Illegal drug use among female university students in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: This study is focused on the issue of illegal drug use among female university students preparing to become teachers. The main aim was to determine the frequency of drug abuse in a group of young women (n=215, mean age 20.44 years). MATERIAL/METHODS: Using survey methods, we determined that 33.48% of female university students in Slovakia use illegal drugs and 66.51% of students have never used illegal drugs. Differences between these groups were determined using statistical analysis, mostly in 4 areas of survey questions. RESULTS: We determined that education of parents has a statistically significant influence on use of illegal drugs by their children (χ2=10.14; P<0.05). Communication between parents and children and parental attention to children have a significant role in determining risky behavior (illegal drug use, χ2=8.698, P<0.05). Parents of students not using illegal drugs were interested in how their children spend their free time (68.53%). We confirmed the relationship between consumption of alcohol and illegal drug use (χ2=16.645; P<0.001) and smoking (χ2=6.226; P<0.05). The first contact with drugs occurs most frequently at high school age. The most consumed "soft" drug in our group of female university students is marijuana. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are relevant for comparison and generalization regarding causes of the steady increase in number of young people using illegal drugs.

Cadmium toxicity at low concentration on rabbit spermatozoa motility, morphology and membrane integrity in vitro.

In this study the effect of cadmium on various parameters of spermatozoa motility, morphology as well as on the spermatozoa membrane integrity in rabbits was analyzed in vitro, experimental concentrations ranging from 0.62 to 0.98 micro g CdCl(2)/mL. Pooled rabbit (n = 5) semen was cultured in vitro with cadmium and subsequently diluted to various experimental concentrations apart from control which received no cadmium exposure. Using computer assisted semen analysis method (CASA) we detected decrease of total motility with in the higher concentration range at Time 0. However, with increasing time (after 1 and 2 h of culture), cadmium exerted deleterious effect leading to significant motility reduction in comparison to control. A similar trend was exhibited in case of progressive motility, too. Most of the spermatozoa distance and velocity parameters detected no significant change in comparison to control at the beginning of culture (Time 0), although the toxic effect became significant (P < 0.05) with the passage of culture time (Times 1 and 2 h) in all concentrations. Analysis of spermatozoa morphology detected significant (P < 0.05) alterations at higher concentrations. At higher concentrations acrosomal changes, head without flagellum/separated flagellum, broken flagellum and other abnormalities were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while knob-twisted flagellum and small heads differed significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison to control at all concentrations. In regards to flagellum torso, flagellum ball and retention of cytoplasmic drop statistically higher values (P < 0.05) were noted at the maxium experimental concentration only. Annexin analysis for detection of spermatozoa with disordered membranes revealed higher occurrence of positive spermatozoa in cadmium exposed groups. Annexin-positive reactions suggested alterations in anterior part of head (acrosome) and in flagellum (mitochondrial segment) of spermatozoa. This paper underlines that cadmium is highly toxic for rabbit spermatozoa, as visualized by the toxic effects on parameters of spermatozoa motility, morphology and membrane integrity. The toxic effect is more drastic at higher concentrations. This study also indicates that cadmium requires a minimum one hour incubation time to exert its deletorious effects on various parameters of spermatozoa, particularly at low concentrations.

In vitro toxicity of mercuric chloride on rabbit spermatozoa motility and cell membrane integrity.

In this in vitro study the effects of mercuric chloride on the motility and structural integrity of rabbit spermatozoa were investigated. The spermatozoa motility was evaluated using CASA method and Annexin analysis was used for detection of structural changes. The concentration of mercury in the medium varied from 5.0 to 83.3 microg HgCl(2)/mL. At Time 0 the highest motility was detected in the control group (67.09 +/- 8.72%). Motility in groups with mercury administration was lower in comparison with control. Significant differences were detected in groups with 50.0-83.3 microg HgCl(2)/mL (P < 0.001) at Time 0. After 60 and 120 minutes of incubation with mercuric chloride the motility significantly decreased almost in all experimental groups. Progressive motility had a decreasing trend in all experimental groups. At time 60 and 120 significant differences were noted in the group receiving 6.25-83.3 microg HgCl(2)/mL. Significant differences were detected in all experimental groups, except the group with the lowest mercuric chloride administration. The concentration-dependent decrease of spermatozoa progressive motility up to 50% of control was detected for groups receiving 50.0 - 83.3 microg HgCl(2)/mL at Time 0, for groups receiving 12.5-83.3 microg HgCl(2)/mL at Time 60 and 120, decreasing from 36.46 +/- 18.73% to 1.03 +/- 2.50%. Detailed evaluation of spermatozoa distance (DAP, DCL, and DSL) and velocity (VAP, VCL, and VSL) parameters as well as straightness (STR), linearity (LIN), wobble (WOB), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross frequency (BCF) of spermatozoa revealed decrease in groups with the highest mercury concentration in comparison with the control group at all time periods. Detection of spermatozoa with disordered membrane was carried out for groups with higher mercury concentrations and control, using Annexin analysis. Analysis showed higher occurrence of positive spermatozoa in the mercury exposed groups. Some Annexin positive reactions from all spermatozoa were detected in the control group. In mercury-exposed groups positive reaction proved alteration in anterial part of head (acrosome), connection part (connection piece) and in mitochondrial segment. Detected data evidently confirm adverse effects of high mercuric chloride concentrations in rabbit semen on spermatozoa motility parameters.

In vitro gossypol induced spermatozoa motility alterations in rabbits.

The objectives of the present study were to: (i) examine the in vitro dose response of rabbit spermatozoa motility to the antifertility agent gossypol (GOS) and (ii) determine whether filtered (FIL) and unfiltered (UNFIL) GOS differ in their magnitude of effect. Rabbit semen belonging to adult males (n = 5; 12-14 months) were cultured with UNFIL GOS and FIL GOS (5% solution) and subsequently diluted (1:1-7) for analysis using a Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system in 5 time periods (0, 60, 120, 180 and 360 minutes). At Time 0, no significant change in rabbit spermatozoa motility (MOT) and progressive motility (PROG) with GOS FIL was noted, while increases were observed with GOS UNFIL. At Time 60, weak changes were noted for MOT and PROG. After 120 minutes of culture with both GOS FIL and GOS UNFIL, MOT and PROG decreased significantly in some experimental groups. However, no differences were recorded for both the parameters at Times 180 and 360, with the exception of PROG in the GOS UNFIL category (groups A, B, E, F and G), where a significant decrease was noticed. Detailed evaluation of the distance and velocity parameters revealed reduction in all these studied markers after 60 and 120 minutes of in vitro culture with both GOS FIL and GOS UNFIL, indirectly confirming the PROG decrease. Straightness (STR), linearity (LIN), wobble (WOB), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross frequency (BCF) mostly remained unaltered at all time periods for GOS FIL, where as some minor alterations were noticed in GOS UNFIL category for STR, LIN, WOB, ALH and BCF parameters at Time 0, 60 and 120. The present study confirms the dose and time dependent alterations of rabbit spermatozoa motility parameters by GOS. The GOS dynamics in our experiment shows that rabbit spermatozoa as a biological material can indicate a GOS inhibition of motility. Obtained data for the first time indicates a higher immobilizing potential of unfiltered GOS in comparison to filtered GOS in its inhibitory action of spermatozoa motility parameters in rabbits.

Comparison of microsatellite and blood group diversity among different genotypes of cattle.

Genetic variability and relationships among five cattle breeds (Holstein, Pinzgau, Limousin, Slovak Spotted and Charolais) bred in the Slovak Republic were investigated separately using 11 microsatellite markers and 61 blood group systems. Allele frequency, heterozygosity (Ho, HE) and PIC values were investigated. F-statistics were computed separately. For microsatellite markers FIS, FIT, FST and for blood groups HS, HT, GST parameters were calculated. Microsatellite and blood group comparison showed similar results by F-statistics but some differences were marked using the other methods. Both methods were able to detect close relation between Slovak Pinzgau and Slovak Spotted cattle breeds. Their relation was confirmed by genetic distance, principal component analysis (PCA) and coefficient of admixture (mY). Important divergences between different markers used in the study were observed by the characterisation of Limousin and Charolais breeds.

Cadmium, zinc, copper, sodium and potassium concentrations in rooster and turkey semen and their correlation.

The purpose of this study was to assess concentration of selected elements (cadmium, zinc, copper, sodium and potassium) in rooster and turkey semen and to find possible correlations between these elements. Samples were analyzed on the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The analysis of cadmium showed that the concentration in rooster is 9.06 +/- 7.70 and in turkey 4.10 +/- 3.59 microg/mL. In zinc 5.25 +/- 1.96 microg/mL in rooster and 3.70 +/- 1.26 microg/mL in turkey were detected. Higher concentration of copper was found in rooster semen (6.79 +/- 6.42 microg/mL) in comparison with turkey semen (4.29 +/- 5.43 microg/mL). The level of sodium (3.96 +/- 1.02 microg/mL; 3.14 +/- 0.85 microg/mL) and potassium (2.88 +/- 0.65 microg/mL; 3.42 +/- 1.41 microg/mL) was very similar in both species. Correlation analysis detected high positive correlation between cadmium and zinc (r = 0.701) in rooster and between sodium and potassium (r = 0.899) in turkey semen.

Effect of transgenesis on reproductive traits of rabbit males.

The influence of foreign transgene integration on the reproductive capabilities of rabbit males is not known. Therefore, we analyzed their ejaculate characteristics, reproductive capabilities, occurrence of pathological spermatozoa and histological structure of the testis. We have generated transgenic rabbits by microinjection of WAP-hFVIII gene into pronucleus of fertilized egg. We observed that the libido, volume and pH value of the ejaculate did not differ significantly between transgenic and non-transgenic male lines. The motility, concentration, osmolarity, thermoresistant test of spermatozoa (at 1 or 6 h) and the percentage of alive spermatozoa were significantly different (p < 0.001) among transgenic and non-transgenic males. No significant differences were found between transgenic and non-transgenic male lines in the occurrence of pathological spermatozoa and histology of the testis. The ability of spermatozoa from transgenic and non-transgenic males to fertilize eggs was ranged within 96 and 100%; while the yield of transgenic embryos ranged from 43 to 57%. Our results show that mammary gland specific over-expression mWAP-hFVIII gene construct does not affect reproductive traits of transgenic rabbit males.

Seminal concentration of trace elements in fox and relationships to spermatozoa quality.

Concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, and nickel in the semen of foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n = 10), microscopic analysis of occurrence of pathological spermatozoa, and correlations of these elements with pathological forms were studied. Samples were analyzed by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. For analysis of pathological spermatozoa semen samples fixed with Hancock's solution and stained with Giemsa were prepared. For each fox at least 1000 spermatozoa were evaluated. The concentrations of copper, zinc, and iron in semen of foxes were found to be 2.16+/-0.53 mg/kg, 13.09+/-5.22 mg/kg, and 33.16+/-24.36 mg/kg, respectively, on wet weight basis. Concentration of cadmium was low (0.07+/-0.05 mg/kg). The levels of lead and nickel in the semen of foxes were 0.08+/-0.06 mg/kg and 0.35+/-0.24 mg/kg, respectively. The total percentage of pathological spermatozoa was 7.76+/-1.33% with predominancy of knob twisted flagellum, separated flagellum, and broken flagellum. In relation to trace elements the analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) correlation between copper and lead (r = -0.85), copper and other forms of pathological spermatozoa (r = -0.72), zinc and broken flagellum (r = -0.69), iron and retention of cytoplasmic drop (r = 0.87), cadmium and separated flagellum (r = -0.68), and between cadmium retention of cytoplasmic drop (r = 0.87).

Concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in boar semen and relation to the spermatozoa quality.

The concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel as well as its relation to spermatozoa quality was investigated. The semen samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentration of copper in boar semen was 1.64 +/- 0.28 mg kg(-1) and of iron 16.14 +/- 10.35 mg kg(-1). The concentration of zinc in boar semen reached an average value of 171.74 +/- 64.72 mg kg(-1) and the level of cadmium reached 0.01-0.16 mg kg(-1) with the average value of 0.05 mg kg(-1). The analysis of lead showed that the concentration of this element in boar semen was 0.02 +/- 0.03 mg kg(-1) and the average level of nickel was 0.06 +/- 0.08 mg kg(-1). The total percentage of pathological spermatozoa was 9.82 +/- 1.47%. Detail analysis determined 3.18% of separated flagellum, 2.26% knob twisted flagellum, 0.88% flagellum torso, 0.85% flagellum ball, 0.42% broken flagellum, 0.23% retention of the cytoplasmic drop, 0.14% small heads, 0.03% large heads, and 1.83% forms other of pathological changes. Correlation analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between copper and lead (r = 0.52). High correlation between small head and knob twisted tail (r = 0.67), small head and broken flagellum (r = 0.88) as well as between small head and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.73) was determined.