Autoimmune abnormality affects ovulation and oocyte-pick-up in MRL/MpJ-Fas lpr/lpr mice.

Ovulation and oocyte-pick-up are essential processes in fertilization. Herein, we found associations between autoimmune disease and the aforementioned processes in mice. At three and six months, along with the evaluation of autoimmune disease indices, the ovary, mesosalpinx, and oviducts were histologically examined in C57BL/6, MRL/MpJ, and MRL/MpJ-Fas lpr/lpr mice as healthy control, mild and severe models of autoimmune disease, respectively. In superovulated mice, the number of "oocyte cumulus complexes" found in the ampulla was macroscopically counted, and that of "ovulated oocytes" was histologically evaluated, as indicated by ruptured follicles or corpora hemorrhagica in ovaries. Finally, the oocyte-pick-up rate was calculated. In MRL/MpJ-Fas lpr/lpr mice, the oocyte-pick-up rate decreased with disease-related deterioration, unlike in other mouse strains. Further, more ovulated oocytes were found in MRL/MpJ mice than in C57BL/6 mice, and this number significantly decreased with aging in MRL/MpJ-Fas lpr/lpr mice. Numerous T-cells infiltrated into the infundibulum or a part of the mesosalpinx in aged MRL/MpJ-Fas lpr/lpr mice, and their infundibulum showed swelling and fewer ciliated epithelial cells compared to that of C57BL/6 mice. In conclusion, the progression of severe autoimmune disease affected the oocyte-pick-up process through histopathological changes in the infundibulum. These results provide important insights into female infertility associated with autoimmune disease.

Tissue conditioners containing poly (butyl methacrylate) powder. I. Viscoelastic properties of homopolymer/plasticizer mixture.

The viscoelastic properties of new experimental tissue conditioners which consist of synthesized poly (butyl methacrylate) PBMA and a liquid of aromatic-ester plasticizer, without alcohol, were investigated to evaluate the effects of the molecular weight of polymer. The master curves of storage modulus G', dynamic viscosity eta' and loss tangent tan delta were constructed from the viscoelastic data at different temperatures. The effects of the molecular weight of polymer on the viscoelastic properties G' and tan delta were observed particularly, in a low frequency range. However, the dynamic viscosity eta' was not very sensitive to the molecular weight. These results suggest that PBMA produces more desirable properties for tissue conditioners, and that it is possible to manufacture new materials without alcohol.

[The effect of filler content on properties of polyaddition-type silicone impression material].

The effect of quartz filler content on viscosity, dynamic viscoelasticity and tensile stress of polyaddition-type silicone impression materials were investigated. A hydrogen polydimethylsiloxane (H-silicone) and two vinyl polydimethylsiloxane (V-silicone) silicone prepolymers were prepared. Quartz fillers were mixed to them at contents between 0 and 50% by weight. The viscosity of these rubber compounds and mechanical properties of set materials were measured by a cone and plate viscometer, the dynamic shear test and the tension test, respectively. Viscosity eta storage modulus G' and tensile stress sigma increased with the amount of filler increase. G' and sigma were decreased by use of a V-silicone prepolymer which had a high average molecular weight and the material was more flexible. This suggests that the characteristics of the silicone prepolymer greatly affect the mechanical properties of the impression materials. Therefore, the appropriate molecular design for silicone prepolymer and reasonable filler content should be considered to make impression materials that have suitable properties for clinical use.