bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Estrogen Administration In Vivo on the Elemental Composition of the Intraluminal Fluids of the Seminiferous Tubules, Rete Testis, and Epididymis of the Rat
Authors: JENKINS A. D. , LECHENE C. P. , HOWARDS S. S.
Published: December 2015

The maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis is dependent upon the presence of androgens. This study examined the effects of androgen suppression by estradiol valerate on the elemental composition of the intraluminal fluids of the testis and epididymis. In the fluid from the caput epididymidis, the concentrations of sodium (106.1 ± 3.4 to 182.8 ± 16.9 mmol/1, P < 0.01) and chloride (16.5 ± 2.2 to 79.3 ± 10.8 mmol/1, P < 0.01) rose after treatment with estradiol valerate. By contrast, this treatment reduced the concentrations of phosphorus (63.7 ± 1.6 to 47.8 ± 3.2 mmol/1, P < 0.01), sulfur (18.4 ± 1.0 to 10.8 ± 1.0 mmol/1, P < 0.01), calcium (0.93 ± 0.09 to 0.50 ± 0.07 mmol/1, P < 0.01), and magnesium (2.21 ± 0.41 to 0.76 ± 0.16 mmol/1, P < 0.01). In the distal cauda epididymidis, the concentration of chloride rose after treatment with estradiol valerate (24.4 ± 1.7 to 54.9 ± 3.9 mmol/1, P < 0.01), but the concentrations of the other measured elements (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) were not altered by estrogen treatment. In rete testis fluid the concentration of phosphorus fell (2.00 ± 0.30 to 0.67 ± 0.12 mmol/1, P < 0.01), while that of calcium rose (0.66 ± 0.15 to 1.55 ± 0.21 mmol/1, P < 0.01). Estrogen treatment did not appear to affect the elemental composition of seminiferous tubular fluid or serum. Therefore, estradiol valerate had a marked impact on the elemental composition of luminal fluid only in the caput epididymidis—where sperm maturation is initiated—and a minor effect on that of cauda epididymidal fluid—in which mature spermatozoa are stored.
Regulation of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Male Dog Role of Estradiol
Authors: WINTER M. , FALVO R. E. , SCHANBACHER B. D. , VERHOLTZ S.
Published: December 2015

Steroid regulation of pituitary LH and FSH secretion in the male may be mediated via the direct action of testosterone, or via the conversion of testosterone to either dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estrogenic steroids. The site of testosterone conversion to these metabolites may be peripherally and/or centrally located. The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of the conversion of testosterone to estradiol in the control of gonadotropin secretion using the aromatase inhibitor aminoglutethimide (AG). In testosterone‐implanted orchidectomized dogs, AG prevented the ability of testosterone to inhibit the post‐orchidectomy rise of LH, despite the presence of normal plasma concentrations of both testosterone and estradiol. These data suggest that aromatization of testosterone to estradiol is a necessary step in the regulation of LH secretion. Furthermore, a lack of change in the peripheral concentrations of estradiol in the presence of AG led us indirectly to conclude that inhibition of aromatization occurred centrally rather than peripherally. In the absence of AG, testosterone was unable to maintain intact levels of FSH in the orchidectomized dog for more than six days. Thus, it still remains to be demonstrated whether steroids are of major importance in the regulation of FSH secretion.
Orchiectomy in Young Rats Results in Differential Regulation of Follicle‐Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Content
Authors: VOGEL DONNA L. , SHERINS RICHARD J. , STATON RICHARD C. , RODBARD DAVID
Published: December 2015

While it is generally accepted that GnRH stimulates release of pituitary gonadotropins, it is not clear what regulates synthesis. The orchiectomized immature rat, with sustained high plasma levels of LH and FSH, provides an opportunity to study how gonadotropin biosynthesis responds to loss of the gonad.

We have measured plasma and pituitary LH and FSH in castrate and sham operated rats after orchiectomy at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of age. Plasma FSH and LH concentrations by RIA were markedly elevated in castrates within one to three days after castration, and they remained elevated in all groups. By contrast, pituitary content measurements revealed differences between the two gonadotropins: while LH content in castrates consistently exceeded that in controls, FSH content in castrates was lower. Pituitary LH excess was evident by seven to ten days after castration. The pituitary FSH deficit in younger animals was similarly apparent by seven to ten days. In the older groups, however, FSH content decreased as early as three days, but returned toward normal by 21 days.

In orchiectomized young rats, pituitary LH is elevated, but FSH content is depressed. This discrepancy is delayed, but more marked, in younger rats. In view of sustained high plasma levels after castration, our findings imply differential regulation of synthesis, processing, or storage of the two gonadotropins.
Similar Biochemical Properties of Human Seminal Plasma and Epididymal α‐1,4‐Glucosidase
Authors: PAQUIN R. , CHAPDELAINE P. , DUBÉ J. Y. , TREMBLAY R. R.
Published: December 2015

We have studied some characteristics of α‐1,4‐glucosidases in human male reproductive organs in order to obtain information on the origin of the enzyme in seminal plasma. Acid and neutral enzymes could be distinguished on the basis of their selective inhibition either by SDS (acid enzyme) or MTT (neutral enzyme). Only the epididymis contained a significant amount of SDS resistant neutral α‐1,4‐glucosidase which was comparable to what has been isolated in seminal plasma. The similarity of epididymal and seminal plasma neutral enzymes was further confirmed by ultracentrifugation on sucrose density gradients, which permitted a complete separation of neutral (11S) and acid (4S) iso‐enzymes. The 11S form was present in epididymis and in seminal plasma, but was totally absent in seminal vesicles, prostates and testis. The epididymal enzyme also had some of the unique characteristics found in the seminal plasma enzyme: it precipitated upon dialysis against distilled water, and its mobility on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was identical to that of form 1 in seminal plasma. These results, although they do not constitute absolute proof of the identity of epididymal and seminal plasma α‐glucosidase, certainly provide strong support for this hypothesis.
Fetal Irradiation Increases Androgen Production by Dispersed Leydig Cells of the Rat
Authors: JANSZ GWENDERLYN F. , POMERANTZ DAVID K.
Published: December 2015

Damage to the seminiferous epithelium of the rat has been shown to decrease the concentration of serum testosterone. In these animals, compared to controls, the structure of the Leydig cells suggests hyperactivity. In an attempt to understand the functional changes at the Leydig cell level, we measured in vitro androgen production by whole testes, testicular fragments, and Leydig cell preparations. The androgen production of adult rats that had received 1.6 Gy of gamma radiation on day 20 of gestation was compared to that of nonirradiated controls. Leydig cells obtained from fetally‐irradiated adult rats demonstrated increased basal (1.3×) and LH‐stimulated (4.4×) testosterone production and increased hCG binding (4.8×) per histochemically identified Leydig cell, as compared to cells obtained from nonirradiated control animals. Although the irradiated testicular tissue showed an increased responsiveness per mg/tissue compared to controls, basal and stimulated in vitro testosterone production per irradiated testis calculated from this data was diminished because of the five‐fold decrease in testis size. In addition, the circulating levels of testosterone were reduced in irradiated animals. We suggest that fetal irradiation is associated with an increase of hCG binding and testosterone production per Leydig cell, and a decrease in the number of these Leydig cells per testis.
Effects of Electroejaculation and Ketamine‐HCl on Serum Cortisol, Progesterone, and Testosterone in the Male Cat
Authors: CARTER KRIS K. , CHAKRABORTY PRABIR K. , BUSH MITCHELL , WILDT DAVID E.
Published: December 2015

The influence of manual restraint, ketamine‐hydrochloride anesthesia and electroejaculation under anesthesia on circulating levels of cortisol, progesterone and testosterone was examined in male domestic cats. In the first experiment, cats were anesthetized with ketamine‐HCl (17.5 mg/kg of body weight) and serially bled (controls) or serially bled and electroejaculated. These animals showed signs of recovering from anesthesia within 45 to 60 minutes of ketamine‐HCl injection. Average serum cortisol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) over the 84‐minute sampling interval in both the electroejaculated and control groups. Cortisol levels reached their maximum concentration in the electrically stimulated males immediately postelectroejaculation (95.1 ng/ml) and were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than in the controls (36.1 ng/ml) at a comparable time. Maximal mean cortisol concentrations in the control group (62.8 ng/ml) occurred 54 minutes after the first blood sample and occurred together with the onset of anesthesia recovery. Mean testosterone levels did not differ between electroejaculated and control cats, but did decrease (P < 0.05) between the first and last blood sampling in both groups. In the second experiment, cats were bled on the same time schedule as in Experiment 1, but were bled while awake and manually restrained, or else during a deeper plane of anesthesia induced and maintained with higher doses of ketamine‐HCl (initial dose, 23 mg/kg). Mean serum cortisol levels were greater (P < 0.05) during manual restraint (range, 36.3–41.1 ng/ml) compared to deep anesthesia (range, 16.7–25.8 ng/ml), but did not change over the 84 minute sampling interval in either group. Although the decline in mean concentrations was not significant, testosterone decreased by 31–94% in four of six individual males during both manual restraint and deep anesthesia. Serum progesterone levels in both Experiments 1 and 2 averaged less than 0.5 ng/ml. Although progesterone increased (P < 0.05) between the first and last blood samples in Experiment 1, the absolute quantities detected were indistinguishable from possible progesterone antibody cross‐reactivity with the hormone cortisol. The results of this research indicate that electroejaculation of the anesthetized cat produces acute stress as demonstrated by elevated serum cortisol levels measured immediately after electroejaculation. However, significant increases in cortisol also are detected in non‐electroejaculated cats recovering from ketamine‐HCl anesthesia. Such a rise is abolished if males are maintained under a more prolonged and deeper plane of anesthesia during blood sampling, or if no ketamine‐HCl is given. Because serum testosterone declines markedly in most cats independent of a detectable rise in cortisol there is no clear, physiological coupling of these two hormones in this species.
Identification of Arginine Esterase as the Major Androgen‐dependent Protein Secreted by Dog Prostate and Preliminary Molecular Characterization in Seminal Plasma
Authors: CHAPDELAINE PIERRE , DUBÉ JEAN Y. , FRENETTE GILLES , TREMBLAY ROLAND R.
Published: December 2015

This work was undertaken to determine the identity of the major androgen‐dependent 15,000 molecular weight protein previously observed on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of both dog prostate cytosol and dog seminal plasma. The protein was identified as one of the two chains of arginine esterase on the basis of its ability to bind 3H‐diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DFP), an active site titrant of serine proteases. Furthermore, since the other polypeptide chain was heterogeneous, at least five distinct peaks of arginine esterase activity could be separated by chromatofocusing under nonreducing conditions. The molecular weight of the seminal plasma protein was estimated at 29,500 by Sephadex G‐100 gel filtration, and at 25,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of mercaptoethanol. In the presence of mercaptoethanol, two major peaks were observed with molecular weights of 15,000 and 14,000. These results show that arginine esterase of dog seminal plasma is a serine protease composed of two different chains linked by disulfide bridges. One of the chains contains the reactive serine group. The other one is probably glycosylated since it presents several isoelectric points.
Cryptorchidism: Review and Evaluation of the Fertility of Adult Cryptorchids
Authors: LANIA CATERINA , GRASSO MARCO , MANTOVANI GIANNI , HADJIGEORGIOU DEMETRE , ANNONI FEDERICO , RIGATTI PATRIZIO
Published: December 2015

Twenty‐two cases of adult cryptorchidism were clinically examined and evaluated by semen analysis, Doppler ultrasound examination, and testicular biopsy. All of these patients had undergone orchiopexy after reaching puberty, and had been followed for a period ranging from two to ten years, with a mean of 5.7 years. Although 41% of the patients had testes that clinically appeared normal in size, only five had a normal semen analysis. Because of the usual association with low fertility, marked by oligozoospermia, and the increased risk of testicular malignancy, testicular biopsy followed by orchiectomy should be performed in cases of unilateral cryptorchidism diagnosed after puberty.
New Aspects in Diagnosis and Therapy of Liquefaction Disturbances in Human Semen
Authors: PUSCH HANS H.
Published: December 2015

A simple and reliable method is introduced to evaluate liquefaction disturbances of human ejaculates. By means of a disposable plastic hook, an attempt is made to draw threads out of the ejaculate. If this is still possible 20 minutes or more after ejaculation, a liquefaction disturbance is diagnosed. The therapeutic usefulness of this method has been investigated in a clinical study. Forty patients of the Andrological Department of the University Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Graz were treated with Ichthyol preparations: 20 patients had sitz bath therapy with Ichthobath three times a week for six weeks, and 20 patients used Ichtopur suppositories twice daily for six weeks. In both treatment groups a significant decrease in liquefaction time occurred, and four pregnancies resulted. The new diagnostic method and the encouraging results after treatment with Ichthyol enhance the therapeutic possibilities for the andrologist in the complex field of seminal liquefaction disturbances.
Congenital Curvature of the Penis
Authors: GRAZIOTTI PIERPAOLO , LEMBO ANTONINO , FREGO EZIO , BREDA GUGLIELMO , COSCIANI‐CUNICO SERGIO , PAGANO FRANCESCO
Published: December 2015

The surgical technique described by Nesbit was used to correct congenital curvature of the penis in 29 men. In 27 subjects the operation was successful, while in two patients a recurrence of the condition required a second surgical treatment. The present report also includes a discussion of some aspects of differntial diagnosis between asymmetry of the corpora cavernosa, chordee without hypospadia, and congenital short urethra.
A Rectangular Dorsal Preputial Vascularized Skin Flap for One‐stage Hypospadias Repair
Authors: CARMIGNANI GIORGIO , MAFFEZZINI MASSIMO , DE STEFANI STEFANO , CORBU CARLO , PODDIGHE SANDRO
Published: December 2015

This report describes a very effective and safe technique for one‐stage hypospadias repair. A vascularized rectangular dorsal preputial skin flap is isolated, ventrally rotated, and tubulized into a neourethral channel. This procedure allows bringing the meatus to the very tip of the glans, discarding the distal millimeters of diseased urethra, and correcting chordee, if present. Furthermore, it simplifies obtaining a cover for the penis. Best results are achieved with microsurgical techniques using magnifying loupes at 3 × magnification or an operating microscope at 6 × magnification.
Long‐term Follow‐up of Peyronie's Disease
Authors: BREDA GUGLIELMO , GRAZIOTTI PIERPAOLO , ARTIBANI WALTER , LEMBO ANTONINO , PAGANO FRANCESCO
Published: December 2015

Several articles describing the natural history of Peyronie's Disease have shown that untreated patients seem to have spontaneous improvement. We have reviewed our past experience, trying to clarify this issue. We report on 41 selected patients, with a mean follow‐up of eight years. Our findings indicate that we cannot accept the optimism of the recent literature. We analyzed those factors that we have found to be important when making a judgment about this disease and that have not been taken into account by others: deficit of erections, mechanical difficulty during coitus, altered quality of intercourse, etc. We conclude that Peyronie's Disease is a sexually disabling disease.
Testicular Size: The Effects of Aging, Malnutrition, and Illness
Authors: HANDELSMAN DAVID J. , STARAJ SERGE
Published: December 2015

Paired testicular volumes and weights, as well as age, height, and weight, were recorded from a series of 1056 consecutive necropsies on adult males ranging in age from 18 to 96 years. These data were analyzed to examine the effects of age, nutritional state (standardized body weight), and illness on testicular size. Testicular volume and weight were related by a constant density of 1.038 g/ml, regardless of testicular size, age or illness. Mean testicular volume was correlated with height (r = 0.470), weight (r = 0.504), body surface area (r = 0.549) and standardized body weight (r = 0.152). Advancing age, malnutrition, alcoholism, malignancy, and a chronic, terminal illness were each individual risk factors for reduced testicular size, whereas diabetes, narcotic or other drug usage, and pelvic injury were not associated with reduced testicular volume. Since advancing age, reduced standardized body weight, and some disease states were all associated with diminution of testicular size, the interaction of age, malnutrition, and illness on testicular size were examined by statistical modeling, using multivariate logistic regression and covariance analysis. The associations of alcoholism, malignancy, and chronic, terminal illness with decreased testicular volume were independent of aging or nutritional state. The effects of chronic, terminal illness were mostly explained by the concurrent effects of reductions in standardized body weight (malnutrition). After exclusion of men with diseases shown to be associated with decreased testicular size, the specific effects of age alone demonstrated a reduction in testicular volume only in the 8th decade of life. Among men aged 18–70 years dying suddenly without associated disease shown to influence testicular size, mean testicular volume was 18.1 ± 0.2 ml (95% confidence limits 7.9–28.3) and mean testicular weight was 18.8 ± 0.2 g (95% confidence limits 8.2–29.4). It is concluded that age, malnutrition, and illness exert independent effects on testicular function, and that the effects of age and malnutrition should be considered as important confounders of disease effects on testicular size.
Release, Extraction, and Stability of Hyaluronidase Associated with Human Spermatozoa Comparisons with the Rabbit
Authors: JOYCE C. , JEYENDRAN R. S. , ZANEVELD L. J. D.
Published: December 2015

In contrast to the rabbit: 1) no hyaluronidase could be detected in fresh or frozen human seminal plasma, all color formation on assay being due to a dialyzable, heat stable factor; 2) almost no hyaluronidase could be extracted from frozen‐thawed human testicles; 3) the hyaluronidase from human spermatozoa was rapidly inactivated upon release, either spontaneously or on extraction; and 4) a large decrease in hyaluronidase activity occurred when human spermatozoa were stored under various conditions. Rabbit spermatozoa contained six to 13 times more hyaluronidase than human spermatozoa. These results show that distinct species differences exist in the hyaluronidase associated with spermatozoa. None of the human genital tract sources studied could be used to obtain adequate amounts of hyaluronidase for the further isolation and purification of the enzyme. For both human and rabbit spermatozoa, it was optimal to add the cells directly to the assay system for the quantitation of hyaluronidase on spermatozoa rather than extracting the spermatozoa and testing the extracts. The spermatozoa of both species appear to be capable of digesting hyaluronic acid directly. As had previously been found for acrosin, a higher amount of hyaluronidase was maintained when human spermatozoa were cryopreserved in a zwitter buffer (TESTCY) rather than in glycerol.
Intracellular Pathways of Endocytosed Tracers in Leydig Cells of the Rat
Authors: HERMO L. , CLERMONT Y. , LALLI M.
Published: December 2015

The endocytic activity of Leydig cells was examined by electron microscopy following the injection, into the interstitial space, of tracers used to examine fluid‐phase endocytosis, ie, native ferritin and horseradish peroxidase‐colloidal gold (horseradish peroxidase‐gold), and adsorptive endocytosis, ie, cationic ferritin. At 5 minutes after injection, native ferritin or horseradish peroxidase‐gold was present in the interstitial space and free in the lumen of large endocytic vesicles forming at the cell surface. At 15 minutes, these tracers appeared in the matrix of pale multivesicular bodies, while at 30 minutes and 1 hour, the matrix of dense multivesicular bodies became labeled. Beginning at 1 hour, dense membrane‐delimited bodies identified cytochemically as lysosomes were labeled. In the case of cationic ferritin, two distinct pathways were taken. In one pathway, cationic ferritin was observed 5 minutes after injection bound to the plasma membrane of Leydig cells and to the membrane of small and large endocytic vesicles. At subsequent time intervals, cationic ferritin appeared consecutively in pale, dense multivesicular bodies and lysosomes. In a second pathway, cationic ferritin was observed at 5, 15, and 30 minutes bound to the membrane of vesicles of intermediate size seen near the cell surface. At 1, 1 ½ and 2 hours, cationic ferritin‐containing intermediate vesicles appeared in increasing number in the Golgi region. However, cationic ferritin was never observed in the Golgi saccules themselves. At later time intervals (3–6 hours), intermediate vesicles labeled with cationic ferritin progressively disappeared from the Golgi region and the cell. Thus in Leydig cells, while fluid‐phase tracers reached lysosomes exclusively, cationic ferritin, a tracer of adsorptive endocytosis, not only reached the lysosomes, but was also carried by the intermediate vesicles to the Golgi region of the cell.
Whole Cell and Nuclear Androgen Uptake in Skin Fibroblasts from Infertile Men
Authors: EIL CHARLES , GAMBLIN GEORGE T. , HODGE JOHN W. , CLARK RICHARD V. , SHERINS RICHARD J.
Published: December 2015

In order to reexamine the hypothesis that a high percentage of infertile men with oligo/azoospermia have androgen resistance due to androgen receptor abnormalities, both whole cell and nuclear uptake of [3H]R1881 (a synthetic, nonmetabolizable androgen) were measured in intact, dispersed fibroblasts cultured from pubic skin biopsy specimens of 15 men selected because of infertility associated with varying degrees of oligozoospermia. Eight men had sperm densities ≤ 2 × 106/ml; 7 were > 2 × 106/ml. Serum levels of FSH and LH were elevated in the severely oligo/azoospermic group, but normal in the other infertile men; concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, and prolactin were normal in both groups. The controls were six normal, age‐matched, fertile males.

There was no difference in binding capacity or dissociation constant for androgen uptake either into whole cells (3940 ± 940 [mean ± SE] sites/cell vs. 4700 ± 1120 sites/cell, P = NS) or into nuclei (1360 ± 340 sites/cell vs. 1460 ± 340 sites/cell, P = NS) of the fibroblasts from the patients vs. the controls, respectively. Furthermore, there was no correlation between patient sperm densities and fibroblast whole cell or nuclear uptake binding capacities. Finally, there was no difference in any androgen binding parameter when only the fibroblasts from the men with severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia were compared with the controls.

The authors conclude that the infertility of men with severe testicular germ cell depletion cannot be accounted for by a quantitative androgen receptor abnormality in their pubic skin fibroblasts. The possibility of a subtle, qualitative abnormality of the patients' androgen receptors or a postreceptor defect cannot be excluded even though the normal nuclear androgen uptake of the patients' cells suggests that the receptors are functionally intact.
Memorial Tribute to Griff T. Ross, M.D., Ph.D.
Authors: ROSEMBERG EUGENIA
Published: December 2015

On July 1, 1985, we lost a dear friend: Griff T. Ross, who lived neither in the past nor in the future but, who let each day's work and interest in the work of others absorb all of his energies. Throughout his life, he dedicated his whole being to any and all personal and professional tasks he ever undertook. His dedication was a gift that made his life extremely rich, not only for what he received, but for what he gave to his family, his friends, and fellow scientists around the world.

Born in Texas on July 17, 1920, Griff's heart was as open as the land of his native state. He received a bachelor's degree from the Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College in 1939, and attended graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin, before earning in 1945, a Medical Degree at the University of Texas, Medical Branch, at Galveston.
Concentrations of Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, and Androgen Binding Protein in the Peripheral Serum of Male Rats During Sexual Maturation
Authors: NAZIAN STANLEY J.
Published: December 2015

To investigate the relationship between free testosterone and sexual maturation in the male rat, animals were decapitated every 5 days from 25 through 75 days of life. Serum was assayed for androgen binding protein and total testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Free testosterone concentrations were calculated from the total testosterone concentration and the free testosterone fraction. The free testosterone fraction was determined by ultrafiltration. The pubertal increase in relative prostate and relative seminal vesicle weights began between 45 and 50 days and 40 and 45 days, respectively. Although the overall trend in the free testosterone fraction was to increase with increasing age (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001), there was a significant secondary peak at 50 days. The serum concentration of androgen binding protein was highest on day 25, fell rapidly until day 40, and declined slowly thereafter. Despite these variations in both androgen binding protein and the free testosterone fraction during sexual maturation, the calculated serum concentration of free testosterone was remarkably similar in pattern to that of total testosterone (r = 0.99, P< 0.0001). These data indicate that the serum concentration of total testosterone is an accurate reflection of the serum concentration of free testosterone during the sexual maturation of the male rat.
Accessory Sex Gland Function in Normal Young (20–25 Years) and Middle‐aged (50–55 Years) Men
Authors: RUI H. , THOMASSEN Y. , OLDEREID N.B. , PURVIS K.
Published: December 2015

A comparison of various parameters of prostatic and vesicular secretory function was made between the seminal plasma of young (20–25 years; n = 23) and middle‐aged (50–55 years; n = 19) male volunteers. These parameters included prostatic acid phosphatase, zinc, citric acid, spermine, spermidine, putrescine (prostatic origin), fructose, and prostaglandin E (vesicular origin), in addition to protein and testosterone. Spermatozoa were counted and monitored for abnormalities. The concentration in the ejaculate of the majority of the parameters investigated did not change with age, although the total contribution to the ejaculate from the prostate and seminal vesicles was reduced significantly in the older men. The concentration of three constituents was significantly altered in the older age group: putrescine (P < 0.001) and prostaglandin E (P < 0.01) were reduced, while zinc levels were elevated (P < 0.05). These changes are discussed in relation to possible disturbances of prostate function and pathology in the middle‐aged man.
Implantation of Artificial Spermatocele with Cup‐shaped Prosthesis for Excretory Azoospermia and Chemical Management of Aspirated Spermatozoa
Authors: YOSHIDA HIDEKI , MIYAMOTO KENJI , YOSHIDA TOHRU , OGAWA HAJIME , IMAMURA KAZUO
Published: December 2015

A cup‐shaped silicon prosthesis was developed to treat patients with excretory azoospermia and chemical management of the aspirated spermatozoa was attempted prior to cervical insemination of the wives. These cupshaped prostheses were implanted eight times in six patients, four of whom had congenital absence and two of whom had bilateral inflammatory obstruction of the vas deferens. The surgical technique was based on the method of Cruz (1980), which involved wrapping the tunica vaginalis over the top of the prosthesis. Aspirated spermatozoa were incubated in a modified Ringer's solution at 37 C for 30 minutes and used for the cervical insemination of the wives. Epididymal spermatozoa could be collected from all patients 10 to 20 weeks after the operation. The percentage of motile aspirated spermatozoa ranged from 0 to 20%. In two cases, the percentage of motile spermatozoa aspirated from the prosthesis increased markedly from 5 and 10% to 55 and 60%, respectively, after incubation of the spermatozoa in the medium. Cervical inseminations were tried in all of the wives from two to four times, but no pregnancy resulted during this study.
The Effect of Long‐Term: Opiate Antagonist Administration to Pubertal Boys
Authors: KULIN HOWARD E. , DEMERS LAURENCE M. , ROGOL ALAN D. , VELDHUIS JOHANNES D.
Published: December 2015

To test further the hypothesis that opiatergic pathways controlling gonadotropin production may be functional during early to mid adolescence, nine pubertal boys with bone ages ranging from 10 to 15 were given the long‐acting opiate antagonist, naltrexone, for up to 4 weeks. Urinary gonadotropin measurements were assessed before, during, and after drug administration. In three early to mid‐pubertal boys who received naltrexone for 3 to 4 weeks, LRH testing was also performed. No evidence of a stimulatory FSH or LH response to naltrexone was found in any of the patients evaluated. The data do not support the operation of an opiate‐mediated mechanism in the control of pubertal onset in man.
Modification of the Rat Sperm Flagellar Plasma Membrane During Maturation in the Epididymis
Authors: OLSON G. E. , LIFSICS M. R. , WINFREY V. P. , RIFKIN J. M.
Published: December 2015

Previously, we demonstrated that surface radiolabeling of rat epididymal spermatozoa by lactoperoxidase‐catalyzed iodination reveals a major component with an apparent molecular weight of 26,000 to 28,000 daltons (26 kDa) on spermatozoa from the cauda but not the caput epididymidis. To characterize this surface component further, sperm surface constituents radiolabeled by lactoperoxidase‐catalyzed iodination were separated by 2‐D PAGE. The 26 kDa component was localized by autoradiography and appeared as the major labeled acidic spot on cauda spermatozoa, but neither a radiolabeled spot nor a corresponding stained spot was present on caput spermatozoa. The 26 kDa spot was excised from 2‐D gels of plasma membranes from cauda spermatozoa and utilized for immunization. The monospecific antiserum stained a single band of 26 kDa on Western blots of SDS‐PAGE‐separated plasma membranes from cauda spermatozoa and in a 100,000 x g supernatant fluid of the luminal contents of the cauda epididymidis. Immunohistochemical staining of cauda spermatozoa revealed antigen exclusively on the flagellar domain; the antigen was not seen on caput spermatozoa but first appeared in spermatozoa from the proximal corpus epididymidis. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the 26 kDa component was localized to the external face of the flagellar plasma membrane. Immunohistochemical staining of caput spermatozoa incubated in vitro with cauda epididymal luminal fluid revealed the 26 kDa component specifically bound the flagellar domain of immature spermatozoa.
Isolation from Human Seminal Plasma of an Abundant 16‐kDa Protein Originating from the Prostate, Its Identification with a 94‐Residue Peptide Originally Described As β‐Inhibin
Authors: DUBÉ JEAN Y. , FRENETTE GILLES , PAQUIN ROBERT , CHAPDELAINE PIERRE , TREMBLAY JACQUES , TREMBLAY ROLAND R. , LAZURE CLAUDE , SEIDAH NABIL , CHRÉTIEN MICHEL
Published: December 2015

In addition to other known markers of the human prostate, it was shown that the prostatic fraction of the split ejaculate was rich in a 16‐kDa protein with properties not described previously. This protein was purified from human seminal plasma using ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE‐Sepharose CL‐6B ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephadex G‐100. The purified protein showed a single prominent spot on two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. The sequence of the first 40 amino acids that could be positively identified was identical to that of a prostatic secretory protein of 94 amino acids (PSP94) previously designated as β‐inhibin. Antibodies produced in rabbits against the purified protein were used to develop a radioimmunoassay. These antibodies appeared to recognize only the NH2‐terminal portion of the native molecule since they did not react with a synthetic peptide composed of the 28 C‐terminal residues. The radioimmunoassay showed that the concentration of the protein was 1320 ± 183 μg/ml in the seminal plasma of adult fertile men and 1134 ± 136 μg/ml in vasectomized patients. In hypertrophic and adenocarcinomatous prostates, the concentrations were 326 ± 156 and 104 ± 23 μg/ml, respectively, while values were lower than 0.060 μg/ml in the testis, epididymis, vas deferens and liver. The blood plasma concentration was 0.019 ± 0.002 μg/ml in 23 asymptomatic men 45 to 65 years old and 0.115 ± 0.036 μg/ml in eight patients with prostate cancer. These results show that PSP94 is a major protein in prostatic secretions that warrants further study in the monitoring of prostate cancer patients.
Effect of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone on Prolactin Levels in Males Unrelated to Stress or Behavioral Changes
Authors: PHIPPS WILLIAM R. , LUKAS SCOTT E. , MENDELSON JACK H. , SCHIFF ISAAC
Published: December 2015

Hormone levels, physiologic parameters, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and changes in subjective feelings recorded using a nonverbal instrumental device were assessed following the double‐blind intravenous administration of 500 μg of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) or placebo to five normal males. Within 30 minutes of GnRH administration, prolactin (PRL) levels had risen by 4.3 ± 1.2 ng/ml (mean ± SEM) from a baseline of 8.5 ± 0.9 ng/ml (overall increase P < 0.005 vs. baseline, P < 0.001 vs. placebo); maximally stimulated values had a mean of 16.7 ± 2.3 ng/ml. The PRL elevations measured in absolute terms significantly correlated with increases in luteinizing hormone (LH) (r=0.97) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),(r=0.89). No changes in physiologic parameters or EEG activity occurred in response to GnRH, nor were any behavioral responses found. The increase in PRL following GnRH was specifically shown to be unrelated to experimental stress or the behavioral effects of GnRH.
Same Day Appearance of Orally Administered, Spermicidal 1‐Substituted Imidazoles in Dog Ejaculates
Authors: GOODPASTURE JESSIE C. , HILLER MARTHA B. , LEWIS BRIAN , WALKER KEITH A.M. , VICKERY BRIAN H.
Published: December 2015

Within hours after administration of high oral doses of ketoconazole to males of various species, the intact compound appears in the seminal plasma, leading to immobilization of spermatozoa in ejaculates collected several hours later. The present report describes in vitro and in vivo characterization studies of several new compounds identified from a series of 1‐substituted imidazole compounds. Relative rank order of in vitro potencies of the four compounds studied was RS‐29984 > RS‐90847 > RS‐41353 > RS‐68287. Oral administration of single doses of these compounds ranging between 10 and 95 mg/kg, followed by ejaculation of the animals at various times after dosing, showed that their relative potencies for decreasing sperm motility were RS‐41353 > RS‐68287 = RS‐90847 > RS‐29984. Four hours after animals were given 30 mg/kg of RS‐41353, spermatozoa in the ejaculates had zero forward progression within 30 to 40 minutes after the start of ejaculation. A preliminary metabolic study indicated that the apparently greater potency of RS‐68287 in vivo than in vitro was probably not due to metabolic activation. The androgen‐suppressing activity of RS‐29984 and RS‐90847 was shown to be less than that of ketoconazole. These data indicate that orally active inhibitors of sperm motility that exert their effects after ejaculation may be feasible, and suggest that this novel approach to male contraception warrants further investigation.
The Selective Removal of Pachytene Spermatocytes Using Methoxy Acetic Acid as an Approach to the Study In Vivo of Paracrine Interactions in the Testis
Authors: BARTLETT J.M.S. , KERR J.B. , SHARPE R.M.
Published: December 2015

Testicular weight and morphology, serum gonadotropins, intratesticular levels of testosterone and ABP levels in testicular interstitial fluid were studied in adult rats at intervals of 1 to 70 days after a single oral dose of 650 mg/kg methoxy acetic acid. At 3 days, this treatment resulted in the selective loss or depletion of pachytene and later spermatocytes from seminiferous tubules at all stages other than VIII to XI of the spermatogenic cycle. At later times this lesion was expressed as an absence mainly of round (14 days) or elongated (21 days) spermatids from the majority of seminiferous tubules. Other than these changes, spermatogenesis did not appear to be affected by treatment and was qualitatively normal in all tubules at 70 days after treatment. As deduced from cell counts at 3 days posttreatment, the initial action of methoxy acetic acid was restricted to late zygotene spermatocytes (stage XII) and pachytene spermatocytes at all stages other than early‐ to mid‐stage VII. Levels of FSH in serum and those of ABP in testicular interstitial fluid indicated that Sertoli cell function was altered in rats treated with methoxy acetic acid. Both were increased at 1 to 3 days posttreatment, returned to normal at 7 to 14 days but were increased again at 21 days before finally returning to control levels at 28 days. In contrast, the levels of testosterone in serum, isolated seminiferous tubules and testicular interstitial fluid were unaffected by treatment, as also were the serum levels of LH. The two periods of increase in FSH and ABP levels coincided with the times of greatest decrease (∼20%) in testicular weight, and may be related either to the type of germ cell missing from the affected tubules and/or to the stage of the cycle of the affected (or unaffected) tubules. These data suggest that chemicals such as methoxy acetic acid may prove useful in the study of paracrine interactions in vivo.
Immunohistochemical Localization of β‐Endorphin in Hyperplastic Interstitial Tissue of the Human Testis
Authors: SPERA GIOVANNI , Di BENEDETTO ELENA , FALASCHI PAOLO , FABBRI ANDREA , LAURO GIULIANA , BOLOTTI MARINA
Published: December 2015

The immunohistochemical localization of β‐endorphin in the normal testis (two patients) and in the pathologic testis (two cases of Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome, two cases of Klinefelter Syndrome, two cases of post‐orchitis tubular sclero‐hialinosis) was investigated. No β‐endorphin immunostaining was detected in the normal testis, while positive β‐endorphin immunostaining has been observed in pathologic tissues. These results indicate that, as in animals, β‐endorphin is present in human Leydig cells and may play a local role in regulating male reproductive function.
Epididymal Markers in Human Infertility
Authors: COOPER TREVOR G. , HING‐HEIYEUNG C. , NASHAN DOROTHEE , NIESCHLAG EBERHARD
Published: December 2015

Alpha‐glucosidase, glycerophosphocholine, and L‐carnitine were measured in sperm‐free seminal plasma to determine whether these markers reflected the epididymal function of men attending an infertility clinic. The putative markers correlated well with each other (r = 0.66 to 0.70) and in 92% of 283 cases were accurate in categorizing semen as containing normal or subnormal amounts of markers. Glucosidase was considered the best index of epididymal function and was used for a further 306 samples. The ejaculate content of epididymal markers was correlated with testicular volume and serum testosterone below values of 30 ml and 30 nmol/l, respectively. Markers were also correlated with the concentration and motility of spermatozoa in semen. Seventy‐one of 425 patients (17%) displayed subnormal epididymal secretions, mainly in association with hypogonadism (Klinefelter syndrome, Kallman syndrome, idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) but also in cases of obstructed ducts, maldescended testicles, and local irradiation following hemicastration. Because azoospermic patients had reduced epididymal markers with both high and low FSH levels and a large proportion of men with reduced glucosidase and normal FSH suffered from testicular failure, it is suggested that other indices of testicular function are required for correct interpretation of reduced epididymal markers. Thirteen patients (3%) had low markers for which no cause was apparent; these may be cases of infertility due to isolated epididymal dysfunction.
Antimitotic Drugs in the Male Rat Behavioral Abnormalities in the Second Generation
Authors: AUROUX MAURICE R. , DULIOUST EMMANUEL JB. , NAWAR NABIL NY. , YACOUB SAMEH G. , MAYAUX MARIE J. , SCHWARTZ DANIEL , DAVID GEORGES
Published: December 2015

The second generation descended from rats treated either with cyclophosphamide alone or with both cyclophosphamide and vinblastine were investigated. As in the first generation, the offspring were evaluated for mean litter size, sex ratio, frequency of gross external malformations and, within the first 4 months of life, growth and mortality. When they reached adulthood, between 12 and 16 weeks of age, the offspring were also tested for spontaneous activity and learning capacity. At birth, the progeny of the treated grandfathers did not show malformations or any other obvious disorder. However, when compared with the control population, the experimental animals showed significantly decreased success rates in a learning task, whatever the learning performance of their parents. Furthermore, decreased spontaneous activity was observed in the male subjects from unsuccessful parents. The similarities between the anomalies found in the first and the second generations argue for the induction of mutations by antimitotic drugs. This hypothesis and the subtle differences between generations and between sexes are discussed.
Serum Levels of Total Testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in Hypothyroid Patients and Normal Subjects Treated with Incremental Doses of L‐T4 or L‐T3
Authors: CAVALIERE HUMBERTO , ABELIN NEUSA , MEDEIROS‐NETO GERALDO
Published: December 2015

Plasma testosterone (T) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were assayed in normal controls (N = 9) and hypothyroid patients (N = 17) receiving increasing doses of L‐T4 (0.2 mg, 0.4 mg for 30 days), followed first by 30 days without medication and then by 30 days each of 0.05 mg L‐T3 and 0.2 mg L‐T3. Normal male controls showed a significant increase in plasma T only at high doses of either L‐T4 (0.4 mg) or L‐T3 (0.2 mg). A small but significant increase in plasma T levels was observed in normal female subjects at 0.4 mg of T4. In both men and women, plasma SHBG increased in a dose‐dependent manner with L‐T4 or L‐T3 and correlated positively and significantly with serum thyroid hormone levels. Hypothyroid male subjects had significantly lower levels of plasma T (mean ± SD) of 279 ± 131 ng/dl as compared with normal males (431 ± 118 ng/dl), which reached the normal range only at a relatively high dose of either L‐T4 (0.4 mg) or L‐T3 (0.2 mg). No significant changes in plasma T were seen in the hypothyroid female group. Basal plasma SHBG levels were significantly lower in both hypothyroid men and women and increased towards normal levels during L‐T4 and L‐T3 therapy, although the response to thyroid hormones was significantly lower than that of normal controls. These results indicate that thyroid hormone therapy increases plasma SHBG levels in both normal and hypothyroid patients and that this increase precedes the expected elevation of plasma T in males.
Endocrine Parameters, Hormone Receptors, and Functions of the Testicular Interstitium and Seminiferous Epithelium in Estradiol‐Immunized Ile‐de‐France Rams
Authors: MONET‐KUNTZ C. , de REVIERS M. T. HOCHEREAU‐ , PISSELET C. , PERREAU C. , FONTAINE I. , SCHANBACHER B. D.
Published: December 2015

The testicular response of Ile‐de‐France rams actively immunized against estradiol (E2) was evaluated during both the ovine nonbreeding season (spring) and breeding season (autumn). Plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone were elevated in E2‐immunized rams during both spring and autumn when compared with BSA‐immunized controls. Testis weights were significantly elevated by E2 immunization and were characterized by greater interstitial cell volume, including Leydig cells, blood and lymph vessels, greater seminiferous tubule length, and greater numbers of leptotene spermatocytes and round spermatids. Neither Sertoli cell number, Sertoli cell nuclear volume nor testicular FSH receptor number were affected by E2 immunization, but testis weight, Sertoli cell nuclear area, FSH receptor number and LH receptor number were significantly greater in autumn than in spring. A positive effect of E2 immunization on testicular LH receptors was evident in spring but not in autumn. Testicular androgen receptors were suppressed by E2 immunization but were not affected by season. It was concluded that E2 immunization results in moderate stimulation of the ovine testis to increase testosterone secretion and to enhance total daily spermatid production. This effect appears to result from a change in E2 negative feedback and increased pituitary gonadotropin secretion.
Acute Effects and Long‐Term Sequelae of 1,3‐Dinitrobenzene on Male Reproduction in the Rat I. Sperm Quality, Quantity, and Fertilizing Ability
Authors: LINDER RALPH E. , HESS REX A. , PERREAULT SALLY D. , STRADER LILLIAN F. , BARBEE RANDY R.
Published: December 2015

Groups of eight adult male rats were given a single oral dose of 0 or 48 mg/kg of 1,3‐dinitrobenzene and sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 72, and 175 days posttreatment. The groups killed at 175 days were bred to untreated females during weeks 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, and 24. Decreased testis weight and testicular sperm numbers were observed by day 4; decreased cauda sperm reserves and epididymis weight occurred by day 8 and day 16, respectively. Reduced numbers of motile spermatozoa and abnormal sperm morphology were seen in spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis by day 16. Fertilizing ability, as indicated by the presence of two pronuclei and a sperm tail in eggs flushed from the oviducts of inseminated females, was slightly reduced by week 4 and declined to zero by week 6. Group means for reproductive organ weights, sperm production, and sperm reserves failed to return to control levels although some individual animals approached full recovery. Normal fertilizing ability was restored in most animals by week 13, but two of seven remained infertile. Occlusion of some efferent ductules was observed in three of seven animals at 175 days. This study indicates that 1,3‐dinitrobenzene is a potent testicular toxicant in the rat, capable of producing marked testicular damage, infertility, and possibly sterility from a single exposure.