No abstract

The cytotoxicity of Au/Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human spermatozoa was investigated in vitro. Semen from donors were incubated (37 °C, 60'-120') with 30, 60, 125, 250 and 500 μM Au/Ag-NPs. Sperm motility was evaluated following WHO guidelines; sperm viability was assessed with eosin Y test. Au-NPs were characterised and localised with field emission gun-based scanning transmission electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Both tested NPs exerted a significant dose-dependent effect on motility and viability of human spermatozoa (P < 0.001). Ag-NPs seem to show a slightly elevated toxicity although not significant (P > 0.05). Au-NPs were localised in spermatozoa, whereas Ag-NPs were undetectable. In conclusion, Au-NPs and Ag-NPs do not appear to be harmful for human spermatozoa up to high concentrations (250-500 μM) that are probably difficult to reach in vivo. It is mandatory to explore the genotoxic effect of NPs in germ cells.

No abstract

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of 13 small hydrophobic transmembrane proteins expressed in numerous tissues and cells. Some AQPs work as strict water channels, others are permeable to a range of substances, including glycerol. In the male reproductive system their localization in testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and spermatozoa has been described. We studied the distribution of AQP7 in ejaculated human sperm and the relationship between AQP7 labeling and sperm characteristics. Semen samples from 33 men were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were quantified using a mathematical formula that calculates a fertility index (FI) and the percentages of sperm apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis. Immunocytochemistry with a polyclonal antibody anti-AQP7 was performed on the sperm samples. Normal sperm were labeled in the pericentriolar area, midpiece, equatorial segment, and weakly in the tail (grade 1). Abnormal sperm showed a diffuse low intensity of fluorescence evident in the cytoplasmic residues, coiled tails, in the entire head, and acrosome (grade 2). A high number of motile sperm obtained by swim up were labeled in a dotted manner in the mitochondria. A significant positive correlation was found between the spermatozoa with AQP7 grade 1 labeling and the percentage of normal form (P < 0.008), progressive motility and FI (P < 0.005); a negative correlation was noted with the percentages of cytoplasmic residues (P < 0.010) and immaturity (P < 0.006) and coiled tails (P < 0.012). The link between AQP7 distribution and sperm morphology and the particular dotted labeling in swim up selected motile sperm are novel and deserve additional studies.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentrations on cultured human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Cell viability and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were evaluated by light microscopy. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission gun-based scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (FEG-STEM/EDS) allowed us to localize NPs. Gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3 and 13 and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs -4 and -5 were carried out by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A cell viability test indicated a significant dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of both NPs. At concentrations of 160 and 250 μM NP light microscopy showed chondrocytes with signs of apoptosis and an increased presence of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Au-NPs were characterized by FEG-STEM/EDS and TEM analysis localized NPs in cytoplasm and in endocytotic vesicles. On the contrary, the Ag-NPs were undetectable by FEG-STEM/EDS and TEM. Increased gene expression, particularly in matrix metalloproteinase-3, was observed for both NPs (160 μM), but at a concentration of 250 μM the expression of the evaluated genes became lower. Our in vitro studies, although preliminary, suggest that engineered Au and Ag-NPs appear to be harmful for human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in high concentrations (160-250 μM).

Silver (Ag) NPs are among the most commercialized NPs due to their antimicrobial potential. They are highly at- tractive for possible applications in manufacture of medical device. However there is a serious lack of information concerning their impact on the human health and the environment. Moreover studies on the effects of NPs on ejaculated sperm are rather limited. For these reasons our study explored the in vitro effects of Ag NPs on human ejaculated spermatozoa. Ag NPs have been produced, characterized, and furnished by Colorobbia Industry, Sovigliana (Vinci, Florence, Italy). Aliquots of total semen were incubated at 37°C for 60 minutes (min) and 120 min at the concentration of 125 μM, 250 μM, and 500 μM of engineered Ag NPs. The control was represented by specimens of semen samples treated with the same procedure without NPs. After the incubations, sperm motility was evaluated following WHO guidelines and sperm viability was eval- uated by Eosin Y test. At the end of incubation with Ag NPs the samples were processed by a Field Emission Gun-based Scanning Transmition Electron Microscope/ Energy Dispertion Spectrometry (STEM/EDS). We observed that sperm motility percentage was significantly reduced in semen samples treated with 125 μM, 250 μM and 500 μM of Ag NPs after 60 min and 120 min of incubation respect to controls (P<0.001; P<0.01, 125 μM at 60 min). Sperm viability percentage significantly decreased in a progressive manner after 125 μM (P<0.05), 250 μM (P<0.05) and 500 μM (P<0.001) Ag NPs incubation at 60 min and 120 min. We did not find any significant difference between the values assessed after 60 min of NPs incubation and those estimated after 120 min of incubation. In the control samples, the sperm motility and the sperm viability percentages significantly decreased after 120 min of incubation (P<0.001) respect to the basal values. Ag NPs were undetectable in all treated samples by STEM/EDS. These in vitro results show a decline in sperm motility and viability in even at the lowest concentration used and the cytotoxic effect occurs in a dose dependent manner. It is noteworthy that in each experiment, for each concentration of NPs used, the percentage of sperm viability was always higher than the percentage of sperm motility; it means that spermatozoa were viable but immotile. Moreover Ag NPs was undetectable in all the treated samples by STEM/EDS analysis. We may hypothesize that Ag NPs, under aqueous conditions, release Ag+ that could damage sperm membrane and/or penetrate inside the cells and interfere with disulphide bonds of proteins of the periassonemal structures of the sperm tail

Semen from 33 patients were evaluated by light microscopy (LM) obtaining sperm concentration, percent motility, percentage of sperm with normal morphology (PAP staining), and percentage of dead sperm (Eosin Y stained). The samples were observed by polarizing microscopy (PM), that evaluates sperm morphology and the viability by birefringence of organelles, and it provides a PM index (percentage of birefringent, viable, motile sperm) and a percentage of dead, non-birefringent sperm. Sperm were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TEM data were elaborated with a mathematical formula able to provide a fertility index (FI, number of sperm free of structural defects) and percentages of sperm immaturity and necrosis (dead sperm). To test the reliability of these techniques, the values of normal acrosome, nucleus, midpiece, and tail and the presence of cytoplasmic residues obtained with the three methods were compared. With the exception of cytoplasmic residues (P = 0.40), significant differences in the evaluation of each organelle were observed and TEM analysis resulted as the most stringent screening. In addition, relationships among relevant sperm variables were investigated. Motility showed positive correlations with the percentage of normal tail, midpiece, and PM index (P < 0.01), but it exhibited negative correlations with indices of sperm death (non-birefringent sperm: P < 0.05; percentage of eosin Y stained sperm: P < 0.05; necrosis: P < 0.01), which were positively correlated with each other (P < 0.01). Positive correlations were found between indices expressing normal sperm morphology: FI with PM index (P < 0.01) and with the percentage of normal sperm (PAP staining) (P < 0.01), which in turn were correlated with the PM index (P < 0.001). Sperm immaturity showed positive correlations (P < 0.01) with the presence of cytoplasmic residues detected with the three methods. In conclusion, LM, PM, and TEM are reliable techniques in evaluating sperm quality. PM appears to offer several advantages 'midway' between LM and TEM and it should be considered in sperm analysis.

No abstract