• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 1992

The effects of pulsatile GnRH therapy have been studied for the treatment of different forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, including idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hypogonadism developed as a result of treatment with combination of surgery and irradiation for pituitary or hypothalamic tumor. GnRH was administered subcutaneously in a dose of $10{\mu}g$ every 2 hours with the pulsatile infusion pump. With GnRH therapy, all patients improved secretion of LH, FSH and testosterone. Testicular volumes increased. Spermatogenesis was induced in 8 patients. Pulsatile GnRH therapy is an effective treatment for idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and can have a role in hypogonadism previously treated with combination of surgery and irradiation for pituitary or hypothalamic tumor.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 1987

For evaluation on the histopathologic studies and age distribution of the testicular tumors in the Taegu area, the inguinal orchiectomized materials were collected at the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, and the analyzed results were as follows : 1. In total of 11 cases of orchiectomized materials, germ cell tumors are 10 cases (90.9%). In germ cell tumors according to the histologic types, seminoma was 5 cases (45.5%), and embryonal carcinoma, 3 (27.2%). 2. The highest age incidence of the group is 20th and 30th, and the next, 50th and 10th.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 1994

To elucidate the relationship between steroidogenesis and sex differentiation in the duck, plasma, testicular and ovarian testosterone, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone concentration in male and female embryo of day 11 to 27 (just before hatching) of incubation and in 1- to 7-day-old male and female duckling were investigated by radioimmunoassays. Plasma estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentration in female embryos declined from very high at days 11 and 15 of incubation and remained at low levels after hatching. Male plasma estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentration were always lower than those of the female throughout this period. Plasma testosterone and progesterone concentrations in both sexes were low during the embryonic stage, but then increased to peaks 3 days and 1 day after hatching, respectively. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ contents were much higher in the left ovary than the right ovary or testes throughout the experimental period. The estradiol-$17{\beta}$ content of the left ovary was very high at day 15 of incubation, and decreased gradually thereafter. Both in right ovary and testes, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ contents were always low. Testosterone and progesterone contents in the left ovary were low from day 11 to 23 of incubation, and reached a peak 1 day after hatching. Progesterone content in the right ovary and testes were low levels over time period examined. Testosterone and progesterone contents were much higher in the left ovary than the right ovary and testes. The present results clearly demonstrate that the capacity of the embryonic left ovary of duck to synthesize estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and testosterone is much higher than that of the embryonic testis. It is suggested that estrogen secreted from the embryonic ovary earlier than day 15 of incubation has an important role in female sexual differentiation in the duck, and the sex of the avian species is basically male with homozygous sex chromosome (ZZ).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2013

Spermatogenesis is initiated from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that has an ability of self-renewal and unipotency to generate differentiating germ cells. The objective of this study is to develop the simple method for derivation of SSCs using non-sorting of both spermatogonia and feeder cells. Simply uncapsulated mouse testes were treated with enzymes followed by surgical mincing, and single cells were cultured in stempro-$34^{TM}$ cell culture media at $37^{\circ}C$. After 5 days of culture, aciniform of SSC colony was observed, and showed a strong alkaline phosphatase activity. Molecular characterization of mouse SSCs showed that most of the mouse SSC markers such as integrin ${\alpha}6$ and ${\beta}1$, CD9 and Stra8. In addition, pluripotency embryonic stem cell (ESC) marker Oct4 were expressed, however Sox2 expression was lowered. Interestingly, expression of SSC markers such as Vasa, Dazl and PLZF were stronger than mouse ESC (mESC). This data suggest that generated mouse SSCs (mSSCs) in this study has at least similar biomarkers expression to mESC and mSSCs derived from other study. Immunocytochemistry using whole mSSC colony also confirmed that mSSCs generated from this study expressed SSC specific biomarkers such as c-kit, Thy1, Vasa and Dazl. In conclusion, mSSCs from 5 days old mouse testes were successfully established without sorting of spermatogonia, and this cells expressed both mESC and SSC specific biomarkers. This simple derivation method for mSSCs may facilitate the study of spermatogenesis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline (20%) decreased serum testosterone level which was similar to the surgical castration in the rat, showing the state of chemical castration. In the present study, we further verify the efficacy of this less invasive method as an alternative of surgical orchidectomy in the andrological field. Sterilized 20% saline was directly injected into the adult male rats (750 ${\mu}l$ per testis). The tested rats were divided into 3 groups including intact group (intact), orchidectomy group (ORX) and saline injection group (SAL) after bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of injection. All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after injection. The reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostates) were collected and used for DNA and protein pattern analyses. Also, patho-histological studies on the testes were performed. In contrast to the intact group, similar DNA damages of testis and seminal vesicle were appeared in ORX group and SAL group. The DNA degradations seemed to be the results of necrosis rather than apoptosis. In the protein pattern analysis, all the testing tissues exerted similar patterns in the ORX group and the SAL group compared to the those of intact group. Patho-histological studies revealed that severe degenerative changes in testicular seminiferous tubules and massive infiltration of immune cells in SAL group. The present study confirmed that direct injection of hypertonic saline into the testis caused the equivalent biochemical changes in the accessory sex organs as shown in the orchidectomized animals. These results suggest that hypertonic saline injection model could be a useful castration model which can substitute for surgical castration when its safety is secured through further study in the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.658-671
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• 2018

Objective: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is an anabolic-androgenic steroid frequently used for clinical treatment. However, the inappropriate use of ND results in the reduction of serum testosterone level and sperm production. The suppressive effect of ND on testosterone production has not been investigated in detail. The present study was designed to examine the effect of ND on the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat testis. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats at 50 days of age were subcutaneously administrated with either 2 or 10 mg of ND/kg body weight/week for 2 or 12 weeks. The changes of transcript and protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses, respectively. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis was employed to determine the changes of immunostaining intensity of these enzymes. The steroidogenic enzymes investigated were steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme, $17{\alpha}-hydroxylase$, $3{\beta}-hydroxysteroid$ dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P450 aromatase. Results: The treatment of ND resulted in depletion of Leydig cells and sloughing of germ cells in the testis. The ND treatment caused significant expressional decreases of steroidogenic enzymes at transcript and protein levels, and the destructive effects of ND on the testis were more apparent with a higher dose and a longer period of the treatment. Evident reduction of immunostaining intensity present in Leydig cells was clearly detected by the ND treatment. Conclusion: The exposure to ND in young male results not only in histological changes of the testis but also in aberrant gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes, consequently leading into the reduction of testosterone production in the testis and thus likely disruption of spermatogenesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.510-522
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• 2008

Our earlier studies showed that estrogen was involved in the regulation of fluid reabsorption in adult mouse efferent ductules (ED), through estrogen receptor (ER) ${\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ by modulating gene expression of epithelial genes involved in ion homeostasis. However, little is known about the importance of $ER{\alpha}$ in the ED during postnatal development. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that there should be a difference in the expression of epithelial ion transporters and anion producers in the ED of postnatal wild type (WT) and estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ knockout (${\alpha}ERKO$) mice. Using absolute, comparative and semi-quantitative RT-PCR along with immunohistochemistry, we looked at expression levels of several genes in the ED across postnatal development. The presence of estrogen in the testicular fluid was indirectly ascertained by immunohistochemical detection of the P450 aromatase in the testis. There was no immunohistochemically detectable difference in the expression of P450 aromatase in the testes and ER${\beta}$ in the ED of WT and ${\alpha}$ERKO mice. ER${\alpha}$ was only detected in the ED of WT mice. The absence of ER${\alpha}$ in the ED of postnatally developing mice resulted in differential expression of mRNAs and/or proteins for carbonic anhydrase II, $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger 3, down-regulated in adenoma, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, and $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase ${\alpha}$. Our data indicate that the absence of ER${\alpha}$ resulted in altered expression of an epithelial ion producer and transporters during postnatal development of mice. We conclude that the presence of ER${\alpha}$is important for regulation of the ED function during the prepubertal developmental and postpubertal period.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2020

Iron has a crucial role in growth as part of metalo-proteins like haemoglobin or myoglobin, enzymes; they are also involved in energetic reactions. Iron plays a vital role in fertility. At high doses, Iron has a harmful consequence on the reproductive system, which can be strongly reflected the final stage of spermatogenesis. Nutritional products are claiming to use nanotechnology and it is important to recognize the potential toxicity of nano-sized nutrients. Recently iron nanoparticles were proposed as a food additive for poultry. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-cystein coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in male quails. The results of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometer and Scaning Electron Microscopy showed that iron oxide nanoparticles was produced and have been coated with L-cycstein (Fe₃O₄-Cys NPs). A total of 100 one-week-old quail chicks were randomly placed to five groups of five replicates. Four quails (two male and two females) were raised in an individual cage for each replicate. The five experimental treatment diets consisted; negative control diet, with no Iron supplementation; positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe₃O₄; treatment diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L-cystein coated iron oxide nanoparticles. The hemoglobin, Red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, gonadal somatic index, daily sperm production, total testicular sperm and sperm viability of the male quails that were fed with diet supplemented by 0.6 mg/kg of Fe₃O₄-Cys NPs were improved as compare with negative control. This study showed that not only the use of the Fe₃O₄-Cys nanoparticles had no side effects but also it can be used as a feed additive to improve the reproductive performance in male quails.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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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.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2002

Spermatogenesis and sperm ultrastructure are investigated by means of light and transmission electron microscopy in the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis which is dominant bivalve in the east coast of Korea. In the active spermatogenic season, testis consists of numerous spermatogenic follicles which is contains germ cells in the different developmental stage. The spermatogonia attached to spermatogenic follicle wall and has a large nucleus with electron-dense nucleolus. The spermatocytes are characterized by appearance of synaptonemal complex and well-developed Golgi complex. Nucleus of spermatid consists of numerous heterogeneous granules with high electron density. Karyoplasmic condensation, acrosome and flagellum formations are observed during spermiogenesis. Testicular matured sperms of sperm bundle consists of head, midpiece and tail. The head is about $8.5{\mu}m$ long and comprises a long nucleus and a bullet-like acrosome ($8.5{\mu}m$ in length). Acrosomal rod of microfilaments is observed in the lumen between nucleus and acrosome. The midpiece has four mitochondria. And tail has the typical '9+2' microtubule system.