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Biomedical subjects

G Haidl

Publications and source records attributed to G Haidl.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
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Outer dense fibres: functional or structural elements?

By electron microscopic studies it could be demonstrated that malformed outer dense fibres are a major cause of structural, flagellar disorder in human spermatozoa. Biochemical investigations of isolated outer dense fibres revealed that these flagellar substructures consist of three major polypeptides and do not contain phosphoproteins. They seem to have passive-elastic properties with respect to sperm motility. Further studies are required to elucidate the cause of the disturbed development of outer dense fibres, which may be due to inflammatory, toxic, or genetic influences.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
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Granulocyte elastase indicates silent male genital tract inflammation and appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment.

Diagnosis of male genital inflammations plays a significant role in andrology. Although genital infections are often silent, they can severely impair male fertility. In the seminal plasma of 305 patients, immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, complement factor C3C, coeruloplasmin and the number of peroxidase-positive cells were determined in addition to conventional semen parameters and microbiological investigations. A leukocyte esterase dipstick test was also carried out. All these parameters were correlated with the granulocyte elastase determined by an enzyme immunoassay. A highly significant correlation between elastase concentrations and the other parameters indicating inflammation was observed. After anti-inflammatory treatment, elastase concentrations decreased markedly. The results showed that exact quantification of granulocyte elastase is a very specific and sensitive method to distinguish inflammatory from non-inflammatory male adnexal affections, which is appropriate for control of anti-inflammatory treatment and facilitates the diagnosis of inflammatory processes in andrology.

Adolescent↗
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Pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection of immotile spermatozoa selected by the hypo-osmotic swelling-test: a case report.

The success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is poor when only immotile spermatozoa can be retrieved. In a couple with complete male asthenozoospermia the possible use of the hypo-osmotic swelling test to select spermatozoa for microinjection was examined. Following incubation in hypo-osmotic medium (Hypo 10, IVF Science, Göteborg, Sweden), 26% of immotile spermatozoa showed signs of sperm swelling (HOS-positive). After injection of HOS-positive spermatozoa, 5 out of 12 oocytes fertilized (41%) and after transfer of three embryos a healthy singleton pregnancy was achieved. In a previous ICSI cycle of this couple without preselection of spermatozoa by the HOS test, only 1 out of 10 oocytes fertilized. It is concluded that selection of spermatozoa by hypo-osmotic swelling-test prior to sperm microinjection seems to be a valuable tool to increase the fertilization rate in cases with complete asthenozoospermia.

Adult↗
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Association between sperm cell chromatin condensation, morphology based on strict criteria, and fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rates in an IVF program.

In this study, a total of 95 ejaculates from infertile patients were investigated morphologically according to Kruger's strict criteria and 78 of the 95 ejaculates were stained for chromatin condensation with acidic aniline blue. Patients were divided into two groups based on the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa as follows: Men with normal sperm morphology < 14% (Group 1), and men with normal morphology > 14% (Group 2). The relationship between percentage of normal sperm morphology and fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rate was analysed. The rates were 33.7%, 57.1% and 0.0% respectively, in the first group. The corresponding values for the second group were 76.1%, 68.2% and 32.1%. The fertilization and pregnancy rates correlate significantly with morphologically normal spermatozoa. In regard to the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa stained with aniline blue, patients were divided into two groups: patients with 0-20% stained spermatozoa (Group I) and those with > 20% (Group 2). Fertilization and pregnancy rates were higher in the first group than in the second group (79.9%, 52.8% vs. 58.8%, 29.5%). The results demonstrate that chromatin condensation visualized by aniline blue staining is a good predictor for IVF outcome and should be considered besides morphology by sperm assessment for patients undergoing IVF treatment.

Chromatin↗
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Semen parameters in men with and without proven chronic prostatitis.

In patients with complaints of chronic prostatitis, analysis of prostatic secretions for leukocytes and the use of the four-specimen technique allow a distinct classification of chronic bacterial (CBP), nonbacterial prostatitis (NBP), and prostatodynia (Pd). In this study, 32 men with CBP, 102 men with NBP, 142 men with Pd, and 42 volunteers, classified as mentioned above, underwent a two-fold ejaculate analysis using WHO criteria. Sperm count, progressive motility, range of abnormal spermatozoa, increased numbers of common bacteria, and peroxidase-positive leukocytes were analyzed. Additionally, antibody-coated bacteria (ACB), numbers of ureaplasmas in semen, and urethral colonization by chlamydia were investigated. Mean values of sperm density, motility, and morphology revealed no differences between the groups. Significant bacteriospermia (greater than or equal to 10(3) bacterial/ml) was evident in only 47% of the CBP group versus 6.8% (NBP), 16% (Pd), and 4.2% (controls). ACB was positive in 31 of 32 men with CBP versus 3 of 102 with NBP, 9 of 142 with Pd, and none of the controls. Increased numbers of leukocytes were evident in CBP and NBP patients compared to the controls (p less than or equal to 0.001) but were also present in patients of the NBP and Pd groups with chlamydial infections.

Adult↗
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Changes of sperm tail morphology after kallikrein treatment.

Kallikrein has been reported to act positively on sperm motility. Because sperm motility must be analyzed with regard to sperm tail morphology, this study examined whether changes of sperm motility after kallikrein treatment were accompanied by structural alterations of the midpieces and tails of spermatozoa. In 60 andrologic outpatients in whom a significant improvement of sperm motility was noted after treatment with kallikrein (600 U daily for 3 mo), sperm tail morphology was analyzed according to a recently proposed classification. The effect of kallikrein could be clearly attributed to a decrease of tail disturbances characteristic of epididymal dysfunction. Besides possible effects on spermatogenesis, kallikrein may influence the epididymal maturation of spermatozoa, leading to increased progressive motility.

Humans↗
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Sperm morphology in fertile men.

Sperm morphology was assessed in 78 fertile men according to the Düsseldorf classification. There were 30% normal forms on average, which conforms with the new World Health Organization guidelines. This differs from the strict criteria of the Tygerberg group [9] probably due to the fact that these criteria were established under in vitro conditions.

Fertility↗
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Assessment of sperm chromatin condensation: an important test for prediction of IVF outcome.

Regular condensation of sperm chromatin during spermiogenesis, which allows decondensation after penetration of the oocyte, is a prerequisite for successful fertilization. During spermiogenesis particular nucleoproteins (histones) are normally replaced by different proteins (protamines). In the case of disturbed chromatin condensation the histones persist, which can be demonstrated by aniline blue staining. This method should be performed prior to IVF because of the significant correlation between fertilization rate of spermatozoa in IVF and normal chromatin condensation.

Chromatin↗
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Multicenter study on reproducibility of sperm morphology assessments.

Sperm morphology has always been considered an important tool in evaluating a man's fertilizing potential. The objective of this multicentric study was to evaluate intra- and interindividual variability and between-laboratory variation using the same or different criteria of sperm morphology assessment. Semen samples were obtained from 20 males and 32 smears were made of all samples. Eighty coded smears (4 per patient) were sent to 8 laboratories for morphology assessment. The centers applied different classification systems (strict criteria, WHO 1987, Düsseldorf criteria) and participants were asked to analyze the 80 smears twice, with an interval of 1 week between each participant's two analyses. Intraclass correlations between repeats showed that sperm morphology can be assessed with acceptable within observer reproducibility. Expected increases in imprecision were observed up to coefficients of variation of >30% with decreasing morphology scores, regardless of the classification system used. Agreement in correct classification of samples as normal/abnormal was obtained in 80% of cases. Differences in reproducibility between slides may reflect an important source of heterogeneity due to smear preparation. These results emphasize the importance of external quality control systems to improve the value of sperm morphology assessments in the investigation of the male partner in a subfertile couple.

Fertilization in Vitro↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Do not forget: lead poisoning].

3 patients with lead intoxication are demonstrated. The analysis of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors led to the tentative diagnosis which was confirmed by the increased lead levels. The increased urinary excretion of porphyrins and of delta-aminolevulinic acid, the decreased activity of uroporphyrinogen synthase and the increased protoporphyrin content (absorption maximum 595 nm) in the red cells suggested the diagnosis before the lead values of the patients were known. Clinical signs of the patients included gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. It is assumed that the lead intoxication in these patients was caused by occupational exposition.

Adult↗
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[Morphologic studies of spermatozoa in disorders of motility].

On the basis of microscopical examination and further differentiation by special stain techniques, a new classification of defects of midpieces and tails of spermatozoa will be presented: First degree disorders i.e. abnormalities of the staining behaviour and minor structural defects, second degree disorders revealing breakes and coiling of spermatozoa tail, and finally severe third degree disorders only exhibiting a rudimentary anlage of the terminal segment of spermatozoa. The staining abnormalities of the first degree disorders are characterized by nonreactivity to the Polychrome stain of the Papanicolaou technique as well as to scarlet red stain of the Shorr technique. Although the majority of these spermatozoa do not exhibit morphological aberrations, they have to be regarded completely immotile. Considering this classification, we have observed a highly significant correlation between morphological findings of midpieces and tails and the total motility as well as the progressive motility of spermatozoa.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
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Function of human epididymal spermatozoa.

Human epididymal spermatozoa taken from caput, corpus, and cauda were investigated to determine their fertilizing capacity (22 epididymides from 11 patients who had undergone orchidectomy because of prostatic cancer). The following functions, which have been reported to correlate positively with the fertilization rate, were determined: motility and progressive motility, chromatin condensation (assessed by aniline blue staining), acrosin activity, and induction of acrosome reaction by low temperature. In addition, stimulation of motility by pentoxifylline and phosphatidylcholine was examined. The results showed that motility, progressive motility, normal chromatin condensation, and inducible acrosome reaction increased from the caput to the cauda epididymidis, whereas acrosin activity was normal in all sections. Stimulation of progressive motility, especially that of caput spermatozoa, could be achieved by both pentoxifylline and phosphatidylcholine, the latter being definitely superior. In conclusion, our study confirmed that human spermatozoa in physiological status undergo several steps of maturation during the epididymal transit. Stimulation of sperm motility by phosphatidylcholine may be helpful for patients in whom epididymal spermatozoa are used for assisted reproduction.

Acrosin↗