The effect of luteolin on spermatological parameters, apoptosis, oxidative stress rate in freezing rabbit semen.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of Luteolin (LUT) on semen quality, oxidative stress, apoptosis, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and dead sperm ratio in rabbits. Ejaculates from six New Zealand rabbits were collected, evaluated and pooled. The pooling was divided into five groups as control (no additive) LUT 25 µM, LUT 50 µM, LUT 100 µM and LUT 200 µM and LUT added. It was then filled into a falcon tube with Tris-based extender at a final concentration of approximately 35 x 106 spermatozoa. Diluated rabbit semen samples were drawn into frozen and thawed. Frozen semen straws were thawed at 37°C in 30 seconds. According to our findings, no statistical difference was found between all doses of luteolin and the control group in the CASA (computer assisted sperm analysis) analysis performed at 4°C. However, total motility, progressive motility and rapid sperm percentage were found to be higher in the frozen and thawed rabbit semen at a dose of LUT 50 µM compared to the other groups (p⟨0.05). While amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross-frequency (BCF) values were found at the lowest dose of LUT 200 µM, a statistically significant difference was observed between the other groups. When the flow cytometry results were examined, no statistical difference was found between the rate of dead sperm, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis rate. Morever, the H2 O2 percentage was found to be lower in all experimental groups compared to the control group (p⟨0.001). In conclusion, the addition of LUT in long-term storage of rabbit semen provided a protective effect for spermatozoa with its antioxidative properties against damage caused by cryopreservation.

Mixing properties of bi-disperse ellipsoid assemblies: mean-field behaviour in a granular matter experiment.

The structure and spatial statistical properties of amorphous ellipsoid assemblies have profound scientific and industrial significance in many systems, from cell assays to granular materials. This paper uses a fundamental theoretical relationship for mixture distributions to explain the observations of an extensive X-ray computed tomography study of granular ellipsoidal packings. We study a size-bi-disperse mixture of two types of ellipsoids of revolutions that have the same aspect ratio of α ≈ 0.57 and differ in size, by about 10% in linear dimension, and compare these to mono-disperse systems of ellipsoids with the same aspect ratio. Jammed configurations with a range of packing densities are achieved by employing different tapping protocols. We numerically interrogate the final packing configurations by analyses of the local packing fraction distributions calculated from the Voronoi diagrams. Our main finding is that the bi-disperse ellipsoidal packings studied here can be interpreted as a mixture of two uncorrelated mono-disperse packings, insensitive to the compaction protocol. Our results are consolidated by showing that the local packing fraction shows no correlation beyond their first shell of neighbours in the binary mixtures. We propose a model of uncorrelated binary mixture distribution that describes the observed experimental data with high accuracy. This analysis framework will enable future studies to test whether the observed mean-field behaviour is specific to the particular granular system or the specific parameter values studied here or if it is observed more broadly in other bi-disperse non-spherical particle systems.

Determination of the cryoprotective effect of n-methylacetamide in rabbit semen.

BACKGROUND: Amides are low molecular weight cryoprotectants. N-methylacetamide (MA) is one of the cryoprotectant agents in this group. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cryoprotective effect of MA in rabbit semen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, six ejaculates from six New Zealand rabbits were collected and pooled using an artificial vagina. Pooled semen was divided into four equal parts and diluted with TCG+ egg yolk. CPA was added to form the following groups: Control with 6% DMSO; Group 1 with 1% MA; Group 2 with 2% MA; and Group 3 with 3% MA. After the addition of CPA, the semen eqilibration procedure was started. Sperm were then drawn into 0.25 mL straws, frozen by automatic semen freezing and stored in a liquid nitrogen container. Pipettes were thawed after 24 h and analyses were performed. RESULTS: Total, progressive and rapid motility values of the Control group were higher than those of the MA groups (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the Control and Group 2 in terms of these parameters. While there was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of acrosome damage and mitochondrial membrane potential, the best results were observed in Control, Group 2, Group 1 and Group 3, respectively. When we compared all groups, no difference was found in terms of MDA, CAT and GSH-Px. There was a statistical difference between Group 3 and the Control in terms of GSH level (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: DMSO appeared to be more useful for the cryopreservation of rabbit semen compared to MA. Doi.org/10.54680/fr23610110812.

Bioinformatic analysis of post-transmission viral readaptation in Argentine patients with acute HIV-1 infection.

During the acute phase of HIV-1 infection, a strong readaptation occurs in the viral population. Our objective was to analyze the post-transmission mutations associated with escape to the cytotoxic immune response and its relationship with the progression of the infection. In this study, a total of 17 patients were enrolled during acute/early primary HIV infection and 8 subjects that were the HIV positive partner resulting in 8 transmission pairs. Genotyping of the genetic polymorphisms of HLA class I A and B was performed using PCR-SSOP. Viral RNA extraction was from plasma. 570 single Gag-gene amplifications were obtained by limiting-dilution RT-PCR. Epitope prediction was performed with NetMHC CBS prediction server for the 19 HLA-A and B alleles. Cytotoxic response prediction was performed by using the IEDB Analysis Resource. From our results, we deduce that the transmitted CTL / gag escape frequency in the founder virus was at least double compared to the post-transmission events. Additionally, by means of an algorithm that combines these frequencies, we observed that the founder viruses better adapted to the HLA A / B alleles of the recipient could contribute to a greater progression of the infection. Our results suggest that there is a large adaptation of HIV-1 to the HLA A / B alleles prevalent in our population. However, despite this adaptive advantage, the virus needs to make "readjustments" through new escape and compensatory mutations. Interestingly, according to our results, this readaptation could have a role in the progression of the infection.

Negative effect of feeding with high energy diets on testes and metabolic blood parameters of male Japanese quails, and positive role of milk thistle seed.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the changes in testicular tissue and cell count, testicular oxidative stress and some metabolic blood parameters of male broiler Japanese quails fed with high energy diet and milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed. One hundred-twenty male 15-day-old Japanese quail chicks were divided into 4 equal groups with 30 each. The applications in each group were repeated 3 times with 10 animals each. Control group was fed with basal diet. Milk thistle seed group was fed with diet including 1% milk thistle seed. High energy diet group was fed with high energy diet including 10% corn syrup. High energy diet + milk thistle seed group was fed with high energy diet including 10% corn syrup along with 1% milk thistle seed. The feeding period in all groups was 35 days. When the quails reached 50 days old, a total of 48, 12 from each group (4 from each replication) were euthanized and blood samples and testes were collected. Compared with the control group, significant increases in body weight, serum cholesterol and glucose level, aspartate aminotransferase activity and testicular malondialdehyde level; however, significant decreases in serum testosterone level, testicular glutathione peroxidase activity, counts of round and elongated spermatid and sperm as well as histopathologically, significant decreases in seminiferous tubular diameter and seminiferous epithelium thickness, and marked disorganization in germinal cells were determined in quails fed with high energy diet. It was observed that almost all of the disturbances in testicular tissue, cell number, oxidant-antioxidant balance and metabolic blood parameters caused by feeding with high energy diet were significantly prevented by supplementation of milk thistle seed to the diet with high energy. On the other hand, alone milk thistle seed and high energy diet + milk thistle seed administrations decreased body weight in comparison to control and high energy diet groups. As a result, feeding with high energy diet causes disturbances in testes of male quails by affecting liver metabolic functions and testicular oxidant-antioxidant balance, but milk thistle seed addition to diet plays a protective role.

Three-dimensional bone grafting in dental implantology using autogenous bone ring transplant: Clinical outcomes of a one-stage technique.

BACKGROUND: An insufficient bone volume at the maxillary anterior region often restricts dental implant treatment and commonly leads to poor aesthetic outcomes. The defective site requires bone grafting as an initial surgical intervention before dental implant placement. In dental implantology, reconstructing osseous defects using autologous block bone grafts, biomaterials, or a combination of both is a routine surgical procedure. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of autogenous, symphyseal, bone ring block grafts after the augmentation of defective sockets and clinical application of grafts in the maxillary anterior region with immediate insertion of a dental implant in a single surgical procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included eight patients (five females and three males) with 12 defective sockets. The technique included removing the bone from the chin region for transplant, fitting the three-dimensional bone rings in the prepared sockets of the maxillary anterior region, and screwing the dental implants through the rings. Patients underwent postoperative clinical examinations every day during the first week and then every month for 6 months. RESULTS: In two cases, the wound dehisced but healed by secondary intervention during the follow-up period. In one case, the ring graft sequestrated because of infection in postoperative month 2, the osseous defect was reconstructed with biomaterials. The remaining cases healed with no infection, and no other case failed during the first year. CONCLUSION: This technique showed promising and advantageous results, and thus, could be an alternative treatment to other autogenous graft techniques, particularly for defective sockets.

Effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on testis and pancreatic tissues of male offspring.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on some reproductive characteristics, testicular and pancreatic oxidative status and pancreatic endocrine receptor densities of male offspring at post-pubertal stage. A total of 36 1-day-old Wistar Albino male offspring including 12 pups of nontreated mothers (control group), 14 pups of 40 mg/kg STZ-injected mothers (STZ-40 group) and 10 pups of 60 mg/kg STZ-injected mothers (STZ-60 group) were used. The offspring were euthanised on post-natal day 60, their blood, reproductive organs and pancreatic tissues were obtained and examined. When compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in body and absolute reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone level, testicular and pancreatic catalase activities, pancreatic glutathione level, epididymal sperm concentration of both STZ-40 and STZ-60 groups as well as in testicular glutathione level of only STZ-60 group. Significant increases were determined in testicular and pancreatic malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity in both groups and in fasting serum glucose of only STZ-60 group in comparison with the control group. Although some histopathological damages were observed in testes of both STZ-40 and STZ-60 groups, there were no detectable differences between the groups in density of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin receptors in pancreas. In conclusion, GDM has negative effects on reproductive efficiency and testicular-pancreatic tissue oxidant/antioxidant balance of male offspring at post-pubertal stage.

Curvature driven motion of a bubble in a toroidal Hele-Shaw cell.

We investigate the equilibrium properties of a single area-minimizing bubble trapped between two narrowly separated parallel curved plates. We begin with the case of a bubble trapped between concentric spherical plates. We develop a model which shows that the surface energy of the bubble is lower when confined between spherical plates than between flat plates. We confirm our findings by comparing against Surface Evolver simulations. We then derive a simple model for a bubble between arbitrarily curved parallel plates. The energy is found to be higher when the local Gaussian curvature of the plates is negative and lower when the curvature is positive. To check the validity of the model, we consider a bubble trapped between concentric tori. In the toroidal case, we find that the sensitivity of the bubble's energy to the local curvature acts as a geometric potential capable of driving bubbles from regions with negative to positive curvature.

Effect of etodolac hydrazone, a new compound synthesised from etodolac, on spermatozoon quality, testicular lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and spermatozoon DNA integrity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of etodolac hydrazone (EH), a new compound synthesised from etodolac, on spermatozoon quality, testicular lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and spermatozoon DNA integrity in rats. Group 1 (n = 8) received 1 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) daily (Control); group 2 (n = 8) was treated with 5 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH, dissolved in 1 ml DMSO (EH-5); and group 3 (n = 8) was treated with 10 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH, dissolved in 1 ml DMSO (EH-10). All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 8 weeks. Both doses of EH administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative weights of testis, whole epididymis, right cauda epididymis, and spermatozoon motility, spermatozoon count in comparison with the control group. Only 10 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative weights of seminal vesicles and serum testosterone level, and significant increases in testicular lipid peroxidation level, and numbers of TUNEL+ apoptotic germ cells and spermatozoa with damaged DNA along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, body and ventral prostate weight, and testicular antioxidant markers (glutathione, glutathione-peroxidase and catalase), were unaffected significantly by both doses of EH administration. In conclusion, two different doses of EH, in particular its high dose, damage to testicular spermatogenic cells and spermatozoon DNA and, it decreases spermatozoon motility, count and testosterone level in healthy rats.

Effectiveness of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced damages on the male reproductive system.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the likelihood of detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) on male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanism and also protective effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO). For this purpose, 28 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, seven rats in each. Group 1 received only olive oil daily; group 2 was treated with 100 mg kg(-1) CBO daily; group 3 was treated with only 0.25 ml kg(-1) CCl4 weekly; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily CBO. All administrations were made by intragastric catheter and maintained for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular oxidative stress markers and testicular apoptosis were examined. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, testicular catalase (CAT) activity, sperm motility and concentration, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, LPO level, apoptotic index and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with CBO when compared to group given CCl4 only. The findings of this study clearly suggest that CBO has protective effect against damages in male reproductive organs and cells induced by CCl4 .

Quercetin attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of quercetin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 )-induced sperm damages, testicular apoptosis and oxidative stress in male rats. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was treated with only quercetin, group 3 was treated with only CCl4 and group 4 received CCl4 + quercetin. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and testicular apoptotic cell index, along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, administration of CCl4 together with quercetin provided statistically significant improvements in LPO level, abnormal sperm rate, the degree of histopathological lesions and testicular apoptotic cell index when compared to only CCl4 group. In addition, improvements observed in absolute and relative weights of reproductive organs, sperm motility and concentration, and testicular GSH-Px and CAT activities in group 4 were statistically insignificant when compared to only CCl4 group. In conclusion, quercetin has antiperoxidative effect, and its oral administration attenuates the CCl4 -induced some damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the LPO.

Effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil on testicular antioxidant values, apoptotic germ cell and sperm quality.

Cinnamon and its contents have multifactorial properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic. Male infertility is one of the major health problems in life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term cinnamon bark oil (CBO) ingestion on testicular antioxidant values, apoptotic germ cell and sperm quality of adult rats. Twelve male healthy Wistar rats were divided into two groups, each group containing six rats. While olive oil was given to control group, 100 mg kg(-1)  CBO was administered to the other group by gavage daily for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities, and testicular apoptosis via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method were examined. A significant decrease in malondialdehyde level and marked increases in reduced glutathione level, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were observed in rats treated with CBO compared with the control group. CBO consumption provided a significant increase in weights of testes and epididymides, epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility and diameter of seminiferous tubules when compared with the control group. However, CBO consumption tended to decrease the abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic germ cell count, but it did not reach statistical significance. It is concluded that CBO has improvement effect on testicular oxidant-antioxidant balance and sperm quality, and its consumption may be useful for asthenozoospermic men.

Rose oil inhalation protects against formaldehyde-induced testicular damage in rats.

In this experimental study, harmful effects of formaldehyde (FA) inhalation on sperm concentration, sperm quality, serum testosterone levels and the rat testes were investigated. In addition, the possible protective effects of rose oil against to these harmful effects were evaluated. For this purpose, 21 albino-Wistar rats were used. The rats in Group I were used as control group. When the rats of Group II were exposed FA (10 ppm/1 h) for 35 days, the rats of Group III inhalated rose oil (1 ml/1 h) after FA. The epididymal tissues were taken for sperm analysing and the testes were removed for histological examination. In addition, testosterone levels were determined from the blood samples. Although the testosterone levels, the epididymal sperm concentration, and the progressive sperm motility significantly decreased, the abnormal sperm rate significantly increased in the Group II when compared to Group I. In the Group III, these damages were seen less. When the rats in the Group II compared with the control group, there were serious histological damages. In the Group III, it was determined that the histological changes were less than group II. It can be expressed that serious damages occurred via formaldehyde exposure in male reproductive system and that the rose oil had protective effects against these damages.

Minkowski tensor shape analysis of cellular, granular and porous structures.

Predicting physical properties of materials with spatially complex structures is one of the most challenging problems in material science. One key to a better understanding of such materials is the geometric characterization of their spatial structure. Minkowski tensors are tensorial shape indices that allow quantitative characterization of the anisotropy of complex materials and are particularly well suited for developing structure-property relationships for tensor-valued or orientation-dependent physical properties. They are fundamental shape indices, in some sense being the simplest generalization of the concepts of volume, surface and integral curvatures to tensor-valued quantities. Minkowski tensors are based on a solid mathematical foundation provided by integral and stochastic geometry, and are endowed with strong robustness and completeness theorems. The versatile definition of Minkowski tensors applies widely to different types of morphologies, including ordered and disordered structures. Fast linear-time algorithms are available for their computation. This article provides a practical overview of the different uses of Minkowski tensors to extract quantitative physically-relevant spatial structure information from experimental and simulated data, both in 2D and 3D. Applications are presented that quantify (a) alignment of co-polymer films by an electric field imaged by surface force microscopy; (b) local cell anisotropy of spherical bead pack models for granular matter and of closed-cell liquid foam models; (c) surface orientation in open-cell solid foams studied by X-ray tomography; and (d) defect densities and locations in molecular dynamics simulations of crystalline copper.

Circular dichroism in biological photonic crystals and cubic chiral nets.

Nature provides impressive examples of chiral photonic crystals, with the notable example of the cubic so-called srs network (the label for the chiral degree-three network modeled on SrSi2) or gyroid structure realized in wing scales of several butterfly species. By a circular polarization analysis of the band structure of such networks, we demonstrate strong circular dichroism effects: The butterfly srs microstructure, of cubic I4(1)32 symmetry, shows significant circular dichroism for blue to ultraviolet light, that warrants a search for biological receptors sensitive to circular polarization. A derived synthetic structure based on four like-handed silicon srs nets exhibits a large circular polarization stop band of a width exceeding 30%. These findings offer design principles for chiral photonic devices.

The chiral structure of porous chitin within the wing-scales of Callophrys rubi.

The structure of the porous three-dimensional reticulated pattern in the wing scales of the butterfly Callophrys rubi (the Green Hairstreak) is explored in detail, via scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A full 3D tomographic reconstruction of a section of this material reveals that the predominantly chitin material is assembled in the wing scale to form a structure whose geometry bears a remarkable correspondence to the srs net, well-known in solid state chemistry and soft materials science. The porous solid is bounded to an excellent approximation by a parallel surface to the Gyroid, a three-periodic minimal surface with cubic crystallographic symmetry I4132, as foreshadowed by Stavenga and Michielson. The scale of the structure is commensurate with the wavelength of visible light, with an edge of the conventional cubic unit cell of the parallel-Gyroid of approximately 310 nm. The genesis of this structure is discussed, and we suggest it affords a remarkable example of templating of a chiral material via soft matter, analogous to the formation of mesoporous silica via surfactant assemblies in solution. In the butterfly, the templating is achieved by the lipid-protein membranes within the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (while it remains in the chrysalis), that likely form cubic membranes, folded according to the form of the Gyroid. The subsequent formation of the chiral hard chitin framework is suggested to be driven by the gradual polymerisation of the chitin precursors, whose inherent chiral assembly in solution (during growth) promotes the formation of a single enantiomer.

Effect of pregnancy and foetal number on diameter of corpus luteum, maternal progesterone concentration and oxidant/antioxidant balance in ewes.

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in diameter of corpus luteum (CL), maternal progesterone (P) concentration, lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels along with enzymatic antioxidant activities in pregnant ewes bearing single and twin foetuses. The ewes were selected from healthy animals that were brought to the abattoir for slaughtering. The ewes were divided into three groups: Group 1 (non-pregnant, non-oestrous, n = 30), Group 2 (pregnant bearing a single foetus, n = 30) and Group 3 (pregnant bearing twin foetuses, n = 12) after they were slaughtered. Pregnant ewes were in the first half of the pregnancy. The diameter of CL and P concentration of pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus or twin foetuses were found higher than that found in non-pregnant ewes. Similarly, the P concentration of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was higher than that found in pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was higher than that found in both non-pregnant and pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. The serum glutathione (GSH) level and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses were found lower than that found in non-pregnant ewes. Additionally, the GSH-Px activity of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was found lower than that found in pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. No significant difference was found between pregnant ewes bearing female and male foetus with respect to diameter of CL, P concentration and oxidative stress parameters. There were significant positive correlations between foetal number (0, 1, 2) and diameter of CL, P concentration, MDA level, and between P concentration and diameter of CL, MDA level. However, significant negative correlations were found between foetal number (0, 1, 2) and GSH level, GSH-Px activity, and between P concentration and GSH-Px activity. In conclusion, the diameter of CL enlarges, P production increases and oxidant/antioxidant balance impairs because of the gestation stress in ewes during pregnancy.

Development of an x-ray imaging system for the Laser Megajoule (LMJ).

This imaging system aims at recording images of the core size and shape of an imploding deuterium-tritium (DT) microballoon on LMJ inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. Image acquisition is difficult due to the harsh surrounding created by the fusion reaction, which affects system specifications. This one is made of a scintillator, an optical relay, and a CCD camera shielded from the surrounding. The system was tested on different facilities at CEA/DIF, where a spatial resolution of 120 µm was achieved and gamma dose up to 20 rad effects were measured. Setup and performed test are described.

Tensorial Minkowski functionals and anisotropy measures for planar patterns.

Quantitative measures for anisotropic characteristics of spatial structure are needed when relating the morphology of microstructured heterogeneous materials to tensorial physical properties such as elasticity, permeability and conductance. Tensor-valued Minkowski functionals, defined in the framework of integral geometry, provide a concise set of descriptors of anisotropic morphology. In this article, we describe the robust computation of these measures for microscopy images and polygonal shapes. We demonstrate their relevance for shape description, their versatility and their robustness by applying them to experimental data sets, specifically microscopy data sets of non-equilibrium stationary Turing patterns and the shapes of ice grains from Antarctic cores.