The distribution of androgen and estrogen binding sites in the mouse epididymis was assessed by autoradiography with 3H dihydrotestosterone (3H DHT) and 3H estradiol (3H E2). Nuclear labeling with 3H DHT in principal cells of the epithelium is high in the caput, low in the corpus, and high again in the cauda. 3H E2 also binds to the nuclei of principal cells. The pattern is distinct from 3H DHT: nuclear labeling is highest in the ductulus efferens and high in the caput, but low or absent in corpus and cauda. Apical cells in caput and clear cells in corpus and cauda are moderately labeled with 3H DHT but heavily labeled with 3H E2. Connective tissue cells show variable labeling with both hormones, being more pronounced with 3H E2. Smooth muscle cells are also labeled to varying degrees with both hormones. The different binding patterns of 3H DHT and 3H E2 and the results of the competition studies with unlabeled compounds demonstrate that in the epididymis besides the specific nuclear receptors for androgen also estrogen receptors are present.

Testicular biopsy specimens from oligozoospermic infertile patients are characterized by different types of spermatogenic impairment in adjacent seminiferous tubules, a phenomenon called mixed atrophy. In order to evaluate possible involvement of the state of Sertoli cell differentiation, the distribution pattern of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), vimentin and cytokeratin intermediate filament proteins was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. AMH immunoactivity occurs in Sertoli cells of the normal postnatal prepubertal testis, but it is absent in the adult testis with normal spermatogenesis. In the case of mixed atrophy, AMH immunoactivity was found in Sertoli cells of tubules showing spermatogenic arrest at the level of spermatogonia and in tubules showing Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome. Vimentin was expressed regularly in Sertoli cells independent of spermatogenic impairment or the state of Sertoli cell differentiation. Cytokeratin immunoactivity occurs in Sertoli cells of the normal postnatal prepubertal testis. Furthermore, cytokeratin expression was found in Sertoli cells of tubules showing spermatogenic arrest at the level of spermatogonia and in some SCO tubules. Co-expression of AMH and cytokeratin suggests that spermatogenic impairment such as spermatogenic arrest and SCO syndrome in human seminiferous tubules is associated with a population of Sertoli cells showing a prepubertal stage of development. The different pattern of AMH and cytokeratin expression in SCO tubules indicates that Sertoli cells in SCO syndrome show a mosaic pattern of differentiation.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (PCAP) are common causes of lower respiratory tract infections in HIV-seropositive patients and may have similar clinical and radiological features. This study aimed to assess the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in HIV-seropositive patients with pneumonia, and to investigate their potential role in differentiating pneumococcal from mycobacterial infections.HIV-seropositive patients admitted with pneumonia were evaluated prospectively, 34 with PTB and 33 with PCAP.All 33 patients in the PCAP group and 20 of 34 patients in the PTB group had elevated PCT levels (.0.1 ng?mL -1 ). All patients in both groups had elevated CRP levels (.10 mg?L -1). The PTB group had significantly lower CD4 T-lymphocyte counts, lower CRP levels, lower white cell counts, and lower PCT levels than the PCAP group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that optimal discrimination between PTB and PCAP could be performed at a cut-off point of 3 ng?mL -1 for PCT (sensitivity 81.8%; specificity 82.35%) and 246 mg?L -1 for CRP (sensitivity 78.8%; specificity 82.3%).In conclusion, HIV-seropositive patients with pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia had significantly higher procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels than those with pulmonary tuberculosis. A procalcitonin level .3 ng?mL -1 and a C-reactive protein level .246 mg?L -1 were both highly predictive of pneumococcal infection.

In an effort to evaluate the effect of hCG/human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) treatment on semen parameters in normogonadotropic men suffering from oligospermia, a double blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. After 2 basal examinations of seminal parameters and reproductive hormones, 39 men were recruited for the trial. Nineteen men, allocated randomly to the active drug group, received im injections of 2500 IU hCG twice a week in combination with 150 IU hMG three times a week for 13 weeks, while 20 men were treated, following the same injection schedule, with NaCl only. After the 13-week treatment period, follow-up examination was performed, followed by 3 additional examinations at 4-week intervals. Of those men receiving hCG-hMG, 2 induced pregnancies in their wives, while no pregnancies were reported in the placebo group. Sperm concentrations, the percentages of motile sperm, and the proportions of normally formed spermatozoa, however, were similar in the 2 groups at all times. It was not possible to predict the outcome of treatment based on results of GnRH and hCG tests performed before the treatment phase.