• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 1998

Toxic effects of 2-bromopropane (2-BP) on the hematopoietic system and testis were investigated in male Srague-Dawley (SD) rats. 80 male SD rats, 5 weeks old, were treated with 2-BP in corn oil at levels of 0, 100, 330 and 1,000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks orally. 10 animals from each group were maintained for additional 8 weeks following the treatment. In addition, 60 male SD rats were divided into 2 groups and administered 2-BP in corn oil at levels of 0 and 1,000 mg/kg/day orally and sacrificed after 1. 2 and 3 weeks of treatment. Clinical observation. body weight changes, food consumption, organ weight changes. hematology, serum chemistry and histopathology of the testis were performed in the study. No clinical sign and mortality were observed in the study. The body weights were significantly reduced with the treatment but gradually recovered. The relative organ weights of the testis and thymus significantly decreased in both of the groups treated with 1,000 mg/kg/day for 3 and 4 weeks. In the recovery groups, organ weights of the testis and epididymis were significantly reduced in both of the groups treated with 330 and 1,000 mg/kg/day. Platelets and reticulocytes were significantly reduced in both of the group treated with 1.000 mg/kg/day for 3 and 4 weeks. While red blood cells were de-creased but mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were increased in the recovery group. Significant increase of chloride was observed in all of the treatment groups except the recovery groups, and calcium was significantly increased in both of the groups treated with 1,000 mg/kg/ day for 3 and 4 weeks. On the other hand. there were significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspatate aminotransferase (AST) in most of groups treated with 1.000 mg/kg/day. In the testis. the spermatogonia in stages I-VI were mostly depleted and the spermatocytes in stages VII-VIII were de-generated or necrotized at week 1 after treatment of 2-BP. The degeneration of germ cells and the a-trophy of seminiferous tubules became more severe in time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. The damaged tubules showed regeneration in part. however. they did not appear to be completely recovered within 8 weeks of the recovery period. On the basis of the results. it is suggested that 2-BP would cause toxicities in hematopoiesis by possibly interfering the production of red blood cells and platelets and in spermatogenesis by the destruction oj spermatogonia in SD male rats.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 1986

This experiment was conducted to find out the effects of the six different feeding methods on the development of body weight, testis, comb and pituitary gland, and the sexual maturity of White Plymouth Rock cockerels. From hatching to 22 weeks of age, the weights of whole body, testis, comb and pituitary gland, and the histological changes of testis and the semen characteristics were checked every other week. The results obtained in this expeniment were as follows: 1. The growth rates of the self-feeding groups were faster than those of the limited feeding groups (70 percent of the self-feeding) by about 2 weeks. The weights of testis and comb showed the most marked increase at 20 weeks of age in the self-feeding groups and at 22 weeks of age in the limited feeding groups, respectively. 2. The weights of pituitary gland from hatching to 22 weeks of age at all observation weeks were not recognised significantly among the compared groups except 4, 14 and 16 weeks of age. 3. Correlations between week of age, body weight, testis, comb and pituitary gland, in the course of 22 weeks, were highly significant. 4. The diameters of lumina and tubules in the seminiferous tubules increased very slowly until 10 weeks of age. They showed the most marked increase at 12 weeks of age in the self-feeding groups and at 14 weeks of age in the limited feeding groups, and then continuously increased until 32 weeks of. age. 5. Primary spermatocytes appeared at first at 8 weeks in the all treatment groups, Secondary spermatocytes appeared at first at 10 weeks in the self-feeding groups and at 12 weeks in the limited feeding groups. At 14 weeks of age spermatids and spermatozoa were found at first in the self-feeding groups but spermatids were found in the limited feeding groups. 6. Age of the first ejaculation was between 14 and 16 weeks of age in the all treatment groups. The Average semen. volume and sperm concentration ranged from 0.1-0.2$m\ell$/ ejaculate and 5.6-9.8${\times}$10$\^$8/ sperm/$m\ell$ at the age of the first ejaculation but 0.30-0.35$m\ell$/ ejaculate and 22.4-42.7${\times}$10$\^$8/ sperm int at the 20 weeks of age in the all treatment groups.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.351-360
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• 2008

These experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Gamdutang on the accumulation of cadmium in the body of groups of rats that received an 8-week administration of 1.7, 3.4 and $6.8{\mu}g$/g/day of cadmium, respectively, while the other groups of rats received an 8-week administration of a mixture of cadmium by concentration and Gamdutang. A comparative analysis of these groups was conducted in respect of weight, accumulated cadmium in blood and diverse organs and pathological findings from the kidneys. As for the cadmium accumulation in blood, livers, kidneys, and testis, with the lengthening of the experiment period, the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups tended to have reduced accumulation levels compared with the groups exclusively administered cadmium. Histopathological observation of the kidneys, observed in the cadmium exclusively administered groups showed hemorrhagic necrosis in glomeruli, swelling of tubules, epithelial shedding and necrosis of tubules; however, only mild tissue lesions were observed in the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups. Given the above results, Gamdutang is deemed to have the effects of reducing the accumulation of cadmium in blood, liver, and testis when low-concentration cadmium is administered to rats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 1995

Protein methylase II (S-adenosyl-L-methionine : protein O-methyl-transferase, EC 2.1.1.24; PM II) was purified approximately 1250-fold from porcine testis by fractional precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, followed by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-75 column and HPLC on a Protein Pak 125 column. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 33,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE, which agreed with the value determined by gel filtration. Isoelectric focusing of purified PM II showed a single protein species with an isoelectric point of 6.2. The optimum pH for the reaction was 6.0. The $K_m$ value of the enzyme was $1{\times}10^{-5}M$ with a $V_{max}$ value of 769 pmol/min/mg of enzyme. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine is a competitive inhibitor of PM II with a $K_i$ value of $1.38{\times}10^{-6}M$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 1995

Famesyl protein transferase involved in the first step of post-translational modification of $p21^{ras}$ proteins transfers the famesyl moiety from famesyl pyrophosphate to a cysteine residue in $p21^{ras}$ proteins. The enzyme was first purified 30,000-fold from bovine testis by use of 30~50% ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography, and hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met) affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be ~100 kDa by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gels showed two closely spaced bands of ~50 kDa protein. These indicate that the enzyme consists of two nonidentical subunits, a and 13, which have slightly different molecular weights. The enzyme was inhibited by hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met), which acted as an alternative substrate that competed for famesylation. Kinetic analysis by measuring initial velocities showed that famesyl protein transferase is a very slow enzyme. EDTA-treated famesyl protein transferase showed little activity with $Mg^{2+}$ or $Zn^{2+}$ alone, but required both $Mg^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ for the catalytic activity.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2003

Male germ cell apoptosis has been extensively explored in rodent. In contrast, very little is known about their susceptibility to apoptosis stimuli of developing germ cell stages at the time when germ cell depletion after busulfan treatment occurs. Furthermore, it is still unanswered how spermatogonial stem cells are resistant to busulfan treatment. We examined the change of gene expression in detail using cDNA microarray analysis of mouse testis treated with busulfan. A subtoxic dose of busulfan (40mg/kg of body weight) transiently increased 228 mRNA levels among of the 8000 genes analyzed. TagMan analysis confirmed that the mRNA levels such as defensive protein, support protein, enzymatic protein, transport protein, and hormonal protein were rapidly increased. These results were re-confirmed by real-time PCR analysis. However, the expression levels of these genes induced by busulfan treatment were significantly reduced in control testis, indicating that both of male germ cells and somatic cells after busulfan treatment induces self-defense mechanism for protection of testicular cell death. Among them, we conclude that defense proteins play a key role in testis injury induced by busulfan.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, performs important functions, and the activities of the hormone are mediated via the estrogen receptor. The principal objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a estrogen receptor agonist in male reproductive organs. In this study, the estrogen receptor alpha agonist, PPT, was injected subcutaneously into adult male mice. The effects of PPT on the murine reproductive system were histologically assessed at 3,5, and 8 weeks after treatment. In the treatment group, reductions were observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter in the testis, and epithelial cell height in the epididymis during the experiment. 8 weeks after treatment, spermatogenesis was not detected, nor was the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In the fertility test, 1 week after PPT injection, the fertilizing ability of males was decreased, and on the 2nd and 3rd weeks, complete infertility was observed. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult males induced physiological changes, including infertility, and also induced morphological changes, including a reduction in the height of epithelial cells within the reproductive system.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the effect of Palmijihwang-whan (PMJHW) aqueous extract in the regulation of hypothyroidism related reproductive organ damages in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced rat model. Methods: PMJHW aqueous extract (yield=17.90%) were administered, once a day for 42 days from 2 weeks before start of PTU treatment as oral doses of 500, 250, and 125 mg/kg (body weight), and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10 mg/kg for 28 days. Results: PTU-induced hypothyroidism and related male reproductive organ damages-atrophic changes of testis, epididymis and prostate, were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of PMJHW 500, 250, and 125 mg/kg. They also effectively regulated the PTU-induced abnormal antioxidant defense system changes in the testis. Although levothyroxine also favorably inhibited PTU-induced hypothyroidism, it deteriorated the hypothyroidism related male reproductive organ damages through testicular oxidative damages. The results suggest that oral administration of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of PMJHW has favorable effects on the hypothyroidism and related reproductive organ damages through augmentation of antioxidant defense system in the testis. Conclusions: This study suggest that PMJHW may be help to ameliorate the hypothyroidism and related organ damages in clinics.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2013

This report compared paramedian and flank approaches for the effective removal of abdominal unilateral cryptorchidism in calves. Two Korean native calves of approximately 300 kg in body weight, which had undergone the removal of a testis from the scrotum, were diagnosed as having abdominal unilateral (left) cryptorchidism by rectal palpation. One calf was administered with xylazine (0.2 mg/kg, IV) and was restrained in the dorsal recumbency position on the ground of barn for the paramedian approach, while the other calf was sedated with xylazine (0.03 mg/kg, IV) and restrained in the standing position for a flank approach. For the two calves, 2% lidocaine was administered by local infiltration, along the proposed incision line. Following incisions of the skin, muscle and peritoneum, the testis, which was located between the left kidney and inguinal canal, was grasped, exteriorized out of the abdominal cavity and detached from the gubernaculum testis. Then spermatic cord was ligated and cut. Finally, the testis was removed. An assistant was required to restraint a calf in dorsal recumbency for paramedian approach, and cryptorchidectomy was carried out with operator in a rather uncomfortable squatting posture, while restraint was rather simple and cryptorchidectomy was proceeded with operator in a standing posture where the flank approach was taken. During surgery, the gubernaculum testis was more strained during pulling the testis in the flank approach than in the paramedian approach, as the distance between incision site and the gubernaculum testis was greater in the flank approach than that in the paramedian approach. On the other hand, intra-abdominal pressure was greater in the paramedian approach than in the flank approach during surgery. The elapsed time between restraint and the end of surgery was 10 min shorter where the flank approach (35 min) was taken, than where the paramedian approach (45 min) was taken. In conclusion, this case study demonstrated that the flank approach might be more convenient than the paramedian approach for abdominal unilateral cryptorchidectomy in calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1566-1577
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• 2010

Nandrolone, 19-nortestosterone, is a synthetic androgenic-anabolic steroid promoting muscle growth. Nandrolone is also present in pig meat and sera at non-negligible levels. A number of scientific reports have suggested a positive relationship between incidence of infertility and increased meat consumption in humans. The present study was designed to determine out the effect of feeding nandrolone on the testis of the male reproductive tract. Mixtures of food and nandrolone at different concentrations (0.005 ppm and 0.5 ppm) were supplied to pubertal male rats for 6 weeks. Body weight was recorded every week during the entire experimental period. At the end of the treatment, the testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat were collected and weighted. Sperm numbers in the caudal epididymis were counted. Differential gene or protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR or western blotting analysis, respectively. Histological changes of the testis induced by nandrolone treatment were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental animals. There were no significant changes on body, testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat weights among experimental groups. A significant increase of caudal sperm number was found in the 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated group. Histological examination of the testes noted a high frequency of germ cell sloughing in seminiferous tubules of 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated rats. Even though transcript levels of $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) I, $17{\beta}$-HSD4, and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase were influenced by nandrolone treatments, protein levels of all molecules examined in the present study were not significantly affected. Immunohistochemical analysis showed no visible changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups. The current study showed that oral intake of nandrolone in male rats for 6 weeks did not cause significant damage to the testis. It is considered that a feeding effect of nandrolone on male fertility would not be remarkable.