• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.50-50
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.135-139
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• 2001

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

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the adverse effects of heavy metal toxicity on male reproduction. Cichorium intybus L. is used in Iranian folk medicine as a hepatoprotective agent as well as for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties. The present study was performed to investigate whether the ethanolic extract of C. intybus leaves could protect male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water alone or with 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight of C. intybus extract via gavage once daily for 70 days. The weight of their reproductive organs, levels of serum hormones, histometric parameters of the seminiferous tubules, epidydimal sperm quality, and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Results: The testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, and testicular levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (p< 0.05) in the lead-treated rats. Moreover, significantly (p< 0.05) higher levels of malondialdehyde were observed in the lead-exposed group compared to the control. However, the co-administration of C. intybus ethanolic extract in lead-treated rats was associated with a significant improvement in reproductive parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that C. intybus leaf extract has the potential to prevent lead-induced testicular toxicity and to suppress the adverse effects of lead on male reproductive health.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.167-180
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• 2015

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that exists ubiquitously in the environment, and affects global health problems due to its carcinogenicity. In most populations, the main source of arsenic exposure is the drinking water. In drinking water, chronic exposure to arsenic is associated with increased risks of various cancers including those of skin, lung, bladder, and liver, as well as numerous other non-cancer diseases including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurologic and cognitive problems. Recent emerging evidences suggest that arsenic exposure affects the reproductive and developmental toxicity. Prenatal exposure to inorganic arsenic causes adverse pregnancy outcomes and children's health problems. Some epidemiological studies have reported that arsenic exposure induces premature delivery, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth. In animal studies, inorganic arsenic also causes fetal malformation, growth retardation, and fetal death. These toxic effects depend on dose, route and gestation periods of arsenic exposure. In males, inorganic arsenic causes reproductive dysfunctions including reductions of the testis weights, accessory sex organs weights, and epididymal sperm counts. In addition, inorganic arsenic exposure also induces alterations of spermatogenesis, reductions of testosterone and gonadotrophins, and disruptions of steroidogenesis. However, the reproductive and developmental problems following arsenic exposure are poorly understood, and the molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity remains unclear. Thus, we further investigated several possible mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity.

• 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.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.178-185
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• 2023

This study was described the microscopic anatomy of male reproductive organs and spermatophore necessary for understanding the reproductive ecology of the long arm octopus Octopus minor. The long arm octopus was a species that has sexual dimorphism that can distinguish between sex based on the presence of hectocotylus. Male reproductive organs consisted of testis, primary spermatic duct, spermatic gland, secondary spermatic duct, spermatophoric gland and spermatophoric sac. Histologically, the testis was testicular tubule type and male germ cells showed a layered arrangement. The primary spermatic duct was a tube connecting the testis and spermatic gland, and consisted with epithelial layer and connective tissue. The spermatic gland was located between the primary and secondary spermatic duct, and the epithelial layer was composed of epithelial cells and mucous cells. Mucous cells reacted blue in the AB-PAS (pH 2.5) reaction and purple in the AF-AB (pH 2.5) reaction. The secondary spermatic duct was a short tube connecting spermatic gland and spermatophoric gland, and folds were developed in lumen. The spermatophoric gland consisted of numerous tubular glands and secretory cells had eosinophilic granules. The spermatophoric sac was shape of pouch, folds were developed in lumen, and vacuolar secretory cells were present in the epithelial layer. The spermatophore was 83.5 mm long and consisted of cap thread in anterior portion, ejaculatory apparatus and cement body in medial portion, sperm mass in posterior portion.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.515-520
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• 1997

Male accessory glands and ejaculatory duct of Drosophila melanogaster are reproductive organs which synthesize secretory seminal proteins. Several products of these organs involved in egg laying, receptivity, and sperm stability or storage were isolated from their lumens. Despite their secretory process play an important role, exocytosis pathway in these organs is not well known. In the present study, we characterized secretory protein profiles and determined their secretory mechanisms. Eight accessory gland secretory proteins and two ejaculatory duct secretory proteins were detected in their lumens. All these proteins were constitutively synthesized in these organs and secreted to their lumens. Secretion of newly synthesized proteins initiated at about 1 h after synthesis, and reached the peak at 4 h after synthesis. It seems that secretion of the proteins may occur via constitutive exocytosis pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.118-118
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• 2001

To find out localization of mercury in male reproductive system, adult male mice were injected subcutaneously with methyl mercuric chloride (1mg/mouse) once per week for 20, 40 and 70 days. The experimental periods later, animals were sacrificed by transcardial perfusion and organs were removed, dehydrated, and embedded in paraffin.(omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.20-33
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• 2020

Objective: The differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) in terms of their adverse effects on male reproductive parameters have never been elucidated. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of the DM types in mice treated with multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) to mimic human T1DM and coadministered a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic human T2DM. Methods: The T1DM mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. The T2DM mice received an HFD for 14 days prior to STZ injection (85 mg/kg body weight), followed by continuous feeding of an HFD. Male reproductive parameters were evaluated. Results: The reproductive organs of the DM mice weighed significantly less than those of controls, and the seminal vesicles plus prostates of the T1DM mice weighed less than those of the T2DM mice. Increased sperm abnormalities and incomplete DNA packaging were observed in the DM groups. Sperm concentration and the proportion of normal sperm were significantly lower in the T1DM group. The seminiferous histopathology of DM mice was classified into seven types. The penises of the DM mice were smaller than those of the controls; however, tunica albuginea thickness and the amount of penile collagen fibers were increased in these mice. Round germ cells were abundant in the epididymal lumens of the mice with DM. Conclusion: T1DM adversely affected reproductive parameters to a greater extent than T2DM.