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Biomedical subjects

M Sagiv

Publications and source records attributed to M Sagiv.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
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↗
PubMed1986

Acute effect of cigarette smoking on physiologic response to graded exercise.

To assess the acute effect of cigarette smoking on physiologic response to graded exercise, eight physical education students were tested. The protocol included running on a treadmill for 5-min periods at the speed of 6, 8, 10, and 12 km/h. Each subject performed the exercise twice 1 week apart, once after abstaining from smoking for 24 h and once immediately after smoking two cigarettes. The following measurements were performed at each work load: HR, oxygen consumption, tidal volume, breathing frequency, pulmonary ventilation, and blood lactate. Running velocity corresponding to 4 mM lactate and to 170 HR were calculated. The average HR was higher after smoking at rest and at all work loads tested (P less than 0.05). The average VO2 was lower after smoking at all work loads above 6 km/h (P less than 0.05), and VE/VO2 was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) during smoking at all work loads above 6 km/h. No changes were found in the other parameters measured. No difference was found in the calculated work load corresponding to 4 mM blood lactate or 170 HR. It is concluded that although the acute effect of smoking two cigarettes by subjects accustomed to smoking does not dramatically affect their work capacity, it does significantly change their physiologic response, manifested by a higher HR, lower VO2, and lower breathing efficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and sperm abnormalities in ex-addict to heroin, morphine, and hashish.

A 40-year-old male had been addicted to heroin, morphine, hashish, and other narcotics for 12 years. At examination, 2 years after abstinence from drugs, his semen analysis revealed oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and morphologically abnormal spermatozoa such as "round-headed" and "kinked"--sperm with neck abnormalities and immature forms. There was no evidence of other morphological abnormalities or of the presence of morphologically normal sperm. A possible correlation is discussed between the long-lasting drug addiction and morphological sperm abnormality, endocrinological function, karyotype, and immunological status.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Left ventricular responses to upright isometric handgrip and deadlift in men with coronary artery disease.

Isometric exercise is usually discouraged for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) because of the possible adverse effects of increased blood pressure on left ventricular (LV) function. Cardiovascular and LV responses to upright handgrip and deadlift were compared in 10 normal men (mean age 52 years) and 14 men (mean age 54 years) with documented CAD or myocardial infarction who were in a supervised exercise program. Handgrip and deadlift were each performed at 30% maximal effort for 3 minutes. LV technetium-99m multigated radionuclide angiograms, electrocardiogram and blood pressure were measured during the final 60 seconds. CAD patients had a significantly lower LV ejection fraction at rest (41%) than normal subjects (57%). Both groups showed equal and significant increases in heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure during handgrip and deadlift. These responses were all significantly greater in both groups during deadlift. No significant changes in LV ejection fraction occurred in either group during handgrip or deadlift. LV wall motion abnormalities were present in 9 of 14 CAD patients at rest and increased with handgrip (11 men) and deadlift (13 men). No LV abnormalities occurred in normal subjects. These data indicate cardiovascular responses are similar in normal and exercise-trained CAD patients during upright submaximal isometric exercise using small or large muscle groups. Radionuclide measurements of global LV function remain stable in both groups, during similar conditions of increased systolic pressure afterload. However, LV wall motion abnormalities are aggravated in CAD patients during isometric exercise.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1985

Beta-endorphin in normozoospermic and pathologic human semen.

beta-Endorphin was estimated in normozoospermic, oligozoospermic and azoospermic human semen. The mean amount in normozoospermic specimens was 278.6 +/- 43.6 (SE) pg/ml while in the others only 191.1 +/- 25 pg/ml. Both values are significantly higher than those present in the blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Lack of correlation between human y-positive spermatozoa and acrosomal abnormalities and variations in intensity of fluorescence of sperm stained with quinacrine compounds.

Seminal fluid from 170 men was examined for acrosomal abnormalities of sperm (Papanicolaou procedure X 1000) and for y-positive cells (quinacrine-stained smears). No correlation was found between these parameters, suggesting that acrosomal abnormalities are similarly distributed among x- and y-bearing spermatozoa. The proportion of y-positive sperm was found to be low (23.6 + 10.7% (SD) for the oligozoospermic specimens and 23.7 +/- 9.8% for specimens with sperm counts above 40 million/ml). Three degrees of fluorescence intensity were observed--weak, moderate, and strong--the strong fluorescence being associated with the highest percentage of y-bodies (30.6 +/- 12.7%, 36.6 +/- 5.7%) and the weak fluorescence with the lowest (16.7 +/- 7.0%, 15.0 +/- 9.5%). It is suggested that structural abnormalities and/or metabolic alterations in either the DNA molecule or the chromosomal proteins may be responsible for variability in the ability to bind quinacrine compounds.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1985

Deoxyribonuclease activity in human sperm.

A previous failure to detect DNase activity in human sperm sonicates was ascribed to an inadequate amount of sperm used. In the present work aliquots contained more sperm (1.5-2.5/10(6)), permitting the detection of enzyme activity. The latter was significantly higher in spermatozoa of oligozoospermic origin compared with activity in normospermic specimens.

Deoxyribonucleases↗
PubMed1983

ATP contents of human semen, seminal plasma and isolated sperm at time intervals after ejaculation.

1. ATP was estimated in 105 samples of human semen, seminal plasma and sperm of normozoospermic and oligozoospermic origins at time intervals after ejaculation. 2. In semen with sperm counts up to 40 millions per ml and in seminal plasma, ATP levels were lower than in specimens with higher sperm counts. 3. In isolated sperm, the ATP content decreased with the increase in sperm density. 4. The decrease in ATP after 24 hr was the highest in sperm, lower in semen and the lowest in seminal plasma, being maximal in specimens with high sperm counts.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1983

Deoxyribonuclease activity in human seminal fluid.

Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity was examined in the whole and two split fractions of human seminal fluid from normospermic, oligozoospermic, and azoospermic origins as well as in sonicates of isolated sperm after freezing and thawing of samples and at various pH values of substrates. The method consisted in the measurement of digested areas in plates containing herring sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). No correlation was found between DNase activity (875 +/- 22 (SE) ng/ml) and seminal fluid quality. The enzyme activity was significantly lower in the second split portion (764 +/- 43 ng/ml) as compared to the first (971 +/- 41 ng/ml). Sonicates of washed sperm were inactive. It is suggested that DNase activity derives from the epididymis and possibly from the vas deferens where it participates in the decomposition of DNA from dead cells.

Deoxyribonucleases↗
PubMed1983

Distribution of sialic acid in human sperm membranes.

Sialic acid was estimated both chemically in populations of heads and tails of spermatozoa from normospermic human seminal fluid and by transmission electron microscopy, using a specific labeling technique. The results of both procedures show that sialic acid is located exclusively in the head plasma membrane and in the acrosomal membranes. It is suggested that localization of sialic acid close to that reported for neuraminidase in sperm might be of importance in the fertilization process.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1983

Sialic acid content of human spermatozoa and seminal plasma in relation to sperm counts.

Sialic acid levels were determined in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of 47 semen samples divided into two groups according to sperm counts. Group 1, up to 40 x 10(6) sperm/ml seminal fluid and group 2, above 40 x 10(6) sperm/ml seminal fluid. The content of sialic acid in spermatozoa ranged from 4.4-28.1 micrograms/10(8) spermatozoa and from 70-95 mg/100 ml seminal plasma. Sialic acid was significantly higher in sperm and lower in seminal plasma of group 1 as compared to group 2. The lower content of sialic acid in seminal plasma might have a deteriorating effect on structural integrity of sperm.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Hyaluronidase activity in untreated human semen and following laboratory manipulations.

Hyaluronidase activity was examined in 104 oligospermic and normospermic human semen specimens promptly after liquefaction, after repeated cycles of washings with a solution containing 1.3 M sucrose and 0.15 M NaCl, and after freezing and thawing. We assessed enzyme activity by measuring areas of the digestion of substrate (hyaluronate). After washing the oligospermic and normospermic semen specimens twice 34%-43% enzyme activity was still present in the sedimented sperm as compared to the initial values. Following additional washings no enzyme activity could be detected. Freezing and thawing of semen increased enzyme activity by 40%-50%, respectively, after the second cycle whereas further treatment did not increase the enzyme activity rate. It is suggested that two types of hyaluronidase are present in human spermatozoa, differing in membrane-binding properties which would be connected with their localization in the acrosome.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1982

Vitamin A and beta-carotene content of seminal fluid and sperm of normospermic and oligozoospermic men.

Beta-carotene and vitamin A were estimated in 125 specimens of human seminal fluid and spermatozoa. In 72 of the specimens triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine, and T4-binding globulin were also determined. Vitamin A in seminal fluid increased from 10.4+/-l.8 microgram (SE) in severe oligozoospermia up to 19.1+/-2.5 microgram/100ml in specimens with high sperm densities. In spermatozoa, however, there was a trend for a decrease in vitamin content from 2.1+/-0.8 to 0.2 +/-0.07 microgram/108. In the majority of cases beta-carotene was undetectable and, when present, the levels were much lower than those of vitamin A. The amounts of triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine in seminal fluid were 0.19+/-0.03 ng/ml and 1.1+/-0.18 microgram/100ml, respectively. No correlation was found between levels of both hormones and quality of seminal fluid. T4-binding globulin was either very low or undetectable.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1982

Inhibition and enhancement of macrophage migration in the presence of lymphocytes and seminal fluid of men with fertility disorders.

Macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) towards autologous seminal fluid was studied in 29 infertile men, 16 of whom were also examined towards normal seminal fluid. In 10 patients, inhibition of macrophage migration was observed in the presence of 50 microgram of protein of autologous semen sonicates. Nine patients had enhanced macrophage migration in the presence of 5 microgram protein. Macrophage enhancement was more antigen dependent than the migration inhibition. In all patients seminal abnormalities were observed, being milder in the patients whose lymphocytes enhanced macrophage migration.

Humans↗