OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between the contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the seminal plasma of infertile males and sperm function indexes.

METHODSBy radioimmunoassay (RIA), we determined the contents of IL-1beta, IL-4 and IL-10 in the seminal plasma of 126 infertile and 20 normal males. According to the sperm count, the infertile were divided into three groups: Groups A (sperm count > or = 20 x 10(6)/ml), B (sperm count < 20 x 10(6)/ml) and C (azoospermia). Based on sperm vitality and motility, Group A was subdivided into a normal and abnormal vitality group and a normal and decreased motility group. In line with the serum results of antisperm antibody (AsAb) and semen WBC, the infertile males were divided into AsAb positive and negative, and WBC semen and non-WBC semen groups. According to the assay results of normal males, Groups A and B were each subdivided into normal and decreased groups of sperm penetrating power, intact acrosome rate and terminal swelling rate.

RESULTSThe content of IL-1beta in the seminal plasma of the infertility group was obviously higher, but the content of IL-4, IL-10 significantly lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). In the infertility group, there existed significant differences in the contents of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-10 in seminal plasma between the WBC and non-WBC semen groups, as well as between the AsAb positive and negative groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); and the same was true for the content of IL-4 between the normal and decreased groups of sperm vitality, motility, penetrating power, intact acrosome rate, and terminal swelling rate (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe contents of IL-1beta, IL-4 and IL-10 in seminal plasma are closely related to male reproduction. The increase or decrease of the contents reflects the state of immunity and infection of the reproductive system, and influences sperm functions.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Aging is associated with altered immune responses including dysregulation of cytokine production. Of cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) family has been primarily involved with central nervous system. To evaluate the age-related different response of IL-1 family following peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), immunohistochemical study of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor expression was performed on Sprague-Dawley rat brain. Experimental animals were divided into four groups; saline-treated young (3-5 months) and old (over 24 months), and LPS-treated young and old groups. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS, three to five rats within each group were killed at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 hr. After fixation in 4% neutral buffered formalin, the brain slices were paraffin-embedded. Immunohistochemical staining using labelled streptavidin biotin was performed. The results showed that IL-1beta immunoreactivity was seen in the endothelial cell of pons in both LPS-reated young and old rats, with slightly longer persistency in old group. IL-1RI immunoreactivity appeared initially in the neurons of cerebral cortex in LPS-treated old group, compared with predominantly the cerebellum in LPS-treated young group. In conclusion, our study shows that there is age-related, different neuronal localization of IL-1RI expression at different points of time after LPS treatment.
Age Factors ; Animal ; Brain Chemistry/drug effects* ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-1/genetics ; Interleukin-1/analysis* ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Interleukin-1/analysis

PURPOSE: Inflammatory white blood cells are related to semen quality, affection fertility. In these cases, inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities, and this increase may be related to sperm motility. We examined changes in measures of motility after administration of cytokines to sperm in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen from 30 healthy men were obtained. With the swim-up procedure, actively motile sperm were isolated and incubated in Ham's F10 culture medium. Interleukin(IL)-1 alpha(10ng/mL) was added, and measures of sperm motility were examined ater 5 and 24 hours using the Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system. These measures were expressed as a percentage of the values before incubation. RESULTS: The decreases of the average path velocity (VAP) in the IL-1 alpha-treated and IL-8treated specimens after 24 hours are statistically significant. None of the decrease in values for straight-line velocity (VSL) is statistically significant. There were statistically significant decreases in the curvilinear velocity (VCL)in IL-6-treated and TNF-1 alpha-treated specimens after 24 hours. None of the changes in the lateral head displacement (ALH)or the beat cross frequency (BCF)was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The administration of cytokines decreases sperm motility in vitro. It is suggested that seminal cytokines may affect sperm motility in vivo.
Cytokines* ; Fertility ; Head ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

PURPOSE: Inflammatory white blood cells are related to semen quality, affection fertility. In these cases, inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities, and this increase may be related to sperm motility. We examined changes in measures of motility after administration of cytokines to sperm in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen from 30 healthy men were obtained. With the swim-up procedure, actively motile sperm were isolated and incubated in Ham's F10 culture medium. Interleukin(IL)-1 alpha(10ng/mL) was added, and measures of sperm motility were examined ater 5 and 24 hours using the Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system. These measures were expressed as a percentage of the values before incubation. RESULTS: The decreases of the average path velocity (VAP) in the IL-1 alpha-treated and IL-8treated specimens after 24 hours are statistically significant. None of the decrease in values for straight-line velocity (VSL) is statistically significant. There were statistically significant decreases in the curvilinear velocity (VCL)in IL-6-treated and TNF-1 alpha-treated specimens after 24 hours. None of the changes in the lateral head displacement (ALH)or the beat cross frequency (BCF)was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The administration of cytokines decreases sperm motility in vitro. It is suggested that seminal cytokines may affect sperm motility in vivo.
Cytokines* ; Fertility ; Head ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

OBJECTIVEThe expressions of caspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 are associated with the pathophysiology of many diseases for its proinflammatory and proapototic peculiarity. However its relationship to brain injury of developing rats following recurrent seizures has not yet been identified. This study aimed to investigate the role of caspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 in brain injury of developing rats following recurrent seizures.

METHODSA total of 96 postnatal 20 day Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into Control and Seizure groups. Seizures were induced in the Seizure group by flurothyl inhalation daily for six days. Brain tissues were sampled at 6 hrs, and at 1, 3, and 7 days after last seizure. The expressions of caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1beta mRNA in the cerebral cortex were detected by RT-PCR. The water content of the brain and the pathological changes of cortex nerve cells were observed. Brain injury was evaluated using a semiquantitative neuropathological scoring system.

RESULTSThe levels of caspase-1 and IL-18 mRNA in the cerebral cortex of the Seizure group were obviously higher than those in the Control group at 6 hrs, and at 1, 3, and 7 days after seizure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of IL-1beta mRNA in the Seizure group exhibited a biphasic pattern: increased significantly at 6 hrs, and at 1 and 7 days post-seizure (P < 0.01), but was not significantly different from the Control group at 3 days post-seizure. Edema, degeneration and necrosis of nerve cells in cerebral cortex, accompanying by inflammatory cell infiltration and apoptosis of nerve cells, were observed under a light microscope in the Seizure group after recurrent seizures. The water content of the brain in the Seizure group increased significantly compared with that in the Control group at 6 hrs, and at 1 and 3 days after recurrent seizures (P < 0.01). The Seizure group had significantly higher neuropathological scores than the Control group at each time point (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCaspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 play an important role in the developing brain injury after recurrent seizures.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Caspase 1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinical significance of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha( TNF-alpha) in expressed prostatic secretions(EPS) for chronic prostatitis.

METHODSProstatic secretions IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were evaluated for 34 patients with chronic prostatitis, 10 with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, 12 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 8 health controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSIL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels in EPS in the patients of chronic prostatitis with WBC > or = 10/HP and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis were obviously higher than those of chronic prostatitis with WBC < 10/HP, BPH and health controls, (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02). There was a correlation between IL-1beta and TNF-alpha (P < 0.003) but none between WBC and IL-1beta or TNF-alpha.

CONCLUSIONCytokines are frequently elevated in EPS in men of chronic prostatitis with high WBC and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, which provides a novel means different from traditional methods based on WBC for the identification of men with chronic prostatitis.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; chemistry ; secretion ; Prostatitis ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow Cells ; pathology ; Child ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Fever ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Receptors, Interleukin-1 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in brain and plasma after brain injury and to assess the relationship between the cytokine levels and injury severity in rats.

METHODSA total of 51 male Wistar rats, weighing 280-340 g, were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg body weight) through intraperitoneal injection and fixed on a stereotaxic instrument. Severe brain injury was created in 16 rats (severe injury group) and moderate brain injury in 18 rats (moderate injury group) by a fluid percussion model, and cytokine levels of IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6 were measured with biological assay. And sham operation was made on the other 17 rats (control group).

RESULTSIn the control group, the levels of IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6 were hardly detected in the cortex of the rats, but in the ipsilateral cortex of the rats in both injury groups, they increased obviously at 8 hours after injury. The increasing degree of these cytokines had no significant difference between the two injury groups. The levels of IL-6 in the plasma of all the rats increased slightly, whereas the levels of IL-1beta and TNFalpha were undetectable.

CONCLUSIONSThe increase of IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6 levels is closely related to brain injury. The increased cytokine levels in the central nervous system are not parallel to those in the peripheral blood. It suggests that inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the secondary neural damage after brain injury.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Injuries ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Injury Severity Score ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; metabolism ; Male ; Probability ; Prognosis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; metabolism

Extracellular interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α) released from keratinocytes is one of the endpoints for in vitro assessments of skin irritancy. Although cells dying via primary skin irritation undergo apoptosis as well as necrosis, IL-1α is not released in apoptotic cells. On the other hand, active secretion has been identified in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which was discovered to be a common, upregulated, differentially-expressed gene in a microarray analysis performed with keratinocytes treated using cytotoxic doses of chemicals. This study examined whether and how IL-1ra, particularly extracellularly released IL-1ra, was involved in chemically-induced keratinocyte cytotoxicity and skin irritation. Primary cultured normal adult skin keratinocytes were treated with cytotoxic doses of chemicals (hydroquinone, retinoic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, or urshiol) with or without recombinant IL-1ra treatment. Mouse skin was administered irritant concentrations of hydroquinone or retinoic acid. IL-1ra (mRNA and/or intracellular/extracellularly released protein) levels increased in the chemically treated cultured keratinocytes with IL-1α and IL-1β mRNAs and in the chemically exposed epidermis of the mouse skin. Recombinant IL-1ra treatment significantly reduced the chemically-induced apoptotic death and intracellular/extracellularly released IL-1α and IL-1β in keratinocytes. Collectively, extracellular IL-1ra released from keratinocytes could be a compensatory mechanism to reduce the chemically-induced keratinocyte apoptosis by antagonism to IL-1α and IL-1β, suggesting potential applications to predict skin irritation.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Epidermis ; Hand ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Keratinocytes* ; Mice ; Microarray Analysis ; Necrosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Tretinoin

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of left varicocele (VC) and varicocelectomy (VCT) on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the levels of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) in the rat testis.

METHODSWe randomly divided 60 adolescent male SD rats into four groups of equal number: sham operation control, VC model 1 (VC1), VC model 2 (VC2), and VCT. We determined the semen quality and levels of NO and IL-1 in the testis tissue, detected the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and compared the indexes obtained among different groups.

RESULTSAn experimental VC model was successfully established by partially ligating the left renal vein of the rats. Sperm concentration and motility were significantly decreased in the VC1 ([1.54 ± 1.16] x 10⁶/ml and [44.23 ± 15.46]%) as compared with those in the sham operation group ([2.80 ± 1.62] x 10⁶/ml and [72.34 ± 12.62]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the VCT ([1.82 ± 1.34] x 10⁶/mI and [51.21 ± 12.62]%) than in the VC2 group ([1.04 ± 1.21] x 10⁶/ml and [39.23 ± 13.21]%) (P < 0.05). The levels of NO and IL-1 in the left testes were markedly elevated in the VC1 ([0.172 ± 0.030] ng/ml and [1.468 ± 0.080 ] mg/ml) in comparison with those in the sham operation group ([0.134 ± 0.021] ng/ml and [0.782 ± 0.079 ] mg/ml) (P < 0.05), and significantly higher in the VC2 ([0.198 ± 0.020] ng/ml and [1.994 ± 0.090] mg/ml) than in the VCT group ([0.141 ± 0.010] ng/ml and [0.781 ± 0.036] mg/ml) (P < 0.05). However, the NO and IL-1 levels in the right testis showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups, and the two levels were positively correlated (r = 0.492, P < 0.01). The rats of the VC1 group exhibited remarkable apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes, with significant differences in the apoptosis index ( AL) between the two sides (P < 0.05) as well as in the same side in comparison with the sham operation group (P < 0.01). The Als of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes showed statistically significant differences in the VCT (P < 0.05) but not in the VC2 group (P > 0.05), and those in the same side manifested dramatic differences between the VCT and VC2 groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele induces changes of the NO and IL-1 levels in the testis tissue and increases the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, which might be one of the causes of testis damage and spermatogenic dysfunction.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Germ Cells ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Ligation ; Male ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; chemistry ; Varicocele ; complications ; surgery