Superconducting spin reorientation in spin-triplet multiple superconducting phases of UTe2.

Superconducting (SC) state has spin and orbital degrees of freedom, and spin-triplet superconductivity shows multiple SC phases because of the presence of these degrees of freedom. However, the observation of spin-direction rotation occurring inside the SC state (SC spin rotation) has hardly been reported. Uranium ditelluride, a recently found topological superconductor, exhibits various SC phases under pressure: SC state at ambient pressure (SC1), high-temperature SC state above 0.5 gigapascal (SC2), and low-temperature SC state above 0.5 gigapascal (SC3). We performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ac susceptibility measurements on a single-crystal uranium ditelluride. The b axis spin susceptibility remains unchanged in SC2, unlike in SC1, and decreases below the SC2-SC3 transition with spin modulation. These unique properties in SC3 arise from the coexistence of two SC order parameters. Our NMR results confirm spin-triplet superconductivity with SC spin parallel to b axis in SC2 and unveil the remaining of spin degrees of freedom in SC uranium ditelluride.

Splenic cytokines in mice immunized with testicular germ cells.

We previously established that two subcutaneous injections of viable syngeneic testicular germ cells (TGC) alone can induce CD4+ T cell-dependent experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) in mice. This model is histologically characterized by lymphocytic infiltration into the testes and the following aspermatogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the dynamics of splenic cytokines in EAO, using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that splenic production of both type 1 helper T cell (Th1) and type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-related cytokines increased after the second but not the first immunization with TGC, indicating that secondary immune responses are critical to the EAO induction. However, the production of Th1-related cytokines became predominant at the clinical stage of EAO. Additionally, serum FSH and inhibin-B increased and decreased, respectively, during EAO. On the other hand, LH did not significantly change and testosterone temporally increased during the same period. These results indicate that both Th1- and Th2-related cytokines are involved at the pre-clinical phase of EAO, but that Th1- rather than Th2-related cytokines are responsible for the clinical phase when spermatogenesis is disrupted but the Leydig cell function is well preserved.

A successful pregnancy outcome using frozen testicular sperm from a chimeric infertile male with a 46, XX/46, XY karyotype: case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a very rare case of the successful delivery of a healthy infant fathered by an infertile chimera. METHODS: ICSI was performed using frozen sperm. The karyotypes of peripheral lymphocytes were examined with a G-banding stain. RESULTS: Chromosomal analysis prior to ICSI revealed a 46, XX [28]/46, XY [2] karyotype chimera. As an infant, the subject was diagnosed as a true hermaphrodite, and underwent a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. A small number of sperm were found in minced testicular tissue, and they were stored for ICSI. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a successful pregnancy and delivery of a healthy infant fathered by an infertile chimera (46, XX/46, XY) following ICSI using frozen testicular sperm.