Vitamin C restores ovarian follicular reservation in a mouse model of aging / 대한해부학회지

Ovarian aging is related to the reduction of oocyte quality and ovarian follicles reservation leading to infertility. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant which may counteract with adverse effects of aging in the ovary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of vitamin C on NMRI mice ovarian aging according to the stereological study. In this experimental study, 36 adult female mice (25–30 g) were divided into two groups: control and vitamin C. Vitamin C (150 mg/kg/day) were administered by oral gavage for 33 weeks. Six animals of each group were sacrificed on week 8, 12, and 33, and right ovary samples were extracted for stereology analysis. Our data showed that the total volume of ovary, cortex, medulla and corpus luteum were significantly increased in vitamin C group in comparison to the control groups (P≤0.05). In addition, the total number of primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles as well as granulosa cells were improved in vitamin C group in compared to the control groups (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed in total volume of oocytes in antral follicles between control and vitamin C groups. Our data showed that vitamin C could notably compensate undesirable effects of ovarian aging in a mouse model.

Effects of pentoxifylline on the histological and ultrastructural features of vitrified mouse ovarian tissue

Background: Vitrification is a process that can be used to preserve gonads in the healthy and natural status. Oxidative stress is one of the disadvantages of vitrification. Pentoxifylline [PTX] is an antioxidant that can reduce reactive

oxidative stress effects

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of PTX on histological and ultrastructural features of vitrified and non-vitrified mouse ovarian tissue

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult female Balb-C mice were randomly and equally divided into control group: the ovaries did not receive any treatment; experimental 1 and 2: the vitrified ovaries were incubated in phosphate buffer solution and bovine serum albumin without and with PTX, respectively, for 30 min; sham 1 and 2: the non-vitrified ovaries were incubated in phosphate buffer solution and bovine serum albumin and were incubated without and with PTX, respectively for 30 min. The right and left ovaries in all of the groups were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy, respectively

Results: The histological and ultra-structural features of vitrified ovaries were seriously damaged. There was non-uniformed germinal epithelium and tunica albuginea, degenerated granulosa cells and stromal cells, puffy basement membrane and irregular thickness of zona pellucida, as well as a pyknotic nucleus and bubbly and segmented ooplasmic in the follicles. Also, ovarian tissues were damaged by the PTX in the non-vitrified ovaries

Conclusion: Vitrification can damage the histological and ultra-structural features of the ovary in mouse models. PTX as an antioxidant, with concentration of 1.8 mM could not prevent and restore these damages and had no adequate effects on the vitrified ovarian tissues

Application of stereological methods for unbiased estimation of sperm morphology in the mice induced by busulfan / 대한해부학회지

Busulfan is an anticancer drug, which causes the apoptosis germ cells and azoospermia in humans and animals. Abnormal morphology of spermatozoa related to the male infertility. The sperm morphology is evaluation of sperm size, shape and appearance characteristics should be assessed by carefully observing a stained sperm sample under the microscope. Evaluation of sperm morphology has been considered as one of the most important factors for a successful fertilization and determining sperm quality. The mice were assigned to tow experimental groups: control and busulfan. Each group included six mice that were housed under standard conditions. The volume was estimated using the nucleator method. The sperm's flegellum and mid-piece length was estimated by counting the number of intersections between the tails and Merz grid test line in an unbiased counting frame, superimposed on live images of sperms. Our results demonstrated a significant different in the volume and surface of the sperm's head and the length of the sperm's flagellum in the control and busulfan groups. Busulfan can effect on the volume of the sperm's head and the length of the sperm's flagellum in rat.

Evaluation of sHLA-G levels in serum of patients with prostate cancer identify as a potential of tumor marker / 대한해부학회지

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer type in men and is the second cause of death, due to cancer, in patients over 50, after lung cancer. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used tumor marker for prostate cancer. Recently, PSA is discovered in non-prostatic cancer tissues in men and women raising doubts about its specificity for prostatic tissues. PSA exists in low serum level in healthy men and in higher levels in many prostate disorders, including prostatitis and prostate cancer. Thus, a supplementary tumor marker is needed to accurately diagnose the cancer and to observe the patient after treatment. Recently, soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) has been introduced as a new tumor marker for different cancer types, including colorectal, breast, lung, and ovary. The present descriptive-experimental study was carried out including patients with malignant prostate tumor, patients with benign prostate tumor, and a group of health men as the control group, as judged by an oncologist as well as a pathologist. After sterile blood sampling, sHLA-G was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each group. The data was then analyzed using one-way ANOVA. P≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results showed that the mean of sHLA-G level was high in patients. Also, it was found that there was a significant difference in sHLA serum level between the three groups. The data revealed that sHLA-G can be a novel supplementary tumor marker in addition to PSA to diagnose prostate cancer.

Recognition of a rare intrathoracic rib with computed tomography: a case report / 대한해부학회지

One of the uncommon congenital variations is intrathoracic rib which a normal, a bifid, or an accessory rib lies within the thoracic cavity that is founded accidentally. Clinically, in most cases they are without symptoms; however, it may cause intrathoracic problems therefore it is important for radiologists and physicians to identify to prevent of excessive intervention and treatment during imaging diagnostic techniques of thoracic problems. In this report, we provide the case of a rare presentation of an intrathoracic rib in a 3-year-old boy arising from the inferior portion of a second rib based on findings from computed tomography. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of this type of intrathoracic rib that demonstrated with computed tomography.

Erratum to: Evaluation of sHLA-G levels in serum of patients with prostate cancer identify as a potential of tumor marker / 대한해부학회지

No abstract available.

[Comparison of survival and developmental rates of mouse ovarian follicles after two and three dimensional cultures]

In vitro ovarian follicle culture provides a tool to investigate folliculogenesis and may be used as an assisted reproductive technology [ART]. This study aims to compare survival and development rates in mouse ovarian follicles after two and three dimensional in vitro cultures. Preantral follicles were isolated from the ovaries of 14-day old female mice and cultured in alpha-MEM medium supplemented with 5% FBS for 12 days in a two dimensional and three dimensional culture with different concentrations of sodium alginate [0.25%, 0. 5%, or 1%]. The follicle diameter, survival and maturation rate during culture were analyzed and compared with one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The mean diameter of preantral follicles that capsulated with 0.5% alginate was significantly higher than other concentrations in each group on days 6 and 12 [P<0.001]. The percentages of follicles which released metaphase two [MII] oocytes in the two dimensional groups and in the three dimensional groups at 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% concentrations of sodium alginate were 29.03%, 33.33%, 44.18% and 35.89% respectively. The percentage of MII oocytes was significantly higher at the 0.5% concentration of sodium alginate [P<0.001]. Follicles encapsulated in 0. 5% sodium alginate in three dimensional culture displayed the highest survival development and maturation rate.