A novel functional role of nickel in sperm motility and eukaryotic cell growth.

BACKGROUND: Metal ions are essential for numerous life processes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between seminal quality and ion levels in seminal plasma. BASIC PROCEDURES: A total of 205 semen samples were collected and seminal plasma ion levels were examined with inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The nickel function was demonstrated by in vitro assay and cell growth. MAIN FINDINGS: The low sperm motility group showed distinctively reduced nickel concentration in seminal plasma compared with the normal sperm motility group. However, arsenic, sulfur, selenium, magnesium and zinc were negatively associated with sperm quality. No significant relationship between other examined cations and semen quality was observed. In vitro assay suggested low concentration of nickel significantly increased sperm total motility and progressive motility. Cell growth assay further confirmed nickel promoted eukaryotic yeast cell growth. Nickel level in seminal plasma may play important functions to determine sperm quality. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a strong correlation between S, Mg, Se, Zn, As, Ni and seminal quality as well as discovers a novel functional role of nickel in sperm motility and eukaryotic cell growth. These findings may provide a potential avenue for assessment of sperm quality and treatment of reproduction disorders.

Kidney-Replenishing Herb Induces SOCS-3 Expression via ERK/MAPK Pathway and Improves Growth of the First-Trimester Human Trophoblast Cells.

Kidney-replenishing herb is a traditional medicine formula in China which has been widely used for clinical treatment of recurrent miscarriage. Our previous study showed that Kidney-replenishing herb could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of the human first-trimester trophoblasts. In the present study, we further explored the potential mechanism and signal pathway of Kidney-replenishing herb on human trophoblast cells. Our research showed that Kidney-replenishing herb stimulated proliferation and reduced apoptosis of human trophoblast cells in vitro, and this appeared to be positive correlation with SOCS-3 transcription, suggesting that Kidney-replenishing herb regulated biological functions of human trophoblast cells by inducing SCOS-3 expression. Furthermore, the Kidney-replenishing herb treatment stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and blocking the signaling pathway by mitogen-activated protein MAPK (MEK) inhibitor, U0126, inhibited Kidney-replenishing herb-induced SOCS-3 transcription, depressed proliferation, and promoted apoptosis of human trophoblasts. Kidney-replenishing herbs still induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation after SOCS-3 siRNA silence. Overexpression of SOCS-3 stimulated the proliferation of trophoblast. These findings suggest that SOCS-3 expression is induced by Kidney-replenishing herbs via activation of MAPK pathways, and this may possibly be involved in promoting human trophoblast cells growth which is contributed to embryo development.

Vitamin D levels and other factors related to bone mineral density during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Multiple factors appear to affect bone mineral density (BMD) during pregnancy. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between BMD of the os calcaneus as measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and levels of vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin (Alb), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in a group of Chinese women. METHODS: Multiple parameters, including density of the os calcaneus, were recorded for a group of 130 women in early (mean gestation, 16.09 ± 2.65 weeks) and late (mean gestation, 32.01 ± 3.45 weeks) stages of pregnancy; 139 nonpregnant women served as controls. RESULTS: Bone mineral density was lower in pregnant women than in controls at both early and late stages of pregnancy. Levels of Ca, P and ALP were significantly negatively correlated with BMD over the course of pregnancy. Levels of D3, PTH and Alb showed a falling trend from early to late pregnancy as with QUS BMD of the os calcaneus, but the correlations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors are correlated with BMD. We suggest that levels of Ca and ALP should be included in the routine examination of pregnant women.

Effect of Renshen polysaccharides on oxidative injury in kidney IR rabbits.

There is increasing evidence to suggest that reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the kidney. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of Renshen polysaccharides (RSP) on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Results showed that the polysaccharides of Renshen consisted mainly of glucose (29.21%), mannose (6.54%), rhamnose (4.34%), arabose (6.92%), galactose (18.41%). In addition, kidney lipid peroxidation level in IR rabbits were markedly increased, whereas antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased. Renshen polysaccharides pre-treatment could decrease oxidative injury in kidney of IR rabbits.