			Home About us Contact

Rat Testis (rat + testis)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	58%
Life Sciences	34%
2 Other Domains	8%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Andrology	70%
Urology	22%

Selected Abstracts

Cleavage-like cell division and explosive increase in cell number of neonatal gonocytes

DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 1 2004
Yasuhiro Sakai
Based on previous conventional quantitative observations of rat testes, it was proposed that large numbers of gonocytes degenerate after birth and this notion was widely accepted. However, many studies show that neonatal gonocytes display high levels of mitotic activity. In order to resolve the apparent contradiction of increased mitotic activity in gonocytes despite a decrease in their numbers at the neonate stage, quantitative analysis using a marker of suitably higher resolution is required. It has been shown that the vasa protein could be used as a marker of germ cells. In this study, quantitative changes in gonocytes were re-examined using a germ-cell-specific marker in order to delineate more clearly the process of development from gonocytes to spermatogonia after birth. The vasa -positive cells, which correspond to gonocytes and spermatogonia, increased exponentially after birth. This observation suggests that all gonocyte divide actively after birth and do not degenerate as previously believed. Surprisingly, the cell volume of gonocytes decreased during their division. The largest population size was 2000,4000 µ3 at day 2, 1000,2000 µ3 at day 4 and 500,1000 µ3 at day 6. This finding suggests that gonocytes divide in a similar way to cleavage, which can be considered a special mode of fertilized eggs. Judging from the growth of seminiferous tubules and the degree of volume reduction, 60% of the contribution rate is estimated to be due to ordinal cell growth, and 40% due to volume reduction as in cleavage of a fertilized egg. This unique cleavage-like division may contribute to the supply of large numbers of spermatogonia. [source]

Disruption effects of monophthalate exposures on inter-Sertoli tight junction in a two-compartment culture model

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
Yun-Hui Zhang
Abstract Phthalates are suspect environmental endocrine disruptors that may affect male reproduction and development by disturbing androgen synthesis and cell,cell interactions in the seminiferous epithelium. The in vivo metabolites, monophthalates, are thought to be the active agents, and toxicant effects including testicular damage and decreased sperm motility have been described previously. In this study, the aim was to investigate the effect of monophthalates on Sertoli cells using a two-compartment cell culture model, asking whether tight junction protein structures are affected, compromising the blood-testis barrier and contributing to male-mediated toxicity. Sertoli cells were isolated from Sprague Dawley rat testes and seeded onto the filters of two-compartment wells. A Sertoli cell monolayer was allowed to form, whereupon the cultures were treated with 0, 10, 30, 150, and 600 ,mol/L monobutyl phthalate (MBP) or mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) for 24 h. Effects on the tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy, the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay, and immunofluorescence localization. Results showed that exposures to monophthalates destroyed tight junctional structure in Sertoli cell monolayers in a dose-depended manner, as evidenced by a loss of single-cell layer organization in the cultures, decline of TEER value, and decreased expression of proteins associated with tight junctions such as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), F-actin, and Occludin. The changes were observed at doses of 150 and 600 ,mol/L, which is 10,100 times higher relative to estimated human exposures from the environment. These results are consistent with monophthalate-induced damage to tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells, suggesting that damage to Sertoli cell tight junctions induced by monophthalates may be an underlying mechanism of their male-mediated reproductive toxicity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008. [source]

Changes in the expression of P-cadherin in the normal, cryptorchid and busulphan-treated rat testis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 5 2007
K. Pospechova
Summary Adhesion between Sertoli cells and germ cells is important for spermatogenesis. Cadherins are Ca2+ -dependent transmembrane proteins that mediate cell,cell adhesion. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of P-cadherin in unilaterally cryptorchid and busulphan-treated rat testes using immunohistochemistry. The pattern of expression of P-cadherin in the seminiferous epithelium changed with the stage of the seminiferous epithelium. The membranes of round spermatids and membranes and cytoplasm of spermatocytes were strongly positive. Our experiments revealed that busulphan treatment (2 doses , 10 mg/kg of body weight , 21 days apart) and cryptorchism led to destructive changes in the structure of seminiferous tubules, together with the decrease in P-cadherin expression. The expression of P-cadherin disappeared in the spermatids segregated from the epithelium while segregated spermatocytes remained still positive for P-cadherin during the 3- to 11-day cryptorchid period. In busulphan-treated animals, the expression of P-cadherin was dependent on the presence or absence of the spermatocytes and spermatids in the tubules. Strong positivity for P-cadherin was observed in the spermatocytes that re-appeared in the regenerating seminiferous epithelium. We suggest that P-cadherin participates in the architecture of adherens junctions in testis, plays an important role in maintaining normal spermatogenesis and that cryptorchism and busulphan treatment lead to adherens junction disintegration. [source]

Complementary DNA cloning of rat spetex-1, a spermatid-expressing gene-1, encoding a 63 kDa cytoplasmic protein of elongate spermatids

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2004
Hiroshi Iida
Abstract We used differential display in combination with complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning approach to isolate a novel rat gene designated as spetex-1, which had an open reading frame of 1,668-length nucleotides encoding a protein of 556 amino acids. Spetex-1 mRNA was highly expressed in testis, and weekly expressed in lung, intestine, and spleen. Spetex-1 expression in the rat testes was detected first at 3 weeks in postnatal development and continued to be detected up to adulthood. A search in the databases showed that the amino acid sequence of spetex-1 was 82% identical to that of its mouse homologue found in the databases. Both rat spetex-1 and the mouse homologue contained Ser-X (X,=,His, Arg, or Asn) repeats in the middle portion of the proteins. In situ hybridization revealed that spetex-1 mRNA was expressed in haploid spermatids of step 7,18 within the seminiferous epithelium. Immunohistochemical analysis with confocal laser-scanning microscopy demonstrated that spetex-1 protein was not expressed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids in adult rat testis, but was specifically detected in the residual cytoplasm of elongate spermatids of step 15,18 as well as in residual bodies engulfed by Sertoli cells. We interpreted these data as a potential role of spetex-1 in spermatogenesis, especially in cell differentiation from late elongate spermatids to mature spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 385,393, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Heteropterys aphrodisiaca Infusion Reduces the Collateral Effects of Cyclosporine A on the Testis

THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Juliana C. Monteiro
Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA) is known to have testicular toxicity, leading to male infertility. Stimulant and aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to the plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca. Thus, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the association of the drug and the medicinal herb in Wistar rats, applying testicular morphometry and ultrastructure. Twenty-four rats were used, divided into four groups: I, control; II, CsA; III, simultaneous use of CsA and H. aphrodisiaca; IV, H. aphrodisiaca. Daily administration by gavage was carried out, during 56 days, of water (sham), CsA in a dose of 15 mg/kg per day and/or H. aphrodisiaca in a dose of 0.5 ml of the infusion prepared with 25 g of roots/100 ml of boiling water. Increased body weight was observed for all groups, but the animals that received only CsA showed the smallest body weight gain. Morphometry showed increased connective tissue volumetric proportion and decreased Leydig cell volumetric proportion in CsA-treated rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to ascertain that CsA caused seminiferous epithelium degeneration, resulting in Sertoli cell vacuolization, abnormal round and elongated spermatids and large accumulation of residual cytoplasm at the epithelium border next to the lumen. Expanded intercellular spaces between germ cells were still observed in H. aphrodisiaca -treated rat testes. The administration of H. aphrodisiaca infusion to CsA-treated rats diminished nearly all the CsA-induced damage to the testis ultrastructure, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca infusion may be used combined with CsA to reduce CsA-induced injuries in the testis. Anat Rec, 291:809-817, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Diabetic rat testes: morphological and functional alterations

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 6 2009
G. Ricci
Summary Reproductive dysfunction is a consequence of diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated the histological and molecular alterations in the testes of rats injected with streptozotocin at prepuperal (SPI rats) and adult age (SAI rats) to understand whether diabetes affects testicular tissue with different severity depending on the age in which this pathological condition starts. The testes of diabetic animals showed frequent abnormal histology, and seminiferous epithelium cytoarchitecture appeared altered as well as the occludin distribution pattern. The early occurrence of diabetes increased the percentage of animals with high number of damaged tubules. The interstitial compartment of the testes was clearly hypertrophic in several portions of the organs both in SPI and SAI rats. Interestingly, fully developed Leydig cells were present in all the treated animals although abnormally distributed. Besides the above-described damages, we found a similar decrease in plasma testosterone levels both in SPI and SAI rats. Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the pathogenesis of various diabetic complications, and in our experimental models we found that manganese superoxide dismutase was reduced in diabetic animals. We conclude that in STZ-induced diabetes, the altered spermatogenesis, more severe in SPI animals, is possibly due to the effect of OS on Leydig cell function which could cause the testosterone decrease responsible for the alterations found in the seminiferous epithelium of diabetic animals. [source]

Effect of growth hormone on testicular dysfunction induced by methotrexate in rats

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 2 2009
H. Serati Nouri
Summary Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent causing defective oogenesis and spermatogenesis. This study was performed to assess the role of human growth hormone (GH) on testis recovery after treatment with MTX. Forty male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control (vehicle), GH group (0.3 mg kg,1 GH for 28 days, IP), MTX group (MTX 1 mg kg,1 week,1 for 4 weeks, IP) and GH/MTX group (0.3 mg kg,1 GH for 28 day plus 1 mg kg,1 week,1 MTX for 4 weeks, IP). On days 14 and 28, five rats from each group were killed, testes of rats of all groups were removed, spermatozoa were collected from epididymis and then prepared for analysis. MTX caused significant increase in interstitial tissue and capsular thickness and decrease of testicular and body weight (P < 0.05). Moreover, it caused significant decline in seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelium thickness (P < 0.05). There was no obvious change in morphometrical parameters between MTX/GH and control groups. In MTX group, sperm parameters decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Administration of GH plus MTX reduced the effects of MTX on sperm parameters and testosterone concentration. These results suggested that GH had a protective effect on almost all destructive effects caused by MTX in rat testes and thus improved sperm parameters. [source]

Phospholipid profile of rat testis, its unique high level of monolysocardiolipin and its lipolytic capabilities in vitro.

CELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION, Issue 4 2008
A chromatographic analysis
Abstract The phospholipid profiles of testes and heart of 1-, 3-, and 6-month-old rats and their in vitro response to the endogenous phospholipases at pH 7.4 and 38°C for 60,min were analyzed by TLC technology and densitometry. A noticeable high level of monolysocardiolipin (MLCL) was shown in rat testes of all samples analyzed (1-, 3-, and 6-month-old), both control and incubated. In contrast, rat heart control samples revealed a high level of CL and no MLCL was detected. MLCL was only produced subsequent to in vitro incubation of whole tissue homogenate at pH 7.4 and 38°C for 60,min, with concurrent reduction of CL. Alkenyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) was the major plasmalogen of rat testes. Following in vitro incubation, (a) a very low level of lyso PE plasmalogen was produced only in 3- and 6-month-old rat testes, (b) ceramide was also produced in all testes analyzed with concurrent reduction of sphingomyelin indicating the action of sphingomyelinase. These data clearly illustrate, for the first time, the presence of high levels of MLCL in all rat testes studied which probably is related to the physiological activity in vivo and requires further investigation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Chronological gene expression of ADAMs during testicular development: Prespermatogonia (gonocytes) express fertilin , (ADAM2)

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2003
Carolina Rosselot
Abstract Immediately after birth, primordial germinal cell-derived prespermatogonia (PSG), located in the center of the testicular cords, migrate between adjacent Sertoli cells to establish contact with the cord basal lamina. PSG migration suggests continued assembly and disassembly of cell,cell contacts by a molecular mechanism that may involve integrins and their ligands, the disintegrin domain of spermatogenic cell-specific plasma membrane proteins called ADAMs. We have analyzed the temporal gene expression of selected ADAMs in intact fetal, early postnatal, and pubertal rat testis and Sertoli,spermatogenic cell cocultures by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunocytochemistry. We report that several ADAM transcripts are expressed in fetal, neonatal, and prepubertal testes. Cyritestin (ADAM3), ADAM5, ADAM6, and ADAM15 are expressed in day 17 fetal testes. In contrast, no expression of fertilin , (ADAM1) and fertilin , (ADAM 2) was detected in fetal testes. Fertilin , gene expression starts after postnatal day 2, subsequent to the expression of fertilin ,, which occurs on postnatal day 1. After postnatal day 2, all the indicated ADAMs, including the fertilin , and fertilin ,, continue to be expressed. Transcripts of spermatogenic cell-specific fertilin ,, fertilin ,, ADAM3, and ADAM5 were detected during the coculture of PSG with Sertoli cells for up to 72 hr after plating. The presence of fertilin , mRNA and protein in cocultured PSG was visualized by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, respectively. These observations indicate that PSG in coculture with Sertoli cells provide a suitable approach for analyzing cell,cell adhesive responses involving spermatogenic cell-specific ADAMs. Development Dynamics 458,467, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Changes in the expression of P-cadherin in the normal, cryptorchid and busulphan-treated rat testis

Molecular cloning of several rat ABC transporters including a new ABC transporter, Abcb8, and their expression in rat testis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Nathalie Melaine
Summary Several members of the ABC transporter superfamily play an important role in testicular physiology and defence against anticancer drugs. Using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction strategy with degenerate primers and rat testis RNA as template, we have looked for the presence of other members of this superfamily. Of the six partial cDNA found, five corresponded to ABC transporters already known ,Mdr1b, Mrp1, Tapl/Abcb9, Umat/Abcb6 and Sur2/Abcc9, and one presented a strong homology with mouse and human ABCB8. Using a 5, and 3, RACE approach, we cloned the full-length cDNA and found that the predicted protein presented 92% and 80% homology with the mouse and human proteins respectively. Strong expression of rat abcb8 was found in heart, brain and testis when compared with liver, lung and spleen. In the testis, rat abcb8 was expressed both in the somatic Sertoli cells and peritubular cells and in the germline (spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes). Furthermore, Umat/Abcb6 was very highly expressed in the testis (high amounts in meiotic pachytene spermatocytes and low amount in post-meiotic early spermatids). In conclusion, we confirm the presence of several ABC transporters in the testis and also provide evidence of the presence of Abcb8 in the organ. [source]

Administration of acetylcholine to the spermatic nerve plexus inhibits testosterone secretion in an in vitro isolated rat testis,nerve plexus system

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 3 2002
C. Zhu
Strong evidence indicated that spermatic nerves are involved in the regulation of testosterone secretion. Our previous work showed that the inferior spermatic nerves play a more significant role than the superior ones in the regulation of testosterone secretion. However, it is unknown whether traditional neurotransmitters are involved in this regulation. In order to evaluate this point, the present experiments were carried out in an in vitro system where an isolated testis,spermatic nerve plexus preparation was incubated in two separate containers, one for the testis and the other for the nerve plexus and both interconnected by the inferior spermatic nerves. Both tissues were maintained in the same environmental conditions except for the neurotransmitter treatment, applied only to the nerve plexus. Acetylcholine can significantly inhibit the secretion of testosterone until the end of incubation. The present experiments suggest that the secretion of testosterone could be regulated, at least in part, by acetylcholine through the inferior spermatic nerves. [source]

HtrA2 is up-regulated in the rat testis after experimental cryptorchidism

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2 2006
TETSUO HAYASHI
Aim:, The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of high temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2) in germ cell loss in the heat-stressed testis. Methods:, We examined the expression of HtrA2, caspase-9 activity and proteolytic activity of HtrA2 in the rat testis, and their in vivo responses to experimental cryptorchid treatment. Results:, Northern analysis revealed the expression of HtrA2 mRNA peaked at days 1 and 7 after cryptorchid treatment. While expression of HtrA2 mRNA was seen in the spermatogonium, spermatocytes and some spermatids in normal adult rat testis, experimental cryptorchidism treatment resulted in a marked increase in its signal intensity in spermatocytes and some spermatids, and the layers of spermatogonium and early primary spermatocytes became negative at days 1 and 7 after the treatment. However, the spermatogonium, Sertoli cells and interstitial cells appeared to have strong intensities at days 14, 28 and 56 after the treatment. Western analysis revealed the expression of HtrA2 protein peaked at day 2 coinciding with the increase of positive spermatogonium, the appearance of protein-positive interstitial cells, and day 28 coinciding with the reappearance of protein-positive interstitial cells. Caspase-9 activity peaked at day 2 and HtrA2 proteolytic activity peaked at day 28. Consequently, the first peak of HtrA2 mRNA expression was followed by the peak of caspase-9 activity and the second peak was followed by the peak of proteolytic activity; however, the second peak of mRNA expression had considerable chronological difference from that of the protein. Conclusion:, These findings suggest the probabilities that the heat stress results in germ cell death by a caspase-independent manner with the elevation of HtrA2 proteolytic activity, as well as a caspase-dependent manner with the elevation of caspase-9 activity. [source]

Methoxychlor-induced alteration in the levels of HSP70 and clusterin is accompanied with oxidative stress in adult rat testis

JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
S. Vaithinathan
Abstract Methoxychlor, an organochlorine pesticide, has been reported to induce abnormalities in male reproductive tract. However, the insight into the mechanisms of gonadal toxicity induced by methoxychlor is not well known. We investigated whether treatment with methoxychlor would alter the levels of stress proteins, heat shock proteins (HSP), and clusterin (CLU), and oxidative stress-related parameters in the testis of adult male rats. Animals were exposed to a single dose of methoxychlor (50 mg/kg body weight) orally and were terminated at various time points (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 72 h) using anesthetic ether. The levels of HSP70, CLU, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and lipid peroxidation levels were evaluated in a 10% testis homogenate. A sequential reduction in the activities of catalase and SOD with concomitant increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) was observed. These changes elicited by methoxychlor were very significant between 6,12 h of posttreatment. Immunoblot analysis of HSP revealed the expression of HSP72, an inducible form of HSP, at certain time points (3,24 h) following exposure to methoxychlor. Similarly, the levels of secretory CLU (sCLU) were also found to be elevated between 3,24 h of treatment. The present data demonstrate methoxychlor-elicited increase in the levels of inducible HSP72 and sCLU, which could be a part of protective mechanism mounted to reduce cellular oxidative damage. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:29,35, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20262 [source]

Novel identification of peripheral dopaminergic D2 receptor in male germ cells,

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2007
Carola Otth
Abstract Dopamine is a recognized modulator in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organ functions. The presence of peripheral dopamine receptors outside the CNS has suggested an intriguing interaction between the nervous system and other functional systems, such as the reproductive system. In the present study we analyzed the expression of D2R receptors in rat testis, rat spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa, in different mammals. The RT-PCR analysis of rat testis mRNA showed specific bands corresponding to the two dopamine receptor D2R (L and S) isoforms previously described in the brain. Using Western blot analysis, we confirmed that the protein is present in rat testis, isolated spermatogenic cells and also in spermatozoa of a range of different mammals, such as rat, mouse, bull, and human. The immunohistochemistry analysis of rat adult testis showed that the receptor was expressed in all germ cells (pre- and post-meiotic phase) of the tubule with staining predominant in spermatogonia. Confocal analysis by indirect immunofluorescence revealed that in non-capacitated spermatozoa of rat, mouse, bull, and human, D2R is mainly localized in the flagellum, and is also observed in the acrosomal region of the sperm head (except in human spermatozoa). Our findings demonstrate that the two D2 receptor isoforms are expressed in rat testis and that the receptor protein is present in different mammalian spermatozoa. The presence of D2R receptors in male germ cells implies new and unsuspected roles for dopamine signaling in testicular and sperm physiology. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 141,150, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Dynamin 2 associates with complexins and is found in the acrosomal region of mammalian sperm

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2007
Longmei Zhao
Abstract Previous data showed that complexin I, a SNARE regulatory protein, is localized in and/or around the acrosome and is necessary for the acrosome reaction in sperm. To understand how complexin I regulates the acrosome reaction, we used complexin-GST pulldown assays to identify interacting proteins. We showed that both complexins I and II bound mouse sperm dynamin 2. Dynamin 2 is a 100 kDa GTPase essential to many aspects of endocytosis but its potential role in exocytosis is unknown. Dynamin 2 is expressed in rat testis and widely expressed in other tissues; however, the function of dynamin 2 in germ cells is uncertain. Dynamin 2 protein was detected in mouse testis and was most abundant in or around the developing acrosome of spermatids. In addition, dynamin 2 was co-localized with complexin I in the acrosomal region of mammalian sperm. Its co-localization and interaction with complexin I suggest that dynamin 2 may play a role during acrosome formation and/or acrosomal exocytosis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 750,757, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Identification, molecular cloning, and cellular distribution of the rat homolog of minichromosome maintenance protein 7 (MCM7) in the rat testis,

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 7 2006
Emmanuelle Com
Abstract As part of a program to decipher the rat testicular proteome, we studied spermatogonia and identified numerous proteins including the human homolog of the Minichromosome Maintenance Protein 7 (MCM7). MCM7 has been implicated in DNA replication in various species, but had not been detected in the testis. Here we describe the cellular distribution of MCM7 transcripts and protein, and their testicular ontogenetic expression. The full-length coding region of the rat MCM7 was also characterized. Northern blot analyses showed that MCM7 transcripts are more abundant in the testis than other organs and confirmed the presence of the 2.4 kb MCM7 transcript at all ages studied. Interestingly, two additional transcripts of 3.2 and 1.6 kb were found from 26 days post partum onwards, when spermatocytes and spermatids accumulate within the tubules. This was confirmed in isolated cell types: the three MCM7 transcripts were observed in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells. The 3.2 kb isoform has an extended 5, untranslated region (UTR) and the 1.6 kb transcript is the result of alternative splicing of five exons. Western blot and immunohistochemistry experiments evidenced abundant MCM7 in proliferating gonocytes and Sertoli cells in the fetal testis. In the adult testis, an intense signal was observed in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. We conclude that the Mcm7 is one example of genes that are differently transcribed and translated in somatic and spermatogenetic cells in mammals. Further work is required to determine the roles of MCM7 in spermatogonia and germ lineage. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Complementary DNA cloning of rat spetex-1, a spermatid-expressing gene-1, encoding a 63 kDa cytoplasmic protein of elongate spermatids

Antioxidant enzyme activity and MDA level in the rat testis following chronic administration of ghrelin

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 6 2009
A. Kheradmand
Summary Ghrelin has recently been reported to exert beneficial effects on various oxidative stresses as a result of its antioxidant properties. Therefore, we designed this study to explore the probable antioxidative effects of this peptide in the testis. Twenty-eight male adult Wistar rats were divided into equal control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, 1 nmol of ghrelin was administered as subcutaneous injection for 10 consecutive days or vehicle (physiological saline) to the control rats. The control and treated rats were killed on days 6 and 10 after beginning of ghrelin injection (n = 7 from each group on each day). The testes were taken and measured for antioxidant enzyme activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased on day 10 in the treated animals compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Although the mean activity of glutathione peroxidase was greater on day 6 in the ghrelin-treated group than in the control animals, it was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities between the groups. However, MDA level decreased by ghrelin treatment on day 10 compared with the control rats (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate for the first time novel evidences for antioxidant properties of ghrelin in the rat testis. [source]

Experimental ischaemia-reperfusion injury induces vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the rat testis

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 4 2009
H. Hashimoto
Summary Testicular torsion causes ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury of testis and might lead to male infertility. Its injury initiates a pathophysiological cascade, including an activation of inflammatory cytokines and generation of nitric oxide and other reactive oxygen species. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates angiogenesis and promotes endothelial cell survival. The aim of our study was to investigate the time course expression of VEGF, VEGF-receptor (R)1, VEGF-R2, nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in experimental I-R injury of rat testis. In torsion side testis, the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA significantly increased in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Although the expression of VEGF-R1 mRNA was increased in a similar way (P < 0.001), VEGF-R2 mRNA expression was not detected. In immunohistochemistry, the increase in VEGF protein staining was observed in testicular vascular endothelial cells and germ cells at 24 h after reperfusion. Significant activation of inducible NOS and endothelial NOS was investigated at 12 and 24 h after reperfusion (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). This is the first report to show the time course expression of VEGF in experimental I-R rat testis. [source]

Development-dependent expression of tissue-kallikrein and the bradykinin B2 receptor in rat testis

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2003
S. Blöcher
First page of article [source]

The role of retinoblastoma protein family in the control of germ cell proliferation, differentiation and survival

APMIS, Issue 1 2003
JORMA TOPPARI
Retinoblastoma family proteins pRb, p107 and p130 are differentially expressed in the rat testis. They function in specific cell types during testicular development and spermatogenesis, participating in the control of proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Their expression levels and phosphorylation status are modulated during germ cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Hyperphosphorylated states and elevated levels of p107 are correlated with cell cycle progression, whereas hypophosphorylated states and reduced levels are associated with suppression of proliferation and apoptosis in germ cells and Leydig cells. These proteins may also serve as markers of cell cycle status of germ cells during spermatogenesis. [source]

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 on apoptosis of rat testicular germ cells induced by testicular torsion

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2004
C. Ozkurkcugil
OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible protective role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, reported to have a protective effect in experimental models of hypoxic ischaemia), and the involvement of apoptotic cell death in a model of torsion/detorsion of the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 underwent a sham operation as a control; in group 2 the testis was twisted and in group 3 then untwisted; in group 4 IGF-1 was injected subcutaneously just before bilateral torsion, and then the right testis removed after 4 h and the left after 24 h; in group 5, IGF-1 was injected immediately after bilateral detorsion and then the testes removed as in group 4. Both testicles were examined histologically, with apoptosis detected using the in situ DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) system, with combined enzymology and immunohistochemistry techniques. RESULTS In groups 2 (torsion) and 3 (detorsion), light microscopy of the testis showed some degenerative changes in the germ cells. Compared to group 1, apoptosis was more significant in group 3 than in the other groups. Group 4 (torsion/IGF-1) had a similar number of apoptotic germ cells as in group 2 (torsion) after 24 h, but fewer than the same group after 4 h. In group 5 (detorsion/IGF-1), apoptosis was reduced by IGF-1 significantly more than in group 3 (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was significantly less in spermatids in group 5 than in group 3 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS IGF-1 seems to lower the levels of germ cell apoptosis, which may be important for protecting the testes from torsion/detorsion injury. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate this protective effect in testicular torsion/detorsion. [source]