Boar sperm membranes antigens

Summary A monoclonal antibody, designated mAb P86/5, was generated by immunization of female Balb/c mice with a membrane vesicle fraction composed of the outer acrosomal membrane and plasma membrane (PM-OAM). As determined by fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy P86/5 recognizes a sperm plasma membrane antigen that is restricted to the sperm head. In intact spermatozoa the P86/5-antigen is distributed over the surface of the sperm head with the exception of the rostral region. By comparing the antibody binding pattern generated at 4° C and 25° C, it could be shown that the P86/5-antigen is capable to diffuse freely within the cell membrane overlying the acrosome whereas its lateral mobility is restricted to the post-acrosomal region. The P86/5-antigen had a molecular weight of about 78 kDa as revealed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The glycoprotein nature of the P86/5-antigen was established by lectin affinity chromatography.     

Parenteral nutrition during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with non-metastatic gastric or esophago-gastric cancer to reduce postoperative morbidity (PERCOG): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

The majority of patients with gastric or esophago-gastric cancer are at risk for malnutrition. Preoperative malnutrition was shown to increase the incidence of postoperative complications following abdominal surgery. However, it remains unclear if preoperative parenteral nutritional support during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) may be effective to reduce the rate of postoperative complications in these patients.

Methods/Design

The PERCOG trial is a randomized controlled multicenter observer-blinded trial, investigating if the improvement of the general condition of patients with non-metastasized gastric cancer or cancer of the esophago-gastric junction during NACT by supplemental parenteral nutrition can decrease the postoperative Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). Statistical analysis of the primary endpoint measure (CCI on postoperative day 30) will be based on the intention-to-treat population. The global level of significance is set at 5% and the sample size (n?=?150) is determined to assure a power of 80%.

Discussion

The results of the PERCOG trial will provide high-level evidence for clinical recommendations regarding the administration of preoperative supportive parenteral nutrition and provide all participating patients the opportunity of an improved treatment.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00009451. Registered on 3 July 2017.

     

Electron microscopic localization of a fucose-binding protein in acrosome reacted boar spermatozoa by the fucosyl-peroxidase-gold method

In this study we have examined the behaviour and the localization of the fucose-binding protein (FBP) in boar spermatozoa during ionophore induced acrosome reaction (AR) by means of normal TEM and specimen preparation in toto. During early stages of AR the FBP is first localized at the border between equatorial segment and anterior acrosome. With the propagation of the AR the FBP is dramatically expressed and visible over the entire surface of the acrosome and equatorial segment. TEM pictures of this stages show that the FBP is associated with the OAM. At later stages of AR, when acrosomal ghost formation occur, the FBP is associated with the acrosomal ghost, and equatorial segment and to a very low degree also with the IAM. It is concluded from this data that the FBP is responsible for the specific binding of the ghost-sperm unit to the zona pellucida.     

Human inflammatory bowel disease does not associate with Lawsonia intracellularis infection

Background  

There is increasing evidence that bacterial infection of the intestinal mucosa may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In pigs, an obligate intracellular bacterium, Lawsonia intracellularis (LI), was shown to cause proliferative enteropathy (PE) of which some forms display histological and clinical similarities to human IBD. Since LI-similar Desulfovibrio spp. may infect human cells, we hypothesized that LI might be associated with the development of human IBD.