Ultrastructure of the seminiferous epithelium of ethyl methanesulphonate-treated mouse.

Ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) is a mutagenic alkylating agent that induces marked elevations of sperm abnormalities in mice. In this paper, we report the ultrastructural findings on the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium of mice resulting from EMS administration. Eight- to twelve-weeks-old male mice were injected intraperitoneally with EMS at 200 mg kg(-1) body weight daily for five consecutive days. Analysis of smears of epididymis and semi-thin sections of testes revealed that the more suitable specimens for the ultrastructural analysis were tissues of mice killed at the third week, following EMS administration. At this time, the spermatid was the damaged cell type. Abnormalities were mainly observed in the morphology of the nucleus, the acrosome, chromatin distribution and in the arrangement of the cytoplasmic microtubules, and binucleated spermatids were also observed. EMS has the capacity to penetrate the blood-testis barrier, and thus it can damage post-meiotic spermatogenic cells. However, morphological abnormalities could be the consequence of damage exerted on the differentiated spermatogonia stage, the most sensitive spermatogenic cell to the action of chemical agents or drugs. Our findings contribute to elucidate the action mechanism of the damage exerted by EMS administration on the germinal male cells.

Update on the impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on male fertility.

With approximately 90 million cases annually, infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the world. Considering that these infections are often asymptomatic and cause major complications like acute pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility or infant pneumonia, the estimated costs for diagnosis and treatment in the USA amounts to 2.2 million US dollars for each 500 cases. Therefore, there is a high need for correct, quick and cost-effective diagnosis and treatment of this urogenital tract infection. New innovative therapies provide good results with regard to efficacy and patients' compliance. The success rates of treatments are at least 95%. However, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance should not be ignored and new treatment schemes must be developed. The state-of-the-art of diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infections as well as the pathophysiology is discussed in this review. In conclusion, infections with C. trachomatis is an important public health problem, especially in third world and developing countries, and more socio-economic studies linking secondary prevention of chlamydial infections, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcome are needed to understand more of its aetiology. In addition, diagnosis and treatment should be improved. Data in men revealed that past infections but not present infections are more related to male infertility. There is still controversial results. In future studies, function of the seminal vesicles and evaluation of the antioxidant capacity should be taken into account when role of C. trachomatis infection on male fertility is assessed.

Chromosomal translocation 3;22 in an infertile man.

OBJECTIVE: To present the first case of an infertile male with a normal phenotype and chromosomal translocation 3;22. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: POVISA Medical Center. PATIENT(S): A 45-year-old man with primary infertility for 13 years and with different partners; the patient has a family history of recurrent miscarriages and low fertility. INTERVENTION(S): Lymphocytic karyotype and electron microscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Physical examination and semen analysis. RESULT(S): The semen analysis revealed oligoasthenoteratospermia. The lymphocytic karyotype detected a translocation 3;22, and electron microscopy showed a lack of the central microtubule pair and peripheral doublet. CONCLUSION(S): An association between translocation 3;22 and other abnormalities in infertile males has been reported, but no such association has ever been described in men whose only clinical manifestation is infertility.