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Membrane fluidity predicts the outcome of cryopreservation of human spermatozoa.

Semen cryopreservation is an important procedure in the treatment of human infertility. However, the ability of spermatozoa to survive freeze/thaw processes varies between patients. Cryopreservation-induced stress may result in membrane injury with consequent loss of sperm motility and viability. We investigated the relationship between the physico-chemical state of the human sperm membranes and their tolerance to cryopreservation. Conventional characteristics of 20 semen samples were analysed before and after cryopreservation as well as their membrane fluidity assessed by measuring the fluorescence polarization anisotropy, which is inversely proportional to the fluidity. Correlation between fluidity and post-thaw recoveries of motile and viable spermatozoa were examined. Results showed that membrane anisotropy markedly varies between patients. In cryopreserved spermatozoa, anisotropy values were significantly higher than in fresh spermatozoa. Furthermore, recovery of motile and viable spermatozoa after freeze/thaw was strongly correlated with anisotropy of fresh spermatozoa (P < 0.05). The higher the membrane fluidity was before freezing, the better was the response of spermatozoa to cryopreservation. The results indicate that the freeze/thaw process results in a rigidifying effect on the sperm membrane and suggest that sperm adaptability to freeze/thaw-induced stress could be dependent on their initial membrane fluidity. The latter finding has practical implications for predicting the response of spermatozoa following freezing and thawing and for improving the recovery of viable spermatozoa.

Cell Membrane↗

Induction of spermatogenesis in azoospermic men after varicocele repair.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment outcome after varicocele repair in azoospermic men and to correlate this outcome with the testicular histology patterns. METHODS: Medical records of 15 azoospermic men who underwent testis biopsy and microsurgical repair of clinical varicocele between July 1999 and November 2000 were reviewed. All patients had at least two semen analyses showing azoospermia taken before the surgery and two semen analyses post-operatively. Hypospermatogenesis was identified in four, maturation arrest in six, and germ cell aplasia in five men. RESULTS: Induction of spermatogenesis was achieved in seven men (47%). Of these, four had germ cell aplasia and three had maturation arrest. The improvement in sperm concentration and motility in patients with germ cell aplasia ranged from 1.8 to 7.9 x 10(6)/ml, and from 32 to 76% respectively. Of these seven patients with improvement in semen quality, five relapsed into azoospermia 6 months after the recovery of spermatogenesis (four germ cell aplasia and one maturation arrest). One patient with maturation arrest established a pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Azoospermic patients may have an improvement in semen quality following varicocelectomy. Semen samples should be cryopreserved after an initial improvement following varicocelectomy, as relapse to a state of azoospermia may occur.

Adult↗

A culture system using human foreskin fibroblasts as feeder cells allows production of human embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines were first cultured using fetal mouse fibroblasts as feeder cells. To avoid feeders and to reduce the amount of xeno-components, Matrigel- and laminin-coated dishes, and conditioned mouse feeder cell medium have been used, and hES cells have also been cultured on human fetal muscle and skin, and adult Fallopian tube epithelial cells. METHODS: We used post-natal, commercially available human foreskin fibroblasts as feeder cells. Inner cell masses (ICM) were isolated from five supernumerary blastocysts, obtained as donations from couples undergoing IVF treatment. RESULTS: Two ICM showed continuous growth. One line, HS181, has been in culture for 41 weeks with a doubling time of 24-36 h. It continues to express stem cell markers alkaline phosphatase, Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 and tumour-related antigen (TRA)-1-60. The karyotype is 46,XX. Pluripotency was demonstrated by teratoma formation in immunodeficient mice. In high-density cultures, spontaneous differentiation to beating cells and neuron-like cells was seen. The second line, HS207, was cultured for 9 weeks and cryopreserved, as were samples of line HS181. Both lines began to grow after thawing. CONCLUSIONS: We used successfully human foreskin fibroblasts as feeder cells for derivation and continued undifferentiated growth of hES cells. These feeder cells are convenient for IVF units, because no fetal human tissues or tissue from operations are needed.

Animals↗

Immune and hematopoietic parameters in HIV-1-infected chimpanzees during clinical progression toward AIDS.

Until recently, chimpanzees were considered susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, but refractory to disease induction based on the asymptomatic status of all experimentally infected chimpanzees after over 10 years postinfection (PI). However, a decline in peripheral CD4+ T cells was noted in one chimpanzee (C499) of the Yerkes cohort of HIV-1 infected apes, after 11 years PI concurrent with increasing plasma viral load. These clinical signs were followed by the occurrence of opportunistic infections, thrombocytopenia, and progressive anemia leading to euthanasia. A second chimpanzee (C455) was transfused with blood from C499 collected during the symptomatic stage. Shortly thereafter, this second animal showed a rapid decline in peripheral CD4+ T-cell levels and sustained high viral load. Hematological analyses showed a 50% decrease in CFU-GM for both apes during the symptomatic phase and a reduction of 40% and 73% of the total CFU despite normal levels of CD34+ cells in the bone marrow. Cryopreserved sequential PBMC samples from these two chimpanzees were analyzed for constitutive and PHA-P induced levels of cytokines and chemokines. Data show that whereas there were no detectable constitutive levels of mRNA coding for IL-2, 4, and 10, there appears to be a transient increase in IFN-gamma message level coincident with increased viremia and this IFN-gamma synthesis decreased with disease progression. PHA-induced cytokine mRNA analysis showed low or undetectable levels of IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA in all samples and a marked decrease in the levels of IL-2 shortly after HIV infection. In addition, there was also a gradual decrease in IFN-gamma mRNA with progression of disease. Of interest were the findings of high to normal levels of PHA-induced synthesis of the chemokines MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES in samples during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic period, which also dramatically decreased at late stages of the disease. These data suggest important roles for IL-2, IFN-gamma, and the chemokines in the regulation of immune responses in HIV-1-infected chimpanzees.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effects on the quality of frozen-thawed alpaca (Lama pacos) semen using two different cryoprotectants and extenders.

AIM: To evaluate two extenders and two cryoprotectant agents (CPA) for alpaca semen cryopreservation. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from four adult alpacas (Lama pacos) and frozen using extender I (TRIS, citrate, egg yolk and glucose) or extender II (skim milk, egg yolk and fructose), each containing either glycerol (G) or ethylene glycol (EG) as CPA. Consequently, four groups were formed: 1) extender I-G; 2) extender I-EG; 3) extender II-G; and 4) extender II-EG. Semen was diluted in a two-step process: for cooling to 5 degrees (extenders without CPA), and for freezing (extenders with CPA). Viability and acrosome integrity were assessed using trypan blue and Giemsa stains. RESULTS: When compared, the motility after thawing was higher (P >0.05) in groups II-EG (20.0% +/- 6.7%) and II-G (15.3 % +/- 4.1% ) than that in groups I-G (4.0 % +/- 1.1%) and I-EG (1.0 % +/- 1.4%). Viable spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in groups II-EG (18.7 % +/- 2.9%) and II-G (12.7 % +/- 5.9%) were higher than that in groups I-G (5.7% +/- 1.5%) and I-EG (4.0% +/- 1.0%). CONCLUSION: The skim milk- and egg yolk-based extenders containing ethylene glycol or glycerol to freeze alpaca semen seems to promote the survival of more sperm cells with intact acrosomes than the other extenders.

Animals↗

Effect of fleroxacin and ciprofloxacin on the formation of human mature colonies of healthy donor versus transplanted hemopoietic progenitor cells.

The effect of fleroxacin and ciprofloxacin on hemopoietic progenitor cells was tested in vitro. Cryopreserved bone marrow samples from 5 patients with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent bone marrow transplantation as well as samples from the respective donors were investigated in parallel. Regarding burst and/or colony formation by erythroid, neutrophil and macrophage precursors, no significant differences were detected with donor and transplanted bone marrows between control cultures and cultures containing 100 mg/l fleroxacin, while 100 mg/l ciprofloxacin inhibited cell proliferation completely. At 50 and 10 mg/l ciprofloxacin had a 50% and no inhibitory effect, respectively.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

[Establishment of permanent lymphoblastoid cell lines of 47 patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype].

To increase the efficiency of in vitro transformation of human lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and establish permanent lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype, B lymphoid cells were prepared from cryopreserved heparinized blood samples. The lymphoid cell pellet was resuspended with 0.5 ml medium of RPMI with 20% fetal calf serum(FCS), and added 2 ml virus-containing superatant of the EB virus-producing cell lines by filtrated, and mixed. Four 25 cm2 cell culture bottles were put upright. A total of 2.5 ml of RPMI with 20% FCS was put in each of them. The blood-virus mixture was distributed among the four cell culture bottles as follows: Bottle I, Bottle II, Bottle III and Bottle IV were added with 0.3 ml, 0.6 ml, 1.2 ml and the rest respectively. The cells culture bottles were put into the cell culture incubator in an upright position. After 3 days the cells were puting new medium with 20% FCS as follows: Bottle I 3 ml, Bottle II 4 ml, Bottle III 5 ml and Bottle IV 6 ml. After one week, the medium was changed again as described above. The medium change was conducted until the cells grew very fast. The right ratio between blood cells and virus titer can not be exactly determined for every blood sample, and therefore a dilution series with four different blood/virus ratios was set up. Due to the dilution series, addition of immune inhibitors like cyclosporine, was not necessary. Forty-seven permanent lymphoblastoid cell lines of patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype. Transformed cells were found in only one or two of the four cell culture bottles. The total successive rate increased up to 97.87%. Of the four cell culture bottles, Bottle I, Bottle II, Bottle III and Bottle IV, the successive rates were 6.39%, 61.70%, 31.91% and 8.51% respectively. This method can be used for preserving large number of lymphoblastoid cell lines, and also provide enough research materials for further studies.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

[Chromosomal disorders in the background of azoospermia].

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays more and more couples face the fact that they cannot have babies in spite of many years of trying. The male factor can be identified in about half of these cases. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse chromosomal alterations in patients with azoospermia. These patients may be candidates for testicular sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmatic sperm injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative evaluation included routine andrological investigation with 2 semen analysis, ultrasound, hormonal and genetic examination. Traditional histological examination and embryological diagnostic of tissue samples was performed. Cryopreservation of retrieved testicular tissue was also done. Between January 2001 and June 2005 73 biopsies were performed in 71 patients for testicular sperm extraction. In order to obtain an exact diagnosis, the traditional cytogenetic methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses were performed in combination with molecular genetic techniques. Patients were offered to participate in the assisted reproduction programme on the base of their genetic results. RESULTS: In this study, the most characteristic cases were numerical deviations, such as 47,XXY (2 cases), mosaic 47,XXY/49,XXXXY (1 case), 47,XYY (1 case) and mosaic 46,XY/45,X (1 case) karyotypes. Non-obstructive azoospermia was diagnosed in 53 patients (79%). CONCLUSIONS: Authors emphasised the importance of cyto- and molecular examinations in cases of genetical disorders. The results provide a chance for patients to be spared from long-drawn moreover psychological burdening examinations. In addition the costs of different clinical intervention could be saved too.

Adult↗

Progenitor cell numbers (CFU-GM, CFU-D, and CFU-Mix) and hemopoietic recovery following autologous marrow transplantation.

Forty-one consecutive patients were treated with high-dose chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation followed by autologous marrow transplantation. Four treatment regimens of varying intensity were used. Every patient's harvested marrow was evaluable for nucleated cell and progenitor cell loss during the cell separation and cryopreservation process. Of the 41 patients, 38 were evaluable for peripheral blood count recovery. Multivariate analysis of colony-forming cell assays and recovery of neutrophils and platelets showed a significant association with absolute numbers of post-thaw mixed colony-forming units (CFU-Mix) infused (p less than 0.002). Prefreeze CFU-Mix also correlated with recovery to a lesser degree, as did absolute numbers of nucleated cells. The number of diffusion chamber colony-forming units (CFU-D) prefreeze, but not post-thaw infused into the patient, was associated with recovery of neutrophils (p = 0.0001), but not platelets. When the precursor cell numbers were adjusted for body weight, post-thaw CFU-Mix showed the best correlation with recovery of both platelets and neutrophils. Prefreeze CFU-D per kg was also associated with recovery of neutrophils (p = 0.02). To some extent nucleated cells per kg predicted for recovery with neutrophils and platelets (p less than 0.05). When analyzed according to treatment regimen, cyclophosphamide-BCNU-VP16 (CBV) or cyclophosphamide-total body irradiation (CY/TBI) was associated with prolonged recovery compared to cyclophosphamide-adriamycin-vinblastine (CAV) or etoposide-cyclophosphamide (EC). In this setting only CFU-D number predicted neutrophil recovery (p less than 0.002). We conclude that determination of the number of total nucleated cells, CFU-D, and CFU-Mix, before cryopreservation of the sample is important in predicting hemopoietic reconstitution in autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Acute promyelocytic leukemia in children: experience of the Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (AIEOP).

Scanty information is available on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in children, and whether differences are present with respect to the adult form. The experience of the Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (AIEOP) will be presented with respect to the following aspects: 1. Incidence of APL. The incidence of APL is generally considered to account for 3-9% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in children and approximately 10-15% in adults. Recently a single Italian pediatric institution reported that APL constituted one third of observed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (AnLL) cases. Data from the AIEOP cooperative study group have confirmed that APL in Italy is more frequently observed in children as compared to other countries. Environmental and/or genetic factors should be considered to explain such differences. 2. Diagnosis of M3v. The clinical and biological features of the largest series of childhood M3v will be presented and the problems encountered in the proper separation of 'classic' M3 and M3v in children will be discussed. 3. Clinical Aspects. The clinical features of the APL patients enrolled in the AIEOP study groups since 1989, will be presented with emphasis on the recent experience with the use of all-trans retinoic acid. 4. Analysis of PML/RAR alpha Fusion Transcripts. An RT-PCR analysis of 32 pediatric APL cases from cryopreserved bone marrow samples has been performed. It is concluded that APL in children did not differ significantly from the adult form, with the exception of a higher incidence of PML bcr3 breakpoint.

Age Factors↗

Acute promyelocytic leukemia in children: experience of the Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (AIEOP).

Scanty information is available on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in children, and whether differences are present with respect to the adult form. The experience of the Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (AIEOP) will be presented with respect to the following aspects: 1. Incidence of APL. The incidence of APL is generally considered to account for 3-9% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in children and approximately 10-15% in adults. Recently a single Italian pediatric institution reported that APL constituted one third of observed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (AnLL) cases. Data from the AIEOP cooperative study group have confirmed that APL in Italy is more frequently observed in children as compared to other countries. Environmental and/or genetic factors should be considered to explain such differences. 2. Diagnosis of M3v. The clinical and biological features of the largest series of childhood M3v will be presented and the problems encountered in the proper separation of 'classic' M3 and M3v in children will be discussed. 3. Clinical Aspects. The clinical features of the APL patients enrolled in the AIEOP study groups since 1989, will be presented with emphasis on the recent experience with the use of all-trans retinoic acid. 4. Analysis of PML/RAR alpha Fusion Transcripts. An RT-PCR analysis of 32 pediatric APL cases from cryopreserved bone marrow samples has been performed. It is concluded that APL in children did not differ significantly from the adult form, with the exception of a higher incidence of PML bcr3 breakpoint.

Adolescent↗

Frequencies of hprt mutant lymphocytes in smokers, non-smokers, and former smokers.

Previous work with the autoradiographic mutant lymphocyte assay has provided information about the time-course of development of hprt mutations and the persistence of detectable mutant cells in human subjects following therapeutic exposures to genotoxic agents. These early studies also revealed elevations in frequencies of mutant cells in pretreatment blood samples from patients who were current tobacco smokers, but no information was available on former smokers. In the present study, blood samples were obtained from 21 healthy former tobacco smokers who had quit smoking at least 1 year before sampling, 42 subjects who had never smoked, and 23 tobacco smokers. Plasma from all samples was tested for cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. Current smokers were categorized as heavy smokers (> or = 10 cigarettes per day, cotinine > or = 90 ng/ml plasma) and light smokers (< 10/day, cotinine < 90 ng/ml). Lymphocytes from the blood samples were isolated, cryopreserved, and later thawed and assayed with the autoradiographic hprt assay. The 21 former tobacco smokers had a mean variant (mutant) frequency (Vf +/- standard error) of 1.97 (+/-0.13) per million evaluatable cells. The Vf of 42 subjects who had never smoked was 1.74 (+/-0.13) x 10(-6), not significantly different from the former smokers. The smokers had Vfs of 8.09 (+/-0.78) x 10(-6) for 18 heavy smokers and 5.22 (+/-1.02) x 10(-6) for five light smokers. The two categories of smokers had frequencies of mutant cells significantly different from each other, and each was significantly higher than non-smokers and former smokers (P < 0.05). Vfs were significantly correlated with both cotinine concentrations and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, P < 0.001. This study demonstrates the sensitivity of the autoradiographic hprt assay for detecting mutagenic effects related to chronic low-level exposures to genotoxins, and indicates that this assay is more likely to detect the effects of recent rather than past exposures.

Adolescent↗

Ejaculation failure on the day of oocyte retrieval for IVF: case report.

Unexpected ejaculation failure on the day of oocyte retrieval for IVF occurs once or twice a year in our Reproductive Medicine Unit, where approximately 500 oocyte retrievals are performed each year. Two clinical situations which occurred in 2001 are presented. In the first case, sperm were finally obtained by epididymal aspiration and resulted in the fertilization of five oocytes by ICSI. The transfer of two fresh embryos did not result in a pregnancy and the three supernumerary zygotes were cryopreserved. The male patient presented an anxio-depressive episode necessitating psychiatric hospitalization 1 week after the oocyte retrieval. In the second case, no sperm were obtained and the four oocytes were therefore lost. The couple went through a crisis in their relationship and tried another cycle of IVF 10 months later, after the preventive cryopreservation of a sperm sample. On the day of oocyte retrieval the patient was unable to produce a fresh sample but three zygotes were obtained through ICSI using the back-up cryopreserved sperm. Two embryos were transferred but no pregnancy ensued. The clinical decision-making processes for these two cases are described, as well as the measures employed to help prevent these unfortunate situations.

Adult↗

Comparison of stem cell viability of bone marrow cryopreserved by two different methods.

Two different cryogenic methods were used to study the preservation of murine bone marrow cells. Compared to the classical methods, in which separated mononuclear marrow cells in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C), a modified technique was carried out by cryopreservation of unfractionated marrow cells in a mixed protectant of 5% DMSO and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) at -80 degrees C. Samples that were separately thawed after storage for 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks were assayed for cell viability and recovery of CFU-GM and CFU-S. No macroscopic clumping of cells was noted either in fractionated or in unfractionated marrow cell cryopreservations. A mild damage, about 25% reduction of stem cells, was found at 1 week and did not deepen further. It seems that the greatest loss of stem cells occurred in the process of cryopreservation itself. Compared to prefreeze values, both a high number of cells that excluded trypan blue (87 +/- 3.4%) and a high recovery of CFU-GM (75 +/- 9.8%) and CFU-S (74 +/- 11.2) were observed in unfractionated marrow samples cryopreserved with the DMSO/HES mixture at -80 degrees C for 3 months and these results were very similar to those obtained from fractionated mononuclear marrow cells cryopreserved at -196 degrees C. The DMSO/HES protectant provides a simplified bone marrow cryopreservation technique that should be favorable to clinical application because of its high stem cell recovery and avoidance of cell-separation manipulation.

Animals↗

Biometric analysis of phenotypic characters of potato shoot-tips recovered from tissue culture, dimethyl sulphoxide treatment and cryopreservation.

A biometric approach partly involving principal component analysis has been used to examine the changes in phenotypic characters of shoot-tip derived potato plants recovered from tissue culture, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and cryopreservation in comparison with field-grown tuber-derived plants. There were significant differences in the quantitative characters height and tuber weight in the cryopreserved plants compared to those derived from DMSO treatment and tissue culture. These three experimental groups were shown to significantly differ from field-grown plants in the characters, tuber weight followed by height and length of petiole. The use of biometrics as an analytical approach in genetic stability assessments of plants recovered from cryopreservation to relatively small sample sizes is discussed.

Biometry↗

CryoSCAPE: Scalable immune profiling using cryopreserved whole blood for multi-omic single cell and functional assays.

BACKGROUND: The field of single cell technologies has rapidly advanced our comprehension of the human immune system, offering unprecedented insights into cellular heterogeneity and immune function. While cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples enable deep characterization of immune cells, challenges in clinical isolation and preservation limit their application in underserved communities with limited access to research facilities. We present CryoSCAPE (Cryopreservation for Scalable Cellular And Proteomic Exploration), a scalable method for immune studies of human PBMC with multi-omic single cell assays using direct cryopreservation of whole blood. RESULTS: Comparative analyses of matched human PBMC from cryopreserved whole blood and density gradient isolation demonstrate the efficacy of this methodology in capturing cell proportions and molecular features. The method was then optimized and verified for high sample throughput using fixed single cell RNA sequencing and liquid handling automation with a single batch of 60 cryopreserved whole blood samples. Additionally, cryopreserved whole blood was demonstrated to be compatible with functional assays, enabling this sample preservation method for clinical research. CONCLUSIONS: The CryoSCAPE method, optimized for scalability and cost-effectiveness, allows for high-throughput single cell RNA sequencing and functional assays while minimizing sample handling challenges. Utilization of this method in the clinic has the potential to democratize access to single-cell assays and enhance our understanding of immune function across diverse populations.

Humans↗

Cryopreservation of ram semen facilitates sperm DNA damage: relationship between sperm andrological parameters and the sperm chromatin structure assay.

We hypothesized that cryopreservation and incubation in conditions that mimic the female genital tract following insemination increases the susceptibility of ram sperm DNA to denaturation. Ram sperm samples (n = 12) underwent the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and semen quality tests, including motility parameters, viability, and chlortetracycline fluorescence (CTC) patterns. We also assessed correlations between SCSA variables and semen quality parameters. Analyses were performed for both fresh and cryopreserved samples at 0, 3, and 20 hours of incubation in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF; 39 degrees C, 5% CO(2)). The SCSA variables, mean alpha t (X alpha(t)) and standard deviation of alpha t (SD alpha(t)), were higher because of cryopreservation (P <.05, P <.001, respectively) after 20 hours in SOF. For both fresh and frozen spermatozoa, SCSA values (X alpha(t), SD alpha(t), and the percentage of cells outside the main population of alpha(t) [%COMP alpha(t)]) increased during incubation in SOF. Motility was negatively correlated with both SD alpha(t) and %COMP alpha(t), ranging from -0.39 (P <.01) to -0.59 (P <.001) for both fresh and cryopreserved semen; viability also was negatively correlated with X alpha(t), SD alpha(t), or %COMP alpha(t) (-0.36; P <.05, -.40 and -.46; P <.01, respectively) in fresh semen. The %COMP alpha(t) was positively correlated to the percentage of CTC pattern AR (P <.001) and negatively correlated to the percentages of patterns F and B (-0.33 to -0.60, P <.05 to P <.001). Variation among ejaculates within ram was observed (P <.01). Cryopreservation clearly facilitates DNA damage in physiological conditions. The low to moderate correlations between SCSA variables and classical semen quality parameters indicate that the SCSA provides additional information to standard tests for evaluating ram sperm quality.

Animals↗

Use of cryopreserved peripheral mononuclear blood cells in biomonitoring.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of storing blood samples by freezing on selected biomarkers and possible implications for biomonitoring. Comparative measurements were performed in order to investigate the use of cryopreserved vs. freshly separated peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBC) obtained from donor blood. Measurements of DNA-repair, mutant frequency, and subcell content were included. Samples for large biomonitoring studies are usually taken from study groups within a short time period of days/weeks and storing of study material for later analysis can be necessary. We measured the DNA repair activity as dimethylsulfate induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in PMBC incubated with either autologous plasma or fetal bovine serum (FBS). Comparison of the hprt mutant frequency by the T cell cloning assay was made in parallel. Finally the content of B/T-lymphocytes and monocytes was measured in phytohemaglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures at different time intervals. The results showed a higher DNA repair activity in cryopreserved samples compared with fresh samples. We also found differences in mutant frequencies with higher values in fresh samples. A significant correlation of frequencies was seen when comparing fresh with cryopreserved samples. Furthermore we recommend fresh human plasma used in UDS incubation media.

Biomarkers↗