• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2013

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic endocrine disrupter. However, depending on a way of treatment, the harmful effects of BPA have not been confirmed. Also, trans-generational effects of BPA on male reproduction are still controversial. Because the reabsorption of testicular fluid in the efferent ductules (ED) and initial segment (IS) is important for sperm maturation, the present study was designed to determine trans-generational effect of BPA administrated orally on expression of water transport-related molecules in the mouse ED and IS. Ethanol-dissolved BPA was diluted in water to be 100 ng (low), $10{\mu}g$ (medium), and $1mg/m{\ell}$ water (high). BPA-containing water was provided for two generations. Expression of ion transporters and water channels in the ED and IS were measured by relative real-time PCR analysis. In the ED, BPA treatment caused expressional increases of carbonic anhydrase II, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase ${\alpha}1$ subunit, and aquaporin (AQP) 1. No change of $Na^+/H^+$ exchange (NHE) 3 expression was detected. BPA treatment at medium dose resulted in an increase of AQP9 expression. In the IS, the highest expressional levels of all molecules tested were observed in medium-dose BPA treatment. Generally, high-dose BPA treatment resulted in a decrease or no change of gene expression. Fluctuation of NHE3 gene expression by BPA treatment at different concentrations was detected. These findings suggest that trans-generational exposure to BPA, even at low dose, could affect gene expression of water-transport related molecules. However, such effects of BPA would be differentially occurred in the ED and IS.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2017

Mammalian spermatogenesis occurs in a precise and coordinated manner in the seminiferous tubules. One of the attempts to understand the detailed biological process during mammalian spermatogenesis at the molecular level has been to identify the testis specific genes followed by study of the testicular expression pattern of the genes. From the subtracted cDNA library of rat testis prepared using representational difference analysis (RDA) method, a complimentary DNA clone encoding type III member of a DnaJ family protein, DnaJC18, was cloned (GenBank Accession No. DQ158861). The full-length DnaJC18 cDNA has the longest open reading frame of 357 amino acids. Tissue and developmental Northern blot analysis revealed that the DnaJC18 gene was expressed specifically in testis and began to express from postnatal week 4 testis, respectively. In situ hybridization studies showed that DnaJC18 mRNA was expressed only during the maturation stages of late pachytene, round and elongated spermatids of adult rat testis. Western blot analysis with DnaJC18 antibody revealed that 41.2 kDa DnaJC18 protein was detected only in adult testis. Immunohistochemistry study further confirmed that DnaJC18 protein, was expressed in developing germ cells and the result was in concert with the in situ hybridization result. Confocal microscopy with GFP tagged DnaJC18 protein revealed that it was localized in the cytoplasm of cells. Taken together, these results suggested that testis specific DnaJC18, a member of the type III DnaJ protein family, might play a role during germ cell maturation in adult rat testis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2010

Objectives: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a liquid compound obtained by condensation of two molecules of epichlorohydrin with one molecule of bisphenol A. General and reproductive toxicity with BADGE has been reported higher than 1000 mg/kg/day. This study was performed to show the effects of acute exposure to BADGE below 1000 mg/kg/day on the testis in adult male rats. Methods: BADGE was administered by gastric lavage in a single dose of 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day in 8-week old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats. The right testis was processed for light microscopic analysis. The left testis was homogenized and spermatids were counted to determine the daily sperm production and daily abnormal sperm production. The sperm count, sperm motility, and incidence of abnormal sperm were estimated in the epididymis. In testicular sections, the seminiferous tubules were observed for qualitative changes. The progression of spermatogenesis was arbitrarily classified as full-matured, maturing, and immature. The specimen slide was observed at 3 points and 10 seminiferous tubules were evaluated at each point. Results: The male rats exposed to single oral dose of BADGE at 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day were significantly increased the number of immature and maturing sperm on the testis. There were no significant differences with respect to sperm head count, sperm motility, and sperm abnormality in the BADGE treatment groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that single oral exposure of BADGE 750 mg/kg/day can affect adult male testis development.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.849-856
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• 2011

This study was investigated the protective effect of Cultivated Wild Ginseng(WG) on the toxicities induced by cyclophosphamide(CP) in mice. Twenty-four male BALB/c mice were divided into non-treated normal group(n=6), CP treated control group(n=6), CP+WG treated CP+WG group(n=6), WG treated WG group(n=6). CP(100 mg/kg of b.w., i.p) was injected at 0, 7 th, 14 th, 21 th, and 28 th day of the experiment respectively. WG(4.4 g/kg, i.p.) was administrated for 35days. Body and organ(heart, liver, kidney, testis) weight were measured. Histopathological examination on the organ(heart, liver, kidney, testis), morphometric analysis, and BrdU immunohistochemistry on the testis were performed. Body weight was decreased following CP administration. In contrast, such a decrease was significantly attenuated by WG administration. CPK and AST of CP+WG group were significantly decreased compared with CP group. Histopathologically, cross sectional area of testis and diameter of seminiferous tubule were significantly increased in CP+WG group compared with CP group. BrdU labelled cells in the seminiferous tubules were remarkably decreased in CP group. Whereas the number of seminiferous tubules labelled with BrdU in spermatogonia was increased by CP+WG administration. The obtained results suggest that WG has protective effect on CP-induced toxicity. This effect might be mediated through the supplementation of vital energy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1199-1203
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to examine the binding potential of sperm to the epithelium of the sperm storage tubules (SST) in vitro and in vivo to assess the functional maturation of fowl sperm. Sperm from the testis, epididymis, as well as the proximal, middle and distal vas deferens were incubated in vitro with either the uterovaginal junction (UVJ)- or infundibular tissue containing SST at $39^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. Aliquots of sperm were also artificially inseminated into the uteri of hens, and the UVJ and infundibulum were collected 24 h post artificial insemination (AI). After incubation and AI, tissues were washed to remove loosely adhered sperm and subjected to fluorescence staining with 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride (DAPI) for counting the number of bound sperm per 0.25 mm2 of surface area. Sperm from the testis, epididymis, and the three segments of the vas deferens exhibited their differential (p<0.05) binding capacity, which increased gradually from the testicular to distal vas deferens sperm under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Existing similar trend, sperm, regardless of their source had a lesser affinity to bind to the epithelium of the infundibular SST than to the UVJ-SST. These experimental results suggested that fowl sperm may undergo gradual changes in the process of functional maturation, whereby they gain the ability to bind to the epithelium of the SST during their passage through the male reproductive tract (MRT).

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2000

The primordial germ cell of the sweet fish was recognized from the 2-day old fry (tl : 0.66 cm), when it began to protrude into peritoneal cavity between meaonephric duct and gut. The primordial gonad, with the formation of genital ridge, developed on the 30-day old fry. Ovarian differentiation was identified by the presence of ovarian cavity and meiotic oocytes from the 90-day old fry (tl : 3.42 cm). Testicular differentiation was identified by the presence of spermatogonial cells with efferent duct from the 100-day old fry (11 : 4.50 cm). Hence the sweet fish belongs to the differentiated type of gonochoristic teleost.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.308-312
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• 2003

Various pesticides known or suspected to interfere with steroid hormone function were screened toy effects in leydig cells on catalytic activity and mRNA expression of aromatase. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a widespread environmental pollutant. In this study, we investigated the effect of DDT on testosterone production through aromatase activity and its molecular mechanism in testicular leydig cell, R2C by using radioimmunoassay (RIA). As the results, the potent leydig: cell activator LH increased testosterone production compared to the control. DDT exposure significantly decreased testosterone production in R2C cell. In addition, DDT was found to increase aromatase gene expression and activity in R2C cell in a dose dependent manner. In order to assess whether the suppressive effects of DDT on LH-inducible testosterone (T) production might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780 was used, and it was found that these inhibitory effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the estrogen receptor (ER) mediates the suppressive effects of DDT. Furthermore, the inducible effects of DDT on aromatase gene expression might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780 was used, and it was found that these enhancing effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the inducible effects of DDT. Our results indicated that DDT inhibition of luteinizing hormone (LH) -inducible T production in R2C cell is mediated through aromatase. However, the precise mechanisms by which DDT enhance in R2C cell remains unknown. The current study suggests the possibility that DDT might act as a modulator aromatase gene transcription.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.550-558
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• 2004

The effects of postnatal exposure to octylphenol(OP) on the expressions of the steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone production were evaluated. Postnatal male mice (15-day-old) were injected with 2 or 20mg $kg^{-l}$ body weight (BW) of OP for 5 days and sacrificed on postnatal day 21. Testosterone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and the expressions of the testicular genes were determined by RT-PCR analyses. Significant reductions in the mean body and testis weight were observed in the OP treated animals. No marked alteration in the histological structure of the testis were observed, however, slight reduction in the seminiferous tubule diameter and the number of Leydig cells and several pyknotic cells could be identified in the 20 mg $kg^{-l}$ BW of the OP treated animals. Serum testosterone concentration was dramatically reduced and the mRNA expressions of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and $17\beta$-hydroxylase/Cl7-20 lyase $(P450_{17\alpha})$ were decreased. No significant changes of the gene expressions of the steroidogenic factor-l (SF-I) and estrogen and androgen receptor after the OP treatment showed that the decreased expressions of the steroidogenic enzymes in the present study did not correlate with these genes. Altogether, the present study demonstrates that postnatal treatment of OP inhibits steroidogenesis by decreasing the transcriptional expressions of the StAR and steroidogenic enzymes. The alteration in steroidogenesis may adversely affect the normal development of the testis and sper- matogenesis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.1 s.56
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• pp.83-90
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• 2007

This study was investigated the effort of growth and gonadal development in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus exposed to PCBs Effluent Allowance Concentration, 3.0 ppb in Korea. Total length, body weight and weight gam of fish were no significant differences between two treatments (control: T.L.-110.0 mm, T.W.-9.61 g: treatment: T.L.-112.8 mm, T.W.-9.68 g), however, weight gain of fish unexposed to PCBs wat observed to increase gradually from 100 days after hatching (30 days after treatment). In the indifferentiated gonad to the juvenile stage, the differentiation of the ovary occured at 60 days after hatching (20 days after treatment) and that of the testis occured at 70 days after hatching (30 days after treatment) in two groups. In the ovary, the oogonia and ovarian lamellar appeared 130 days after hatching (50 days after treatment). The spermatogonia and resticular lobule of the testis were observed at 130 days after hatching (50 days after treatment). Testicular cyst appeared 140 days after hatching (60 days After treatment). There was no difference on the development of ovary and testis. There was no obvious difference of sex ratios. Therefore, These results considerate that PCBs have any effect for growth and gonadal development, but a little act for early growth in olive flounder.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2005

The cryopreservation of germ cells, sperm and embryos, has been largely used to increase the effect of artificial reproductive techniques for human infertility, but the efficiency of germ cell cryopreservation has been conkoversial till now. Thus, the effect of the cryopreservation of human sperm used for ICSI and the effect of the cryopreservation of embryos produced by ICSI on fertilizatiof development and pregnancy were investigated. Sperm freezing did not affect fertilizatiort development and pregnancy rates. Also, there was no significant difference between ejaculated and testicular sperm in ferclizatiort development and pregnancy. Embryo freezing methods, slow freezing and vitrificatior did not differ each other in viability and pregnncy rates. However, ICSI embryo freezing significantly decreased pregnancy rate compared to fresh embryos freezing (p<0.05). In conclusiof this result suggested that cryopreservation of sperm for ICSI did not affect on the resulted embryo development and pregnancy, but ICSI embryo cryopreservation would significantly inhibit pregnancy.