 31 transcript. Our results also suggest that the transcription initiations of major surface promoter may be mediated in part by initiators. The initiations of these three groups of S transcripts are under differential regulation. The region from -39 to -16 containing both negative and positive regulatory elements selectively regulates the transcription levels of the two major S transcripts. Most notably, mutation of the sequence from -17 to -10, which contains a Sp1 site, leads to an increase in the imprecise initiation at +1 site and depresses the initiation of +20 and, to a greater extent, +31 transcript. The relevance of differential regulation of major surface promoter to the varied production of different surface protein isoforms in viral life cycle is discussed.

Islet cell autoantigen 69 kD (ICA69). Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel diabetes-associated autoantigen

We have identified a novel 69-kD peptide autoantigen (ICA69) associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by screening a human islet lambda gt11 cDNA expression library with cytoplasmic islet cell antibody positive sera from relatives of IDDM patients who progressed to the overt disease. The deduced open reading frame of the ICA69 cDNA predicts a 483-amino acid protein. ICA69 shows no nucleotide or amino acid sequence relation to any known sequence in GenBank, except for two short regions of similarity with BSA. The ICA69 cDNA probe hybridizes with a 2-kb mRNA in poly(A+) RNA from human pancreas, brain, heart, thyroid, and kidney, but not with skeletal muscle, placenta, spleen, or ovary. Expression of ICA69 was also detected in beta cells and cell lines, as well as in tumoral tissue of islet cell origin. The native ICA69 molecule migrates to 69 kD in SDS-PAGE as detected with specific antibodies. Serum samples from relatives of IDDM patients specifically reacted with affinity-purified recombinant ICA69 on Western blotting. The structural gene for ICA69 was designated ICA1. A homologue in the mouse, designated Ica-1 was mapped to the proximal end of chromosome 6 (within 6 cM of the Met protooncogene). ICA69 adds a novel autoantigen to the family of identified islet target molecules, and by the manner of its identification and characterization large amounts of antigen are available for development of quantitative, convenient predictive assays for autoantibodies and analysis of the role of this molecule in diabetes autoimmunity, as well as its physiologic function.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of renal allograft biopsy

We prospectively studied 89 patients to assess the diagnostic use of renal allograft biopsy in the first three months after transplantation. These biopsies were done in patients in whom diagnosis was not clear or clinical rejection was deemed to be severe. Clinical diagnosis at initial biopsy was compared with the morphological diagnosis. To determine if morphological data improved the prognostic usefulness of the clinical data, we performed multiple logistic regression relating clinical variables at initial biopsy and histological changes in the transplant to the outcome of 120 patients one year after biopsy. The clinical and morphological diagnosis differed in 41 of 89 patients (46%). Of 120 patients in the prognostic study, 35 returned to dialysis during the first year following transplantation. Using multiple logistic regression, a categorical variable that took into account both the serum creatinine and its rate of change before biopsy was the best clinical predictor of return to dialysis. Further increase in chi 2 occurred with type of donor, number of transfusions, and age. Using the clinical variables we produced an index, from 0 to 1 to predict outcome. Only 8 had index less than 0.2, of whom 7 returned to dialysis. The best morphological predictor of outcome was interstitial hemorrhage. Further increase in chi 2 was obtained with vascular endothelial proliferation, glomerular endothelial swelling, and glomerular necrosis. With an index derived from the morphological variables only 11 had index less than 0.2, of whom 9 returned to dialysis. Combining both clinical and morphological data, the best predictor of return to dialysis was interstitial hemorrhage, followed by creatinine, glomerular endothelial swelling, and type of donor. Using both clinical and morphological variables we produced another index to predict outcome. A group of 65 patients had index greater than 0.8, of whom 63 (94%) did not return to dialysis, and 18 patients had index less than 0.2, 17 of whom returned to dialysis. The remaining 12 patients in the dialysis group and 15 in the nondialysis group had indices greater than 0.2 less than 0.8. We conclude that a transplant biopsy yields important diagnostic and prognostic information. Unexpected diagnoses were made in 46% of cases. The addition of morphological data to the clinical data available at time of biopsy greatly improved the prediction of return to dialysis.