Seasonal fluctuations and diversity of Ingoldian mycobiota in two water bodies receiving different effluents at Assiut Governorate (Upper Egypt).

In the current study, fifty-eight Ingoldain fungal species assignable to forty-one genera were recovered from two water bodies receiving the treated sewage and the effluents of oils and soaps factory at Assiut Governorate (Upper Egypt), of which Anguillospora, Amniculicola, Flagellospora, and Mycocentrospora were the most prevalent genera. The most widespread identified species were Anguillospora furtive, Amniculicola longissima and Flagellospora fusarioides. Forty-three species were identified for the first time in Egypt. The most Ingoldain taxa were estimated for El-Zinnar canal, with the highest recorded taxa in winter. Whereas, the highest dominance of Ingoldian fungi was estimated for the El-Ibrahimia canal. The highest Simpson and Shannon diversity indexes were estimated for El-Zinnar canal samples recording 0.9683 and 3.741, respectively. The poorest water sites with Ingoldian fungi were those exposed directly to either treated sewage or industrial effluents, with which relatively higher values of water conductivity, cations and anions. Water temperature was the main abiotic factor driving the seasonal occurrence of Ingoldian fungi. It is interesting to isolate some Ingoldian fungal species from the stressful water sites receiving the effluents which provide valuable insights regarding their adaptation, predictive and putative role as bioindicators and their potentiality in pollutants degradation, organic decomposition, and transformation of xenobiotic compounds.

Melatonin can improve viability and functional integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa.

Melatonin is known to protect sperm against freezing-inflicted damage in different domestic species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of semen extender with melatonin on the quality and DNA integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. We also investigated whether the addition of melatonin to the semen extender could improve the fertility of rabbit does artificially inseminated with frozen/thawed semen. Semen samples collected from eight rabbit bucks were pooled and then diluted in INRA-82 supplemented either with (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mM) or without (0.0 mM) melatonin. Diluted semen was cooled at 5°C for 24 hr. For cryopreservation and based on the first experiment's best result, semen samples were diluted in INRA-82 in the presence or absence of 1.0 mM melatonin and then frozen in 0.25 ml straws. Following cooling or thawing, sperm quality and DNA integrity were evaluated. Furthermore, the fertility of frozen/thawed semen was investigated after artificial insemination. Supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved (p < .05) motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrities in cooled semen compared with other groups. Sperm quality and DNA integrity were higher (p < .05) in frozen/thawed semen diluted in 1.0 mM melatonin-supplemented extender than in the control group. Conception and birth rates were higher in does inseminated with 1.0 mM melatonin treated semen compared with the controls. In conclusion, supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved the quality of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. Melatonin can preserve DNA integrity and enhance the fertility of frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa.

Optimization of the Protocol for Cryopreservation of Arabian Stallion Spermatozoa: Effects of Centrifugation, Semen Extenders and Cryoprotectants.

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of Arabian stallion semen is important in order to improve the function and fertility of frozen/thawed semen in this breed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of centrifugation, type of semen extenders, and type of cryoprotectants on the quality of frozen/thawed Arabian stallion spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples collected from four adult Arabian stallions (one ejaculate per week for 10 consecutive weeks) were either processed directly without centrifugation (no centrifugation; NC) or subjected to centrifugation on the gel-free fraction. Centrifugation protocols were divided into six categories; 600 x g for 10 min (C1), 600 x g for 15 min (C2), 900 x g for 10 min (C3), 900 x g for 15 min (C4), 1200 x g for 10 min (C5), or 1200 x g for 15 min (C6) (Experiment 1). Two semen extenders, INRA-82 and modified Kenney's were compared (Experiment 2). Three different cryoprotectants, [namely 5% glycerol, 5% dimethylformamide (DMF) and 2.5% glycerol] plus 2.5% DMF were used (Experiment 3). Following freezing and thawing, motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome status and viability index were evaluated. RESULTS: Centrifugation at 600 x g for 15 min before cryopreservation increased (P< 0.05) sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosome compared to other centrifugation protocols. Dilution of Arabian stallion semen with INRA-82 before cryopreservation improved (P< 0.05) sperm quality after freezing and thawing compared to modified Kenney's extender. Supplementation of semen diluent INRA-82 with 5% DMF improved (P< 0.05) the quality of frozen/thawed Arabian stallion spermatozoa compared to 5% glycerol. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that optimized conditions such as centrifugation, types of semen extenders and cryoprotectants play an important role in processing Arabian stallion spermatozoa for cryopreservation.

Effect of long-term testosterone propionate or human chorionic gonadotrophin administration on reproductive glands in adult male rabbits.

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of testosterone propionate (TP) or human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) treatment on reproductive glands in sexually mature male rabbits. A total 36 adult male rabbits were randomly distributed to six equal groups. The first control group (CON), the second treated with low-dose TP (TPL), the third treated with high-dose TP (TPH), the fourth treated with low-dose hCG (CGL), the fifth treated with medium-dose hCG (CGM) and sixth treated with high-dose hCG (CGH). At the 16th post-treatment week, the animals were sacrificed, and the testes and accessory sex glands dissected, weighted and stored at -20 °C until assay. Testosterone propionate treatment in both doses resulted in reduction (P < 0.01) in testicular weight and increase (P < 0.01) in weight of vesicular gland, paraprostate and proprostate glands. High-dose TP increased the weight of prostate and bulbouretheral gland (BUG). Testosterone propionate increased total androgen (P < 0.01) with Testosterone (T) predominating in serum, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) predominating in testes and most accessory sex glands. High dose of hCG increased the weight of proprostate and paraprostate glands. Androgen level in serum, testes and accessory sex glands increased (P < 0.01) after hCG treatment.

Serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with pre-eclampsia.

We evaluated the prognostic value of serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. We determined VEGF and endostatin levels in the sera of 20 healthy, non-pregnant women and 64 pregnant women: 20 healthy, 20 with mild pre-eclampsia and 24 with severe pre-eclampsia. Serum levels of these factors in non-pregnant women were similar to those in healthy pregnant women. However, serum levels were significantly higher with mild or severe pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancies and significantly higher with severe rather than with mild pre-eclampsia. Elevated levels significantly increased risk more than severity of pre-eclampsia. VEGF and endostatin could be used to differentiate between pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies and to discriminate mild pre-eclampsia from severe pre-eclampsia.

Cellular proliferation and ploidy of the gastric mucosa: the role of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, H. pylori has been recognized as a risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma. As such, we have analyzed the DNA content of gastric epithelial cells in an attempt to reveal the role of H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-three subjects presented with gastric dyspepsia, 39 males and 14 females, with a mean age of 42.15 (+/- 13.16) years. They were referred to the out-patient clinic to undergo endoscopic examination for the first time. Biopsy specimens from the antrum of each subject were subjected to culture for the presence of H. pylori histologic diagnosis, and DNA flow cytometry for the analysis of cellular proliferation and DNA policy. RESULTS: The endoscopic diagnoses were normal appearance (12), Gastric ulcer (12), duodenal ulcer (29). Thirty-eight (72%) subjects were positive, and 15 (28%) subjects were negative for H. pylori. Abnormal DNA-content (aneuploidy) was found in specimens from the antrums of 3 patients, 2 patients with duodenal ulcers (DU, and one with a gastric ulcer (GU). The cellular proliferation detected by flow cytometry in the form of proliferative index (PI; percentage of cells in the DNA S and G2M phases) was 27.88 (+/- 12.48) and 14.17 (+/-2.94) in the antrums of those positive and negative for H. pylori, respectively. A very significant increase in the PI (p < 0.005) was found between subjects positive and negative for H. pylori. Patients with DU and H pylori infection had the highest PI, and the PI was significantly higher than in patients with DU, but without infection. Regarding histology, there was a significant increase in the PI in the presence of H. pylori infection in either CAG or dysplasia groups as compared to cases without infection in the same groups. CONCLUSION: These results show that H. pylori infection is associated with changes in the DNA-content and cellular proliferative activity, suggesting that H. pylori may be implicated in gastric carcinogenesis. Also, the significant increase in the PI along the progression of severity of the disease suggests that measuring this parameter might allow more accurate monitoring of patients, so that a targeted therapeutic protocol may be defined.

The postnatal development of the ductus deferens and ampulla in bulls.

This investigation includes the study of the morphological changes in the vas deferens and ampulla of bulls from birth to the age of 68 weeks old. The undulated epithelial lining of the ductus deferens in the adult bull was found to result from several processes observed in sequence of events up to the age 48 weeks. These processes include the formation of the intraepithelial vacuoles in the peripheral cells, which later on rupture, leading to the development of undulated epithelium. However, the basal cells of the epithelial lining do not undergo any change, moreover they do not share in any way in the formation of the intraepithelial vacuoles. The thickness of the mucosa and the muscular layers showed a gradual increase until the age of 48 weeks. The lamina of the central duct and the alveoli of the ampullary gland showed a gradual histomorphological changes in their structure from the age of 12 weeks till puberty. However, the postnatal increment in weight, diameter of the ampulla and thickness of the mucosa denote a constant growth process up to the age of 48 weeks.

Studies on reproduction in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) V. morphology of the testis in relation to age and season.

Quantitative and qualitative changes in the morphology of the camel testis were studied in relation to age (6 to 18 years) and season. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules increased up to the age of 9 years. There was little variation in the number of germinal cells (spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and spermatids) with the advancement of age. The number of spermatozoa increased up to the age of 10 years and decreased thereafter. Khe number of Sertoli cells was almost constant. Significant monthly and seasonal changes were observed in the criteria studied. The largest seminiferous tubule diameters and the greatest numbers of spermatogonia, spermatids and spermatozoa were found in the material collected during the spring. The numbers of mature Leydig cells, compared to the numbers of pre-Leydig and immature Leydig cells, increased by the end of winter so that, during the spring, the interstitial cells were mainly of the mature type. Degenerative changes with diminished numbers of mature cells were seen in the summer and this trend continued into early and mid-autumn.

The effect of long-term HCG or TP administration on reproductive functions in adult male rabbits. I. Histomorphological changes in the scrotum.

The effect of long-term treatment with various doses of HCG or TP on the scrotum was studied in 36 adult rabbits of pure Bouscat breed. The epidermis of the scrotum exhibited a more significant dose-related increase in thickness in animals injected with TP than those treated with HCG. The hair follicles in animals injected with higher doses of HCG or TP were thicker in diameter and extended deeper within the dermis where they curved to grow parallel to the surface of the skin. The high dose of HCG was more effective in demonstrating higher glandular activity than that seen in rabbits treated with high doses of TP. The vascularization in the scrotum was more prominent in rabbits treated with higher doses of HCG. The fibers of the Tunica dartos were much thicker in animals treated with high doses of HCG or TP.

Serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with pre-eclampsia

We evaluated the prognostic value of serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. We determined VEGF and endostatin levels in the sera of 20 healthy, non-pregnant women and 64 pregnant women: 20 healthy, 20 with mild pre-eclampsia and 24 with severe pre-eclampsia. Serum levels of these factors in non-pregnant women were similar to those in healthy pregnant women. However, serum levels were significantly higher with mild or severe pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancies and significantly higher with severe rather than with mild pre-eclampsia. Elevated levels significantly increased risk more than severity of pre-eclampsia. VEGF and endostatin could be used to differentiate between pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies and to discriminate mild pre-eclampsia from severe pre-eclampsia