Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process in which a diploid progenitor germ cell transforms into highly specialized spermatozoa. During spermatogenesis, membrane remodeling takes place, and cell membrane permeability and liquidity undergo phase-specific changes, which are all associated with the alteration of membrane lipids. Lipids are important components of the germ cell membrane, whose volume and ratio fluctuate in different phases of spermatogenesis. Abnormal lipid metabolism can cause spermatogenic dysfunction and consequently male infertility. Germ cell membrane lipids are mainly composed of cholesterol, phospholipids and glycolipids, which play critical roles in cell adhesion and signal transduction during spermatogenesis. An insight into the correlation of membrane lipids with spermatogenesis helps us to better understand the mechanisms of spermatogenesis and provide new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Membrane ; chemistry ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Glycolipids ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Membrane Lipids ; chemistry ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Sulfogalactosylglycerolipid (SGG) is the main glycolipid in male mammalian germ cells, which is selectively and highly expressed in mammalian testes and helps form the lipid bilayer of cell membrane. In the process of spermatogenesis, SGG is involved in the meiosis of spermiocytes. Either deficiency or accumulation of SGG will lead to male infertility. SGG homeostasis in the testis is the premise of normal spermatogenesis. In the process of sperm-zona binding, SGG becomes a component of lipid raft and provides a platform for signal transduction. The SGG binding protein plays a role in sperm-egg recognition and membrane fusion. SGG has a great research value and application prospect in male reproduction.
Animals ; Cell Membrane ; Galactolipids ; physiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Lipid Bilayers ; metabolism ; Male ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Testis ; physiology

Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Education, Medical ; Internet ; Language ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

AIM:To characterize the effect of estradiol on proliferation,differentiation and extracellular matrix(ECM) accumulation in stromal cells through regulation of BPH-1 paracrine.METHODS:BPH-1 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of estradiol.Conditioned media(CM) were harvested and their effects on stromal cell cultures were tested.Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay.mRNA of smoothelin,fibronectin,collagen Ⅳ and transforming growth factor ?1(TGF-?1) were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR.Western blotting was used to determine smooth muscle myosin heavy chain(SMMHC).ELISA and radioimmunoassay were respectively used to measure fibronectin,TGF-?1 and collagen Ⅳ protein expressions.RESULTS:Estrodiol stimulated the expression and secretion of TGF-?1 in BPH-1 cells.The proliferation of stromal cells increased when they were cultured with CM harvested from estrogen treated BPH-1 cells.The mRNA levels of collagen Ⅳ and smoothelin increased in stromal cells treated with CM from BPH-1 cells.The results of radioimmunoassay also showed that the collagen Ⅳ protein level up-regulated in the supernatants and cell extracts of CM-treated stromal cells.A neutralizing antibody to TGF-?1 inhibited the stimulation of collagen Ⅳ and SMMHC by BPH-1 CM.The expression of fibronectin was only marginally changed in stromal cells cultured in the presence of BPH-1 CM.CONCLUSION:The BPH-1 cells increase ECM accumulation and differentiation of stromal cells through TGF-?1.Estradiol stimulate differentiation of stromal cells by induction of TGF-?1 expression.Estradiol stimulate proliferation by influencing the factors secreted from prostatic epithelial cells.

Objective To investigate serum galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic heart failure and evaluate its clinical significance for heart failure.Methods A total of 108 chronic heart failure patients were selected.The selected patients were divided into three groups according to the classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA,from degree Ⅱ to Ⅳ).In addition,30 healthy persons were chosen as control group.All the patients received cardiac ultrasound examination.Plasma levels of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP),serum levels of galectin-3 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured and analyzed.Results Galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in chronic heart failure patients compared with control group(P ＜ 0.05).In chronic heart failure group,the increase of serum concentration of galectin-3 was correlated with the degree of NYHA function classification.Correlation analysis showed that blood level of galectin 3 was strongly positive correlation with concentration of NT-proBNP and IL-6.There was no correlation between galectin-3 with the cause of heart failure,left ventricular diameter(LVD),and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Conclusions The levels of galectin-3 was significantly increased in chronic heart failure,and was correlated with degree of heart failure.Galectin-3 might be a new biomarker of heart failure and could provide additive value to NT-proBNP levels in the diagnosis of heart failure.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the genetic relations of Shigella isolated from Shenzhen in 2001-2006 and develop primary molecular subtyping surveillance network of Shigella.

METHODSChromosomal DNAs from 55 isolated in agarose were digested with the restriction enzyme Xba I, and then were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were clustered using BioNumerics software.

RESULTSAll 41 distinctive PFGE patterns were identified among 55 strains. 32 strains belonged to one cluster. Differences were observed in other strains.

CONCLUSIONBoth genetic-related clones and non-related clones of Shigella existed in Shenzhen. The development of PFGE molecular subtyping surveillance network would contribute to the active surveillance, outbreak investigation and source tracking for Shigellosis.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Shigella ; classification ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the therapeutic method of metabolic acidosis in long-term sur- vival patients undergoing simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation.Methods A 45-year-old fe- male patient,who had undergone simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation(due to diabetic ne- phropathy and uremia)with bladder drainage 2 years before,developed severe metabolic acidosis,and thus underwent surgical conversion from bladder to ileal drainage.The procedure was as follows.The stoma of duo- denocystostomy was isolated and resected.The site of cystostomy was closed in two layers.The graft duode- num was then anastomosed to a loop of the recipient's ileum,which was proximal 40 cm from the ileocecum in a side-to-side manner.Results The metabolic acidosis resolved postoperatively.The patient received conventional immunosuppressants.The hospital stay was 30d.Follow-up of 4 years showed normal pancreas and kidney functions.Conclusions Conversion from bladder to ileal drainage is safe and effective for metabolic acidosis related to the exocrine secretions of bladder drained pancreas graft in simultaneous pancre- as and kidney transplant recipients.

Aim The therapeutic effect of "shen-bing NQ 5", a preparation of traditional Chi-nese medicine on adenine-induced chronic nephritis in rats was studied. MethodsChronic nephritis in rats was induced by giving adenine 80 mg?kg-1?d-1 orally. Themodel rats were treated by "shen-bing No 5" in different dosages. Levels of urea ni-trogen(BUN), creatinine (Cr), total protein(TP), and Na+ in serum and or urine weredetected and the changes of kidney were obseraed. Results The "shen-bing No 5"markedly lowered the levels of urine protein in 24 hours, BUN in urine and BUN, Na+in serum (P

BACKGROUND: In recent years, because of its wide range of sources, easy access, strong self-renewal capacity, multi-directional differentiation potential, low immunogenicity and low ethical controversy and other characteristics, human Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells have become popular seed cells in regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE: To review the advances in directional differentiation of human Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells in recent five years. METHODS: The PubMed and CNKI databases were searched by the first author using the keywords of "Wharton Jelly derived mesenchymal stem cell, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell, differentiation" in English and Chinese, respectively. The retrieval time was from January 2012 to January 2017. After initial search, 120 articles were collected, and 46 articles were included in final analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Up to now, there are more than 18 types of cells that have been differentiated from Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In recent 5 years, some studies have improved the previous induction method, some studies have developed the new directional differentiation of Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and the others have explored the involved signal pathways and relevant molecular mechanisms. Differentiated Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells can be used for human tissue regeneration and repair, which give hope to the treatment of many refractory diseases.

ITS2 sequence was used as a barcode to identify herbal tea ingredient Plumeria rubra and its adulterants. Genomic DNAs from forty eight samples were extracted, the ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-direstionlly, and then assembled and obtained using CodonCode Aligner. The sequences were aligned using ClustalW, the genetic distances were computed by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA5.0. Results showed that the length of ITS2 sequence of P. rubra were 244 bp. The intra-specific genetic distances (0-0. 016 6) were much smaller than inter-specific ones between P. rubra and its adulterants(0.320 8-0.650 4). The NJ tree indicated that P. rubra and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. Therefore, Using ITS2 barcode can accurately andeffectively distinguish herbal tea ingredient P. rubra from its adulterants, which providesa new molecular method to identify P. rubra and ensure its safety in use.
Apocynaceae ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control