Koushik Bhattacharya

Unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism and its effect on the testicular morphology, histology, accessory sex organs, and sperm count in laboratory mice

BACKGROUND: Experimental unilateral cryptorchidism (ULC) and bilateral cryptorchidism (BLC) are excellent methods to study undescended testis in relation to spermatogenesis against a temperature gradient. OBJECTIVES: In case of ULC, it is possible to compare the testicular functions between normal condition and cryptorchidism in the same animal, whereas BLC shows the necessity of testicular androgens for proper maintenance of reproductive structures and functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, experimental ULC and BLC was done on same-aged adult mature male mice and kept for 15 days and 30 days, respectively, to observe the changes due to the induced cryptorchidism on the different reproductive organs, viz., the testis and accessory sex organs along with epididymal sperm count. Reproductive tissues were collected from individual animals and histopathological studies of testis were done to investigate different cytological changes. RESULTS: The size of the testes and accessory sex organs were found to be significantly reduced in BLC mice, whereas only testicular weight reduction was observed in ULC mice. Histopathological studies showed degenerative changes throughout the seminiferous tubules. CONCLUSION: Thus, the present investigation showed compensatory androgen production in ULC mice, whereas absence of androgen mediated reproductive functions in BLC animals.

Male reproductive health and yoga

Now-a-days reproductive health problems along with infertility in male is very often observed. Various Assisted Reproductive Technologies have been introduced to solve the problem, but common people cannot afford the cost of such procedures. Various ayurvedic and other alternative medicines, along with regular yoga practice are proven to be not only effective to enhance the reproductive health in men to produce a successful pregnancy, but also to regulate sexual desire in men who practice celibacy. Yoga is reported to reduce stress and anxiety, improve autonomic functions by triggering neurohormonal mechanisms by the suppression of sympathetic activity, and even, today, several reports suggested regular yoga practice from childhood is beneficial for reproductive health. In this regard the present review is aimed to provide all the necessary information regarding the effectiveness of yoga practice to have a better reproductive health and to prevent infertility.

Screening obesity by direct and derived anthropometric indices with evaluation of physical efficiency among female college students of Kolkata

Background: The available information regarding the obesity pattern of the undergraduate female students of Kolkata is inadequate, though there are several reports which indicate the complications and/or awful consequences of obesity on female health particularly, during the reproductive years. Aim: The present investigation has thus been carried out to report their present physiological status along with the prevalence of obesity, based on their body mass index (BMI), some direct and derived anthropometric indices, and physical fitness. Subjects and Methods: This small-scale cross-sectional study conducted in randomly selected 100 female students of different colleges of Kolkata with the age of 18-22 [mean age 20.4 (2.3)] years. Measurements of body composition included total 24 variables, with thirteen direct and eleven derived anthropometric variables; while physical efficiency parameters were physical fitness index, VO2max, energy expenditure and anaerobic power. The data of the experimental group were compared with those of the control group by t-test, using SPSS v.15.0 and MS-Excel v.2013. Results: Analysis of collected data showed majority of the students have normal range of BMI (67.95%), but, 21.95% of students found to be overweight and 3.84% are obese. They also showed higher fat mass [14.40 (4.11)], but, lower waist-to-hip ratio and conicity index. They were found to have poor to moderate physical fitness [57.60 (3.90)] and higher energy expenditure [5.61 (0.72)]. Conclusion: The findings of the present obesity screening reports almost one of four female students (24 out of 100 participants) are overweight/obese, indicated higher body fat distribution and increased propensity of being obese with age. Thus, the overall data along with their low physical fitness points out to health risks among female undergraduates of Kolkata.

Ovulation and rate of implantation following unilateral ovariectomy in mice.

OBJECTIVES: Removal of an ovary of any side of the body is called the unilateral ovariectomy (ULO). ULO models are used to analyze the existence of functional and physiological asymmetries between the ovaries, including the ovum implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ULO was done in mice without any specification on their stages of the estrous cycle. The animals were mated between 3rd and 15th day after ULO to observe the consequence of ULO on ovulation and ovum implantation. RESULTS: Ovulation and number of implantation were decreased in proportion to single contralateral ovary if the animals were mated within 36 hrs of ULO. It resulted in increased weight of contralateral ovary due to hypertrophy, and also in compensatory ovulation, formation of corpus luteum (CL) that reached a peak after 14th and 15th day of ULO (sacrificed on 5th day of pregnancy i.e., 19th and 20th day of ULO) compared to animals undergone sham-surgery. Numbers of implantations were also increased progressively on the contralateral ovarian side and get to a peak after similar days of compensation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Following ULO, the remaining ovary started to compensate within 5th to 6th day of ULO even during pregnancy. Ovarian histology also showed increased formation of CL which is a marker of rate of ovulation.