• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 1993

A transmission electron microscopic study was performed to observe the ultrastructures of the male germinal cells and spermatozoa of Fibricola seoulensis. Spermatogonia were found in the periphery of the testis and characterized by large nuclei and comparatively little cytoplasms. Spermatocytes contained an oval to spherical nucleus. Their nuclear volume was little larger in comparative to that of cytoplasm, and the chromatin was comparatively little. The early spermatids were characterized by a great amount of cytoplasm, and numerous mitochondria encircled the nucleus. In a more advanced spermatids the electron-dense strands of chromatin appeared in the nucleus, and a pair of rootlet of the axoneme and a microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) were observed near the nucleus. The sectioned spermatozoa were found in the testis and the seminal vesicle. Their cross sectional views were divided into 6 types when they were distinguished on the basis of the morphology and components. The spermatozoa of F. seoulensis showed two flagella of 9+1 type axoneme.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1514-1517
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• 2000

In chicken, exogenous genes introduced into germinal crescent region (GCR) of the early developmental stage, where primordial germ cells (PGCs) were concentrated, were successfully transferred to the gonads via PGCs. The foreign genes were also confirmed to be successfully incorporated into F1 and F2 generations. We tried to incorporate the exogenous genes into PGCs by lipofection, then the DNA mixture was injected into GCR at stage 3-5 or 9-11 of embryonic development (Hamburger and Hamilton, 1951). The manipulated eggs were incubated, and hatched chicks were reared until sexual maturation. F1 generation was obtained from the DNA-treated chicken (DNA-chicken) mated with normal birds. Furthermore, F2 generation was also obtained from the F1 chicken mated with normal birds. The transfer of introduced foreign genes were confirmed by marker gene detection methods and PCR analysis in the hatched chicks, F1 and F2 generations. However, in our experiments, DNA-chickens showed abnormal characteristics such as low egg production rate, abnormal appearance and decreased number of spermatozoa. In the case of F1 chicken, low egg production and the deterioration of sperm capacity for insemination in male chicken were observed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 1996

The effect of KTC-1, a new semisynthetic rifamycin antituberculous drug, on general toxicity, reproductive capability and fetal development was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were administered KTC-1 with mashed feed from 63 days before mating to the end of mating period, and female rats were given from 14 days before mating to day 7 of gestation at dose levels of 0, 375, 750, and 1,500 ppm. The females were sacrificed on day 21 of gestation for examination of their fetuses. At 1,500 ppm, a reduction in body weight gain and testis atrophy were observed in male rats. Histological examination revealed testicular atrophy, absence or decrease of germinal cells, and vacuolization of Sertoli cells in testis. A reduction in body weight gain, a decrease in food consumption were found in female rats. In addition, decreases in the number of corpora lutea, iraplantations, and the litter size of live fetuses were seen. Mating, fertility, and pregnancy performances were also affected. There were no external abnormalities observed by examination of fetuses. At 750 ppm, a reduction in the body weight gain of male and female rats and decreases in the number of implantations and litter size were found. At 375 ppm, no treatment-related effects were observed. The results suggest that the no-effect dose levels (NOELs) of KTC-1 are 375 ppm for males and females on general toxicity, 750 ppm for males and females on reproductive capability, and 375 ppm for fetuses on embryonic development.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.585-590
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of oral-administered sex hormone for hybrid sturgeon, bester juvenile. The bester juveniles (2 months after hatching) were received a diet containing various doses of $17\alpha$-methyltestosterone (MT) or estradiol-$17\beta$ ($E_2$) for 6 months. Somatic growth of bester sturgeon juvenile did not show significant differences between experimental and control groups (27.9-30.5 cm; 125.1-161.7 g), although survival percentages showed a decreasing tendency in MT-treated animals. By histological examination, germ cells were recorded as smooth type in MT-treated fish and uneven type of germinal epithelium in $E_2$-treated animals. Their sex ratios were 5:4:1 (male: female: undifferentiation) in control and low dose of MT-treated fish (1 mg/kg), and 9:1:0 in fish treated with high dose of MT (10 mg/kg), whereas the ratios were reversed by both low and high doses of $E_2$ treatment, recorded as 2:8:0. Gonadal areas were not significantly differed in all trials (424,600.4 - 1,039,656.3 ${\mu}m^2$). Total number of germ cells, number of germ cells per gonadal areas and number of germ cells per area were significantly higher to 144.7-148.7 cells/section, 374.0-408.5 $cells/mm^2$ and 1,599.5-1,670.9 $cells/mm^2$ in $E_2$ treatment than those of others (30.4-63.9 cells/section, 148.4-226.9 $cells/mm^2$ and 850.0-1,050.6 $cells/mm^2$), respectively. And somatic growth according to their gender was not significantly differed between male and female.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2000

This Study was conducted to assess the single dose toxicity of DA-125, a new anthracycline anti-cancer agent, in rats and mice. The Drug was administered once intravenously to both sexes of rats and mice. Then followed a 14-day period of observation. The $LD_{50}$ Values (95% confidence limit) were estimated to be 60.9 mg/kg (57.5~64.3 mg/kg) for male rats and 60.2 mg/kg (56.2~64.5 mg/kg) for female rats, and 85.8 mg/kg (81.0~90.9 mg/kg) for male mice and 84.5 mg/kg (78.2~91.9 mg/kg) for female mice. Both sexes of rats and mice given the drug revealed the clinical sign of decreased locomotor activity, emaciation, hair loss, red-dish brown urine, salivation, and watery diarrhea. In addition, body weight from the next day to the 7th day tended to be decreased slightly in rats and mice treated with DA-125. Death occurred from the next day after administration to the 12th day. Macroscopically, congestion of gastrointestinal organ, lung, and adrenal glands were found in both sexes on the dead rats and mice. Histopathological examination of dead rats manifested atrophy of spleen, hypoplasia of bone marrow, hypcplasia and necrosis of lymphocyte in thymus, atrophy of villi in small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), hyperplasia of granular epithelium in small intestine, degeneration of germinal epithelium in testis, defer oration of tubular epithelium in kidney, and vacuolation and myolysis of myocardium in heart. Histopathological examination of dead mice revealed hypoplasia of spleen and mesenteric lymph node, local necrosis of liver, atrophy of villi in small intestine, hyperplasia of glandular epithelium in small and large intestine, degeneration of tubular in kidney, degeneration of germinal cells in testis, and slight vacuolar degeneration of myocardium in heart.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.375-384
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• 2002

Repeated-dose toxicity of hyrubicin ID6105, a novel anthrarycline anticancer agent, was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. ID6105 was injected intravenously to rats at dose levels of 0.04, 0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg/day for 4 week. As a result, there were no dose-related mortality and specific clinical signs of all animals treated with the drug. However body weight gain of both male and female rats treated with a high dose (l.0 mg/kg/day) of ID6105 significantly decreased compared to control. Interestingly, the numbers of RBC and platelets, and concentration of hemoglobin remarkably increased, while protein synthesis was suppressed, which may be related to the atrophy of spleen, thymus and liver. Moreover there were severe lymphocytic depletion in spleen and thymus as well as decrease in the number of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow. Also, degeneration of cardiac muscles and testicular germinal epithelia were observed. Taken together, it is suggested that Long-term administration of ID6105 at high doses over 0.2 mg/kg/day might cause hematopoietic and male reproductive system injuries, in addition to hepatic dysfunction.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.385-391
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• 2002

Panax ginseng (family- Araliaceae) is a native plant of Korea and has been used for past several years among oriental people. To evaluate the radioprotective potential of P. ginseng on the formation of giant cells in the testis of Swiss albino mice, the animals were divided into four groups: -(I)-Only vehicle was administered. (II)P. ginseng treated group: -The animals received 10 mg/kg body weight P. ginseng root extract (in DDW) i.p. continuously for 30 days. (III) Irradiated group: -The animals were exposed to 8 Gy gamma radiation at the dose rate of 1.69 Gy/min at the distance of 80 ems. (IV) Combined treatment group: -Animals were given P. ginseng extract for four days and on fourth day they were irradiated to 8 Gy gamma radiation after 30 minute of extract administration. The animals of these three groups were autopsied on day 1,3, 7, 14 and 30 days. In ginseng treated group, active spermatogenesis was observed without any toxic effect. Histopathological studies of irradiated group (II) revealed reduction in germ cell count, loss of sperms and formation of multinucleated giant cells on day 7th. These giant cells were formed by round nuclei of early or late spermatids. In combination group (III), although germinal epithelium was still disorganized with loss of cells in few tubules, but no giant cell formation was observed. In order to know the mechanism of radioprotection of ginseng, LPO and GSH were estimated. It was observed that pretreated irradiated animals showed inhibition of LPO and increase in GSH. Thus the present study suggests ginseng protects male gonads. This may be attributed to the inhibition of LPO and increase synthesis of GSH byginseng.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-175
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• 2000

The ultrastructures of germinal cells of male marsh clam, Corbicujar lena were studied. The mature sperm was primitive type, consisting of head, middle piece and tail. The mature sperm was whip-shaped and its head was divided into two parts; the acrosomal part shaped long hollow cone about $3{\mu}m$ in length and the sperm nuclear part shaped a long stick about $9\;{\mu}m$ in length. The posterior part of the sperm nuclear projected to centriole, The middle piece of the sperm-nuclear had four mitochondria and two centrioles. The sperm tail part had the 9+2 microtubular arrangement known as a typical pattern, During spermiogenesis, chromatin within sperm nuclear became fiberic materials by condensation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possibility that curcumin (CMN) protects against methotrexate (MTX)-induced testicular damage by affecting the phospho-p38 (p-p38) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group was given an intragastric administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) daily for 14 days, the MTX group was given a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on the 11th day, and the MTX+CMN group was given intragastric CMN (100 mg/kg/day, dissolved in DMSO) for 14 days and a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on the 11th day. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed and the testicular tissues were removed for morphometry, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Body and testicular weights were measured. Results: Body weights, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height significantly decreased in the MTX group compared to the control group. Whereas, the number of histologically damaged seminiferous tubules and interstitial space width significantly increased in the MTX group. In addition, the number of p-p38 MAPK immunopositive cells and the immunoreactivity of NF-κB also increased in the MTX group compared to the control group. CMN improved loss of body weight, morphometric values, and histological damage due to MTX. CMN also reduced the number of p-p38 MAPK immunopositive cells and the NF-κB immunoreactivity. Conclusion: CMN may reduce MTX-induced testicular damage by suppressing the p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2011

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, has an effect on the male reproductive organs. The estrogen has to combine with the estrogen receptor to communicate a signal. Propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) is an estrogen receptor alpha selective agonist with a 410-, or 1,000-fold relative binding affinity for estrogen receptor alpha versus estrogen receptor beta. In this study, adult male mice were treated weekly with subcutaneously injections of PPT (0.01 mg, 0.1 mg, 1mg and 4 mg) suspended in castor oil (as control) for 8 weeks and observed histologically changes in testis, efferent ductule and epididymis. In the high concentrations of PPT 4 mg treatment group, a remarkable reduction was observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter of the testis, and epithelial cell height of the epididymis in treated group during the experiment. In addition, as the diameter of the efferent ductule increased gradually, the height of epithelial cells was decreased. PPT 4 mg treatment group caused inhibition of spermatogenesis due to atrophied germinal epithelium in the testis, and decrease of adipocyte size attached to the epididymis. Sperm was not observed in the caudal epididymis of PPT 4 mg treated group. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult male mice induced physiological changes, such as an inhibition of spermatogenesis, and also histological changes within the reproductive organs.