亚健康状态大鼠的神经-免疫-内分泌机制的研究

目的探讨亚健康状态大鼠的神经-免疫-内分泌的机制。方法取雄性SPF级Wistar大鼠36只,按体重随机分成6组,即多因素组（MF）、多因素干预组（MFT）、热水游泳组（WS）、睡眠不足组（SD）、单纯束缚组（PC）和正常对照组（C）,每组6只。分别采用热水游泳、饮食限制、睡眠剥夺、束缚等方式建立亚健康大鼠模型,多因素干预组每日经口给予300 mg/kg的抗衰老片,在造模5 d后处理动物,并取大鼠血,分别测定血清5-羟色胺（5-HT）、多巴胺（DA）、甲状腺激素T3和T4、睾酮（T）、皮质酮（CORT）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）、白介素IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8和IFN-γ含量以及T淋巴细胞亚群的变化,并取脾脏测定T、B淋巴细胞增殖能力和NK细胞活性变化。结果 （1）与正常对照组比,①造模结束后多因素组大鼠血清5-HT明显降低（P〈0.05）,而热水游泳组和单纯束缚组5-HT含量却升高显著（P〈0.01）,且睡眠不足组和单纯束缚组血清DA含量降低显著（P〈0.05）;同时各亚健康模型大鼠的血清T3、T4、CORT和ACTH含量均显著升高（P〈0.01）,T/C比值降低显著（P〈0.01）,且睡眠不足组血清T降低明显（P〈0.05）;②造模结束后多因素组的大鼠IL-8含量降低显著（P〈0.01）,而热水游泳组和单纯束缚组IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8和IFN-γ含量以及睡眠不足组IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6含量均显著升高（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,同时显著降低各亚健康模型大鼠淋巴细胞增殖转化能力和T淋巴细胞亚群CD3＋、CD4＋和CD4＋/CD8＋比值和NK细胞活性（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。（2）与多因素组比,抗衰老片干预后多因素干预组大鼠血清DA含量明显升高（P〈0.05）,并能显著提高机体T淋巴细胞亚群CD3＋、CD4＋数目和CD4＋/CD8＋比值（P〈0.01）,降低血清CORT含量。结论亚健康状态能引起大鼠HPA轴反应性失衡,皮质醇释放过度,引起内分泌的紊乱,并能引起淋巴细胞功能降低,出现明显机体免疫抑制现象;而抗衰老片具有抗应激,提高T细胞免疫功能,改善情绪和内分泌紊乱的作用,从而达到改善亚健康体质的目的。     

慢性间歇性缺氧降低SD大鼠精子数量和活力的研究

摘要 目的：通过制备大鼠慢性间歇性缺氧的动物模型,观察间歇性缺氧对雄性大鼠精子数量和活力的影响,并初步探讨其可能的发生机制。方法：16只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组和缺氧组。间歇性缺氧8周后分别测定两组大鼠精子活力和精子浓度,睾丸组织中P53的表达量和细胞的凋亡水平,以及血清睾酮（T）、促卵泡素（FSH）和黄体生成素（LH）的浓度。结果：与对照组比较,缺氧组大鼠精子的浓度和活力均降低（P>0.05),并且前向运动的精子数明显减少（P<0.05）。同时,缺氧组睾丸组织P53 mRNA的表达和睾丸组织中凋亡的细胞均多于对照组,血清T、LH的浓度低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：间歇性缺氧时可能影响了下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴,不仅使睾酮合成减少,还降低了对P53的抑制作用而诱导了大量细胞的凋亡,最终降低了SD大鼠的精子数量和活力。     

低氧暴露对大鼠外周血T淋巴细胞活化的影响

目的：探讨低氧暴露后大鼠外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及活化共刺激分子的变化,为干预措施的研究提供科学依据。方法：采用三色免疫荧光标记流式细胞仪分析法,观察在低氧暴露前和模拟海拔8 000 m低氧暴露8 h、3d6、d和10 d后,大鼠外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和T淋巴细胞活化共刺激分子的变化。结果：模拟海拔8 000 m低氧暴露8 h后,大鼠CD3＋、CD8＋、CD8＋CD28-细胞数较低氧前均显著降低（P均〈0.01）;低氧暴露3 d后,除上述变化外,CD4＋CD28＋细胞数也显著降低（P〈0.01）,CD4＋CD28-细胞数显著增加（P〈0.01）;低氧暴露6 d和10 d后,CD3＋、CD4＋呈现进一步降低趋势,CD8＋CD28＋细胞数显著增加（P〈0.01）。结论：说明模拟海拔8 000 m低氧暴露8 h和3 d后,大鼠外周血CD8＋、CD4＋T淋巴细胞活化水平均显著下降,随着低氧暴露时间的延长,CD8＋T淋巴细胞活化水平由降低变为增加。     

长期酒精摄入对雄性大鼠生殖系统的损伤

目的：研究长期酒精摄入对雄性大鼠生殖系统的损伤机制。方法：选用8周龄的SD大鼠,进行随机分组：对照组（5％蔗糖,口服）;酒精组（4g／kg,口服）。连续12周后,分别取附睾考察精子数目、活力;取血清检测睾酮和促黄体生产素（LH）含量;计算睾丸一体重比,并检测睾丸中丙二醛（MDA）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量以及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性;同时检测凋亡相关蛋白bax,bcl-2以及caspase．3前体和剪切体的蛋白表达。结果：酒精组12周后,大鼠的睾丸．体重比明显降低（P〈0．05）,精子数目减少（P〈0．01）,精子活力下降（P〈0．01）;血清中睾酮含量下降（P〈0．05）,LH含量增加（P〈0．05）;睾丸中MDA含量增加（P〈0．01）,GSH含量降低（P〈0．05）,GPX和SOD活性下降（P〈0,01）;凋亡相关蛋白bax表达增加（P〈0．05）,caspase-3剪切体与前体的比值增加（P〈O．01）。结论：长期摄入酒精引起的大鼠睾丸内氧化应激水平的增加是其导致其生殖系统损伤的重要因素之一。     

Bcl-2和Bax在吗啡依赖雄性大鼠生殖细胞中的表达

目的：探讨B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2和人Bcl-2相关x蛋白（Bcl-2、Bax）在吗啡依赖大鼠睾丸生殖细胞中的表达及细胞凋亡可能机制,为治疗阿片类毒品造成的男性性功能减退提供理论依据。方法：以递增法每日给予雄性大鼠皮下注射盐酸吗啡针剂,建立吗啡依赖组。空白对照组注射等量生理盐水。实验成功后将两组大鼠睾丸组织作常规HE染色和免疫组化染色。结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生精管壁细胞明显地出现上皮层次减少,仅有2~3层,细胞排列疏松,界限模糊,精子细胞和精子数目减少,并发现曲细精管腔内有脱落的生精细胞;免疫组化结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生殖细胞中bcl-2的阳性表达率明显低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而生殖细胞中bax蛋白的阳性表达率明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：吗啡依赖可造成雄性大鼠生殖细胞凋亡数量显著增加,其机制可能是通过下调抑凋亡因子Bcl-2,上调促凋亡因子Bax,促进生殖细胞凋亡来实现的。     

多发性骨髓瘤患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群分析及与预后因子的相关性

目的通过对多发性骨髓瘤（MM）患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群的检测以评价MM患者机体的免疫功能状态。方法采用流式细胞术检测36例MM患者和25例健康志愿者外周血T、B淋巴细胞、NK细胞及CD4＋CD25＋T细胞的表达。结果与正常对照组相比,MM患者外周血的CD4、CD19细胞的表达显著下调,CD8细胞的表达显著上调,CD4/CD8比值则显著降低（P〈0.05或〈0.01）;MM患者外周血的CD4＋CD25＋T细胞占CD3＋T细胞的比例明显增高（P〈0.01）,且与血清中的β2-MG浓度成正相关（γ=0.56,P〈0.05）。结论 MM患者体内存在淋巴细胞亚群的异常表达、CD4＋CD25＋Treg细胞的异常扩增,可能是MM患者体内广泛存在免疫缺陷的一个主要原因。     

高压氧对正常及SIRS大鼠脾T淋巴细胞的影响

本实验以SIRS为基础,以免疫功能和炎症反应中具有代表性的脾T淋巴细胞为研究对象,观察高压氧对正常机体以及SIRS状态机体的影响并探讨其可能的机制。健康雄性SD大鼠40只,体重约140~180 g,随机分为5组,每组8只。A组：腹腔注射生理盐水（5 mL/kg）;B组：腹腔注射等量生理盐水,做3次高压氧;C组：腹腔注射酵母多糖-石蜡悬液（500 mg/kg）;D组：腹腔注射酵母多糖-石蜡悬液（500 mg/kg）,做1次高压氧治疗;E组：腹腔注射酵母多糖-石蜡悬液（500 mg/kg）,做3次高压氧治疗。采用流式细胞仪计算大鼠脾脏淋巴细胞数量及比例。高压氧治疗（B组）降低正常大鼠外周血CD4＋T细胞百分比（P〈0.01）,对CD8＋T细胞无影响,因此CD4＋/CD8＋T细胞比值下降（P〈0.05）。酵母多糖腹腔注射（C组）使大鼠外周血CD4＋、CD8＋T细胞均减少（P〈0.01）,但CD4＋/CD8＋T细胞比值不变。1次和3次HBO治疗（D和E组）可使酵母多糖所致CD4＋T细胞减少（C组）明显恢复（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）,故CD3＋CD4＋/CD3＋CD8＋比值升高（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）,HBO几乎不影响CD8＋T细胞比例（P〉0.05）。酵母多糖导致大鼠脾脏CD4＋和CD8＋T细胞比例减少;高压氧可减少正常大鼠脾脏CD4＋T细胞比例,而增加SIRS脾脏的CD4＋T细胞比例,而对CD8＋T细胞无影响。     

23例1型糖尿病初发患儿免疫学改变与胰岛β细胞功能的关系

目的：观察1型糖尿病（T1DM）初发患儿细胞免疫与胰岛β细胞功能之间的关系。方法：T1DM组23例初发患儿均测定淋巴细胞亚群（T细胞、B细胞及NK细胞）、HbA1c、INS、C-P,正常对照组20例,测定淋巴细胞亚群。结果：T1DM组CD4、CD4/CD8较正常对照组升高（P〈0.05）;CD8、CD3-CD56＋较对照组降低（P〈0.05）;CD4/CD8比值与HbA1c呈正相关（r=0.9451,P〈0.01）,而与INS呈负相关（r=-0.1020,P〈0.01）,与C-P呈负相关（r=-0.6174,P〈0.01）;CD3-CD56＋与HbA1c呈正相关（r=0.1320,P〈0.01）,而与INS呈正相关（r=-0.0846,P〈0.01）,与C-P呈负相关（r=-0.3224,P〈0.01）。结论：T1DM初发患者CD4、CD4/CD8明显增高,CD8、CD3-CD56＋明显降低,提示细胞免疫功能改变与胰岛β细胞功能损伤密切相关。     

6周自由转轮运动对高脂饲养雄性大鼠性激素及下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴的影响

目的观察高脂膳食对青春期雄性大鼠下丘脑、垂体、睾丸结构及性激素水平的影响,并探讨6周自由转轮运动的干预效果。方法 3周龄初断乳雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分为普通膳食对照组(C组)、普通膳食运动组(CE组)、高脂膳食组(D组)、高脂膳食运动组(DE组)。C、D组安静饲养8周,CE、ED组在适应性喂养2周后进行6周自由转轮运动,每天上、下午各1 h,每周5 d。8周后,大鼠腹主动脉取血,测血清T、E2、FSH、LH;制备睾丸组织匀浆液测T、E2;制备下丘脑、垂体、睾丸组织切片,光镜下观察其结构变化。结果 (1)与C组比较,D组血清T、E2检出率降低,且睾丸组织中T水平显著降低(P0.05),而血清E2、FSH、LH显著升高(P0.05);下丘脑出现空泡脂滴,垂体中嗜酸性和嗜碱性细胞均减少,睾丸生精小管面积、精子细胞比例和睾丸间质细胞数量降低。(2)与D组相比,DE组大鼠血清T检出值及睾丸T值均增高,而血清E2、FSH、LH显著降低(P0.05);下丘脑组织结构出现空泡脂滴,垂体中嗜酸性细胞数量显著增高,嗜碱性细胞数量无变化,睾丸组织中生精小管面积较高但差异无显著性。结论 6周自由转轮运动可有效改善高脂饲养大鼠导致的性激素分泌异常,雌雄激素比例失衡,但对下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴的组织结构病理变化改善效果不明显。     

一种新的大鼠隐睾模型的建立

目的改善大鼠隐睾模型的制作方法,提高隐睾模型的质量,并对新模型的稳定性进行研究。方法28只大鼠随机分为对照组（ctrl）和模型组（modl）采用模拟失重大鼠模型,对大鼠进行3周尾部悬吊进行造模,随后模型组大鼠解悬吊恢复8周观察该模型的稳定性。结果经过3周的尾部悬吊,模型组所有大鼠睾丸均滑入腹腔,同时和对照组相比,睾丸和附睾的重量出现极显著的降低（P〈0.01）。HE染色发现对照组大鼠睾丸的生精小管结构排列紊乱,精原细胞消失,附睾尾中成熟精子消失。经过8周的恢复,大鼠的睾丸及附睾仍未恢复到正常水平（P〈0.01）,HE染色显示其生精小管结构和精原细胞数量并未出现明显的改善。结论尾吊法所建立的大鼠隐睾模型效果稳定,可以有效模拟大鼠隐睾时的睾丸温度变化情况,同时对大鼠的伤害较小,操作比较简单。     

Evaluation of single intratesticular injection of calcium chloride for nonsurgical sterilization of male Black Bengal goats (Capra hircus): a dose-dependent study

This study describes the induction of chemosterilization in three groups each of six adult male Black Bengal goats at 30 days after a single bilateral intratesticular injection of a calcium chloride (CaCl(2), 2H(2)O) solution at the doses of 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg body weight/testis, always in a 2 ml volume of normal saline. Another one group of animals received only 2 ml of normal saline per testis as a control. The induction of chemosterilization was measured using relative testicular weight as well as histomorphological parameters including seminiferous tubular architecture and germ cell association in seminiferous tubules along with morphology of the interstitial space. Biochemical markers included activities of testicular Delta(5), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta(5), 3beta-HSD), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as monitoring the level of testicular thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes and reduced glutathione (GSH) content along with plasma concentrations of testosterone, LH and FSH. Histomorphological measures of testes showed total necrosis of testicular tissue at 30 days after an injection of either 20 or 40 mg CaCl(2) along with fibrosis in seminiferous tubules and interstitial spaces. Infiltration of leucocytes was observed with the 40 mg dose. Disintegration of germ cell arrangement in seminiferous tubules and washing out of germ cells from the tubules were noted with the 10mg dose. Relative organ weights, plasma concentrations of testosterone, testicular activities of Delta(5), 3beta-HSD, 17beta-HSD, catalase, GPx, GST, and SOD and testicular contents of GSH all were declined. Increases occurred in testicular TBARS, conjugated dienes and plasma concentrations of LH and FSH with each of the treatments by comparison with the control group. Plasma concentrations of cortisol and fasting blood sugar level as well as packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein were recorded to monitor the changes of chronic stress in the experimental animals. Changes in these parameters were not significant. An intratesticular injection of calcium chloride at specified doses could be a suitable method of sterilization in preference to surgical castration of goats.     

Effect of growth hormone and induced IGF-I release on germ cell population and apoptosis in the bovine testis

Bovine growth hormone has been used in dairy cattle to increase milk production,but it also increases the twin parturition rate. This effect is mediated by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), which prevents follicular atresia by hindering apoptosis of granulosa cells. The action of GH and IGF-I on testicular function remains unclear. The goal of this study, therefore, was to verify the effects of short-term administration of GH and induced IGF-I release on the number of testicular germ cells, testicular morphology, and apoptosis in the bovine testis. Twenty Zebu bulls were split into 2 groups. The bulls in Group 1 (n = 10) were treated with 2 subcutaneous injections of bovine GH (500 mg/bull) 7 d apart. Group 2 bulls (n = 10) received placebos under the same protocol. All of the bulls were slaughtered 14 d after the start of treatment. Fragments of the testis were collected, fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin, and the sections stained with hematoxilin and eosin. The paraffin-embedded sections were also used for in situ detection of apoptotic cells. Blood samples were collected at slaughter to measure serum levels of IGF-I, FSH and LH. Neither the number of Stage I seminiferous epithelium germ cells and the morphometric parameters (tubular diameter, seminiferous epithelium height, and volumetric proportions of structural components) nor the blood levels of FSH and LH showed a significant difference between the 2 groups. However, the treated animals showed an increase in serum IGF-I (P<0.01). Apoptotic germ cells were detected in the testis of both groups, showing the same pattern and a stage-specific apoptosis pattern. Most of the labeled cells were spermatocytes. The localization of apoptotic germ cells did not differ between groups. These results suggest that short-term administration of GH does not affect bovine spermatogenesis in adult bulls.     

运动干预对肥胖大鼠睾丸自噬和凋亡的影响

目的 探讨肥胖对大鼠生精小管结构及自噬和凋亡相关蛋白质的影响,并探讨运动对睾丸自噬和凋亡的影响及其调控机制。方法 将50只6周龄雄性SD大鼠随机分为标准饲养组（SD组,n=20）和高脂饲养组（HFD组,n=30）。HFD组喂养8周建立肥胖大鼠模型,并随机筛选出20只肥胖大鼠进行运动干预。SD组和HFD组分别随机分为标准对照组（CC组）、标准运动组（CE组）、肥胖对照组（OC组）、肥胖运动组（OE组）,每组10只。其中CE组和OE组进行8周中等强度跑台运动干预,60 min/d,5 d/周,其他两组维持原饲养条件。在最后一次运动结束48 h后,将大鼠腹腔麻醉,称重,取大鼠左右两侧睾丸、称量睾丸重量并计算睾丸指数。制作睾丸石蜡切片,利用HE染色法观察睾丸组织结构。采用蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测睾丸组织中p62、LC3II、LC3I、BCL-2、Bax和AMPK蛋白表达量并计算LC3II/LC3I比值,采用免疫荧光检测睾丸中LC3和BCL-2蛋白表达位置。结果 与CC组相比,OC组大鼠睾丸指数降低,生精小管直径显著降低（P<0.01）,精子细胞减少,睾丸组织中有脂滴沉...     

Cell-cell interactions in the control of spermatogenesis as studied using Leydig cell destruction and testosterone replacement

This review centers around studies which have used ethane dimethane sulphonate (EDS) selectively to destroy all of the Leydig cells in the adult rat testis. With additional manipulations such as testosterone replacement and/or experimental induction of severe seminiferous tubule damage in EDS-injected rats, the following questions have been addressed: 1) What are the roles and relative importance of testosterone and other non-androgenic Leydig cell products in normal spermatogenesis and testicular function in general? 2) What are the factors controlling Leydig cell proliferation and maturation? 3) Is it the Leydig cells or the seminiferous tubules (or both) which control the testicular vasculature? The findings emphasize that in the normal adult rat testis there is a complex interaction between the Leydig cells, the Sertoli (and/or peritubular) cells, the germ cells, and the vasculature, and that testosterone, but not other Leydig cell products, plays a central role in many of these interactions. The Leydig cells drive spermatogenesis via the secretion of testosterone which acts on the Sertoli and/or peritubular cells to create an environment which enables normal progression of germ cells through stage VII of the spermatogenic cycle. In addition, testosterone is involved in the control of the vasculature, and hence the formation of testicular interstitial fluid, presumably again via effects on the Sertoli and/or peritubular cells. When Leydig cells regenerate and mature after their destruction by EDS, it can be shown that both the rate and the location of regenerating Leydig cells is determined by an interplay between endocrine (LH and perhaps FSH) and paracrine factors; the latter emanate from the seminiferous tubules and are determined by the germ cell complement. Taken together with other data on the paracrine control of Leydig cell testosterone secretion by the seminiferous tubules, these findings demonstrate that the functions of all of the cell types in the testis are interwoven in a highly organized manner. This has considerable implications with regard to the concentration of research effort on in vitro studies of the testis, and is discussed together with the need for a multidisciplinary approach if the complex control of spermatogenesis is ever to be properly understood.     

In situ demonstration of both TUNEL-labeled germ cell and Sertoli cell in the cimetidine-treated rats

Cimetidine has caused dysfunction in the male reproductive system. In the rat testis, intratubular alterations and loss of peritubular tissue due to peritubular myoid cell death by apoptosis have been recently shown. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate which cells of the seminiferous epithelium have been affected and/or died by apoptosis after the treatment with cimetidine. For this purpose, an experimental group containing five male albino Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injections of cimetidine (50 mg/kg body weight) during 52 days. The testes were fixed with 4% buffered formaldehyde and were embedded in paraffin. For detection of DNA breaks (apoptosis) in the cells of the seminiferous epithelium, the testicular sections were treated by the TUNEL method (Apop-Tag Plus Peroxidase Kit). In the tubules affected by cimetidine, altered peritubular tissue, including the presence of TUNEL labeling in the myoid peritubular cells, were usually found. In these tubules, the seminiferous epithelium exhibited low density of germ cells and TUNEL-positive labeling in the germ cells of the basal compartment. The concomitant staining in both germ cells of the basal compartment and late spermatids suggest a sensitivity of these cells in the damaged tubules. Besides germ cells, TUNEL-positive Sertoli cells were also found in the injured seminiferous tubules. Thus, a relationship between dying germ cells and Sertoli cell damage and/or death must be considered in tubules where peritubular tissue has been affected by toxicants.     

Stimulatory effect of follicle-stimulating hormone on rat Leydig cells

Summary The effects of FSH on the testicular interstitial tissue of immature hypophysectomized rats were studied by comparing morphological changes in Leydig cells with quantitative changes in interstitial tissue histology using morphometric analysis. Three groups of rats received subcutaneous injections of 0.5 ml saline vehicle or 10 g rFSH or 20 ng oLH (equivalent to the amount of LH known to contaminate the FSH), twice daily for 7 days. Administration of FSH significantly increased testis weight and stimulated more advanced spermatogenesis compared to saline or LH. Morphometric analysis of testes of LH-treated rats showed a small but significant increase in total interstitial cell volume compared to saline treatment. FSH caused much greater increases in the total volume of interstitial tissue and interstitial cells than either saline or LH and significantly increased the total volume of interstitial fluid by comparison with the other groups. FSH but not saline or LH treatment resulted in a striking hypertrophy of Leydig cells, to produce cells ultrastructurally identical to Leydig cells from adults. Since the target tissue of FSH is the seminiferous epithelium, the observed effects on Leydig cells by FSH treatment suggest that the secretion of factors by the seminiferous tubules may mediate the maturation of Leydig cells.     

The influence of unilateral castration on testicular morphology and function in adult rams

An experiment was designed to investigate the mechanisms controlling testicular compensatory hypertrophy in rams. Endocrine and histological events were examined, with special attention to Sertoli cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy as contributing factors to the compensatory process. Fifteen sexually mature yearling Targhee rams were allotted to intact control (C, n = 5) and unilateral castrate (UC, n = 10) treatment groups in June. Approximately 150 days after UC, testicular tissue was collected in November after efferent duct cannulation and rete testis fluid (RTF) collection or perfusion fixation. Unilateral castration increased mean testis weight by 56% (p = 0.01) and mean epididymal weight by 15% (p = 0.05). Although the mean volume of RTF collected more than doubled after UC (1.55 +/- 0.86 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.10 ml for UC and C rams, respectively), the difference was not statistically significant. By 150 days after UC, the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in jugular venous blood did not differ between the two treatment groups. The concentrations of T. dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and androgen-binding protein (ABP) in RTF were also similar for UC and C rams. However, since the observed mean RTF volume was increased, the amounts of T, DHT, and ABP exiting the testes of these UC rams via the RTF were approximately doubled, although this difference was not statistically significant. UC increased the mean diameter of seminiferous tubules by 21% (p less than 0.01) and of their lumina by 51% (p less than 0.01), but did not significantly increase mean height of seminiferous epithelium or estimated length of seminiferous tubules per testis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Increased germ cell degeneration and reduced germ cell:Sertoli cell ratio in stallions with low sperm production

To determine the relationship between germ cell degeneration or germ cell:Sertoli cell ratio and daily sperm production, testes were obtained during the months of May to July (breeding season) and November to January (nonbreeding season) from adult (4 to 20-yr-old) stallions with either high (n = 15) or low (n = 15) sperm production. Serum was assayed for concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone. Testes were assayed for testosterone content and for the number of elongated spermatids, after which parenchymal samples were prepared for histologic assessment. Using morphometric procedures, the types and numbers of spermatogonia, germ cells and Sertoli cells were determined. High sperm producing stallions had greater serum testosterone concentration, total intratesticular testosterone content, testicular parenchymal weight, seminiferous epithelial height, diameter of seminiferous tubules, numbers of A and B spermatogonia per testis, number of Sertoli cells per testis, and number of B spermatogonia, late primary spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids per Sertoli cell than low sperm producing stallions (P < 0.05). The number of germ cells (total number of all spermatocytes and spermatids in Stage VIII tubules) accommodated by Sertoli cells was reduced in low sperm producing stallions (18.6 +/- 1.3 germ cells/Sertoli cell) compared with that of high sperm producing stallions (25.4 +/- 1.3 germ cells/Sertoli cell; P < 0.001). The conversion from (yield between) early to late primary spermatocytes and round to elongated spermatids was less efficient for the low sperm producing stallions (P < 0.05). Increased germ cell degeneration during early meiosis and spermiogenesis and reduced germ cell:Sertoli cell ratio was associated with low daily sperm production. These findings can be explained either by a compromised ability of the Sertoli cells to support germ cell division and/or maturation or the presence of defects in germ cells that predisposed them to degeneration.     

Germ cell apoptosis in the testes of normal stallions

Apoptosis in testicular germ cells has been demonstrated in many mammalian species. However, little is known about the stallion (Equus caballus) and rates of apoptosis during spermatogenesis. Morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis reported in other species were used to confirm that the TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay is an acceptable method for identification and quantification of apoptotic germ cells in histological tissue sections from stallion testis. Seminiferous tubules from eight stallions with normal testis size and semen quality were evaluated according to stage of seminiferous epithelium to determine the germ cell types and stages where apoptosis most commonly occurs. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes were the most common germ cell types labeled by the TUNEL assay. A low rate of round and elongated spermatids were labeled by the TUNEL assay. Mean numbers of TUNEL-positive germ cells per 100 Sertoli cell nuclei were highest in stages IV (15.5 +/- 1.0) and V (13.5 +/- 1.1) of the seminiferous epithelial cycle (P < 0.001). An intermediate level of apoptosis was detected in stage VI (P < 0.02). These stages (IV-VI) correspond to meiotic divisions of primary spermatocytes and mitotic proliferation of B1 and B2 spermatogonia. Establishing basal levels of germ cell apoptosis is a critical step towards understanding fertility and the role of apoptosis in regulating germ cell numbers during spermatogenesis.