[Successful treatment of azoospermia diagnosed as "Sertoli cells only syndrome with maturation arrest"--developing a quality embryo]. / Uspesné resení azoospermie s diagnózou "Sertolli cells only syndrome" (SCO sy.) a Maturation Arrest (MA)--získání kvalitního embrya.

OBJECTIVE: The transfer of good quality embryo in the program of assisted reproduction in the case of azoospermia, dg. Sertolli cells only syndrome (SCO sy) + maturation arrest (MA). Testes were assessed and found to have a high occurrence of Sertolli cells and very low occurrence of germinal cells, which were arrested at the round spermatid level. The histological evaluation was hypospermatogenesis gr. 3 (minimum 1 spermatid/sample). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Laboratory IVF, Iscare, a. s., Department of Biology and Biochemistry of Fertilization, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague. SUBJECT AND METHOD: The successful integration of three methods provides a solution for this case of azoospermia. Immunology and histology can more exactly diagnose the degree of azoospermia. Detection and visualisation of spermatids using monoclonal antibodies against sperm proteins predicts the eventual occurrence of spermatogenesis, and histological evaluation confirms these immunological findings. Using the information of both methods it is possible to use special in vitro cultivation of testicular cells and so obtain injectable spermatozoa, or precursors of sperm, for the ICSI method. CONCLUSION: The probability of acquisition of good-quality embryo in the program of assisted reproduction is higher when these three methods are applied in combination.

[Use of human sperm protein monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis of sperm pathology and selection of a suitable assisted reproduction method for fertilization]. / Vyuzití monoklonálních protilátek proti proteinum lidských spermií k diagnostice patologie spermií a výberu vhodné metody fertilizace v asistované reprodukci.

OBJECTIVE: Use of monoclonal antibodies against sperm proteins in human medicine. DESIGN: Experimental and clinical studies. SETTING: Dep. Biology and Biochemistry of Fertilization, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague, Laboratory IVF, Iscare IVF, Prague, Dep. of Immunobiology, Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague. METHODS: Monoclonal antibodies against human sperm intra-acrosomal and cell surface proteins were used for quantitative analysis of these proteins by the immunofluorescence test in samples of human sperm of good and poor qualities. RESULTS: The detection of intra-acrosomal proteins was decreased and, on the other hand, detection of surface proteins was the same or higher in pathological spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS: Monoclonal antibodies can be used for diagnostics of sperm pathology (quantitative detection of proteins) and for evaluation of the physiological state of sperm cells (state of acrosome before or after acrosome reaction). Finally, monoclonal antibodies could be useful for selection of a suitable method of fertilization (IUI, standard IVF, ICSI) in the laboratories of assisted reproduction.

Characterization of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) virus (isolate ATCC VR-2332).

The characterization of an isolate of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) virus (ATCC VR-2332) is reported. A commercial cell line (CL2621) was used for the propagation of the virus for all assays. Laboratory studies indicate that this isolate is a fastidious, nonhemagglutinating, enveloped RNA virus. Cesium chloride-purified virions visualized by electron microscopy were spherical particles with an average diameter of 62 nm (range: 48-83 nm) and a 25-30 nm core surrounded by an envelope. Virus replication was restricted to the cytoplasm, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence. The virus did not react serologically with antisera to several common porcine viruses or with antisera to known viruses in the alphavirus, rubivirus, pestivirus, and ungrouped lactic dehydrogenase virus genera of the Togaviridae. However, convalescent sow sera and rabbit hyperimmune sera neutralized the SIRS virus at titers of 1:256 and 1:512, respectively. The virus was stable at 4 and -70 C, but was labile at 37 and 56 C. The properties of this isolate of SIRS virus resemble those of the family Togaviridae but do not match the described genera.

Antigenic comparison of Lelystad virus and swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) virus.

This study reports the antigenic relatedness of isolates of Lelystad virus collected in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. The binding of antibodies directed against these isolates was tested in a set of field sera collected during outbreaks of porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome in Europe and outbreaks of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) in North America. Two sets of sera from pigs experimentally infected with Lelystad virus or SIRS virus were also tested. Although all 7 isolates reacted with anti-Lelystad virus sera, antigenic variation was considerable. The 4 European isolates resembled each other closely, but differed from the American isolates, and the 3 American isolates differed antigenically from each other. To reliably diagnose Lelystad virus infection, a common antigen must first be identified.

Experimental reproduction of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome in pregnant sows.

The purpose of this study was to experimentally reproduce swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS). Six multiparous sows were intranasally inoculated at 93 days of gestation with lung homogenates from clinically affected pigs, and 3 additional sows were similarly inoculated with a virus isolated in cell culture from the lung homogenate (SIRS virus, isolate ATCC VR-2332). Inoculated sows developed transient anorexia, farrowed up to 7 days prematurely, and delivered a mean of 5.8 live pigs and 6.0 dead fetuses/litter. Clinical signs of disease were not observed in 3 sham-inoculated control sows that delivered a mean of 12.7 live pigs and 0.3 stillborn fetuses/litter. The SIRS virus was isolated from 50 of 76 live-born and stillborn fetuses from the 9 infected litters. Virus was not isolated from 26 autolyzed fetuses or 15 control pigs. Six of 9 inoculated sows developed neutralizing antibodies to SIRS virus. The reproductive effects found in these experiments were identical to those found in field cases. On the basis of our findings, virus isolate ATCC VR-2332 causes the reproductive failure associated with SIRS.

Canine parainfluenza-Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine immunogenicity.

The immunogenicity and safety of 3 serials of a canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus-Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine was evaluated. Each serial was used to vaccinate 10 dogs with single doses given intranasally. The 30 vaccinated and 10 nonvaccinated controls dogs were challenge exposed with aerosols of virulent CPI virus and B bronchiseptica at 18 days and at 21 days, respectively, after vaccination. After challenge exposure, none of the 30 vaccinated dogs had clinical signs of disease; however, 9 of the 10 nonvaccinated dogs developed coughing problems. The CPI virus was isolated from nasal swab specimens obtained from nonvaccinated dogs on an average of 5.1 days after challenge exposure, but was not isolated from any of the specimens obtained from the vaccinated dogs. Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from nasal swab specimens obtained from both vaccinated and nonvaccinated dogs up to 18 days after challenge exposure. The erythrocyte sedimentation rates and total leukocyte counts for control dogs were generally increased, in contrast to those for the vaccinated groups. Dogs showed a primary serologic response to CPI virus and B bronchiseptica after vaccination and an anamnestic response to the bacterium after challenge exposure. Adverse local or systemic reactions attributable to the bivalent vaccine were not observed in the vaccinated dogs.

Serologic study of Pasteurella aerogenes sp n.

The antigenic attributes of Pasteurella aerogenes sp n were serologically compared with species of the genera Actinobacillus and Pasteurella. Examination included the tube-agglutination and double-immunodiffusion techniques. The results indicated the possibility of serologically different strains of P aerogenes. Antisera prepared from strains of P aerogenes also reacted well with antigens prepared from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (P pseudotuberculosis) and P pneumotropica.