Effect of axotomy and 17beta-estradiol on P2X7 receptor expression pattern in the hypoglossal nucleus of ovariectomized mice

The objective of the study was to examine whether axotomy and 17beta-estradiol affects P2X7 receptor expression and distribution in the hypoglossal nucleus. The left hypoglossal nerve of ovariectomized mice was cut and animals received a single injection of 17beta-estradiol (25mug/100 g b. w. in 20% (2- hydroxypropyl) - beta- cyclodextrin) or vehicle one hour after axotomy. Mice were sacrificed on day 4 following surgery. The area fraction of P2X7 receptor immunoreactive structures and of CD11b immunolabeled microglia, P2X7 protein concentration, and the immunoreactivity pattern of estrogen receptor alpha / beta were analyzed on both sides of the hypoglossal nucleus. Following axotomy the area fraction of P2X7 immunoreactive neurons showed a decreasing tendency, while the area fraction of P2X7 immunolabeled microglia increased significantly on the axotomized side compared with the control side in mice injected with vehicle. In animals treated with 17beta-estradiol the decrease in area fraction of neural and the increase in area fraction of microglial P2X7 immunostaining on the axotomized side were significantly enhanced compared with animals injected with vehicle. The P2X7 immunoreactivity pattern on the control side of the nucleus remained unchanged after 17beta-estradiol injection. Semi-quantitative Western blots revealed no significant difference in P2X7 protein concentration comparing the axotomized side with the control side in either experimental group. The CD11b immunoreactive microglia area fraction increased significantly following axotomy, but was not affected by 17beta-estradiol. Neither estrogen receptor alpha, nor beta colocalized with CD11b. Our results suggest that axotomy induces cell-type specific changes in P2X7 receptor expression, which may be directly regulated by 17beta-estradiol through estrogen receptor alpha or beta in neurons, but not in activated microglia

Incidence and antibiotic susceptibility of genital mycoplasmas in sexually active individuals in Hungary

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and antibiotic sensitivity of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis strains cultured from the genital discharges of sexually active individuals who attended our STD outpatient service. Samples were taken with universal swab (Biolab®, Budapest, Hungary) into the Urea-Myco DUO kit (Bio-Rad®, Budapest, Hungary) and incubated in ambient air for 48 h at 37 °C. The determination of antibiotic sensitivity was performed in U9 and arginin broth using the SIR Mycoplasma kit (Bio-Rad®, Budapest, Hungary) under the same conditions. Between 01.05.2008 and 31.12.2011, 373/4,466 (8.35 %) genito-urethral samples with U. urealyticum and 41/4,466 (0.91 %) genito-urethral samples with M. hominis infection were diagnosed in sexually active individuals in the National STD Center, Semmelweis University. U. urealyticum was isolated in 12.54 % in the cervix and 4.1 % in the male urethra, while M. hominis was isolated in 1.33 % in the cervix and 0.51 % in the male urethra. The affected age group was between 21 and 60 years old. U. urealyticum strains were sensitive to tetracycline (95.9 %), doxycycline (97.32 %), and azithromycin (85.79 %), and resistant to erythromycin (81.23 %), clindamycin (75.06 %), and ofloxacin (25.2 %). Cross-resistance occurred in 38.71 % of patients to erythromycin and clindamycin. M. hominis strains were sensitive to clindamycin, ofloxacin, and doxycycline in more than 95 %, to tetracycline in 82.92 %, and no cross-resistance was detected among the antibiotics. Our study confirms that the continuously changing antibiotic resistance of ureaplasmas and mycoplasmas should be followed at least in a few centers in every country, so as to determine the best local therapy options for sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg