Kisspeptin treatment reverses high prolactin levels and improves gonadal function in hypothyroid male rats

We evaluated whether the administration of kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) is capable of restoring gonadal function in hypothyroid male rats. Hypothyroidism was induced with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) for three months. In the last month, half of the hypothyroid animals were treated with Kp10. Hypothyroidism reduced testicular and sex gland mass, decreased the proliferation of the seminiferous epithelium, and compromised sperm morphology, motility, and vigor. A decrease in plasma LH and testosterone levels and an increase in prolactin secretion were observed in the hypothyroid rats. Hypothyroidism reduced Kiss1 and Kiss1r protein and gene expression and Star and Cyp11a1 mRNA levels in the testis. Furthermore, it reduced Lhb, Prl, and Drd2 and increased Tshb and Gnrhr expression in the pituitary. In the hypothalamus, hypothyroidism increased Pdyn and Kiss1r while reducing Gnrh1. Kp10 treatment in hypothyroid rats restored testicular and seminal vesicle morphology, improved sperm morphology and motility, reversed high prolactin levels, and increased LH and testosterone levels. In addition, Kp10 increased testicular expression of Kiss1, Kiss1r, Fshr, and Nr5a1 and pituitary Kiss1 expression. Our findings describe the inhibitory effects of hypothyroidism on the male gonadal axis and sperm quality and demonstrate that Kp10 treatment reverses high prolactin levels and improves gonadal function and sperm quality in hypothyroid rats.

Effect of different concentrations of Trolox® in association with docosahexaenoic acid on equine semen freezing

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of different concentrations of Trolox^® and the addition of a fixed concentration of DHA in the freezing of semen of Mangalarga Marchador stallions. To that end, 16 ejaculates were frozen in the following extenders: E1) BotuCrio^® (BC; Control); E2) BC + 50 ngml^-1 DHA + 30 µM Trolox^® (BCDHA30T); E3) BC + 50 ngml^-1 DHA + 40 µM Trolox^® (BCDHA40T); E4) BC + 50 ngml^-1 DHA + 50 µM Trolox^® (BCDHA50T). All the tested extenders were similar in preserving different kinematic parameters, cell functional integrity, compacted DNA, and high and intermediate mitochondrial activity (P>0.05). However, sperm cryopreserved in BCDHA40T showed higher velocities than sperm frozen in the control extender (P<0.05). The 30 µM concentration of Trolox^® was worse for sperm motility and the 50 µM concentration of Trolox^® did not adequately preserve the structural integrity of the membranes in an extender containing DHA when compared to the BotuCrio^® (P<0.05) extender. The use of Trolox^® in freezing extenders containing DHA did not maximize the effect of BotuCrio^®, except for in the case of sperm velocity parameters when at a concentration of 40 µM.

Docosahexaenoic acid in diluent for goat semen cryopreservation

The effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the diluent for cryopreservation of goat semen on seminal quality and the optimal levels to be used were evaluated. After collection, semen was pooled and physically evaluated, then divided into four aliquots with different DHA levels in the diluent: 0, 10, 20, and 30 ng mL^-1. The semen was cryopreserved in a TK 3000® freezing machine and then thawed for assessment at 37 °C. Sperm motility and vigor, membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial activity, and sperm chromatin compaction were evaluated after thawing. A completely randomized design was used. For normally distributed variables, ANOVA and regression analysis were used to test for differences between treatments, and for non-parametric data, the Kruskal Wallis test was used at the 5% significance level. There were no differences among groups in terms of membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, or chromatin compaction. There was a decrease in class I mitochondrial activity with increasing DHA level (P<0.05), but no differences in classes II, III, and IV (P>0.05). The inclusion of 10 to 30 ng mL^-1 of DHA in the diluent did not result in improvements in seminal quality parameters after thawing, with some impairment observed in the mitochondrial activity of the sperm cells.

[Small intestine flora in chagasic patients with megaesophagus and/or megacolon: study using the H2 breath test]

The author use the H2 breath test to study the small bowel microflora of chagasic patients with megaesophagus and/or megacolon. Compare this group with a control one. Find a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the small bowel flora of chagasic group. It is concluded that H2 breath is a simple and useful test to detect alteration in intestinal flora.

Jejunal flora of patients with megaoesophagus secondary to Chagas disease

The jejunal flora of 15 patients with megaoesophagus secondary to Chagas disease was studied and compared with that of 15 control individuals. In addition to the serological reactions for Chagas disease (immunofluorescence and complement fixation reaction), all subjects were submitted to endoscopy and X-ray of the oesophagus, gastric secretory study and investigation of the jejunal flora. The mean bacterial counts (log10) of Chagas disease patients (4.14 +/- 2.15 c.f.u./ml) was significantly higher than those of the control group (2.83 +/- 1.34 c.f.u./ml). Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 14 Chagasic patients (maximum count 10(10) c.f.u./ml) and 7 controls (maximum count 10(5) c.f.u./ml). Anaerobes were isolated from 7 patients (maximum count 10(7) c.f.u./ml) and 1 control (10 c.f.u./ml). Controls and Chagas disease patients differed significantly in the maximum acid output, but there was no statistically significant relation between bacterial counts and maximum output.