Correlation of Horizontal Cephalic Index and Cranial Parameters in Iranian Medical Students

Cranial parameters and cephalic indices are used to evaluate the racial and gender differences. The aim of this study was to assess the cephalic indices, to classify the type of cranium and to determine the relationship between the horizontal cephalic index and cranial parameters among Iranian medical students. This study was done on 200 medical students (100 males and 100 females) with an age range of 18-30-year-old. Head length, head breadth, and auricular height were measured by using a standard spreading caliper. Then cephalic indices were calculated for the classification of cranial type. The linear regression was used for examining the relationship between the horizontal cephalic index and head length, head breadth and auricular height. The results of this study showed that the mean of the horizontal, vertical, and transverse cephalic index in total students were 83.51±6.85, 85.58±5.85 and 102.77±6.35 cm, respectively. According to this result, the predominant head shapes in total students were brachycephalic, hypsicephalic and acrocephalic types. In this study, there was a strongly negative correlation between horizontal cephalic index with head length (r=-0.744, P=0.000), moderate positive correlation between horizontal cephalic index with head breadth (r=0.512, P=0.000) and weakly negative correlation between horizontal cephalic index with auricular height (r=-0.205, P=0.004). The data of the present study can be beneficial in craniofacial reconstruction, clinical diagnosis, and forensic applications

The roles of Sertoli cells in fate determinations of spermatogonial stem cells

Background: Spermatogenesis is a complex and highly organized process of proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) as a unique stem cell have the potential to self-renewal, differentiation and transmit genetic information to the next generation and play a vital role in maintaining fertility. Sertoli cells as the only somatic cells within the seminiferous epithelium play central roles in the formation of niche and balance between self-renewal and differentiation by secrete many growth factors. Given the importance and widespread use of SSCs, particularly in the treatment of infertility, the aim of this study was to create an optimal environment for the proliferation of SSCs. So we decided to study of undifferentiated (ID4) and differentiated (c-Kit) gene expression in SSCs followed by co-culture with Sertoli cells for a one-month. Methods: This experimental study was conducted from November 2013 to December 2014 in Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, on immature NMRI mouse (6-3 days old). Initially, Sertoli cells and SSCs were isolated from neonates mouse testes during the two-step enzymatic digestion characteristics Sertoli cells with vimentin marker and SSCs with promyelocytic leukemia zinc-finger (PLZF) marker were confirmed. Then SSCs were cultured in two groups: co-culture with Sertoli and without co-culture (control). Undifferentiated (ID4) and differentiation (c-Kit) gene expression were evaluated by Real-time PCR technique. Results: Spermatogonial stem cells purity was obtained 66.91% by flow cytometry. The relative expression levels of gene ID4 in co-culture group at the end of each week, compared to the control group showed a significant increase (P<0.05). While the expression of this gene significantly decreased in each group over time (P<0.05). The results of the comparison of the relative expression of c-Kit gene in co-culture group are indicated significant decrease than the control group at the end of each week (P<0.05). In addition, this gene expression was showed significant increase in each group individually over time (P<0.05) ID4 gene expression showed a significant (P<0.05) increase toward the control group, while in the expression of c-Kit was observed a significant (P<0.05) decrease compared with the control group at the end of each week. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, co-culture with Sertoli cells maintains SSCs in the prolifration stage for long-term, so can be used to optimize the culture medium at the clinic

Hyperglycemia Decreased Medial Amygdala Projections to Medial Preoptic Area in Experimental Model of Diabetes Mellitus

In Wistar rats, reproductive behavior is controlled in a neural circuit of ventral forebrain including the medial amygdala (Me), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) via perception of social odors. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a widespread metabolic disease that affects many organs in a variety of levels. DM can cause central neuropathies such as neuronal apoptosis, dendritic atrophy, neurochemical alterations and also causes reproductive dysfunctions. So we hypothesized damage to the nuclei of this circuit can cause reproductive dysfunctions. Therefore in this project we assessed diabetic effect on these nuclei. For this purpose neuron tracing technique and TUNEL assay were used. We injected HRP in the MPOA and counted labeled cells in the Me and BNST to evaluate the reduction of neurons in diabetic animals. Also, coronal sections were analyzed with the TMB histochemistry method. Animals in this study were adult male Wistar rats (230 ± 8g) divided to control and 10-week streptozotocin-induced diabetic groups. After data analysis by SPSS 16 software, a significant reduction of HRP-labeled neurons was shown in both Me and BNST nuclei in the diabetic group. Moreover, apoptotic cells were significantly observed in diabetic animals in contrast to control the group. In conclusion, these alterations of the circuit as a result of diabetes might be one of the reasons for reproductive dysfunctions

MicroRNA-30a-5p promotes differentiation in neonatal mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs)

Abstract Background The importance of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in spermatogenesis is crucial and intrinsic factors and extrinsic signals mediate fate decisions of SSCs. Among endogenous regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical role in spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms which individual miRNAs regulate self- renewal and differentiation of SSCs are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor on fate determinations of SSCs. Methods SSCs were isolated from testes of neonate mice (3–6 days old) and their purities were performed by flow cytometry with ID4 and Thy1 markers. Cultured cells were transfected with miRNA- 30a-5p inhibitor. Evaluation of the proliferation (GFRA1, PLZF and ID4) and differentiation (C-Kit & STRA8) markers of SSCs were accomplished by immunocytochemistry and western blot 48 h after transfection. Results Based on the results of flow cytometry with ID4 and Thy1 markers, percentage of purity of SSCs was about 84.3 and 97.4 % respectively. It was found that expression of differentiation markers after transfection was significantly higher in miRNA-30a- 5p inhibitor group compared to other groups. The results of proliferation markers evaluation also showed decrease of GFRA1, PLZF and ID4 protein in SSCs transfected with miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor compared to the other groups. Conclusions It can be concluded that inhibition of miRNA-30a-5p by overexpression of differentiation markers promotes differentiation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells