• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.90-94
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• 2004

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Panax Ginseng (인삼) on the sperm motility and spermatogenesis in the male rat. Methods : We used 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered the extract powder of Panax Ginseng to 5 rats (treated group) and normal saline (control group) once a day for 28 days. We isolated their testes surgically, then observed the change of the body weights before and after administration of Panax Ginseng extracts and normal saline. We observed the weight of the testes, epididymis, vascular gland, and prostate. Also, we examined the total, normal motile sperm concentration, and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase. Results : We found that the concentration of normal, motile sperm in the testes of the Panax Ginseng group showed a significant difference compared with the control group. The angiogenesis of the seminiferous tubule was increased and the increasement of the number of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte was observed in the Panax Ginseng group through a microscope. The body weight, the weight of the testes, epididymis, prostate and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Panax Ginseng group but showed no significant difference. Conclusion : This study shows that Panax Ginseng may have an effect on the morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility, and can promote the concentration of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Morindae officinalis Radix (巴戟) on the spermatogenesis and antioxidant activities in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. Materials and Methods: We choose the 2-month-old SD rats, and administered the extract powder of Morindae officinalis Radix once in a day for 28 days. The control rats were administered normal water in the same way and duration. We observed changes of body weight, surgically isolated testis, epididymis, vascular gland and prostate gland before and after administration of Morindae officinalis Radix extracts in SD Rats. Also we compared the testicular tissue, especially seminiferous tubules between the control and treated groups by histochemical methods. In addition, we examined the total, normal, morphologic and motile sperm in the cauda epididymis, and the activity of catalase and peroxidase in the isolated testis tissue. Results: There was no significant difference between control and treatment groups in the body weight, testis, vascular and prostate gland, but the weight of epididymis showed significant difference in the control group. The concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa was significantly different when compared with the control group, respectively. In the histological examination of testicular tissues, the tendency of increasement of angiogenesis between seminiferous tubules was observed. And the concentration of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte and sperm were higher than that of control testicular tissues. Finally, the activity of catalase and peroxidase related inhibitory molecules of oxidation were slightly increased in the treatment group than those of control group. Conclusions: This study shows that Morindae officinalis Radix has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility. We can suggest that Morindae officinalis Radix has an effect on the spermatogenesis in the SD rat.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2017

Mammalian spermatogenesis occurs in a precise and coordinated manner in the seminiferous tubules. One of the attempts to understand the detailed biological process during mammalian spermatogenesis at the molecular level has been to identify the testis specific genes followed by study of the testicular expression pattern of the genes. From the subtracted cDNA library of rat testis prepared using representational difference analysis (RDA) method, a complimentary DNA clone encoding type III member of a DnaJ family protein, DnaJC18, was cloned (GenBank Accession No. DQ158861). The full-length DnaJC18 cDNA has the longest open reading frame of 357 amino acids. Tissue and developmental Northern blot analysis revealed that the DnaJC18 gene was expressed specifically in testis and began to express from postnatal week 4 testis, respectively. In situ hybridization studies showed that DnaJC18 mRNA was expressed only during the maturation stages of late pachytene, round and elongated spermatids of adult rat testis. Western blot analysis with DnaJC18 antibody revealed that 41.2 kDa DnaJC18 protein was detected only in adult testis. Immunohistochemistry study further confirmed that DnaJC18 protein, was expressed in developing germ cells and the result was in concert with the in situ hybridization result. Confocal microscopy with GFP tagged DnaJC18 protein revealed that it was localized in the cytoplasm of cells. Taken together, these results suggested that testis specific DnaJC18, a member of the type III DnaJ protein family, might play a role during germ cell maturation in adult rat testis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1998

The incidence of spontaneous testicular atrophy and its morphological changes during stage-specific spermatogenesis were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats at 10, 19, and 32 weeks of age. The incidence of testicular atrophy was 0.2%(2/90) 7.9%(9/114) and 10%(4/40) in 4, 13 and 26 weeks respectively. The epididymis with testicular atrophy had low sperm density. In the minimally affected tests scattered tubules showed complete depletion of germ cells without stage specificity. Testes with moderate to severe testicular atrophy showed seminiferous tubules lined with dense Sertoli cell population. While Leydig cells in the interstitium appeared hypertrophy they were immunohistochemically negative for proliferating cell nuclear antigen a marker of cell proliferation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2005

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used as a food supplement and a traditional herbal medicine. In this study, we prepared various flavonoid fractions (RS, RW1, RW2 and RWE) from a hot water extract of RVS and their influence on male reproductive organs and spermatogenesis were studied in rats which were orally administered 200 mg/kg of them for 8 weeks. All experimental groups did not show any significant changes in body weight and blood clinical chemistry for liver function. Plasma testosterone level was elevated about 3.7, 5.2 and 6.3 folds in RW1, RW2 and RWE groups, respectively. The weights of testes and epididymides tended to increase slightly without the statistical significance in RW2 and RWE. The spermatozoon motility and epididymal sperm concentration were significantly increased (P<0.05) in RWE and RW1, respectively, when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in histology and apparent shape of testes and epididymides among the control and the experimental groups. Collectively, RWE showed effectively the elevation of plasma testosterone level, spermatozoon motility and the epididymal sperm concentration without the significant increase of testis and epidiymides weights. When the component HPLC profile among the flavonoids fractions of RVS was compared, the ratio of components were only different. These findings suggest that the Rhus flavonoid fraction, particularly RWE, can stimulate the androgen-dependent male sexual function and it can be applied to the material of functional food for enhancing the sexual function.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.405-413
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• 1975

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of testosterone on the spermatogenesis. Testosterone propionate was administered in 20 mg dose to male rat with 10 days interval for 50 days and the treated rat was compared with normal one in their testis weight and histological changes. The results were as follows: 1. The longer treatment gave the more decreased testis weight. Treated rat for more than 20 days was significantly different from the untreated one. 2. Diameter of seminiferous tubule was significantly reduced in 40 and 50 days treatments. 3. The ratio of disrupted spermatogenesis on seminiferous tubles was significantly increased from 20 days treatment. 4. On volumetric proportion of testicular structure, spermatozoa and spermatid were significantly reduced from 20 and 30 days treatments respectively. Other components in testis were not changed. 5. The administration of testosterone in over dose damages spermatozoa and spermatid more than other components in testis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.24-35
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Cynomorii Herba (鎖陽) on　the reproductive competence in male mice.　Methods ：　We used 8-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats and administered the extract powder of Cynomorii Herba to 5 rats and normal saline to control group once in a day for 28 days. Then we observed the changes of body weight before and after administration of Cynomorii Herba extracts and normal saline. We isolated their testis surgically and observed the weight of testis, epididymis, vascular gland and prostate. Also we examined the total, normal and motile sperm concentration, the concentration of testicular catalase, peroxidase and configuration of testicular tissue before and after administration of Cynomorii Herba extracts and normal saline. Results : We found that the concentration of total, normal, motile sperm in testis of Cynomorii Herba treated group shows significant difference compared with the control group. The body weight, the weight of testis, epididymis and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Cynomorii Herba treated group, on the other hand the weight of vascular gland was lower in the Cynomorii Herba. But the contents of above statement showed no significant difference. The weight of　prostate showed lower in the control group statistically than that of the Cynomorii Herba treated group. We observed the seminiferous tubules taken shape minutely and the number of normal sperm increased in Cynomorii Herba treated group's testicular tissue. Conclusion This study shows that Cynomorii Herba may have an effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.250-258
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• 2009

Male reproductive function seems to have deteriorated considerably in the past 4 to 5 decades. It was observed a significant decline in mean sperm counts from $113{\times}10^6/ml$ in 1940 to $66{\times}10^6/ml$ in 1990; a fall of $0.94{\times}10^6/ml/year$. We reported that Yacon tuber extracts have spermatogenic effects in rat. In the present study, we tested the spermatogenic effect of Yacon tuber extracts in healthy male volunteers. Subjects were assigned randomly to the control group and the Yacon ethanol extracts administered group (each 12 subjects). And, placebo or Yacon tuber extracts (100 ml) were administered two times daily, by oral for 3 months. Sperm numbers, biochemical parameters and hormone levels were recorded before starting administration, then every month. The Yacon tuber extracts administered group showed significant time dependant increases in according to administration period. Especially, the numbers of sperm increased by 54% after 3 months of administration. And, in Yacon tuber extracts administered group, testosterone and estradiol level were significantly higher than placebo group. On the other hands, Yacon tuber extracts didn't show any toxicity in glucose and lipid metabolism and liver and kidney function. The results of the present study suggest that Yacon tuber extract is a possible therapeutic for the treatment of sperm deficiency.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.658-671
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• 2018

Objective: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is an anabolic-androgenic steroid frequently used for clinical treatment. However, the inappropriate use of ND results in the reduction of serum testosterone level and sperm production. The suppressive effect of ND on testosterone production has not been investigated in detail. The present study was designed to examine the effect of ND on the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat testis. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats at 50 days of age were subcutaneously administrated with either 2 or 10 mg of ND/kg body weight/week for 2 or 12 weeks. The changes of transcript and protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses, respectively. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis was employed to determine the changes of immunostaining intensity of these enzymes. The steroidogenic enzymes investigated were steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme, $17{\alpha}-hydroxylase$, $3{\beta}-hydroxysteroid$ dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P450 aromatase. Results: The treatment of ND resulted in depletion of Leydig cells and sloughing of germ cells in the testis. The ND treatment caused significant expressional decreases of steroidogenic enzymes at transcript and protein levels, and the destructive effects of ND on the testis were more apparent with a higher dose and a longer period of the treatment. Evident reduction of immunostaining intensity present in Leydig cells was clearly detected by the ND treatment. Conclusion: The exposure to ND in young male results not only in histological changes of the testis but also in aberrant gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes, consequently leading into the reduction of testosterone production in the testis and thus likely disruption of spermatogenesis.