• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

Recent studies have clearly shown that the expression of genes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor in the rat reproductive organs including ovary, testis, placenta uterus and mammary gland. Moreover, luteinizing hormone (LH) classically known to be a main target product of GnRH in anterior pituitary has been found in rat gonads. These findings suggested the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the rat gonads. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the genes for LH and its receptor are expressed in rat mammary gland. Expression of LH and its receptor genes in the rat mammary gland was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LH${\beta}$ transcripts in the mammary gland from cycling rats contained the pituitary type of LH${\beta}$ exons 1~3 encoding the entire LH${\beta}$ polypeptide but lacked the rat testis-specific LH${\beta}$ exon(s). Presence of ${\alpha}$ -subunit transcripts in the rat mammary gland were determined by RT-PCR. The cDNA fragments encoding exons 2~7 of rat LH receptor transcripts were amplified in both rat ovary and mammary gland samples. We could detect the GnRH expression in mammary gland from cycling virgin rats, and this result disagreed with previous report that mammary GnRH expression is occured in lactating rats only. Considerable amounts of immunoreactive LH molecules with good RIA parallelism in standard curve were detected in crude extracts from the rat mammary gland, indicating that the immunoreactive LH materials in the gland might be identical to authentic pituitary LH. To our knowledge, the present study demonstrated for the first time the expression of LH subunits and LH receptor in the rat mammary gland. Our findings suggested that the mammary gland might be the novel source and target of LH and the mammary LH could be act as a local regulator with auto-and/or paracrine manner under the regulation of local GnRH.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 1996

In order to study effects of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) saponin fraction on polyamine metabolism in rat organs, Korean ginseng saponin fraction was administrated to rats for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months and brain, liver, prostate, spleen and testis were removed from these rats. Two enzyme activities were measured from those organs; ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is a regulatory enzyme of putrescence biosynthesis and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), which is also a regulatory enzyme of spermidine and spermine biosynthesis. The amounts of polyamine were also determined. As for prostate and testis organs, Korean ginseng saponin fraction was innocuous for ODC and SAMDC activities from rats fed for 1 and 2 months. However, after 3 months, the stimulatory effect on the activities of two enzyme gradually increased in test groups and reached its maximum in 12 months. The contents of spermidine and spermlne of test groups in prostate and testis were also much higher than those of control groups. Another stimulatory effect on the activities of two enzymes was observed in liver and reached its maximum in 6 months. In the other organs such as brain and spleen, the enzymes were turned out to be not affected by feeding Korean ginseng saponin fraction. From the cumulative results, the stimulatory effect of Korean ginseng saponin fraction on polyamine metabolism was observed in prostate, testis and liver.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.541-549
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• 2003

The present study investigated the effects of aging on Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats. Rats of 3, 6, 12 and 18 months of age were used. Testes of rat were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in epon-araldite. Using $1{\mu}m$ sections stained with methylene blue, qualitative and quantitative morphological studies were performed. Testis incubations were used to determine luteinizing hormone (LH; 100 ng/ml) stimulated testosterone secretory capacity per testis in vitro. Testosterone levels in the incubation medium, and testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels in serum of these four groups of rats were determined by radioimmunoassay. Morphological studies revealed that Leydig cells were more abundant in the testis interstitium at 6, 12 and 18 months when compared with 3 months. The volumes of Leydig cells per testis was significantly higher, at 6, 12 and 18 months of age than those at 3 months. The number of Leydig cells per testis was doubled at 6, 12 and 18 months of age compared with 3 months. The average volume of a Leydig cell was not significantly different between 3 and 6 months of age, however, at 12 and 18 months a significantly lower value was observed. LH-stimulated testosterone production per testis in vitro was reduced by 45% at 6 months of age compared with 3 months; a further significant reduction was observed at 12 and 18 months. Serum testosterone and LH levels were not significantly different between 3 and 6 months of age but at 12 and 18 months a significantly lower value was observed in both groups for these hormones. These results showed that signs of aging are apparent in Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats at 12 months of age.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.271-278
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• 1996

The present study was carried out to sex effectively mouse and rabbit embryos using rat H-Y antiserum and to improve the rate of rat producing H-Y antiserum with H-Y antibody. The H-Y antiserum was prepared from inbred SD strain female rat immunized by intrasplenic injection and subsequent intraperitioneal booster of testis cell of syngenic male newborn rat. the titer of antiserum was identified by in vitro cytotoxicity test of mouse embryos. The rabbit embryos exposed to the H-Y antiserum was classified to the developed (H-Y negative) or delayed (H-Y positive) group. The H-Y negative rabbit embryos were transferred to recipients and sex of offspring was examined. 1. When mouse embryos were exposed to the rat H-Y antisera, the ratio of embryos developed vs delayed was various. The H-Y antisera where the ratio of embryos developed vs delayed showed the range of 40~60% were recognized as having titer of H-Y antibody. 2. When the subsequent intraperitioneal boosters were followed after priming of intrasplenic injection of H-Y antigen, the rate of rat producting the H-Y antiserum with H-U antibody was 13, 27, 70 and 73% in control, 1st B, 2nd B and 3rd B, respectively. The rate in 2nd B and 3rd B was significantly(P<0.05) higher than that in control and 1st B. 3. When the rabbit morulae were exposed to the rat H-Y antiserum with H-Y antibody, the ratio of morulae developed versus delayed was 42:58% and it was close to the natural sex ratio 50:50%. It was confirmed that the rat H-Y antiserum was cross reactive to the rabbit morulae. 4. When the H-Y negative rabbit embryos were transferred to the recipients, the pregnancy rate was 50% and 83% of the newborns were females. In conclusion, the rat H-Y antiserum with high titer of H-Y antibody was able to be obtained from the female rat immunized by the intrasplenic injection followed by the second intrapent oneal booster of testis cells at a week interval. When the rabbit embryos negative to the rat H-Y antiserum were transferred, 83% of the newborns were females.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2001.02a
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• pp.65-67
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• 2001

No Abstract (See Full-text)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 1986

These experiments were carried out to clarify the optimalconditions and interspecific cross reaction of H-Y antibody activity. H-Y antiserum was prepared in inbred SD female rats and Balb/c female mice by repeated immunization of rat newborn testis homogemate, rat and mouse spleen cells obtained from males of same strain. The activity of H-Y antibody in antiserum was tested by ELISA and biological tests. The cross reactivity of H-Y antibody was confirmed by culturing mouse and rabbit embryos in medium containing H-Y antibody and complement obtained from rat and guinea pig, respectively. The optimal condition for the activity of H-Y antibody was also investigated by culturing embryos in medium with different pH and complement concentration. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. The formation rates of H-Y antibody in rats immunized with newborn testis and spleen cell were 40.0 and 50.0% respectively, and that in mouse immunized with spleen cell was 48.4%. 2. The activity of H-Y antibody was not affected by pH in range of 6.5 to 8.0, and the same was true for the relative concentration of complement to the H-Y antibody. 3. Minimum time needed for the activity of H-Y antibody was confirmed to be 0.5 to 1 hour and 24 to 48 hours respectively for the zona free embryos and intact embryos. 4. When mouse and rabbit embryos were treated with H-Y antibody obtained from rat, 46.4 and 54.8% of embryos were retarded or destroyed. From these results it could be said that H-Y antibody had strong interspecific cross reactivity.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 1999

Recent studies clearly demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in the rat testis, and suggested the local action of the LH-like molecule. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of LH genes in the rat accessory reproductive organs. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat uterus and epididymis was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The $LH_{beta}$ transcripts in these organs contained the published cDNA structure, the pituitary type exons 1-3, which encoded the entire $LH_{beta}$ polypeptide. Presence of the transcripts for the ${\alpha}$-subunit in the rat reproductive tissues were also confirmed by RT-PCR. In the LH RIA, significant levels of LH were detected in crude extracts from the rat ovary, uterus and epididymis. The competition curves with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the immunoreactive LH-like materials in these tissues are similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. In rat epididymis, the highest amount of immunoreactive LH was detected in corpus area. Our findings demonstrated that the genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat accessory reproductive organs, and suggested that these extrapituitary LH may act as a local regulator with auto and/or paracrine manner.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1990

19-nortestosterone(NORA)와 19-norandrostenedione(NT)는 정소내 aromatization과정중 중간 대사물로 검출된다. 본 연구는 이들을 장기간 투여하여 정소 및 부속기관의 무게, 혈청내 testosterone(T)의 농도, 정자형성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. NORA, NT 및 TE를 $300/50{\mu}l$농도로 주당 3회씩 12주간 정소에 직접 주사(intratesticular injection, i.t.)하였다. 또한 GnRH antagonist(RS68439)를 처리하여 혈청내 생식소자극호르몬 (GTH)을 감소시킨후 위 호르몬들을 동일방법으로 처리하여 이들의 보상작용을 조사하였다. NORA는 정소무게를 감소시키지 않았으나 GnRH antagonist를 처리하여 감소된 정소무게를 현저하게 보상하였다(P<0.05). NORA, NT, TE는 모두 부속기관의 무게를 증가시켰으며, RS68439가 감소시킨 부속기관의 무게를 현저히 증가시켰다. 그러나 이들은 부정소(epididymis)에는 영향을 주지않았으며 RS68439처리군에서는 보상작용을 나타내었다. 이들의 처리로 혈청내 LH농도는 완전히 감소하였으나 FSH의 농도에는 영향을 나타내지 않았다. 그리고 혈청내 T의 농도를 증가시켰다. NORA는 정자형성과정중 7단계의 spermatid의 수를 현저히 감소시켰다. 위 결과로 보아 NORA는 GnRH antagonist로 FSH의 분비가 억제된 쥐의 FSH분비를 촉진하며, T의 농도를 증가시켜 정자형성과정을 억제하는 것으로 추론된다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2008

This study was performed to examine the effect of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#118) on testis of male rats. PCB#118 (20 mg/kg/week) in corn oil was intraperitoneally injected to adult male rats for 2, 5, 8 weeks. The body and testicular weights were measured at 3, 6, 9 weeks of PCB treatment. The morphological changes in the rat testes were then analyzed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that PCB#118 caused significant change in the body weights and testicular weights. Moreover, the morphological studies that were conducted on the PCB-treated rats revealed that the number of spermatocytes and spermatids in their seminiferous tubules decreased than control group (LM). The nuclear membrane was damaged when PCB was administered to them for 9 weeks (TEM). These results suggest that the reproductive function of the adult male rats is sensitive to PCB#118, and that may affect the testicular morphology of adult male rats.