Morphometry and subpopulation structure of Holstein bull spermatozoa： variations in ejaculates and cryopreservation straws

Sperm quality is evaluated for the calculation of sperm dosage in artificial reproductive programs. The most common parameter used is motility, but morphology has a higher potential as a predictor of genetic quality. Morphometry calculations from CASA-Morph technology improve morphological evaluation and allow mathematical approaches to the problem. Semen from 28 Holstein bulls was collected by artificial vagina, and several ejaculates were studied. After general evaluation, samples were diluted, packaged in 0.25 ml straws, and stored in liquid nitrogen. Two straws per sample were thawed, and slides were processed and stained with Diff-Quik. Samples were analyzed by a CASA-Morph system for eight morphometric parameters. In addition to the ＂classical＂ statistical approach, based on variance analysis （revealing differences between animals, ejaculates, and straws）, principal component （PC） analysis showed that the variables were grouped into PC1, related to size, and PC2 to shape. Subpopulation structure analysis showed four groups, namely, big, small, short, and narrow from their dominant characteristics, representing 31.0%, 27.3%, 24.1%, and 17.7% of the total population, respectively. The distributions varied between animals and ejaculates, but between straws, there were no differences in only four animals. This modern approach of considering an ejaculate sperm population as divided into subpopulations reflecting quantifiable parameters generated by CASA-Morph systems technology opens a new view on sperm function. This is the first study applying this approach to evaluate different ejaculates and straws from the same individual. More work must be done to improve seminal dose calculations in assisted reproductive programs.

Depressive severity associated with cesarean section in young depressed individuals

This cross-sectional study recruited consecutively 347 patients (178 males,169 females) aged 19 to 30 years with a diagnosis of MDD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition (DSM-V) criteria who underwent in-person interviews,the mini international neuropsychiatric interview,and physical examinations by experienced psychiatrists at Division of Neuropsychiatry,Department of Neurology,Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University (Beijing,China) between August 20,2015,and December 28,2018.All patients were excluded with anemia,thyroid dysfunction,mental retardation,neurologic conditions,bipolar disorders,schizophrenia,and other mental disorders.Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD-17) by three experienced psychological testing technicians who were blinded to all subjects' birth delivery types at the Neuropsychological Center of Department of Neurology of Xuanwu Hospital.The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xuanwu Hospital.As a retrospective study and data analysis were performed anonymously,this study was exempt from the informed consent from patients.