• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2008

46,XX male is a rare sex constitution characterized by the development of bilateral testis in persons who lack a Y chromosome. Manifestations of 46,XX males are usually hypogonadism, gynecomastia, azoospermia, and hyalinations of seminiferous tubules. The incidence of XX male reversal is approximately 1 in 20,000 male neonates. The SRYgene is located at the short arm of the Y chromosome(Yp11.31) and codes for testis determining factor in humans. Here, the patient, who presented with a normal male phenotype, was referred for azoospermia. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,XX karyotype. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction(QF-PCR) and Multiplex PCR studies identified SRY gene. And, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization(FISH) confirmed the SRY gene on the distal short arm of chromosome X. We identified the SRY gene on the distal short arm of chromosome X by molecular cytogenetic and molecular analyses. Therefore, molecular-cytogenetics and molecular studies were proved to be clinically useful adjunctive tool to conventional prenatal cytogenetic analysis.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.114.2-115
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• 2003

3-Monochloro-1, 2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is a toxic compound, often present in different foods containing acid hydrolyzed(AH) protein, like seasonings and savory food products. In Korea, 3-MCPD is currently being a problem because of its toxicity in AH soybean sauce. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the effects of 3-MCPD on male fertility, sperm and testosterone secretion. In vivo male fertility test was performed for observing the adverse effects of 3-MCPD on the function of male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome. (omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2018

Objective: To survey knowledge about the factors that influence fertility in a reproductive-age population living in an urban area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey among both males and females aged 18-45 years living in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Results: The mean age of the participants was $26.8{\pm}7.2years$ (male, 41.9%; female, 58.1%). Of the participants, 53.1% had an undergraduate degree and 57.1% were single. Only one-fifth of the participants correctly identified the age when fecundity declines in male and female, the definition of infertility, and the period during the menstrual cycle with the highest chance of pregnancy. Approximately three-fourths of the participants correctly identified that cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and sexually transmitted infections affect fertility. Conclusion: A considerable knowledge gap about the factors that influence fertility was identified in reproductive-age individuals in an urban area of Thailand. This issue should be urgently addressed by promoting fertility awareness through education, discussions about social perceptions regarding fertility, and reliable sources of knowledge.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2005

Estrogens are known as the steroid hormones and essential regulators of developments, differentiations, and fertility in animals including humans. Recently, classic focus on estrogens which are considered as female hormone is changing in the whole field of reproductive endocrinology. Especially, interest in estrogen functions in male reproduction is increasing more and more, as numerous studies about the endocrine disruptors, interrupting the endocrine system, are being carried out. To understand exactly the function of estrogen in a male reproductive system, a summary for estrogen receptors upon developmental distributions in testis will be useful. In addition to the regulatory roles of estrogen in male, unexpected exposure to exogenous estrogens causes defects of differentiation of male reproductive system and an injury of spermatogenesis. Also, this review highlights the indicator of exogenous estrogens to perturb male fertility. These approaches would give tile practical information about estrogen roles in male development and reproduction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) appears to be widely expressed in cells in the testes, predominantly in spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, and its co-expression with transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is essential for the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For this reason, the male reproductive system could be considered a potential target for SARS-CoV-2, as well as a possible reservoir of infection. However, to date, there is very little evidence about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples. The aim of this paper was to review the current evidence regarding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility and sexual health, with a particular focus on reproductive hormones, the presence of the virus in seminal fluid and testis, and its impact on fertility parameters. We found very limited evidence reporting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples, and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on reproductive hormones and fertility parameters is unclear. The quality of the examined studies was poor due to the small sample size and several selection biases, precluding definitive conclusions. Hence, future well-designed prospective studies are needed to assess the real impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive function.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2004

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is a toxic compound, often present in different foods containing acid hydrolyzed(AH) protein, like seasonings and savory food products. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 3-MCPD on male fertility, sperm and testosterone secretion. In vivo male fertility test was performed for observing the adverse effects of 3-MCPD on the function of male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome. 0.01, 0.05, 0.25, 1 and 5 mg/kg b.w. of 3-MCPD was given daily by gavage to groups of 15 adult male SD rats for 4 weeks. At the end of pre-treatment period, males were mated overnight with normal females. Following morning, males demonstrating successful induction of pregnancy were sacrificed on that day to assess sperm parameters and histopathology of reproductive organs. The resulting pregnant females were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation to evaluate pregnancy outcome. As a result, four-week paternal administration with 3-MCPD resulted in adverse effects on male fertility and pregnancy outcome without remarkable histopathological changes in testes and epididymides; sperm motility, copulation index and fertility index were markedly decreased in the treated group and numbers of live fetuses showed steep dose-response curves. Also, spermatogenesis was investigated in this experiment. However, no effect was observed on production of sperm in testes treated with 3-MCPD for 4 weeks. Hormone assay was performed for observing the effects of 3-MCPD on testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) in blood and testes of male SD rats and cultured primary Leydig cell. In result, significant changes of related hormones did not observed by treatment of 3-MCPD. These results indicated that paternal treatment with 3-MCPD induced spermatotoxic effect, which caused an antifertility on male.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 1998

To study the effect of induced hypothyroidism on fertility status of male Black Bengal goats, 10 adult healthy mature males were divided into control and treated groups. Hypothyroidism was induced successfully by injecting thiourea subcutaneously initially for 15 days at the rate of 100 mg/kg body weight, followed by 66.7 mg/kg body weight for the subse quent 15 days. This resulted in a decrease (p < 0.01) in plasma tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine and testosterone levels, with increasing duration of thiourea treatment. It also adversely affected semen quality, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, motility and viability. Live percentage declined to 75% for treated and control remained at 90%. Artificial insemination fo female goats with semen of thiourea-treated goats, resulted in failure of conception. However, females inseminated with semen of male goats of control group showed 100% conception. These observations indicate that, thyroid hormones play a key role in maintaining the normal reproductive processes of male goats.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2001

Korean ginseng products have been fumigated with ethylene oxide (EO) for sterilization and prolongation of storage periods. However, there had been controversies indicating that the consumption of food treated with EO might cause harmful effects in human. Since, in Korea the use of EO gas for food treatment was banned in 1991. Since then, irradiation technique has been developed as an alternative. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of irradiated ginseng on fertility, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Either EO gas fumigated or gamma-irradiated ginseng was administered to male rats by oral gavage for 63 days during the premating period. Female rats were administered from 14 days before mating to day 20 of gestation or to day 21 of lactation. The exposure amount of irradiation used was 5, 10 and 30 kGy, respectively. There were no treatment related changes of darns in clinical signs, and parturition. No treatment related changes in food consumption, body/organ weights, male/female reproductive and fertility performances were observed. F1 fetuses showed no external abnormality. Reflex/sensory junctions, physical/behavioral development, and reproductive performance of F1 rats were not adversary affected. The results of this study show that gamma-irradiated ginseng, up to 30 kGy, has no adverse effects on the fertility, reproduction and development in Wistar rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.173-177
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• 2019

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics of men with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)-induced hypogonadism and its effect on assisted reproductive technology (ART) in infertile couples. Methods: This study examined the records of 20 consecutive male patients diagnosed with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia (< 5 × 10⁶/mL) who visited a single infertility center from January 2008 to July 2018. All patients were treated at a primary clinic for erectile dysfunction or androgen deficiency symptoms combined with low serum testosterone. All men received a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor and TRT with testosterone undecanoate (Nebido^®) or testosterone enanthate (Jenasteron^®). Patients older than 50 years or with a chronic medical disease such as diabetes were excluded. Results: The mean age of patients was 37 years and the mean duration of infertility was 16.3 ± 11.6 months. At the initial presentation, eight patients had azoospermia, nine had cryptozoospermia, and three had severe oligozoospermia. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were below 1.0 mIU/mL in most patients. Three ongoing ART programs with female factor infertility were cancelled due to male spermatogenic dysfunction; two of these men had normal semen parameters in the previous cycle. After withholding TRT, serum hormone levels and sperm concentrations returned to normal range after a median duration of 8 months. Conclusion: TRT with high-dose testosterone can cause spermatogenic dysfunction due to suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, with adverse effects on infertility treatment programs. TRT is therefore contraindicated for infertile couples attempting to conceive, and the patient's desire for fertility must be considered before initiation of TRT in a hypogonadal man.