• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 1980

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of castration and administration of testosterone propionate(TP) on the development of the thyroid, adrenal glands and the testis in immature male rats, 25 days immatured, weighing 64.1${\pm}$2g, were divided into two groups of control and castrated, each sub-divided into 30 rats again, treated and untreated with TP respectivity. Each rat was given 20$m\ell$ of TP subcutaneously at two weeks interval. Six rats among each group were randomly sacrificed at 7, 21, 35, 49, and 63 days after treatment, of which their thyroid, adrenal glands and testis were collected for cytometric observation. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The size of the follicle of thyroid glands had a tendency to increase proportionally to the treatment period in every group. However, in castration group, the follicular size of the untreated with TP were significantly increased from 49 days (p<0.05) after treatment than that of the treated with TP, while in control group, the treated with TP were not increased during the treatment period. Regarding the height of the follicular epithelial cell in thyroid gland, the treated with TP had a tendency to increase than the untreated with TP in both castration and control group. 2. Regarding the size of the follicle of thyroid gland in relation with the increment period, the untreated with TP in control group were slightly increased from 49 days after treatment, but the treated with TP were not changed significantly. Castration group had a tendency to increase significantly than the control group, especially the untreated with TP in castration group were significantly increased. 3. As for the change of the relative height of thyroidal follicular epithelial cell in relation with the increment of treatment period, the untreated, A and C group, in both castration and control group were increased at 35 days 63 days after treatment while the treated, B and D group had tendency to increase from 21 days after treatment. 4. Regarding the thickness fo adrenal cortex, the castration group had a tendency to increase than the control group until 21 days after treatment. But, at 35 days, the change of the thickness was reversed; Mean while at 49 days and 63 days, especially C group in castration were significantly increased than any other groups although there were no significant differences among the every group during the whole treatment period. Regarding the thickness of adrenal cortex in relation with the increment of treatment period, A, B and C group had a tendency to increase until 21 days after treatment. After that period, there was no significant increment in all groups. Especially, in D group, there were no significant changes from 7 days to 63 days after treatment. 5. As for the tickness of adrenal medulla, there were no significant changes in every group of castration and TP treatment, except that the castration group had a tendency to increase continually than the control throughout the whole treament period. 6. In terms of the number, diameter and thickness of seminiferous tubule in testis of control group, the treated group with TP were distinctly reduced than those of the untreated group from 49 days after treatment respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.272-282
• /
• 2011

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) has been shown to have anti-aging effects in animal and clinical studies. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ginseng exerts these effects remain unknown. Here, the anti-aging effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) in rat testes was examined by system biology analysis. KRG water extract prepared in feed pellets was administered orally into 12 month old rats for 4 months, and gene expression in testes was determined by microarray analysis. Microarray analysis identified 33 genes that significantly changed. Compared to the 2 month old young rats, 13 genes (Rps9, Cyp11a1, RT1-A2, LOC365778, Sv2b, RGD1565959, RGD1304748, etc.) were up-regulated and 20 genes (RT1-Db1, Cldn5, Svs5, Degs1, Vdac3, Hbb, LOC684355, Svs5, Tmem97, Orai1, Insl3, LOC497959, etc.) were down-regulated by KRG in the older rats. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of untreated aged rats versus aged rats treated with KRG showed that the affected most was Cyp11a1, responsible for C21-steroid hormone metabolism, and the top molecular and cellular functions are organ morphology and reproductive system development and function. When genes in young rat were compared with those in the aged rat, sperm capacitation related genes were down-regulated in the old rat. However, when genes in the old rat were compared with those in the old rat treated with KRG, KRG treatment up-regulated C21-steroid hormone metabolism. Taken together, Cyp11a1 expression is decreased in the aged rat, however, it is up-regulated by KRG suggesting that KRG seems enhance testes function via Cyp11a1.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 2010

Recent evidence has revealed that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline(20%) resulted in a chemically castrated state such as nadir testosterone levels in rats. To confirm the efficacy of this simple saline-injection method further, we investigated the changes in the gross and microscopic anatomy of testis. Our study comprised three groups; intact(control) group, orchidectomy group and saline-injection (experimental) group. Single dose of hypertonic saline (sterilized, $750{\mu}{\ell}/testis$) were directly administered into both testis of adult rats (about 300 g BW). Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of saline injection. Following 30 days post-injection, reproductive tissues were surgically removed, weighed and fixed for histological examination. The body weights were not changed in both orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of testis were significantly decreased in saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of epididymis and seminal vesicle and prostate were significantly decreased in orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. Macroscopically, the testes exerted slight atrophy and the tunica albuginea seemed to be intact in saline injection group. Histologically, however, larger parts of testicular tissue underwent necrosis and were barely recognizable after hematoxylin-eosin staining. In the same section, only the opposite part of the injection site was stained showing abnormal state of cell layers mostly fibrosis and infiltrated leukocytes. Sloughing of immature germ cells from the basement membrane along with shedding cells in the intraluminal space was notable in most seminiferous tubules from the saline injected testis. The present study confirmed that the direct injection of hypertonic saline into testis can induce a castration-like, testosterone-depriving effects on accessory sex organs. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of this less expensive and minimally invasive method seems to be almost even with that of conventional orchidectomy and chemical castration, though more in-depth evaluation should be supported.

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

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.39-43
• /
• 1998

The synthesis of steroid hormone starts from cholesterol. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR) transfers cholesterol acutely from the outer mitochondrial membranes to the inner in the early step of steroidogenesis. Many kinds of steroid hormones are mainly synthesized in adrenal grand, ovary and testis. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of StAR mRNA in the rat ovary and adrenal gland and to confirm the functions of StAR in these organs. In the ovary, StAR mRNAs were strongly expressed in the corpus luteum, where progesterone is synthesized, and these were weakly expressed in the theca layer of follicles, where androgen is synthesized. However, StAR mRNAs were not detected in the estrogen producing granulosa cells of growing follicles. In the corpus luteum, StAR mRNAs were strongly loclized in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, where glucocorticoid is mainly synthesized. StAR mRNAs were weakly expressed in the zona gromerulosa, where mineralcorticoid is synthesized. StAR mRNAs were not detected in the adrenal medulla. In our results, StAR mRNAs were expressed differentially in the steroidogenic cells of ovary and adrenal gland according to the types of steroid hormones, and the statges of corpus luteum development. We conclude that StAR is involved in the steroidogenesis at the very early step of steroid synthesis cascade.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2005.05a
• /
• pp.147-148
• /
• 2005

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 1986

These experiments were carried out to develop new techniques identifying XX-bearing embryos prior to implantation by immunological method. Antiserum to histocompatibility-Y(H-Y) antigen was prepared in adult SD(sprague-dawley) female rat by repeated immunization of newbone testis supernatant from males of the same strain. ELISA test was used to identify the H-Y antibody of antiserum. Total 124 mouse embryos (8-cell stage) were treated with H-Y antiserum and complement in BSA free Ho, pp. and Pitt's medium and cultured under the gas phase of 5% CO2 in air at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 24 to 48 hrs. The morphological characteristics of embryos treated were observed under the phase-contrast micro scope. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. Optimal Density of H-Y antibody were a, pp.ared to be 0.27-0.47 by ELISA test. 2. Of total 124 embryos treated with H-Y antiserum and complement 69(55.6%) embryos developed to blastocyst and 55(44.4%) destroyed or arrested.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 1998

The present study was performed to analyze the expression of LH genes in the rat ovary. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat ovary was demonstrated by amplification of ovarian RNA by RT-PCR. The ovarian $LH_\beta$ transcripts contained at least two parts of the published cDNA structure, the pituitary exons 1, 2 and 3 and the part of testicular ex on 1 in the major trancripts form in rat testis. Using RIA, significant amount of LH-like molecules were detected in crude ovarian extracts, and the competition curves with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the ovarian immunoreactive LH-like material is similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. The administration of PMSG to immature rats resulted in a sharp decrease of the ovarian LH contents after 24 h post-injection. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat ovary, and suggest that LH can playa central role in regulation of female reproduction with both endocrine (by pituitary LH) and auto- and/or para-crine (by ovarian LH) manner.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2009

In this study, bovine Dnmt1 cDNA was sequenced and detected Dnmt1 mRNA level in bovine tissues by northern blot, methylation pattern of genome by southern blot, specific localization of Dnmt1 in mouse and bovine preimplantation embryos by immunocytostaining and Dnmt1 protein level in ovary and testis by western blot. Bovine Dnmt1 cDNA sequence showed more homology with that of human than mouse and rat. The RNA level of Dnmt1 was 10 times higher expression in placenta than other tissues. This indicates that placenta was hypermethylated compared to others organs. The genomic DNA could not be cut by a specific restriction enzyme (HpaII) in placenta, lung and liver of bovine. It suggests that Dnmt1 in some somatic cells was already methylated. Dnmt1, which has the antibody epitope 1316~1616, was distributed in nucleus and cytoplasm including the stage of pronuclear stage and maturation of oocyte and gradually weaken to blastocyst stage compare to negative. In addition, Dnmt1 was strongly expressed in tetraploid embryo and cloned 8-cell than IVF 8-cell. An aberrant pattern of DNA methylation in cloned embryo may be abnormal development of fetus, embryonic lethality and placenta dysfunction. The somatic specific band (190kDa) was appeared in ovary and testis, but oocyte specific band (175kDa) was not. Further investigations are necessary to understand the complex links between the methyltransferases and the transcriptional activity of genes in the cloned bovine tissues.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 1970

A study was planned to see if the ginseng has any influence upon the weight of viscera of male and female rats. One hundred and ten male rats (body weight: $35{\sim}40\;gm$ at the beginning of the experiment) and an equal number of females with similar body weight were use4 Excluding 10 male and 10 females which served as controls, these rats were divided equally into 4 groups (male ginseng group, male saline group, female ginseng group and female saline group), each of which comprising 50 animals. For 45 days, the male and female ginseng groups received every day 0.6 m1/100 gm body weight of ginseng extract solution (4 mg of ginseng alcohol extract in 1 ml of saline) subcutaneously, and the male and female saline groups received the same amount of physiological saline. Each group was further divided into 5 subgroups comprising 10 animals, and the 10 control rats and each subgroups were sacrificed immediately before, and 5, 15, 35, 35, and 45 days after beginning of the drug administration, respectively. The body weight of each subgroup was checked immediately before sacrificing it, and the heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, and testis or uterus of each animal were weighed with a torsion balance. Following results were obtained: 1. Ginseng significantly facilitated gain in weight of testis and spleen as well as body weight of rats from 35th day after beginning of the drug administration on, but not before this time. 2. Ginseng did not exert significant influence upon the weight of heart, lung, liver, tidney, adrenal gland, and uterus of the rat.