Can Helicobacter pylori infection influence human reproduction?

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection could be associated with extra-digestive diseases.Here,we report the evidences concerning the decrease in reproductive potential occurring in individuals infected by H.pylori,especially by strains expressing CagA.This infection is more prevalent in individuals with fertility disorders.Infected women have anti-H.pylori antibodies in cervical mucus and follicular fluid that may decrease sperm motility and cross react immunologically with spermatozoa,conceivably hampering the oocyte/sperm fusion.Infection by CagA positive organisms enhances the risk of preeclampsia,which is a main cause of foetus death.These findings are supported by the results of experimental infections of pregnant mice,which may cause reabsorption of a high number of foetuses and alter the balance between Th1 and Th2 cell response.Infected men have decreased sperm motility,viability and numbers of normally shaped sperm and augmented systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines,such as TNF-α,which may damage spermatozoa.In countries where parasitic infestation is endemic,detrimental effects of infection upon spermatozoa may not occur,because the immune response to parasites could determine a switch from a predominant Th1 type to Th2 type lymphocytes,with production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.In conclusion,the evidences gathered until now should be taken into consideration for future studies aiming to explore the possible role of H.pylori infection on human reproduction.

18,X,Y aneuploidies and transmission electron microscopy studies in spermatozoa from five carriers of different reciprocal translocations

We analysed ejaculated spermatozoa from five infertile men with different balanced reciprocal translocations to contribute to the study of meiotic segregation of chromosomes 18, X and Y and also to evaluate sperm morphology by transmission electron microscopy （TEM） analysis. Conventional lymphocyte karyotype analyses highlighted dif- ferent reciprocal balanced translocations： t（12; 13）, t（4;9）, t（X;8）, t（8; 10） and t（3; 16）. Semen analysis was performed by light and TEM. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed directly on sperm nuclei using centromeric probes for chromosomes 18, X and Y. The carriers of the balanced reciprocal translocations considered in the present study showed a very similar pattern of sperm pathologies： diffused presence of apoptosis and immaturity. All patients showed meiotic segregation derangements, highlighted by the presence of sperm diploidies and sex chromosome disomies particularly related to the failure of the first meiotic division. However, an increased incidence of chromosome 18 aneuploidy was detected in spermatozoa from t（X;8） and t（8;10） carriers. We have also reported values from sex chromosomes such as t（X;8）, although the X chromosome was involved in translocation. Since patients with reciprocal translocations and spermatogenetic impairment are candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, the study of sperm parameters, and particularly of the level of aneuploidy rates, would provide better information for couples at risk and would contribute to the data in the literature for a better understanding of the effects of chromosomal rearrangement on the whole meiotic process and, in particular, on chromosomes not involved in translocation.

Study of cytoskeleton from microscopic point of view:Our experience

The manuscript deals with our studies and experiences in the assessment of cytoskeleton in different cellular models and situations.The immunofluorescent study of several cytoskeletal proteins was relevant in the evaluation of a therapy for osteoarthritis,in case of alkaptonuria and in testing the efficacy of docetaxel in neuroblastoma cancer cells leading to apoptosis.A relevant part of our experience focus on the study of cytoskeleton in seminiferous epithelium and spermatozoa,identifying alterations affecting blood-testis barrier after a silver nanoparticle treatment,chromosomal segregation in case of varicocele,sperm motility and diagnosing systematic sperm defects as“Primary ciliary dyskinesia”and“Dysplasia of the fibrous sheath”.The evaluation of cytoskeleton represents a specific and sensitive analysis in establishing the health status of different cells.