Evaluation of morphological criteria of sperm quality before in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The quality of sperm has a direct influence on the fertilization and developmental competence of embryos. In the literature we did not find defined criteria for evaluation of normal sperm parameters in various species of domestic mammals. Therefore we attempted to review evaluation of criteria of morphologically normal human sperm and their abnormalities. All sperm cells observed in the stained sample are classified as normal or abnormal. Any abnormalities in morphology of sperm have a negative effect on the outcome in in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Abnormal sperm are categorized into subgroups according to the observed defects (concerning the head and/or midpiece and/or tail). Most morphologically abnormal sperm have multiple defects. This article can be considered as guideline for the manual of sperm quality evaluation in different species of domestic mammals.

Evaluation of morphological issues of central nervous system glioblastoma on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane.

Glioblastoma is the most common brain malignancy and is marked by an extremely poor prognosis, despite advances in surgical and clinical neuro-oncology. That is why central nervous system glioblastoma is quite a challenging neoplasm, requiring much further research to understand the molecular and cellular clinical basis. Existing in vivo glioblastoma models are based on the inoculation of glioma cells into rodent brains or the use of transgenic mice. For decades the avian model was the model of choice in developmental biology. However, the reports on chorioallantoic membrane glioblastoma model are quite rare. The objective of these experiments was to evaluate morphological issues of glioblastoma on CAM and the interaction between transplant and CAM. Chicken embryos obtained from a local poultry farm were put in an incubator. Fresh samples of glioblastoma obtained during the operation were grafted on CAM, which is formed on the 7-9 th day of embryo development. The growth and morphological issues of cells were observed with a stereo microscope and the histological preparations were done in particular intervals of time, starting from 24 hours after the transplantation. We observed peritumoral edema, necrotic zones and angiogenesis on the chorioallantoic membrane. This evidence, together with the immunohistological proof, shows that glioblastoma survives on CAM and has its typical morphological features.

The influence of medium on viability of bovine morulae produced in vitro after their biopsy.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of two different media on the viability of in vitro produced biopsied bovine morulae. Bovine morulae were produced in vitro, then biopsied and cultured in the Ham's F10 and IVM media. Cultured and control morulae were stained with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide. Morulae were classified morphologically for excellent, good and degenerated quality. 42.86% of biopsied morulae cultured in the Ham's F10 medium and only 11.11% (only one) of these embryos cultured in the IVM were of excellent quality. Embryos of good quality were about 2 times less numerous in Ham's F10 medium (28.57%) than in IVM medium (55.5%) (P < or = 0.05). 28.57% of biopsied morulae cultured in Ham's F10 medium and 33.33% of these embryos cultured in the IVM degenerated (P > or = 0.05). The media had no significant influence on the number of total and viable blastomeres of morulae cultured in vitro after biopsy (P > or = 0.05). But the quantity of restored (excellent and good quality) embryos was higher when they were cultured after biopsy in Ham's F10 medium than in IVM. These statistically significant results (P < or = 0.05) show that the Ham's F10 medium is better for the restoring of biopsied bovine embryos produced in vitro than IVM.

[Recent approaches to the pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome]. / Nouvelles approaches dans l'étude de la pathogénie de la néphrose lipoïdique.

Clinical and experimental observations suggest that lipoid nephrosis (Minimal change nephrotic syndrome) results from T cell dysfunction due to still unknown mechanisms. By substractive screening library, we identified 84 transcripts, of which 42 correspond to known genes, 12 match with proteins of yet unknown function and 30 are unknown clones. Among the 42 known transcripts, at least 18 are closely involved in the T-Cell Receptor mediated signaling cascades. This includes genes encoding components of the T-Cell Receptor and proteins associated with the cytoskeleton scaffold, as well as transcription factors. During the relapse phase, we have detected very low levels of IL12R beta 2 mRNA suggesting that the T-cell activation evolves toward a Th2 phenotype. Thus, the combination of substractive cloning and differential screening constitutes an efficient approach to identify genes likely involved in the pathophysiology of MCNS.

Causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes: the role of hypoperfusion.

The role of hypoperfusion in cases of sudden cardiac death of young athletes is discussed. The coronary index, a ratio of the coronary caliber and the myocardial mass, was estimated from postmortem coronary angiograms. The coronary index reflects the degree of myocardial blood supply. In each case, a decrease in the coronary index, in combination with fibrosis and necrosis of the myocardium, was revealed. We suggest that recurring myocardial necrosis developed as a result of hypoperfusion of the hypertrophic myocardium during physical overload.