高迁移率族蛋白1拮抗剂BoxA对细菌性脑膜炎大鼠的治疗作用

目的:探究高迁移率族蛋白1(HMGB1)拮抗剂BoxA尾静脉注射对细菌性脑膜炎(BM)大鼠模型的临床体征改善和炎症抑制作用。方法:除外正常对照的雄性Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠设为对照组(n=20),另取60只大鼠行脑室立体定向注射20μL大肠杆菌Escherichia coli (DH5α1×10~7CFU/m L)建立BM模型,之后随机分为两组(各组n=30),一组尾静脉注射HMGB1拮抗剂BoxA,即BoxA组;一组麻醉后进行尾静脉注射无菌磷酸盐(PBS),即Vehicle组。造模3 d后,对各组大鼠的临床指标以及病理生理参数(颅内压和脑脊液白细胞(WBC)计数)进行评估,使用酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)法检测血清中HMGB1的相对含量,使用伊文思蓝染色观察血脑屏障(BBB)通透性,使用免疫荧光染色检测大脑皮层炎症因子(IL-1β和TNF-α)的表达水平。结果:相比Control组,Vehicle组临床指标,颅内压,WBC计数以及血清HMGB1含量明显提升(P0.05);而BoxA组相比Vehicle组,以上改变有部分减少(P0.05)。另外,Vehicle组较Control组EB渗漏增加且炎症因子(IL-1β和TNF-α)表达水平增高(P0.05)。与Vehicle组相比,BoxA组的这些变化亦被部分调节(P0.05)。结论:HMGB1抑制剂BoxA尾静脉注射能够下调HMGB1表达水平并同时缓解细菌性脑膜炎大鼠的临床症状和炎症反应。     

骨髓间充质干细胞移植对大鼠癫痫模型的免疫调节作用

目的:探究骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)尾静脉移植后对大鼠癫痫模型的免疫调节作用。方法:成年雄性SD大鼠60只随机分为假手术Sham组(n=20),模型Model组(n=20)和BMSCs组(n=20)。采用匹鲁卡品诱导癫痫模型,2 h后行GFP+BMSCs移植,14 d后免疫组化染色观察BMSCs分布情况,血脑屏障通透性衡量采用伊文思蓝染色,脑水肿程度观察采用脑水含量测定,高迁移率组蛋白1(HMGB1),肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和白介素1β(IL-1β)等炎症因子水平鉴定采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),丙二醛(MDA)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等氧化应激水平衡量采用酶活性测定的方法。结果:BMSCs成功分布到海马和附近皮层区域。BMSCs组相比Model组能够显著降低脑水肿(P0.05),提升血脑屏障完整性(P0.05),下调TNF-α,IL-1β和HMGB1等炎症因子水平(P0.05),上调SOD和CAT的活性(P0.05),减少MDA的产生(P0.05)。结论:BMSCs移植有免疫调节作用,能够明显降低癫痫相关炎症反应。     

炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集2014年6月至2016年6月我院儿科收治的79例大叶性肺炎患儿为病例组,按照临床肺部感染评分(CPIS)分为重度组(n=46)和轻度组(n=33),于同期随机选取30例健康儿童为对照组,采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测各组支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清炎症因子如白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)以及高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)表达水平。结果:重度组、轻度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于对照组,重度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。病例组患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。重度组、轻度组支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),重度组支气管肺泡灌洗液、血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Spearman积矩相关分析,支气管肺泡灌洗液与血清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别呈正相关关系(r=0.711、0.695、0.752、0.793、0.728,P0.05)。结论:炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中呈高表达,并与大叶性肺炎病情严重程度密切相关,联合检测有助于早期评估病情。     

迷走神经在缺血后处理减轻大鼠复苏后脑损伤中的作用探究

目的:探讨迷走神经在远隔缺血后处理减轻大鼠心肺复苏后脑损伤中的作用。方法:雄性SD大鼠70只,随机分5组:假手术组(sham组,n=10);模型组(CA组,n=15),远隔缺血后处理组(RIPost组,n=15),远隔缺血后处理+迷走神经切断组(RIPost+VAG组,n=15),迷走神经切断组(VAG组,n=15)。ELISA法检测ROSC 24 h神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、乙酰胆碱(Ach)、IL-1β和TNF-α浓度;ROSC 24h NSE免疫荧光染色;ROSC 1d及3d神经功能缺损评分(NDS);ROSC 5d Nissl染色计算海马CA1区神经元数目。结果:与sham组相比,各组海马CA1区NSE、IL-1β和TNF-α含量升高,而Ach浓度降低,NDS评分和海马CA1区存活神经元数目降低(P0.05);与CA组相比,RIPost组海马CA1区NSE、IL-1β和TNF-α含量降低,Ach浓度升高,NDS评分和海马CA1区存活神经元数目升高(P0.05),而RIPost+VAG组及VAG组各项指标与其差异无统计学意义(P0.05);与RIPost组相比,RIPost+VAG组海马CA1区NSE、IL-1β和TNF-α含量升高,Ach浓度降低,NDS评分和海马CA1区存活神经元数目降低(P0.05)。结论:迷走神经的完整性在远隔缺血后处理减轻大鼠心肺复苏后脑损伤中具有重要意义。     

右美托咪定对脑缺血再灌注损伤相关炎症因子表达的影响

为了探究右美托咪定对脑缺血再灌注损伤相关炎症因子表达的影响,了解其可能的发生机制。本研究将SPF级雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组(每组10只,备用3只):假手术组(Sham组)、缺血再灌注对照组(IR组)和右美托咪定治疗组(Dex组),各组大鼠适应性喂养5 d。除假手术组外各组大鼠采用线栓法制造大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)模型,缺血2h再灌注6h。Dex组在恢复脑部血流的同时输注浓度1.0μg/kg的右美托咪定,输注时间为1 h。每组随机挑选4只大鼠的脑组织进行氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色,计算大脑的梗死体积。高效液相色谱法检测脑组织中谷氨酸(Glu)、γ氨基丁酸(GABA)、丙二醛(MDA)含量。ELISA检测TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-1、IL-1β、IL-6和IL-18浓度。免疫蛋白印迹(Western blotting)检测Caspasel、Caspase3、Bcl-2、Bax、NLPR3和HMGB1。结果表明,IR组的脑梗死体积显著大于Sham组(p0.05),Dex组脑梗死体积明显小于IR组,但大于Sham组(p0.05)。IR组和Dex组Glu、MDA含量显著高于Sham组(p0.01),Dex组低于IR组(p0.05),而GABA含量则是先下降后上升,即Sham组Dex组IR组(p0.05)。IR组和Dex组TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-1、IL-1β、IL-6和IL-18的表达水平均极显著高于Sham组、Dex组,除了IL-18、TNF-α、NF-KB、IL-1β、IL-6和IL-1的表达水平均低于Sham组(p0.05)。Western blotting结果表明:IR组Caspase1、Caspase3、Bcl-2、Bax、NLPR3和HMGB1的表达水平均高于Sham组(p0.05),而Dex组Caspase3和HMGB1的表达水平均低于IR组(p0.05);IR组Caspase1、NLPR3、Bcl-2和Bax的表达水平虽低于Dex组但没有统计学差异。缺血再灌注损伤会引发炎症级联反应,引起细胞凋亡和细胞焦亡,造成大面积脑梗死,而DEX能抑制一些炎症因子表达,保护脑组织,DEX是否具有保护脑组织细胞凋亡、焦亡和自噬这方面的功能还需要进一步研究。     

甘草查尔酮A对局灶性脑缺血再灌注小鼠Nrf2/HO-1信号通路和神经炎症反应的影响

目的:探讨甘草查尔酮A对局灶性脑缺血再灌注小鼠Nrf2/HO-1信号通路和神经炎症反应的影响。方法:体重23~25 g的雄性C57BL/6小鼠总计96只,随机分为4组(n=24):假手术对照组(Sham组)、脑缺血再灌注组(MCAO组)、溶剂组(Vehicle组)、甘草查尔酮A组(LA组)。采用大脑中动脉栓塞(MCAO)模型致大鼠脑缺血损伤。72 h后行神经功能学评分,2,3,5-三苯基氯化铵(TTC)染色检测脑梗死体积,Western blot法检测脑Nrf2、HO-1、TNF-α、IL-6蛋白表达水平,TUNEL染色法检测凋亡细胞数。结果:与Sham组比较,MCAO组和Vehicle组小鼠神经功能评分明显降低(P0.05),脑梗死体积显著增加(P0.05),而核蛋白Nrf2和胞浆蛋白HO-1蛋白表达水平较低(P0.05),炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α表达水平明显增加(P0.05),脑实质炎性细胞浸润显著增多(P0.05);与MCAO组和Vehicle组比较,LA组小鼠神经功能评分明显增加(P0.05),脑梗死体积显著减少(P0.05),而核蛋白Nrf2和胞浆蛋白HO-1蛋白表达水平更高(P0.05),炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α表达水平明显减少(P0.05),脑实质炎性细胞浸润明显减少(P0.05)。结论:甘草查尔酮A可缓解脑缺血再灌注损伤后出现的神经炎症反应及细胞凋亡,进而减轻神经功能障碍和脑梗死体积,其机制可能与激活Nrf2/HO-1信号通路相关。     

有氧运动抑制自发性高血压大鼠心肌中HMGB1/TLR4炎症通路

目的:探讨有氧运动对自发性高血压大鼠心肌中高迁移率族蛋白1(high mobility group box-1 protein, HMGB1)/Toll样受体4(toll like receptor 4,TLR4)炎症通路的影响。方法:成年雄性大鼠分为三组:同源正常血压大鼠(Wistar-Kyoto rats,WKY),自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneoully hypertensive rat, SHR),自发性高血压大鼠运动组(SHR+exercise,SHR+EX)。运动为中等强度跑台运动,自制跑台,倾斜角设置为10度,运动强度逐步增强,持续12周。尾动脉检测血压,收集左心室,Masson染色检测心肌组织纤维化水平,RT-PCR法检测心肌中纤维化相关基因的m RNA水平,ELISA法检测炎症因子白介素6(Interleukin 6, IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α)的蛋白水平,Western blot法检测HMGB1和TLR4的蛋白表达。结果:有氧运动可以明显降低SHR大鼠心肌中HMGB1(P0.05)和TLR4(P0.05)的蛋白表达以及炎症因子IL-6(P0.05)和TNF-α(P0.05)的蛋白水平。经过的有氧运动之后,SHR大鼠的体重(P0.05)、收缩压(P0.05)、舒张压明显降低(P0.05);心肌纤维化水平和心肌中I型胶原(P0.05)、转化生长因子-β(transforming growth factor-β,TGF-β,P0.05)、α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin,α-SMA,P0.05)的m RNA水平出现显著下降。结论:有氧运动可抑制自发性高血压大鼠心肌中HMGB1/TLR4炎症通路。     

母源性PM_(2.5)暴露致子代鼠大脑皮层神经炎症与星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞激活

目的探讨母源性PM_(2.5)暴露导致子代鼠大脑皮层神经炎症发生的机制。方法利用改良快速小鼠气管滴注法,建立妊娠期PM_(2.5)暴露的动物模型。将孕鼠随机分为空白组,对照组,PM_(2.5)低、中、高剂量组。ELISA检测出生后1d、7d、14d、21d、30d子代鼠大脑皮层炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β和IFN-γ的表达变化。免疫荧光双标染色和激光共聚焦显微镜技术检测14d子代鼠大脑皮层神经元、星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞的变化及凋亡情况。结果 ELISA检测发现,PM_(2.5)中、高剂量组子代鼠在出生后7、14、21d时,大脑皮层中TNF-α、IL-1β和IFN-γ的表达均增多。免疫荧光染色结果显示,PM_(2.5)中、高剂量组子代鼠出生后14d时,大脑皮层额叶区GFAP和Iba1荧光强度增强,NeuN荧光强度则降低;TUNEL/NeuN双阳性细胞、TUNEL/GFAP双阳性细胞和TUNEL/Iba1双阳性细胞随着PM_(2.5)剂量增加均增多。结论母源性PM_(2.5)暴露可导致子代发育过程中大脑皮层星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞激活,这是导致子代大脑皮层出现持续神经炎症的直接途径。     

虾青素对运动性肾缺血再灌注损伤ECM表达的影响

本文对虾青素对运动性肾缺血再灌注损伤大鼠肾组织炎症因子及ECM表达的影响进行了研究。72只SPF级Wistar大鼠随机分为4组:安静对照组(C组,n=12)、一般训练组(M组,n=12)、过度训练组(OM组,n=24)和虾青素+过度训练组(AM组,n=24)。实验中对大鼠以20 mg/(kg·d)虾青素灌胃56 d,并进行递增负荷游泳训练。末次训练24 h后观察肾小球ECM沉积情况并测试血清尿素氮、肌酐及肾组织炎症因子蛋白和基因表达、TGF-β1基因表达等生化指标。结果显示,8周的训练导致大鼠运动性肾缺血再灌注,ECM沉积加强,肾功能损伤。肾小球ECM沉积,C、M组间无显著差异(P0.05);OM组较C、M组显著增加(P0.01);AM组显著低于OM组(P0.05)。血清尿素氮和肌酐水平,OM组和AM组显著高于C组(P0.01),AM组显著低于OM组(P0.05);肾组织TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6和IL-18蛋白表达,OM组和AM组显著高于C组(P0.05或P0.01),AM组显著低于OM组(P0.05);肾组织TNF-αmRNA、IL-1βmRNA、IL-6 mRNA和IL-18 mRNA表达,OM、AM组显著高于C组(P0.01),AM组显著低于OM组(P0.05);肾组织TGF-β1mRNA表达,AM组(P0.05)和OM组(P0.01)显著高于C组,AM组显著低于OM组(P0.05)。从而说明补充虾青素可以有效地抑制肾组织中炎症因子表达从而减轻过度训练诱导的运动性肾脏缺血再灌注发生时肾脏组织TGF-β1的表达,维护ECM的动态平衡,延缓或避免对肾脏的损伤。     

积雪草酸对大鼠神经病理性痛的影响及其相关机制

目的:探讨积雪草酸对大鼠神经病理性痛的影响及其可能机制。方法:选择32只体重220~240 g的雄性SD大鼠,采用随机数字表法将其分为4组(n=8):假手术对照组(S组)、神经病理性痛组(N组)、积雪草酸5 mg/kg组(AA_1组)及积雪草酸10 mg/kg组(AA_2组)。S组大鼠只暴露但不结扎坐骨神经;N组大鼠仅制备神经病理性痛模型;AA_1组和AA_2组大鼠制备神经病理性痛模型,并于模型建立后即刻及术后1、3、5、7天分别腹腔注射积雪草酸5、10、20 mg/kg(溶于0.1 mL生理盐水)。于术前1天(T0)及术后1、3、5、7天(T1-T4)分别测定大鼠机械缩足反应阈位(MWTs)和热缩足潜伏期(TWLs),采用Western blot法检测脊髓HMGB1、RAGE、IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS蛋白表达。结果:与N组比较,AA2组T1-T4时间点MWT显著增加、TWL明显缩短,而AA1组仅MWT显著增加(P0.05),但各组各时间点TWL比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。与S组比较,N组脊髓浆蛋白HMGB1和RAGE及总蛋白IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS蛋白表达较高(P0.05);与N组比较,AA_1和AA_2组脊髓浆蛋白HMGB1和RAGE及总蛋白IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS蛋白表达均明显下降(P0.05)。与AA_1组比较,AA_2组脊髓脊髓浆蛋白HMGB1和RAGE及总蛋白IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS蛋白表达都明显降低(P0.05)。结论:积雪草酸可能通过缓解HMGB1-RAGE信号通路介导的脊髓炎症反应减轻神经病理性痛。     

Antibiotics in the treatment of wounds in the victims of the earthquake in the Armenian SSR

Purulent wounds in 88 victims of the Armenian earthquake with the syndrome of long-term squeezing were examined microbiologically and the experience with using antimicrobial drugs for their treatment was analyzed. In all the cases microbial associations were detected, coliform and nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli, enterococci, anaerobes and yeast-like fungi being isolated from 80, 20, 15 and 25 per cent of the patients respectively. 130 bacterial strains were studied in detail. 80 to 100 per cent of the bacterial isolates were resistant to the antibiotics routinely used in surgical practice, i.e. benzylpenicillin, tetracycline, levomycetin, kanamycin, cephalothin and cefazolin and highly sensitive to new antimicrobial drugs belonging to ureidopenicillins (mezlocillin), quinolones (ciprofloxacin) and cephalosporins of the 3rd generation (cefoperazone and ceftazidime). Retrospective estimation of the antibiotic therapy revealed its inadequacy in 55.7 per cent of the patients for the most part because of the isolates resistance. The 19 variants of the antibiotic use prescribed by the physicians mainly included penicillins, aminoglycosides and their combinations (in 67.2 per cent of the cases). The use of the highly efficient drugs of the groups of ureidopenicillins and quinolones was extremely rare which was likely due to lacking of information on the drugs.     

Histogenesis of the taste buds of the vallate papilla in the in the rat in the postnatal stages of development

The developing taste buds of vallate papillae were studied with electron microscope in rats during the first 7 days after birth. Two types of cells--light and dark--are identified in the taste buds of a one day old animal. The apical parts of dark cells are characterized by numerous dark granules. A distinguishing feature of light cells is the presence of synaptic contacts with afferent intragemmal nerves. On the 4th day of development on the top of the apical parts of the cell, a microvillar apparatus is seen to form, which does not yet communicate with the oral cavity. On the 7th day, basal cells appear in the taste buds. Some of these cells are seen mitotically dividing. The differentiated microvillar apparatus now communicates with oral cavity. The structure of the taste buds is getting similar to that in the adults. The structural and functional peculiarities of the developing taste buds are discussed in association with the period of ontogenesis under consideration.     

Changes in the size of the nucleoli of the Purkinje cells in the canine cerebellum in the postresuscitation period

The changes in the size of Purkinje cell (PC) nucleolus in the lateral and medial cerebellum zones were studied in dogs with different degree of neurologic status recovery after clinical death of various etiology and duration. PC always possess one nucleolus in the control and experimental groups. In the case of complete neurologic status recovery of animals the area of PC nucleolus increases in both zones studied, irrespective of the cause of clinical death. In the case of neurologic disorders the increase in PC nucleolus area is clearly expressed only in the medial zone of the cerebellum, being insignificant in the lateral zone. It is suggested that adaptive characteristics of PC are distinct in the two compared zones, which leads to greater PC vulnerability in the lateral zone during deep hypoxia.     

Psychological Attributes of the Culture of the Ukrainians in the Modern Stage of the Development of Society and Trends in Changes in These Attributes in the Post-Soviet Period

The authors of the article focus on the transition of the former Soviet state of Ukraine to a market economy. One aspect of the analysis is the cultural values and attitudes of the citizens in a new situation. Market economy and entrepreneurship demand new types of motivation and individual values from people. A challenge for social psychology in the country is the further elaboration of methodological basis of research.     

Frequency of the stages in the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat

This study determined the optimum number of tubules to be counted per testis cross section, and the number of animals per treatment group, when changes in stage frequencies in the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium are criteria for assessing effects of treatment on spermatogenesis. A data base of 9,672 observed and staged tubules was collected from testicular cross sections of 15 Sprague-Dawley rats. A significant variation between animals was found for the frequencies of Stages I, II, IV, VI, VIII, and XIII. Computer simulation was used to randomly select different combinations of animal and tubule numbers from the observed data. Stage frequency means from each simulation experiment were compared statistically to observed mean frequencies. A model that used data from all 14 stages was analyzed. The following conclusions were made: a) a minimum of 200 tubule cross sections/testis is recommended for estimating stage frequencies; b) for a fixed number of tubules scored, the number of animals sampled is more important than the number of tubules per animal in reducing variance; c) to detect a difference of 2 standard deviations from the mean with a 2% error rate and examining 200 tubules/testis, at least 12 animals must be used per group when assessing all 14 stages; d) when individual stages are examined using 10 animals per group, only Stage VII has 80% or greater power of test (alpha = 0.05) to detect a frequency difference; e) pooling stages into 3-4 groups is recommended to improve the power of detecting a treatment difference.     

Self-organization in the determination of the size of the axial structures in the embryogenesis of the clawed toad

Experiments were performed using X. laevis embryos during gastrulation and neurulation (stages 10, 11 1/2, 12 1/2, 13 1/2, 15 and 18). Part of presumptive epidermis and lateral plate mesoderm was removed, and embryos raised until stage 25. The size of axial structures (notochord, somite mesoderm, central nervous system) was determined using serial histological sections and compared with that of control embryos. In experimental embryos, the size of axial structures was decreased. Until a specific stage of development, close correlation was found between the volume of embryonic compartment corresponding to a particular, structure and the volume of presumptive epidermis and lateral plate mesoderm. This stage is individual for each axial organ: middle gastrula (stage 11 1/2) for notochord, late gastrula (stage 12 1/2) for somite mesoderm, and late neurula (stage 18) for central nervous system. This data suggest that differentiation pattern of ecto-mesodermal rudiment is subject to regulation during gastrulation-neurulation, and subdivision of ectoderm and mesoderm into axial and non-axial tissues is a self-organizing process.     

Immunohistochemistry of the cytoskeleton in the excurrent ducts of the testis in birds of the Galloanserae monophyly

The presence, location and degree of immunoexpression of various microfilament (MF) and intermediate filament (IF) systems (actin, cytokeratins, desmin, vimentin) were studied in the excurrent ducts of the testis in sexually mature and active galliform (Japanese quail, domestic fowl, turkey) and anseriform (duck) birds. These proteins were variably expressed between the epithelia and periductal tissue (periductal smooth muscle cell layer and interductal connective tissue) types and between species. Variable heterogeneous co-expression of filament systems was also found in the various duct epithelia and periductal tissue types: co-expression of filament systems was the rule rather than the exception. In the duck, neither vimentin nor cytokeratin was present in any of the tissues, whereas actin and desmin (absent in the rete testis) were co-expressed in the efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit (comprising the ductus conjugens, ductus epididymidis and ductus deferens). Actin, desmin and vimentin were generally co-expressed in the rete testis, efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit of the quail, domestic fowl and turkey, with vimentin being more strongly immunoreactive than actin and desmin in the epididymal duct unit, but more weakly immunoexpressed in the efferent ducts. Cytokeratin was present and co-expressed with actin, desmin and vimentin in the rete testis, efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit of the domestic fowl and turkey, but not in the quail and duck. The periductal smooth muscle cell layer and interductal tissue co-expressed actin, desmin and vimentin variably in all birds. Luminal spermatozoa of both the turkey and duck were immunonegative for all protein systems, whereas those of the quail and domestic fowl co-expressed actin, desmin and vimentin moderately or strongly. The tissues of the reproductive tract of male birds thus contain cytoskeletal protein systems that are variably but mostly co-expressed and whose contractile ability appears necessary and sufficient for transportation through the various excurrent ducts of the voluminous testicular fluid and its high sperm content, characteristic features of male avian reproduction.