Polymorphism in phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase [PHGPX] gene in Iranian infertile men

Leukocytes and defective or dead spermatozoa in human semen are a source for the production of reactive oxygen species [ROS] and subsequent injury to intact sperms. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic defensive mechanisms in semen detoxify these compounds. Glutathione peroxidase-4 [GPX-4 or PHGPX] is a major selenoprotein in sperm and it is one of the enzymatic mechanisms that play multiple roles during spermatogenesis. Some of these roles are formation of the mitochondrial capsule, hydroperoxide detoxification and sperm chromatin condensation. Any decrease in the enzyme activity or content, may create disorders in spermatogenesis and sperm fertilizing ability. Considering defects in the expression of the enzyme gene or presence of mutations which may cause decreases in PHGPX activity or content, this study was carried out to identify a number of important mutations in GPX-4 gene by PCR-RFLP method in Iranian infertile men. This study was performed on 128 Iranian men who had been referred to Avesina Infertility Clinic, including 74 infertile men with defective sperm parameters, 18 normozoospermic and 36 fertile subjects as controls. Mean +/- SD for sperm parameters were determined. Genomic DNA was extracted using salting out procedure from peripheral blood leukocytes. PCR-RFLP was done by two sets of primers with 237 bp and 148 bp PCR products that were designed for 1A and 4 exons of GPX-4 gene covering nucleotides of+6 [C[right wards arrow]T], +17 [G[right wards arrow]A], +1725 [G[right wards arrow]A] by Mwol, PshAI and SatI enzymes. Digestion of a 237 bp intact PCR product by Mwol generates two fragments [151 bp and 86 bp]. When a mutation occurs in the restriction site +6 [C[right wards arrow]T], the enzyme would not recognize the sequence, therefore 237 bp segment remains undigested. Treatment of 237 bp segment with PshAI generates two fragments [161 bp and 76] in the intact gene but the same enzyme can not digest 237 bp segment when a mutation occurs in the restriction site +17 [G [right wards arrow] A]. Ultimately, digestion of 148 bp intact segment with SatI generates two fragments [108 bp and 40 bp] but when a mutation occurs in the restriction site +1725 [G [right wards arrow] A], the enzyme will not recognize the sequence; therefore 148 bp segment remains undigested. Enzymatic digestion evaluations of 237 bp and 148 bp segments in all participants revealed that neither of the examined mutations existed in GPX-4 gene. According to the results of this study, it is determined that the prevalence of these mutations in Iranian infertile men is probably low and it may have no association with the etiology of the disorder affecting sperm parameters. Hence, a study with a larger number of patients is suggested to determine the exact prevalence of these and other mutations of the gene in Iranian infertile men

prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection by molecular analysis of urine samples in women attending OB and GYN clinics in Tehran

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common and curable STI which can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Nowadays, PCR is a very sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting Chlamydia in urine and can be used in routine screening procedures as a noninvasive test. There are few studies on the prevalence of C. trachomatis in Iranian women and most of them have small sample sizes which are not suitable for epidemiological deductions. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of urogenital C. trachomatis infections by PCR on urine samples of women in their fertility years and to evaluate the necessity of screening for asymptomatic infections in Iranian women. This WHO supported descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 1052, 15-49 year-old women. Participants were selected randomly from attendees of 5 Obstetric-Gynecologic clinics in Tehran during summer and fall of 2003. The research material consisted of a questionnaire and urine samples which were transported to Avesina Research Institute daily to extract their DNA and prepare them for PCR tests. The gathered data were analyzed by SPSS, version 11, and evaluated statistically by t-test, Chi-square, variance analysis and logistic regression, while considering p<0.05 as significant. The mean age of participants was 28.52 +/- 6.36 years. 56.2% of them had high school education, 94.2% were married, 91.8% were housewives, 32.5% were pregnant, 93.8% were sexually active, 99% of them were monogamous and 48.1% were on contraceptive methods. Among sexually active and non-pregnant participants, 10.4% were taking OCPs, 8.7% were using condoms, 16.3% had IUDs and the rest were on other contraceptive methods. In their reproductive history, 39% had vaginal discharges, 12.9% pelvic pains, 1% ectopic pregnancies, 21.2% abortions, 6.5% premature deliveries, 2.7% low birth weight infants and 7.2% were infertile. 129 subjects, [12.3%], had positive PCR tests. Statistically, there was no significant relationship between subjects, reproductive and personal histories of the subjects with the test results. Based on the estimated prevalence, it seems that chlamydial infection is prevalent in the studied population. In populations with prevalences higher than 4%, screening programs are recommended, so that Chlamydia screening can be considered as a part of health care programs in Iran to reduce the burden of the disease

[Effect of bisphenol A on histological structure of testis and prostate in rat]

Bisphenol A [BPA] is a xenobiotic estrogenic compound that are a monomer of some plastics [poly carbonate and epoxy resin] that are widely used in dental sealant, dishes and tableware. This compound has suspected to have estrogenic effects on reproductive system and related to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In this present study we investigated possible low dose effects of BPA on testis weight and structure and prostate weight. Male wistar rats [12-13 week old] were administrated a daily intra peritoneal 10 micro g/kgbw/day, 50 micro g/kgbw/day, 100 micro g/kgbw/day dose of BPA for 6 and 12 days and one day after last injection testis and prostate weighted and histological section of testes prepared [5 micrometer] and stained by H and E and weigert hematoxilin. All data were expressed as means +/- SE. two-way ANOVA and chiquire was performed. in compare with control group, testis and prostate weight of dose groups were decreased. Disruptions of epithelial layer cells of somniferous tubules were detected. The present study showed that BPA at low doses affects histological structure and weight of testis and prostate, in the adult wistar rat