• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2022

Styrene is the precursor of polystyrene. Human exposure to styrene could occur in occupational and residential settings and via food intake. Styrene is metabolized to styrene-7,8-oxide by cytochrome P450 enzyme. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity mediated by styrene and styrene-7,8-oxide in TM3 testicular Leydig cells in vitro. We first monitored the nuclear fragmentation in Leydig cells after exposure to styrene or styrene-7,8-oxide. Hoechst 33258 cell staining showed that styrene exposure in TM3 Leydig cells did not exhibit nuclear fragmentation at any concentration. In contrast, nuclear fragmentation was seen in styrene-7,8-oxide-exposed cells. These results indicate that cytotoxicity-mediated cell death in Leydig cells is more susceptible to styrene-7,8-oxide than to styrene. Following styrene treatment, procaspase-3 and XIAP protein levels did not show significant changes, and cleaved (active) forms of caspase-3 were not detected. Consistent with the western blot results, the active forms of caspase-3 and XIAP proteins were not prominently altered in the cytoplasm of cells treated with styrene. In contrast to styrene, styrene-7,8-oxide induced cell death in an apoptotic fashion, as seen in caspase-3 activation and increased the expression of XIAP proteins. Taken together, the results obtained in this study demonstrate a fundamental idea that Leydig cells are capable of protecting themselves from cytotoxicity-mediated apoptosis as a result of styrene exposure in vitro. It remains unclear whether the steroid-producing function, i.e., steroidogenesis, of Leydig cells is also unaffected by exposure to styrene. Therefore, further studies are needed to elucidate the endocrine disrupting potential of styrene in Leydig cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2014

This study describes the developmental process of gonads in chameleon goby, Tridentiger trigonocephalus from the stage of hatching to 100 days after hatching (DAH). Based on histological observation, the primordial germ cells were observed in mesentery between mesonephric duct and gut at 15 DAH (total length, TL: $6.8{\pm}0.2mm$). At 20 DAH (TL: $7.9{\pm}0.1mm$), the primordial gonad began to protrude into peritoneal cavity and developed between mesonephric duct and gut. Initial ovarian differentiation was identified by the presence of ovarian cavity and oogonia in the gonads at 55 DAH (TL: $21.1{\pm}1.3mm$). Testicular differentiation started at 65 DAH (TL: $23.7{\pm}0.9mm$) with appearance of spermatogonial cells in the gonads. These findings indicate that sex differentiation in T. trigonocephalus occurs earlier in females than males, suggesting that this species can be classified as an undifferentiated gonochorist.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2015

The gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonadal development and changes in hormones in plasma level of the indoor cultured grunt (Hapalogenys nitens) were investigated by histological study from August 2011 to October 2012. The GSI showed similar trends with gonad developmental stages during the culture periods. Changes in plasma level of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ of female H. nitens reached the highest value before the spawning period, and seasonal changes in plasma level of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ were similar in trends of oocyte developments and GSI changes. Testosterone levels of male H. nitens reached the highest value before and after the spent stage. Ovarian developmental stages of H. nitens could be classified into early growing stage, late growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spawning stage, recovery and resting stage. The testicular developmental stages could be divided into growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spent stage, and recovery and resting stage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.253-263
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• 2006

Objective: Identification of the regulatory mechanism for arrest and initiation of primordial follicular growth is crucial for female fertility. Previously, we found 15 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that were specifically abundant in the day-S-subtracted cDNA library and that the B357 clone was novel. The present study was conducted to obtain the whole sequence of the novel gene including B357 and to characterize its mRNA and protein expression in mouse ovary and testis. Methods: The extended sequence of the 2,965-bp cDNA fragment for the clone B357 was named ${\underline{5}}-{\underline{d}}ay-{\underline{o}}vary-{\underline{s}}pecific\;gene-{\underline{1}}$ (5DOS1) and submitted to GenBank (accession number ${\underline{AY751521}}$). Expression of 5DOS1 was characterized in both female and male gonads at various developmental stages by Northern blotting, real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Results: The 5DOS1 transcript was highly expressed in the adult testis, brain, and muscle as compared to the other tissues. In the ovary, the 5DOS1 transcript was detected in all oocytes from primordial to antral follicles, and highly expressed at day 5 after birth and decreased thereafter. In contrast, expression of 5DOS1 showed a gradual increase during testicular development and its expression was limited to various stages of male germ cells except spermatogonia. Conclusions: This is the first report on the expression and characterization of the 5DOS1 gene in the mouse gonads. Further functional analysis of the 5DOS1 protein will be required to predict its role in gametogenesis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.385-398
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• 2022

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the influence of different dietary crude protein (CP) levels during the growth phase on reproductive characteristics and reproductive efficiency as well as the body development of adult male Japanese quail. Methods: Three hundred one-day-old male quails were distributed into five treatments with diets containing different CP levels (18%, 20%, 22%, 24%, and 26%) in a completely randomized design, with six replicates of ten birds each. The CP diets were applied only during the growth phase (1 to 35 days). At 36 days of age, the birds were transferred to 30 laying cages with three males and nine females each, and all birds received the same diet formulated to meet production-phase requirements until 96 days of age. Results: The growth rate of the birds increased linearly (p<0.01) with increasing dietary CP, but the age of maximum growth decreased (p<0.05). At growth maturity, all birds had the same body weight (p>0.05). At 35 days of age, higher weight gain was obtained (p<0.05) with diets containing 22% CP or higher. No effects on feed conversion were observed in this phase. The increase in dietary CP enhanced (p<0.01) nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion but did not affect (p>0.05) nitrogen retention. Testis size, seminiferous tubular area, number of spermatogonia, and germinal epithelial height at 35 days of age increased linearly (p<0.05) with dietary CP, while the number of Leydig cells decreased (p<0.01). The Sertoli cell number at 60 days of age increased linearly (p<0.01) with dietary CP. Dietary CP levels did not affect cloacal gland size, foam weight, foam protein concentration, semen volume, or flock fertility at 90 days of age. Conclusion: Dietary CP concentration affected body and testicular development in male Japanese quails but did not affect reproductive efficiency.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Golden hamsters reproduce in a limited time of a year. Their sexual activities are active in summer but inactive in winter during which day length does not exceed night time and environmental conditions are severe to them. The reproductive activities are determined by the length of light in a day (photoperiod). Melatonin is synthesized and secreted only at night time from the pineal gland. Duration of elevated melatonin is longer in winter than summer, resulting in gonadal regression. The present study aimed at the influences of continuous melatonin treatments impinging on the gonadal function in male golden hamsters. Animals received empty or melatonin-filled capsules for 10 weeks. They were divided into long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). All the animals maintained in LP (either empty or melatonin-filled capsules) showed large testes, implying that melatonin had no effects on testicular functions. Animals housed in SP displayed completely regressed testes. But animals kept in SP and implanted with melatonin capsules exhibited blockage of full regression by SP. These results suggest that constant release of melatonin prohibits the regressing influence of SP.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2014

The increased application of the da Vinci robotic platform (Intuitive Surgical Inc.) for microsurgery has led to the development of new adjunctive surgical instrumentation. In microsurgery, the robotic platform can provide high definition $12{\times}-15{\times}$ digital magnification, broader range of motion, fine instrument handling with decreased tremor, reduced surgeon fatigue, and improved surgical productivity. This paper presents novel adjunctive tools that provide enhanced optical magnification, micro-Doppler sensing of vessels down to a 1-mm size, vein mapping capabilities, hydro-dissection, micro-ablation technology (with minimal thermal spread-$CO_2$ laser technology), and confocal microscopy to provide imaging at a cellular level. Microsurgical outcomes from the use of these tools in the management of patients with infertility and chronic groin and testicular pain are reviewed. All these instruments have been adapted for the robotic console and enhance the robot-assisted microsurgery experience. As the popularity of robot-assisted microsurgery grows, so will its breadth of instrumentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1991

Responsiveness of the testis to pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) was studied in immature Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls. Four month old bull calves weighing between 66 to 100 kg raised under uniform condition, were treated with 1000 IU PMSG or vehicle, daily, for six days. PMSG induced an increase in the size of the testis, enlargement of the seminiferous tubules and activation of the spermatogonia. The number of differentiated Leydig cells in the testis of gonadotropin treated animals increased considerably over that of the control testes. A significant increase in plasma testosterone concentrations was observed 24 h following the first injection of PMSG and the levels continued to increase until day 6. In vehicle treated animals plasma testosterone levels remained more or less at pretreatment values. The data suggest that buffalo bull testis is functionally responsive to gonadotropin at an early stage of prepubertal development.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.464-467
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• 1998

In 5-year male m811ese, was showed aggressive bebavior, $1.5{\times}1.0 cm$ mobile mass that was located in right iinguinal area was unilaterally palpated, and the dog was appeared no pain. In the ultrasonography, there was a 41.26{\times}119 cm$ oval hypo-echogenic mass. In the histopathohgic examination, testicular hypoplasia was observed but there was not any evidence of development of neoplasia. In bilateral cryptorchidectomy, descended testis near the left side of prepuce was incised and the retained testis directly incised and eliminated by closed method. After operation, there was a good prognosis without hemorrage and inflammation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2005

The ultrastructure of germ cells during spermatogenesis and the structural changes in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle with testicular development in male Neptunea (Barbitonia) arthritica cumingii were investigated monthly based on electron microscopic and histologic observations. N. arthritica cumingii (Gastropod: Buccinidae) undergoes internal fertilization and possesses a modified type of spermatozoon, which is approximately 20$\mu$m long. The axoneme of the tail flagellum consists of nine peripheral pairs of microtubules and one central pair. Many spermatozoa occur in the acini of the testis in the ripe stage and are transported to the seminal vesicles in the accumulating phase. In males, the monthly gonadosomatic index began to increase in September and reached a maximum in February. Subsequently, it decreased rapidly after April. The testis of this species can be classified into four developmental stages: the active (August to September), ripe (October to July), copulation (April to July), and recovery (July to August) stages. Structural changes in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles of this species could be classified into three phases: (1) S-I (resting), (2) S-II (accumulating), and (3) S-III (spent) phases. The morphology and structure of the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle differed in each phase; the cells were cuboidal, squamous, or columnar in the resting, accumulating, or spent phases, respectively.