ObjectiveWe evaluate the effects ofThymus algeriensis (TEO) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) toxicity on body and testis weight, testis sperm count, testis lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats.
MethodsRats were treated with low (LD) and high dose (HD) of H2O2 (0.1 and 1 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of TEO (150 mg/kg).
ResultsThe results exhibited a significant decrease in body weight and testis weight, in total sperm number decrease (P<0.05), sperm motility and percentage of sperm viability, leading to complete arrest, in sperm flagellar beat frequency by the gavage of 1 mmol/L H2O2 compared to controls.The administration of H2O2 resulted in a significant reduction in testis GSH, GPx, CAT, SOD, and GST activity andsignificant increase (P<0.05) in MDAconcentration compared with the untreated control animals. TEO pre-treatment protected testis from the H2O2generated oxidative stress.These results were confirmed byhistological architecture examinations.
ConclusionH2O2 has the ability to alter the sperm function, characteristics and development of testis. However, TEO is an efficient natural agent, which can prevent the testis from H2O2-induced oxidative damage in rats.

啮齿科动物睾丸中多种谷氨酸转运体变异体的表达

CKLFSF2在人精子发生中的表达和定位

Aim: To investigate the expression and subcellular localization of chemokine-like factor superfamily 2 (CKLFSF2) in human testis and its potential role in spermatogenesis. Methods: A specific polyclonal antibody against CKLFSF2 was raised. The expression and cellular localization of CKLFSF2 in the seminiferous tubules was checked by immunohistochemistry method. Also, in situ hybridization was applied to localize the mRNA distribution. The EGFPCKLFSF2 fusion protein was expressed in COS-7 cells to localize its subcellular location in vitro. In addition, the abnormal expression of CKLFSF2 in testes of patients with male infertility was assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry methods. Results: Having a close correlation with spermatogenesis defects, CKLFSF2 was specifically expressed in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells, which were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) near the Golgi apparatus. Conclusion: CKLFSF2 could play important roles in the process of meiosis and spermiogenesis, and might be involved in the vesicular transport or membrane apposition events in the endoplasmic reticulum.

2-(2-乙缩醛)邻苯二甲酸酯对小鼠睾丸、肝脏、肾脏和胰腺的短期影响

Aim: To determine the biochemical effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on testes, liver, kidneys and pancreas on day 10 in the process of degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium. Methods: Diets containing 2% DEHP were given to male Crlj:CD1(ICR) mice for 10 days. The dose of DEHP was 0.90 ± 0.52 mg/mouse/day. Their testes, livers, kidneys and pancreata were examined for detection of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced by peroxidation of nitric oxide (NO) with free radicals, and lipid peroxidation induced by the chain reaction of free radicals. Results: Histological observation and serum analysis showed the presence of severe spermatogenic disturbance, Leydig cell dysfunction, liver dysfunction and dehydration. Unexpectedly, the concentration of MEHP in the testes was extremely low compared with that in the liver. However, the concentration of the NOx in the testes was as high as the hepatic concentration. Furthermore, free radical-induced lipid peroxidation was histochemically detected in the testes but not in the liver. Conclusion: The results indicate that DEHP-induced aspermatogenesis is caused by the high sensitivity of the testicular tissues to MEHP rather than the specific accumulation or uptake of circulating MEHP into the testes.

维生素E对二甲磺酸乙烷在大鼠体内的睾丸毒性的防护作用

Aim:To evaluate the protective/ameliorative effects of vitamin E (vit E) on ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS)-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Methods: The rats were assigned to eight groups, seven rats in each, and were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle, a single dose of ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) (75 mg/kg bodyweight), vit E (100 mg/kg bodyweight) or EDS + vit E for 3-7 days. Thereafter, the rats were weighed, anaesthetized with ether and killed by cervical dislocation. The left testis weights were recorded and the relative testis weights were calculated.The left testes were processed for routine paraffin embedding. Three right testes from each group were taken randomly and then processed for routine electron microscopy. Tissue sections were examined using light and electron microscopy, and were scored for histopathological changes. Results: Vit E coadministration did not prevent the bodyweight loss on days 3 and 7. However, vit E administration prevented the EDS-induced testicular-weight loss in rats that received vit E for 3 days but not 7 days. The relative testis weight was higher on day 3 (instead of on day 7) than other groups. Nevertheless, the testis histology was not markedly protected by vit E in the EDS-treated rats.Detailed microscopic assessment showed few Leydig cells and abundant fibroblast-like cells indicating only some protection. Conclusion: Vit E cotreatment showed partial protective effects on the testicular weight and testicular histology in rats that received EDS.

正常生育和不育男性的精浆中层粘连蛋白的评价

Aim:To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination: fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), obstructive azoospermia (OA) and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens (CBAVD). The patients' medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay. Results: Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were: 2.82 ± 0.62, 2.49 ± 0.44,1.77 ± 0.56, 1.72 ± 0.76, 1.35 ± 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups (P＜0.05). Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration (r = 0.460, P ＜ 0.001) and nonsignificant correlation with age (r = 0.021, P = 0.940), sperm motility percentage (r = 0.142, P = 0.615) and semen volume (r = 0.035, P = 0.087). Conclusion: Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.

环境污染物对睾丸功能的影响

The usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in the evaluation of scrotal pathology has recently been reported. A standard reference of normal testicular apparent diffusion coefifcient (ADC) values and their variations with age is necessary when interpreting normal testicular anatomy and pathology. We evaluated 147 normal testes using DWI, including 71 testes from 53 men aged 20-39 years (group 1), 67 testes from 42 men aged 40-69 years (group 2) and nine testes from six men older than 70 years (group 3). DWI was performed along the axial plane, using a single shot, multislice spin-echo planar diffusion pulse sequence and b-values of 0 and 900 s mm-2. The mean and standard deviation of the ADC values of normal testicular parenchyma were calculated for each age group separately. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc analysis (Dunnett T3) was used for statistical purposes. The ADC values (× 10-3 mm2 s-1) of normal testicular tissue were different among age groups (group 1:1.08 ± 0.13;group 2:1.15 ± 0.15 and group 3:1.31 ± 0.22). ANOVA revealed differences in mean ADC among age groups (F=11.391, P<0.001). Post hoc analysis showed differences between groups 1 and 2 (P=0.008) and between groups 1 and 3 (P=0.043), but not between groups 2 and 3 (P=0.197). Our ifndings suggest that ADC values of normal testicular tissue increase with advancing age.