study of changes in sperm mitochondrial electron transport chain [ETC] enzymes activities, ultrastructure and motility among lysergic acid [LSD] users

Lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD] is considered the primary drug that makes up the hallucinogen class. This is the first study to report on the effect of LSD abuse on ultrastructure and electron transport chain enzymes activities of sperms of LSD users. In this study, it was hypothesized that LSD might exert its toxic effects upon sperm cells of its users by affecting sperm mitochondrial function that might have adverse effects on sperm motility and morphology. So, the target of this study was to investigate the relationship between sperm motility and mitochondrial electron transport chain enzymes activities in LSD users. The obtained results showed that semen samples of LSD users [n = 15] have significantly lower sperm motility and lower activities of complexes I, II. III, IV and citrate synthase as compared with those of controls. Moreover, a direct and positive correlation was found in the whole population studied between spermatozoa motility and all the mitochondrial electron transport chain enzymes activities assayed [I, II III, and IV]. In addition the ultrastructure study of sperms revealed that LSD mainly induces degenerated mitochondrial sheath with large cytoplasmic droplets. In conclusion, LSD impairs sperm motility through its direct toxic effect on sperm mitochondria leading to decreased mitochondrial energy production

Observation on the content of serum and effusion superoxide dismutase in otitis media with effusion patients

This study was designed to estimate both plasma and middle ear effusion [MEE] superoxide dismutase [SOD] levels and to evaluate the relationship between clinical data, and macro and microscopic characters of MEE and SOD levels. The study comprised 60 patients [36 males and 24 females] aged 4-16 years. After clinical examination, diagnosis of otitis media with effusion [OME] was made by otomicroscopic findings and tympanometry; there were 15 patients with bilateral and 45 patients with unilateral OME. Blood sample was taken and MEE was collected by aspiration [with a Juhn-Tym-Tap] after myringotomy under general anesthesia. On the basis of polymorphnuclear leucocytes [PNL] content of MEEs, samples were classified into 4 grades. There were 29 mucoid; 36 serous and 10 purulent effusions. Effusion SOD levels showed a significant [P<0.05] increase compared to its levels in plasma, but with a nonsignificant correlation. Mucoid effusions showed the highest SOD levels, followed by serous, than purulent effusion. There was a significant [P<0.05] increase of SOD levels in mucoid effusion compared to its level in other types of effusions and to plasma levels, and in serous effusion compared both to purulent effusion and plasma levels, moreover, mean SOD level in purulent effusion showed a significant [P<0.05] increase compared to plasma levels. According to PNL content, grade I [7 samples], grade II [23 samples]; grade III [22 samples] and grade IV [15 samples]. SOD levels of MEE showed a significant [P<0.05] increase in grade IV compared to the other grades, and in grades III and II samples compared to grade I samples. There was a negative significant correlation between MEE levels of SOD and its PNL content, [r=0.565, P<0.001], however, there was a positive significant correlation between SOD levels and PNL content of MEE in grade III [r=0.521, P=0.013] and grade IV, [r=0.596, P=0.019]. We can conclude the prooxidant/antloxidant disequilibrium plays a major role in pathogenesis and persistence of middle ear otitis media with effusion, and that SOD levels were found to increase in MEEs independently of the plasma level, and in serous and mucoid MEEs than in purulent MEEs