IPAC integrates rewarding and environmental memory during the acquisition of morphine CPP.

The association between rewarding and drug-related memory is a leading factor for the formation of addiction, yet the neural circuits underlying the association remain unclear. Here, we showed that the interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure (IPAC) integrated rewarding and environmental memory information by two different receiving projections from ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell region (NAcSh) to mediate the acquisition of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP). A projection from the VTA GABAergic neurons (VTAGABA) to the IPAC lateral region GABAergic neurons (IPACLGABA) mediated the effect of morphine rewarding, whereas the pathway from NAcSh dopamine receptor 1-expressing neurons (NAcShD1) to the IPAC medial region GABAergic neurons (IPACMGABA) was involved in the acquisition of environmental memory. These findings demonstrated that the distinct IPAC circuits VTAGABA→IPACLGABA and NAcShD1R→IPACMGABA were attributable to the rewarding and environmental memory during the acquisition of morphine CPP, respectively, and provided the circuit-based potential targets for preventing and treating opioid addiction.

Low expression of glycoprotein subunit 130 in ejaculated spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic men.

Previous studies showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) was expressed in human Leydig and Sertoli cells and that it inhibited sperm motility. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of IL-6, IL-6R, and GP130 in ejaculated spermatozoa between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men. Human spermatozoa in the semen were purified by Percoll gradient technique to separate the seminal plasma and other round cells. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot were used to detect the expression of IL-6, IL-6R, and GP130 in spermatozoa. With RT-PCR, only GP130 mRNA but not IL-6 and IL-6R mRNA was expressed in human ejaculated spermatozoa. The expression of GP130 mRNA was significantly lower in asthenozoospermic men than in normozoospermic men. The protein expression of GP130 was further confirmed by both immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Again, GP130 protein levels were significantly lower in asthenozoospermic men than in normozoospermic men. The results suggested that the decreased expression of GP130 in ejaculated spermatozoa could be associated with low sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men.

[Functional expression of adenylyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase in ejaculated human spermatozoa].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of expressions of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) in ejaculated spermatozoa between healthy volunteers and the patients with asthenospermia. METHODS: Ejaculated spermatozoa were collected from healthy volunteers and the patients with asthenospermia. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of AC and PDE subtypes in human spermatozoa. The concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with healthy volunteers, expression of sAC mRNA and concentration of cAMP were significantly decreased in the patients with asthenospermia (P < 0.01) , while the expression of PDE4C mRNA was significantly increased at the same time (P <0.01). There were no marked differences in the expression of ACIII mRNA and concentration of cGMP between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The sAC down-regulation and PDE4C up-regulation are possible reasons for asthenospermia.

Functional expression of adenylyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase in ejaculated human spermatozoa / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences of expressions of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) in ejaculated spermatozoa between healthy volunteers and the patients with asthenospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ejaculated spermatozoa were collected from healthy volunteers and the patients with asthenospermia. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of AC and PDE subtypes in human spermatozoa. The concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with healthy volunteers, expression of sAC mRNA and concentration of cAMP were significantly decreased in the patients with asthenospermia (P < 0.01) , while the expression of PDE4C mRNA was significantly increased at the same time (P <0.01). There were no marked differences in the expression of ACIII mRNA and concentration of cGMP between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sAC down-regulation and PDE4C up-regulation are possible reasons for asthenospermia.</p>