Role of glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 (GSTM1) polymorphism in oligospermic infertile males.

The aim of this study was to examine whether an association exists between glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 (GSTM1) gene polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility. Forty-two men with infertility and 43 fertile men were recruited for this study. GSTM1 gene was analysed using PCR technique. The frequency of GSTM1 null (-) genotype was observed to be 45.2% in infertile men as against 20.09% in fertile men. Subjects with the GSTM1 null genotype had lower sperm concentrations and motility when compared with the subjects with GSTM1-positive genotype in both the groups. This study shows that the frequency of GSTM1 null (-) genotype is significantly high in infertile males when compared with the frequency in fertile males (OR = 0.32, P = 0.017, 95% CI = 0.124-0.831).

Cytogenetic evaluation of traffic policemen occupationally exposed to vehicular exhaust.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Automobile exhaust consists of many toxic components and is considered to be a major health concern in urban areas. Traffic policemen are occupationally exposed to vehicular exhaust during the traffic control. Hence, the present study was aimed to evaluate genotoxic effects of vehicular exhaust in traffic policemen in Hyderabad, south India. METHODS: Analysis of chromosomal aberrations was carried out in 136 traffic policemen, including 78 non smokers and 58 smokers who were exposed to vehicular exhaust for a period of 1-28 yr. For comparison, 115 healthy males including 69 non smokers and 46 smokers of the same age group and socio-economic status (who were not exposed to any chemical or radiation at their workplace) were studied. RESULTS: A significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in the mean frequency of chromosomal aberrations in non smoker and smoker traffic policemen (6.48 and 8.96 respectively) when compared to their respective control groups (3.35 and 4.30). According to the age a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was observed both in control and exposed groups (P<0.05). As the duration of exposure increased in traffic policemen, there was a corresponding increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Cytogenetic damage was more pronounced in smokers when compared to non smokers. Age and duration of exposure also appear to play a vital role in causing cytogenetic damage. Thus the present study suggests that the induction of cytogenetic damage might be due to the cumulative effect of smoking, age and duration of exposure to vehicular exhaust.

Glycosylation of hemoglobin and erythrocyte membrane proteins mediated changes in osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.

The increased levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated erythrocyte membrane proteins in gestational diabetes could bring about alterations in osmotic fragility in erythrocytes of gestational diabetes during their first trimester. The glycosylated hemoglobin levels in erythrocytes were found to be significantly elevated with a mean of 5.42 +/- 0.77 mg/dl when compared to 3.45 +/- 0.62 mg/ dl in non diabetic pregnant control (where as in non pregnant women the value was 3.4 +/- 0.47 (n = 25)). The mean osmotic fragility (MOF) of control cells was 60.2 + 0.6 mMol/L Nacl and MOF of gestational diabetic cells was 63.93 +/- 0.6 mMol/L Nacl. The mean osmotic fragility, operationally defined as the Nacl concentration for 50% hemolysis, was found significantly higher by 3.9 + 0.01 mMol/L Nacl in gestational diabetes, than in normal cells. The total levels of glycosylated membrane proteins were increased from 50.60 +/- 8.0 in control to 69.14 + 0.47 in gestational diabetes. Therefore it is proposed that the increased levels of glycosylated Hb as well as glycosylated membrane proteins have a role in altering the membrane permeability resulting in increased osmotic fragility of erthrocytes in gestational diabetes.

Cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes of rubber industry workers.

Cytogenetic investigations were conducted in workers who are occupationally exposed to rubber chemicals such as tetramethylthiuram disulfide, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, and tetraethylthiuram disulfide using lymphocytes of peripheral blood. A significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal breaks and gaps was recorded regardless of the duration of exposure to these chemicals.