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PubMedDate not supplied

Epididymal white adipose tissue after cold stress in rats. II. Mitochondrial changes.

We have previously shown that after severe cold stress of rats the epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) acquires many of the morphological characteristics (innervation, vascularization, appearance of adipocytes) of brown adipose tissue (BAT). In the present study, the mitochondrial characteristics have been analyzed. Mitochondria from the epididymal fat pad of cold-stressed rats became enlarged and had a volume 1.7 times greater than that in the control group (0.5 microns 3 in the experimental versus 0.3 microns 3 in the control group). The mitochondria occupied about 60% of the cytoplasm (14% in the control group), thus approaching the highest value reported for any cell. The straight or slightly wavy cristae completely traversed the width of the mitochondria and occupied an area of 26 microns 2/1 microns 3 of mitochondrion in the experimental adipose tissue (7 microns 2 in the control group) and 15 microns 2/1 microns 3 of cytoplasm (1.4 microns 2 in the control). The mitochondrial matrix became electron lucid and could contain lamellar whorls, as could the surface of the mitochondria. These mitochondria of epididymal WAT resembled, both morphologically and morphometrically, mitochondria in the BAT of cold-exposed rodents. In the epididymal mitochondria, immunoelectron microscopy did not reveal the presence of the BAT-specific uncoupling protein thermogenin, nor could the slot-blot technique detect thermogenin mRNA. We conclude that even under these extreme conditions of cold stress, WAT cannot adopt the thermogenin-dependent thermogenesis of BAT. The dramatic mitochondriogenesis can be interpreted only as being indicative of an extremely high metabolism in the tissue, thus placing unprecedented pressure on the energy turnover capacity of the cell.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Role of testicular versus epididymal toxicity in the induction of cytotoxic damage in Fischer-344 rat sperm by methyl chloride.

Exposure of male Fischer-344 (F-344) rats to methyl chloride (MeCl) results in testicular and epididymal toxicity and the induction of both pre- and postimplantation embryonic loss; the preimplantation loss is caused by cytotoxic damage to sperm that leads to failure of fertilization (Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1986; 86:124-130). The present study examined whether the cytotoxicity of MeCl to sperm is due to the testicular or epididymal toxicity of MeCl. Groups of 18 males were exposed to 3000 ppm MeCl 6 h/day for 5 days, with and without concurrent treatment with the anti-inflammatory agent 3-amino-1-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline (BW755C; 10 mg/kg, i.p. 1 h pre- and postexposure); BW755C was used to inhibit the epididymal toxicity of MeCl. Control groups were untreated or injected as described above with BW755C. Six males from each group were killed weekly for 3 weeks. Toxic effects of MeCl on the testis were demonstrated by decreased relative organ weight (week 3), testicular histopathology (weeks 1-3) and decreased daily sperm production (weeks 1-3); these effects were not prevented by BW755C. In both the MeCl and the MeCl + BW755C treatment groups, tubules devoid of sperm were observed in regions 4 and 5 of the epididymis at week 2, and in regions 6A and 6B at week 3. Sperm were present in the vas deferens of both groups at week 3 in decreased numbers and had decreased motility and more frequent morphologic abnormalities compared to untreated controls. In conjunction with known epididymal transit times for F-344 rat sperm, these data indicate that the induction of preimplantation loss by MeCl at weeks 2 and 3 postexposure is likely to result from cytotoxic effects on sperm located in the testes at the time of exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The effect of Equex STM paste and sperm morphology on post-thaw survival of cat epididymal spermatozoa.

Cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa is a potentially valuable tool for preserving genetic material from individuals of endangered species that die accidentally. Improvement of sperm-freezing protocols would increase the efficacy of gene banking from endangered felids, and the domestic cat can be used as a model for the wild felids. Addition of the detergent Equex STM paste to semen freezing extenders has been found to improve post-thaw survival and longevity of spermatozoa from various species but has never been tested for cat spermatozoa. Spermatozoa from cats with a high percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa are more susceptible for cold injury and osmotic stress than spermatozoa from normozoospermic cats. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate: (a) if addition of Equex STM paste to a semen freezing extender would improve post-thaw sperm survival, and (b) if there is a relation between the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa and cryopreservation induced damage in cat epididymal spermatozoa. Spermatozoa harvested from epididymides of 10 male cats were frozen in a Tris egg yolk extender with or without the addition of Equex STM paste (0.5%, v/v). Sperm motility, membrane integrity and acrosomal status were evaluated immediately after harvesting, and at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h post-thaw. Sperm membrane integrity and acrosomal status were also evaluated after cooling to 4 degrees C, just before freezing. Cooling did not cause significant damage to the spermatozoa, whereas freezing damaged sperm membranes and acrosomes. Addition of Equex to the freezing extender had a significant positive effect on the percentage of intact acrosomes immediately after thawing (P > 0.05), but had a negative effect on the longevity of the spermatozoa; the percentages of membrane intact and motile spermatozoa being significantly lower in the presence of Equex than in the controls at 6h after thawing. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was not found to be correlated with either cryopreservation induced acrosome or plasma membrane damage, or with post-thaw motility (P > 0.05). The results clearly show that addition of Equex STM paste in the freezing extender protects the acrosomes of cat epididymal spermatozoa during the freezing--thawing process, but reduces the sperm longevity during in vitro incubation at 38 degrees C. Our results also indicate that the percentage of morphologically normal epididymal spermatozoa is not correlated with cryopreservation induced sperm damage using the described freezing protocol.

Acrosome↗
PubMed2004

Molecular evolution of epididymal lipocalin genes localized on mouse chromosome 2.

We previously identified two murine secretory proteins, mE-RABP(Lcn5) and mEP17(Lcn8), belonging to the lipocalin family and specifically expressed in the epididymis. The genes are contiguous and localized on mouse chromosome 2. We now show that five other related lipocalin genes, Lcn9, Lcn10, Lcn11, Lcn12, and Lcn13, that evolved by in situ tandem duplication are present on the same locus. Lcn9, Lcn10, Lcn12, and Lcn13 genes, like Lcn5 and Lcn8 genes, are specifically expressed in the mouse epididymis. However, each gene has a distinct spatial expression within the epididymis and different regulation. Analysis of the human genome sequence shows the presence of genes encoding lipocalins with genomic organization, chromosomal arrangement, and orientation similar to that of the corresponding murine genes, indicating that the epididymal cluster is evolutionary conserved. A phylogenetic analysis of the new epididymal proteins reveals their spread position in the lipocalin protein family tree. This suggests the preservation of the regulatory sequences, while protein sequences have greatly diverged, reflecting functional diversity and possibly multifunctionality. In terms of the cluster ancestry, epididymal expression possibly appeared in a PGDS-like lipocalin in amniotes, and the duplications generating the cluster occurred at least in the common ancestor of rodents and primates. The presence and conservation of a cluster of five genes encoding epididymal lipocalins, differently regulated and regionalized in the epididymis, strongly suggests that these proteins may play an important role for male fertility.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed2006

Cryopreservation effects on domestic cat epididymal versus electroejaculated spermatozoa.

Frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa have already been successfully used in artificial insemination in the domestic cat, proving to be a valuable resource for the reproduction of felid species, which are threatened with extinction. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of freezing and thawing on domestic cat semen collected by electroejaculation (EL) and from the epididymides (EP) and vasa deferentia. Ten adult cats were anesthetized, electroejaculated and immediately thereafter, orchiectomized. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected through the compression of caudae epididymidis and vasa deferentia. Spermatozoa were frozen-thawed following a single protocol. Sperm motility, sperm progressive status (0-5), plasma membrane integrity and morphology (light and transmission electron microscope) were assessed on two occasions, immediately after collection and after freezing and thawing. There were no significant differences between the electroejaculated and epididymal fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa for any of the variables. However, the incidence of acrosome defects after freezing and thawing increased by 19% based on light microscopy, whereas ultrastructural images revealed acrosome damages in most sperm cells. Since these acrosomal changes are known to affect sperm fertilising capacity, further studies are needed to optimize cryopreservation techniques for epididymal as well as electroejaculated domestic cat spermatozoa.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Isolation and biochemical characteristics of a molecular form of epididymal acid phosphatase of boar seminal plasma.

The fluid of boar epididymis is characterized by a high activity of acid phosphatase (AcP), which occurs in three molecular forms. An efficient procedure was developed for the purification of a molecular form of epididymal acid phosphatase from boar seminal plasma. We focused on the epididymal molecular form, which displayed the highest electrophoretic mobility. The purification procedure (dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography) used in this study gave more than 7000-fold purification of the enzyme with a yield of 50%. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The purified molecular form of the enzyme is a thermostable 50kDa glycoprotein, with a pI value of 7.1 and was highly resistant to inhibitors of acid phosphatase when p-nitrophenyl phosphate was used as the substrate. Hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate by the purified enzyme was maximally active at pH of 4.3; however, high catalytic activity of the enzyme was within the pH range of 3.5-7.0. Kinetic analysis revealed that the purified enzyme exhibited affinity for phosphotyrosine (K(m)=2.1x10(-3)M) and was inhibited, to some extent, by sodium orthovanadate, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of boar epididymal acid phosphatase is ELRFVTLVFR, which showed 90% homology with the sequence of human, mouse or rat prostatic acid phosphatase. The purification procedure described allows the identification of the specific biochemical properties of a molecular form of epididymal acid phosphatase, which plays an important role in the boar epididymis.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2006

The effect of homologous prostatic fluid on motility and morphology of dog epididymal spermatozoa extended and frozen in Biladyl with Equex STM paste or Andromed.

Although dog prostatic fluid decreases the longevity of ejaculated dog spermatozoa, it also increases their rate of motility and their fertility after vaginal insemination, as well as the fertility of epididymal spermatozoa after uterine insemination. These findings indicate a need to further characterize the effects of prostatic fluid on dog spermatozoa. This study was done to determine the effects (P<0.05) of homologous prostatic fluid added prior to cooling, after thawing, or at both times to epididymal spermatozoa from 21 dogs. The effects of two extenders were also determined. The one extender was Biladyl(*) with Equex STM paste(**) (BilEq) and the other Andromed(*) (Minitüb, Tiefenbach, Germany (*); Nova Chemical Sales, Scituate, MA, USA (**)). The response variables were percentage progressively motile spermatozoa (Prog) and morphology after thawing. Prog was measured at various times until 8h after extension (unfrozen spermatozoa) or until 2h after thawing. Prog after thawing was higher with BilEq than Andromed, when no prostatic fluid was added prior to cooling, and when prostatic fluid was added after thawing. BilEq resulted in a higher mean percentage of spermatozoa with bent principle pieces than Andromed and the addition of prostatic fluid prior to cooling resulted in lower mean percentages of cytoplasmic droplets and bent principle pieces than when none was added. The optimal combination was BilEq with prostatic fluid added prior to cooling (in order to inhibit the development of bent principle pieces) and after thawing (to achieve higher motility until 1h after thawing). This study shows that BilEq is more suitable for the freezing of epididymal spermatozoa than Andromed and that prostatic fluid improves the freezability and post-thaw longevity of epididymal spermatozoa frozen in BilEq.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Sequential testicular and epididymal damage in Zebu bulls experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax.

Six Zebu bulls aged between 31 and 34 months exhibiting good libido were used to study sequential testicular and epididymal damage in Trypanosoma vivax infection. Three bulls were infected with T. vivax, while the other three served as controls. All infected bulls became parasitaemic by day 5 post-infection and developed clinical trypanosomosis with rapidly developing anaemia. Representative bulls, one from each of the infected and control groups, were sacrificed on days 14, 28 and 56 post-infection. Testes and epididymides from these animals were studied histopathologically after processing and staining with haematoxylin and eosin (H and E). Testicular degeneration developed in all the infected bulls characterized by depletion of spermatogenic cells and destruction of interstitial tissue. The most severe testicular degeneration occurred in the bull that was sacrificed 56 days post-infection. Epididymal sperm reserves were 36%, 4% and 0%, respectively, in infected bulls that were sacrificed on days 14, 28 and 56 post-infection. The 0% epididymal sperm reserve may suggest complete cessation of spermatogenesis. It was concluded from this study that T. vivax infection of Zebu bulls could cause severe testicular and epididymal damage that may result in infertility or even sterility of the affected animals at early infection stages not previously thought.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A comparison of the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm from fertile men and men with obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm. DESIGN: Morphology of the three types of sperm was assessed by using Tygerberg strict criteria. SETTING: The Regional Fertility Center, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. PATIENT(S): Thirty-two men with obstructive azoospermia and 10 fertile men. INTERVENTION(S): Trucut needle testicular biopsy and percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration under local anesthetic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Percentages of normal sperm and sperm with head, midpiece, and tail defects for testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm. Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia was compared with that of fertile men. RESULT(S): The percentage of normal testicular sperm (4.3%) differed significantly from the percentages of normal epididymal (10. 8%) and ejaculated sperm (9.6%). Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia did not differ from that in fertile men. CONCLUSION(S): Tygerberg strict criteria are not suitable for the assessment of testicular sperm morphology.

Ejaculation↗
PubMed1995

Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the management of infertility due to obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recovery rate of spermatozoa from the epididymis using a percutaneous aspiration technique and to examine the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Private infertility clinic, London. SUBJECTS: Twenty patients with obstructive azoospermia who each had an attempt at IVF. The sperm used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection was retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in 16 patients. In one patient, microepididymal sperm aspiration was performed in addition because the quality of the sperm obtained by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration was not considered suitable for microinjection. In the remaining three patients, neither percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration nor microepididymal sperm aspiration resulted in the recovery of sperm, which was obtained by testicular biopsy in one of them. INTERVENTION: Assisted fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Normal fertilization and pregnancy rates. RESULTS: A total of 179 eggs were collected and 157 subsequently were microinjected. Normal fertilization occurred in 22 oocytes (14%) and the total number of embryos cleaved was 30. Twelve patients underwent ET in which three conceived (pregnancy rate 25% per transfer). The implantation rate was 10% and failed fertilization occurred in four cycles. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration can be used successfully to recover sperm in men with obstructive azoospermia for use in assisted fertilization IVF cycles. The technique is simple, effective, and less traumatic compared with an open microsurgical operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using microsurgically retrieved epididymal and testicular sperm.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment of couples who are infertile due to unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia with microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration or testicular sperm and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: The Egyptian IVF-ET Center in association with Cairo University. PATIENTS: Twenty-three couples who are infertile due to obstructive azoospermia in which reconstructive microsurgery failed or was not possible. INTERVENTIONS: Microsurgical epididymal or testicular sperm retrieval and ICSI in 24 cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertilization and pregnancies. RESULTS: All 24 cycles had successful fertilization and reached the ET stage. In microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration cases, fertilization rate per metaphase II oocyte was 63% (109/ 172). Six patients became pregnant, including one set of twins and one set of triplets. One pregnancy resulted from the use of cryothawed epididymal sperm. In testicular sperm aspiration cases, the fertilization rate was 59% (32/54) and four clinical pregnancies resulted. CONCLUSION: The use of microepididymal sperm aspiration or testicular sperm aspiration in conjunction with ICSI provide a highly precise and efficient procedure for achieving pregnancy in cases of unreconstuctable obstructive azoospermia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Factors associated with the quality before freezing and after thawing of sperm obtained by microsurgical epididymal aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether the cause, site of ductal obstruction, and characteristics of fluid aspirates are associated with the cryosurvival and fertility after thawing of sperm obtained during reconstruction of the excurrent ducts with microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration, vasal sperm aspiration, or both. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Andrology center at a tertiary care institution. PATIENT(S): Men undergoing reconstruction of the excurrent duct and sperm aspiration (n = 42) or microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (n = 11). INTERVENTION(S): Sperm were tested for an association with the cause and site of obstruction. Fertilization and pregnancy rates after sperm aspiration and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were evaluated for fresh and frozen aspirates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Motile sperm count and percentage motility after thawing. RESULT(S): The motile sperm count before freezing was significantly higher in the caput epididymis than in the corpus. The motile sperm count before freezing was related inversely to the distance from the caput where the sperm were aspirated. Sperm from clear and opaque fluid aspirates had better percent motility than those from cloudy and creamy fluid aspirates. High fertilization and pregnancy rates were achieved using both fresh and frozen epididymal sperm. CONCLUSION(S): None of the factors studied was associated with cryosurvival of aspirated epididymal or vasal spermatozoa. Because motility is low after thawing, these specimens are best used with ICSI.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Normal epididymal anatomy in boys.

It is accepted that a range of epididymal anomalies exists in boys with cryptorchidism, varying from ductal patency aberrations to abnormal attachments of the epididymis to the testes or even complete absence. Despite several series characterizing these variations, there are few studies of normal controls for comparison. We document normal epididymal anatomy in boys. During an 18-month period ending in 1991, 94 boys (mean age 4.8 years, range 1 month to 18 years) underwent inguinal or scrotal exploration unrelated to cryptorchidism. Epididymal anatomy was recorded for all exposed testes. Indications for surgery included hydrocele or hernia in 85 boys, torsion in 8 and varicocele in 1. A total of 112 epididymides was examined and the configurations were recorded as type 1-head and tail attachment with a "looped" body in 94 of 112 cases (83.9%), type 2-complete attachment to the testis in 14 (12.5%), type 3-head attachment only in 3 (2.7%), type 4-tail attachment only in 0 (0%), type 5-nonfusion in 1 (0.9%) and type 6-anomalies of ductal patency in 0 (0%). These data reveal that the most common epididymal configuration in normal boys is a looped epididymis with the head and tail attached (84%) followed by complete fusion with the testes (12.5%). Other variations are rare. Absence of the epididymis was not observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Significance of epididymal and ductal anomalies associated with testicular maldescent.

Epididymal abnormalities have long been found in conjunction with cryptorchid testicles. The aim of this study was to document the different types of epididymal and ductal anomalies in relation to the position of the cryptorchid testis and to determine their clinical significance. Exploration was performed on 187 cryptorchid testes in 174 boys. The position of the testis and the epididymal and ductal anomalies were documented at operation. A biopsy was taken from the testis or atretic spermatic cord structures for light microscopy. Epididymal, ductal and/or testicular anomalies were detected in 43 per cent of the 187 testes, including anomalies of ductal fusion, anomalies of ductal suspension and anomalies associated with absent or vanishing testes. Biopsy of the testes with severe anomalies of ductal fusion showed preservation of germ cells in 69 per cent and diminished germ cells in 31 per cent. The higher the arrest of testicular descent, the more grossly abnormal was the associated ductal system. Early successful orchiopexy alone may not ensure subsequent fertility despite the presence of normal germ cells.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1987

On unilateral testicular and epididymal torsion: no effect on the contralateral testis.

It is often stated that unilateral testicular torsion results in damage to the contralateral testis; however, there are a growing number of experimental and clinical papers which suggest this is not so. Conflicting results from experimental studies confuse the issue and may be due, among other things, to some specifics of the experimental model. In the present paper, we have examined bilateral rat testes 30 and 60 days after 720 degrees torsion to determine 1) the effect of unilateral testicular torsion with and without the inclusion of epididymal torsion, 2) the effect of relatively chronic torsion (24 hr., 10 day) versus relatively acute torsion (two hr., four hr.), and 3) the effect of establishing the model using scrotal surgery versus using an abdominal approach. Bilateral testicular histology, testis wt. (gm.), cauda epididymal sperm concentrations (sp./ml.), and cauda sperm motility scores (0-4) were examined. Ipsilateral testicular torsion or testicular plus epididymal torsion of two hr. or four hr. duration significantly reduced (p less than .05) ipsilateral testis weights, sperm concentrations, and motility scores, and disrupted normal tissue histology. Contralateral testicles were not altered. Epididymal ischemia alone produced no significant ipsilateral or contralateral effects. Chronic torsion (one day, 10 days) also destroyed ipsilateral testis function without altering the contralateral testicles. The occult cryptorchidism associated with the scrotal approach to establishing the torsion model had no effect on contralateral testicles. In no group, using either Lewis rats or Sprague-Dawley rats, were contralateral testicles altered by unilateral testicular torsion. These results plus recent clinical reports indicate that contralateral testicular damage due to ipsilateral torsion is hardly a proven phenomenon, let alone a significant factor contributing to male infertility.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Melatonin-induced stimulation of rat corpus epididymal epithelial cell proliferation.

Stimulation of rat epididymal epithelial cell proliferation by melatonin was demonstrated by thymidine incorporation and flow cytometric analyses. The stimulatory effect of melatonin was dependent on the hormone concentration and the duration of cell exposure to the hormone. Maximal stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into epididymal epithelial cells by melatonin was observed at 1 x 10(-9) M 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone in medium, while lower or higher concentrations of androgen attenuated the stimulatory effect of melatonin. Interestingly, a nuclear melatonin receptor agonist (1-[3-allyl-4-oxothiazolidine-2-ylidene]-4-methyl-thiosemi-carb azone, CGP 52608) induced opposite effect on epithelial cell proliferation to that produced by melatonin. Our data suggest that melatonin-induced stimulation of rat epididymal epithelial cell proliferation is not likely to be mediated by nuclear receptor. Furthermore, sequential changes of cell cycle distribution with melatonin treatment also supports a stimulatory action of melatonin on epididymal epithelial cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of epididymal, seminal vesicle, prostate, and testicular cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of cysts in the epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, and testes of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and determine their clinical significance. Extrarenal cystic involvement is a well-known manifestation of ADPKD. Although a few reports exist about cysts in the epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, and testes, the true prevalence of cysts in these organs is not well known. METHODS: A prospective study, consisting of 104 male patients and 62 male controls, was designed at three medical centers to evaluate the prevalence of epididymal, seminal vesicle, prostatic, and testicular cysts in patients with ADPKD by abdominal, transrectal, and scrotal ultrasound examinations. RESULTS: Among the 104 patients, epididymal cysts were present in 19 (18%), seminal vesicle cysts were present in 41 (39%), and prostatic cysts were present in 7 patients (7%); the proportion in the control group was 24% (P >0.05), 2% (P <0.01), and 5% (P >0.05), respectively. Testicular cysts were detected in only 3 control patients. Of the 104 patients, 96 were married, and primary infertility was present in 5 patients (5%). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that seminal vesicle cysts are frequent in ADPKD; epididymal cysts are not uncommon in ADPKD, but the frequency is not higher than in the control group; ADPKD should be looked for in patients with seminal vesicle cysts; and additional studies are necessary to evaluate the association between epididymal and seminal vesicle cysts and infertility in patients with ADPKD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effect of preincubation of cryopreserved porcine epididymal sperm.

Preincubation of spermatozoa is important for capacitation and successful fertilization in vitro. The effects of preincubation time on frozen-thawed boar epididymal spermatozoa as measured by sperm motility, acrosomal integrity and fertilization ability in vitro were examined. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected from three Large White boars and frozen. The thawed spermatozoa were preincubated for 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. Their motility was evaluated by a sperm motility analyzer and then the sperm motility indexes (SMIs) were calculated. The status of their acrosomal integrity was evaluated by triple-staining. Then, their fertilization ability was examined by in vitro fertilization (IVF) using porcine oocytes matured in vitro. SMIs of spermatozoa and the incidences of acrosome-intact live spermatozoa from the three boars were high (21-39 for SMI and 50-61% for acrosome-intact live spermatozoa) just after thawing, but both decreased as the duration of preincubation was prolonged (2-10 and 23-40%, respectively). The incidences of sperm penetration were high (61-89% of inseminated oocytes) when the sperm were preincubated for 0-60 min. However, sperm penetration decreased as the preincubation period was prolonged to 120 min. The degree of this decrease differed depending upon the boar from which the spermatozoa were obtained (10-72%). When the two parameters, sperm motility and acrosomal integrity, were analyzed statistically, the latter parameter rather than the former one showed a significant effect on penetration ability in vitro after each duration of preincubation. These results suggest that preincubation of frozen-thawed boar epididymal spermatozoa is not required for IVF and also that the maintenance of acrosomal integrity in unreacted status, rather than the maintenance of sperm motility, is important for fertilization ability after thawing and during preincubation of boar epididymal spermatozoa.

Acrosome↗