bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of LHRH‐analogue treatment of spermatogenic dysfunction in the dog
Authors: Kawakami E. , Tonsho H. , Tsutsui T. , Ogasa A. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThree male dogs, aged 2–4 years, which exhibited a high percentage of sperm with abnormal tails in their semen and low levels of peripheral plasma LH and testosterone were given two injections of 400 μg an LHRH analogue (LHRH‐A) 3 h apart. The semen quality of all three dogs and the peripheral plasma levels of LH and testosterone were examined in two of the dogs. Plasma levels of LH and testosterone in both dogs peaked at 30 and 90 min respectively, after the injection of LHRH‐A. The semen quality of all three dogs had improved temporarily 20 days after the injection. To be specific, although the mean percentage of sperm with abnormal tails in the three dogs was 19, 26 and 32% respectively before injection of LHRH‐A, these values had decreased to 10, 16 and 13%, respectively, 20–40 days later. Thereafter, however, the percentage sperm abnormalities increased again. The testes and epididymides of two of the dogs were examined histologically at the end of 90 days. Sloughed germ cells were observed in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, and pyknotic epithelial cells were noted in some of the epididymal ducts. The other dog, which had a history of three unsuccessful matings was treated again with LHRH‐A and mated with three bitches 30, 75, and 110 days later, respectively. Only the bitch mated with this dog 30 days after a second series of injections conceived. It is assumed that the semen quality of the three dogs improved because of a temporary rise in plasma LH and testosterone levels after the injection of LHRH‐A. It is concluded that the fertility of dogs with a high percentage of sperm with abnormal tails can be improved approximately 30 days after treatment with an LHRH‐A.
Does unilateral orchidectomy influence blood flow, microcirculation and vascular morphology in the remaining testis?
Authors: Bergh A. , Damber J.‐E. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryAdult rats were hemi‐orchidectomized and various aspects of testicular blood flow, microcirculation and vascular morphology were studied in the remaining testis after 30 days and compared to that in intact sham‐operated animals. Testis weight, total testicular blood flow (measured with microspheres), capillary blood flow pattern (studied with laser Doppler flowmetry) and the volume of interstitial fluid in the testis (index of vascular permeability) were all unaffected by hemiorchidectomy. Morphometric measurements on perfusion‐fixed testicular tissue showed that the volume densities of Leydig cells, blood vessels and small exchange blood vessels were increased by hemi‐orchidectomy (by approximately 45, 33 and 42%, respectively). The volume density of Leydig cells in individual testes was correlated to the volume and surface density of capillaries + small postcapillary velules (r = 0.72 and 0.86, respectively). Hemi‐orchidectomy is known to result in a doubling in testosterone secretion per Leydig cell. This increased endocrine activity results in moderate increase in the vascular exchange area but other aspects of testicular microcirculation and blood flow are apparently unaffected.
Seminal emission by electrical stimulation of the spermatic nerve and epididymis
Authors: Sato K. , Kihara K. , Ando M. , Sato T. , Oshima H. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe spermatic nerve and epididymis were stimulated electrically in dogs to elucidate the possibility of artificial seminal emission after bilateral transection of the hypogastric nerves and sympathetic trunks. Before transection, electrical stimulation of a distal end of the severed spermatic nerve caused a trace amount of emission in two dogs and no emission in the remaining four. In contrast, 1 month after the transection, stimulation of a distal end of the severed spermatic nerve caused seminal emission in all six dogs examined, with full seminal volume in four dogs and partial volume in the remaining two. Anatomically, sympathetic nerves originating from the upper portion of the lumbar sympathetic ganglia descended along the spermatic arteries to the testes as spermatic nerves. The present results indicate that spermatic nerves have the potential to generate seminal emission as a compensatory pathway after bilateral transection of the hypogastric nerves. Both direct and percutaneous electrical stimulation of epididymal tails resulted in a full volume of seminal emission in all dogs with transection of both hypogastric nerves and lumbosacral sympathetic trunks as well as in unoperated controls, while high voltage (8 V vs 40–80 V) was required to cause seminal emission by electrical stimulation on the skin surface. Direct stimulation of epididymal tails in men undergoing orchidectomy as treatment for prostatic carcinoma or during biopsy of the contralateral testis in a patient with a testicular tumour, resulted in seminal emission in all five epididymides examined either from the end of the servered vas deferens or in the posterior urethra if the vas deferens was not severed.
Treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia with tamoxifen — a randomized controlled study
Authors: KRAUSE W. , HOLLAND‐MORITZ H. , SCHRAMM P. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThere is no conclusive evidence of the usefulness of tamoxifen in the treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia (OAT‐syndrome), as it has been used mostly in uncontrolled studies. We herein report on the controlled treatment of OAT‐syndrome with tamoxifen versus placebo following a randomized design. Seventy‐six men with sperm counts of 2–20 times 106 ml‐1, sperm motility of 20–50%, and sperm morphology (abnormal cells) between 50 and 80% were involved in the study. Patients with varicocele, a history of testicular maldescent or genital inflammation were excluded. Thirty‐nine patients received tamoxifen (30 mg daily), 37 patients placebo. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean serum testosterone level after treatment in the tamoxifen‐treated group (from 4.9 ± 1.9 to 7.9 ± 3.6 ng ml‐1) in comparison to the placebo group (5.3 ± 2.0 and 5.6 ± 2.0 ng ml‐1).serum FSH levels increased slightly in the tamoxifen group (from 6.8 ± 4.1 to 7.3 ± 4.8 mU ml‐1), but this was not statistically significant in comparison to the placebo group (from 5.9 ± 3.9 to 5.2 ± 3.5 mU ml‐1). Serum levels of LH did not show any differences between groups. The sperm count increased during treatment from 9.3 ± 11.7 to 11.4 ± 13.7 times 106 ml‐1 in the tamoxifen group and from 9.1 +‐ 7.1 to 9.3 +‐ 8.8 * 10‐1 in the placebo group; this difference did not reach statiscal significance. The percentage of motile and abnormal sperm was not different between the two treatment groups. In 5 out 37 of the tamoxifen‐treated patients and in 3 out 39 patients of the placebo group, a conception in the female partner was recorded within 9 months after treatment. The fact that the difference in sperm output and pregnancy rate between tamoxifen‐and placebo‐treated men is not statistically significant in out study might be due to the small size of the groups, and a more extensive study might overcome this problem.
Evaluation of the effect of peritubular cell secretions and the testicular paracrine factor P‐Mod‐S on Leydig cell steroidogenesis and immunoactive inhibin production
Authors: RISBRIDGER G. P. , SKINNER M. K. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryTesticular peritubular cells have been shown to produce a paracrine factor, termed P‐Mod‐S, under androgen control that has dramatic effects on Sertoli cell function and may provide an important mode of androgen action in the testis. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the possibility that peritubular cell secretory products could feedback and regulate Leydig cell function. The Leydig cell functional parameters that were examined included testosterone production and inhibin secretion. Purified forms of P‐Mod‐S (P‐Mod‐S(A) and P‐Mod‐S(B) shown to be biologically active on Sertoli cells) had no effect on basal or gonadot‐rophin‐stimulated production of testosterone or inhibin by Leydig cells. A preparation of peritubular cell‐secreted proteins (PSP) with molecular weights > 3 kDa did not influence testosterone production by Leydig cells. PSP, however, did influence cultured Leydig cell morphology and improved cell viability. PSP also had no effect on the ability of LH to stimulate Leydig cell testosterone production. Whilst determining the effect of PSP on Leydig cell inhibin production, PSP was found to contain endogenous levels of inhibin apparently due to 2% contamination of the peritubular cell cultures with Sertoli cells. When this endogenous inhibin level was considered, PSP was found to have no influence on basal or hormone‐stimulated production of inhibin by Leydig cells. Results of the current study indicate that peritubular cell secretory products, including the paracrine factor P‐Mod‐S, do not appear to play a major role in the regulation of Leydig cell function. Therefore, the regulation of Leydig cell function by the seminiferous tubule will primarily be due to Sertoli cell secretory products.
Controlling the swimming speed of human sperm by varying the incubation temperature and its effect on cervical mucus penetration
Authors: FORD W. C. L. , PONTING F. A. , MCLAUGHLIN E. A. , REES J. M. , HULL M. G. R. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe objective of the present experiments was to study the effect of sperm velocity as a single variable on the ability of sperm to penetrate cervical mucus in a modified Kremer test. Sperm incubated at 13, 22 and 37d̀C exhibited progressive velocities of 25±1.7, 40±2.1 μ sec‐1 (mean±SEM, n = 6) respectively, but the percentage of progressively motile sperm, their lateral head displacement and the viscoelastic properties of cervical mucus remained comparatively unchanged over this temperature range. The number of sperm which penetrated the mucus and the percentage of successful collisions were correlated strongly with the average velocity of the sperm population (r = 0.82 and r = 0.72 respectively).It is concluded that sperm velocity has an important influence on the penetration of cervical mucus because it governs the frequency of collisions with the mucus interface and is determined by the thrust generated by the flagellum which also determines the ability of the sperm to traverse the mucus interface.
Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) diesterase related alterations in the oxygen consumption profile of rat spermatozoa in differing functional states
Authors: CHOWDHURY M. , MITRA J. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe functional interaction of the estrogen‐induced uterine enzyme glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) diesterase with epididymal rat sperm before and after incubation under capacitating conditions was investigated indirectly, by measuring the glycerol phosphate (GP) released on enzymatic hydrolysis of GPC and using oxygen consumption as a measure of oxidative phosphorylation by the sperm.Freshly released, washed sperm metabolized GP but not GPC. Utilization of GP was found to be inhibited by 2 μM oligomycin but was enhanced dose‐dependently in the presence of the uncoupling agent, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, indicating that the process was essentially similar to that occurring in somatic mitochondria in that it involved electron transport via ubiquinone and the cytochrome system and was coupled to ATP synthesis.However, on incubation of sperm under conditions supporting capacitation, which led to a striking increase in oxygen consumption, the presence of GP decreased oxygen uptake significantly, in a manner similar to that occurring in the presence of the glycolyzable substrate, glucose. The implications of these GPC diesterase‐induced metabolic alterations in sperm function are discussed.
Intravasal injection of formed‐in‐place silicone rubber as a method of vas occlusion
Authors: SHENG‐CAI ZHAO , SHU‐PING ZHANG , RUI‐CHUAN YU 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThis report describes the procedure for percutaneous injection of silicone to form plugs in the vas deferens. The injection of 0.1–0.16 ml Chinese‐made silicone into 14 men achieved occlusion of a 1‐cm length of the vas. Sperm concentrations declined within 1 month of the operation and azoospermia was achieved in all men by 9 months.
Recovery of fertility after removal of polyurethane plugs from the human vas deferens occluded for up to 5 years
Authors: SHENG‐CAI ZHAO , YI‐HE LIAN , RUI‐CHUAN YU , SHU‐PING ZHANG 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe present study reports the outcome of operations to remove MPU plugs from 130 men who had had occlusions of the vas deferens for between 0.5 and 5 years. The female partners of all the men achieved a pregnancy over a period of 0.5–4 years after the reversal operation.
Safety and efficacy of percutaneous injection of polyurethane elastomer (MPU) plugs for vas occlusion in man
Authors: ZHEN‐WEN CHEN , YI‐QUN GU , XIAO‐WEI LIANG , ZHI‐GANG WU , ER‐JING YIN , HONG LI‐ 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThis report describes the safety and efficacy of the procedure for percutaneous injection of medical‐grade polyurethane elastomer (MPU) to form plugs in the vas deferens. The injection of 0.16–0.22 ml MPU in 53 men resulted in occlusion and azoospermia in 85% of the men after 12 months; 96% achieved azoospermia by 2 years. The success rate of the method and the rate of sperm suppression to azoospermia depended on the shapes of the plugs; this was determined by palpation after insertion. There were few complications and the results are discussed in terms of the reversibility potential of this method.
Subnormal sperm parameters in conventional semen analysis are associated with discrepancies between fertilization and pregnancy rates in in‐vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
Authors: de GEYTER CH. , de GEYTER M. , SCHNEIDER H. P. G. , NIESCHLAG E. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThree hundred and twenty‐eight consecutive treatment cycles in 168 couples were analysed retrospectively in order to examine the influence of conventional semen analysis results on the outcome of in‐vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with respect to the occurrence of both fertilizations and pregnancies. All treatments were performed under maximally standardized and controlled conditions. Each of the three main determinants of the spermiogram, namely the concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in seminal plasma, was of significant importance for fertilization and subsequent pregnancy. Best correlations were achieved by counting the number of progressively (a + b) motile sperm and the number of normally formed sperm in seminal plasma. The pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in cases in which the sperm concentration was < 10 × 106ml‐1 (P< 0.01), or in which there was <40% progressively motile sperm (P<0.001), or <30% normally formed sperm (P< 0.001). If more than one parameter in the spermiogram was abnormal, the fertilization rate depended mainly on the most disturbed sperm parameter. The implantation rate as well as the pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in patients with low progressive sperm motility and normal morphology rates. The difference could only be attributed partially to the lower number of embryos replaced. In conclusion, subnormal sperm quality seems to interfere with developmental stages beyond the process of fertilization.
Effect of isotypes of antisperm antibodies on semen quality
Authors: GONZALES G. F. , KORTEBANI G. , MAZZOLLI A. B. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryA direct immunobead test (IBT) was performed on 233 men who attended an immunological centre. Thirty‐four (14.6%) of these men were found to be positive (>20% binding) for antisperm antibodies (ASA). IgA, IgG and IgM were the most common sperm‐associated immunoglobulins. In 50% of men with ASA astheno‐zoospermia, teratozoospermia, leukocytospermia or hypofunction of the seminal vesicles was observed.Semen parameters were altered most frequently when IgM was present in association with IgA and/or IgG. This suggests that there is an active inflammatory process in the reproductive tract, as evidenced by leukocytospermia, and this could be responsible for the abnormal semen parameters. ASA generation could be a consequence of this process rather than being the cause of the abnormal semen quality. If ASA do affect fertility, this could take place in the female reproductive tract.
Possible involvement of the accessory sex glands in the regulation of pituitary hormones
Authors: HURKADLI K. S. , KAPASI A. A. , KADAM M. S. , BILLIMORIA F. R. , SHETH A. R. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryA time‐course alteration in the blood levels of gonadotrophin was evaluated in male rats aged 49 days after: (a) removal of the seminal vesicles, (b) bilateral orchidectomy, or (c) bilateral orchidectomy together with removal of the seminal vesicles. Age‐matched sham‐operated animals served as controls. Removal of the seminal vesicles resulted in elevation in the blood levels of LH, FSH and prolactin compared to controls. As expected, bilateral orchidectomy also resulted in the elevation of serum gonadotrophins. In the absence of both the seminal vesicles and the testes, LH and FSH levels were increased further compared to orchidectomy alone. Thus the present study suggests the presence of a feedback mechanism between the seminal vesicles and pituitary which is more pronounced in the absence of the testes.
Isolation and culture of testicular macrophages from a seasonally breeding species, Phodopus sungorus. Evidence for functional differences between macrophages from active and regressed testes
Authors: MAYERHOFER D. , MAYERHOFER A. , BARTKE A. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryWe have developed an isolation and cultivation protocol for testicular macrophages from the seasonally breeding Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus which allows serum‐free culture. Macrophages were isolated from the active testes of adult Phodopus kept in long photoperiod (LD,18hL:6hD), and from the inactive testes of animals with gonadal regression induced by exposure to a short photoperiod (SD, 6hL;18hD; for 10 weeks). The isolated cells were identified as macrophages by (a) electron microscopy, (b) non‐specific phagocytosis, and (c) the presence of Fc‐receptors. Treatment of the cultures with oFSH (at 0.5 and 1 μgml‐1 for 1 and 4 days) significantly stimulated lactate secretion by testicular macrophages from LD hamsters, as expected from studies in the rat. In marked contrast, oFSH did not affect lactate secretion by testicular macrophages from SD hamsters, or by peritoneal macrophages. To test possible macrophage‐Leydig cell interactions, the influence of testicular macrophage‐conditioned medium (TM‐CM) from FSH‐responsive LD macrophage cultures was assessed and compared with the effect of peritoneal macrophage‐conditioned medium (PM‐CM) on testosterone production by testicular parenchyma from LD hamsters. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to previous reports in rats, testosterone production by testes was inhibited significantly by TM‐CM from cultures pretreated with either 0.1 or 0.5 μg FSH ml‐1. FSH alone stimulated testosterone production (due either to LH contamination or to possible paracrine effects). PM‐CM from cultures pretreated with FSH did have an inhibitory effect. It is concluded that:(i) There is indirect evidence for the presence of functional FSH receptors on macrophages from the active testes of Phodopus.(ii) Testicular macrophages from inactive testes of Phodopus are not responsive to FSH, implicating impaired macrophage function in the regressed testes of Phodopus exposed to SD.(iii) Testicular macrophages produce a factor which can inhibit testosterone production by incubated testicular tissue.
Testicular blood flow and vasomotion can be maintained by testosterone in Leydig cell‐depleted rats
Authors: DAMBER J.‐E. , MADDOCKS S. , WIDMARK A. , BERGH A. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe effect of testosterone supplementation on testicular blood flow, testicular vasomotion, the number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN's) in testicular blood vessels and prostatic blood flow were studied in rats in which the Leydig cell had been destroyed specifically by a single injection of ethane dimethylsulfonate (EDS). Other rats were supplemented with testosterone by subcutaneous injection of 25 mg testosterone propionate on days 1, 3 and 6. In some experiments, the effect of a single injection of 25 or 125 mg testosterone was studied. Testicular and prostatic blood flow and the number of PMN's in testicular blood vessels decreased, and vasomotion disappeared in Leydig cell‐depleted rats, but testosterone supplementation restored all parameters to normal values. Moreover, a single injection of testosterone was able to restore testicular and prostatic blood flow to normal levels but had an inconsistent effect on vasomotion. These results suggest that testosterone may play a role in the physiological control of the testicular microcirculation.
Purification and characterization of phospholipase A2 from bovine prostate
Authors: RÖNKKÖ S. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryPhospholipase A2 (PLA2) was purified from bovine prostate by ammonium sulphate precipitation and fractionation by anion exchange chromatography, chroma‐tofocusing and gel filtration. The purified enzyme was Ca2+‐dependent and had a pH‐optimum of 8.0. Ba2+, Fe2+, Hg2+, Mg2+, Pb2+, Sr2+ and Zn2+ as well as lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and p‐bromophenacyl bromide (p‐BPB) inhibited the enzyme strongly. The enzyme had an estimated molecular weight of 12000 ± 1000 daltons on SDS‐PAGE. Isoelectric focusing showed one PLA2 activity‐containing band at pl 5.3. The purified enzyme hydrolysed linoleic acid at the sn‐2 position of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine with high selectivity, compared to arachidonic acid.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of androgen receptors on testicular blood vessels
Authors: BERGH A. , AMBER J.‐E. D. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryUsing an antiserum directed against the human and rat androgen receptor we have used immunohistochemistry to demonstrate that nuclear androgen receptors are present in the muscular layer of almost all arteries within the rat testis. These receptors are apparently influenced by testosterone. They disappear after Leydig cell depletion induced by ethanedimethane sulphonate (EDS) and return after testosterone treatment. It is suggested that testicular blood vessels could be a target‐organ for androgens and may mediate some of the effects of androgens on the testicular microcirculation.
Castration‐resistant secretion in the hamster seminal vesicle does not depend on androgens
Authors: PINHO M. S. , MATA L. R. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe secretory activity of seminal vesicles (SV) in the castrated hamster was studied by stereological analysis and biochemical approaches following treatment with cyproterone acetate (CPA) and adrenalectomy in order to investigate whether extra‐testicular androgens are responsible for castration‐resistant protein secretion.Treatment of castrated animals with CPA decreased the size of secretory granules and increased the number of apical granules, though neither the absolute nor the relative volume of all the components analysed was changed. In addition, CPA‐treatment increased the amount of protein exocytosed by SV in castrated animals, though total protein synthesis remained unchanged. Adrenalectomy neither suppressed secretion nor induced any further ultrastructural changes in the SV epithelium.Our results demonstrate that secretory activity of the hamster SV following castration is not controlled by extra‐testicular androgens and suggest that SV secretory proteins, which are heterogeneous with regard to their sensitivity to androgen withdrawal, might be regulated diferentially by androgens.