👤 Leszek Pawelczyk

The growth and development of oocyte affect the functional activities of the surrounding somatic cells. These cells are regulated by various types of hormones, proteins, metabolites, and regulatory molecules through gap communication, ultimately leading to the development and maturation of oocytes. The close association between somatic cells and oocytes, which together form the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and their bi-directional communication are crucial for the acquisition of developmental competences by the oocyte. In this study, oocytes were extracted from the ovaries obtained from crossbred landrace gilts and subjected to in vitro maturation. RNA isolated from those oocytes was used for the subsequent microarray analysis. The data obtained shows, for the first time, variable levels of gene expression (fold changes higher than |2| and adjusted Show less

In this prospective study different semen parameters of fertile smokers were compared with fertile non-smokers. 58 men with proven fertility (17 smokers and 41 non-smokers) at the same age were evaluated. Smokers had significantly less spermatozoa with motility grade A (p<0.01), B (p<0.05), and C (p<0.05), and more abnormal forms in the ejaculate (p< 0.001). The percentage of sperm with head defects (p<0.05) and cytoplasmic droplets (p<0.001) were also significantly higher in smokers. No differences were found in the assessment of semen volume, total sperm count, hypoosmotic swelling test, induced acrosomal reaction and acidic aniline blue staining test between two groups (p>0.05). However the concentration of leukocytes in semen was significantly higher in smokers (p<0.001), which can suggests oxidative imbalance in the ejaculates of these men. Our data demonstrate that cigarette smoking is associated with reduced semen quality which could worsen fertilizing potential in fertile men. Show less