• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.168-175
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of water extract of Dioscoreae Rhizome on the reproduction activity of Wistar male rat. The group treated with 1.0 g/kg/day oral administrations of water extract of Dioscoreae Rhizoma (SK0l6) during 8 weeks was compared with the normal group. Sperm count, sperm motility, body weight, and testis weight were investigated in two groups. Sperm count. body weight, and testis weight of two groups did not show the significant difference. But sperm motility of the treated group was reduced significantly (the normal group: 56.43 %, SK0l6 group: 53.47 %, p < 0.05). According to the results, SK0l6 have no effects on sperm count, body weight. and testis weight but reduced sperm motility significantly.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.658-671
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• 2018

Objective: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is an anabolic-androgenic steroid frequently used for clinical treatment. However, the inappropriate use of ND results in the reduction of serum testosterone level and sperm production. The suppressive effect of ND on testosterone production has not been investigated in detail. The present study was designed to examine the effect of ND on the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat testis. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats at 50 days of age were subcutaneously administrated with either 2 or 10 mg of ND/kg body weight/week for 2 or 12 weeks. The changes of transcript and protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses, respectively. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis was employed to determine the changes of immunostaining intensity of these enzymes. The steroidogenic enzymes investigated were steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme, $17{\alpha}-hydroxylase$, $3{\beta}-hydroxysteroid$ dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P450 aromatase. Results: The treatment of ND resulted in depletion of Leydig cells and sloughing of germ cells in the testis. The ND treatment caused significant expressional decreases of steroidogenic enzymes at transcript and protein levels, and the destructive effects of ND on the testis were more apparent with a higher dose and a longer period of the treatment. Evident reduction of immunostaining intensity present in Leydig cells was clearly detected by the ND treatment. Conclusion: The exposure to ND in young male results not only in histological changes of the testis but also in aberrant gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes, consequently leading into the reduction of testosterone production in the testis and thus likely disruption of spermatogenesis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2006

For the purpose of the biological effect in black mouse by neutron irradiation, mice were irradiated with 16 or 32 Gy neutron (flux: 1.036739E+09) by tying flat pose at BNCT facility on HANARO Reactor. And 90 days later of irradiation, physical changes of testis and testis tissue were examined. There were no weight changes but a little bit volume changes and sperm counts in the testes. Atrophy of seminiferous tubules irradiated with 32 Gy neutron is increased in number and severity and those in stage VI showed depletion of spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes compared to the non-irradiated control group. Testis damage of black mouse was not recovered after long time by 32 Gy neutron irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 1986

Eik-Nes (1966) reported that the mechanism of spermatogenesis is controlled by FSH and LH and maintaned normally in scrotum terperautre which is 3-5$^{\circ}C$ lower than body termperature. But Ojeda and Ramirez (1972) have described that the abdominal testis was shrinked severely and lost its normal function in congenital cryptorchidism or surgically induced cryptorchidism. Ramirez and Sawyer (1974) reported that the compensatory hypertorphy occured in the remaining testis of unilateral castration and the scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism. Cunninham et al. (1978) reported that the serum FSH levle increased after unilateral castration. Frankel and Wright (1982) reported that the serum LH level was unchanged greatly after unilateral castration. Gomes and Jain (1976) reported that the serum testosterone level increased temporarily but not varied after unilateral castration. On the other hand, Kormano et al. (1964) reported that the serum FSH level in unilateral cryptorchidism rat was unchanged in contrast with the control and Risbirdger et al. (1981) reported that the serum LH level was unchanged till 2 weeks after operation and after then increased to 77%. Kim (1984) reported that the serum testosterone level was somewhat lower than that fo control group but there was't significant different. There were many different reports on hormone levels among different investigators when the immarue rats were castrated unilaterally or induced cryptorchidism unilaterally. Liang and Liang (1970) and Cunningham et al. (1978) described that there were no true compenastory hypertrophy in the remaining testis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral testis of unilateral cryptorchidism in rat but they grew faster than that of control. Kormano et al.(1964), Damber et al.(1976), Cunningham et al.(1978) and Karpe et al.(1981) reported that the testis weight, germinal epithelia height and seminiferous tubules diameter developed continuously and similarily in the control, the remaining testis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism increased, however, in the abdominal testis of the unilateral cryptorchidism, they were much smaller than those of other groups. In observation of the histological changes in the seminiferous epithelium of control, remaining tesis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism differentiated and developed fully(Cunningham et al., 1978). However, the abdominal testis of unilateral crytorchidism degenerated severely and only the germ cells in early stage and Sertoli cells were found in the seminiferous tubules. (Damber et al., 1976, Gomes and Jain, 1976 and Karpe et al., 1981). By electron microscopic observation, Nagano (1963) and Leason and Leeson (1970) found that the abdominal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism was thicked in boundary tissue, increased lipid droplet in the Sertoli cell, disarranged axial filament complex and increased lipid inclusions in the Sertoli cell.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 1993

We have previously shown that gossypol injection into the stroma of testis was found to effectively inhibit the process of spermatogenesis. In this study, properties and chemistry of blood were investigated weekly in ICR mouse after the injection of gossypol into the testicular stroma(5, 10 or 15mg per kg body weight). There were no significant differences in red blood cell(RBC), hematocrit, white blood cell(WBC), basophils, eosinophils and monocytes during first 4 weeks after injection of gossypol between treatments, but neutrophils increased and lymphocytes decreased, respectively(P<0.05). Total content of protein, albumin and globulin were not different, compared with control. However, the concentration of glucose after injection of gossypol increased significantly(P<0.05). In conculsion, the results of this study indicated that injection of gossypol into stroma of testis might affect both properties and chemistry of blood in mice.

• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1025-1034
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• 2009

This study was carried out to examine the protective effect of Cultured Wild Ginseng(CWG) on the acute and subacute toxicities induced by doxorubicin(Doxo) in mice. Heart and liver weight was decreased following Doxo administration. In contrast, such a decrease was significantly attenuated by CWG administration. The value of serum CPK in Doxo group was increased compared with normal group. But the value of CWG group were decreased significantly compared with the values of Doxo group in the liver of the Doxo group, cloudy swelling of hepatic cells and narrowing of sinusoids were observed. Whereas in the CWG group, well oriented hepatic cell cords and sinusoids were observed. In the testis of the Doxo group, necrotic and degenerative changes of the seminiferous tubules, especially beneath testicular membrane were observed. But those lesions were alleviated in CWG group. Cross sectional area of testis and diameter of semineferous tubule were significantly increased in CWG group compared with Doxo group. Body weight was reduced in Doxo group compared with normal group. In contrast, such a decrease was significantly attenuated by CWG administration atwa5th day. Spermatogenetic cells in seminiferous tubules were necrotic and desquamated and the cellularity of seminiferous epithelia was reduced in Doxo group. But those lesions were attenuated by CWG administration. Cross sectional area of testis and diameter of seminiferous tubule were significantly increased in CWG group compared with Doxo group. In addition, the increase in lipid peroxidation(LPO) in testis was inaddition, the, iout such a increased was significantly inhibited in CWG group. BrdU labelled cells in the seminiferous tubules were remarkably decreased in Doxo group. Whereas the number of seminiferous tubules labelled with BrdU in spermatogonia was increased by CWG administration. The obtained results suggest that CWG has protective effect on doxorubicin-induced toxicity. This effect might be mediated through the supplementation of vital energy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2004

The annual changes in testis weight and diameter of seminiferous tubules, and the seminiferous epithelium cycle of Tamias sibiricus were studied by light microscope. Testis weight and diameter of seminiferous tubule are significantly increased from January to July, and decreased rapidly to the size from August to December. Spermatogenesis occurs from January to July, and spermatocytogenesis are produced from August to December. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was divided into 12 stages during the development of spermatids as a changes of the nucleus and acrosomal structure, presence and/or absence of residual body, appearance and/or absence of sperm tail and meiotic figure and spermiation. The dark type spermatogonia (Ad) are appeared in all stages (I ~ XII), and the spermatids of step 10 are observed at I, II, X and XII stages. The spermatids of step 11 are appeared in III and IV stages, only the step 12 spermatid observed in V stage.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 1997

Male specific protein (MSP) was identified and purified from the hemolymph of Galleria melloneffa L. by electrophoresis and anion exchange chromatography. MSP has a native molecular weight of 55 kDa as determined by gel filtration chromatography and consists of a single unit with the apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa and has the pl of approximately 5.8. MSP is present in the hemolymph from day 8 pupae throughout the male adult. MSP was also found in pupal fat body, adult fat body, and adult testis.