Yayi Hou

Immunomodulatory and antitumour effects of an exopolysaccharide fraction from cultivated Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar fungus) on tumour‐bearing mice

Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar fungus) is a fungus parasitic on the larvae of Lepidoptera and has been considered to be a precious tonic food and herbal medicine since ancient times in China. Recently, some fungal strains have been isolated from the fruiting bodies of wild C. sinensis, and some of them have been reported to show the same properties as the natural product. In the present study, an EPSF (exopolysaccharide fraction) was prepared from cultivated C. sinensis and its effects on B16 melanoma‐bearing mice were investigated. Three doses of EPSF were intraperitoneally administered every 2 days after the day of tumour‐cell injection. The experiment was terminated on day 28. Phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages and proliferation of spleen and thymus lymphocytes were assayed. The tumour metastatic foci on the lung and liver surface were checked. The expression of oncoprotein Bcl‐2 in livers and lungs was assayed by a immunohistochemical method. The results showed that EPSF significantly enhanced the Neutral Red uptake capacity of peritoneal macrophages (60 mg/kg, P<0.01; 120 mg/kg, P<0.001) and spleen lymphocyte proliferation (60 mg/kg, P<0.05; 120 mg/kg, P<0.001) in B16‐bearing mouse. The metastasis of B16 melanoma cells to lungs (120 mg/kg) and livers (30, 60 and 120 mg/kg) was significantly inhibited by EPSF. Moreover, EPSF decreased the levels of Bcl‐2 in the lungs (120 mg/kg) and livers (30, 60 and 120 mg/kg). These results suggest that EPSF has immunomodulatory function and antitumour activity.

Microelements in seminal plasma of infertile men infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum.

The purpose of this study was to assess the association among male infertility, infection of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), and microelements in seminal fluid. Semen analysis and cultivation of Uu were carried out on 160 samples of seminal fluid. The concentrations of microelements, such as arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in the samples were measured by an inductively coupled plasma quantometer (ICP). The ratios Cu/Zn and Cd/Zn in the poor spermatic quality group were obviously higher than those in seminal plasma of the group with normal spermatic quality (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively), whereas the concentrations of As, Mg, Mo, and Pb showed no difference in the two groups. The ratios Cu/Zn and Cd/Zn and the concentrations of As and Mg in seminal plasma infected with Uu were markedly higher than those not infected with Uu (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively), whereas the concentrations of Mo and Pb showed no statistical difference. The ratios Cu/Zn and Cd/Zn and the concentrations of As and Mg in seminal plasma of the semen with poor spermatic quality and Uu infection were obviously higher than those not infected with Uu (p<0.05), whereas the concentrations of Mo and Pb showed no statistical difference. Abnormally high ratios Cu/Zn and Cd/Zn as well as an overdose of As were found to be predisposed to Uu infection. Uu infection resulted in an increase of the ratios Cu/Zn and Cd/Zn and the concentrations of As and Mg in seminal fluid, which therefore caused spermatic quality decline.

Ureaplasma urealyticum infection related to seminal plasma immunosuppressive factors, semen pH and liquefaction duration.

In this study, semen samples from fertile and unexplained infertile men were explored for relationships between seminal plasma immunosuppressive factors (SPIFs), semen pH, liquefaction duration and infection of ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu). SPIFs activity was measured by way of counteracting complement. PH was detected by exact pH test paper. Liquefaction duration was observed at 37 °C. The results showed that Uu infection ratios of semen samples with abnormal SPIFs, pH or liquefaction duration were markedly higher than those of normal semen samples. It is suggested that Uu infection decreases the level of SPIFs, changes the pH in semen and prolongs the semen liquefaction so as to cause spermatic quality decline. The enhancement of SPIFs level may change the male body against Uu infection.