OBJECTIVE: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to beta-D-Nacetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to beta-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to alpha-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. RESULTS: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates (40~49%) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that beta-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.
Acrosome Reaction ; Cumulus Cells ; Fluorescein ; Glycoconjugates ; Glycoproteins ; Herpes Zoster* ; Incidence ; Insemination ; Lectins* ; Lens Plant ; Lighting ; Oocytes ; Plant Lectins ; Ricinus ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Spermatozoa ; Swine ; Ulex ; Zona Pellucida*

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cricetinae ; Cytoplasm ; Epigenomics ; Epithelium ; Islands ; Mineral Oil ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Mucous Membrane ; Prognosis ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factors

No abstract available.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Glucose* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

Although cadmium is a well known heavy metal which has an influence testis and brings about male infertility, the mechanism of action in the testis is still fully unknown. In these experiment, cadmium chloride 4 mg/kg of body weight administered intraperitoneally to the rat (Sprague-Dawley) and sacrificed after 1 week, and morphological changes were observed by LM and TEM. In addition, electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation and Western blotting and N-terminal analysis performed to reveal the protein changes. 1. Major findings under light microscope were hemorrhagic necrosis and death of all the spermatogenic cells and supporting cells within the seminiferous tubules, and decreased volume of ECM, many apoptotic bodies, and death of interstitial cells and fibroblasts within interstitium. 2. The EM findings were disruption of nuclear membrane and disappearance of cell organelles of spermatogenic cells and supporting cells within seminiferous tubules, and decreased filopodia, increased inclusion bodies, vacuolation and apoptotic changes of the interstitial cells and fibroblastic cells, many short electron-dense collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix of interstitium. 3. Two proteins of molecular weight 42 kDa and 21 kDa which disappeared after cadmium treatment were rat collagen type I alpha 2. According to the above results, it is considered that cadmium degrades the collagen of the wall of small blood vessels within seminiferous tubules and interstitium and disrupts vascular walls, which results hemorrhagic necrosis, death of all the spermatogenic cells, and the death of interstitial cells and fibroblastic cells.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Cadmium Chloride* ; Cadmium* ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Electrophoresis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Immunoprecipitation ; Inclusion Bodies ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Necrosis ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles ; Pseudopodia ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis*

No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Diseases*

No abstract available.
Zygapophyseal Joint*

Hydatidiform moles are generally separated into two clasifications. Complete hydatidiform moles are characterized by cystic swlling of all villi, often pronounced trophoblastic hyperplasia, lack of fetal parts, all 46 chromosomes of paternal origin(androgenesis), and a major risk for persistent trophoblastic tumor. Partial hydatidiform moles appear to be a milder version of complete moles with both normal and cystic villi, focal trophoblastic hyperplasia, a fetus or indications of previous fetal existence, 69 chromosomes with a maternal contribution, and a malignant potential less than described for complete moles. Hydatidiform mole with coexistent fetus is a very rare phenomenon, with an estimated incidence of 0.005 to 0.01 percent of all pregnancies. The rarity of live-born, surviving children may in part be due to termination of pregnancies, when molar parts are observed and without access to current advanced diagnostic procedures. Progress in techniques for first trimester prenatal diagnosis and improved surveillance of first trimester pregnancies through prenatal chromosomal analysis, ultrasound scan, maternal serum-hCG and serum- AFP screening has created complex situation, allowing confirmation of hydatidiform mole with coexisitng fetus. We recently experienced one case of unusual pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexisiting live fetus.
Child ; Female ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Molar ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital* ; Lung*

Brachycephaly is a kind of craniosynostosis. Because of premature closure of the coronal suture, the skull is shorter in the anteroposterior diameter but is widened with a high vault and the occiput and forehead are flattened. Diabetes insipidus had been reported in oxycephaly. We have experienced a case of central diabetes insipidus associated with brachycephaly. A brief review of related literatures is included in this report.
Craniosynostoses* ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic* ; Forehead ; Skull ; Sutures