Chromatin condensation but not DNA integrity of pig sperm is greater in the sperm-rich fraction

Background Protamination and condensation of sperm chromatin as well as DNA integrity play an essential role during fertilization and embryo development.In some mammals,like pigs,ejaculates are emitted in three separate fractions:pre-sperm,sperm-rich(SRF)and post sperm-rich(PSRF).These fractions are known to vary in volume,sperm concentration and quality,as well as in the origin and composition of seminal plasma(SP),with differences being also observed within the SRF one.Yet,whether disparities in the DNA integrity and chromatin condensation and pro-tamination of their sperm exist has not been interrogated.Results This study determined chromatin protamination(Chromomycin A3 test,CMA_(3)),condensation(Dibromobi-mane test,DBB),and DNA integrity(Comet assay)in the pig sperm contained in the first 10 m L of the SRF(SRF-P1),the remaining portion of the sperm-rich fraction(SRF-P2),and the post sperm-rich fraction(PSRF).While chromatin protamination was found to be similar between the different ejaculate fractions(P>0.05),chromatin condensation was seen to be greater in SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 than in the PSRF(P=0.018 and P=0.004,respectively).Regarding DNA integrity,no differences between fractions were observed(P>0.05).As the SRF-P1 has the highest sperm concentra-tion and ejaculate fractions are known to differ in antioxidant composition,the oxidative stress index(OSi)in SP,calcu-lated as total oxidant activity divided by total antioxidant capacity,was tested and confirmed to be higher in the SRF-P1 than in SRF-P2 and PSRF(0.42±0.06 vs.0.23±0.09 and 0.08±0.00,respectively;P<0.01);this index,in addition,was observed to be correlated to the sperm concentration of each fraction(Rs=0.973;P<0.001).Conclusion While sperm DNA integrity was not found to differ between ejaculate fractions,SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 were observed to exhibit greater chromatin condensation than the PSRF.This could be related to the OSi of each fraction.

成人骨髓间质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞前后基因表达的研究

目的探讨成人骨髓间质干细胞(MSC)分化为神经元样细胞前后基因表达的变化。方法从成人骨髓分离MSC,培养扩增。用参芪液诱导hMSC分化为神经元,并用免疫组化法检测神经元烯醇化酶(NSE)、神经丝蛋白(NF)、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的表达来鉴定是否为神经元样细胞。采用半定量RTPCR方法检测10个基因(包括内胚层基因Ceruloplasmin;中胚层基因SM22;外胚层基因Amyloidprecursorprotein、syntaxin;生殖系基因protamine;神经元特异性基因NeuroD、NF、NSE、GFAP、Tau)在诱导分化前后的变化。结果hMSC经参芪液诱导后,可见神经元样细胞。免疫组化结果显示诱导出的神经元样细胞表达NSE、NF阳性,GFAP阴性。hMSC在分化前表达内胚层、中胚层、外胚层和生殖系基因,随着分化时间的延长,生殖系基因不表达,内胚层和中胚层基因表达减弱,外胚层基因表达基本不变。而在分化过程中外胚层基因和神经元特异性标记基因表达明显增强。结论hMSC分化为神经元样细胞的过程并不是简单的神经特异性基因的“开”和“关”,而是与神经细胞分化成熟过程中相关基因表达的量相关。

公山羊Protamine 1 mRNA表达特性及与精液品质相关性的研究

旨在研究雄性山羊主要繁殖器官中PRM1mRNA表达特性,分析精子PRM1mRNA表达与精液品质参数的相关性。本研究通过荧光定量PCR技术分析PRM1mRNA表达规律,利用免疫组化技术对睾丸中PRM1蛋白进行定位,并应用GraphPad Prism 5软件分析精子PRM1mRNA表达量与精液品质指标的相关性。结果显示,PRM1mRNA在睾丸中高度表达,其次是附睾,睾丸中PRM1mRNA表达量是附睾头的247倍,附睾头显著高于附睾体和尾(P<0.05),在剩余其他组织中微量表达。在周岁之前,睾丸中PRM1mRNA表达量随着月龄增加而增加,12月龄的表达量显著高于9月龄的表达量(P<0.05),9月龄表达量显著高于其他低月龄的表达量(P<0.05)。精子PRM1mRNA的表达量与精子活力(R2=0.586 0,P=0.000 5)、精子密度(R2=0.442 2,P=0.004 9)呈显著正相关。山羊PRM1在长形精子细胞和精子细胞中表达,睾丸其他生精细胞及间质细胞中无表达。山羊PRM1mRNA表达具有时空表达特性,PRM1mRNA表达量可以作为评价公羊繁殖力的指标。

Basic peptide protamine exerts antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic bacteria——Growth inhibition of periodontopathic bacteria by protamine

Protamine was investigated for its antibacterial activity against the periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of protamine and its hydrolysate and their bactericidal activity. Protamine inhibited the growth of all periodontopathic bacteria tested on agar plates. Protamine, which MIC was 6.3 × 10-7 g L-1, was most effective against P. gingivalis. The antibacterial effect of native protamine was higher than that of its hydrolysate. An ATP bioluminescence assay revealed that protamine showed bactericidal activity against P. gingivalis in a time-dependent manner. These results indicate that protamine could be candidate peptide for prevention of P. gingivalis infection.

Influence of N-acetylcysteine on pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and protamine expression level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats

Objective:To study the influence of N-acetylcysteine on the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and protamine expression level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.Methods:Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups,with 7 rats in each group.The control group left untreated;the streptozotocin group only received 50 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin intraperitoneally for 5 days to induce diabetes;the N-acetylcysteine group only received 200 mg/kg body weight N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally,and the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups 1,2 and 3 received 50 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneally for 5 days to induce diabetes and then received 100,200 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses of N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally for 28 days,respectively.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and testosterone,and real-time PCR was applied for measuring protamine expression level.Results:Compared to the control and N-acetylcysteine groups,a significant decrease in the body weight,testicular weight and levels of testosterone and protamine expression was observed in the streptozotocin group and the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups 1 and 2.On the contrary,the levels of LH and FSH increased significantly.In the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine group 3,the body weight,testicular weight and expression level of protamine were significantly higher than those of the streptozotocin group.In the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups,testosterone and LH levels were significantly higher than and lower than the streptozotocin group,respectively.In the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups 2 and 3,the level of FSH was significantly lower than that of the streptozotocin group and streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine group 1.Furthermore,a significant increase in the expression level of protamine was observed in the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups 2 and 3 when compared to the streptozotocin group and streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine group 1.Conclusions:N-acetylcysteine in an optimal dose of 400 mg/kg body weight has a protective influence on the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and also on the expression level of protamine in diabetic male rats.

Physiological Effects of Salmon Milt Nucleoprotein on Movement, Stress Tolerance and Lifespan of <i>C. elegans</i>

In recent years, various physiological functions of salmon milt extract, which consists of nucleic acid and nucleoprotein, have been reported. The objective of this study is to analyze the physiological function and its mechanism of salmon milt extract (NG) on nematodes (C. elegans). The wild type nematode N2 strain was bred on the plate containing of NG for four days, and its body length increased depending on NG concentration. When nematodes were bred with NG for a longer period, average lifespan was increased, and survival rate was increased by up to 20%. Generally, the movement of nematodes decreases with longer breeding period (i.e. aging). Analysis of movement (both gross thrashing movement and local pumping movement) showed that NG suppressed this decrease f movement with aging. Furthermore, the deease of survival rate by heat stress and oxidative stress was suppressed by NG administration. Nile Red staining analysis showed that fat accumulation varied depending on the concentration of NG. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression levels of the stress resistance genes sod-3 and sod-4 were increased. These results indicated that NG administration increased the expression of stress-tolerance-related genes, promoted stress tolerance, increased movement and prolonged lifespan in nematode.

Death as a Drug Side Effect in FAERS: Is Glyphosate Contamination a Factor?

An analysis of selected datasets from the FDA’s drug Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) leads us to hypothesize that glyphosate contamination in both food and drugs is a major contributor to chronic and acute kidney failure respectively. In chronic kidney failure, glyphosate-induced pancreatitis results in the release of trypsin, causing a leaky vasculature. The albumin-bound glyphosate escapes into the tissues, protecting the circulatory system and kidneys but resulting in multiple symptoms related to skin, gut, brain, bones, lungs, etc. The rare and poorly understood acute kidney failure response reported for protamine sulfate and Trasylol? is strikingly similar to that associated with glyphosate poisoning. Both drugs are derived from biological tissues that are plausibly contaminated with glyphosate. These drugs protect from haemorrhage, which leads to retention of glyphosate in the vasculature, are followed by circulatory collapse and a high likelihood of death as an outcome. We support our argument by comparing symptom profiles of selected subsets of FAERS with those related to glyphosate poisoning, anomalous reactions to protamine sulfate, and conditions showing strong statistical time-trend correlations with glyphosate.

Initiation of Basal Insulin in Patients with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing health problem, characterized by insulin resistance progressing to beta cell dysfunction and insulin deficiency, most of these patients will need intensification of treatment and initiation of insulin to delay or prevent diabetic complications. Glycemic control is the most important aspect of management, and in reducing morbidity and mortality of the diseases. Control of plasma glucose in patients with diabetes can be assessed by HbA1c, FPG, PPG, but still HbA1c% remains the gold standard for assessment of glycemic control and follow up of diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to assess HbA1c% in patients on oral anti-diabetic drugs, with poor glycemic control before and after adding basal insulin, with titration of the dose of insulin depending on fasting blood sugar. 82 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (43.9% male, 56.1% female), with HbA1c more than 9%, on two types of oral diabetic medication or more, were started on basal insulin (glargine, lantus) and followed for three to six months. Overall 82 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 58.4 years, the mean duration of the disease range was 13.4 years. All patients with HbA1c more than 9%, without organ failure, were included in the study. The mean HbA1c overall had decreased from mean of 11.15% before starting basal insulin to the mean of 8.43% within 3 to 6 month, after initiating basal insulin, this difference was significant at p < 0.001. There was no adverse effect on this medication in any of the study group. The addition of basal insulin to oral anti-diabetic medication in uncontrolled insulin-naïve type 2 diabetic patients resulted in significant improvement of glycemic control, with improved HbA1c level, without adverse effects.

Nose-to-brain delivery of macromolecules mediated by cell-penetrating peptides

Brain delivery of macromolecular therapeutics(e.g., proteins) remains an unsolved problem because of the formidable blood–brain barrier(BBB). Although a direct pathway of nose-to-brain transfer provides an answer to circumventing the BBB and has already been intensively investigated for brain delivery of small drugs,new challenges arise for intranasal delivery of proteins because of their larger size and hydrophilicity. In order to overcome the barriers and take advantage of available pathways(e.g., epithelial tight junctions, uptake by olfactory neurons, transport into brain tissues, and intra-brain diffusion), a low molecular weight protamine(LMWP) cell-penetrating peptide was utilized to facilitate nose-to-brain transport. Cell-penetrating peptides(CPP)have been widely used to mediate macromolecular delivery through many kinds of biobarriers. Our results show that conjugates of LMWP–proteins are able to effectively penetrate into the brain after intranasal administration.The CPP-based intranasal method highlights a promising solution for protein therapy of brain diseases.

Comparison of ART outcomes in men with altered mRNA protamine 1/protamine 2 ratio undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection with ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa

Assisted reproductive technologies invoIving the use of spermatozoa and eggs for in vitro fertilization(IVF)have come as the solution for many infertile couples to become parents.However,in some cases,the use of ejaculated spermatozoa delivers poor IVF performance.Some studies have suggested the use of testicular spermatozoa in severe male in fertility cases,but no guideli nes regarding their utilization are currently available.In the present study,we found the mRNA protamine 1/protamine 2(P1/P2)ratio to be a valuable biomarker of poor sperm function that could be used as a diagnostic key for the identification of cases that would benefit from the use of testicular spermatozoa.A total of 23 couples undergoing egg donation cycles with at least one previous cycle failure were studied.All couples underwent two consecutive intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)cycles with either ejaculated or testicular spermatozoa(TESA).The sperm mRNA P1/P2 ratio,fertilization rate,blastocyst rate,and pregnancy and live birth rate were compared.Results showed improved ICSI and clinical outcomes in cycles with testicular spermatozoa in men with altered mRNA P1/P2 ratios.TESA cycles presented significantly higher rates of fertilization(mean±standard deviation:76.1%±15.1%vs 65.5%±18.8%),blastocyst formation(55.0%±20.3%vs 30.8%±23.8%),and good morphological quality blastocyst(28.9%±22.9%vs 13.5%±17.9%)and also improvements on pregnancy(60.9%vs 0%)and healthy birth rates(56.5%vs 0%)than EJACULATE cycles.The results described here suggest that in patients with previous IVF/ICSI failures and aberrant mRNA protamine ratios,the use of testicular spermatozoa may be a good alternative to improve clinical outcomes.

Aberrant protamination in sperm correlates to anomalous nuclear and cytoplasmic architectures in infertile males with sperm dysmorphology

Aberrant sperm protamination is linked to sperm dysmorphology and nuclear chromatin condensation.Yet,its effects on sperm cytoplasmic maturation remain largely unexplored.The relationships of protamines,sperm morphology,DNA damage,and cytoplasmic remodeling were illustrated in this study to provide fresh perspectives on the mechanisms of male infertility.A total of 205 infertile males were allocated into 5 groups according to the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting abnormal morphology within their samples.Sperm concentration,motility,abnormal sperm morphology,cytoplasmic droplets(CDs),and excess residual cytoplasm(ERC)were analyzed according to the World Health Organization manual(2010).Sperm nuclear vacuoles(NVs)were determined by propidium iodide(PI)staining.Sperm protamine expressions(P1 and P2)were detected by western blot.DNA damage was measured by acridine orange test(AOT)to calculate the proportion of sperm with single-strand DNA breaks(SSBs).Our data showed that sperm concentration and motility in infertile males significantly decreased with the severity of abnormal sperm morphology(both P<0.01).P1 level,P1/P2 ratio,and SSB rate increased with the severity of sperm dysmorphology,whilst the P2 level decreased(all P<O.01).NVs,CDs,and ERC were more common in males with sperm dysmorphology and positively correlated with the SSB rate(all P<O.01).The relationships between the SSB rate and the P1/P2 ratio were also significant(P<0.01).Aberrant protamination may cause sperm dysmorphology and compromise male fertility by impairing sperm's nucleus and cytoplasm maturation,with the P1/P2 ratio potentially serving as a valuable indicator of sperm quality and male fertility.