Are HAARTs beneficial for spermatozoa of HIV patients?

Introduction: Globally, HIV/AIDS has been ranked as the 5th largest cause of death in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa and the major cause of death in the world. The review aims to focus on the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the male gametes of HIV positive persons in order to give an insight into the fate of men infected with HIV with respect to their chances of having offsprings following the commencement of HAART.Methods: This review considered all original and review articles published on Pubmed from year 2000 to 2015. A few selected, exceptionally relevant publications outside this period were also reviewed.Results: HAART has been shown to improve the health, quality of life and reduction in the morbidity and mortality attributable to HIV-induced immune deficiency. It is anticipated that the survival of patients influence their fertility parameters while on treatment, with focus on young males, within the reproductive age.Conclusion: A better understanding of the influence of HAART on spermatozoa in patients with HIV/AIDS undergoing therapeutic management is therefore vital for knowledge and a proactive measure in order not to add to their burden if there is expression of the desire to conceive a child.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HAART, sperm, Assisted reproductive technology, Afric

Male reproductive complications of diabetes mellitus and possible medicinal plant remedies: a review

Objective: Male reproductive dysfunction and subsequent infertility are major complications that are becoming increasingly associated with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Due to frequent failure in treatment with orthodox antidiabetic drugs, there has been a massive shift of attention to alternative therapies. The antidiabetic potential of a large number of medicinal plants have been investigated both in-vitro and in experimental animal models. These specific plants were predominantly used because of the antioxidant capacity of their bioactive phytoconstituents. This review focuses on reproductive dysfunctions commonly suffered by male diabetic patients and medicinal plants that have been tested and reported for their roles in ameliorating such dysfunctions.Method: All original journal articles and reviews cited on PubMed between 2005 and 2015 in English language were considered for this review.Results and conclusion: This review reestablished the fact that male infertility is a common complication of poorly managed diabetes mellitus. It also highlighted the fact that the numerous challenges associated with the use of orthodox drugs in management of the disease makes medicinal plant therapy inevitable. However, the full potentials of these medicinal plants at correcting reproductive complications of the disease are still to be realized and more specific studies are required in this field for improved therapeutic outcomes.Keywords: Diabetes, Complications, Medicinal Plants, Erectile dysfunction, Remedie

Large volume cryoprotectant-free vitrification : an alternative to conventional cryopreservation for human spermatozoa

Vitrification is a simple and cost-effective method for the storage of human spermatozoa without the use of conventional cryoprotectants, by plunging the sperm suspension directly into liquid nitrogen. As a result, solidification of living cells without the formation of ice crystals is achieved during cooling. This study aimed to compare cryoprotectant-free vitrification to conventional cryopreservation protocols. Semen samples (n = 35) were collected from patients seeking diagnostic assistance at the Reproductive and Endocrine Unit at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Samples were processed using a discontinu-ous density-gradient centrifugation method. Washed samples were split into two aliquots and cryopreserved either by means of cryoprotectant-free vitrifica-tion (sucrose + 1% albumin) or conventional slow freezing (TEST-yolk buf-fer). Post-thawing, the sperm motion parameters, mitochondrial membrane potential (Dwm) and DNA fragmentation were compared between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the sperm motility parame-ters (P > 0.05). Significantly higher percentages of Dwm (11.99% 4.326%versus 6.58% 1.026%; P < 0.001) and lower percentages of DNA fragmenta-tion (2.79% 1.017% versus 3.86% 1.38%; P < 0.01) were observed when comparing cryoprotectant-free vitrification to conventional cryopreservation. Cryoprotectant-free vitrification is a rapid and promising alternative to conventional methods resulting in good-quality spermatozoa post-thaw.Research Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences (RESCOM), University of Pretoria, Merck Serono (Pty) Ltd and the National Research Foundation.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1439-02722016-06-30hb201

Nature conservation at the provincial level in the republic of South Africa

Before considering the role of the provinces in nature conservation in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) it is necessary to briefly review the responsibilities of other government agencies in this field: (i) the Department of Planning and the Environment has a co-ordinating function with regard to environmental conservation and land-use planning; (ii) the National Parks Board of Trustees is responsible for the estab-lishment and management of national parks; (iii) the Department of Forestry controls vast natural areas in mountain catchments and also has a system of nature reserves and wilderness areas; (iv) the Sea Fisheries Division of the Department of Commerce and Industries is responsible for the conservation of marine resources including mammals and birds. The two maritime provinces, how-ever, have jurisdiction over estuaries, while Natal also controls inshore fisheries; (v) the Weather Bureau of the Department of Transport is responsible for conservation of oceanic islands used as weather stations; (vi) soil conservation is the responsibility of the Department of Agricul-tural Technical Services

The zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa involves extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases(ERKs), belonging to the family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), are cytoplasmic and nuclear serine/threonine kinases involved in the signal transduction of several extracellular effectors. Recent evidence indicates the presence of p21 Ras and the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, suggesting the occurrence of the Ras/ERK cascade in mammalian spermatozoa. The present article describes the biological role of ERK during the acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa on stimulation with zona pellucida (ZP). The mitogen-activated protein-kinase inhibitor PD098059 was used as a pharmacological tool to study the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa. This compound significantly inhibited the acrosome reaction induced by both ZP and the calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggest that ERKs are involved in the signal trans-duction pathway through which ZP stimulation works during the process of fertilization.Extracellular signal-regulated kinases(ERKs), belonging to the family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), are cytoplasmic and nuclear serine/threonine kinases involved in the signal transduction of several extracellular effectors. Recent evidence indicates the presence of p21 Ras and the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, suggesting the occurrence of the Ras/ERK cascade in mammalian spermatozoa. The present article describes the biological role of ERK during the acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa on stimulation with zona pellucida (ZP). The mitogen-activated protein-kinase inhibitor PD098059 was used as a pharmacological tool to study the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa. This compound significantly inhibited the acrosome reaction induced by both ZP and the calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggest that ERKs are involved in the signal trans-duction pathway through which ZP stimulation works during the process of fertilization.ArticleArticl

Diet-induced obesity alters kinematics of rat spermatozoa

Objective: To investigate the effect of DIO on the kinematics and viability of spermatozoa in an albino rat model. Methods: Sperm suspensions from normal (Control) and diet-induced obese (DIO) Wistar rats were collected and incubated for various times (30, 60, 120 or 180 min at 37 °C). Motility parameters were analyzed with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), while viability was assessed by means of a dye exclusion staining technique (eosin/nigrosin). Results: Results reveal that there was a significant time dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in progressive motility, curvilinear velocity and beat cross-frequency after 60 min, while amplitude of lateral head displacement and sperm viability was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) after 120 min in the DIO group compared to control spermatozoa. Conclusions: These results provided evidence that obesity is detrimental to sperm parameter in rats possibly through increased testicular temperature as a result of a rise in fat deposition

The effect of dietary molybdenum and sulphate on sexual activity and plasma progesterone concentrations of ewes

The effect of an induced copper (Cu) deficiency on the fertility of South Africa Mutton Merino ewes (Ovis aries) was investigated. The incidence of oestrus of adult ewes suffering from an induced Cu deficiency by supplementing molybdenum (Mo - 38 mg Mo/kg feed) and sulphur (S - 0.34%) to their diet was compared to that of a control group (Mo - 1.3 mg/kg; S 0.22%). Although no significant differences in plasma progesterone concentrations were recorded during the oestrus cycles, 75% of the four-to-six-tooth experimental ewes (Cu deficient) stopped showing signs of behavioral oestrus (silent heats) after 6 weeks on the diets (middle May). In Trial 2, 5-month-old ewes (n = 13) reaching puberty were used. The effects of an induced Cu deficiency on plasma progesterone concentrations, shortly after reaching puberty, were investigated. According to the plasma progesterone concentrations during the oestrus cycle, Cu deficiency resulted in ewes going into a state of anoestrus approximately 2-4 weeks earlier (May-June) at the end of the active breeding season. Although the older ewes (four-to-six-tooth) still ovulated they did not show any signs of oestrus compared to the younger ewes which stopped ovulating.Articl

The effect of dietary molybdenum and sulphate on the oestrus cycle and ovulation in ewes after manipulation with exogenous progesterone alone or in combination with FSH and LH

Sixteen adult South African Mutton Merino ewes (Ovis aries) were divided in two groups. The diet of the experimental animals was supplemented with molybdenum (Mo: 38 mg/kg feed) and sulphur (S: 0.34%) to induce a secondary copper deficiency. Two trials were conducted with four control and four experimental animals in each trial. After synchronisation with progesterone sponges during Trial 1, all the control ewes showed behavioural oestrus with subsequent corresponding ovarian and hormonal reactions. Only one of the experimental ewes showed signs of oestrus. During Trial 2, the ewes were superovulated using progesterone sponges and e-FSH. All control ewes showed signs of behavioural oestrus as opposed to 50% of the experimental animals. The ovarian weight (g) (3.52 ± 0.89 versus 1.50 ± 0.57) and number of follicles (7.52 ± 7.35 versus 14.5 ± 4.93) were reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the control animals. According to the hormonal profiles the progesterone, FSH and LH concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in ewes suffering from a Cu deficiency compared to control animals. It is suggested that a Mo and S induced Cu deficiency inhibits GnRH release or the production of FSH and/or LH to such an extent that cyclicity in the ewe is suppressed.Articl