BackgroundEpididymal sperm maturation occurs via interactions between sperm and proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium. Although this is an important process, the genes that encode the involved proteins remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that the genes involved in sperm maturation are regulated by androgen. Spag11a is an epididymal gene that is influenced by androgen. However, little is known about the putative role of this gene in the sperm maturation process. The objective of this study was to characterize Spag11a in the mouse epididymis.MethodsIn silico analyses were performed to predict signal peptides and functional domains. Spag11a expression was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Western blots and immunocytochemistry were performed to determine protein expression.ResultsSPAG11A is a member of the beta defensin protein family and constitutes a secretory protein. Spag11a was expressed exclusively in the epididymis. Moreover, it exhibited region-specific expression in the caput, which is typical for genes that are involved in creating a suitable microenvironment for sperm maturation. Mouse Spag11a was regulated by androgen. A significant decrease of Spag11a expression was observed at third day following a gonadectomy (P < 0.001). Interestingly, testosterone replacement therapy was able to maintain the expression almost at the normal level, indicating a dependency on androgen. Besides androgen, testicular factors influenced Spag11a expression in a different way. This was revealed by efferent duct ligation in which Spag11a was transiently up-regulated at the third day following the ligation before returning to the normal level at day 5. Spag11a regional expression was also observed at protein level detected by western immunoblotting which revealed a clear band in the caput but not in other regions. The prediction that SPAG11A is a secretory protein was confirmed by immunocytochemical analyses indicating cell-specific expression mainly in the caput principal cells and detection of the protein in epididymal luminal fluid and spermatozoa.ConclusionsBased on the characteristics of Spag11a, it is likely that this gene has a specific role in epididymal sperm maturation. Further studies using functional assays are necessary to confirm this finding.

Background: Most of male infertility are caused by defect in sperm motility (asthenozoospermia). The molecular mechanism of low sperm motility in asthenozoospermic patients has not been fully understood. Sperm motility is strongly related to the axoneme structure which is composed of microtubules and supported by outer dense fiber (ODF) and fibrous sheath (FS) protein. The objective of this study was to characterize the ODF (ODF1 and ODF2) expression in asthenozoospermic infertile male and control normozoospermic fertile male.Methods: Asthenozoospermic samples (n=18) were collected from infertile patients at Andrology Lab, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Jakarta and control were taken from normozoospermic fertile donor (n=18). After motility analyses by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), semen were divided into two parts, for Western blot and for immunocytochemistry analysis. Antibody against ODF1 and ODF2 protein were used in both analyses.Results: Analysis of ODF1 protein expression showed bands with molecular weight of ~30 kDa and ODF2 ~85 kDa. The mean band intensity of ODF1 and ODF2 protein were lower in the asthenozoospermic group (AG) compared to normozoospermic group (NG). Moreover, both ODF proteins were less intense and less localized in the AG than NG. Sperm motility was lower in AG, compared to control NG, i.e. average path velocity (VAP) = 32.07 ± 7.03 vs 37.58 ± 8.73 µm/s, p = 0.455; straight line velocity (VSL) = 24.17 ± 6.90 vs 27.61 ± 4.50 µm/s, p = 0.317 and curvilinear velocity (VCL) = 45.68 ± 7.91 vs 55.55 ± 16.40 µm/s, p = 0.099.Conclusion: There is down-regulation of ODF1 and ODF2 protein expression and less-compact localization in AG sperm compared to the NG. These changes might have caused disturbances in the sperm motility as observed in this study.

Asupan gula penting untuk dibatasi dalam diet sehari-hari. Hal ini dapat menjadi upaya preventif maupun terapi penyakit diabetes mellitus. Asupan gula tambahan maksimal yang dianjurkan per hari 24 gram. Gula yang berada dalam bahan-bahan pelengkap masakan seperti kecap manis, saos sambal, dan saos tiram selama ini tidak diperhitungkan sebagai asupan gula yang harus dibatasi. Peneliti berpendapat bahan-bahan pelengkap masakan tersebut berpengaruh terhadap asupan gula harian. Kuesioner dibagikan kepada 65 subjek penelitian secara random di RW 13 Perum Bumi Dirgantara. Data konsumsi bahan pelengkap masakan harian diperoleh dari hasil kuesioner tersebut. Peneliti juga mengambil 5 sampel dari masing-masing jenis bahan pelengkap masakan secara random. Kadar gula masing-masing sampel diukur dengan metode asam sulfat - UV spektrofotometri 315 nm. Diperoleh hasil gula yang terdapat pada bahan pelengkap masakan per sendok teh adalah sebagai berikut saos tomat (0,58 gram), saos sambal (0,74 gram), saos tiram (0,85 gram), kecap manis (0,88 gram). Konsumsi gula dari bahan pelengkap masakan rata-rata per hari sebesar 0,1354 gram. Jumlah gula dari bahan pelengkap masakan tidak berperan besar dalam peningkatan asupan gula harian. Bagaimanapun konsumsi bahan makanan pelengkap masakan secara berlebihan tidak direkomendasikan.

Minuman ekstrak buah-buahan dalam kemasan merupakan salah satu jenis minuman populer di kalangan masyarakat. Berbagai jenis merek minuman tersebut sudah beredar luas. Dalam berbagai promosi iklannya, minuman ekstrak buah-buahan sering diklaim mengandung antioksidan. Diperlukan metode uji antioksidan untuk melihat aktivitas antioksidan dalam minuman-minuman tersebut. Studi bersifat eksperimen in-vitro. Sampel studi adalah empat kemasan minuman ekstrak buah-buahan berbeda merek. Keempat kemasan tersebut diuji dengan metode uji antioksidan spektrofotometrik DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil), yang dilakukan pada panjang gelombang 517 nm sehingga didapatkan nilai persen free radical scavenging activity (% FRSA) sebagai nilai acuan untuk melihat aktivitas antioksidan. Analisis dilakukan secara statistik dengan uji one-way ANOVA pada tingkat kepercayaan 95%. Hasil analisis percobaan menunjukkan dua di antara keempat kemasan memiliki aktivitas antioksidan, yang ditunjukkan dengan nilai rerata % FRSA positif yaitu 73,71% dan 67,62%. Dua kemasan lainnya tidak memiliki aktivitas antioksidan, yang terlihat dari nilai rerata % FRSA negatif yaitu -24,76% dan -44,57%. Hasil tersebut ternyata menunjukkan ekstrak buah-buahan dalam kemasan tidak selalu mengandung aktivitas antioksidan karena ada pengaruh berbagai zat lain di dalam kemasan tersebut. Dua dari empat kemasan minuman ekstrak buah-buahan berbeda merek memiliki aktivitas antioksidan. Dua kemasan lainnya tidak memiliki aktivitas antioksidan.