[Prevalence of affective disorders on the basis of DSM-III among the elderly in a rural community in Japan].

The prevalence rates of affective disorders among the elderly in a rural community according to the criteria of the third edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders were investigated. The survey used a two-phase method which combined a self-administered depression scale and diagnostic interviews by psychiatrists. The subjects were all 766 persons aged 65 years or older in a rural village in Japan. In the first phase, 698 persons completed a self-administered scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). In the second phase, 83 persons scoring 12 points or more on the CES-D and an additional 8 persons who, for unknown reason, did not respond to the CES-D were assessed by psychiatrists using a modified version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The subjects' physical health and life events, the presence of dementia, and other factors were taken into account when diagnoses were made. The point prevalence rates of depression without dementia as a comorbid condition by category were as follows: major depression, 0.5%; dysthymic disorder, 0.3%; and atypical depression, 0.4%. The point prevalence rates of depression with dementia as a comorbid condition were as follows: major depression, 0.7%; dysthymic disorder, 0.4%; and atypical depression, 0.4%. Major depression was more prevalent in women than in men and was more prevalent in persons aged 75 years of older than in younger subjects.

Lipid composition of hamster epididymal spermatozoa.

The lipid composition of hamster epididymal spermatozoa was examined. Caput epididymal spermatozoa were isolated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation without contamination by other cells and they had a specific gravity of 1.10-1.12 g cm-3. Caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa showed little difference in the amounts of total fatty acid and total sterol. However, sterol composition changed markedly during the transit of spermatozoa through the epididymis: the amount of cholesterol decreased, while the amount of desmosterol and cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol increased. No significant change in fatty acid composition was observed during the transit, although there was a tendency for an increase in chain length. Both 22:5 and 22:6 represented high percentages in fatty acids of hamster spermatozoa. Some difference in lipids was detected between the upper fraction (1.04 g cm-3) and the lower fraction (1.10 g cm-3) obtained by the density gradient centrifugation of cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Total fatty acid content of the upper fraction was 1.4-fold higher than that of the lower fraction, and the percentage of 18:0 was lower in the latter fraction with a higher percentage of 18:2. The total sterol:total phospholipid ratio in hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa was 0.21.

Identification of cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol and desmosterol in hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa.

The sterol composition of hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa was remarkably different from that of several other mammalian spermatozoa. Desmosterol and cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol account for as much as 90% of the total sterols. Cholesterol and desmosterol are the major components of mouse cauda epididymal spermatozoa, and rabbit, boar and bull ejaculated spermatozoa. Cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol was not detected. Furthermore, cholesterol was the main sterol in hamster caput epididymal spermatozoa, while only a trace amount of desmosterol was detected and cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol was hardly detected at all. The sterol content of cauda and caput epididymal spermatozoa was 0.17 +/- 0.05 mumol/10(8) spermatozoa. During maturation, the desmosterol and cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol levels increase and the cholesterol level decreases. Cholesta-7,24-dien-3 beta-ol appears as a sterol in mature spermatozoa and seems to be a characteristic sterol of hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa.