The Effects of X-Irradiation on Male Fertility in the Guinea Pig: Semen Production after X-Irradiation of the Testis, of the Body, or of the Head

1965 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Freund ◽  
F. J. Borrelli

In the study of the phenomena of anaphylaxis there are certain points on which some measure of agreement seems to have been attained. In the case of anaphylaxis to soluble proteins, with which alone we are directly concerned in this paper, the majority of investigators probably accept the view that the condition is due to the formation of an antibody of the precipitin type. Concerning the method, however, by which the presence of this antibody causes the specific sensitiveness, the means by which its interaction with the antibody produces the anaphylactic shock, there is a wide divergence of conception. Two main currents of speculation can be discerned. One view, historically rather the earlier, and first put forward by Besredka (1) attributes the anaphylactic condition to the location of the antibody in the body cells. There is not complete unanimity among adherents of this view as to the nature of the antibody concerned, or as to the class of cells containing it which are primarily affected in the anaphylactic shock. Besredka (2) himself has apparently not accepted the identification of the anaphylactic antibody with a precipitin, but regards it as belonging to a special class (sensibilisine). He also regards the cells of the central nervous system as those primarily involved in the anaphylactic shock in the guinea-pig. Others, including one of us (3), have found no adequate reason for rejecting the strong evidence in favour of the precipitin nature of the anaphylactic antibody, produced by Doerr and Russ (4), Weil (5), and others, and have accepted and confirmed the description of the rapid anaphylactic death in the guinea-pig as due to a direct stimulation of the plain-muscle fibres surrounding the bronchioles, causing valve-like obstruction of the lumen, and leading to asphyxia, with the characteristic fixed distension of the lungs, as first described by Auer and Lewis (6), and almost simultaneously by Biedl and Kraus (7). But the fundamental conception of anaphylaxis as due to cellular location of an antibody, and of the reaction as due to the union of antigen and antibody taking place in the protoplasm, is common to a number of workers who thus differ on details.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 2566-2570
Author(s):  
Dragos Botezatu ◽  
Cristina Popescu ◽  
Andrei-Dan Korodi ◽  
Cristian Furau ◽  
Gheorghe Furau ◽  
...  

Male infertility is a common and complex problem affecting 1 out of 20 men. Despite extensive research in this area, in many cases, the underlying causes are unknown. Epigenetic changes control a series of processes within the body, including male fertility. Classification of infertile men using a more detailed analysis of DNA methylation patterns could reveal a new level of low rates of fertilization, implantation, or pregnancy. In this context, it seemed to us to use the techniques available to evaluate the degree of global methylation of DNA in infertile patients who have modified sperm counts, but also those who apparently do not have a clear cause of infertility. For this we used the Quest 5mC-Zymoresaerch-ELISA kit that can detect within about 5 hours the global level of genome methylation. Claims on which common illnesses have an epigenetic base are still open to speculation, but if true, it can imprint a new direction in medicine. Our data, although from a pilot study, are consistent with those in the literature. A recent study has shown that DNA methylation levels were significantly higher in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients than in the control group and the increase in global DNA methylation and histone retention in men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.


1952 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-577
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Livingstone ◽  
David J. McCallion

Opinions regarding the radiosensitivity of the liver, based on clinical and experimental studies, differ widely. No comprehensive study of the immediate effects of severe local X irradiation upon the cytology of the liver parenchyma has been previously undertaken. In the present investigation cytological studies were made upon the livers of hamsters at 4-hr. intervals over a 24-hr. period. It was demonstrated that the amounts of cytoplasmic basophilia, glycogen, and sudanophilic fat show a cyclic variation over the 24-hr. period studied. Adult hamsters were exposed to X rays at the rate of 495 r. per minute with a total dosage of 2000 r. The field size over the liver was 4 cm. by 2 cm. with the rest of the body protected by a lead shield. Following irradiation the animals were sacrificed, two at a time, at 4 hr. intervals over a 24-hr. period. The amounts of basophilic material in the cytoplasm of the parenchymal cells of the liver were considerably decreased at 8 hr. and at 16 hr. after irradiation. At other times the cytoplasmic basophilia of the irradiated liver cells was approximately as dense as that of the control animals. The density of cytoplasmic basophilia showed a cyclic variation approximating that of the controls. The amount of glycogen in the irradiated livers was very much decreased, but still showed a cyclic fluctuation. There was a striking decrease in the amount of sudanophilic fat in the liver cells following irradiation. The results indicate that severe local X irradiation of the liver of the hamster has immediate effects directly upon that organ, resulting in a disturbance of its normal physiological activities.


1936 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 570-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Dean ◽  
R. Williamson ◽  
G. L. Taylor

1. Our experiments show that an intravenous injection of antigen immediately after an intravenous injection of antiserum in the guinea-pig were followed by:(a) Acute shock and death within 5 min. The signs and post-mortem appearances were indistinguishable from acute anaphylactic shock as typically seen in the guinea-pig. Some control animals injected with antiserum only died in a way similar to those which received both antiserum and antigen. These are discussed in detail in the body of the paper.(b) Delayed shock and death some hours later. The post-mortem appearances were those of gastro-intestinal congestion and haemorrhage resembling the changes seen in dogs dying of anaphylactic shock. Such changes were never seen in the control animals.(c) Recovery. Practically all the animals which recovered had symptoms of respiratory embarrassment immediately following the injections of anti-serum and antigen and many had later symptoms of abdominal shock. The animals which were given an injection of antiserum only rarely had any symptoms and never abdominal symptoms.2. It is necessary to test the antisera used by control inoculation since some antisera are toxic.


1959 ◽  
Vol 196 (6) ◽  
pp. 1211-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sondra M. Kuskin ◽  
S. C. Wang ◽  
Roberts Rugh

Hypothermia induced by the use of neuroplegic drugs such as Hydergine, chlorpromazine or promethazine, followed by refrigeration, does not significantly enhance the protective action afforded by refrigeration alone against the lethal dose of whole body x-irradiation in CF1 male mice. The neuroplegic drugs, without refrigeration, provide a slight degree of protection, probably due to the slight reduction in the body temperature. It appears that the action of hypothermia as a protective mechanism depends not on depression of metabolism alone, but on a general depression of bodily processes. Urethane, in conjunction with refrigeration, appears to augment the lethal effect of x-irradiation in the CF1 strain of male mice.


1956 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur B. French ◽  
Patricia E. Wall

Cholinesterase activity and responses to pressure, acetylcholine, histamine and eserine were studied in isolated intestinal loops from 15 rhesus monkeys, 4 rats and 31 guinea pigs subjected to whole body x-irradiation, and in loops from paired control animals. Ileal and jejunal nonspecific cholinesterase levels were reduced in rats 48 hours after 650 r, and in guinea pigs 48 hours after 250 r, but not in rhesus monkeys 48 hours and 7–9 days after 800 r. Monkey plasma cholinesterase levels showed only a small preterminal decrease when measured daily after 800 r. The peristaltic responses of monkey and guinea pig intestinal loops to intraluminal pressure were normal at the above intervals after radiation. In monkeys, rats and guinea pigs the dose of acetylcholine required to elicit a contraction was unchanged by radiation regardless of whether threshold dose or the dose which produced 50% of the calculated maximal response was measured. The height of the maximum contractile response of monkey ileal and jejunal loops to acetylcholine was greater at both time intervals after radiation than in control loops. This difference was not found in rats or guinea pigs or in monkeys after histamine or eserine. These observations cast doubt on the idea that changes in intestinal cholinesterase activity or in the sensitivity of intestinal muscle to acetylcholine play a significant part in the vomiting and the changes in intestinal motor activity which follow x-irradiation.


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