Sodium Hydrosulfide Exerts a Transitional Attenuating Effect on Spermatozoa Migration in Vitro.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been shown to have a prominent role in the regulation of reproductive system function and fertility. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), on mouse sperm migration in vitro. Special plates with 4 corner wells filled with balanced salt solution (control) and various NaHS solutions in concentrations of 2.5 mmol/l, 5 mmol/l or 10 mmol/l were applied. Spermatozoa from each male mouse were injected (the experiment was repeated with ten BALB/c 5-month old males) into the central pocket, connected with the wells with ducts. After 1 h, 2 h and 4 h of incubation, the number of spermatozoa in each well was determined using Bürker's counting chambers. The number ofspermatozoa in all corner wells were summed and the number of the cells in each well was treated as the percentage share of all the migrated spermatozoa. At the time points of 1 hour and 4 hours, no differences regarding chemotactic features of spermatozoa to the utilized solutions were observed. After two hours of incubation the attenuating effect of NaHS medium and high level solutions on spermatozoa migration was observed, but not for the low concentration mixture: H(3, N = 40) = 9.65, P = 0.022; control group vs 5 mmol/l NaHS solution: 36.0% vs 18.5%, P = 0.023; control group vs 10 mmol/l NaHS solution group: 36.0% vs 17.0%, P 0.011. In conclusion, NaHS has a transitional attenuating effect on spermatozoa migration in vitro.

[Epigenetics in the placenta, the current knowledge and future clinical perspectives]. / Zjawisko epigenezy w lozysku, aktualny stan wiedzy i perspektywy zastosowania w praktyce klinicznej.

The proper placenta's structure and function are essential conditions to correct pregnancy's and labour's course. Nowadays the role of epigenetics in this organ is more carefully investigated. Some of epigenetics' modifications as DNA methylation, non-coding RNA action or histone modification are able to change the genes' expression without the change of DNA sequence. This phenomenon is particularly intensified in the placenta. Epigenetics placenta's irregularities can be responsible for many pregnancy pathologies, for example spontaneous miscarriage, pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation, and for many postnatal diseases, such as cancer or mental problems. In the future the monitoring of epigenetics placenta's modifications enables the estimation of pregnancy complications and postnatal diseases risk. Moreover, it will be possible to understand the role of epigenetics in functions the different kinds of cells, including cancer cells.

Lack of TCRalphabeta+ CD8+ and TCRgammadelta+ lymphocytes ameliorates LPS induced orchitis in mice--preliminary histological observations.

The inflammation of the reproductive system can affect reproduction causing partial or complete infertility. It is well known that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers an inflammatory response in the whole organism, including immunologically privileged organs, e.g. the testicles. Adult male TCRalpha-/-, TCRdelta-/-, CD1d-/- and beta2m-/- on B10.PL (H-2(u)) and B10.PL control mice were intraperitonealy (i.p.) injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The animals were killed 24h and 10 days post LPS treatment and their gonads were prepared for microscopic examination. Histological changes in the testes after LPS injection were found only in control B10PL and CD1d-/- mice. The experiments revealed disturbances in Leydig's glands structure, blood vessel dilatation in the interstitial tissue as well as degeneration of seminal tubule epithelium, disruption ofspermatogenesis and subsequent decrease of sperm cell number in the tubule lumen. These changes were noticed mainly 10 days after LPS treatment. Lack of either TCRalphabeta+ CD8+ or TCRgammadelta+ lymphocytes diminishes the response of testicular macrophages to LPS whereas the absence of CD1d-dependent NKT cells does not affect macrophage reactivity.

[The parameters of ovarian reserve and their usefulness to assess the present and future woman's fertility]. / Parametry rezerwy jajnikowej i ich przydatnosc w okreslaniu aktualnej i przyszlej plodnosci kobiety.

It is well-known fact, that recently women decide to have a baby much later than previously. However after reaching 35 years old the woman's fertility reduces considerably. The effect of this phenomenon causes the increase of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Using of endocrinological, visual and genetic test combinations should assess the ovarian reserve and success of ART procedure. These tests could be used for estimation of approximate fertility of woman in future and for choice of the optimal time for having a baby.

Histological changes in seminiferous epithelium in testis of male mice induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

LPS induces an inflammatory state which kmitates septic shock and which involves also an organ which is immunologically advantageous, namely testicle. Within an area of a gonad, this manifests itself by histological changes in the structure of germinal epithelium. The blockages of cell divisions lead also to disorders in the proportions of cells in particular stages of spermatogenesis, degeneration of germinal epithelium and the decrease of the number of spermatozoa in the lumen of seminiferous tubules. Maximal changes are observed on the 15th day of inflammatory state and they are reversible with the process of the animals' restoration to health. The number of macrophages rises quickly in Leydig's glands and it remains constant till the 28th day after the administration of LPS.

Emil Godlewski, Jr. (1875-1944) pioneer of embryology at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow (Poland).

Emil Godlewski, Jr. (1875-1944) lived and worked in Krakow. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University with the title of Doctor of Medical Science. He worked at the Faculty of Medicine, first in the Institute of Descriptive Anatomy and later as Professor of Biology and Embryology in the Department of Biology and Embryology, which he founded and led for many years. After early research on the development and histogenesis of muscles, professor Godlewski's scientific interests focused on regeneration and mechanisms regulating the process of fertilization, as well as early embryo development, blastulation and gastrulation. He was also interested in the origin of the primary differentiating cells in regenerates. He postulated the importance of epithelial tissue in this process and was the first to point out the change in the function, organization and role of the cells under the influence of external stimuli. Investigating fertilization and early development, he focused on the cooperation between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in the regulation of the early stages of development. Godlewski was also the author of the theory of migration of the inherited substances from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and, after their processing, from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. His works were never fragmentary, but always synthetical attempts at explaining important issues relating to the mechanisms of development. In 1936 Professor Godlewski was awarded the title of Member of the Pontifica Accademia delle Scienze. Apart from doing research and teaching, Emil Godlewski devoted a lot of time to social issues, especially those connected to medicine. When Poland regained independence after World War I, he actively participated in the reopening of the Jagiellonian University.

[Neo-oogenesis, possibility of oryjgin of oocytes and primordial ovarian follicles in postnatal period in women]. / Neo-oogeneza, mozliwosc powstawania oocytów i pierwotnych pecherzyków jajnikowych w okresie postnatalnym u kobiet.

The central dogma female reproductive biology has that oogenesis ceases around birth in mammals and human. The ovarian reserve of oocytes is definitely fixed and will deplete up to the menopause in women. The papers by Johnson et al. and Bukovsky et al. overturn this dogma since they claim that female mice and women produce new oocytes during adult life. In conclusion, these observations need to be confirmed by others, they could be considered to question the dogma of fixed stock of oocytes at birth.

[The influence of soybean riches of phytoestrogens diet in mouse testis histological structure]. / Wplyw bogatej w fitoestrogeny diety sojowej na budowe histologiczna jadra myszy.

Soybean diet, a rich source of phytoestrogenes, affects negatively on the potential fecundity in male mice. It causes spermatogenesis impairment which is manifested by changes in testicular histology. Germ epithelium becomes darker and sheds and a number of produced spermatozoa decreases. On the other hand a number of testicular macrophages significantly rises in Leydig glands.

[Phytoestrogens: are they really safe?]. / Fitoestrogeny: czy aby na pewno bezpieczne?

The aim of this article was to present a simple classification of phytoestrogens, their approximate content in food products as well as their synthesis, biotransformation and activity in human organism. Having various mechanisms of action, phytoestrogens display both beneficial and adverse effects on physiological processes. Several positive health effects have been associated with phytoestrogens, such as a protective role against the development of cancers, proestrogenic effects (particularly with postmenopausal women) and beneficial influence on cardiovascular and osseous systems. Adverse effects of phytoestrogens have been observed in fetuses and young specimens. Limited studies have displayed disorders in morphology and physiology of the male reproductive system. High plasma phytoestrogens level inhibits a cellular activity of some enzymes, e.g. enzymes involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones. Direct contact with exogenous, environmental estrogens depends on human diet and it can be variable in different populations.

[The activation of oocyte development depends on a cytoplasmic chemical factor carried in by the sperm at the moment of fertilization]. / Aktywacja komórki jajowej do rozwoju jest zalezna od chemicznego czynnika cytoplazmatycznego wnoszonego przez plemnik w momencie zaplodnienia.

The activation of the egg cell metabolism by the spermatozoon which connects with it upon the moment of fertilization may by the result of the influence of the membrane receptors of the gametes or of the presence of an activating factor in the spermatozoon's cytoplasm carried by the male gamete into ooplasm. The first reaction observed in the cytoplasm of the activated oocyte is the increase of the level of calcium ions which determines the activation of many cytophysiological processes. Currently, a prevailing opinion is that an undulating, oscillating increase of the level of Ca2+ is caused by the influence of the activating spermatozoon factor and does not depend on the membrane receptors. The paper presents the survey concerning this little-known but important aspect of fertilization.

[Chemotaxis of spermatozoa--an important and little known process accompanying fertilization]. / Chemotaksja plemników--wazny a malo znany proces podczas zaplodnienia.

The presented paper is the survey of the most important literature concerning one of the basic biological properties of spermatozoa which is their chemotaxis during the process of fertilization. During the recent years a significant progress in the knowledge of this matter has been observed, especially in relation to human and mammal spermatozoa. A natural chemotactic factor is, in the case of mammals, the vesicle fluid. It is not known, however, which of its components is of the crucial importance. Numerous hormones, cytokines and other growth factors as well as other components of the vesicle fluid have been described as chemoattractants. It can be concluded from the research carried out so far that the chemotactic activity of the vesicle fluid results from its complex composition, and not from the existence of one chemical substance which could be crucial for the process.

Cytological and morphological differences between two species of the genus Tettigonia (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) from Korea.

Tettigonia ussuriana and T. dolichopoda maritima differ in the length of tegmina, details in venation, and in females in details of the subgenital plate. The two species of the genus Tettigonia have the same number and morphology of autosomes but a different morphology of the X chromosome: in T. ussuriana it is metacentric, whereas in T. dolichopoda maritima acrocentric. In both species, euchromatic zones and breaks of one or to chromatids during meiosis and mitosis in the X chromosome were observed. Additionally, B chromosomes were noted in most individuals of both species.