Michele Ducci

Membrane integrity evaluation in rabbit spermatozoa

OBJECTIVES The behaviour of head and tail sperm membrane subjected to different vitality tests was evaluated, searching for possible correlations with sperm motility. STUDY DESIGN On fresh semen from seven rabbits we performed: the Eosin Exclusion Test (EET) and, with different incubation times (T(0), T(5), T(30)), a Hypoosmotic Swelling Test (HOS-test) and a combined Hypoosmotic and Eosin Test (HE-test). Kinetic parameters were determined by using the CASA system CELL-TRAK. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA and Pearsons correlation coefficient. RESULTS The HOS-test revealed significant differences between percentages of curled spermatozoa at T(0) (67.86+/-4.28) versus T(5) (72.86+/-3.28) and versus T(30) (75.14+/-6.5). Among four types of spermatozoa obtained with the HE-test, percentage of Type 1 sperm (HOS+/Eosine) at T(0) (32.3%+/-6.65), was lower than motile sperm (66.86%+/-9.72) but positively correlated. CONCLUSIONS The HE-test is a rapid instrument for predicting sperm motility, selecting spermatozoa with a high degree of membrane resistance both in the tail and the head compartment.

Might adriamycinol contribute to adrimycin-induced cardiotoxicity?

The pharmacokinetics of adriamycin (ADR) and its 13-hydroxylated-metabolite adriamycinol (ADR-ol) was investigated during treatment with ADR in rats at a dose of 2 mg/kg i.v., once a week for 3 weeks. At various times, samples of blood and cardiac and pulmonary tissues were collected to measure the amount of ADR and ADR-ol by an HPLC procedure. Periodical ECG monitoring was performed during the study; the severity of cardiac lesions was histologically evaluated at the end of treatment. During the first 180 min after ADR administration, plasma levels of ADR and ADR-ol rapidly decreased; ADR levels in cardiac and in pulmonary tissues increased between the 15th and 30th min and than decreased between the 60th and 180th min; on the contrary, ADR-ol was undetectable in either cardiac or pulmonary tissues during the first 3 hours following ADR administration. Between the 1st and 3rd weeks of treatment, plasmatic levels of ADR and ADR-ol were unchanged; in a similar way, both cardiac and pulmonary tissue levels of ADR were constant during the period of treatment. By contrast, the cardiac tissue level of ADR-ol significantly increased between the 2nd and 3rd weeks. ECG tracings showed maximal enlargement of both QRS and S alpha T at the end of the 3rd week. The histological examination of cardiac tissue indicated the occurrence of degenerative changes in 20% of rats at the end of the experiment. Overall results seem to indicate that ADR-ol is produced and stored in cardiac tissue during repeated ADR administration; as a consequence the cytotoxic metabolite might contribute to the cardiotoxic effect of ADR.

Use of a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, nimesulide, in the treatment of abacterial prostatovesiculitis.

Summary. Nimesulide, a novel non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, was used in cases of abacterial prostato‐vesiculitis. Thirty patients with a mean age of 33.7 years (range 18–58) were studied. Nimesulide was administered orally 100 mg b.i.d. for three cycles of 10 d each. Dysuric symptoms, semen analysis, and transrectal ultrasound were examined during the study. The concentration‐time curves of nimesulide (NIM) and its metabolite, hydroxynimesulide (OH‐NIM) in seminal fluid were also evaluated after single oral administration (100 mg) using an HPLC technique. Following administration of the drug, the Cmax was reached in seminal fluid at the second hour for NIM (with a mean value ± SD of 0.58 ± 0.13 μg ml−1) and at the fourth hour for OH‐NIM (2.98 ± 0.38 μg ml−1). Maximal seminal fluid concentrations compared to blood plasma levels were observed at the fourth hour for both substances (31.73 ± 2.34% for NIM; 31.87 ± 8.66% for OH‐NIM.

Biogenic Amines Content of Four Types of “Pecorino” Cheese Manufactured in Tuscany

Biogenic amines content of four types of Tuscan ewes’ milk “pecorino” cheese was evaluated using HPLC-UV analysis. All cheeses were manufactured in the same dairy factory with different combinations of milk (raw or pasteurized) and type of ripening. Total biogenic amines and tyramine levels of a raw milk “pecorino” ripened five months, partly in a traditional cave, were significantly higher than those of a pasteurized milk “pecorino” with a similar ripening; and of a two months raw milk “pecorino” ripened in the dairy plant. No statistical significant difference was found when comparing total biogenic amines and tyramine contents of the same five month ripened raw milk “pecorino” with a pasteurized milk “pecorino” ripened six months, partly in a traditional “fossa.” In raw milk cave-ripened and “fossa”-ripened cheeses, total biogenic amines exceeded 1000 mg/kg. In cheeses manufactured with raw milk and/or in particular ripening environments, specific hygienic cares are needed to limit biogenic amines formation.

Brief note about plasma catecholamines kinetics and submaximal exercise in untrained standardbreds

Four untrained standardbred horses performed a standardized exercise test on the treadmill and an automated blood collection system programmed to obtain blood samples every 15 s was used for blood collection in order to evaluate the kinetics of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The highest average values obtained for adrenaline and noradrenaline were 15.0 +/- 3.0 and 15.8 +/- 2.8 nmol/l respectively, with exponential accumulation of adrenaline (r = 0.977) and noradrenaline (r = 0.976) during the test. Analysis of the correlation between noradrenaline and adrenaline for each phase of the test shows that correlation coefficient decreases as the intensity of exercise increases (from r = 0.909 to r = 0.788). This suggests that during submaximal exercise, the process for release, distribution and clearance of adrenaline into blood circulation differs from that of noradrenaline.

Assessment of trans, trans-muconic acid in human seminal plasma.

Summary. Trans, trans‐muconic acid (tt‐MA) is one of the most important metabolites of benzene, a pollutant ubiquitously distributed in ambient air and classified in 1982 as a group I carcinogen. For its sensitivity and specificity, tt‐MA excreted in urine is considered a good biological marker of benzene exposure. In this study, seminal tt‐MA levels in occupationally nonexposed subjects (n = 32) have been determined. The seminal fluid of normozoospermic subjects contained an average tt‐MA concentration (170 ± 100 ng ml−1) significantly lower than that of teratozoospermic (310 ± 180 ng ml−1; P < 0.01), oligozoospermic (400 ± 180 ng ml−1; P < 0.001), and oligoasthenozoospermic (430 ± 230 ng ml−1; P < 0.01) subjects. A negative correlation existed between tt‐MA levels and sperm concentration (r = − 0.62; P < 0.001), percentage of normal spermatozoa (r = − 0.41; P < 0.05), and percentage of vital spermatozoa (r = − 0.89; P < 0.001). Average tt‐MA levels detected in seminal plasma were higher in smokers (350 ± 160 ng ml−1) than in nonsmokers (280 ± 210 ng ml−1). These results show that seminal plasma tt‐MA content could be an important biological indicator for evaluating the negative effects of benzene on spermatogenesis.

Postsynaptic effects of alpha agonists on adrenoceptors of the reserpinized rat vas deferens.

The activities of the alpha-1 antagonist prazosin and alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine were evaluated against noradrenaline (NA), methoxamine (Me) and clonidine (Clo) on the reserpinized rat vas deferens. Prazosin antagonized competitively Me but not NA and Clo. On the other hand yohimbine showed a low and not competitive antagonism towards all the three agonists. Similar results were obtained when the antagonistic activities were tested in the presence of the alternative antagonist, in the attempt to isolate a single receptor population. We can conclude that the smooth musculature of the rat vas deferens contains prevalently alpha-1 adrenoceptors and a small population of NA activated receptors resistant to alpha-2 antagonists.

Behavioural modifications of bitches during diestrus and anestrus.

Behavioural modifications of bitches during diestrus and anestrus A. Gazzano & A. Cozzi & C. Mariti & L. Tidu & E. Verri & M. Ducci & F. Martelli # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Effects of Postnatal Handling on the Ontogenesis of Canine Behaviour

Numerous studies carried out with both human and animal subjects demonstrate that early experiences lead to behavioural and physiological modifications that persist in the adult. Among various experimental models of early experience, postnatal handling and exposure of young animals to an environment rich in stimuli have been shown to improve the organism’s ability to respond and adapt to stressful stimuli, through a reduction of the response of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal gland axis (Anisman et al., 1998; Meerlo et al., 1999). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of handling during critical phases of development, on the future behaviour of dogs, especially regarding the emotional sphere.

Semen characteristics of pheasants during the first reproductive season

1440–1445. KELSO, K.A., CEROLINI, S., NOBLE, R.C., SPARKS, N.H.C. & SPEAKE, B.K. (1996) Lipid and antioxidant changes in semen of broiler from 25 to 60 weeks of age. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 106: 201–206. RAVIE, O. & LAKE, P.E. (1985) The phospholipid bound fatty acids of fowl and turkey spermatozoa. Animal Reproduction Science, 9: 189–192. SURAI, P., KUTZ, E., WISHART, G.J., NOBLE, R.C. & SPEAKE, B.K. (1997a) The relationship between the dietary provision of a -tocopherol and the concentration of this vitamin in the semen of chicken: effect on lipid composition and susceptibility to peroxidation. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 110: 47–51. SURAI, P., WISHART, G.J., SPEAKE, B.K., NOBLE, R.C., MACPHERSON, A., SPARKS, N.H.C., IONOV, I. & KOSTYUK, I. (1997b) Effect of vitamin E and selenium in the cockerel’s diet on lipid peroxidation in the spermatozoa. British Poultry Science, 38 (suppl.): S54–S55. SURAI, P., BLESBOIS, E., GRASSEAU, I., CHALAH, T., BRILLARD, J.-P., WISHART, G., CEROLINI, S. & SPARKS, N. (1998) A comparative study of fatty acid composition, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant activity of avian semen. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 120: 527–533.