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This study was conducted to depict anatomical characteristics of the penis of he-dgehog. Seven sexually mature male European hedgehogs were used. Following anaesthesia, the animals were scarified with chloroform inhalation. Gross penile characteristics such as length and diameter were thoroughly explored and measu-red using digital callipers. Tissue samples stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome for microscopic analysis. The penis of the European hedgehog was composed of a pair of corpus cavernosum penis and the glans penis without corpus spongiosum penis. The urethra at the end of penis, protruded as urethral process, on both sides of which two black nail-like structures, could be observed. The lower part was rounded forming a blind sac (sacculus urethralis) with a me-dian split below the urethra. Microscopically, the penile bulb lacked the corpus spongiosum penis, but, corpus spongiosum glans was seen at the beginning of the free part. In the European hedgehog, entirely stratified squamous epithelium of penile urethra, absence of corpus spongiosum penis around the urethra and bilateral urethral glands are basically different compared with other mammals. This information is expected to contribute to comparative penile morphology as well as for testing phylogenic hypotheses and expanding knowledge about reproductive biology in this animal. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 293-300). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hedgehog tongue is a tactile and taste organ which carries out various functions. Detailed functional and morphological studies are required to clearly define the relationship of the hedgehog tongue with taste, food palatability, mastication and swallowing of food, as well as the production of sounds. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the morphological characteristics of the European hedgehog tongue and the lifestyle of this animal, as well as to compare findings with the results of studies on other vertebrates. Gross and micro-anatomical light and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that the hedgehog tongue could be divided in three areas, namely the apex, body and root. A keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which was smooth on the ventral surface but bore four types of papillae on the dorsal surface, lined the tongue. Three types of these papillae were found to have gustatory functions and to express their activity in close relation with the salivary glands. These simple conical filiform papillae were situated caudally and distributed one after the other without a break. The dome-shaped fungiform papillae on the apex, with the highest distribution rate on the apex edge, were small, but those on the body and root were large. The three circular vallate papillae were arranged in a triangular shape. The foliate papillae with a few tiny projections, found in a shallow furrow, were situated between the root and the body. Most of the nerve fibers observed in different sections of the tongue tissue were of the unmyelinated type, confirming that the main task of the hedgehog tongue was its gustatory function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to instigate effect of tramadol administration on sperm characteristics on testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 3 experimental groups. (A) The control group had no received any medications, abdominal cavity was opened but no IR-induced. The IR group (B): abdominal cavity was opened, IR-induced without pre-medication. (C) Animal orally administrated with tramadol (40 mg/kg) for 1 week followed by testicular IR-induced. The time duration of IR was 60 minutes in all experimental groups. Then after 24 hours, the abdomen was opened, semen samples were collected from the caudal epididymis to determine epididymis weight, sperm mortality, mobility and sperm count. Results: According to the results, sperm mortality, mobility and sperm count significantly diminished in control group rats (group B) (P < 0.05). Pre-treatment with 40 mg/kg of tramadol for 1 week before the IR was able to diminish effect of ischemia on sperm mortality, mobility and sperm count in rat (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Perhaps tramadol has curative effect against testicular IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium sulfate on sperm characteristics in unilateral varicocele-induced male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups. The control group (1) received no medications and surgery. The Sham group (2) had not received any medications; abdominal cavity was opened but no varicocele was induced. Varicocele group (3): abdominal cavity was opened, varicocele-induced and no medications were applied. In group 4 abdominal cavity was opened, varicocele-induced and animal received magnesium sulfate (25 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. The groups 5 and 6 were similar to group 4, except animals received 50 and 100 mg/kg of magnesium sulfate, respectively. At the end of the weeks 3 and 6, the abdomen was opened, semen samples were collected from the Caudal epididymis to determine epididymis weight, sperm mortality, mobility and sperm count. Results: According to the results, experimental unilateral varicocele significantly diminished sperm mortality, mobility and sperm count compared to control and sham group (P < 0.05). Administration of magnesium sulfate as a medication dose dependently (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) decreased sperm mortality and increased mobility and sperm count in experimental varicocele in rat compared to varicocele group at weeks 3 and 6 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems, magnesium sulfate might improve sperm characteristics during varicocele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of proteins with different molecular weights and different intracellular localizations. These proteins such as Hsp70 and gp96 have a critical role in presentation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-restricted antigens and induction of CD8+ T cells (TCD8+) responses. These surprising immunological characteristics of HSPs are now the basis for a number of clinical trials for cancer vaccination. We studied two tumor cell lines, i.e. erythroleukemia (K562) and human prostatic carcinoma (LNcap), in order to determine the best temperature that induces the optimized HSP induction. Methods: Each cell line was heated at 3 different temperatures (41, 42, and 43°C) for 1 hour and then incubated at 37°C for 3, 6, and 12 hours. HSP70 production and gp96 expression were determined through flow cytometry using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and monoclonal anti gp96, respectively. Findings: Our results showed that the optimum temperature and incubation time for HSP70 and gp96 induction in K562 and LNcap were 43°C for 3 hours and 43°C for 12 hours, respectively. Conclusion: Our results revealed that the temperature and post-heating incubation period need to be optimized for each tumor cell line before using in HSP-based tumor vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Electroporation can be a highly efficient method for introducing the foreign genetic materials into the targeted cells for transient and/or permanent genetic modification. Considering the application of this technique as a very efficient method for drug, oligonucleotide, antibody and plasmid delivery for clinical applications and production of transgenic animals, the present study aimed to optimize the transfection efficiency of sheep testicular cells including spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) via electroporation. Materials and Methods: This study is an experimental research conducted in Biotechnology Research Center (Avicenna Research Institute, Tehran, Iran) from September 2013 to March 2014. Following isolation and propagation of one-month lamb testicular cells (SSCs and somatic testicular cells including; Sertoli, Leydig, and myoid cells), the effect of different electroporation parameters including total voltages (280, 320, and 350 V), burst durations (10, 8, and 5 milliseconds), burst modes (single or double) and addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were evaluated on transfection efficiency, viability rate and mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of sheep testicular cells. Results: The most transfection efficiency was obtained in 320 V/8 milliseconds/single burst group in transduction medium with and without DMSO. There was a significantly inverse correlation between transfection efficiency with application of both following parameters: addition of DMSO and double burst. After transfection, the highest and lowest viability rates of testicular cells were demonstrated in 320 V/8 milliseconds with transduction medium without DMSO and 350 V/5 milliseconds in medium containing DMSO. Addition of DMSO to transduction medium in all groups significantly decreased the viability rate. The comparison of gene expression indicated that Sertoli and SSCs had the most fluorescence intensity in 320 V/double burst/DMSO positive. However, myoid and Leydig cells showed the maximum expression in 320 V/single burst and/or 350 V/double burst/ DMSO positive. Conclusion: We optimized the electroporation method for transfection of sheep testicular cells and recommended the application of 320 V/8 milliseconds/single pulse/DMSO negative for transduction of plasmid vector into these cells. Among testicular cells, the most external gene expression was demonstrated in SSC population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disease in women. Some plant compounds which have antioxidant properties, such as curcumin, may be useful for these patients when delivered orally or in vitro. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PCOS on oocyte quality and the effect of curcumin on in vitro fertilization of oocytes. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Naval Medical Research Institute mice aged six to eight wk were used. Mice were divided into five experimental groups (control, experimental PCOS, curcumin 6, 12 and 24 μM). To induce experimental PCOS, estradiol valerate (100 mg/kg, IP) was injected. The total antioxidant capacity and production of malondialdehyde in ovarian tissue and blood serum were evaluated in all groups. Finally, 6, 12 and 24 μM of curcumin were added to the culture medium of the PCOS group oocytes and development in the different groups was evaluated. Results: A high percentage of oocytes for fertilization were not in good condition in terms of number and quality in the group of PCOS. The addition of curcumin to the embryo culture medium was associated with a higher percentage of fertilized oocytes, two-cells and blastocysts. This increase was significant at a concentration of 24 μM (p ≤0.01). Conclusion: Given that adding curcumin seemed to improve fetal growth and prevent the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals on the culture medium, it is recommended to add a certain concentration of curcumin under normal conditions without oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limited number of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), an efficient preservation protocol is one of the main criteria for successful application of these cells. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of cryopreservation of Ghezel ram spermatogonial stem cells co-cultured with Sertoli cells. After digestion of the testicular samples from two month old lambs, obtained cells were randomly divided into 5 groups (each with 4 replicates) as follow: 1) Co-cultured with fresh Sertoli cells for 10 days (Control group). 2,3) Immediately cryopreserved (for one month) and then co-culture with/without Sertoli cells for 10 days (F0S and F0NS, respectively). 4,5) Cultured for 14 days and then cryopreserved (for one month) and finally cultured with/without Sertoli cells for 10 days (F14S and F14NS, respectively). Viability and colonization of SSCs were evaluated. The survival rate of freeze-thawed testicular cells in different treatments were not significantly different. The number of colonies in F14S, F0NS and F14NS were significantly higher than those of the control in days 5 and 10 (P < 0.05). The highest diameters of the colonies were observed in the F0S and F14S groups (P < 0.05) and the lowest diameter belonged to F0NS and F14NS treatments (P < 0.05). This study indicated that freezing the sheep SSCs can be a suitable way for their long-term maintenance. The suitable method to freeze sheep SSCs is to culture them on the day of enzymatic digestion and it can be concluded that culturing them before freezing leads to decreased ability of colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]