• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2013

In mammals, puberty is a process of acquiring reproductive competence, triggering by activation of hypothalamic kisspeptin (KiSS)-gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal circuit. During peripubertal period, not only the external genitalia but the internal reproductive organs have to be matured in response to the hormonal signals from hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (H-P-G) axis. In the present study, we evaluated the maturation of male rat accessory sex organs during the peripubertal period using tissue weight measurement, histological analysis and RT-PCR assay. Male rats were sacrificed at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 70 postnatal days (PND). The rat accessory sex organs exhibited differential growth patterns compared to those of non-reproductive organs. The growth rate of the accessory sex organs were much higher than the those of non-reproductive organs. Also, the growth spurts occurred differentially even among the accessory sex organs; the order of prepubertal organ growth spurts is testis = epididymis > seminal vesicle = prostate. Histological study revealed that the presence of sperms in seminiferous tubules and epididymal ducts at day 50, indicating the puberty onset. The number of duct and the volume of duct in epididymis and prostate were inversely correlated during the experimental period. Our RT-PCR revealed that the levels of hypothalamic GnRH transcript were increased significantly on PND 40, suggesting the activation of hypothalamic GnRH pulse-generator before puberty onset. Studies on the peripubertal male accessory sex organs will provide useful references on the growth regulation mechanism which is differentially regulated during the period in androgen-sensitive organs. The detailed references will render easier development of endocrine disruption assay.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.38-47
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• 2003

Relationships between accumulations of endocrine disruptors and abnormalities in the reproductive organs in the adult male striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius, were reviewed. High levels of phenolic compounds were detected in the mice collected at an agricultural village in Gaduck island and at a place having a sewage problem in Samdong-myeon, Namhae. High levels of organo tin compounds were found in the mice collected at Jiri Mt. a tourist resort. Considerably high levels of phenolic or organo tin compounds were detected in mice with shrunken reproductive organs accounting for 14∼42% of the mice examined in each area, which suggests that the abnormality of reproductive organs may be induced by the endocrine disruptors. This hypothesis is strongly supported by histological observations of shrunken reproductive organs, such as necrosis of testicular germ and epithelial cells. This was found not only in the mice with shrunken reproductive organs but also in the mice with enlarged reproductive organs, both had accumulated high levels of endocrine disruptors in general.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2007

We analyzed the compositions of proximate and total fatty acids in the reproductive organs of male (testis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and spermatophore sac) and female (ovary, oviduct, oviducal gland, and nidamental gland) common squid. The protein contents were 12.1-22.7 and 13.2-19.4% for males and females, respectively, and the lipid contents were 1.0-2.7 and 2.1-8.0%, respectively. The prominent fatty acids in all reproductive organs were 22:6n-3, 20:5n-3, 16:0, 20:1n-9, 18:0, 18:1n-9, and 20:4n-6. Females had 28.6-32.0% of 22:6n-3 and 11.3-22.6% of 20:5n-3, while males had 20.8-26.8% of 22:6n-3 and 14.4-28.7% of 20:5n-3. These results indicate that the reproductive organs of both male and female squid are potential sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.376-383
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• 2006

The chemical components, lipid class, and fatty acid composition of the viscera from male and female common squid, Todarodes pacificus, were examined to evaluate the possible utilization of the liver, reproductive organs, and gills. In male and female squid, the viscera comprise 21% and 27% of the body weight, respectively. The protein content of the viscera was slightly higher in females (17.7-19.5%) than in males (15.6-17.2%). This was especially marked in the female reproductive organs, while there was little difference in the gill. The liver contained the largest amounts of lipids (17.2-18.6%) and the levels were higher in males than in females (P<0.01). By contrast, the reproductive organs of females contained more lipids than did those of males (4.68% vs. 1.65%, p<0.01). The prominent non-polar lipid (NL) classes were triacylglycerol (51.9-55.4% of the NL content) and sterol ester (16.3-21.8%) in the liver, and free sterol (47.0-68.5%) and free fatty acids (31.5-41.2%) in the reproductive organs. However, there were no significant differences in the NL classes between sexes. The percentage of the most prominent phospholipid (PL) class, phosphatidylcholine (PC), was highest in the liver (78.1-79.6% of the PL content), and there was no significant difference between the sexes. By contrast, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was highest in the reproductive organs (33.4%), and was higher in males than in females (P<0.05). All the visceral organs contained 36.4-48.5% of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The DHA level was highest in female reproductive organs (32.3%), while EPA was high in male reproductive organs. These results demonstrate that the viscera of male and female common squid are a good source of DHA and EPA.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2004

It has been known for many years that administration of estrogen, a so-called female hormone, has harmful effects on male fertility. However, studies employing transgenic mice deficient in estrogen receptors reveal substantial roles for estrogen in male fertility. The aim of this article is to review and summarize the current knowledge on the estrogen receptor localization in male reproductive organs including male germ cells of rodents. Also, informations about the mice models with disrupted estrogen signaling and associated phenotypes will be provided.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2020

Objective: Tyrosine phosphorylation is an essential process in many biological systems, including the male reproductive system. The presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins has been well documented in male reproductive organs, but research in fertile females is still limited. Methods: The ovary, oviduct, and uterus of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats in the estrus phase were used to localize TyrPho proteins using an immunohistochemical technique. These proteins were separated and their expression patterns were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: TyrPho proteins were localized in the cytoplasm of the oocyte except the antral fluid; in the granulosa cells, theca cells, and stromal cells of the ovary; at the apical surface of oviductal epithelial cells; and in the basal epithelium and submucosa of the uterine wall. Moreover, we found that 72-, 43-, and 28-kDa TyrPho proteins were localized in the ovary, while 170-, 55-, and 43-kDa proteins were localized in the oviduct. In the uterus, we detected four major bands, corresponding to 61-, 55-, 54-, and 43-kDa TyrPho proteins. Conclusion: Given that these TyrPho proteins were found in major reproductive organs in the estrus phase, these proteins may play important roles in female fertility.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2013

ICI 182,780 (ICI) is known as an estrogen receptor antagonist, whereas propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) is an estrogen receptor agonist. In this study, ICI or ICI added with PPT was injected into adult male mice. Body and reproductive organ weights were reduced in the ICI added with PPT group compared to the control group. Further, the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups both showed increases in luminal areas of the seminiferous tubules of the testis, whereas cell heights of efferent ductules and the initial segment of the epididymis were reduced. Sperm count in the caudal epididymis was reduced in the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups. These results show that reproductive tissues were more deeply affected in the ICI added with PPT group. We also demonstrated that treatment with ICI resulted in histological changes in the testis, efferent ductule, and epididymis. Further, alternate treatment with ICI and PPT induced abnormalities in reproductive organs. These results indicate that a high concentration of PPT together with ICI may cause histological abnormalities instead of histological restoration in reproductive organs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2012

Nesfatin-1 is a recently discovered anorexigenic peptide which is distributed in several brain areas implicated in the feeding and metabolic regulation. Recently, it has been reported that nesfatin-1 is expressed not only in brain, but also in peripheral organs such as digestive organs, adipose tissues, heart, and reproductive organs. Nesfatin-1 is markedly expressed in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum. Eventually, the nesfatin-1 expression in the digestive organs may be regulated by nutritional status, which suggests a regulatory role of peripheral nesfatin-1 in energy homeostasis. Nesfatin-1 is also detected in the adipose tissues of humans and rodents, indicating that nesfatin-1 expression in the fat may regulate food intake independently, rather than relying on leptin. In addition, nesfatin-1 is expressed in the heart as a cardiac peptide. It suggests that nesfatin-1 may regulate cardiac function and encourage clinical potential in the presence of nutrition-dependent physio-pathologic cardiovascular diseases. Currently, only a few studies demonstrate that nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive system. However, it is not clear yet what function of nesfatin-1 is in the reproductive organs. Here, we summarize the expression of nesfatin-1 and its roles in brain and peripheral organs and discuss the possible roles of nesfatin-1 expressed in reproductive organs, including testis, epididymis, ovary, and uterus. We come to the conclusion that nesfatin-1 as a local regulator in male and female reproductive organs may regulate the steroidogenesis in the testis and ovary and the physiological activity in epididymis and uterus.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

This study was performed to understand the reproductive ecology of cephalopods, described the microanatomical structure of the male reproductive organs and spermatophore in the common squid, Todarodes pacificus, a major cephalopods in Korea. The common squid was gonochorism and had sexual dimorphism, the color of the reproductive organs reflected on the mantle and the presence of the hectocotylus. Male reproductive organs were composed of testis, primary vas deferens, spermatophoric gland (seminal vesicle), spermatophoric sac (Needham's sac) and secondary vas deferens. The male has specialized reproductive organs such as the spermatophore forming organ, spermatophoric gland. Testis was histologically a seminiferous tubule type. The primary vas deferens was a thin and inverted triangular spring-like form that connected from the rear of the testis to the spermatophoric gland. Inside, it was filled with sperm of basophilic in H-E stain. The spermatophoric gland is an irregular oval connected to the primary vas deferens and spermatophoric sac, and there were a number of tubular glands. The spermatophoric sac is a tubular structure located between spermatophoric gland and secondary vas deferens, and a number of spermatophores have been identified in the lumen. The secondary vas deferens was connected to the posterior of the spermatophoric sac and had a spermatophore inside. The spermatophore was a long, transparent tube about 22 mm long, with a sperm mass inside.