Assessment of imidacloprid toxicity on reproductive organ system of adult male rats

In the current study it was aimed to investigate the toxicity of low doses of imidacloprid (IMI) on the reproductive organ systems of adult male rats. The treatment groups received 0.5 (IMI-0.5), 2 (IMI-2) or 8 mg IMI/kg body weight by oral gavage (IMI-8) for three months. The deterioration in sperm motility in IMI-8 group and epidydimal sperm concentration in IMI-2 and IMI-8 groups and abnormality in sperm morphology in IMI-8 were significant. The levels of testosterone (T) and GSH decreased significantly in group IMI-8 compared to the control group. Upon treatment with IMI, apoptotic index increased significantly only in germ cells of the seminiferous tubules of IMI-8 group when compared to control. Fragmentation was striking in the seminal DNA from the IMI-8 group, but it was much less obvious in the IMI-2 one. IMI exposure resulted in elevation of all fatty acids analyzed, but the increases were significant only in stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The ratios of 20:4/20:3 and 20:4/18:2 were decreased and 16:1n-9/16:0 ratio was increased. In conclusion, the present animal experiments revealed that the treatment with IMI at NOAEL dose-levels caused deterioration in sperm parameters, decreased T level, increased apoptosis of germ cells, seminal DNA fragmentation, the depletion of antioxidants and change in disturbance of fatty acid composition. All these changes indicate the suppression of testicular function.     

芹菜素对丙烯腈引起大鼠精子脂质过氧化和DNA损伤的影响

分析芹菜素(apigenin,AP)对丙烯腈(acrylonitrile,ACN)引起的大鼠精子脂质过氧化和DNA损伤的影响,并探讨其可能的机制。将50只SPF级SD成年雄性大鼠随机分为阴性对照组(玉米油)、ACN组(50 mg·kg~(-1)ACN)、低AP组(50 mg·kg~(-1)ACN+234 mg·kg~(-1)AP)、高AP组(50 mg·kg~(-1)ACN+468 mg·kg~(-1)AP)、N-乙酰半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)组(50 mg·kg~(-1)ACN+300mg·kg~(-1)NAC),以5 m L·(kg bw)~(-1)灌胃染毒,1次·d~(-1),6 d·周~(-1),连续13周。检测大鼠精子活性氧(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性以及精子DNA损伤情况。结果发现,ACN组、低AP组、高AP组、NAC组精子ROS、MDA含量显著升高,SOD活力显著降低,精子尾部DNA含量百分比、尾长、尾距、Olive尾距均显著增高于对照组(均P0.05);而低AP组、高AP组、NAC组精子ROS、MDA含量、SOD活性和精子DNA损伤情况与ACN组相比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。提示ACN可引起大鼠精子脂质过氧化和DNA损伤,而AP、NAC对其无干预作用。     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP)

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was developed more than a decade ago to offer an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for couples at risk of transmitting an inherited disease to their offspring. Portuguese-type familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP type I), is an autosomal dominant disease presenting an inherited mutation in the gene encoding the plasma protein transthyretin (TTR). We here report the first protocol for single-cell detection of the Met30 mutation in FAP type I and its application to PGD. A nested PCR reaction for exon 2 of the TTR gene was developed. The PCR product was then analysed by restriction enzyme analysis and SSCP allowing the detection of the point mutation. Ten clinical cycles were performed in seven couples. From the 93 metaphase II (MII) injected oocytes, 82 were normally fertilized and 78 were biopsied. A positive signal in the nested PCR reaction was obtained in 61 blastomeres, corresponding to a DNA amplification efficiency of 78.2%. No allele dropout (ADO) or contamination were detected. A biochemical pregnancy was obtained in three cases and a clinical pregnancy in one couple is actually in normal evolution. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis using FISH for carriers of Robertsonian translocations: the Portuguese experience

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for couples at risk of transmitting genetic disorders to their offspring. We present a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of embryos obtained after seven PGD cycles in six couples with Robertsonian translocations and male factor infertility: 4 der(13;14), 1 der(14;21) and 1 der(15;21). Of 74 metaphase II (MII) injected oocytes, 61 (82.4%) fertilized normally and cleaved. Of these, 37/61 (60.7%) embryos were of high morphological quality with ≥6 blastomeres. After biopsy of 44 embryos at day 3 of development, seven degenerated, seven arrested in development and 30/44 (68.2%) evolved, of which 25/30 (83.3%) reached the morula/blastocyst stage. Analysis of biopsied blastomeres showed 23/44 (52.3%) of normal/balanced embryos, of which 15 (11 at the morula/blastocyst stage) were transferred in six cycles. One term pregnancy was achieved, which ended by cesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation, giving birth to two healthy newborn. Analysis of 49 embryos (excluding 12 inconclusive cases) showed a predominance of alternate segregation (38/49, 77.6%) over adjacent segregation (7/49, 14.3%), with one (2%) being a polyploid mosaic and three (6.1%) chaotic. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水稻精细胞差异表达基因RSG6的克隆和抗体制备

选用在水稻精细胞和二细胞花粉的差减文库中获得的在精细胞中表达量显著增强且可能代表新基因的EST之一 (BF4 75 2 0 7)为探针 ,筛选水稻精细胞cDNA文库 ,得到一全长为 1176bp的序列 ,其开放读码框编码 2 81个氨基酸 ,与已知蛋白质无明显同源性 ,属于一新发现的基因 ,GenBank登录号为AF4 4 2 4 90 .这是第 1次从高等植物精细胞中分离到的全长基因 .RT PCR结果证明该基因在根、叶、二细胞花粉、成熟花粉、授粉子房和精细胞中均有表达 ,但在精细胞中的表达量要高得多 ,是精细胞差异表达基因 .将此基因命名为RSG6 (ricespermgene6 ) .将RSG6的编码区克隆到表达载体pQE30上 ,构建重组质粒 .经IPTG诱导后 ,在E .coliM15 (pREP4 )中表达出了N端融合了 6×His的融合蛋白 .用纯化的融合蛋白免疫家兔 ,制得高效价、高特异性的抗体     

No cost of male mating experience on female reproductive success in the almond moth, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cadra cautella</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae)

Male copulation experience may have a profound impact on female reproductive success if male reproductive investment declines over consecutive copulations and if females are unlikely to re-mate. Male reproductive investment is particularly interesting in lepidopterans because males produce dimorphic sperm: a fertilizing (eupyrene) and a non-fertilising (apyrene) sperm. In two experiments, we explored the lifetime reproductive investment of male almond moths, Cadra cautella (also known as Ephestia cautella) and examined its influence on female reproductive success. In the almond moth, females re-mate infrequently and males transfer sperm in a spermatophore. Attached to the spermatophore is a large chitinous process, the function of which is unknown. One group of males were permitted consecutive copulations with virgin females and the amount of sperm and size of the spermatophore transferred were compared for all females. We found that the number of both eupyrene and apyrene sperm per ejaculate decreased with his increased mating frequency, while the size of the spermatophore process decreased dramatically after the male’s first copulation. In a second experiment, we allowed males to mate with females throughout their lives and then compared female fecundity and fertilisation success. We found no obvious decrease in female fecundity and fertilisation success with increased male copulation experience, despite the likely reduction in male gametic investment. We discuss potential explanations for the development of this enlarged and elaborate first spermatophore of male almond moths given that it confers no clear fitness advantage to females.     

二氧化硫体内衍生物对雄性小鼠精子的毒性效应

为了探讨二氧化硫(SO2)的雄性生殖毒理效应,研究了SO2体内代谢衍生物———亚硫酸钠(Na2SO3)和亚硫酸氢钠(NaHSO3)混合液(物质的量比为3:1)对雄性昆明小鼠精子的毒性作用.采用腹腔注射(i.p.)染毒方法,每天注射一次,连续5 d,于染毒后d 35处死动物,观察和分析小鼠的精子活动度、数量和畸形率.结果表明:(1)SO2衍生物可引起小鼠精子数量尤其是正常活动度精子数量减少,引起不活动精子数量增加,且呈剂量-效应关系;(2)SO2衍生物可引起多种类型的精子畸形增加,尤其可引起不定形畸变精子的频率显著增加,总精子畸变率随染毒剂量的增加而呈剂量依赖性增高.由此推论,SO2污染有一定的雄性生殖毒性.图1表2参14     

丙烯腈对小鼠精液运动参数的影响(Effects of Acrylonitrile on Sperm Motility in Male Mice)

为探讨丙烯腈(Acrylonitrile,AN)对雄性小鼠的生殖毒性作用机制,将250只SPF级昆明种雄性小鼠按体重随机分为5组:3个AN染毒组(1.25、2.50、5.00mg·kg-1)、1个阴性对照组(生理盐水0.01mL·g-1)和1个阳性对照组(环磷酰胺40mg·kg-1),腹腔注射染毒5d,每天1次.于初次染毒后第7、14、21、28、35d分五批处死小鼠,检测分析小鼠精子运动参数的变化.结果表明,5个观察终点各剂量组精液参数(精子密度、活动度、运动速度、运动方式参数、空间位移程度)变化与阴性对照均无显著差异(p>0.05).提示,在试验浓度范围内,AN对小鼠精子运动参数无影响.     

Histological changes in the reproductive system of male rats exposed to cigarette smoke or electronic cigarette vapor

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes increases as a supposedly healthier form of nicotine consumption, but safety of vaping remains uncertain. In this study, we assessed whether the use of electronic cigarettes increases the risk of infertility in male rats. Malformations of sperm morphology were more frequent in nicotine-exposed groups than in the control group. Vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium, reduction of spermatogenesis, increased apoptosis of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, and acceleration of degeneration of testes were observed. The male reproductive organs are slightly less affected by vaping than by smoking. Nevertheless, in consequence both may lead to the reduction of fertility.     

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the cystic fibrosis ΔF508 mutation in human blastomeres following oocyte injection of a single sperm from a carrier

The efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting the cystic fibrosis (CF) ΔF508 mutation (which is the most common mutation of CF) was assessed in single human blastomeres. Twenty-one human immature oocytes (germinal-vesicle-stage oocytes) that had been donated for research were matured in vitro and a single spermatozoon from a carrier of the CF ΔF508 mutation was injected into the ooplasm. Fourteen embryos were obtained after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). PCR analysis was carried out on 70 single blastomeres isolated from these 14 embryos. The results showed that the efficiency of DNA amplification by PCR in single nucleate blastomeres was 94 per cent (59/63). There were no false-positive results since none of the blank samples or the blastomeres without a nucleus showed an amplified signal. We found that nine embryos were homozygous for the unaffected genotype and that four embryos were heterozygous since they contained both the unaffected and the ΔF508 genotype. In a four-cell embryo, we observed the homozygous unaffected genotype in one blastomere and a heterozygous ΔF508/unaffected genotype in the other three blastomeres.