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Biomedical subjects

Y Soffer

Publications and source records attributed to Y Soffer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Varicocele in youth. A therapeutic dilemma.

The need for treatment of asymptomatic varicocele in youth is controversial. In the current study testicular volume and seminal variables were evaluated in three groups: young varicocele patients with undetermined fertility potential, infertile varicocele patients, and a control group of young males. The testicular volume was determined by ultrasonographic measurements. The results revealed a significant loss of "testicular mass" in both varicocele groups compared with the control group. The seminal findings disclosed a severe disturbance of spermatogenesis in the older varicocele group, whereas in the younger varicocele patients only the total spermatic count was significantly depressed. This difference in severity of functional impairment between the younger and older varicocele groups possibly points towards progressiveness of damage to the testicles. A more decisive therapeutic approach to the young male with asymptomatic varicocele and unknown fertility status could be justified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Sperm-egg penetration of human spermatozoa treated with various rabbit antisera to human sperm antigens.

The effect of rabbit antisera to human whole spermatozoa, to human lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-X) and to human protamine 1 (HP1) and protamine 2 (HP2), was tested in the hamster zona-free egg penetration assay with human spermatozoa. The human spermatozoa were incubated with TEST yolk buffer washed and incubated with the antisera before penetration assay. Only antiserum to whole spermatozoa could inhibit the penetration capacity of treated human spermatozoa. The significance of the results as well as the advantage of the method used by us are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Spermatic vein ligation in varicocele: prognosis and associated male and female infertility factors.

The fertility outcome of 129 spermatic vein ligations with good postoperative anatomic results is analyzed. For each couple, specific attention was also directed to other infertility factors. The study analyzes four groups: group I, 55 patients with varicocele only; group II, 16 patients with varicocele and prostatovesiculitis; group III, 16 patients with varicocele and a severe degree of testicular failure; and group IV, 42 patients with a varicocele only and associated female infertility factors. In each group, the pregnancy rate within 6 to 24 months after the operation was recorded. The control subjects were 36 patients with varicocele only who had declined or postponed intervention for 6 months. The best results were obtained in group I. Sperm motility improved following ligation and was associated with a greater percentage of pregnancies within a shorter period: 51% and 62% within 6 and 12 months, respectively, as compared with the control group (14% within 6 months). The prostatic disease required additional treatment for a longer period, but results similar to those of group I were eventually obtained (50% pregnancy rate). With testicular failure or female infertility factors, the prognosis worsened (31% overall pregnancy rate).

Female↗
PubMed1983

Carnitine and short-chain acylcarnitines in the lumen of the human male reproductive tract.

Bioautography of human semen demonstrated the presence of L-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, propionylcarnitine and C4-acylcarnitines (butyrylcarnitines). In studies designed to ascertain the organs secreting these compounds into semen it was found that: Quantitative analyses of semen obtained pre- and post-vasectomy showed markedly decreased L-carnitine concentrations, slightly decreased acetylcarnitine levels, and unchanged propionyl- and butyrylcarnitine concentrations as a result of vasectomy. The earlier portion of human split ejaculate samples characteristically contained higher concentrations of carnitine and its propionyl- and butyryl esters and a lower concentration of acetylcarnitine than did the later portion. Vas deferens luminal fluid contained carnitine and each of the short-chain acyl derivatives, as shown by bioautography. Prostatic fluid contained only small amounts of carnitine and its derivatives. Spermatozoa contained much more acetylcarnitine than free carnitine, and only trace amounts of the other acylcarnitines. It is concluded that carnitine in semen is secreted primarily by the epididymis, that a proportion of the acetylcarnitine derives from the seminal vesicles and epididymis, and that propionylcarnitine and butytylcarnitine enter semen, at least in part, together with the vas deferens contents.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Modulation of endometrial lymphocyte response in menstrual cycle of fertile women.

Endometrial lymphocytes were isolated in two groups of fertile women, 17 of them normal and seven with various clinical problems. In order to study their immunological properties, endometrial and blood lymphocytes were cultured with either phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed (PW), or purified protein derivative (PPD). Lymphocyte response was assayed by tritiated thymidine incorporation. The percent of T cells was estimated by E-rosette formation. In the normal fertile group, endometrial lymphocyte response to PHA and to Con A was found to correlate with the days of menstrual cycle, rising in a linear fashion between days 9 and 24. In the group with clinical problems, no correlation was noted. In neither group were endometrial lymphocyte responses to PW or PPD or percent of endometrial lymphocyte rosette formation influenced by the menstrual cycle. The modulation of endometrial lymphocyte response to PHA or to Con A stimulation in normal fertile women during the menstrual cycle seems unrelated to the number of T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Carnitine and acylcarnitines in semen from azoospermic patients.

Carnitine and its short-chain acyl esters were assayed in semen from normospermic and azoospermic men. Extremely low concentrations of free carnitine and acylcarnitine were found in semen from patients with obstructive azoospermia where the ejaculate was primarily of prostatis origin, and low values were also obtained in obstruction of the vas deferens, where the epididymal contents were not ejaculated. Semen from patients whose azoospermia was caused by testicular dysfunction had low acylcarnitine concentrations and normal levels of free carnitine in most cases, but a group of patients with severe testicular failure (including cases of Klinefelter syndrome and cryptorchidism) had low semen free carnitine concentrations. Whereas treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin increased serum testosterone levels in azoospermic patients, it did not increase the free carnitine concentration in semen, although it increased the proportion of carnitine found in acylcarnitines.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1979

Cell mediated and local immunity to spermatozoa in infertility.

The possibility of the immunological factor as an etiological cause of infertility was investigated in 50 infertile couples. Of these, 31 couples were considered as an "unexplained sterility" group, while in the other 19 couples a variety of disorders were diagnosed. In vitro, leucocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) was used for the detection of female cell-mediated immunity against sperm antigens. Sperm immobilization test (SIT) and sperm toxicity tests (STT) were used for the detection of antisperm antibodies in the cervical mucus. Out of the 31 "unexplained sterility" cases, six revealed a positive LMIT (5.3%). In 26 couples with an abnormal postcoital test (PCT), 10 cases had a positive SIT and STT (38.5%). However, out of the group of 16 couples with a normal PCT only in one case was a positive SIT and STT found (6.2%). The potential role of immunological reactions in infertility will be discussed.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1976

Immunological factors and post coital test in unexplained infertility.

Twenty-four couples facing longstanding primary or secondary infertility underwent semen analysis, PCT, functional evaluation of menstrual cycle, hysterosalpingography and laparscopy. All clinical findings were normal with the exception of PCT which was positive in 13 and negative in 11. All the women underwent a multiple approach investigation of local and circulating antibodies production as well as cell-mediated immunity against live spermatozoa. Sperm Immobilization Test (SIT) and Spermatotoxicity Tests (STT) were performed in a single experimental design on cervical mucus and blood serum. Leucocyte Migration Inhibition Test in presence of sperms (LMIT) was done on peripheral leucocytes. Local antispermatic activity in the cervical mucus was negative in all PCT positive cases, and positive in six out of 11 PCT negative cases. SIT and STT were both positive in cervical mucus and in blood in one case only. No correlation could be found between PCT and serum SIT, STT or LMIT. The fertility pattern expressed by the number of pregnancies per years of exposure, already low in the whole group, was even lower in the sub-groups with positive immunological factors. Positive immunological factors do not exclude the possibility of conception but appear to be associated with a reduced rate of conception.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1975

Studies on sperm antigenicity. 2. In vivo and in vitro cellular reactivity in guinea pigs sensitized to homologous and heterologous spermatozoal autoantigens.

In vitro delayed type hypersensitivity was demonstrated with peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs of the Rockefeller and Hartley strains, immunized with different preparations of the guinea pig male reproductive tract (RMT) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant-H37Ra. The RMT preparations were purified guinea pig spermatozoal autoantigens S, P, and T; whole guinea pig spermatozoa, and extract from epididymal tissue. The cellular sensitivity in vivo was demonstrated by injecting the proper antigen into the skin of the tested animals and in vitro by the macrophage inhibition technique. Peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs sensitized with whole guinea pig spermatozoa cells were inhibited in vitro by the specific antigen, epididymal extract, and autoantigen-T. Autoantigen-S was found to be a weak immunogen. However, the migration of peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs sensitized with large amounts of antigen-S was inhibited by whole spermatozoa in vitro. This cross-reactivity revealed the possibility that the immunogenicity of purified autoantigen-S might be connected to its molecular size. According to the immunizing dose of the antigens, testicular lesions of either the aspermatogenic or orchitis type were found in the testes of sensitized guinea pigs. Lesions in the testes of the guinea pigs were not detectable by cross-immunization with heterologous human or rat spermatozoa, although some degree of in vitro cross-reactivity was detected by skin test studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[Idiopathic hemoperitoneum in young women].

We present three cases of idiopathic hemoperitoneum or abdominal apoplexy in young women. At laparotomy a large quantity of blood was found in the abdomen in each patient, but active bleeding had stopped and the site of its origin was not established. A well-developed corpus luteum which was intact was found, of pregnancy in one case and of the progestationl phase in the two others. In all three cases the abdomen was closed without hemostasis being carried out. Recovery was rapid but the young woman who was pregnant aborted later. Etiology and the relationship of this syndrome with the state of pregnancy or the progestational phase are discussed as well as prognosis and the management.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Survey of carnitine content of human semen using a semiquantitative auxanographic method: decreased semen total carnitine concentration in patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.

A microbiological method, using the carnitine-requiring yeast, Torulopsis bovina ATCC 26014, was developed to identify samples of human semen which contained low levels (less than 250 micron M) of total carnitine. Of 399 semen samples from a male infertility clinic which were tested, 30 (7.5%) were low in carnitine. Of these, 14 were azoospermic and 16 were severely oligozoospermic. Some azoospermic samples (19 = 58%) and severely oligozoospermic samples (51 = 79%) did not give evidence of low carnitine concentrations. These results indicate that decreased total carnitine concentration in semen occurs in certain classes of azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic patients.

Biological Assay↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Investigations on the motility of human spermatozoa in a defined medium in the presence of metabolic inhibitors and of carnitine.

When washed human sperm were incubated in a modified Krebs-Ringer buffer solution in the absence of exogenous metabolizable substrates at 30 degrees C they maintained progressive motility for at least six hours. Under these conditions the spermatozoa apparently utilize endogenous substrates but addition of exogenous substrates (glucose, fructose, acetate, short-chain fatty acids, branched chain amino acids) did not affect the % progressive motility or % total motility of the cells. The phospholipase inhibitors, quinacrine and Upjohn No. 1002, inhibited progressive motility when added to sperm utilizing endogenous substrate, and subsequent addition of oxidative or glycolytic substrates did not reverse the inhibition. In contrast, the inhibition by KCN of progressive motility based upon utilization of endogenous substrate was reversed upon addition of glycolyzable compounds (glucose or fructose). The addition of carnitine or its acetyl-, propionyl-, isobutyryl-, valeryl- or isovaleryl esters did not consistently affect progressive or total motility of sperm samples. The inhibitor, octylsulfobetaine, inhibited sperm motility at a concentration higher than that required for inhibition of carnitine acetyltransferase or translocase activity. On the basis of these results it does not appear that exogenous carnitine has an effect on the motility of human sperm incubated under the conditions described here.

Carnitine↗