Identification of proteoforms of albumin and kallikrein in stallion seminal plasma and their correlations with sperm motility

The aim of this study was to identify the proteoforms of albumin and kallikrein in stallion seminal plasma (SP), and to determine their correlations with sperm motility parameters. The experimental material consisted of ejaculates from 8 stallions, which were collected during the breeding and non-breeding seasons (BS and NBS, respectively). SP proteins were identified by 2-D PAGE and mass spectrometry (MALDI TOT/TOF MS). Sperm motility parameters were analyzed using the CASA system. Protein expression (integrated optical density-IOD) of albumin proteoforms 1 (ALB 1) and 2 (ALB 2) and kallikrein proteoforms 1 (KAL 1) and 2 (KAL 2) was correlated (p⟨0.05) with sperm motility parameters (total motility and progressive motility) during the BS. No significant correlations were found between the expression of albumin or kallikrein and sperm motility parameters during the NBS. The presence of correlations between the expression of ALB 1, ALB 2, KAL 1, KAL 2 and selected sperm motility parameters could suggest that the analyzed components of the SP belong to the group of fertility-associated proteins (FAPs).

Age and seasonal-dependent variations in the biochemical composition of boar semen

This study investigated the effect of age- and seasonal-related variations in the composition of boar semen over a 3-year period. At the onset of 8 months of age, ejaculates were collected from four boars and allocated into three groups: 8 to 18, 19 to 30, and 31 to 42 months and were divided into two seasonal periods: autumn-winter and spring-summer. Boar variability had a significant effect on most of the analyzed semen parameters. Significantly, higher ejaculate volumes were observed in the boars older than 18 months of age during the autumn-winter period. Sperm concentration was higher in boars less than the age of 18 months of age, whereas the total sperm numbers were significantly higher during the autumn-winter period, regardless of the age group. Seasonal effects in sperm motility were more marked in boars at the age of 19 to 30 months, being significantly higher during the autumn-winter period. The proportions of spermatozoa with intact, normal apical ridge acrosome, and osmotically tolerant acrosomal membranes were markedly higher in boars at the age of 19 to 30 months during the autumn-winter period. Spermatozoa harvested during the spring-summer period were more susceptible to lipid peroxidation, irrespective of the age group. Significantly, higher levels of protein content and concentrations of nonthiol-containing antioxidant components of the seminal plasma (SP) were detected in boars less than 18 months of age during the autumn-winter period. Seasonal effects on the pH and proteinase inhibitory activity in the SP were more marked in boars less than 18 months of age, whereas alkaline phosphatase activity was greater in boars at the age of 19 to 30 months during the autumn-winter period. Substantial amounts of the thiol-containing antioxidants of the SP were detected in boars older than 18 months of age during the spring-summer period. Neither osmolality nor total antioxidant status was affected by differences in the seasonal periods or age groups. The findings of this study indicate that age- and seasonal-related variations affect the reproductive tract functions in the boar, resulting in marked changes in the biochemical composition of the semen.

Semen characteristics and selected biochemical markers of canine seminal plasma in various seasons of the year

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of season on selected qualitative semen characteristics and biochemical markers of canine seminal plasma. Whole ejaculates were collected from 5 crossbred dogs aged 2-8 years. The study covered a period of one year divided into four seasons: spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), autumn (September, October, November) and winter (December, January, February). Semen samples were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses to determine semen volume, total sperm counts and sperm morphology parameters. The study also involved the determination of sperm motility parameters (CASA system), sperm plasma membrane integrity (SPMI, fluorescent staining SYBR-14/PI), sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, fluorescent staining JC-1/PI) and the ATP content of sperm cells. Total protein content (TPC) and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) were determined in biochemical analyses of seminal plasma. No significant differences in ejaculate volume, SMPI or ATP content of sperm cells were observed between seasons. The highest total sperm counts were reported in ejaculates acquired in summer and autumn. The lowest MMP values were determined in summer ejaculates. No significant differences in sperm motility (MOT) were observed throughout the experiment, but ejaculates collected in autumn and winter were characterized by the highest progressive motility (PMOT). AP activity and TPC were not significantly affected by season. However, AcP activity levels were significantly lower in autumn than in the remaining seasons. Seasonal variations in the analyzed macroscopic and microscopic parameters of ejaculates and biochemical markers of seminal plasma did not exert a clear negative effect on the quality of canine semen.

Comparison of post-thaw DNA integrity of boar spermatozoa assessed with the neutral comet assay and Sperm-Sus Halomax test kit

In this study, we tested the hypothesis whether the neutral Comet assay (NCA) and the Sperm-Sus-Halomax (SSH) test kit could provide similar measurements of post-thaw DNA fragmentation of boar spermatozoa. Whole ejaculates or sperm-rich fractions of boar semen were frozen in an extender containing lactose, lipoprotein fractions isolated from ostrich egg yolk (LPFo), glycerol (lactose-LPFo-G) or in a standard boar semen extender (K3), without the addition of cryoprotective substances. In all boars, both the NCA and SSH test showed similar levels of post-thaw sperm DNA fragmentation in samples of the same ejaculates, regardless of the ejaculate collection procedure and extender. Yet, the levels of post-thaw sperm DNA damage, detected by the NCA and SSH test, were more accentuated in spermatozoa frozen in the absence of cryoprotective substances. Both the NCA and SSH detected variations among individual boars in terms of post-thaw sperm DNA fragmentation. Agreement between the measurements of the NCA and SSH was confirmed by scatter plots of differences, suggesting that the DNA integrity tests could detect the same sperm populations, which were susceptible to cryo-induced DNA damage. The findings of this study indicate that the NCA and the SSH test are effective in detecting similar levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and reinforce their importance in the assessment of frozen-thawed boar semen quality.

Acrosin system of dog spermatozoa and reproductive tract secretions

The aim of this study was to determine the activity of proacrosin and acrosin in spermatozoa originating from the sperm-rich fractions (SRF) and whole ejaculates (WE) of dog semen. In addition, experiments were conducted to determine the activity of antitrypsin inhibitors in the fluids of different ejaculate fractions and whole seminal plasma. Ejaculates were collected from five dogs of mixed breed and one Beagle dog (aged from 2 to 9 years). In the SRF, it was confirmed that the activity of the free acrosin form was predominant (acrosin/proacrosin; 2.38 +/- 0.22/1.05 +/- 0.08 mIU/10(6) spermatozoa). On the other hand, spermatozoa originating from the WE exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) proacrosin activity (proacrosin /acrosin; 2.19 +/- 0.19/1.30 +/- 0.11 mIU/10(6) spermatozoa). Furthermore, acrosin inhibitor activity was lower in the fluids of the pre-sperm fraction (0.09 +/- 0.006 IU/cm3), whereas it was higher in the fluids of the post-sperm fraction (0.11 +/- 0.007 IU/cm3). Using PAGE analysis, the antitrypsin activity of the enzyme was represented by the presence of one electrophoretic band in the fluids of the pre-sperm and post-sperm fractions and whole seminal plasma. Furthermore, two electrophoretic bands were detected in the fluids of the SRF. The findings of this study indicate that specific proteinase inhibitors present in the individual ejaculate fractions of dog semen may act by stabilizing the sperm acrosin system.

[Branchial carcinoma in material from a neck cyst]

The neck cysts are the most common congenital malformation in the head and neck area. In these cases the diagnosis is established on clinical examination, the results of USG and the aspiration biopsy. The problem of malignancy was very rare, but nowadays there is much more in literature about these. The criteria of cancer diagnosis in the neck cysts metaplasia of ephitelium are mentioned. In the ENT Department in Warsaw between September 1989 until December 1994 were treated 29 patients with the neck cyst. Four of them had diagnosed as cancer in histopathological examination. Improvement of some non-invasive technique let us to use them more extensive, especially USG. The examination can be repeated many times, especially in cases when the primary neck tumor was treated using conservative methods.

[A case of multiple intracranial meningiomas]

A case of a 91-years old woman is presented. She had multiple intracranial meningiomas, and the only symptom was the chronic headache. The diagnosis was made on the base of CT scan. The patient finally died. Postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis.

Surgical treatment for carcinoma of the gallbladder

Carcinoma of the gallbladder has always been associated with dismal prognosis. In this study we present single institution experience in surgical treatment for gallbladder cancer obtained during last five years. Even with recent improvement in diagnostic imaging modalities gallbladder malignancies are still diagnosed too late. The choice of operative procedure for a treatment of gallbladder carcinoma still remained the open question. Carcinoma of the gallbladder is not very common disease in Europe, but some how more common in Poland. According to the National Register, based on a study from 1991, 1863 cases of death from the gallbladder carcinomas were registered [13]. At the same time 2015 new cancer cases were diagnosed and registered. These gave us a crude rate of new cases in 1991 as follows: 2.7/100,000 man and 7.7/100,000 female. Those were even higher for some voivodeships in 1988, for example: Lódź (M = 3.95/100,000, F = 10.58/100,000) and Warsaw (M = 3.15/100,000, F = 7.59/100,000). Carcinoma of the gallbladder has always been associated with dismal prognosis. This was essentially the result of the slow and asymptomatic growth of the neoplasm that infiltrates the surrounding structures, such as the portal vein, hepatic artery and liver parenchyma, making a curative surgical treatment almost impossible. So there is a general impression that no progress has been made during last 20 years in the treatment for carcinoma of the gallbladder [2, 7, 9, 12]. However, in last years, we have observed improvements in diagnostic, surgical and intensive care techniques that allowed to offer a wider range of surgical and non-surgical options to our patients [1, 3, 4, 6, 8].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pathophysiological mechanism of traumatic cavitation of the spinal cord

The gross anatomy and the histological appearances of the spinal cord were studied in 120 patients who died in the Metropolitan Rehabilitation Centre at Konstancin as a result of a spinal injury. Three varieties of lesion were found: Total disorganisation of the spinal cord at the site of trauma. Total disorganisation of the cord at the site of trauma associated with pipelike necrosis extending up and down from the main injury. This longitudinal cylindrical-pipelike necrosis is described in this paper as 'traumatic haemorrhagic cavitation'. Partial spinal cord necrosis localised to the area of supply of intraspinal arteries. The possible vascular mechanisms of traumatic spinal cord injury, resembling the changes observed in experimental animals, are discussed.