Gideon Yedwab

The temperature, pH, and partial pressure of oxygen in the cervix and uterus of women and uterus of rats during the cycle.

Changes in the temperature, pH, and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the cervical canal and cavum uteri were measured in women with or without an intrauterine device and in the uteri of rats throughout the cycle. Only the PO2 exhibited significant variations, rising during the ovulatory phase in both cervices of women and uteri in rats. It is speculated that the rise in PO2 is related to the function of these organs as reservoirs for spermatozoa.

Sperm Penetration In Vitro: Correlations Between Parameters of Sperm Quality and the Penetration Capacity

A nonlinear regression analysis was used in order to fit a logistic model to 200 runs of human ejaculated spermatozoa penetrating cervical mucus of good quality. The data revealed excellent correlation between the number of sperm penetrating (sigma penetration, SP) and the motility (r = 0.776) and vitality (r = 0.534) of the spermatozoa. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa found in the ejaculate was negatively correlated (r = -0.649), while sperm concentration showed a poor correlation with SP (r = 0.327). Furthermore, concentration was shown to have no effect in samples containing over 5 million sperm/ml. The conclusion of this study is that the two major parameters of sperm quality determining the capacity of spermatozoa to penetrate cervical mucus are motility and the presence of normal forms of spermatozoa.

Audiogenic seizures and neuronal deficits following early exposure to barbiturate.

Sabra mice (n = 232) received phenobarbital (PhB) during the period of their prenatal development (PB group), or during the period of their neonatal development (NB group). PB mice received the barbiturate transplacentally by feeding their mothers PhB in their diet (3 g/kg food) on gestation days 9-18. NB mice received daily injections of PhB on postnatal days 2-21. On postnatal days 28-31 subjects were tested for their susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. Only 10% of the PB mice seized, a rate similar to the 13% of controls. However, the seizure rate of NB mice was three times higher than controls (37%, p less than 0.001). Sample groups were kept until day 50 and their brains removed and saved for quantitative histological analysis of the hippocampal neurons. In PB mice, there was only a small deficit in the number of the hippocampal pyramidal neurons compared to controls (15%, p less than 0.01), and no deficit in the granule cells. On the other hand, NB mice sustained a 35% deficit in the number of the pyramidal cells (p less than 0.001) and a 21% deficit in the granule cells (p less than 0.01). The sensitive period for the neuronal damage corresponded with the sensitive period for changes in seizures. Although other parts of the brain are also involved in seizure, the correlationi of the seizure with the hippocampus is important because the hippocampus is one of the major structures determining seizure.

Neuronal deficits in mice following phenobarbital exposure during various periods in fetal development

Four groups of pregnant mice were fed milled food containing 3 g/kg phenobarbital, acid form, and water as their only nutritional source during various periods during pregnancy (days 9-18, 9-13, 13-16 or 16-18). Control females received milled food and water. The brains of control and phenobarbital-treated male offspring were removed at age 50 days, fixed, cut and stained with HE. Matching sagittal sections were sections were selected for the study of the cerebellar Purkinje cells and th hippocampal pyramidal cells. Previous findings were confirmed in that prenatal phenobarbital exposure during the last two trimesters of pregnancy (days 9-18) resulted in a long-lasting deficit in the number of the Purkinje (23%) and pyramidal cells 9% (P < 0.01). Phenobarbital administration during only part of this period (days 9-13, 13-16 or 16-18) had the same effect as administration during the entire period. The cell deficit did not correlate with the time of appearance of the neurons, thus, suggesting that phenobarbital may possibly act even on neurons which are already formed.

Human Sperm Penetration into Cervical Mucus in vitro: Correlation between Its Quality, Penetration Capacity and Velocity

In vitro penetration tests of human sperm into cervical mucus were introduced in order to study the interaction between sperm and cervical mucus. In the present study the correlation between sperm velocity and penetration value has been assessed. 197 semen samples were run in the in vitro penetration test using semen of different qualities and cervical mucus of good quality. No differences were found either between sperm velocity in cervical mucus (17.3 +/- 0.9 micrometers/s) and in semen (19.9 +/- 0.8 micrometers/s) or at different distances measured along the flat capillary tube (1, 2 and 3 cm). A highly significant correlation was found between sperm velocity and penetration value rates (p less than 0.0001, r = 0.9). Thus, sperm velocity in semen is a variable of great importance in the assessment of the quality of the ejaculate.

Establishment of a Method for Preservation of Human Cervical Mucus for in vitro Penetration Tests

Midcycle cervical mucus was obtained from 56 women. Each mucus sample was divided into four portions collected into a capillary tube and kept either at room temperature or at 4 degrees C, -20 degrees C or in liquid nitrogen for 1 h, afterwards thawed at 37 degrees C and used in the in vitro penetration device for 1 h. 56 semen samples of good quality were used, the same sample for all four types of the same cervical mucus. Very high significant correlations were calculated between the penetration value (PV) rates in all four methods of cervical mucus preservation. Paired t test revealed a significant decrease (p less than 0.025) in the PV rates of sperm in the cervical mucus cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. The results of this study recommend the establishment of a cervical mucus bank using the 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C as possible methods for preservation of cervical mucus.

Pseudogestational Sac in Ectopic Pregnancy

Abstract. A case of tubal pregnancy demonstrated by sono‐graphy is presented. In addition to the true ectopic gestational sac, an intra‐uterine structure closely resembling a ge‐stational sac was detected simultaneously. Such a finding of a pseudogestational sac in the uterine cavity may mislead to the diagnosis of an intra‐uterine gestation. Thus, this sonographic finding is not sufficient to exclude the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Clinicians should be aware of the possible finding of a pseudogestational sac in cases of ectopic pregnancy and the pathophysiological basis of this phenomenon is discussed.

Comparison between OM-GA Cu and Copper-T IUCDs

OM-GA Cu and Copper-T IUCDs were compared in a randomized prospective clinical trial in two-hundred women and followed up for two years. Dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia were more frequent with the Copper-T. Menometrorrhagiae, vaginal discharge and pelvic inflammatory disease were similar with both IUCDs. Two-year pregnancy rate for the OM-GA Cu was 5.4% and 3.2% for the Copper-T. Expulsion rate was 11.9% for the OM-GA Cu and 5.3% for the Copper-T. The OM-GA Cu users had less dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia but a higher expulsion rate compared to the Copper-T.

Herpes Encephalitis during Pregnancy: Failure of Acyclovir and Adenine Arabinoside to Prevent Neonatal Herpes

A gravid woman with herpes Type II encephalitis delivered an infant with herpes neonatorum despite therapy with acyclovir. Acyclovir was not measurable in the babys serum 10 h after birth. The viral isolate was sensitive to acyclovir in vitro, and the neonatal infection responded to treatment with the drug. Prenatal antiviral therapy may be ineffective in preventing intrauterine herpesvirus infection.

FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT DURING LATE HUMAN PREGNANCY

In contrast to the accepted view of ovarian quiescence during pregnancy, the ovaries of preparturient women are covered with a dense population of small superficial follicles. In this study we have measured the follicular size and status of the oocytes and cumulus oophorus in 298 follicles from the ovaries of 30 women. The samples were taken at cesarean section and were examined with Nomarski differential interference microscopy. No oocyte was recovered from 50% of the follicles; 79% of the recovered oocytes and 78% of their cumuli were degenerative. Degeneration was correlated with appearance of phagocytes in the follicular fluid. These findings suggest that the endocrine status of gestation does not prevent early follicular development, but induces premature atresia.