Oxalate in human seminal plasma: possible significance and problems of oxalate determination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of oxalate in seminal plasma and to correlate it with andrologic variables. DESIGN: Laboratory examination. SETTING: University-based department of andrology and department of clinical chemistry. PATIENT(S): One hundred male outpatients with infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Isolated seminal plasma was stored for 120 days at -20 degrees C. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of oxalic acid in seminal plasma. RESULT(S): Oxalate levels in seminal plasma depend on the degradation of ascorbic acid to oxalic acid during storage. There was a linear nonenzymatic increase of oxalate with storage time. After 120 days of storage, the values were 133 +/- 50 micromol/L (n = 100). Oxalic acid correlated significantly with the number of sperm head anomalies, the pH value, and the age of the donors and correlated negatively with the volume of ejaculate. CONCLUSION(S): Oxalic acid in seminal plasma may influence male fertility.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human seminal plasma.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in seminal plasma and serum of 113 men under investigation for involuntary barrenness. PSA in seminal plasma was 0.4 +/- 0.3 (median 0.35) mg/mL and in serum 0.6 +/- 0.5 (median 0.6) ng/mL. The concentrations in these 2 compartments were independent of each other. The determination of PSA in neither blood serum nor seminal plasma brought new essentials for fertility status.

Sperm motility index.

Within 40 s the Sperm Quality Analyzer (United Medical Systems, Santa Ana, CA, USA) provides a numerical value called the sperm motility index. This index reflects both the concentration of motile sperm cells and the intensity of their motility and cannot be determined by conventional semen analysis. To assess the diagnostic value and reliability of the sperm motility index, 155 ejaculates were investigated by the sperm quality analyzer and routine manual methods. The sperm motility index shows a good correlation with sperm density, motility, morphology, which are crucial parameters for male fertility.

Mercury in urine and ejaculate in husbands of barren couples.

Mercury concentrations in morning urine and ejaculate were detected in 80 husbands of women presenting for infertility treatment. Additionally, the number of their dental amalgam fillings was documented. A routine spermiogram was performed, from which a numerical "fertility index" was calculated. Urinary mercury concentrations were in the range of non-exposed populations, only minute Hg concentrations were determined in ejaculate, 75% of the semen sample concentrations were under the detection limit of 5 micrograms/l. In comparison, 7 proven fertile workers with occupational mercury exposure had elevated levels of mercury in their ejaculates (range 10-65 micrograms/l). No positive correlation could be established between subject mercury concentrations in urine or ejaculate and the quality of their semen, expressed as fertility index. Equally, no such correlation could be established between the fertility index and the number of their dental amalgam fillings. From these preliminary data no evidence can be derived for the alleged relation between the mercury burden from dental amalgam fillings and male fertility disorders.

Triprolidine: 104-week feeding study in rats.

The antihistamine triprolidine hydrochloride, was fed at dietary concentrations of 0, 250, 1000, or 2000 ppm (as the free base) to groups of 60 Fischer 344 (F344) rats of each sex for up to 2 years to evaluate its potential carcinogenicity. Up to 12 per sex from each group were killed at 65 weeks, and hematology, clinical chemistry, and histopathology were evaluated. A complete histopathological evaluation was performed on all other animals; survivors were killed at 2 years. Survival was significantly extended in triprolidine-treated males and females, particularly at the high dose. At the close of the study high-dose males and females had gained significantly less body weight than controls. Among rats killed at 65 weeks females in the mid- and high-dose groups weighed significantly less than controls, but weights of control and dosed males were not significantly different. The incidences of numerous lesions tended to decrease with increasing triprolidine dose. In females, clitoral gland adenomas, thyroid c-cell hyperplasia and neoplasia, mammary gland hyperplasia and fibroadenomas, and uterine stromal polyps, and in males, anterior pituitary gland adenomas, preputial gland neoplasia, thyroid c-cell pancreatic islet neoplasia, mononuclear cell leukemia, and the combination of lymphocytic, histiocytic, and undifferentiated cell malignant lymphomas and mononuclear leukemia, all exhibited negative dose trends. Cytoplasmic alterations of the parotid gland and numerous liver lesions tended to be more frequent in treated than in control animals. Liver lesions that exhibited positive dose trends include chronic inflammation and centrilobular fatty change in both sexes, mixed cell foci, and the combination of mixed cell foci and eosinophilic foci in females, and in males, basophilic foci and eosinophilic foci. Triprolidine was not carcinogenic in F344 rats.

Chronic study of triprolidine for oncogenicity in mice.

Triprolidine hydrochloride was fed to groups of 60 B6C3F1 mice per sex at dietary levels of 0, 500, 2000, or 4000 ppm (as the free base) for up to 2 years. Up to 12 mice of each sex and dose group were terminated after 65 weeks for hematology and clinical chemistry. The control and high-dose groups were examined histologically. A complete histopathological examination was performed on the remaining 48 mice from each dose group when removed from study due to moribund condition, early death, or terminal euthanization at 105 weeks. Triprolidine did not significantly alter the survival of either sex. High-dose male and mid- and high-dose female body weights were significantly less than controls at the end of the study. Significant trends toward lower frequency with increasing dose were noted in females for fatty change in the liver and lymphomas (combination of lymphocytic, mixed, and histiocytic lymphomas). Similar negative trends in males were for lymphocytic cellular infiltration in multiple organs and lung alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas or the combination of alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas or carcinomas. Significant trends toward increased frequency with increasing dose were found in female mice for lymphocytic infiltration in multiple organs and cytoplasmic alterations of the acinar cells of the parotid gland. Similar positive trends were found in males for cytoplasmic alterations of the parotid gland and various hepatocellular changes (e.g., hypertrophy and altered foci). While there was a positive dose response trend for hepatocellular adenomas in males the combination of these and hepatocellular carcinomas eliminated the significant trend, and it was concluded that there was no evidence of a carcinogenic response to triprolidine in B6C3F1 mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunoreactive ubiquitin in human seminal plasma.

The polypeptide ubiquitin, up to now almost exclusively discovered in intracellular spaces, was measured immunologically in a total of 187 samples of human seminal plasma. The values were between 1.83 and 19.11 micrograms/ml. In spermatozoa ubiquitin was detected too; the values, however, were significantly lower than in the seminal plasma. The origin and function of ubiquitin in human seminal plasma is still unclear. The possible role of ubiquitin in reproduction is discussed.

[Toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome) after rubella]. / Toxische epidermale Nekrolyse (Lyell-Syndrom) nach Röteln.

Rubella was confirmed clinically and serologically in a 14-year-old boy who had been admitted with mild general symptoms and an exanthematous rash presenting with medium size maculae. Within only three days the exanthema had faded. Five days later the boy again became ill with high fever (40 degrees C) and renewed erythema with at first irregular then rosette-like and widely confluent spots. On admission several nonspecific inflammatory signs were markedly elevated (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, alpha-globulin). There were mild abnormalities of left-ventricular repolarization at the electrocardiography. The skin changes were progressive and at first interpreted as erythema exudativum multiforme. Fever persisted, despite antibiotic treatment, and signs of epidermolysis appeared. After the diagnosis of non-staphylogenic Lyell's disease was made high-dosage prednisolone administration was begun (initially 3 mg/kg in 6 hours, then 2.5 mg/kg daily for 8 days). The patient's condition and the electrocardiographic findings returned to normal within 2 days. The epidermolysis was arrested within a few hours and the blisters dried out within 24 hours. There were no complications. Since no drugs were given before the second day of epidermolysis being noted, it is highly likely that rubella precipitated Lyell's disease.

Extracellular tubules in semen.

Tubules were observed in the semen of two patients, one of whom was fertile. The tubules measured 75 to 90 nm in diameter and were extracellular. However, they frequently were found in amorphous material reminiscent of cell debris and in association with cells, most of which were immature. They did not show the typical trilaminar structure of biologic membranes. Their biochemical nature and significance are unknown.

Monoclonal antibodies against antigens expressed by human sperm.

The production and characterization of 21 mouse monoclonal antibodies (TüS1-TüS21) with specificity predominantly for human spermatozoa antigens is described. Reactivity of cells from human ejaculates, peripheral blood and several organs was determined using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP)-technique as well as the indirect immunofluorescence test. 15 of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with various regions of human sperm and often also with their precursor cells in the testis. Cross-reactivity with animal spermatozoa was frequently observed.

Carcinogenicity study of 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride in BALB/c mice.

BALB/c mice (120/sex/dose) were given 0, 5, 9, 18, 35, 70 or 140 ppm of 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride in their drinking-water and killed after 13, 26, 39, 52, 78 or 116 wk. Full histopathological evaluations were performed on all animals that were found dead or moribund, or that were killed on schedule. Fatal lung alveolar cell neoplasms began to appear in males receiving 140 ppm at 78 wk and there was a significant dose-related decrease in the time-to-death from this cause. There were no significant dose-related trends for this neoplasm in females, nor were there treatment-related effects on body weight, water consumption or other lesions in either sex. This is the first report of a neoplastic response to 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride in mice.

Immunocytochemical characterization of round cells in human semen using monoclonal antibodies and the APAAP-technique.

Round cells of 42 ejaculates were characterized by their surface antigens using monoclonal antibodies and the immunocytochemical APAAP-technique. In this way immature germ cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes and their subpopulations could be distinguished. It was also attempted to correlate the incidence of these cells, sperm parameters and other clinical data.

Immunoreactive relaxin in seminal plasma of man.

Relaxin in seminal fluid was determined radioimmunologically in 238 andrological patients with various ejaculate qualities. In 52 cases, a second ejaculate was examined 4 to 6 weeks later. Relaxin was found present in each ejaculate sample. There was no significant difference between the relaxin values of the reexamined cases and the original samples, indicating little fluctuation. Statistical correlations between relaxin levels in seminal plasma and clinical data, ejaculate, and hormonal parameters could not be established. Only cases with low fructose values showed some correlation with low relaxin levels in seminal plasma.

Identification of human spermatozoa antigens using monoclonal antibodies and the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase-technique.

Both cytoplasmic and surface-membrane antigens of human spermatozoa were detected by means of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and of the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase- (APAAP-) technique. Several advantages of this technique for the identification of sperm could be demonstrated. The labeling of cytocentrifuge preparations from 16 ejaculates proved the presence of glycosphingolipids, nuclear and mitochondrial antigens of spermatozoa. However, there were no HLA-molecules and other leukocyte antigens on sperm cells.

Subchronic toxicity study of 1,4-dithiane in the rat.

In a 90-day study, CD strain rats were dosed with 1,4-dithiane by daily gavage at 0, 105, 210, and 420 mg/kg/day (30 rats/sex/dose) in order to calculate a suggested drinking water criterion. No overt toxicity, treatment-related mortality, or ophthalmologic changes were found. Treatment-related decreases were found in female amylase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and reticulocyte count, and in LDH 1 in both sexes, in LDH 3 in the males, and in LDH 5 in both sexes. Treatment-related increases were found in female liver and in male kidney and male thymus weight. A treatment-related decrease in female brain weight was also found. Significant changes in organ weight of dosed animals compared to control organ weight were observed at the 105 mg/kg/day dose in the spleen of both sexes, female brain, and the male kidneys. Three organs showed compound-related anatomic changes: nose, liver, and kidney. Anisotrophic crystals of undetermined chemical composition were deposited in the olfactory nasal mucosa of both sexes. These crystals were not composed of 1,4-dithiane because 1,4-dithiane is very soluble in ethanol and would not have been present after the slide preparation process. The crystals were present in similar amounts in both sexes of the high and intermediate dose groups. In the low dose group, however, the crystals were present in greater amounts in the females. Crystals were not observed in the control animals. The other treatment-related anatomic abnormalities were eosinophilic cytoplasmic granulation of the convoluted renal tubule cells in the high dose males and minimal hypertrophy of the centrilobular region of the liver in the high dose females. The animal no-observed-effect-level was 105 mg/kg/day. This study reports a novel form of toxicity (deposition of anisotrophic crystals in the olfactory mucosa) from 1,4-dithiane administered by gavage. The chemical composition of the crystals and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of 1,4-dithiane are unknown at present.

[Value of detecting pathogens in fertility disorders]. / Der Stellenwert von Keimbefunden bei Fertilitätsstörungen.

The present study was carried out on 1092 asymptomatic male patients suffering from unexplained infertility without any history or clinical signs of inflammatory diseases of the genital tract. Semen samples were cultured for mycoplasma. In 214 of the patients, we additionally performed bacteriological investigations on seminal fluid, smears from the glans penis or prepuce, and urine specimens. Semen analysis included the common ejaculate parameters. We found significantly elevated counts of mycoplasma in 13% of the semen samples examined; pathogenic isolation rates of bacteria were observed in 36%. Increased counts of various bacterial species associated with high numbers of mycoplasma seem to be one of the causative factors in male infertility. There was not observed any close relationship between the recovery of microorganism and poor semen quality, except for fructose and citrate. When follow-up investigations were carried out in untreated patients, the concentrations of mycoplasma and bacteria in the semen fluid revealed a spontaneous variability of considerable extent, indicating frequent contamination of the semen. Therefore, we recommend to perform a culture control test of the semen prior to specific antibiotic treatment.

[Therapeutic results with tamoxifen in oligospermia. II. Hormonal analysis and semen parameters]. / Ergebnisse der Tamoxifen-Therapie bei Oligozoospermie. Teil II: Hormonanalysen und Ejakulatbefunde.

During a five months lasting treatment with tamoxifen (2 X 10 resp. 2 X 20 mg daily) a significant increase of testosterone, LH, FSH, estradiol, free testosterone and SHBG was found. The prolactin levels diminished. In semen analysis the values of pH and fructose decreased within the normal range. The sperm density increased significantly, but we could not ascertain whether a dosage of 2 X 20 mg/die will provide better therapeutic results. Furthermore the hormonal and seminal investigations described in this paper did not allow to predict those patients who would be good responders on tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen seems to be effective in normo-, but also in hypo- and hypergonadotropic patients.