Expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in the testicular tissues of azoospermia patients with different pathological alterations / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in human testicular tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-three cases of the azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20), maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin B betaB subunits was conducted on the paraffin-embedded sections of different spermatogenesis to localize inhibin B betaB subunits in the seminiferous tubules.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemically, positive products of inhibin B betaB subunits were found in both the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues of the testis as brown or yellow particles in the cytoplasm. Leydig cells and early intermediate spermatogenic cells showed a very strong positivity; Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules were mostly positive; peritubular myoid cells showed a weak positive staining; but no positive expression of inhibin B betaB subunits was found in late spermatids and mature sperm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inhibin B may be produced by both Sertoli cells and early spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules.</p>

Effects of Fructus lycii and Radix astragali on the function of sertoli cells in rat testes / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the Chinese herbal medicines Fructus Lycii and Radix Astragali on the function of the Sertoli cells in the rat testis and their mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sertoli cells from the testes of the SD rats aged 18 - 22 days were isolated and cultured. The effects of Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and the combined administration of the two on the proliferation of Sertoli cells in vitro were detected by MTT assay, and their effects on the level of INHbetaB mRNA transcription in Sertoli cells in vitro were investigated in both normal environment and peroxide-damaging environment by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proliferation of Sertoli cells was promoted by either Fructus Lycii or Radix Astragali at high concentration (P < 0.05), and significantly promoted by the combined administration at high concentration (P <0.01). Sertoli cell INHbetaB transcription was significantly up-regulated by Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and their combined administration in vitro (P < 0.01). When the level of INHbetaB mRNA in Sertoli cells significantly dropped (P < 0.01) in the presence of injury induced by peroxide (H2O2), it could be elevated by Radix Astragali (P < 0.05) and significantly up-regulated by Fructus Lycii or the combined administration in vitro (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and the combined administration of the two could promote and protect INHbetaB mRNA in Sertoli cells in vitro.</p>

Relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment in seminiferous tubules and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia and to verify the significance of INH B in evaluating spermatogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-three cases of azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20); maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Serum INHB and FSH, LH, T concentrations were tested before testicular biopsy for each patient respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The INHB levels were (20. 85 +/- 18.78) pg/ml, (67.25 +/- 40.98) pg/ml, (73.63 +/- 25.54) pg/ml and (149.48 +/- 27.92) pg/ml in the above four groups, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference in the level of serum INH B between maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis groups (P > 0.05), and there was a very significant difference in almost normal spermatogenesis group and the other three groups, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the concentration of serum FSH when maturation arrest group compared with spermatogenesis group (P > 0.05), whereas between the other two groups and between each of them and maturation arrest or almost normal spermatogenesis there was a very significant difference in the level of serum FSH (P < 0.05); The concentrations of LH and T were not significantly different among the four groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum INHB concentration was decreased when spermatogenesis got impaired. It dropped the most markedly in Sertoli cell-only syndrome group. INH B reflects directly the spermatogenic function in seminiferous tubules of the testis. Therefore, it could be considered valuable for spermatogenesis and potential fertility in patients with azoospermia.</p>

Comparison of composite grafting of autoskin with acellular dermal matrix from different sources / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the composite grafts of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) from different sources with autoskin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six local white mini pigs were employed for the experiment. The pigs were randomly divided into four groups according to different skin grafts, i.e. A (human ADM with razor thin autoskin), B (porcine ADM with razor thin autoskin), C (razor thin autoskin only), and D (split thickness autoskin) as control. The survival rate, the contraction degree of the grafts, and the histological changes in grafting area were observed at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The grafted area in both A and B groups appeared smooth and elastic with satisfactory graft survival. The in growth of the host reparative cells such as fibroblast and vascular endothelium could be induced by composite grafts of different ADMs with skin grafting. The contraction areas in A and B groups seemed bigger than those in C and D groups. The tissue structure of grafting areas was similar to that of split thickness skin grafting area at 24 post-operation weeks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of the homogenous and heterogeneous ADMs with autografts exhibited similar biological function during the observation period (24 weeks after operation). Xenogenous ADMs might have broader clinical applications.</p>

The activation of vagus afferent in response to lipopolysaccharide the role of interleukin-1 / 生理学报

To study the possibility of activation of vagus afferent in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through interleukin-1 (IL-1), Wistar rats were randomly divided into LPS group and saline (NS) group. The expression of c-Fos, CD14 and Mac-1 were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. IL-1 bioactivity was determined by L929 cell proliferation. The expression of IL-1R I mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. Our results showed that there were some c-Fos protein expression positive neurons in the nodose ganglion in LPS group, but no c-Fos protein expression positive neurons in the nodose ganglion in control group. The number of macrophages (M phi) in the connective tissue surrounding the abdominal vagus increased significantly in response to LPS i.p. Forty-five minutes after the application of LPS, the IL-1 bioactivity in the supernatant of M phi was increased. Positive IL-1R mRNA neurons were also observed in the nodose ganglion in the LPS group. The results indicate that vagus afferent is activated in response to LPS and that IL-1 production might be involved in the activation of vagus afferent.

The establishment of testicular fibrosis model in Wistar rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To establish the testicular fibrosis model in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were divided into control group(n = 12) and model group(n = 40) randomly. Testicular fibrosis model was built with the classical method of establishing experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) combined with injecting Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) into left testis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence rate of EAO and the rate of testicular fibrosis were 100%, 11.1% and 100%, 81.5% at 80, 140 days after the first infection, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The model of rat testicular fibrosis was established successfully.</p>