• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.244-253
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• 2022

Background: The indiscriminate use of pesticides in Nigeria may have harmful effects on reproductive health of farmers. Objectives: This study assessed the awareness of reproductive health, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and sperm characteristics of male farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides. Methods: Eighty four male farmers were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data. Blood and semen samples were collected from the subjects in the morning for hormonal assays and semen analysis using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and SQAV sperm quality analyzer. Data were analyzed using chi square, Student's-t-test, and Regression analysis. Results: Serum FSH (p<0.01), LH (p<0.005) and Estradiol (p<0.001) were significantly higher while prolactin (p<0.02) and testosterone (p<0.001) were significantly lower among pesticides exposed farmers than nonexposed subjects. Some 34/84 (40.5%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had serum testosterone levels below the lower limit of the reference range. Those with low testosterone levels (p<0.001), also had FSH (p<0.05), LH (p<0.001) and Estradiol (p<0.002) significantly lower than those with normal testosterone levels. The sperm count among pesticides exposed farmers; total motility and percentage morphology were significantly lower than non-pesticides exposed subjects. Some 14/84 (16.7%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had sperm count below 15 million/mL (oligozoospermia). More than 70% of the farmers were not aware of the reproductive health risks associated with pesticides and only 23.8% of the farmers were using protective devices. Conclusions: Deliberate efforts to improve awareness, knowledge, personal hygiene, and interventions necessary to lessen both pesticides exposure and health risks by adopting safe practices are suggested.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2006

Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary hormone involved in various physiological processes, including lactation, mammary development, and immune function. To further investigate the in vivo and comparative endocrine roles of PRL, mouse PRL cDNA fused to the cytomegalovirus promoter, was introduced into muscle by direct injection. Previously we studied the function of rat PRL using the same protocol. PRL mRNA was detected in the muscle following injection by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern blot analysis. PRL was also detected and Western blot analysis revealed a relatively high level of serum PRL. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected female mice, the estrous cycle was extended, especially in diestrus stage and the uterus thickening that was shown in normal estrous stage was not observed. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected male mice, new blood vessels were first found at 5 weeks of age and fully developed blood vessels were found after 8 weeks in the testis. The number of Leydig cells increased within the testis and the testosterone level in serum was observed high. Finally, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) increased in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. The augmentation of WBCs persisted for at least 20 days after injection. When injection was combined with adrenalectomy, there was an even greater increase in number of WBCs, especially lymphocytes. This increase was returned normal by treatment with dexamethansone. Taken together, our data reveal that intramuscularly expressed mouse PRL influences reproductive functions in female, induces formation of new blood vessels in the testis, and augments WBC numbers. Of notice is that the Leydig cell proliferation with increased testosterone was conspicuously observed in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. These results also suggest subtle difference in function of PRL between mouse and rat species.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2013

Methoxychlor (MXC) was developed to be a replacement for the banned pesticide DDT. HPTE [2,2-bis (p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane], which is an in vivo metabolite of MXC, has strong oestrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. MXC and HPTE are thought to produce potentially adverse effects by acting through oestrogen and androgen receptors. Of the two, HPTE binds to sex-steroid receptors with greater affinity, and it inhibits testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells by inhibiting cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity and cholesterol utilisation. In a previous study, MXC was shown to induce Leydig cell apoptosis by decreasing testosterone concentrations. I focused on the effects of MXC on male mice that resulted from interactions with sex-steroid hormone receptors. Sex-steroid hormones affect other organs including the kidney and liver. Accordingly, I hypothesised that MXC can act through sex-steroid receptors to produce adverse effects on the testis, kidney and liver, and I designed our experiments to confirm the different effects of MXC exposure on the male reproductive system, kidney and liver. In these experiments, I used pre-pubescent ICR mice; the puberty period in ICR mice is from postnatal day (PND) 45 to PND60. I treated the experimental group with 0, 100, 200, 400 mg MXC/kg b.w. delivered by an intra-peritoneal injection with sesame oil used as vehicle for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed under anaesthesia. The testes and accessory reproductive organs were collected, weighed and prepared for histological investigation. I performed a chemiluminescence immune assay to observe the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Blood biochemical determination was also performed to check for other effects. There were no significant differences in our histological observations or relative organ weights. Serum testosterone levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner; a greater dose resulted in the production of less testosterone. Compared to the control group, testosterone concentrations differed in the 200 and 400 mg/kg dosage groups. In conclusion, I observed markedly negative effects of MXC exposure on testosterone concentrations in pre-pubescent male mice. From our biochemical determinations, I observed some changes that indicate renal and hepatic failure. Together, these data suggest that MXC produces adverse effects on the reproductive system, kidney and liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2012

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of age and caponization on the development blood and bone characteristics development in male country chickens in Taiwan. A total of two hundred 8-wk-old LRI native chicken cockerels, Taishi meat No.13 from LRI-COA, were used as experimental animals. Cockerels were surgically caponized at 8 wks of age. Twelve birds in each group were bled and dressed from 8 wks to 35 wks of age at 1 to 5 wk intervals. The results indicated that the plasma testosterone concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in capons after 12 wks of age (caponized treatment after 4 wks) than that of the intact males. The relative tibia weight, bone breaking strength, cortical thickness, bone ash, bone calcium, bone phosphorus and bone magnesium contents were significantly (p<0.05) higher in intact males, while capons had higher (p<0.05) plasma ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase concentration. The plasma testosterone concentration, relative tibia weight, tibia length, breaking strength, cortical thickness, bone ash, calcium, and phosphorus contents of intact males chickens increased significantly (p<0.05) with the advance of age. In addition, the relative tibia weight of capons peaked at 18 wks of age, and declined at 35 wks of age. The bone ash, calcium and phosphorus content increased most after 14 wks of age in male native chickens in Taiwan. Also, tibia length and cortical thickness peaked at 22 wks of age. However, the peak of bone strength was found at 26 wks of age. These findings support the assertion that androgens can directly influence bone composition fluxes in male chickens. Caponization caused a significant increase in bone loss at 4 wks post treatment, which reflected bone cell damage, and demonstrated reductions in the relative tibia weight, breaking strength, cortical thickness, bone ash, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium contents, and increases in plasma ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase concentration.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.765-772
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• 2001

To delineate the relationship between the nutrient intake from diet and the serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism, 56 postmenopausal women of 50 to 77 years of age were recruited. The biochemical markers including osteocalcin, calcium, phosphorus, estradiol and free testosterone were measured in fasting blood. Bone mineral density(BMD) was measured also by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the nutrient intake of earth individual subject was estimated by 24-hour recall of 3 days. The age of the subjects was 64.8 $\pm$ 7.7 years, and the BMDs of the subject were 0.86 $\pm$ 0.26g/$cm^2$(Lumbar spine), 0.60 $\pm$ 0.10g/$cm^2$ (Femoral neck), 0.49 $\pm$ 0.10g/$cm^2$(Trochanter), and 0.41 $\pm$ 0.14g/$cm^2$(Ward's triangle). There were no significant differences among age and nutrient intake level groups due to the small sample size. The biochemical markers showed certain degree of relationship with nutrient intake levels. The results were compared among 3 groups with different nutrient intake level classified by the percentage of Recommended Daily Allowances(RDA) for Koreans as follows low < 75% RDA, 75% RDA $\leq$ adequate < 125% RDA, high $\geq$ 125% RDA. The low energy and low riboflavin groups showed significantly higher serum osteocalcin levels than those of the high intake groups(p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was a trend for serum Ca level to be higher with high nutrient intake. In this case, protein and thiamin were the only nutrients that reached a statistical significance(p < 0.05). And the groups with low intake for protein and Ca showed significantly lower serum free testosterone levels than that of other intake groups(p < 0.05). This study suggests an important role of nutrient intake levels on blood biochemical markers of bone metabolism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.558-564
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical results of the 10 male climateric syndrome cases while treated with Singi-hwan. All patients were treated with Singi-hwan two times a days for 5 weeks. We checked testosterone, PSA in blood, HRV and AMS questionnaire score. The questionnaire score was improved after taking Singi-hwan. Stress resistance and autonomic nervous system activity is increased, but there was no statistical significance except for ApEn. Taking Singi-hwan did not affect the serum concentration of testosterone, PSA and blood biochemical tests. The next placebo-controlled studies about late onset hypogonadism treated with Singi-hwan are needed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2001

To identify an antioxidant system, Se and Vit. E were administered into Hanwoo young sire and the effects of administration on blood components(Se, Vit. E, chemical values, estradiol-17 $\beta$, testosterone) were examined. The 16 heads ranging from twenty to thirty two months of age were randomly assigned to control group, Se-administered group(Se-group), Vit. E-administered group(Vit. E-group) and Se and Vit. E administered group(Se and Vit. E-group). Each reagent (Se : 0.1 mg, Vit. E . 1,500IU, Se+vit. E : 0.1 mg+1,500IU per kg of body weight, respectively) administered 3 times every 30days by intramuscular injection. Se concentration in serum was higher in Se-group and Se and Vit. E-group than in control group and Se and Vit. E-group also was higher than Vit. E-group(p<0.05). Although all Se-, Vit. E-administered groups were a little higher than control group, the injection of Se and Vit. E were not significant effect on Vit. E concentration in serum(p>0.05). All groups showed significant variance by periods, but there were not significantly different among groups in blood chemical values. The estradiol-17 $\beta$ concentrations of all Se-, Vit. E-administered groups were a little higher than those of control group, but there were not significant(p>0.05). There have no significant difference among groups in testosterone concentration. These results indicate that the administration of Se, Se + Vit. E increase Se concentration in Hanwoo young bull.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 2003

Phenanthrene, one of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with three aromatic rings, is a ubiquitous contaminant in the environment. Phenanthrene has been identified in ambient air, drinking water and sediment. We examined the effect of phenanthrene on steroid hormones level of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Plasma testosterone level was increased significantly in fish exposed to phenanthrene($\geq1.0 \mu M$) at 4th week. However, there was no significant changes of estradiol-17$\beta$ concentration in fish exposed to phenanthrene. The physiological variation in phenanthrene exposed fish was a dramatic increase in plasma cortisol level. It is concluded that chronic exposure of phenanthrene can induce increase of plasma testosterone levels and elevate the plasma cortisol level in flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.412-422
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• 2002

The use of biochemical markers of bone turnover may be particular interest in the investigation of bone disorders with osteoporosis. Serum osteocalcin(OC), total alkaline phosphatase and procollagen C, reflecting bone formation, and urinary pyridinium cross-links excretion, reflecting bone reabsorption have been measured in hyperthyroidism, postmenopause women, after testosterone supplementation, androgen, testosterone and estrogen deficiency, bone mineral density degree, age duration. Bone marks which is reflect to metabolic bone disorders are biochemical indices method to measure enzyme activity about bone formation, bone absorption and bone components in blood or urine. Bone metabolism biochemical marks are correlated with osteophorotic agents and also represent significantly different between bone mineral density and bone biochemical marks. Therefore if we develope and use bone metabolism marks which have higher sensitivity and specificity in bone formation and bone absorption, I think that these bone biochemical marks can have utility in the clinical application to predict osteoporosis risk group, bone loss, bone fracture and response degree to treatment of osteoporosis risk groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2013

Finasteride, ($5{\alpha}$, $17{\beta}$)-N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-azaandrost-1-ene-17-carboxamide), is a 5a-reductase enzyme inhibitor. This enzyme converts testosterone to the more potent androgen, a-dihydrotestosterone. This molecules a logical medical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as it induced a reduction in serum dihydrotestosterone and prostatic specific antigen levels with a concomittant increase in blood testosterone concentration . Despite its widespread use, little has been published concerning its molecular properties. Therefore, in this study, in order to explain characteristics of finasteride, total energy, net charge, vibrational mode of melatonin are calculated by PM3 methods of HyperCam 8.0.