[ effects of hyaluronan on fertilization capability of mouse sperm before cryopreservation and after thawing]

Freezing and thawing induce a number of insults to the sperm cells, such as low motility and low fertilization capability. For evaluation of hyaluronan [HA] supplementation on sperm characteristics, we investigated the effect of hyaluronan [HA] on mouse sperm before freezing and after thawing. For this purpose we removed cauda epididimes from 24 male mice with aseptic method and freezed the semen in 1.8ml cryotubes with%18 raffinose and%3 skim milk cryoprotectant solution.We had 4 groups: group 1[fresh control] group 2 [freeze control] group 3[supplemented 750 micro g/ml HA to sperm before freezing] and group 4[supplemented 750 micro g/ml HA to sperm after thawing]. Fertility rate evaluated after routine IVF by counting two-cell stage embryos. HA supplementation [750 micro g /ml] after thawing improved fertilization capability parameters but supplementation before freezing had no effect on mentioned characteristic. Acording to data of present study the hyaluronan supplemen- tation [750 micro g /ml] after thawing has the greatest effect on the fertility rate of sperms

[Histochemical study of structural changes of carotid wall arteries in male diabetic rats]

Background: diabetes mellitus is a prevalent disease, which is caused by deficiency in insulin secretion or factors that impair its function. Diabetic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are important risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. The arteriosclerosis and its accompanying structural changes are in part due to endothelial cell injury and abnormal glycosylation of cell surface and extra cellular matrix glycoconjugate. These are the first structural changes of formation of atheromatous plaque. The aim of the present study was to identify the structural and extra cellular matrix changes of terminal sugars by histochemical methods in aorta and common carotid arteries in male diabetic rats

Methods and Materials: a total number of 63 male Sprague Dawley rats with 250 +/- 50 gr weights were chosen and randomly divided into experimental [n=36] and control [n= 27] groups. Diabetes was induced by IP injection of 60 mglkg of streptozotocin in experimental group. Experimental and control groups further divided into 2 week, 2 months and 4 months subgroups. Animals were preserved in standard condition. After the mentioned time, samples were taken from carotid and aorta, _fixed in Bains and processed routinely. Paraffin blocks were cut with 5-6 micrometer in thickness and stained by H-E, PAS and PNA/Alcian blue pH=2.5, thereafter sections graded according to staining intensity and data were analyzed by NPAR test of Mann Whitney

Results: results of this study showed significant difference only for PAS positive media components between 2 and 4 months diabetic groups [P<0.007]. There were also statistically significant difference between elastic lamina of 2 and 4 month of diabetic group [P<0.03]. PNA showed the presence of Gal/Ga/Nae in sub endothelial and adventitial components of arteries. Although there was a slight difference of ECM staining between diabetic groups for the Gal/Ga/Nae and intense reactivity of 4-month diabetic group in comparison to 2-month and 2-week diabetic groups, there were no significant difference between them for PAS and lectin staining

Conclusions: it seems that in diabetes, the rate of glycosylation of cell surface and ECM components changed slowly. Future studies will probably show the exact role of these components in pathophysiology of diabetes