Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Bartoov

Publications and source records attributed to B Bartoov.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Ultramorphological changes in sperm cells of infertile men with testicular varicocele].

The ultramorphological characteristics of sperm cells of infertile men with testicular varicocele were evaluated. There was an increased frequency of abnormal changes within their spermatozoa as compared to fertile men. The abnormalities included agenesis, partial agenesis, malformation and degradation of the subcellular organelles of the heads and tails of the sperm cells. These findings suggest the use of these characteristics as a part of a "varicocele score" to determine those who would benefit from varicocelectomy in the treatment of their infertility.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Ultrastructural changes in sperm with improved fertilizability after treatment with egg yolk.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the existence of differences in the ultrastructural parameters between the medium-washed sperm samples of the affected and nonaffected egg yolk (EY) groups and to verify whether ultrastructural changes occur in the EY-affected spermatozoa after EY preincubation. SETTING: The study was performed in the Laboratory of the IVF Unit, Serlin Maternity Hospital, and the Laboratory of Male Fertility, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. PATIENTS: The positive group included 12 males who underwent 1.9 IVF cycles with 0% fertilization rate that increased to 68% after EY treatment. The negative group included 11 males with 1.2% fertilization rate in 1.1 IVF cycles with no improvement after preincubation of spermatozoa in EY. RESULTS: Compared with the laboratory standard, patients of both groups exhibited a lower normalcy of the head sperm cell subcellular organelles. With EY treatment, the positive group exhibited a decrease in the frequency of some sperm head organelle specific malformations. CONCLUSIONS: Fertilization capacity of mature spermatozoa might be reduced because of an excess of acrosome malformations, postacrosomal lamina, and chromatin caused by in vitro sperm manipulations. The manipulation effect may be avoided by EY treatment.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1995

[Severity of testicular varicocele and sperm cell ultramorphologic characteristics].

Ultramorphologic characteristics of sperm cells found in infertile men with varicoceles were compared with the severity of the varicocele. Classification of varicoceles into mild, moderate or marked was determined by spermatic vein diameter and degree of blood reflux. These were evaluated by high resolution duplex sonography. There were no statistical differences between the 3 grades of varicocele severity with regard to abnormalities in the subcellular organelles of the acrosome, karyoplasm, and skeleton of spermatozoal heads, or in the axoneme, outer dense fiber and skeleton of sperm cell tails. The only abnormal ultramorphologic features found to be significant among the 3 groups were differences in the frequencies of karyoplasm agenesis, and of partial agenesis, malformation and degeneration of the acrosome in sperm cell heads. However, these features could not be related to grade of severity and therefore, no ultramorphologic severity pattern could be detected. Thus, no varicocele beneficial score based on grade of severity and sperm cell ultramorphology can be suggested for clinical use.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Lincomycin and spectinomycin in the treatment of breeding rams with semen contaminated with ureaplasmas.

Ureaplasma species were isolated from semen samples collected sequentially from one Awassi and three Assaf breeding rams. Each ram was injected subcutaneously with an aqueous solution of lincomycin and spectinomycin for five consecutive days at a dose equivalent to 4.5 mg kg-1 lincomycin and 9.0 mg kg-1 spectinomycin daily. Serum and semen samples were collected at intervals during the treatment and assayed for lincomycin. No Ureaplasma species were isolated from semen samples collected during the course of the treatment and at intervals for 17 days after the last treatment. The concentration of lincomycin in semen ranged from 0.51 microgram ml-1 four hours after treatment to 0.08 microgram ml-1 24 hours after treatment, and these levels were three to nine times higher than the corresponding serum concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Sperm quality of subfertile males before and after treatment with human follicle-stimulating hormone.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of short-term systemic administration of FSH for improving sperm quality, including ultrastructure, in teratozoospermic patients having normal endocrine profiles. DESIGN: Semen parameters were assessed prospectively using light microscopy (LM), biochemical analysis, and quantitative ultramorphological analyses within 2 months before FSH administration and within 5 days after the end of treatment. SETTING: Samples were collected from patients who were referred to the male fertility clinic at Bar-Ilan University. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients with teratozoospermia who exhibited normal hormonal profiles and who failed to fertilize their wives in at least two previous IVF attempts (n = 17) or who had wives with apparent normal fertility unable to conceive for > or = 5 years (n = 14) were classified as subfertile. One hundred one males with no previous history of infertility, whose wives conceived after < or = 12 months of pregnancy expectation, served as the control group. INTERVENTION: Treatment was 75 IU FSH administered daily for 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pretreatment and post-treatment sperm evaluation of basic and quantitative ultramorphological analyses parameters. The hypothesis was FSH treatment may improve spermatid morphogenesis by its multiple actions on the Sertoli-gamete cell compartment without interfering with the testicular hormonogenic function. RESULTS: A significant improvement in agenesis of the acrosome and in the amorphous heads was observed, reaching normal values after treatment with FSH. The axonema deteriorated. No significant changes were observed in basic semen analysis parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Because malformations of the fine structure of the sperm head subcellular organelles seem to be prerequisites for the success of FSH treatment, ultramorphological examination of the sperm may serve as an indication for the probability of success of this treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Improved diagnosis of male fertility potential via a combination of quantitative ultramorphology and routine semen analyses.

The aim of this study was to develop a new male fertility diagnostic profile based on quantitative ultramorphology parameters and to determine the contribution of this profile to the enhancement of the routine semen analysis index reported previously. Semen samples from 208 males of known fertility and suspected infertility were evaluated for the ultrafine structure of the following sperm cell organelles: acrosome, post-acrosomal lamina, nucleus, neck, axonema, mitochondrial and fibrous sheaths. For each of these organelles, four pathological states (agenesis, incomplete genesis, malformation and degradation) and an intact state were defined. A quantitative ultramorphology index based on the incidence of intact nucleus, acrosome and fibrous sheath malformations enabled high accuracy in the classification (97% sensitivity and 90% specificity) of 74% of the cases. A combined semen quality index based on a proportional combination of the semen analysis and quantitative ultramorphology indices was found to increase the percentage of cases classified correctly to 80%. It was proposed that semen specimens of males whose fertility status cannot be predicted clearly using routine semen analysis should be fixed and sent for quantitative ultramorphology analysis to specialized laboratories so that their fertility potential can be determined more accurately using the semen quality index.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1994

Reduced semen quality caused by chronic abacterial prostatitis: an enigma or reality?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is an inter-relationship between chronic abacterial prostatitis and potential infertility. DESIGN: As part of the eligibility studies for hyperthermia treatment for chronic abacterial prostatitis patients, a large number of chronic prostatitis patients were referred to us from peripheral outpatient clinics. Sperm analysis was a routine portion of the eligibility studies. To exclude bacterial prostatitis, urine cultures, expressed prostatic secretion, and semen cultures were performed. The patient population was not differentiated on the basis of those suffering from either nonbacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia according to the commonly accepted classification. The control group was the laboratory normal standard group. SETTING: Normal human volunteers in an academic and clinical research environment. PATIENTS: The first group includes 86 patients suffering from long-standing (1 to 20 years) chronic abacterial prostatitis, according to the commonly accepted classification, with a mean age of 39.9 +/- 9.5 years. The second group includes 101 normal fertile men with a mean age of 31.4 +/- 5.5 years. INTERVENTIONS: The routine semen analysis performed included biochemical tests of seminal plasma, bacteriology, and light microscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The original hypothesis was based on a reduction in semen quality in these patients caused by chronic abacterial prostatitis. Measurements for sperm motility parameters, morphology characteristics, prostate markers, and white blood cells (WBC) were designed accordingly. RESULTS: Statistical comparisons of the two groups showed that several sperm motility parameters, morphology characteristics, prostate markers, and WBC are outside of the normal value ranges in the chronic abacterial prostatitis group. In addition, there is a correlation between the duration of the disease and two important sperm analysis variables: increased prostatic markers and appearance of sperm morphological defects. CONCLUSION: From the results obtained, the high incidence of secondary infertility in these patients may be explained.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Estimating fertility potential via semen analysis data.

The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic profiles for the assessment of semen analysis data with respect to male fertility potential. Semen samples taken from 208 patients of known fertility and suspected infertility were studied by conventional semen analysis methods. The data throw doubt upon the validity of an approach based on the number of deviations from the normal standard values defined by the World Health Organization. The alternative approach of a specific semen characteristic (particularly morphology) as the major predictor of fertility produced no beneficial results. However, the semen analysis index based on semen volume, sperm count, percentage motility and normal forms resulted in a high accuracy of classification but for only 44% of the cases, with 3% false negatives and 10% false positives using cut-off indices of > or = 0.6 and < or = -1.0 for defining 'fertile' and 'infertile' zones, respectively. In conclusion, it is emphasized that there are a number of specific semen analysis variables, each expressing a different aspect of male fertility potential which, when combined in correct proportion, do provide the optimal evaluation of the male fertility status. However, in order to increase the prognostic potential of the semen sample, new and meaningful parameters must be discovered.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The relationship between sperm ultrastructural features and fertilizing capacity in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between ultramorphological features of the human sperm and its fertilizing capacity in vitro. DESIGN: The study was performed retrospectively. Ultrastructural features were assessed using scanning and transmission electron microscopes in sperm samples of individuals who underwent an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle no more than 6 months before the study. SETTING: Institutional clinical care. PATIENTS: Fifty-six infertile couples in whom mechanical infertility was diagnosed in the female partner. Patients were categorized as fertilizing when fertilization of at least 30% of the oocytes occurred (n = 27) and nonfertilizing when none of the oocytes fertilized in at least two consecutive IVF treatment cycles (n = 29). RESULTS: The two groups differed significantly only in ultramorphological parameters of the sperm head and acrosome (head, F(8,36) = 2.8, P less than 0.02; acrosome, F(4,40) = 2.8, P less than 0.04), and especially in the following malformation patterns: hyperelongated head, acrosome deficiency, and acrosome damage. The suggested score based on these findings was able to predict 90% and 76% of the cases with and without fertilizing potential, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ultrastructural morphology of the sperm head components is a key parameter for assessing the sperm fertilizing capacity in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sperm motility index: a new parameter for human sperm evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to evaluate the correlation between sperm motility index, a novel parameter of semen quality, and routine semen analysis parameters by microscopic evaluation. DESIGN: Sperm motility index was measured by an electro-optical device, the Sperm Quality Analyzer (United Medical Systems Inc., Santa Ana, CA). Human semen samples covering the whole span of qualities were analyzed prospectively and simultaneously by both methods. SETTING: Samples were collected from patients referred to university hospital infertility clinics. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred sixty-eight semen samples of 812 patients and healthy men were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility index is a measurement of optical density fluctuations caused by motile cells; therefore, a positive correlation was anticipated between its values and semen motility parameters. RESULTS: Sperm motility index values demonstrated statistically significant correlation with motile cell concentration, total cell concentration, and percent motile cells. They were also shown to reliably represent semen quality assessment obtained by two experienced andrologists. CONCLUSIONS: The sperm motility index provides a reliable and objective reflection of semen motility parameters and quality.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1991

The correlation between sperm cell morphology and fertilization after zona pellucida slitting in subfertile males.

OBJECTIVE: This work was undertaken to evaluate the correlation between sperm cell morphology and fertilization after zona pellucida slitting in subfertile males. DESIGN: Twenty-two couples who failed at least one in vitro fertilization attempt because of lack of oocytes fertilization underwent a zona-slitting micromanipulative procedure. A total of 245 oocytes were retrieved and inseminated by three different modes: 151 oocytes underwent micromanipulation, 2 were damaged, and the remaining 149 inseminated by the husband's sperm (group A). Fifty-five oocytes were not manipulated and inseminated by the husband's sperm (group B), and 39 oocytes were not manipulated and inseminated by a donor sperm (group C). RESULTS: Fertilization rates were 26.8%, 5.5%, and 53.8% in groups A, B, and C, respectively, and differed significantly between group A and group B. The cleavage rates were lower for oocytes fertilized by the husband's sperm (48.6%) than that obtained by donor (90%), suggesting a sperm factor contributing to this phenomenon. The procedure was most efficient in patients with a total motile sperm count after preparation of greater than or equal to 5 million and with either normal sperm morphology or defects localized to the acrosome or tail region only. Sperm with nuclear morphological abnormalities demonstrated a marked reduction in fertilization potential. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the zona-slitting technique enhances fertilization of severely subfertile sperm, and its efficacy is affected by sperm morphology and a threshold concentration of motile cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Psychological aspects of male infertility.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of suspected infertility on psychological functioning, comparing men who suspect that they are infertile (N = 107) with men who have no such suspicion (N = 30). Infertile men had lower self-esteem, higher anxiety and showed more somatic symptoms than fertile men. The effects of moderating variables on the psychological functioning of the subfertile men were analysed. The findings were that causality of infertility, feelings of hopelessness and global attribution were related to sexual inadequacy. Depression was uniquely related to stress of infertility and global attribution. Global attribution, though predictive of psychological consequences, was not affected by the objective variables of infertility.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Effects of dibromochloropropane and ethylene dibromide on biochemical events and ultramorphology of ejaculated ram spermatozoa in vitro.

The effects of dibromochloropropane (DBCP) and ethylene dibromide (EDB) on the function and ultrastructure of freshly ejaculated washed ram spermatozoa were assessed. These two compounds inhibited the collective motility of the sperm in a dose-dependent fashion when the sperm cells generated their energy either by mitochondrial respiration (2-deoxyglucose-treated sperm cells) or by the intact energy production system. DBCP and EDB inhibited the oxygen uptake by the sperm in a dose-dependent manner. No change in lactic acid accumulation and glucose utilization by the sperm cells was noted following DBCP and EDB addition. No change in the collective motility of the sperm was noted when DBCP or EDB were added to spermatozoa treated with the electron transfer inhibitor, antimycin A. Electron microscopy studies of sperm cells treated with DBCP revealed lesions in the plasma membrane adjacent to the acrosome and in the acrosomal membrane forming vesiculations. The inner membrane and the matrix space of the mitochondria were condensed following DBCP treatment, leaving a large mitochondrial peripheral space, compared with the control. EDB, at the concentration studied, caused no change in the ultramorphological structure of the sperm. DBCP was more potent, at least 4-fold, compared with EDB. An in vitro direct effect of DBCP and EDB on ram spermatozoa was established. It is suggested that quantitative measurements of sperm collective motility derived by different metabolic pathways can be used as an in vitro toxicological model for evaluation of toxicological and environmental factors affecting biological systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Decreased semen quality in a male infected with malaria.

A 33-year-old male of proven fertility suffered six attacks of malaria while resident in an African country. For this he received anti-malarial drugs. Semen analysis performed after the fourth attack, and repeated during the following 2 years after his return to Israel, revealed severe oligozoospermia, necrozoospermia and occasionally even azoospermia. Immunological examination of the patient revealed an inverse ratio of T-cell subsets and mast cell degranulation in response to palludrin. Twenty-five months after the last attack of malaria a significant improvement was found in semen quality and there was an increase in the ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cytotoxic cells. These observations indicate that although malaria and its treatment may affect spermatogenesis, recovery may be expected eventually.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Sialyl glycoprotein distribution on the plasma membrane of ejaculated ram spermatozoa.

Localization of sialyl residues on unfixed ejaculated ram sperm membrane using the direct covalent probes of either ferritin hydrazide or latex hydrazide revealed a unique regional distribution on the plasmalemma covering the sperm head only. Three different labelling zones were identified based on the intensity and the nature of the sialyl glycoconjugates: a patchy-like zone which included the plasma membrane overlaying the post-nuclear cap and the convex side of the apical body of the acrosome; highly ordered heavily labelled zones including the plasmalemma adjacent to the concave apical body of the acrosome and to the posterior part of the equatorial acrosomal segment; a paucity-labelling zone which included the plasma membrane underlying the principal acrosomal region and the anterior part of the equatorial acrosomal segment. The possible physiological role of the highly ordered labelled zones is discussed.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1984

The influence of in vitro caffeine treatment on human sperm morphology and fertilizing capacity.

After publication in the literature that in vitro caffeine treatment causes damage of the normal shape of the sperm head and thereby decreases fertilizing capacity, we carried out a clinical and electron microscopic study to determine the influence of caffeine on the fertilizing capacity and sperm cell morphology. Sixty women (with infertile husbands) underwent artificial insemination by donor with frozen/thawed semen over a period of 12 months, using randomized addition of caffeine in alternate months. Fourteen women became pregnant during the 6 months they received caffeine-treated semen, whereas only 7 pregnancies occurred during the 6 months the women received semen without caffeine. Scanning electron microscopic examinations of fresh proven donor semen showed no morphologic changes caused by the in vitro caffeine treatment. However, quantitative morphologic analysis of the frozen/thawed semen was unsatisfactory because of the freezing technique and the masking effect of the protective medium. It is concluded that in vitro caffeine treatment of fertile donor semen does not damage the spermatozoa; furthermore, it seems to improve the fertilizing capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The effect of testosterone on ram spermatozoa collective motility treated by antimycin A.

The effect of testosterone on collective motility of antimycin A-treated, Ficoll-400-washed ejaculated ram spermatozoa was studied. The lowest concentration of antimycin A which blocked collective motility in hexose deprived cells (0.4 X 10(9) cells/ml) was 2 X 10(-7) M. Fructose, glucose and mannose, but not galactose, sorbitol or inositol, served as energy sources for collective motility. Cortisol, 5-beta-DHT, androsterone and 5-alpha-pregnan 3-beta-ol-20-one did not affect collective motility. Testosterone inhibited collective motility in a dose-dependent fashion. However, it did not affect lactic acid accumulation. The effect of testosterone was noted both on cells suspended in buffer containing fructose and on exogenously starved cells treated with fructose after collective motility arrest. It was concluded that testosterone might exert its inhibitory effect on motility by uncoupling fructolytic energy production to the tail motility system.

Animals↗