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Thyroid epididymal relationship. II. Influence of hyperthyroidism on epididymal lipids.

The influence of experimentally induced hyperthyroidism on the lipid composition of the caput and cauda epididymides has been studied in pubertal and adult rats. Thyroxine treatment did not alter the major lipid classes in the epididymis. However, regional and age-related fluctuations in the concentration of mono-, di- and triacylglycerols have been observed. While the diacylglycerols increase, mono- and triacylglycerols were found to decrease, suggesting an inverse relationship between these fractions. Among the phospholipid fractions, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were reduced. The changes in epididymal lipid profiles give an indication that the epididymis may be yet another site responsible for fertility disturbances in hyperthyroid males. The withdrawal of thyroxine from hyperthyroid animals returned the epididymal lipid profiles to normal levels. This indicates that the effects of thyroxine in the epididymis are temporary and reversible following thyroxine withdrawal.

Animals↗

Increase in fluid viscosity during epididymal transit and the immobilization of rat epididymal spermatozoa.

A microcapillary method was developed to measure the viscosity of small volumes of undiluted epididymal fluid. Fluid from the cauda epididymis registered 82 +/- 17 centipoise which was much more viscous than fluid from the caput region (8 +/- 2 centipoise). Initiation of sperm motility was strongly suppressed in the viscosity range of 7 to 150 centipoise. A significant increase in the viscosity of fluid from the caput region was observed when immobilin in the fluid binds with a lectin from Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Thus, it is postulated that aggregation of the immobilin induced by a lectin-like material produced by the cauda epididymis may be a mechanism by which fluid viscosity is increased during epididymal transit.

Animals↗

Nonprotein thiols and disulfides in rat epididymal spermatozoa and epididymal fluid: role of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase in sperm maturation.

Sperm thiol oxidation during sperm maturation is important for sperm component stabilization, the acquisition of sperm motility, and fertilizing ability. A correct degree of oxidation is required, since spermatozoa are very susceptible to oxidative damage. The pathways involved in physiologic sperm thiol oxidation in the epididymis are not completely understood. The nonprotein thiol glutathione (GSH), in addition to playing a major role as an antioxidant and in eliminating toxic compounds, has been implicated in prooxidation processes in various cells, via gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT)-dependent catabolism. Little information is available on the dynamics of nonprotein thiols (NPSHs) and disulfides (NPSSNPs) in spermatozoa and epididymal fluid (EF) during sperm passage in the epididymis. It is not clear whether NPSHs and NPSSNPs are involved in sperm protein thiol (PSH) oxidation or whether GSH catabolism in the epididymis can serve as a pathway for sperm PSH oxidation. In the present study, we used the thiol fluorescence labeling agent monobromobimane to analyze NPSHs and nonprotein disulfides (NPSSRs) (R, nonprotein or protein) in spermatozoa and EF in the rat caput and cauda epididymis. NPSH levels are shown to be significantly higher in the caput than in the cauda (spermatozoa and fluid). GSH in the caput lumen is subject to high gamma-GT activity. A marked loss of sperm GSH and a shift to an oxidized state (resulting in a significantly higher concentration of glutathione disulfides [GSSRs] than GSH) occur during the passage of spermatozoa from the caput to the cauda epididymis. Caput EF and extracellular NPSSNPs induce sperm thiol oxidation. The results suggest that epididymal NPSH/NPSSNP participates in sperm PSH oxidation and that some reactions of GSH in the gamma-GT pathway (in the epididymis) provide oxidizing power, leading to physiologic sperm thiol oxidation.

Animals↗

Does epididymal length in men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens have a correlation with the fertilization rate of epididymal sperm retrieved by micropuncture technique?

To investigate whether the variable length of the epididymis in men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) might have a correlation with fertilization and pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, we conducted a retrospective study involving a total of 60 CBAVD patients. All patients in this study had epididymal micropuncture in conjunction with perivascular nerve stimulation as part of the IVF program at the Nagoya University Hospital Reproduction Center. The patients were classified into 3 groups: group I consisted of patients having only a proximal portion of the caput epididymidis with a length of between 0.5 and 1.9 cm, group II consisted of patients with the caput and a portion of the corpus epididymidis with a length of between 2.0 and 4.0 cm, and group III consisted of patients with the caput, corpus and cauda of the epididymis measuring more than 4.0 cm. There were no differences in the sperm count, progression and normal morphology among the 3 groups; however, the motility was progressively higher in patients with a longer epididymis (12% in group 1, 18% in group II and 31% in group III). It was evident that group III showed the highest fertilization and pregnancy rate per patient (23% and 28%, respectively) among the 3 groups. This study shows that epididymal sperm from CBAVD patients with a longer epididymis have a higher IVF rate than CBAVD patients with a shorter epididymis.

Epididymis↗

Epididymal stereocilia in semen of infertile men: evidence of chronic epididymitis?

As free stereocilia in semen samples from infertile men could be related to a subclinical chronic infection of the seminal tract, we carried out a retrospective analysis of 14 files of infertile men with stereocilia in semen (group 1) and in two control groups: 30 infertile men from the same study population (group 2) and 40 fertile sperm donors (group 3). Clinical, bacteriological, sonographic and microscopic findings associated with these semen samples were compared. Epididymal cysts were found in two of 14 men in group 1 and in four of 28 in group 2. Positive semen cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum (chi(2) = 8.20; P = 0.002; OR: 7.22) and varicocele (chi(2) = 8.96; P = 0.002; OR: 2.25) were associated to the presence of free stereocilia in semen. These data suggest that a silent chronic infection of the epididymis by C. trachomatis, M. hominis, U. urealyticum and/or inflammation produced by varicocele might be the cause of stereocilia loss in the semen.

Adult↗

Epididymitis nodosa. An epididymal lesion analogous to vasitis nodosa.

We studied eight cases of an epididymal lesion resembling vasitis nodosa. Four cases were encountered among a group of patients who underwent epididymectomy for pain following vasectomy. The other four cases occurred in the absence of that history. The lesion probably represents a regenerative effort following rupture of a duct resulting from long-standing obstruction, either locally or at some point distally in the ductal system. Recognition is important to prevent misdiagnosis as a neoplasm.

Adult↗

[Epididymitis and fertility. Treatment results in acute unspecific epididymitis].

Spermiograms of 46 patients were examined 8 days, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after acute unilateral non-specific epididymitis. The treatment consisted in 24 cases besides antibiotic treatment with doxycycline in local infiltrations of the spermatic cord with 1% Scandicain solution. Primarily there was found an inhibiting effect on spermatogenesis. In more than 2/3 of the cases a varying oligoasthenospermia was shown 8 days after beginning of the infection. In the further course this disturbance of fertility improves; if local infiltration of the spermatic cord with 1% Scandicain solution is performed, the improvement is more evident. Still, there remain about 20% of the cases in which the fertility disturbance is so severe, that sterility results. One year after the beginning of the infection spermagglutinating antibodies could be shown only in 1 case. The seminal fluid fructose was controlled over 1 year following the beginning of infection and found to be normal in all cases.

Acute Disease↗

Conjugation of maturation-related wheat-germ-lectin-binding proteins to caput epididymal sperm in co-cultures with corpus epididymal epithelial cells of BALB/c mouse.

In BALB/c mice, two maturation-related wheat-germ-binding glycoproteins (GP-49 and GP-83) are synthesized and secreted by corpus and cauda epididymis. A co-culture technique was used to investigate these glycoproteins in principal cells of corpus epididymis and the conjugation of these molecules on caput sperm. The principal cells were recovered from corpus epididymides of 4-week-old mice and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. After culturing for 3-4 days, most cells revealed epithelial cell-specific keratins in immunofluorescent localization with monoclonal antibody. By electron microscopy, a prominent nucleolus with well-extended euchromatin was revealed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm contained multivesicular bodies, and a well-developed Golgi apparatus with endoplasmic reticulum. By SDS-PAGE, GP-83 and GP-49 were revealed in the cell extracts and cell culture supernatants after incubation with 35S-methionine. Radiolabeled binding sites were also found on the surface of caput sperm co-cultured with the principal cells for 4 h in the presence of 35S-methionine. WGA-binding glycoproteins may be synthesized and secreted by the principal cells of corpus epididymis and conjugated to caput sperm during the epididymal transit.

Animals↗

The effects of acidic epididymal glycoprotein (AEG) and some other proteins on the motility of rat epididymal spermatozoa.

Acidic epididymal glycoprotein (AEG) had a slight stimulatory effect on the motility of spermatozoa showing low initial motility which had been removed by micropuncture from the caput and corpus epididymidis of rats. However, similar effects were seen when bovine serum albumin (BSA) or purified gammaglobulin against AEG was used instead of AEG. Furthermore, BSA, normal rabbit serum and serum from a rabbit immunized against AEG reduced the motility of spermatozoa which showed high initial motility after removal from the caput, while AEG had no effect. These studies emphasize the importance of the effects of proteins on the motility of spermatozoa but do not provide any clear evidence for a specific effect of AEG.

Animals↗

Response of the epididymal duct in the corpus epididymidis to efferent or epididymal duct ligation in the mouse.

Different parts of the epididymal duct were ligated when mice were 90 days old. The mice were killed 1--4 weeks later. PAS-positive materials appeared in the epithelial cells of Segment IV (corpus epididymidis) after ligation of the efferent ducts or at Segment II (middle part of caput) but not when the ligature was distal to Segment II. The inclusions were seen as early as 1 week after ligation and became increased in size and number with time.

Animals↗

Epididymal spermatozoa: recovery and subsequent improvements of mouse epididymal spermatozoa via the SpermPrep filtration method.

This study was designed to determine the effects of Sephadex filtration (SpermPrep method) on the separation of viable motile, morphologically normal mouse epididymal spermatozoa and to study the viability of the recovered spermatozoa over a 3 hr incubation period. Spermatozoa were harvested from the caudae epididymides (5 animals per run or replication; n = 10) following bilateral testicular excision and incubated in 2-ml of Test-Yolk buffer (TYB) at 37 degrees C for 15 min. The specimen was then split into 2 aliquots, with Alquot 1 as the control and Aliquot 2 used for filtration. SpermPrep I column was employed according to the manufacturer's specifications (ZBL, Inc., Lexington, KY, USA) using TYB. During filtration (10 min), different fractions were obtained: first 5 min (Sample 1) and second 5 min (Sample 2). The filtered fractions were evaluated and incubated at 37 degrees C and assessed for percentage and grade of motility (0-4) every 30 min for 3 hr. Filtration resulted in a significant improvement in percentage and grade of motility (91.5% and 3.0 vs. 76.5% and 2.5, respectively). The results point out very clearly that the filtration via the SpermPrep method improved the percentage and grade of motility (p < 0.05) but not the percentage normal morphology of the spermatozoa. Also the SpermPrep I enabled the recovery of 45% (8.3 x 10(6) spermatozoa) of the total spermatozoa processed in the control aliquot (18.4 x 10(6) spermatozoa) which is consistent with previous observations. Most importantly, filtered spermatozoa incubated for 3 hr showed greater percentage and grade of motility than the control spermatozoa (63% and 1.66 vs. 39% and 0.82, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗