• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.259-265
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• 2013

The anti-apoptotic effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) during unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion (TT/D) was established in our previous study. In mice, the smallest inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin, is alternatively spliced into three variants, each suggested to have a unique function. Here, we assessed how EGCG exerts its protective effect through the expression of the different survivin splice variants and determined its effect on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules during TT/D. Three mouse groups were used: sham, TT/D+vehicle and TT/D treated with EGCG. The expression of the survivin variants (140 and 40) and other apoptosis genes (p53, Bax and Bcl-2) was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Histological analysis was performed to assess DNA fragmentation, damage to spermatogenesis and morphometric changes in the seminiferous tubules. In the TT/D+vehicle group, survivin 140 expression was markedly decreased, whereas survivin 40 expression was not significantly different. In parallel, there was an increase in the mRNA level of p53 and the Bax to Bcl-2 ratio in support of apoptosis induction. Histological analyses revealed increased DNA fragmentation and increased damage to spermatogenesis associated with decreased seminiferous tubular diameter and decreased germinal epithelial cell thickness in the TT/D+vehicle group. These changes were reversed to almost sham levels upon EGCG treatment. Our data indicate that EGCG protects the testis from TT/D-induced damage by protecting the morphology of the seminiferous tubules and modulating survivin 140 expression.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.466-471
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• 2006

We investigated the changes in body weight (BW), plasma sex steroid hormone profiles, and testicular development of cultured male eel Anguilla japonica during an artificial maturation process. Eels that received weekly intraperitoneal injections of eel's ringer solution containing human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) were examined. In the ringer-treated control, BW changes decreased slowly during the experimental period. Plasma testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) levels In the control remained low and did not show significant changes. Moreover, all germ cells in the testes of the control were spermatogonia. In the HCG-treated male eels, however, BW changes increased gradually from the fifth week and then decreased slowly. The plasma T level increased rapidly (p<0.05) in the second week and then decreased slowly. The plasma 11-KT level increased dramatically (p<0.05) in the second week and was maintained until the end of the experiment. The plasma DHP level increased progressively from the second week and peaked in the eighth week (p<0.05). The testes of HCG-treated male eels were more developed than those of the control; most were at the spermatozoa and spermatid stages and showed active spermiation. Thus, spermatogenesis and spermiation in the cultured eel can be induced by repeated injections of HCG.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6889-6892
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• 2013

Background: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are a relatively common malignancy in young men. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological features and survival of young Turkish patients with TGCT. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical and pathological characteristics of young Turkish patients with TGCT who were monitored by the Department of Medical Oncology of a military hospital between 2008 and 2013 were investigated. Overall survival data were analyzed. Results: Ninety-six patients were included in the study. The mean age was 26.4 years. Among the patients, 17.7% had seminoma and 43.8% had mixed non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Some 46.9% were Stage I, 30.2% were Stage II, and 22.9 were Stage III. Of the patients, 83.3% received chemotherapy, 25% underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), 3.1% received radiotherapy, and 12.5% were followed-up without treatment. In addition, 18.8% of the patients were administered salvage chemotherapy due to relapse or progression. The 5-year overall survival rate was 90.2% for all patients. The 2-year overall survival rate was 100% for Stage I patients, 94% for Stage II patients, and 70.2% for Stage III patients. The difference between the survival curves of stages was statistically significant (p=0.029). Conclusions: In young Turkish patients with TGCT, good results were obtained with appropriate treatment, most receiving chemotherapy. The prognosis of the disease was good even in the advanced stage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.1832-1842
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• 2007

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogen. It is also responsible for the endogenous production of 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone), an anabolic androgen unique to pigs. Plasma concentrations of 19-nortestosterone are highest between two and four weeks after birth in male pigs. In the present study, the physiology of 19-nortestosterone was investigated by measuring the mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes, estrogen receptors and androgen receptor in the tissues of growing pigs. The expression of aromatase, 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the testes of male piglets increased between birth and two weeks of age, and then decreased progressively. Similar developmental expressional patterns were observed for 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the ovaries of female piglets, but without significant aromatase expression. The major form of aromatase expressed in the testes of piglets was identified as type I. Expression of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$and androgen receptor genes was also detected in both testes and ovaries. A transient elevation of androgen receptor mRNA in male piglets at two weeks of age was also observed in testes. Significant expression of the androgen receptor gene, but not of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$ genes, was also demonstrated in adipose tissue and muscle. We conclude that the observed increase in the testicular expression of aromatase in male pigs could account for the production of large amounts of 19-nortestosterone at between two and four weeks of age in males. Androgen receptor and 19-nortestosterone appeared to be important for testicular development and might contribute to sexual dimorphism in body composition and muscle development in juvenile pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2011

The LDH isozymes are key catalysts in the glycolytic pathway of energy metabolism. It is well known that the distribution of the LDH isozymes vary in accordance with the metabolic requirements of different tissues. The substrates required for energy production change noticeably at successive stages of testes development suggesting a significant flexibility in the expression of glycolytic enzymes. Therefore, expression of LHDA and LDHB mRNAs was examined in adult and prepubertal quail testis. The mRNA of both LDHA and LDHB were expressed and no significant difference was observed in prepubertal testes. The mRNA levels of LDHB significantly increased during testicular development. In the adult testis, LDHA mRNA was not expressed. Expression studies revealed the presence of different LDH isozymes during testicular development. In contrast, electrophoresis of both testicular samples revealed only single band at a position indicative of an extreme type of LDH isozyme in quail testes. Furthermore, nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis revealed significant similarity to chicken, duck and rock pigeon. These sequence results confirmed the similarity of LDHA and LDHB subunit protein in different avian species.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.267-274
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• 2003

난태생 어류인 성숙한 Xiphophorus maculatus의 정소를 적출하여 정자형성과정과 정자의 미세구조를 전자현미경으로 관찰하였다. 정자형성과정은 정소낭(testicular cyst)에서 이루어지며, 각 정소낭 내에 동일한 분화시기의 생식세포가 분포하고 있었다. 정원세포는 타원형으로 핵 내에 뚜렷한 인을 보유하고 있었고 세포질에는 미토콘드리아의 발달이 현저하였다. 제1정모세포는 원형으로 정원세포보다 크기가 작았고 인은 발달되어 있지 않았으며, 제2정모세포는 제1정모세포보다 더 작아졌고 핵의 전자밀도는 더 높았다. 정세포의 초기발달시기에는 세포의 크기가 정모세포보다 작았고 염색질의 응축은 핵막 쪽에서 뚜렷하여 전자밀도가 높았으며 편모가 형성되기 시작하였고 미토콘드리아는 핵 주변에 분포하였다. 정자완성과정 중기에는 핵의 염색질 응축이 뚜렷하였으며 핵은 세포질 한쪽에 치우쳐 있었고, 미토콘드리아는 편모 주변에 집중되었으며 핵은 구형을 이루고 있었다. 완전히 성숙한 정자의 두부형태는 장원추형이었고 두부에서 첨체는 관찰되지 않았으며 편모의 미세소관 배열은 9+2구조를 이루고 있었다. 또한 정자의 꼬리 끝에는 고리형태의 구조물 보유하고 있었다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1998년도 Proceedings of UNESCO-internetwork Cooperative Regional Seminar and Workshop on Bioassay Guided Isolation of Bioactive Substances from Natural Products and Microbial Products
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• pp.136-136
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• 1998

L-asparaginyl and L- aspartyl residues in proteins are subject to spontaneous degradation reactions generating isomerized and racemized aspartyl derivatives. Proteins containing L-isoaspartyl and D-aspartyl residues usually have altered structures and diminished biological activities. These residues can be recognized and be repaired to normal L-aspartyl residues by protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase(PIMT), which is present at high levels in testis. Although testicular PIMT have been shown to be involved in either sperm motility or sperm maturation, it may play an important role in the repair of damaged sperm proteins during the prolonged period of epididymal transport and storage. In the present study, as a initial step toward elucidating the function of protein carboxylmethylation in testis, we purified PIMT from porcine testicular cytosol as a momeric 27,000 Da species by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sephacel chromatography, SAH-liganded affinity chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. The optimum pH for the reaction was 6.0. $K_{m}$ values of the enzyme for the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), synthetic oligopeptide(VYP-L-isoD-HA) and histone type II-As were 1.0 ${\mu}$M, 33.2 ${\mu}$M and 276 ${\mu}$M respectively. Consequently, properties of the porcine testicular PIMT is similar to that of other mammalian PIMTs.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.439-445
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• 2009

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens and plays an important role in reproduction and development in vertebrates. We investigated the expression patterns of ovarian P450arom (P450aromA) and brain P450arom (P450aromB) mRNA during sex change in black porgy. Maturity was divided into seven stages from male to female (immature testis, mature testis, testicular portion of mostly testis, ovarian portion of mostly testis, testicular portion of mostly ovary, ovarian portion of mostly ovary, and mature ovary). P450aromA expression was significantly higher in the ovarian portion of mostly-ovarian stage fish, and P450aromB expression was highest in the brain of black porgy with mostly-ovarian gonads. Histology showed that testicular tissues were disintegrated with the development of ovarian tissue associated with an increase in the expression of the two P450arom mRNAs during sex change. Interestingly, among various tissues, P450aromA was only expressed in the ovary, and P450aromB was only expressed in the brain. To understand the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and estradiol ($E_2$), we injected exogenous hormone (GnRH analogue [GnRHa] and $E_2$) into immature black porgy. In the GnRHa group, expression of the two P450arom genes decreased 12 h after injection, and expression of the two P450arom genes were significantly higher at 6 dafter $E_2$ injection. These results provide useful baseline knowledge on the mechanism of natural sex change in black porgy.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.99-105
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• 1997

Using three species of Korean frogs (Rana dybowskii, R. rugosa and R. nigromaculata), the annual spermatogenic pattern, the seasonal changes in the steroidogenic competence, and responsiveness of testis to gonadotropins in terms of testosterone secretion in vitro were examined. The spermatogenic pattern of R. dybowskii was classified as a discontinuous type since spermatogenesis stops completely after spawning in late winter (February) until mid-summer (July). In contrast, the pattern of R. nigromaculata and R. rugosa was classified as a potent continuous type since sperm was always present in the seminiferous tubules all year round. In all three species, the levels of testicular testosterone and that of testosterone secreted by testis following in vitro culture were very low in late summer (August), but increased thereafter until winter (hibernation period). Interestingly, responsiveness of testis in vitro to gonadotropins in terms of testosterone secretion increased markedly in November (early hibernation period). Specifically, bullfrog LH was more effective than FSH in stimulating the secretion of testosterone by frog testis in vitro during hibernation period. This fact suggests that testosterone secretion by testis during hibernation is at least regulated by the pituitary gonadotropin rather than environmental factors. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that testicular cycles of three species of Korean frogs are closely linked to their females breeding cycles, and are eventually controlled by various environmental cues.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.