Sperm motility after passage through the hen's egg yolk medium.

This study aimed to observe the percentage of motility of human spermatozoa after passage through 20 per cent hen's egg yolk medium. Twenty-one samples of freshly ejaculated human semen having a sperm density over 20 million per ml and a percentage of motile sperm over 50 per cent were used in the study. The percentage of sperm motility was estimated under the microscope by conventional method. The sperm motility was evaluated within 30 minutes after ejaculation and every one hour thereafter for 8 hours. After the first observation, the semen was divided into two parts, one part kept as a control and the other used for the experiment. The latter was washed in Tyrode's solution and overlaid on 20 per cent egg yolk column and allowed to migrate toward the bottom of the column for two and a half hours. The spermatozoa at the bottom of the column were brought out and washed in Tyrode's solution. The percentage of the sperm motility was observed every hour for 5 hours. After passing through the 20 per cent egg yolk medium, percentage of sperm motility was observed to increase from 66.2 to 87.2 while that of the control declined to 49.3. Five hours after passing through the egg yolk medium the percentage of motile sperm was still high, an average of 80 as compared to 17.4 for the control. Results of this study indicate that hen's egg yolk has a sperm motility stimulating property. Whether hen's egg yolk can be used as a sperm motility stimulant in the treatment of such conditions as asthenospermia and oligospermia is subjected for further study.

Sperm morphology after hen's egg yolk filtration.

Tyrode's washed spermatozoa were placed on top of 20 per cent hen's egg yolk column of 2 cm diameter and 10 cm in height. The spermatozoa were allowed to move downward for two and a half hours and those at the bottom of the column were removed for morphological examination under a light microscope after staining with hematoxylineosin. The study was made in 45 cases. It was found that the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm decreased, after passing through the hen's egg yolk column, from the average of 9.98 to 0.71 per cent. It is suggested tha the hen's egg yolk method is suitable for improving sperm motility and morphology in certain infertile cases where husbands have a seminal defect.

Male sex-linked protein in human placental villi.

Due to the difference in genetic components between X and Y chromosomes, we believe that tissues of male and female individuals should contain different sex-linked protein. This study is aimed to determine whether there is any sex-linked protein in the placenta belonging to human male and female fetuses. Placentas from eleven male and eleven female fetuses were studied. Proteins from the placenta were extracted and fractionated by means of column chromatography. The protein fractions obtained from the male and female placental extracts were compared. It was found that there was a protein fraction present in the placenta of male fetuses but absent in those of the females. This protein fraction is called "male sex-linked protein" or "male protein". It is believed that this male protein is genetically determined and should also be found in every organ, not just only in the placenta.

Urinary excretion of placental male sex-linked protein during pregnancy.

The placental male protein in the maternal urine was examined by means of the column chromatographic method, the same method used in determination of the male protein in human placenta. The urinary examination was made in ten near-term pregnant women, five with male and five with female fetuses. It was found that the male protein was present in the urine of every pregnant woman with a male fetus and was absent in those with a female fetus. The result of this study suggests that the male protein in the placenta is released into the maternal circulation and excreted into the urine during pregnancy. The presence of the male protein in the pregnant women's urine may be used as a criteria in determining the presence of a male fetus.

Y spermatozoa in normal, oligospermic and in residual spermatozoa of post-vasectomy human semen.

PIP: From October 1986-February 1987, researchers at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand conducted a study of 175 men to detect the percentage of Y spermatozoa in normal and oligospermia semen and in residual sperm of postvasectomy semen. After 3 days of abstinence, 46 medical student volunteers, 109 infertility clinic patients, and 20 post vasectomy patients masturbated to collect the needed samples. Researchers identified Y sperm by staining the semen with quinacrine hydrochloride and looking for the distinctive fluorescent spot at the head of the Y sperm. The semen of 124 cases was normal and the semen of the remaining cases was oligospermia. 98% of the medical students, 67% of the infertile men, and 30% of the postvasectomy patients had normal semen. Overall the average percentage of Y sperm stood at 43.8 (range=12.5-62). The total for normal and oligospermia semen was 44.36 and 41.32 respectively, but this difference was not significant (p.05). The infertile men had the highest average percentage of Y sperm (45.6) followed by medical student (43.86) and postvasectomy patients (30.82). Researchers do not know why the semen of postvasectomy men has a low percentage of Y sperm. The difference between the percentage of Y sperm of the postvasectomy patients and that of both the medical students and the infertile men was significant (p.0001). The percentage of those with Y sperm below 40% stood at 21.8 for the medical students, 16.5 for the infertile men, and 65 of the postvasectomy patients. Researchers need to conduct further studies to determine if these type of men are more likely to father female children. Possible explanations for the less than expected 50% of all sperm to be Y sperm may be that the F body technique cannot detect 10% of them or the Y chromosome is deep in the head and cannot be seen using this technique.^ieng

Objectives, activities and achievements of Thai Association for Voluntary Sterilization.

PIP: The Thai Association for Voluntary Sterilization (Thai-AVS) is a private organization that was established by key individuals from prominent medical schools, the Ministry of Public Health and the National Family Planning Program of Thailand in 1975. It is funded by private organizations and the government in Thailand, as well as international organizations. Public education on sterilization, encouraging sterilization education among physicians, supporting training for paramedics, nurses, and professionals involved in sterilization services are the main activities of the association. The Thai-AVS operated a sterilization instrument repair and maintenance center until May 1981. The Thai Ministry of Public Health took over the operation of the center. Thai-AVS also maintains a sterilized Men's Club. The 5000 members from all parts of the country are voluntary educator-motivators for sterilization among their friends, neighbors, and the people of their communities.^ieng

Training physicians of developing nations in female surgical contraception.

The majority of developing nations in the Third World (including Thailand) face similar medicosocioeconomic situations arising from uncontrolled population growth which outstrips developmental planning. One of the most effective medical means of combating these problems is surgical contraception. This study describes how the Ramathibodi National Training Program was developed and implemented in Thailand to increase the availability of sterilization services by training local physicians to perform the necessary operations. The success of this program is measured by the increase in the number of service delivery stations (182) and in the number of sterilization procedures performed (24 436 in a 32-month period).