Biochemical analysis of human seminal plasma. II. Protein, non-protein nitrogen, urea, uric acid and creatine.

Seminal levels of protein, non-protein nitrogen (NPN), urea, uric acid and creatine were determined in human males divided as normal (Group I), azoospermia (Group II), infertile (Groups III, IV and V) with different sperm numbers and vasectomized (Group VI) cases. The geometrical mean level of seminal protein of Gr. I and Gr. V were significantly greater than that of Gr. IV. No significant difference in the levels of NPN and urea between any of the groups revealed. The seminal creatine level of Gr. I was significantly higher than that of Gr. III which in its turn was greater than that of Gr. VI, which recorded a value lowest of all the groups. Mean levels of uric acid of Gr. I was significantly greater than those of other five groups, taken individually. A direct correlation between uric acid level and sperm counts is an important observation that has emerged from this study.

Biochemical analysis of human seminal plasma. I. Fructose, ascorbate, cholesterol, adenosine triphosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase.

Seminal levels of fructose, ascorbate, cholesterol, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were estimated in human males divided into normal (Group I), azoospermic (Group II), infertile (Groups III, IV and V with different sperm numbers) and vasectomized (Group VI) cases. The fructose level of the normal subjects (Gr. I) recorded the lowest geometric mean value and that of the azoospermic patients being the highest; other groups registered intermediate values. A significant difference was evident in the level of ascorbate between normal (Gr. I) and azoospermic (Gr. II) conditions, the level being higher in the normal group. The seminal ATPase activity of different groups varied inversely with the number of sperms, the mean value of the normal (Gr.I) being the lowest. The results suggest that determination of seminal ATPase and ascorbate levels is likely to yield some useful information about the semen quality.

Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) in the management of menorrhagia associated with the use of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD).

PIP: The cause of increased menstrual blood loss (MBL) in a certain percentage of women using IUDs is not known. A recent study showed that the endometrium of IUD-menorrhagic women yielded the highest level of hydrogen peroxide and the nonIUD control group yielded the least. Several antioxidants including vitamin E were found to control peroxidation of tissue lipids. 51 patients attending a family planning clinic in the SSKM Hospital in Calcutta, and seeking medical relief from menorrhagia following the insertion of IUDs were studied. On admission 45% were cases of postinsertional traumatic bleeding, 55% of intractable uterine bleeding which developed spontaneously after having the IUD in the uteri for 6-33 months. Each patient was put on vitamin E with an initial dose of 100 mg/day on alternate days for 14 days. If necessary repetition of the treatment was made at the rate of 1 capsule/day; placebos were given to 7 subjects in the same dose schedule and their responses followed for 2 consecutive cycles only. Practically every subject responded positively to vitamin E treatment and the MBL was returned to normal limits. In the group carrying the IUD for 1-12 months only 25.8% were cured by a single course of 7 capsules whereas in 11 cases (35.8%) there was required 14 capsules and the remaining 12 needed 3-5 courses to recover fully. But with the group wearing IUDs for 13-33 months, 4 required 1 course, 9 2 courses, and 7 3-5 courses. The placebo group did not show any change.^ieng

Rate of formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in IUD-fitted human endometrium--a preliminary report.

Endometrial biopsy samples of (i) women (20-40 yr) using no contraceptive methods and (ii) women (25-45 yr) fitted with intrauterine contraceptive devices (CuT/Lippes loop) were analysed for the rate of H2O2 formation. The mean value for a normal proliferative endometrium was 10.56 +/- 1.45 nmoles H2O2 per milligram protein per 2 min, whereas the rate observed for samples of the same phase of the IUCD-fitted group without any bleeding episodes was 14.76 +/- 1.28 and that for members of the same group but who experienced excessive menstrual blood loss (menorrhagia) was 17.26 +/- 2.00, which was significantly higher than that of the control group.

Presence of inhibin in testes of the Indian water buffalo Bubalus bubalis.

Isolation, purification and characterization of inhibin from the testes of the Indian buffalo Bubalus bubalis is described. The biological activity of the final product, which produced a single band on disc gel electrophoresis, was affected by heat treatment, 6 m urea, pH alteration and pepsin digestion. Chemically, it appeared to be a glycoprotein. The protein and carbohydrate components together accounted for a total of 63% of the dry weight, whereas 37% of the constituents were unknown.

Biochemical Composition of rat Cowper's gland.

Cowper's glands of rats were analysed for ten different biochemical parameters including enzymes and substrates under different hormonal status of the animals. Sialic acid, glycogen and activities of maltase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes of the prepuberal glands were found to be elevated to the levels of the adult (control animals) after treatment with testosterone propionate. On the other hand, following castration of adult animals a dramatic fall of the maltase activity of the gland was recorded; other parameters studied also registered a significant fall from their normal values. However, following treatment with testosterone propionate of the castrate animals all parameters excepting total lipids and phospholipids were found to recover. Sialic acid of the prepuberal animals and maltase activity of the adult were highly sensitive to testosterone propionate.

Hydrogen peroxide formation in the rat uterus under hormone-induced conditions.

The production of hydrogen peroxide was quantitated in the uterus of cyclic, ovariectomized (treated with hormones) and pregnant (days 1-6 post coitum) rats. This phenomenon was found to be dependent on oestrogen. The uterine responsiveness to hydrogen peroxide was correlated with peroxidase-catalysed inactivation of oestrogens in this target organ.

Formation of hydrogen peroxide in normal and copper-treated rat endometrium.

An intrauterine copper device stimulated endogenous hydrogen peroxide formation in whole homogenates and in the mitochondrial and microsomal (but not the nuclear) fractions of rat endometrial tissues. Uric acid also accumulated in the endometrium of copper-treated rats, but not in those fitted with a nylon device or sham operated. It is suggested that the contraceptive effect of copper may be related to these events.

Effect of di-norgestrel (13beta-ethyl-17alpha-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone, Wy 3707) on the reproductive organs of rabbit.

PIP: The effect of dl-norgestrel (13 beta-ethyl-17 alpha-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone, Wy 3707) on the biochemical makeup of rabbit ovary and uterus was investigated. 20 adult, healthy virgin female rabbits either received olive oil only or olive oil plus 12 mcg of norgestrel/rabbit/day for 30 days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment. In the ovary protein concentration and activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) remained unaffected. However, in the uterus the level of protein was significantly elevated (p less than .01), the activities of G6PD and acid phosphatase were enhanced (p less than .05), and those of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and alkaline phosphatase were diminished (p less than .05). LDH and MDH in the uterus remained unchanged. The effect of norgestrel at this antiovulatory dose in rabbits consisted of a disturbance in the biochemical constituents of the uterus leading to a lowering of the ATPase activity and an impairment of the anaerobic mechanism of the organ.^ieng

Effect of 3,4-trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenyl-4-P-(beta-pyrrolidinoethoxy) phenyl -7-methoxy chroman (centchroman) on the biochemistry of the fallopian tube and uterus of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

PIP: The biochemical effects of the nonsteroidal compound Centchroman were observed in healthy, adult, female rhesus monkeys. The compound was administered at the antifertility dose (.625 mg/kg) for 22 days in a cycle. No marked weight changes were seen in the Fallopian tube, ovary, adrenal or pituitary as a result of treatment. Uterine weight increased significantly, however (p less than .01). In the Fallopian tube, levels of glycogen and protein increased significantly (p less than .01), lactic acid decreased significantly (p less than .01), and nonprotein nitrogen was unchanged as a result of treatment. Similar changes were observed in the uterus, and in addition, total total phospholipid concentration rose significantly (p less than .01) in the uterus. The activities of beta-glucuronidase, acid and alkaline phosphatases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in the Fallopian tube were unchanged due to treatment. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and malic dehydrogenase activities were significantly stimulated (p less than .01) and lactic dehydrogenase activity was significantly depressed (p less than .01). In the uterus, beta-glucuronidase and acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were unaltered, however, the activities of ATPase and the dehydrogenases of glucose-6-phosphate, lactate and malate were markedly increased (p less than .01). It is suggested that the antifertility effect of Centchroman may be due principally to the ability of the compound to elicit estrogen-like responses in the Fallopian tube and uterus.^ieng