• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2004

Estrogens are critical to the functioning and maintenance of a diverse array of tissues and physiological systems in mammals. The actions of estrogen on such classical targets as the reproductive tract, gonads, mamary tissue, and hypothalamic/pituitary axis have been well characterized. A role in nonreproductive tissues, such as maintenance of bone mineral density and cardiovascular health in woman, as has been described. There were ne significant differences in the average of body weights, testis weights, among the experimental groups. The lumen of rate testis began to dilate from the day 8 and continued to the 59 post-treatment. The average diameter of dilate of rate testis in ICI 182,780 treated group increased 2.3-fold compared to the control group. Epithelical cell height in the rate testis of the treated mice decreased all the time periods, compared to the control.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.43-47
• /
• 2015

Sirtuin proteins are evolutionary conserved Sir2-related $NAD^+$-dependent deacetylases and regulate many of cellular processes such as metabolism, inflammation, transcription, and aging. Sirtuin contains activity of either ADP-ribosyltransferase or deacetyltranfease and their activity is dependent on the localization in cells. However, the expression pattern of Sirtuins has not been well studied. To examine the expression levels of Sirtuins, RT-PCR was performed using total RNAs from various tissues including liver, small intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach, uterus, ovary, and testis. Sirtuins were highly expressed in most of tissues including the testis. Immunostaining assay showed that Sirt1 and Sirt6 were mainly located in the nucleus of germ cells, spermatocytes, and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules, whereas Sirt2 and Sirt5 were exclusively present in the cytoplasm of germ cells and spermatocytes. Our results indicate that Sirtuins may function as regulators of spermatogenesis and their activities might be dependent on their location in the seminiferous tubules.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2008

Objective: Environmental chemicals alter reproduction, growth, and survival by changing the normal function of the endocrine system. Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the endocrine disruptors, is known to be an estrogen receptor agonist. Therefore, we hypothesized that BPA may affect male reproduction including spermatogenesis in the mouse testis. Methods: We used 7-week-old ICR mice. The first experiment group received BPA in sesame oil (vehicle, 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg) by i.p. injection and mice were sacrificed 24 hr later. The second experiment group received BPA (vehicle, 10 ${\mu}g/kg$, 1 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg) daily for 14 days by subcutaneous injection. Expression of cell type-specific marker genes in the testis was evaluated by RT-PCR. Histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and TUNEL staining were also performed. Results: RT-PCR analyses showed that expression of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), a marker gene for the Leydig cell, was notably decreased in the testes of high dose-exposed mice. No obvious difference in the histology of testes was noted among treatment groups. Immunostaining of LHR in the first experiment group did not show noticeable difference in LHR protein expression in Leydig cells. Immunohistochemistry also revealed heightened expression of the immunoreactive Bax in the treatment group, and this was accompanied by positive TUNEL staining in the interstitial area within testis where Leydig cells reside. Conclusions: Our result suggests that BPA affects Leydig cell functions by altering gene expression and by increasing apoptosis in the mouse testis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2021

Objective: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is known to cause urinary tract infections, and the endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) of this bacterium may cause deficiencies of sperm quality and morphology. In the present study, the effects of LPS on mouse sperm were studied, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A and possible changes in testis tissue were evaluated. Methods: LPS of uropathogenic E. coli was extracted using the methanol-chloroform method, followed confirmation using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Purified LPS (100 ㎍/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline was injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice for 7 days consecutively in the test and control groups, mice were sacrificed on days 3, 7, and 42 after the first injection. Blood was tested for levels of IL-17A using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Testis tissue and sperm were collected from each mouse and were studied according to standard protocols. Results: The mean sperm count and motility significantly decreased (p=0.03) at 3, 7, and 42 days after the injections. The level of IL-17A in the test groups increased, but not significantly (p=0.8, p=0.11, and p=0.15, respectively). Microscopic studies showed no obvious changes in the morphology of the testis tissue; however, significant changes were observed in the cellular parenchyma on day 42. Conclusion: LPS can stimulate the immune system to produce proinflammatory cytokines, resulting in an immune response in the testis and ultimately leading to deficiency in sperm parameters and testis tissue damage. In addition, the presence of LPS could significantly impair sperm parameters, as shown by the finding of decreased motility.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.197-203
• /
• 2004

CD30 is a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily and has pleiotropic functions including cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, and death, depending on cell types and stage of differentiation. Although CD30 expression has been described mainly in hematopoietic tissues, several types of nonhematopoietic tumors including embryonic carcinoma and germ-cell tumors express CD30. We examined CD30 distribution in the testis and epididymis from wild type and CD30-deficient mice. In the testis, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and Sertoli cells expressed CD30, but not in spermatids. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes near the basement membrane strongly reacted to anti-CD30. In the epididymis, CD30 expression was exclusively observed in luminal epithelia and some interstitial cells. Taken together, these results show a spatio-temporal regulation of CD30 expression in mouse testis and epididymis and suggest a possible role of CD30 in spermatogonia and spermatocytes.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2010

To evaluate the biohazard properties of an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF), we explored the physical properties of the ELF-EMF that generates the electric current induction in the secondary coil from the chamber of a primary solenoid coil. We subsequently explored the biological effects of a strong alternating electromagnetic field (EMF), ranging from 730-960 Gauss, on the mouse testis. Mice were exposed to an alternating EMF field induced by a rectangular electric current at 1, 7, 20, 40, and 80 Hertz, for 1, 3, 5, and 7 hours. The mouse testes were examined for proliferative activity and apoptosis using the in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) method and by immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), respectively. We found that the electric currentm induction increased in the 6-8 Hertz range, and that exposure to an ELF-EMF induced the apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes. In situ TdT staining was found to be most prominent in 7 Hertz group, and gradually reduced in the 20, 40, and 80 Hertz groups. These data suggest that a strong EMF can induce reproductive cell death within a short time, and the harmful effects of the EMF are maximal at low frequency alternating EMFs.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.5 s.85
• /
• pp.664-670
• /
• 2007

The propolis is natural product produced by honeybees and is known to have many biologically useful properties such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidative and anti-tumorigenic activity. However, its radio-protective property has not been well studied. To investigate radio-protective effect of propolis on mouse testis, mice were supplemented with propolis after 5 Gy irradiation. The histological changes of testis were detected by TEM. The results indicate that propolis may protect tissue deformation which is induced by 5 Gy of ionizing radiation. Furthermore, to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms involved in radio-protective property of propolis, we performed microarray experiments using oligo DNA microarray. We found 65 up-regulated genes and 224 down-regulated genes, whose expression levels were affected more than 2-fold by propolis treatment in mice irradiated at 5 Gy. We confirmed microarray data with reverse transcription-PCR using gene specific primers. The results of RT-PCR are highly correlated with those of microarray. These results may help understanding molecular mechanisms of radioprotective effects by propolis in mouse model.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.249-256
• /
• 2011

Nesfatin-1/NUCB2, which is secreted from the brain, is known to control appetite and energy metabolism. Recent studies have been shown that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was expressed not only in the brain, but it was also expressed in the gastric organs and adipose tissue. However, little is known about the expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the male reproductive system. Therefore, we examined whether the nesfatin-1/NUCB2 and its binding site exists in the male reproductive organs. Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 mRNA and protein were detected in the mouse testis and epididymis by PCR and Western blot analysis. As a result of the immunohistochemistry staining, the nesfatin-1 protein was localized at the interstitial cells and Leydig cells in the testis. Nesfatin-1 binding sites were also displayed at boundary cells in the tunica albuginea. Furthermore, in order to examine if the expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 mRNA in the testis and epididymis were affected by gonadotropin, its mRNA expression was analyzed after PMSG administration into mice. NUCB2 mRNA expression levels were increased in both of the testis and epididymis after PMSG administration. These results demonstrated for the first time that nesfatin-1 and its binding site were expressed in the mouse testis and epididymis. In addition, nesfatin-1/NUCB2 mRNA expression was controlled by gonadotropin, suggesting a possible role of nesfatin-1 in the male reproductive organs as a local regulator. Due to this, further study is needed to elucidate the functions of nesfatin-1 on the male reproductive system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.62-62
• /
• 2003

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.12a
• /
• pp.144-145
• /
• 2003