Facial emotion processing in patients with borderline personality disorder as compared with healthy controls: an fMRI and ECG study.

BACKGROUND: Maladaptive behaviors and interpersonal difficulties in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) seem connected to biased facial emotion processing. This bias is often accompanied by heightened amygdala activity in patients with BPD as compared to healthy controls. However, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies exploring differences between patients and healthy controls in facial emotion processing have produced divergent results. The current study explored fMRI and heart rate variability (HRV) correlates of negative facial emotion processing in patients with BPD and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 30 patients with BPD (29 females; age: M = 24.22, SD = 5.22) and 30 healthy controls (29 females; M = 24.66, SD = 5.28). All participants underwent the "faces" task, an emotional face perception task, in an fMRI session simultaneously with ECG. In this task, participants are presented with emotional expressions of disgust, sadness, and fear (as a negative condition) and with the same pictures in a scrambled version (as a neutral condition). RESULTS: We found no differences in brain activity between patients with BPD and healthy controls when processing negative facial expressions as compared to neutral condition. We observed activation in large-scale brain areas in both groups when presented with negative facial expressions as compared to neutral condition. Patients with BPD displayed lower HRV than healthy controls in both conditions. However, there were no significant associations between HRV and amygdala activity and BPD symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate no abnormal brain activity during emotional facial processing in patients with BPD. This result contrasts with previous studies and more studies are needed to clarify the relationship between facial emotion processing and brain activity in patients with BPD. Possible reasons for the absence of brain activity differences are discussed in the study. Consistent with previous findings, patients showed lower HRV than healthy controls. However, HRV was not associated with amygdala activity and BPD symptoms.

Neural correlates of social exclusion and overinclusion in patients with borderline personality disorder: an fMRI study.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal difficulties of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are closely related to rejection sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to gain further insight into the experience and cerebral processing of social interactions in patients with BPD by using fMRI during experimentally induced experiences of social exclusion, inclusion, and overinclusion. METHODS: The study involved 30 participants diagnosed with BPD (29 female and 1 male; age: M = 24.22, SD = 5.22) and 30 healthy controls (29 female and 1 male; age: M = 24.66, SD = 5.28) with no current or lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. In the fMRI session, all participants were asked to complete a Cyberball task that consisted of an alternating sequence of inclusion, exclusion, and overinclusion conditions. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, participants with BPD reported higher levels of inner tension and more unpleasant emotions across all experimental conditions. At the neural level, the participants with BPD showed lower recruitment of the left hippocampus in response to social exclusion (relative to the inclusion condition) than the healthy controls did. Lower recruitment of the left hippocampus in this contrast was associated with childhood maltreatment in patients with BPD. However, this difference was no longer significant when we added the covariate of hippocampal volume to the analysis. During social overinclusion (relative to the inclusion condition), we observed no significant differences in a group comparison of neural activation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that patients with BPD experience more discomfort than do healthy controls during social interactions. Compared to healthy participants, patients with BPD reported more inner tension and unpleasant emotions, irrespective of the extent to which others included them in social interactions. At a neural level, the participants with BPD showed a lower recruitment of the left hippocampus in response to social exclusion than the healthy controls did. The reduced activation of this neural structure could be related to a history of childhood maltreatment and smaller hippocampal volume in patients with BPD.

Electrodermal Response to Mirror Exposure in Relation to Subjective Emotional Responses, Emotional Competences and Affectivity in Adolescent Girls With Restrictive Anorexia and Healthy Controls.

Objective: Body image disturbances and the attendant negative emotions are two of the major clinical symptoms of eating disorders. The objective of the present experimental study was to shed more light on the degree of association or dissociation between the physiological and emotional response to mirror exposure in patients with restrictive mental anorexia, and on the relationships between the physiological response and characteristics connected with emotional processing. Materials and Methods: Thirty adolescent girls with the restrictive type of anorexia and thirty matched healthy controls underwent bilateral measurement of skin conductance (SC) during rest, neutral stimulus exposure, and mirror exposure, and completed a set of measures focused on emotion regulation competencies, affectivity, and eating disorder pathology. Results: Compared to healthy controls, girls with restrictive anorexia rated mirror exposure as a subjectively more distressful experience. Differences in skin conductance response (SCR) were not significant; however, variance in SCR was substantially greater in the group of anorexia patients as compared to healthy controls. The overall skin conductance level (SCL) was lower in anorexia patients. Increase in SCR during mirror exposure, as opposed to exposure to neutral stimuli, was positively related to the tendency to experience negative emotions, interoceptive sensitivity, body dissatisfaction and suppression, but not to other symptoms of eating pathology or emotional awareness. A post hoc analysis suggested that physiological reactivity might be associated with interoceptive sensitivity to mirror exposure especially in anorectic patients. Conclusion: The study seems to demonstrate some degree of dissociation between psychophysiological reactivity and subjective response to body exposure in patients with restrictive anorexia. Factors affecting differences in psychophysiological responsiveness to body exposure in anorectic patients require further exploration.

Dimensions of Impulsivity in Healthy People, Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, and Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: Impulsivity, observed in patients with various psychiatric disorders, is a heterogeneous construct with different behavioral manifestations. Through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study tests hypotheses about relationships between dimensions of impulsivity measured using personality questionnaires and behavioral tests. Method: The study included 200 healthy people, 40 patients with borderline personality disorder, and 26 patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who underwent a comprehensive impulsivity test battery including the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, a Go-NoGo task, a stop-signal task, and a delay discounting task. Results: A CFA model comprising three self-reported and three behavioral latent variables reached a good fit. Both patient groups scored higher in the self-reported dimensions and impulsive choice; only the ADHD patients displayed impaired waiting and stopping impulsivity. Conclusions: Using the developed CFA model, it is possible to describe relations between impulsivity dimensions and show different impulsivity patterns in patient populations.

Brain Connectivity and Symptom Changes After Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an innovative method in the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). We hypothesized that prefrontal rTMS in patients with BPD leads to improved BPD symptoms and that these effects are associated with brain connectivity changes. METHODS: Fourteen patients with BPD received 15 sessions of individually navigated prefrontal rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Clinical effects were measured by the Borderline Symptom List 23, UPPS-P, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Effects of rTMS on brain connectivity were observed with a seed correlation analysis on resting-state fMRI and with a beta series correlation analysis on Go/No Go tasks during fMRI. Assessments were made before and immediately after the treatment. RESULTS: The assessments after rTMS showed significant reductions in two subscales of UPPS-P, and in DERS, SAS, and MADRS. The brain connectivity analysis revealed significant decreases in amygdala and insula connectivity with nodes of the posterior default mode network (pDMN; precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, parietal lobules). Connectivity changes were observed both in the resting state and during inhibition. The decrease of amygdala-pDMN connectivity was positively correlated with reduced depression and lack of premeditation after rTMS. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the study limitations (open single-arm study in a small sample), our findings suggest a possible neural mechanism of rTMS effect in BPD, reduced amygdala connectivity with the pDMN network, which was positively associated with symptom reduction.

Being Mindful at University: A Pilot Evaluation of the Feasibility of an Online Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Support Program for Students.

University study can be a life period of heightened psychological distress for many students. The development of new preventive and intervention programs to support well-being in university students is a fundamental challenge for mental health professionals. We designed an 8-week online mindfulness-based program (eMBP) combining a face-to-face approach, text, audio, video components, and support psychotherapy principles with a unique intensive reminder system using the Facebook Messenger and Slack applications in two separate runs (N = 692). We assessed the program's effect on mindful experiencing, perceived stress, emotion regulation strategies, self-compassion, negative affect, and quality of life. The results of the presented pilot study confirmed that eMBP is a feasible and effective tool in university students' mental health support. The students who completed the eMBP reported a reduction of perceived stress with a large effect size ( p η2 = 0.42) as well as a decrease of negative affect experience frequency and intensity ( p η2 = 0.31), an increase of being mindful in their life (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire subscales: p η2 = 0.21, 0.27, 0.25, 0.28, 0.28), and a higher rate of self-compassion ( p η2 = 0.28) with a medium effect size. A small effect size was found in the frequency of using a cognitive reappraisal strategy ( p η2 = 0.073). One new result is the observation of an eMBP effect ( p η2 = 0.27) on the decrease in attributed importance to the quality-of-life components replicated in two consecutive runs of the program. The study affirms that mindfulness-based interventions can be effectively delivered in an eHealth form to university students.

Impulsivity in patients with borderline personality disorder: a comprehensive profile compared with healthy people and patients with ADHD.

BACKGROUND: Impulsivity is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impulsivity is a heterogeneous concept, and a comprehensive evaluation of impulsivity dimensions is lacking in the literature. Moreover, it is unclear whether BPD patients manifest impaired cognitive functioning that might be associated with impulsivity in another patient group, such as ADHD, a frequent comorbidity of BPD. METHODS: We tested 39 patients with BPD without major psychiatric comorbidities and ADHD, 25 patients with ADHD, and 55 healthy controls (HC) using a test battery consisting of a self-report measure of impulsivity (UPPS-P questionnaire), behavioral measures of impulsivity - impulsive action (Go/NoGo task, stop signal task) and impulsive choice (delay discounting task, Iowa gambling task), and standardized measures of attention (d2 test), working memory (digit span), and executive functioning (Tower of London). RESULTS: Patients with BPD and ADHD, as compared with HC, manifested increased self-reported impulsivity except sensation seeking and increased impulsive choice; patients with ADHD but not BPD showed increased impulsive action and deficits in cognitive functioning. Negative urgency was increased in BPD as compared to both HC and ADHD groups and correlated with BPD severity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BPD without ADHD comorbidity had increased self-reported impulsivity and impulsive choice, but intact impulsive action and cognitive functioning. Controlling for ADHD comorbidity in BPD samples is necessary. Negative urgency is the most diagnostically specific impulsivity dimension in BPD.

fMRI neurofeedback in emotion regulation: A literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Emotion regulation is one of the most prevalent objectives for real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NF) studies. The existing studies differ in a number of methodological parameters. This study provides a literature review of the main parameters and results of studies using rt-fMRI-NF for emotion regulation enhancement. METHOD: A search of the Web of Science database up through November 8, 2018, identified 144 articles written in English, 89 of which were excluded as irrelevant for this study. The remaining 51 original studies and four secondary analyses of previously published original studies were included in the literature review. The selection of target brain areas, target populations, emotion regulation protocols, NF presentation, control group types, and emotion regulation instructions were examined in relation to achieved brain regulation and changes in cognitive or clinical outcomes. Study results were evaluated in terms of their statistical robustness. RESULTS: The results show that healthy people are able to regulate their brain activity in the presence of rt-fMRI-NF from various brain regions related to emotion regulation, including the amygdala, anterior insula, and anterior cingulate cortex. The regulation of brain activity using rt-fMRI-NF from prefrontal-limbic connectivity or from individually navigated brain areas is feasible as well. Most studies that used a control group show that rt-fMRI-NF actually induces some effects on brain regulation, cognitive variables, and clinical variables. Generally, the success of ROI regulation during NF training is related to the combination of target brain region, the type of emotion regulation task, and the population undergoing the training. In terms of patient groups, the strongest support for the beneficial effects of rt-fMRI-NF has been shown in increased positive emotion experiencing in patients with depression and in decreased anxiety in patients with anxiety disorders. Symptom reduction following NF training has been also reported in patients with PTSD, BPD, and schizophrenia, but direct comparisons with control groups in these studies makes it impossible to evaluate the added value of NF. Studies often do not report all the relevant analyses for evaluating NF success and many studies lack statistical robustness. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, rt-fMRI-NF seems a promising tool for emotion regulation enhancement with the potential to induce long-term symptom reduction in patients with various mental disorders. Preplanning of statistical analyses, careful interpretations of the results, and evaluations of the NF effect on symptom reduction in patient groups is recommended.

Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Account of Impulsivity in Parkinson's Disease.

Impulse control disorder (ICD) is a major non-motor complication of Parkinson's disease (PD) with often devastating consequences for patients' quality of life. In this study, we aimed to characterize the phenotype of impulsivity in PD and its neuroanatomical correlates. Methods: Thirty-seven PD patients (15 patients with ICD, 22 patients without ICD) and 36 healthy controls underwent a neuropsychological battery. The test battery consisted of anxiety and depression scales, self-report measures of impulsivity (Barratt scale and UPPS-P), behavioral measures of impulsive action (Go/No-Go task, Stop signal task) and impulsive choice (Delay discounting, Iowa gambling task), and measures of cognitive abilities (working memory, attention, executive function). Patients and controls underwent structural MRI scanning. Results: Patients with ICD had significantly higher levels of self-reported impulsivity (Barratt scale and Lack of perseverance from UPPS-P) in comparison with healthy controls and non-impulsive PD patients, but they performed similarly in behavioral tasks, except for the Iowa gambling task. In this task, patients with ICD made significantly less risky decisions than patients without ICD and healthy controls. Patients without ICD did not differ from healthy controls in self-reported impulsivity or behavioral measurements. Both patient groups were more anxious and depressive than healthy controls. MRI scanning revealed structural differences in cortical areas related to impulse control in both patient groups. Patients without ICD had lower volumes and cortical thickness of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus. Patients with ICD had higher volumes of right caudal anterior cingulate and rostral middle frontal cortex. Conclusions: Despite the presence of ICD as confirmed by both clinical follow-up and self-reported impulsivity scales and supported by structural differences in various neural nodes related to inhibitory control and reward processing, patients with ICD performed no worse than healthy controls in various behavioral tasks previously hypothesized as robust impulsivity measures. These results call for caution against impetuous interpretation of behavioral tests, since various factors may and will influence the ultimate outcomes, be it the lack of sensitivity in specific, limited ICD subtypes, excessive caution of ICD patients during testing due to previous negative experience rendering simplistic tasks insufficient, or other, as of now unknown aspects, calling for further research.

Disruption of Multiple Distinctive Neural Networks Associated With Impulse Control Disorder in Parkinson's Disease.

The phenomenon of impulsivity in Parkinson's disease appears as an arduous side effect of dopaminergic therapy with potentially detrimental consequences for the life of the patients. Although conceptualized as a result of non-physiologic chronic dopaminergic stimulation, recent advances speculate on combined disruption of other networks as well. In the search for neuroanatomical correlates of this multifaceted disturbance, this study employs two distinct, well-defined tasks of close association to motor inhibition and decision-making impulsivity, Go/No Go and Delay discounting. The fMRI and functional connectivity analysis in 21 Parkinson's disease patients, including 8 patients suffering from severe impulse control disorder, and 28 healthy controls, revealed in impulsive Parkinson's disease patients not only decreased fMRI activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral striatum, but also vast functional connectivity changes of both caudate nuclei as decreased connectivity to the superior parietal cortex and increased connectivity to the insular area, clearly beyond the commonly stated areas, which indicates that orbitofronto-striatal and mesolimbic functional disruptions are not the sole mechanisms underlying impulse control disorder in Parkinson's disease. Ergo, our results present a refinement and synthesis of gradually developing ideas about the nature of impulsive control disorder in Parkinson's disease-an umbrella term encompassing various behavioral deviations related to distinct neuronal networks and presumably neurotransmitter systems, which greatly exceed the previously envisioned dopaminergic pathways as the only culprit.

Effect of cadmium on uptake of iron, zinc and copper and mRNA expression of metallothioneins in HepG2 cells in vitro.

The intake of cadmium contaminated fish was mimicked by incubating human hepatoblastoma cells (Cell line HepG2) with a combination of different levels of cadmium (0-5µM) plus the n-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, which are typical for fish. Uptake of cadmium, iron, copper and zinc was measured by ICP-MS. In addition mRNA expression of two metallothioneins (mt1 g and mt1 m) was evaluated by real-time PCR. The obtained data shows that the presence of cadmium increases the uptake of iron and zinc into the HepG2 cells while the uptake of copper remains unaffected. The presence of the chosen fatty acids did not affect the uptake of either cadmium or iron, zinc and copper. The presence of already 1µM cadmium increased the mRNA expression of mt1 g and mt1 m significantly, while the fatty acids did not interfere with the effect of cadmium.

Combined incubation of cadmium, docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid results in increased uptake of cadmium and elevated docosapentaenoic acid content in hepatocytes in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Human hepatocellular cells Hep G2 were used to mimic and investigate the effect of the intake of cadmium (Cd(2+)) contaminated fish on cytotoxicity, fatty acid (FA) and phospholipid class composition. METHODS: Cells were incubated with a combination of Cd(2+) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fish specific FA. RESULTS: We measured a significant increased proportion of EPA and DHA in the treated cells compared to the control line confirming the uptake. While doses of 25 µM DHA showed to be toxic to the cells, repeated short term incubations (2 h) at lower doses resulted in an increased uptake of DHA. The resarzurin assay, evaluating cell viability, showed a significant decrease in cell viability between Cd(2+) incubation time and, further, the pre-incubation with BSA-FA complex resulted in significantly increased cell viability. On the metabolic level, increased concentrations of EPA and DHA resulted in an increased proportion of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) which indicated an increased metabolism. Also 24-h combined incubations of 5 µM Cd(2+) and EPA and DHA showed a significant increase DPA in the total lipid fraction of the cells. In addition, incubation with 5 µM Cd(2+) for 24 h also decreased the total cardiolipin (CL) fraction from the identified phospholipids. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the applied FA were taken up by the cells. A combination of EPA, DHA and Cd(2+) influenced lysosomal integrity, cell viability and lipid metabolism in the cells. The most important finding is that DHA and EPA reduced the detrimental effect of Cd(2+) on cell viability. The exact effects and kinetics behind our observations still need further evaluation.

The effect of reactive oxygen species on motility parameters, DNA integrity, tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphatase activity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) spermatozoa.

The effect of reactive oxygen species production on the motility parameters, DNA integrity, acid phosphatase activity, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation in spermatozoa of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was investigated. Spermatozoa were exposed to different concentrations of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X-XO) either in the presence or absence of antioxidants for 15 and 60 min. A dose- and time-dependent reduction in spermatozoa motility and velocity was observed. Comet assays showed a dramatic increase in DNA fragmentation after 15 min. Changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of spermatozoa proteins were observed by Western blotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, and proteins of interest were identified by mass spectrometry. After a 60 min exposure to X-XO, O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase, isoform 4 was phosphorylated and septin-8-A was dephosphorylated. Acid phosphatase activity also decreased in a dose-dependent manner after a 60 min exposure to oxidative stress. The results demonstrate that oxidative stress impaired functional variables (sperm motility, velocity, DNA integrity) of carp spermatozoa, and altered intracellular signalling pathways through changes in tyrosine phosphorylation and acid phosphatase activity.

Effects of tetrabrombisphenol A on DNA integrity, oxidative stress, and sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa quality variables.

The sperm of sterlet (Acispenser ruthenus) was used to investigate the effect of the xenobiotic tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA) on sperm quality variables (ATP content, spermatozoa motility, and velocity), DNA integrity, and oxidative stress indices. Sperm was diluted to obtain a spermatozoa density of 5 × 10(8) cells/mL and exposed for 2 h to final concentrations of TBBPA (0.5, 1.75, 2.5, 5, and 10 µg/L). The oxidative stress indices, including lipid peroxidation, carbonyl derivatives of proteins, and antioxidant activity were significantly higher with increased concentrations of TBBPA. There was significantly less intracellular ATP in sperm samples at TBBPA concentrations of 2.5 µg/L and above. Spermatozoa velocity and percent motile sperm were significantly lower at each sampling time post-activation compared to controls. DNA damage expressed as percent DNA in Tail and Olive Tail moment was significantly higher with exposures ≥2.5 µg/L TBBPA. The results demonstrated that TBBPA and other xenobiotics can induce reactive oxygen species stress in fish spermatozoa, which could impair the sperm quality, DNA integrity, ATP content, and the antioxidant defense system. This study confirmed that fish spermatozoa can be used in in vitro assays for monitoring residual pollution in aquatic environments.

In vitro effects of bisphenol A on the quality parameters, oxidative stress, DNA integrity and adenosine triphosphate content in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa.

Among endocrine disruptors, the xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) deserves particular attention due to widespread human exposure. Besides hormonal effects, BPA has been suspected to be responsible for adverse effect on reproductive ability of various species. In the present study the effect of BPA on the quality parameters, oxidative stress, the DNA integrity and intracellular ATP content of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa were investigated in vitro. Fish spermatozoa were exposed to concentrations of BPA possibly occurring in nature (0.5, 1.75, 2.5, 5 and 10µg/L) for 2h. Results revealed that BPA significantly decreased spermatozoa motility and velocity of spermatozoa at concentration of BPA 2.5-10µg/L. Significant positive correlation (r=0.713, P<0.05) was found between percent motile spermatozoa and ATP content. Oxidative stress was observed at concentrations 1.75-10µg/L, as reflected by significantly higher levels of protein and lipid oxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. Intracellular ATP content of spermatozoa decreased with increasing concentrations of BPA. A dramatic increase in DNA fragmentation expressed as percent tail DNA (2.2%±0.46) and Olive tail moment (0.37±0.09 arbitrary units) was recorded at concentrations of 1.75µg/L and above. The present study confirms that concentrations of BPA that can be encountered in nature are capable to induce oxidative stress, leading to impaired sperm quality, DNA fragmentation and intracellular ATP content.

The in vitro effect of duroquinone on functional competence, genomic integrity, and oxidative stress indices of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa.

The sturgeon is a highly endangered fish species mostly due to over-fishing, habitat destruction, and water pollution. Duroquinone (derivative of 1,4-benzoquinone) is a xenobiotic compound widespread in the environment. The effect of duroquinone on motility, DNA integrity, and oxidative stress indices in sterlet, Acispenser ruthenus, spermatozoa was investigated. Sterlet sperm was exposed for 2h to duroquinone at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 150 µM. Spermatozoa motility, velocity, and ATP content were significantly decreased with exposure to duroquinone. The level of DNA damage significantly increased at concentrations of 50 µM and above. Oxidative stress indices (lipid peroxidation and content of carbonyl proteins) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly with increasing concentrations of duroquinone. Oxidative stress in sterlet spermatozoa induced by duroquinone was shown to impair spermatozoa DNA integrity, motility parameters, and the antioxidant defense system. Spermatozoa motility, content of carbonyl proteins, and SOD activity were shown to be sensitive biomarkers, exhibiting strong responses to low concentrations of the xenobiotic. Results also suggested that fish spermatozoa in vitro assays may provide a simple and efficient means of monitoring residual pollutants in the aquatic environment.

Effect of short-term storage on quality parameters, DNA integrity, and oxidative stress in Russian (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and Siberian (Acipenser baerii) sturgeon sperm.

The sperm of Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii) and Siberian sturgeon (A. baerii) was used to evaluate the effects of short-term (liquid) storage on functional parameters (spermatozoa motility and velocity), DNA integrity and oxidative stress indices. Spermatozoa showed >50% motility during 6 days of storage with an average velocity of 133.12±15.4 to 87.9±11.23µm s(-1) in both species. No motile spermatozoa were recorded after nine days of storage. Analysis of Russian sturgeon sperm showed no significant differences in DNA damage expressed as percent tail DNA and Olive Tail Moment for first three days of storage. In Siberian sturgeon significant differences in DNA damage were detected after two days of storage. The level of oxidative stress indices (TBARS, CP) and antioxidant activity (SOD) increased significantly with storage time in both species. Results of this study can be utilized for successful reproduction management and cryopreservation protocols of these endangered species.

Influence of environmentally relevant concentrations of vinclozolin on quality, DNA integrity, and antioxidant responses of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus spermatozoa.

The effects of vinclozolin (VIN), an anti-androgenic fungicide, on quality, oxidative stress, DNA integrity, and ATP level of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa were investigated in vitro. Fish spermatozoa were incubated with different concentrations of vinclozolin (0.5, 2, 10, 15, 20 and 50 µg/l) for 2 h. A dose-dependent reduction in spermatozoa motility and velocity was observed at concentrations of 2-50 µg/l. A dramatic increase in DNA fragmentation was recorded at concentrations 10 µg/l and above. After 2 h exposure at higher test concentrations (10-50 µg/l), oxidative stress was apparent, as reflected by significantly higher levels of protein and lipid oxidation and significantly greater superoxide dismutase activity. Intracellular ATP content of spermatozoa decreased with increasing concentrations of VIN. The results demonstrated that VIN can induce reactive oxygen species stress in fish spermatozoa, which could impair the sperm quality, DNA integrity, ATP content, and the antioxidant defense system.