• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.504-512
• /
• 2021

Sperm formation disorders and sperm quality degradation comprises the largest proportion of male infertility caused by TCDD. To solve this problem, this study examined the effects of Gobonyangjeonbang oriental medicine prescription on the endocrine function and reproductive toxicity-related indicators in rat-induced TCDD-induced reproductive. Male SD rats were divided into five groups of seven animals and tested. The normal control group was administered the vehicle and saline, the TCDD alone group was administered intraperitoneally with TCDD (2 ㎍/kg, weeks) and physiological saline, and the test group was administered orally by dividing GYB (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg) into three concentrations for six weeks. Weight loss was observed in all groups administered TCDD. Regarding the hormonal changes, a significant decrease in free testosterone was observed in the GYB 300 mg/kg group (p<0.01). In addition, some of the germ cell destruction, seminiferous tubular atrophy, and decrease in sperm count was improved in a concentration-dependent manner in the testicular tissue of the GYB-treated group. In addition, Johnsen's score and serotoli cell index (SCI) were improved in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). Overall, GYB can be used in drug therapy rather than medical procedures to solve male infertility in the future.

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

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.105-114
• /
• 2009

Ethane 1,2-dimethane sulfonate (EDS) is a well-known alkylating agent used as selective Leydig cell (LC) toxicant to create a testicular dysfunction model. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated the dramatic weight loss of the androgen dependent accessory sex organs such as epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland in this 'LC knock-out' rats. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of EDS administration on histological changes of the epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate in adult rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (350$\sim$400 g B.W.) were injected with a single dose of EDS (75 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Tissue weights (testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland) were measured. The histological changes of tissue were observed by a light microscopy using hematoxylin & eosin staining. Weights of the reproductive and accessory organs progressively declined after the EDS treatments (weeks 1, 2 and 3). After this, the decrease was stopped, then gradually returned to the normal levels. There was a partial (about 60%) recovery of the epididymis weight during weeks $6{\sim}7$. The cross section of epididymis revealed an increase in thickness of the epithelium during weeks $1{\sim}3$. In contrast, considerable reduction of epithelial thickness in seminal vesicle was observed during same period. Similarly, a reduction in thickness of prostate epithelial layer was found during weeks $1{\sim}3$, then it was back to normal thickness after week 4. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the temporally induced androgen-deficiency by EDS treatment could result the prominent alterations in histology of the accessory sex organs. Further studies on the physiological and molecular regulation of these androgen-sensitive organs using EDS model will be helpful to understand the normal and pathological development and differentiation mechanism of these organs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.206-218
• /
• 1984

The gonadal development and gametogenesis of shad, Konosirus, punctatus (TEMMINCK et SCHLEGEL) were studied by comparing with various quantitative indices, such as seasonal changes of gonadosomatic index, fatness, egg-diameter composition, first maturing size, and by comparing with histological changes of gonad and gonadotrophs(GTH) in pituitary. The materials were monthly sampled from Dadaepo at the estuary of the Nakdong river in Korea from September, 1982 to October, 1983. The ovary of shad is a pair of sac-shaped organs revered with a fibromuscular capsule and consisting of numerous sacs. The type of testicular structure is lobular type with development of germ cells, mesenchymal tissue on the lobuli. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) is rather low till March, but increases in April and reaches to peak in June in females and May in males. And it suddenly falls in July. The gonads become active on the increase of water temperature and spawning season ends before high water temperature. After spawning, the small oocytes continue to remain as they are untill the growing period next year. The reproductive cycle includes the successive stages of growing from March to April, mature from April to May, ripe and spawning in June, and recovery and resting from July to February next year. In egg-diameter composition of an ovary taken in the spawning season, 2-3 modes were recognized with some batches shown in an ovary. An individual shad spawns twice or more in a month-spawning season. The individual spawning interval is estimated to be ten days or less. Changes of fatness are corelated with those of water temperature that affect on the condition of feeding, but less corelated with spawning. The percentage of mature of female and male fish, are $50\%$ in 17.0-18.0 cm and $100\%$ in 18.0-19.0 cm. GTH cells are activated from growing period and decrease their activity at pre-spawning season with peak activity for mature period.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.222-229
• /
• 1999

Histopathological study has been carried out to elucidate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced acute toxicity in male guinea pigs. Forty male guinea pigs ($200{\pm}20g$) were divided into 4 groups: normal controls (group 1) received vehicle and saline; group 2 (single TCDD-treated) received TCDD (5 ${\mu}g/kg$, single dose) and saline; group 3 received KRG-WE (200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks starting 1 week before TCDD-exposure; group 4 received same dose of KRG-WE for 7 days from the day of TCDD-exposure. Weights of liver, testis, kidney, spleen and lung of the TCDD-exposed guinea pigs were significantly decreased. Thymus was severely shrunken, thereby could not be distinguished from adipose tissue in group 2 animals. Focal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis were observed from the lung parenchyma of group 2 animals. Furthermore, moderate swelling of hepatocyte, diffused aggregates of hemosiderin-laden macrophages from the Prussian blue stained spleen, marked decrease in spermatogenesis, and pyknotic and degenerative changes in the renal tubules were observed from intestinal organs of group 2 animals. On the other hand, histopathological damage was moderately to markedly alleviated in groups 3 and 4, but pretreatment of KRG-WE was more effective than the simultaneous treatment. In particular, TCDD-induced testicular atrophy was significantly attenuated by KRG-WE (p<0.01). From these results, it could be suggested that Korean red ginseng might be a useful herb that prevented TCDD-induced toxicity on liver, testis, kidney and spleen.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 2010

Objective: The present study was carried out to induce differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into germ cells and to establish a culture condition for single hESCs dissociated by enzyme. Methods: Embryonic body (EB) was formed by hanging drop culture for 3 days from hESCs colony. The EBs were cultured in the medium supplemented with retionic acid (RA) or/and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) for 14 days to differentiate into germ cells. Germ cell specific markers, c-kit and VASA were used for immunohistochemistry of EB. Human ESCs colonies were dissociated into single cells by Collagenase, Tryple and Accutase, and then colony formation rate of the single cells was examined. Rho-associated kinase inhibitor (ROCK inhibitor, Y27632) was added into the culture medium of single cells to reduce the apoptotic damage during the dissociation. Results: Single cells dissociated with Tryple or Accutase showed higher colony formation rates compared to the cells dissociated with Collagenase. Seeding of $5{\times}10^3$ cells/well (4 well dish) was efficient to obtain high colony formation rate compared to other concentrations of seeding cell. Addition of Y27632 significantly increased the colony formation rate of the single cells dissociated by Tryple. Immunohistochemistry of EB with c-kit and VASA markers showed a weak fluorescence signals compared to the signals from the testicular tissue. Conclusion: Dissociation with Tryple was useful to obtain healthy single cells and addition of Y27632 was beneficial for survival and colony formation of the single cells. Unlike other studies, we just observed a dim fluorescence staining of the germ cell markers, probably caused by the short-term culture for the differentiation of EB compared to other studies.