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Necrospermia is still a poorly documented cause of male infertility. Among infertile subjects, the incidence reported in the literature is 0.2 to 0.48 per cent. We undertook a retrospective study to contribute to the comprehension of this abnormality. Histories, physical examination, analysis of the semen and hormonal dosages performed in necrozoospermic subjects were reviewed. We observed that in patients with necrospermia in at least three semen samples, infections represent 40 per cent of aetiologies. In 20% of the whole population, no aetiology was observed, but abnormalities of the epididymis function was suggested. Through this study, we suggest an aetiological classification and practical guidance in case of necrozoospermia.

We studied the possible deleterious effects of Percoll gradient centrifugation processing on spermatozoal integrity in 18 semen samples from patients participating in our IVF program, using optical and electron microscopy. Substantial recovery by sperm count was obtained in the 100% Percoll layer (32%), with greater numbers of motile, alive spermatozoa (P < .01). Whether samples studied were from fertile or infertile men, no significant differences, using nonparametric tests with transmission electron microscopy, appeared in spermatozoal membranes, acrosomes, or nuclei either before or after Percoll treatment. No deleterious effects of Percoll use on spermatozoa were detected during the study.

We have studied the ultrastructure of testes biopsies and immotile spermatozoa from a supposed secondary infertile male. A wide range of tail defects has been described in testes and semen. Among these, tail stump spermatozoa occurs rarely. Although the origin of this defect is unknown, testes sections revealed that damage occurs during spermiogenesis at the latest stages during flagellum elongation in spermatids.

Functional ultrastructural changes in human sperm heads were evaluated following semen dilution in cryoprotective medium (with and without seminal plasma) as well as freezing/thawing. Plasma membranes were as much altered by dilution as by freezing/thawing when compared with fresh samples. The most striking effect on acrosome noted during freezing/thawing was a dramatic decline in percentage of intact spermatozoa. Acrosomal changes seemed to be less important in the fractions without seminal plasma. These deleterious effects were very demonstrable using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rather than conventional staining. TEM is useful in obtaining more detailed information on membrane and acrosome integrity until a specific procedure to evaluate functional/physical integrity can be found. Cryopreservation in the absence of seminal plasma can be used for intrauterine insemination in AIH, AID programs with frozen semen.

Unlabelled: This article describes the outcome of the pregnancies conceived after AID with frozen semen in the Tours CECOS Centre between January 1st 1988 and December 31st 1986. There were 487 (including multiple pregnancies). These have been compared with a control group and with the national study conducted by INSERM in 1981. The study of the literature allows comparisons. The rate of pregnancies not resulting in a living child is not significantly different from the control series (abortions 11.4%, ectopic pregnancies 1% and in utero fetal deaths 0.4%). Pregnancies that continued: the rate of multiple pregnancies was higher (2.7%). There were more cases of bleeding (6.8% compared with 2.4%), more hypertensions (13.3% compared with 11.6%) and the same rate of premature labour (9.4%) as in the control group. The Caesarean section rate (22% as against 6%) was higher. The rate of forcepts delivery was lower (9.2% as against 12.8%). Concerning the children we found more premature babies (15.8% versus 5.6%) but no difference in the sex ratio, their height-weight as against their term, their Apgar score, morbidity or number or type of malformations (3.4%)., In Conclusion: the quality of the children is about the same with the proviso that the group is too small to conclude about the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities.

A total of 168 out of 196 pregnancies that were obtained after A.I.D. have been followed up. Six cases were lost for follow-up (3%). The mean age was 30 years and 65% of the women had their ovulation induced. 130 nullipara were delivered. They were compared with a series of nullipara of the same age group and selected from 300 primiparous pregnancies who delivered in the department in the same year. The abortion rate was 12.5%. 79% of the pregnancies were normal in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters as compared with 83% in the control series. 94% delivered at term as compared with 97% in the control series. 21% of the women had Caesarean section as compared with 19.2% in the control series. The sex ratio was 1.08 as compared with 1.06 in the control series. There was no significant difference between the two series. It does seem, however, that the age factor is the most important factor of all in determining how frequent pathological conditions will be and the number of Caesareans that will have to be carried out. 14% were under 30 years of age as compared with 28.5% who were over 30 years of age, which is a significant difference. These results should be followed up in a larger series.

The authors present their technique for freezing thin skin samples which may be used for intravisceral grafts in the testis, the liver and the kidney to test developing potentials for grafts conserved in this manner. In comparison with fresh grafts, they show that frozen samples not only retained their vitality, but the ability to multiply, differentiate and mature. They eliminate any ambiguities in the interpretation of the results. At the same time, they note that the period spent in liquid nitrogen does not prevent graft rejection in the case of allografts.

Endocrine cells are normal inhabitants of the anal canal. While numerous endocrine cells are distributed throughout anal ducts and crypts, few are dispersed in the anal transitional zone. All these cells were characterized as serotonin-storing cells, and this endocrine profile is quite distinctive from that of adjacent mucosae. Rectal epithelium contains serotonin, somatostatin, enteroglucagon, BPP and HPP immunoreactive cells; endocrine cells are lacking in the pectinal folds and perianal skin. It is suggested that this distinctive hormonal profile may be regarded as a specific marker of this anal territory. The same pattern is found in the fetal transitional lining of anal canal. Evidence of serotonin-storing cells in the transitional epithelium of anal glands and crypts and in the ATZ epithelium, reinforces the homology between these linings and urothelium. The presence of a similar fetal epithelium implies that ATZ epithelium in adults is not necessarily metaplastic. All derivatives of the cloaca may therefore share the same endocrine profile.

Subcutaneous isografts of small bronchi and pulmonary tissue were carried out, on rats. - 4 1/2 days after implantation, the bronchial epithelium was dedifferentiated, with mitoses. Smooth muscle disappeared. Pulmonary parenchyma was elastic. Such a state persisted until the 7th day. - 10 days after grafting, some bronchial cells had recovered short cilia. - After 2 weeks, the bronchial epithelium was perfectly redifferentiated: it showed goblet cells intermixed with columnar ciliated cells. Smooth muscle was not apparent. Some islets of elastic alveoli remained. - A similar state persisted for a further 8 weeks after transplantation, but the bronchial lumen appeared as a distended retention cyst with slightly flattened epithelium.

Serotonin-storing cells are distributed in all tissues derived from cloaca. They were observed in the cavernous portion of penile urethra whereas they were absent from the glans portion. Serotonin cells were detected in several morphologic varieties of median raphe cysts. It is suggested that these cysts arise from the endodermal part of urethra.

The authors studied 65 men who had a varicocele by semen analysis, estimating the levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin and in some cases the rise in FSH using GnRH. 59 cases were treated by operation and in each of these testicular biopsy was carried out on both sides. Indications are given as to the duration in years of the infertility, the localisation of the varicoceles and the preoperative semen analysis. It would appear that the FSH reading is most important. When it is more than 3.5 ng/ml no pregnancy occurred but when the level was within the mean range of 2.8 ng/ml the chances of pregnancy were higher. It came out at 43% of spouses becoming pregnant within 32 months. The authors make a plea for infertility in both partners to be treated by the same specialist.

A mixed antiglobulin reaction: M.A.R. latex test has been used to detect the presence of either IgG or IgA on the surface of spermatozoa in a selected population with spontaneous agglutination. Positive M.A.R. tests showed a highly significant correlation with the presence of antisperm antibodies in seminal plasma or serum and with sperm penetration in cervical mucus. Autoantibodies against spermatozoa were found in 4.25% of seminal fluid samples.