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Testicular spermatozoa are utilized to achieve pregnancy in couples with severe male factor infertility. Several studies suggest that aneuploidy rates in spermatozoa are elevated at the testicular level in infertile patients compared to ejaculates of normal controls. However, essential data regarding aneuploidy rates between ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa in the same individuals is lacking. The purpose of our study was to compare aneuploidy rates at the testicular and post-testicular level from the same patients with persistently high sperm DNA damage. Ejaculates and testicular biopsies were obtained from eight patients with persistently high DNA damage (>30%). Both ejaculated and testicular samples were analyzed for sperm DNA damage and sperm aneuploidy for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. In addition, semen samples from ten normozoospermic men presenting for fertility evaluation served as a control group. A strong correlation between the alteration of spermatogenesis and chromatin deterioration was observed in our study. In the same individuals, testicular samples showed a significantly lower DNA damage compared to ejaculated spermatozoa (14.9% ± 5.0 vs. 40.6% ± 14.8, P < 0.05), but significantly higher aneuploidy rates for the five analyzed chromosomes (12.41% ± 3.7 vs. 5.77% ± 1.2, P < 0.05). While testicular spermatozoa appear favourable for ICSI in terms of lower DNA damage, this potential advantage could be offset by the higher aneuploidy rates in testicular spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare DNA damage in ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa in patients with previously unsuccessful oral antioxidant treatment.Design: Prospective clinical study.Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital.Patient(s): Twelve men with persistently high sperm DNA damage.Intervention(s): Evaluation of DNA damage of ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.Main Outcome Measure(s): The DNA damage of ejaculated spermatozoa compared with that of testicular spermatozoa, both samples collected on the day of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.Result(s): Ejaculated spermatozoa showed a threefold higher DNA damage when compared with testicular samples (39.7% +/- 14.8 vs. 13.3% +/- 7.3).Conclusion(s): Our results indicated that in patients with previously unsuccessful oral antioxidant treatment the retrieved testicular spermatozoa had a lower degree of DNA damage compared with ejaculated sperm collected on the same day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: ObjectivesThis study was designed to document the association of endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) and maternal autoantibodies.: BackgroundNeonatal lupus erythematosus is associated with the transplacental passage of maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, leading to complete atrioventricular block (CAVB). In some cases, CAVB is associated with EFE. Isolated EFE may be independently related to maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies.: MethodsWe identified three cases (one fetus and two infants, all female) of isolated EFE in infants born to autoantibody-positive mothers in the absence of CAVB. Demographics, echocardiograms, and pathology were reviewed. Immunohistochemical analyses for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, IgA, T-cell, B-cell, and terminal deoxynucleoleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) (test for cell apoptosis) staining were performed on multiple sections of the heart in each case and compared with negative controls.: ResultsTwo cases died and one received a cardiac transplant. All three cases had histologically confirmed EFE. All cases demonstrated significant diffuse IgG infiltration. To a lesser extent, myocardial tissue was also positive for IgM, CD43, and Granzyme B. None of the specimens were TUNEL positive.: ConclusionsThese are the first reported cases of isolated EFE associated with maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies in the absence of CAVB. The diffuse deposition of IgG and the presence of a T-cell infiltrate throughout the myocardium suggest that the transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies induces an immune reaction within the myocardium, leading to isolated EFE. Autoantibody-mediated EFE may be an etiologic factor in cases of fetal and neonatal “idiopathic” dilated cardiomyopathy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]