• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2008

The plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP) is one of the most well known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because of its strong anti-androgenic effects on the reproductive and developmental process in male rodents and human. The present study was performed to examine whether prepubertal exposure to DEHP can make any alteration during the maturation of accessory sex organs in male rats. As a result, there was no significant change in body weights, serum T levels and tissue weights except of seminal vesicle and ventral prostate in DEHP-treated animals compared to vehicle-treated ones. The seminal vesicle weights in high-dose group (200 mg/kg) were significantly lower than those from the control group (p<0.05), and ventral prostate weights were significantly lower than those from the control group (p<0.05) in both low-dose (20 mg/kg) and high-dose group. Histological studies revealed that the seminal vesicles from DEHP-treated groups showed reduced areas of mucosal folds. Pseudostratified columnar epithelia were observed in the ventral prostates of DEHP-treated samples while cuboidal epithelia were found in the control group. The transcriptional activities of ER-$\alpha$ in seminal vesicle from high-dose group (p<0.05) were significantly higher than those from the control group, and ER-$\beta$ expression was significantly decreased in low-dose group (p<0.05) compared to the control. In ventral prostate, ER-$\beta$ mRNA levels from low-dose group (p<0.05) were significantly lower than those from the control group, and significantly increased in high-dose group (p<0.01). AR expressions, however, were not significantly different in all experimental groups of both seminal vesicle and ventral prostate. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that (i) adverse effect (s) of DEHP on sexual maturation during prepubertal period could be limited, (ii) seminal vesicle and prostate gland were sensitive targets to DEHP in prepubertal rats and (iii) the deleterious effects of DEHP might be mediated through ER-associated mechanism.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.172-177
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• 2013

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. As the old-age population is increasing recently, it is to our interest to observe the growing BPH within them. In BPH, the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acts as promotes prostate growth. It inhibits enzyme $5{\alpha}$-reductase that is involved in the conversion of testosterone to the DHT activity which reduces the excessive prostate growth. Through experiments, the effects of Phellius linteus water extract performed on the BPH rats were induced by testosterone treatments. For 12 weeks, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone for the induction of BPH. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: the not treated group (N), the testosterone injection and D.W treatment group (TN), the testosterone injection and Phellinus linteus treatment group (TP) and testosterone injection and finasteride treatment group (TF). Prostate weight, volume and weight ratio in the TP group and the TF group were significantly lower than the TN group. Testosterone and DHT levels in the TN group were significantly higher than that of the N group. And the TP group was significantly decreased than that of the TN group. While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation; the TP and TF groups showed trophic symptoms and were lined by flattened epithelial cells, thus, the stromal proliferation is relatively low as compared to the TN group. These suggest that Phellinus linteus water extracts may be an useful remedy for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.246-254
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• 2016

The objective of the present study is to determine whether blue honeysuckle lyophilized concentrated powder (BH) has favorable effects on hypothyroidism and related reproductive organ damage. Hypothyroidism was induced by 9 subcutaneous administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) for 28 days. Levothyroxine (LT4)-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with LT4 for the same period, while for BH (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) or Flos Lonicerae lyophilized aqueous extract (LF, 250 mg/kg)-treated groups, the test materials were orally administrated for 42 days: two weeks before PTU injection and during PTU administration. The changes in serum thyroid hormone levels, serum male sex hormone levels, and testis antioxidant defense system were observed by histopathology of the thyroid gland, epididymis, prostate, and testis. The oral administrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of BH showed favorable effects compared to LF on hypothyroidism and related damages of reproductive organs through augmentation of the antioxidant defense system in the testis. In conclusion, BH is a promising new potent thyroid gland protecting agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2014

In this study, the estrogen receptor agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), which has high-affinity with the estrogen receptor alpha, was subcutaneously injected into adult male mice every 2 days for 8, 16 and 24 days, after which histological changes in accessory genital glands, including the prostate and seminal vesicle, and the liver were observed. The body and genital gland weights decreased in the PPT group relative to those of the control group. However, the liver weight was two times greater in the PPT group. The luminal area of the prostate and seminal vesicle organs was lower in the PPT group, and the epithelial cell height of the prostate was increased relative to that of the control. There were many secretory vacuoles in the supranuclear cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the seminal vesicles of the control group, but these were not observed in the PPT group. The short sinusoidal diameter of the liver was 147.0%, 198.7%, and 223.3% greater in the PPT group than in the control group after 8, 16, and 24 days of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that PPT administration affected the reproductive organs and the liver and that the histological changes increased in accordance with a rise in the concentration of PPT. Overall, the PPT treatment caused changes in the epithelial cell height and resulted in atrophy of the luminal area of the prostate, leading to altered fertility. The sinusoidal diameter of the liver dramatically increased in response to the administration of PPT, increasing the liver weight.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an uncommon subtype of RCC having a better prognosis than clear cell RCC. Although there are several reports of seeding metastasis of RCC after biopsy, seeding metastasis of chromophobe RCC after surgical resection has seldom been reported. Here, we describe a case of multiple seeding metastases in the abdomen and pelvis 78 months after robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, without prior history of biopsy for chromophobe RCC in the right kidney. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvic mass showed a similar appearance to the primary renal mass and displayed separate margins with the rectum and prostate gland, we were able to make a diagnosis before pathologic confirmation.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2007

Monocrotophos was administered orally to adult male albino mice at dose level of 3.0 mg/kg body weight/day/mice for 50 days. The treatment has found to affect spermatogenesis as well as the endocrine functions of the testis as indicated by gravimetric, histopathological and biochemical changes. The treatment has caused degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of the testis and regression of the epididymis, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, prostate, Cowper's gland and levator ani. Similarly, cauda epididymal sperm count and sperm motility have shown significant reduction. There was a significant reduction in the protein, glycogen, sialic acid, acid and alkaline phosphatase and increase in cholesterol in the testis of monocrotophos treated mice compared with the control. The causative factors for these changes due to monocrotophos administration were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.481-487
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• 2023

In this study, we analyzed the incidence of side effects of photoneutron dose according to the number of beams during intensity-modulated radiotherapy of prostate cancer using 15 MV. The radiation treatment plan design for intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer was established with a prescription dose of 220 cGy per dose and a total of 7260 cGy for 33 treatments. The linear accelerator used in the experiment is Varian's True Beam STx (Varian, USA). Photoneutron dose was generated by using 15 MV energy in the planning target volume (PTV). The treatment plan was designed with IMRT 5, 7, and 9 portals using the Eclipse System (Varian Ver 10.0, USA). An optically stimulated luminescence albedo neutron dosimeter (Landauer Inc., USA) was used to measure photoneutron dose. IMRT 5 portals, 1.7 per 1,000, 7 portals, 1.8 per 1,000, 9 portals, 2.0 per 1,000 were calculated as the probability of experiencing side effects on the thyroid gland due to photoneutron dose. This study studies the risk of secondary radiation exposure dose that can occur during intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and it is considered that it will be used as useful data in relation to stochastic effects in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.90-94
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• 2004

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Panax Ginseng (인삼) on the sperm motility and spermatogenesis in the male rat. Methods : We used 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered the extract powder of Panax Ginseng to 5 rats (treated group) and normal saline (control group) once a day for 28 days. We isolated their testes surgically, then observed the change of the body weights before and after administration of Panax Ginseng extracts and normal saline. We observed the weight of the testes, epididymis, vascular gland, and prostate. Also, we examined the total, normal motile sperm concentration, and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase. Results : We found that the concentration of normal, motile sperm in the testes of the Panax Ginseng group showed a significant difference compared with the control group. The angiogenesis of the seminiferous tubule was increased and the increasement of the number of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte was observed in the Panax Ginseng group through a microscope. The body weight, the weight of the testes, epididymis, prostate and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Panax Ginseng group but showed no significant difference. Conclusion : This study shows that Panax Ginseng may have an effect on the morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility, and can promote the concentration of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.55-75
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• 2015

Objectives : The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of Insamyangyoung-tang aqueous extracts (ISYYT) on the propylthiouracil (PTU) induced rat hypothyroidism. Methods : The rats were divided into 6 groups : intact control, PTU control, Levothyroxine (LT ₄ ), 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg ISYYT treated groups. In ISYYT treated groups, PTU and ISYYT were administered for 4 weeks after 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg ISYYT were administered for 2 weeks. In LT ₄ group, PTU and LT ₄ were administered for 4 weeks. The changes were observed : the weigh, serum thyroid hormone levels, serum sex hormone levels, serum lipid profiles, serum liver enzyme levels, liver and testis antioxidant defense system, histopathology of thyroid gland, liver, epididymis, prostate and testis. Results were compared with PTU control group in this experiment. Results : In comparison with PTU control group, 500 and 250 mg/kg ISYYT treated groups showed significant increase of body, thyroid, liver, testis, epididymis and prostate weights, decrease of serum TSH levels with increase of serum T3 and T4 level, increase of serum testosterone and DHT levels with decrease of serum FSH levels, decrease of serum HDL with increase of TG and increase of serum AST levels. Histopathological inspections of hepatic and male reproductive organ damage induced by PTU were improved. And the changes of antioxidant defense system of Liver and testis induced by PTU were improve. There was no significant difference between 125 mg/kg ISYYT treated group and PTU control group in this experiment. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study considered that Insamyangyoung-tang may be effective in hypothyroidism and related organ damages.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.166-176
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• 2010

Objective : Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. In BPH, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acts as a potent cellular androgen and promotes prostate growth. Many reports conclude the component melittin in bee venom has the potential to treat various diseases including prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Bee venom herbal acupuncture with BPH induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental BPH. A total of 24 rats were equally divided into four groups: Group 1 was the model group; Group 2 served as control (sham-operated group); Group 3 animals were treated with Bee venom herbal acupuncture as an experimental specimen; Group 4 served as a positive control group and was treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The drugs were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by prostatic weight, volume, histopathological changes and testosterone levels. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Bee venom herbal acupuncture showed a diminished range of tissue damage and showed significant decrease in their prostatic weights, volume and histopathological examination. Conclusions : These results suggest that Bee venom herbal acupuncture may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation. From theses results, we suggest that Bee venom herbal acupuncture could be a useful remedy agent for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.