Stress hormone and male reproductive function

The Leydig cell is the primary source of testosterone in males. Levels of testosterone in circulation are determined by the steroidogenic capacities of individual Leydig cells and the total numbers of Leydig cells per testis. Stress-induced increases in serum glucocorticoid concentrations inhibit testosterone-biosynthetic enzyme activity, leading to decreased rates of testosterone secretion. It is unclear, however, whether the excessive glucocorticoid stimulation also affects total Leydig cell numbers through induction of apoptosis and thereby contributes to the stress-induced suppression of androgen levels. Exposure of Leydig cells to high concentrations of corticosterone (CORT, the endogenously secreted glucocorticoid in rodents) increases their frequency of apoptosis. Studies of immobilization stress indicate that stress-induced increases in CORT are directly responsible for Leydig cell apoptosis. Access to glucocorticoid receptors in Leydig cells is modulated by oxidative inactivation of glucocorticoid by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD). Under basal levels of glucocorticoid, sufficient levels of glucocorticoid metabolism occur and there is likely to be minimal binding of the glucocorticoid receptor. We have established that Leydig cells express type 1 11βHSD, an oxidoreductase, and type 2, a unidirectional oxidase. Generation of redox potential through synthesis of the enzyme cofactor NADPH, a byproduct of glucocorticoid metabolism by 11βHSD-1, may potentiate testosterone biosynthesis, as NADPH is the cofactor used by steroidogenic enzymes such as type 3 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. In this scenario, inhibition of steroidogenesis will only occur under stressful conditions when high input amounts of CORT exceed the capacity of oxidative inaction by 11βHSD. Changes in autonomic catecholaminergic activity may contribute to suppressed Leydig cell function during stress, and may explain the rapid onset of inhibition. However, recent analysis of glucocorticoid action in Leydig cells indicates the presence of a fast, non-genomic pathway that will merit further investigation.     

精液细菌L型感染与男性不育的关系

作者对２２例溶脲脲原体培养阴性的精液进行细菌及Ｌ型培养,其中６例分离出金黄色葡萄球菌及其Ｌ型,占２７．２７％。精液常规分析显示,分离出金葡萄菌及其Ｌ型的精液,白细胞计数５例超过正常达１０～１５个／高倍视野;２例精子的活动率与活动力分别是５０％以下和Ⅱ级（低于正常）。金葡菌及Ｌ型分离阳性的精子电镜扫描,可见有些精子的头尾部有巨形体、园球体或短杆状菌体吸附,并经免疫酶ＰＡＰ染色证实为金葡菌Ｌ型。实验结果表明：细菌Ｌ型感染吸附可能是部分男性不育的原因。     

多囊卵巢综合征不孕患者性激素水平与免疫失衡及胰岛素抵抗指数的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）不孕患者性激素水平与免疫失衡及胰岛素抵抗指数的关系。方法：选取2019年1月～2021年12月于山东中医药大学附属医院就诊的88例PCOS不孕患者作为研究组,同期选取健康体检女性80例作为对照组。检测比较两组的性激素、Th1/Th2免疫相关指标以及稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）,采用Pearson相关系数分析PCOS不孕患者性激素与Th1/Th2、HOMA-IR的相关性。结果：研究组的血清黄体生成素（LH）、雌二醇（E₂）、睾酮（T）水平及LH/FSH比值均明显高于对照组,而促卵泡激素（FSH）水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）。研究组的外周血干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）水平、Th1细胞比例及Th1/Th2比值均明显高于对照组（P＜0.05）,而两组间白细胞介素-4（IL-4）水平和Th2细胞比例无显著差异（P＞0.05）。研究组的空腹血糖（FPG）、空腹胰岛素（FINS）水平及HOMA-IR均明显高于对照组（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,PCOS不孕患者的E₂、T水平、LH/FSH比值与Th1/Th2比值、HOMA-IR均呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：PCOS不孕患者存在胰岛素抵抗及免疫失衡,且胰岛素抵抗、免疫失衡与其性激素表达有关。     

2017: beginning of a new era for Chlamydia research in China and the rest of the world

The First Chinese Chlamydia Research Meeting was held in Lanzhou, China in May 2017, 60 years after the disclosure of reproducible isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis by 汤飞凡 (Fei-fan Tang). We report current state of the Chlamydia research community in China, and briefly review recent progress in Chlamydia vaccinology. The meeting represents a new milestone for Chlamydia research in the country. The Chinese Chlamydia Research Society (CCRS) was formed during the meeting. Future meetings will be held biennially and should facilitate collaboration of Chinese researchers with their domestic and international colleagues.     

Comparison of abdominal skin temperature between fertile and infertile women by infrared thermography: A diagnostic approach

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the differences in abdominal temperature (AT) between fertile (n=206; age) and infertile (n=250) women between the ages of 30 and 39 years. We evaluated the differences in two distinctive skin temperatures by thermography: ΔT₁ (CV8 index) – difference in temperature between the mid-abdomen (CV8 acupuncture area) and ventral upper arm (VUA) and ΔT₂ (CV4 index) – difference in temperature between the lower abdomen (CV4 acupuncture area) and VUA. The results indicated that the ΔT₁ and ΔT₂ of infertile women were significantly lower (by 1.05 °C and 0.79 °C, respectively; p<0.001, both) compared to those of fertile women. Additionally, the area under the curve of ΔT₁ (0.78) was greater compared to that of ΔT₂ (0.736), and its threshold was set at 0.675 °C, by which, the sensitivity and specificity of ΔT₁ for determination of fertility were found to be 80.8% and 68.4%, respectively. In conclusion, infertility is associated with lower AT. The decrease in AT in infertile women might be due to poor blood perfusion to the core muscles and tissues of the body. These findings provide a basis for further research for evaluation of clinical feasibility of thermography for analysis of infertility in women. Further evaluation of the influence of AT on fertility outcomes is required to determine the causal relationship between AT and infertility.     

The effect of exogenous oxytocin on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic adult rat testes

Oxytocin (OXY) plays a crucial role in reproduction. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic and protective effects of oxytocin treatment on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in testicular tissue. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: (I) Control Group, (II) STZ induced Diabetic Group (STZ Group), (III) STZ induced Diabetic Group with Pre-Oxytocin treatment (Pre-OXY Group) and (IV) STZ induced Diabetic Group with Post-Oxytocin treatment (Post-OXY Group); each group contains six animals. The rats whose blood glucose levels were more than 200 mg/dl were included to the experiment. At the end of the 4th week, testes tissue samples were taken to be processed for light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) and Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP) levels were determined biochemically in blood samples. Testicular tissue samples stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction were evaluated under light microscope. The histopathological damage score of testicular tissue, which was significantly increased in STZ group, was decreased by oxytocin treatment. According to biochemical data, MDA and AOPP levels have been increased in the blood of STZ Group compared to the Control Group whereas they decreased significantly in Oxytocin-treated Groups compared to STZ Group. GSH levels were significantly decreased in the blood of STZ Group and increased in the blood of Oxytocin-treated Groups compared to STZ Group. In conclusion, oxytocin has a potential protective effect on the testes tissue of STZ-induced diabetic rats.     

女性不孕症患者支原体的检测及耐药性分析

目的了解女性不孕症患者支原体感染及耐药性状况。方法用解脲脲原体(Uu)和人型支原体(Mh)培养、鉴定、药敏一体化试剂盒,对宫颈拭子标本进行检测。结果 2008年1月至2010年6月检测的2 325份患者标本,共检出阳性1 028份,总检出率44.2%,检出支原体共1117株,包括Uu 998株(89.3%),Mh 119株(10.7%),其中单一Uu感染率为87.5%(900/1028),单一Mh感染率为2.0%(21/1028),Uu和Mh同时感染率为9.5%(98/1028);强力霉素、交沙霉素、四环素、克拉霉素、原始霉素对Uu和Mh的敏感率为77.3%~93.3%,阿奇霉素敏感率为58.8%~78.0%;喹诺酮类药物的敏感率仅为21.0%~42.0%。结论 Uu是主要感染菌种,有生殖泌尿道症状或不洁性行为史的女性不孕患者,都有必要检测支原体;混合感染Uu和Mh患者的治疗用药应兼顾2种支原体的效果;四环素类、大环内酯类可作为支原体治疗的首选药物之一,阿奇霉素治疗Mh疗效不佳,喹诺酮类药物因其较高的耐药率而应慎用。     

Salubrinal enhances eIF2α phosphorylation and improves fertility in a mouse model of Classic Galactosemia

Loss of galactose-1 phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) activity in humans results in Classic Galactosemia, and the GalT-deficient (GalT^?/?) mouse mimics the patient condition. GalT^?/? ovaries display elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker, BiP, and downregulated canonical phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pi3k)/protein kinase B (Akt) growth/pro-survival signaling. Numbers of primordial follicles are reduced in the mutants, recapitulating the accelerated ovarian aging seen in human patients. We previously found that oral administration of the compound Salubrinal (an eIF2α phosphatase inhibitor), resulted in reduction of ovarian BiP expression, rescued Pi3k/Akt signaling, and a doubling of primordial follicles in GalT^?/? adults. Here, we further characterized galactosemic stress in GalT^?/? mice versus wild-type (WT) controls, and examined whether Salubrinal treatment improved broader reproductive parameters. We assessed the expression levels of factors of the unfolded protein response (UPR), and found that BiP, phospho-Perk, and phospho-eIF2α were all elevated in GalT^?/? ovaries. However, neither IKK activation (NFκB pathway) nor alternative Xbp1 splicing downstream of ER membrane protein Ire1α activation was induced, suggesting an Xbp1-independent UPR in galactosemic stress. Moreover, Salubrinal treatment significantly increased the number of ovulated eggs in mutant animals after gonadotrophic superovulation. Salubrinal treatment also normalized estrus cycle stage lengths and resulted in significantly larger litter sizes than vehicle-treated mutants. Overall, we show that Salubrinal protects against galactosemia-induced primordial follicle loss in a fashion that includes suppressing the de-phosphorylation of eIF2α, and that intervention in this way significantly improves and extends ovarian function, fertility, and fecundity.     

来曲唑联合二甲双胍治疗多囊卵巢综合征不孕症的疗效观察

目的:探讨来曲唑联合二甲双胍治疗多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)不孕症的疗效。方法:选择2012年6月~2013年6月期间我院收治的PCOS不孕症女性150例,随机分为研究组75例与对照组75例。对照组单纯采取来曲唑促排卵治疗,研究组采取来曲唑联合二甲双胍治疗。观察对比两组治疗前后糖代谢情况、临床疗效及排卵结局。结果:治疗前两组空腹胰岛素、空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗(IR)比较无统计学差异(P0.05);治疗后研究组空腹胰岛素、空腹血糖、IR均显著降低,且研究组著低于对照组(P0.05)。研究组排卵数、优势卵泡数显著高于对照组(P0.05),卵泡生长时间显著低于对照组(P0.05)。研究组妊娠率为60.00%,显著高于对照组的33.33%(P0.05)。结论:来曲唑联合二甲双胍治疗PCOS不孕症疗效确切,可以有效降低雄激素水平,增加优势卵泡数量及排卵数量,保障了患者的生育功能及妊娠质量。