The specific activities of three acid phosphatases were followed in the epididymis of growing rats. All activities were constantly rising but revealed two steeper parts probably corresponding to the increase of androgen secretion and the arrival of spermatozoa in the epididymis. Simultaneously an increase in the histochemical staining was obtained in all epididymal segments. Both biochemical and histochemical studies showed that castration reduced the activity of all acid phosphatases and this could be restored with testosterone-estradiol treatment. Estradiol had no effect on the activities in the castrated animal, but in the normal animal it caused an elevation of Enzyme I activity. In the histochemical study estradiol seemed to restore the acid phosphatase activity. Enzyme I reacted slower than the others to both castration and hormone treatment. Increased elimination caused by ligation of the epididymis caused a reduction in the activity of all enzymes within four days. It was greatest in the area of the corpus. This study, however, rendered no further elucidation for the assumption that acid phosphatases participate in the elimination of excessive and defective spermatozoa.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of mesterolone on the male accessory sex organs, on spermiogram, plasma testosterone and FSH.

42 subfertile male ambulatory patients were treated with Proviron. Moderate oligoastheno-teratozoospermia was the most common injury in sperm analysis. The treatment did not change the amount of plasma FSH, testosterone or prostate phosphatase. Acid phosphatase and citric acid of semen showed an increased activity with mesterolone treatment. The amount of fructose decreased, it is probably due to the increased number of spermatozoa, which need more fructose for their metabolism respectively. The sperm of 93% of the patients improved or stayed unchanged. 30% of the patients developed normozoospermia. 6 pregnancies were achieved.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seminal fructose, citric acid and acid phosphatase before and after vasectomy in man.

Seminal fructose, citric acid and acid phosphatase were estimated from 23 healthy males before vasectomy and three months later. Each subject had children and the men volunteered for sterilization because other possibilities of contraception were inapplicable. Vasectomy was performed under local anesthesia in the conventional manner. Semen of all patients was azoospermic three months after vasectomy. In this study, the amounts of seminal fructose and citric acid were significantly higher after vasectomy than before operation. The activity of seminal acid phosphatase was a little less, but the difference was not significant. The increase of seminal fructose and citric acid could be explained by the lack of spermatozoa, which normally use them into their metabolism.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of vasectomy on viscosity, pH and volume of semen in man.

The effects of vasectomy on seminal viscosity, volume and pH have been investigated in freshly emitted semen of 21 healthy men before operation and three months later. Viscosity and the pH range were decreased significantly, but the decrease of the seminal volume was not significant. Reasons of changes have been discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Silent infection in male accessory genital organs and male infertility.

A silent infection of the male accessory genital organs was found in the semen of 78 patients (22,3%) of 350 infertile men. All the sperm characteristics (except agglutination) were significantly deteriorated in the infection group as compared to the sperm of 36 normal men. The volume was significantly larger than normal. In this group there was significant leukocytosis and, as a sign of prostatic hypofunction, reduced seminal acid phosphatase and citric acid activity. Chemotherapy for a period of two to four weeks improved leukocytosis and sperm transiently. Only acid phosphatase was normal three months after the treatment. Suggested reasons for the infertility of the silent infection group are: 1. hypofunction of the male genital organs, caused by a primary, strong infection suffered earlier. 2. The chronic, nonclinical infection of the male accessory genital organs, mainly as a complication of the primary infection. Chemotherapy for a period of four weeks seems to be too short to correct the silent infection as well as the infertility.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Palliative chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

GOALS OF WORK: There is a need for an effective and nontoxic chemotherapy for palliative indication in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients who relapse after conventional or high-dose chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of peroral chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of NHL patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen NHL patients were treated with peroral trofosfamide (Ixoten) with an initial dose of 50 mg three times daily. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 45-78). Most of the patients had received multiple courses of combination chemotherapy. MAIN RESULTS: The overall response rate (complete remission and partial remission) was 53% (95% confidence interval 29-77), and median response duration was 7 months. Cross-resistance was not observed between trofosfamide and chlorambucil. Grade 1-3 hematological toxicity occurred in 16 patients. Other side effects, including mild or moderate nausea, neurotoxicity, alopecia and fatigue, did not require dose adjustments. No fatal complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Trofosfamide as a palliative regimen is feasible and effective in NHL patients even following previous heavy treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Palliative chemotherapy with trofosfamide in advanced prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: A phase II study with trofosfamide in hormone-refractory prostate cancer was conducted to test the palliative efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients suffering from advanced prostate cancer were treated with per os trofosfamide after progression on androgen ablation and/or estramustine. The mean age was 72 years. The patients were treated with 150 mg/day as continuous treatment. The treatment was continued until progressive disease or severe toxicity. RESULTS: A decline in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was observed in 5 patients (27%) with a 0-25% decline in 2 patients and a >50% decline in 3 patients (16%, 95% confidence interval 3.4-39.6). There were no clinical or radiological complete (CR) or partial (PR) responses in 19 evaluable patients. Some toxicity was observed: 15 patients developed anaemia and grade 2-4 adverse effects were observed in 16 patients. One patient died of cardiac event. CONCLUSION: Trofosfamide has some activity in hormone-refractory advanced prostate cancer. When used in fragile or heavily pre-treated patients, careful monitoring for haematological and cardiac effects is recommended.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of vasectomy on serum lipids.

The effects of vasectomy on serum lipids and free fatty acids were followed. The concentration of serum cholesterol was lower one year after vasectomy than one week after and immediately before vasectomy (p less than 0.01). The LDL-cholesterol concentration decreases by 16 per cent (p less than 0.01) within one year after vasectomy. The concentration of serum free fatty acids was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) before vasectomy than after it.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acid phosphatases of the rat epididymis. II. Biochemical characteristics, subcellular distribution and histochemical localization.

After separation of three epididymal acid phosphatases their biochemical properties were differently studied. With appropriate substrate and inhibitor selection the distribution of the enzymes in different segments as well as the subcellular fractions of the rat epididymis was also demonstrated. The same biochemical differences were also utilized in the histochemical localization of the enzymes. It was found that Enzyme I had a pH-optimum at 5.0, a molecular weight of 97 000 and Km-constant of 0.901 mM. It was highly sensitive to tartrate and fluoride and it was localized in lysosomes as well as in the epididymal spermatozoa. Enzyme II had an optimum at pH 5.7, a molecular weight of 67 000 and Km-constant of 0.806 mM. It was also inhibited by fluoride but more resistant to tartrate. Its subcellular site was also particulate, but it was also found in the epididymal fluid. Enzyme III had an optimum at pH 5.2, a molecular weight of 135 000 and Km-constant of 0.685 m. It was resistant to low concentrations of fluoride and tartrate but sensitive to heavy metal ions. The enzyme was soluble and it behaved incoherently in thermal inactivation. All enzymes revealed the highest activity in the thin middle segments of the epididymis. Histochemical naphthol substrates gave a diffuse reaction in the epididymal epithelial cells. With the lead salt methods glycerophosphates and p-nitrophenylphosphate gave somewhat different results depending on their specificity as substrates for the epididymal enzymes. Both substrates gave a strong reaction supranuclearly in the Golgi area of the chief cells. This activity was inhibited by tartrate and was most probably due to Enzyme I. The epididymal corpus and cauda showed additionally a very strong apical activity in the chief cells with p-nitrophenylphosphate. This activity was resitant to tartrate but sensitive to fluoride. It was concluded that this enzyme represents Enzyme II activity. Similar activity was also found in the dissolving "holocrine" cells of the corpus and the cauda. The activity of the soluble Enzyme III could not be revealed with the present methods and the spermatozoa in the tubular lumina remained unstained.

Acid Phosphatase↗