• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.83-90
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• 2003

Since histopathological examination was known to be the most sensitive evaluation for testicular toxicity, regulatory authorities have been published the guidelines on practical testicular assay approach. Those guidelines specified details of evaluation including fixation, embedding, stain-ing, histological examination and also seminiferous tubular staging methods. However, there have been confusing understanding among toxicologists and even pathologists on staging theory and its application on industrial testicular toxicity. Guidelines did not intend to conduct quantitative assay with staging but recommended the use of knowledge of staging. To count each tubular stage with statistical analysis is known to be time consuming and labor burdening work but the significance of toxicity has little value. It also has been pointed out that the application of staging theory for longer-term toxicity considered to be lacking of rationale. It could be recommended that qualitative assay with aware-ness of germ cell loss is more efficient method rather than quantitative counting of each tubular stage. Therefore it would be required that comprehensive understanding of testicular toxicity evaluation and the use of testicular staging method.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.387-396
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• 2005

The aims of the study were to establish a short-term screening test for detecting testicular toxicity of chemicals in rats and to determine whether a 2-week administration period is sufficient to detect testicular toxicity of 2-bromopropane (2-BP) as an example. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously administered with 1000 mg/kg/day of 2-BP or its vehicle for 2 weeks. Ten male rats each were sacrificed on days 3, 7 and 14 after the initiation of treatment. Parameters of testicular toxicity included genital organ weights, testicular sperm head counts, epididymal sperm counts, motility and morphology, and qualitative and quantitative histopathologic examinations. The early histopathological changes observed on day 3 of treatment included degeneration of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, multinuclear giant cells, mature spermatid retention, vacuolization of Sertoli cells, and decreased number of spermatogonia in stages II and V. On day 7 of treatment, atrophy of seminiferous tubules, exfoliation of germ cells, degeneration of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, multinuclear giant cells, mature spermatid retention, vacuolization of Sertoli cells, decreased number of spermatogonia in stages II and V, and decreased number of spermatocytes in stages VII and XII. On day 14 after treatment, a significant decrease in the weights of testes and seminal vesicles was found. Atrophy of seminiferous tubules, exfoliation of germ cells, degeneration of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, mature spermatid retention, vacuolization of Sertoli cells, decreased number of spermatogonia in stages II and V, and decreased number of spermatocytes in all spermatogenic stages were also observed. In addition, a slight non-significant decrease in testicular sperm head counts, daily sperm production rate and epididymal sperm counts was found. The results showed that 2 weeks of treatment is sufficient to detect the adverse effects of 2-BP on male reproductive organs. It is considered that the short-term testicular toxicity study established in this study can be a useful tool for screening the testicular toxic potential of new drug candidates in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.255-263
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• 2017

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP) as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers has been reported to most likely induce testicular toxicity. Administration of antioxidants, such as pentoxifylline (PTX) may reduce some Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of CDDP. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially protective effects of PTX on CDDP-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. For this purpose, 42 male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rats were orally pretreated with PTX at the 3 doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg once a day for 14 successive days. On the $14^{th}$ day of the study, they were intraperitoneally (IP) administered with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg). Finally, the sperm/testis parameters, serum levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as the pivotal endocrine factors controlling testicular functions, and histopathological changes of testis tissue were examined. Pretreatment with the two doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg PTX indicated significant increases in the sperm count and motility induced by CDDP administration. The right and significantly left testis weights were decreased following the treatment with 300 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP. However, 75 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP showed the best near-to-normal histopathological features. The results demonstrated that PTX alone enhanced some parameters, such as the sperm count, while reducing other parameters, including sperm fast motility and germ layer thickness. Furthermore, despite testosterone or LH levels, the mean serum FSH level was significantly augmented by the doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg. It was concluded that PTX administration cannot reduce CDDP-induced testicular toxicity even at high doses (e.g., 300 mg/kg), while it seemed to partially intensify CDDP toxicity effects at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Thus, further research is required in this regard.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.68-73
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• 1995

화합물질의 개발사용 및 환경오염 물질의 증가로 인하여 남성수태능력에 영향을 미치는 물질이 증가하고 있는 형편이다. 따라서 신속하고 경제적으로 남성 수태능력 영향물질을 평가하기 위하여 랫드의 고환세포를 이용한 남성 수태능력시험법을 개발하고자 본 시험을 실시하였다. 랫드의 고환 세포로부터 주요한 기능을 가진 Sertoli cell과 Leyding cell을 효소처리, 필터 그리고 percoll gradient과정을 거쳐 각각 분리하였다. 분리된 두 종류의 세포는 32$\circ$C에서 초기 배양한 후 37$\circ$C에서 계속 배양하였다. 본 배양조건에서 두 종류 세포는 양호한 발육을 보였으며 약 2주간의 배양이 가능하였다. Sertoli cell은 3주령의 랫드에서 분리가 잘되었고 Leydig cell은 85.7%의 생존율을 보였다. 이상의 결과와 같이 랫드의 고환세포중 Sertoli cell과 Leyding cell을 분리 배양하였으며, 앞으로 독성물질의 영향을 평가하기 위한 생화학적 및 구조적인 index 설정을 위한 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.69-75
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• 1995

The present study was carried out to establish several spermatotoxicity test methods. For this purpose we investigated following parameters in the fertility study of DA-125, a new anticancer agent, in rats: testicular spermatid counts, epididymal sperm counts, daily sperm production rate, sperm morphology, and serum testosterone concentration. Motility and velocity of sperms were also measured using non-treated rats. At 0.3 mg DA-125/kg, spermatids per 1g testis and daily sperm production rate per 1g testis were significantly decreased, when compared with those of control group. Several types of abnormal sperms, such as no head, pin head, double head, hook at wrong angle, no tail, and small sperm, were found in both treated and control groups at a low frequency. Serum testosterone concentration at 0.3 mg DA-125/kg was close to the control value. Sperm motility and velocity measured with non-treated rats were in a good agreement with the results of other investigators. In our study established spermatotoxicity test methods can be used as a tool not only for the close examination of the cause of drug- or chemical-induced infertility, but also for the effective evaluation of reproductive toxicity.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene to decide the possibility to designate them as toxic substance on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances, and to suggest that they should be managed in what level on the Chemical Control Act. Methods: Based on the result of a preliminary study, 300 mg/kg was set as the middle dose. A highest dose of 2,000 mg/kg and a lowest dose of 50 mg/kg were selected based on the OECD TG 423. Benzo[a]pyrene was orally administered once to female and male SD rats at dose levels of 50, 300, 2,000 mg/kg (body weight). All animals were monitored daily for clinical signs and mortality over 14 days. Also testicular spermatid count, motility and etc. were examined as well. Results: Under the condition of this experiment, $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene was assumed to be >2,000 mg/kg. In the lesion according to autopsy, there were no specific symptoms in the control and experimental groups. At 2,000 mg/kg, a decrease in the sperm motility was observed. Benzo[a]pyrene should be designated to be toxic substance as the material assumed to be reproduction-toxicity on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals. Therefore we should abide by legal procedures determined by Chemicals Control Act in treating it. Conclusion: Considering the significant result that sperm motility in the experimental group was inferior to that in the reference group, we suggest that benzo[a]pyrene be designated as a toxic substance.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.361-371
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• 2000

최근 2-bromopropane(2-BP)이 사람과 실험동물에서 정소독성을 유발한다고 보고된 바 있다. 그러나 수컷 생식기계에 있어서 2-BP의 지연효과에 대해서는 세부적으로 조사된 바가 없다. 본 연구는 Sprague-Dawley 랫드에서 2-BP의 정소독성과 정자발생의 회복을 조사하기 위하여 수행하였다. 5주령의 수컷 랫드에게 2-BP를 1,000mg/kg 용량으로 4주간 반복투여하였고, 투여시작후 1, 2, 3, 4 및 12주째에 부검하였다. 정소독성의 평가는 병리조직학적인 질적평가와 생식기관 중량, 정자두부수 및 재생지수 등의 양적평가로 수행하였다. 시험결과 2-BP를 투여한 랫드에서는 체중과 정소 및 정소상체 중량이 대조군에 비해 시간의존적인 방식으로 억제 또는 감소하였다. 병리조직검사에서는 투여 1주째에 stage I~IV에서 정조세포와 stage VII~IX에서 세사전기 및 세사기의 정모세포가 현저하게 소실되었다. 정조세포는 투여 2주째에 모든 stage에서 광범위하게 소실되었으며, 정자발생주기가 진행됨에 따라 2, 3 및 4주째에는 접합기 정모세포, 비후기 정모세포 및 원형 정자세포가 전구세포의 결손에 의해 점진적으로 소실되었다. 지지세포의 기능적 이상을 암시하는 지지세포의 공포화와 정자세포 저류는 상기한 모든 시기에서 관찰되었다. 8주 회복후인 12주째에는 대부분의 곡세정관이 심하게 위축되어 지지세포만 관찰되었으며, 간질조직에서는 간질세포의 과형성이 인정되었다. 또한 2-BP에 의해 유발된 정소의 손상이 비가역적임을 암시해주는 정자두부와 재생지수의 현저한 감소가 관찰되었다. 상기결과는 랫드의 2-BP를 1,000mg/kg의 용량으로 4주간 반복투여하면 정조세포의 결손에 의해 점진적으로 생식세포가 감소하고 이로 인하여 장기적인 정소위축이 유발된다는 것을 암시해준다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.107-118
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• 2017

Although alternative test methods based on the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) are being developed to replace animal testing in reproductive and developmental toxicology, they are still in an early stage. Consequently, we aimed to develop alternative test methods in male animals using mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs). Here, we modified the OECD TG 489 and optimized the in vitro comet assay in our previous study. This study aimed to verify the validity of in vitro tests involving mSSCs by comparing their results with those of in vivo tests using C57BL/6 mice by gavage. We selected hydroxyurea (HU), which is known to chemically induce male reproductive toxicity. The 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) value of HU was 0.9 mM, as determined by the MTT assay. In the in vitro comet assay, % tail DNA and Olive tail moment (OTM) after HU administration increased significantly, compared to the control. Annexin V, PI staining and TUNEL assays showed that HU caused apoptosis in mSSCs. In order to compare in vitro tests with in vivo tests, the same substances were administered to male C57BL/6 mice. Reproductive toxicity was observed at 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day as measured by clinical measures of reduction in sperm motility and testicular weight. The comet assay, DCFH-DA assay, H&E staining, and TUNEL assay were also performed. The results of the test with C57BL/6 mice were similar to those with mSSCs for HU treatment. Finally, linear regression analysis showed a strong positive correlation between results of in vitro tests and those of in vivo. In conclusion, the present study is the first to demonstrate the effect of HU-induced DNA damage, ROS formation, and apoptosis in mSSCs. Further, the results of the current study suggest that mSSCs could be a useful model to predict male reproductive toxicity.