• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.123.1-123.1
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• 2005

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.62-63
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• 2001

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the different administration duration of Cynomorii Herba extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Methods : We used the 8-week-old ICR mice and administered 0.3mg/g extract solution of Cynomorii Herba once a day for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The control group was administered the normal saline in the same way and duration. We examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis. And we compared the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and treated groups by histochemical methods. At the end we observed the difference of sperm hyaluronidase activities between control and treated groups. Results : The significant differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group in 60 and 90 days groups. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group, respectively. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Cynomorii Herba has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm especially in 60 and 90 days administration group. We can suggest that Cynomorii Herba extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2023

Objective: Human exposure to multiple xenobiotics, over various developmental windows, results in adverse health effects arising from these concomitant exposures. Humans are widely exposed to bisphenol A, and acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter drug worldwide. Bisphenol A is a well-recognized male reproductive toxicant, and increasing evidence suggests that acetaminophen is also detrimental to the male reproductive system. The recent recognition of male reproductive system dysfunction in conditions of suboptimal reproductive outcomes makes it crucial to investigate the contributions of toxicant exposures to infertility and sub-fertility. We aimed to identify toxicity in the male reproductive system at the mitochondrial level in response to co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and we investigated whether melatonin ameliorated this toxicity. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n=10 each): a control group and groups that received melatonin, bisphenol A, acetaminophen, bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and bisphenol A and acetaminophen with melatonin treatment. Results: Significantly higher lipid peroxidation was observed in the testicular mitochondria and sperm in the treatment groups than in the control group. Levels of glutathione and the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and manganese superoxide dismutase decreased significantly in response to the toxicant treatments. Likewise, the toxicant treatments significantly decreased the sperm count and motility, while significantly increasing sperm mortality. Melatonin mitigated the adverse effects of bisphenol A and acetaminophen. Conclusion: Co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen elevated oxidative stress in the testicular mitochondria, and this effect was alleviated by melatonin.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1518-1522
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• 2000

Since the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosatetraenoic acid (22:4n-6), is a major functional constituent of avian spermatozoa, the effects of two dietary oils rich in fatty acids which are metabolic precursors of 22:4n-6 on the fatty acid profiles of testicular lipids were investigated during a 39 week period of supplementation from 21 to 60 weeks of age. The effects on liver lipids were determined for comparison. Dietary supplementation of male chickens with Arasco Oil, which provides a large amount of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), increased the proportion of 20:4n-6 in liver phospholipid by almost 2.5-fold. Although liver phospholipid normally contains very little 22:4n-6, this proportion was significantly increased as a result of Arasco feeding, indicating that the conversion of 20:4n-6 to 22:4n-6 was occurring. The phospholipid of the testis contains much higher proportions of 20:4n-6 and particularly of 22:4n-6 than the liver; supplementation with Arasco Oil significantly increased the proportions of both these polyunsaturates in testis phospholipid but the magnitude of this effect was much lower than that which occurred in the liver. Dietary supplementation with Evening Primrose Oil which contains ${\gamma}-linolenic $ acid (18:3n-6) resulted in significant increases in the proportions of 20:4n-6 and 22:4n-6 in liver phospholipid, although the extent of this increase was less than that produced by the Arasco Oil. By contrast, the feeding of Evening Primrose Oil did not alter the fatty acid composition of phospholipid in the testis. The findings raise the possibility that dietary supplementation with Arasco Oil may modulate the fatty acid profile of avian spermatozoa in a way which could potentially be beneficial for fertility. Moreover, the weights of the testes were almost doubled as a result of supplementation with Arasco Oil or Evening Primrose Oil.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.78-93
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• 1990

The ultrastructure of epididymal epithelium of 10, 20, 35 and 80 day-old mouse was observed to study the differentiation and function of the epithelial cells in connection with the absorption and secretion during sexual matruation. The differentiation of epididymis was divided into three phases of, 1) undiflerentiated phase until the day 20 after birth, 2) growing and differentiating phase between the day 20 and 35, and 3) maturating phase up to the adult. Each phase was closely related with the lumination of seminiferous tubule and the influx of spermatozoa within testicular fluid from testis. In adult, the ultrastructural features appeared an absorptive function in the principal cells of proximal caput epididymis, and a strong activity of protein synthesis and secretion in distal caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. Clear cells were predominantly located in corpus and cauda epidiymis, and plenty of absorption vesicles including membranous particles assumed to be the cellular residues from spermatozoa were observed at apical region. Therefore, the distribution of various cell types of epithelium and the ultrastructure even in the same type of epithelial cell, were different according to the epididymal regions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objective: Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is an effective method to avoid total fertilization failure in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. AOA performed using a calcium ionophore can induce calcium oscillation in oocytes and initiate the fertilization process. We evaluated the usefulness of AOA with a calcium ionophore in cases of total fertilization failure in previous cycles and in cases of severe male factor infertility patients with non-motile spermatozoa after pentoxifylline (PF) treatment. Methods: The present study describes 29 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-AOA cycles involving male factor infertility at Cheil General Hospital from January 2006 to June 2013. Patients were divided into two groups (control, n=480; AOA, n=29) depending on whether or not AOA using a calcium ionophore (A23187) was performed after testicular sperm extraction-ICSI (TESE-ICSI). The AOA group was further split into subgroups according to sperm motility after PF treatment: i.e., motile sperm-injected (n=12) and non-motile sperm-injected (n=17) groups (total n=29 cycles). Results: The good embryo rate (52.3% vs. 66.9%), pregnancy rate (20.7% vs. 52.1%), and delivery rate (10.3% vs. 40.8%) were lower in the PF/AOA group than in the control group. When evaluating the effects of restoration of sperm motility after PF treatment on clinical outcomes there was no difference in fertilization rate (66.6% vs. 64.7% in non-motile and motile sperm, respectively), pregnancy rate (17.6% vs. 33.3%), or delivery rate (5.9% vs. 16.7%) between the two groups. Conclusion: We suggest that oocyte activation is a useful method to ensure fertilization in TESE-ICSI cycles regardless of restoration of sperm motility after PF treatment. AOA may be useful in selected patients who have a low fertilization rate or total fertilization failure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the toxicity of DA-125 in beagle dogs, an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. The dogs were administered DA-125 i.v. at 0.0023, 0.0375, 0.15 and 0.6 mg/kg/day, 6 days/week for 26 weeks. At 0.6 mg/kg, all male and female dogs were either sacrificed moribundly or dead during the 26-week treatment. The dogs revealed inactivity, salivation, dark bloody discharge, swelling of the subcutaneous injection site, abscess, and ulceration in the abdominal wall and legs. At 0.15 mg/kg, anorexia, salivation, and swelling of the injection site were observed. The food consumption was decreased with a statistical significance at 6 and 12 weeks treatment in males of 7.6 mg/kg. At 0.0375, 0.15 and 0.6 mg/kg, body weights were decreased significantly in a dose-related fashion after 17 weeks treatment. Total white blood cell counts for male dogs at 0.6 mg/kg were lower than those of control dogs after 13 weeks treatment, which appeared mainly due to decreased neutrophils. At 0.15 mg/kg, testicular atrophy was found in all males by gross pathology and the testicular weights were significantly decreased when compared to those of control males. Microscopically, the testis showed moderate atrophy of the seminiferous tubules and marked decrease in number of spermatozoa in the epididymal tubules. At 0.6 mg/kg, petechia or echymotic hemorrhage was observed in gastrointestinal tract, heart, lungs, and other organs at the necropsy, Marked atrophy of thymus were observed in both males and females. In addition, severe testicular atrophy was noted in all males. Microscopically, gastrointestinal tract showed hemorrhage, epithelial denudation, hypermucus secretion, and atrophy of intestinal villi. Seminiferous tubules of the atrophic testis were lined with Sertoli cells only and devoid of germ cells. Severe oligospermia or aspermia was present in the epididymal tubules. Bone marrow showed marked depletion of hemopoietic cells. In addition, marked atrophy was found in the lymphoid tissue of gastrointestinal tract, various Iymph nodes, and thymus. Injection sites showed marked inflammatory response with necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, thrombus formation, and ulceration in the skin. According to the present results, no observed effect level appeared to be 0.0375 mg/kg. At 0.15 mg/kg, testis was a target organ, while at 0.6 mg/kg hemopoietic tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and testis were considered to be target organs. At 0.6 mg/kg the test compound seems to inflict a damage on the blood vessels causing hemorrhage in the various organs and tissues.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.544-555
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• 2022

Objective: Spermatozoa are produced within the seminiferous tubules after sexual maturity. The expression levels of mRNAs and lncRNAs in testicular tissues are different at each stage of testicular development and are closely related to formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and spermatogenesis. Therefore, we set out to study the expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs during the different developmental stages of the goat testis. Methods: We constructed 12 RNA libraries using testicular tissues from goats aged 3, 6, and 12 months, and studied the functions of mRNAs and lncRNAs using the gene ontogeny (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases. Relationships between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and protein-protein interaction network (PPI). Finally, the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) were detected by western blotting. Results: We found 23, 8, and 135 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 161, 12, and 665 differentially expressed mRNAs that were identified between 3 vs 6, 6 vs 12, and 3 vs 12 months, respectively. GO, KEGG, and PPI analyses showed that the differential genes were mainly related to the ECM. Moreover, MMP2 was a hub gene and co-expressed with the lncRNA TCONS-0002139 and TCONS-00093342. The results of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction verification were consistent with those of RNA-seq sequencing. The expression trends of MMP2, IGF2, and IGFBP6 protein were the same as that of mRNA, which all decreased with age. IGF2 and MMP2 were significantly different in the 3 vs 6-month-old group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in sexual maturation of the goat testis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2012

Many mammals in temperate zones are affected by the distinctive changes of the four seasons in these zones. Their reproductive status is active in the summer climate and inactive during severe winter weather. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is seasonal breeding animal whose sexual activities are regulated by photoperoidism. The reproduction and metabolism are activated by long summer days (LD) and inhibited by short winter days (SD). After several months of SD, animals become refractory to this inhibitory photoperiod and spontaneously revert to LD-like physiology. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) house the primary circadian oscillator in mammals. Seasonal changes in the photic input to this structure control many annual physiological rhythms via SCN-regulated pineal melatonin secretion, which provides an internal endocrine signal representing photoperiod. The aim of this study was to assess the variation in the morphology of the testis in relation to the natural photoperiod in male golden hamsters. The hamsters were castrated at different weeks (2, 5, 8, and 15). The cell numbers of tubules with spermatogonia (SG), spermatocyte (SC), spermatids (ST), and spermatozoa (SZ) were recorded in each sample. The results showed that testicular regression of golden hamsters occurred in the SD-treated animals. The present investigation determines that the effects of the photoperiod on the reproduction of male golden hamsters. It was also found that the circadian period increases the rate of reproductive inhibition in animals exposed to inhibitory photoperiods.