PM_(2.5)对大鼠子宫组织形态及氧化应激效应的影响

目的探究PM_(2.5)对大鼠子宫组织生理及相关生化应激效应的影响。方法将30只SD雌鼠随机分为3个不同PM_(2.5)暴露组(生理盐水对照组、1.5 mg/kg PM_(2.5)低剂量组和37.5 mg/kg PM_(2.5)高剂量组)。PM_(2.5)暴露10 d后,将雌鼠处死,HE染色观察子宫组织病理变化,并检测子宫组织中SOD、GSH、MDA和LDH含量。结果与对照组相比,PM_(2.5)暴露组雌鼠子宫组织结构异常,内膜上皮细胞变薄,排列混乱;固有层基质细胞和血管减少。氧化应激指标检测结果显示,高剂量组MDA和LDH含量分别为(6.53±1.24)nmol/mg prot和(265.62±24.65)U/g prot,明显高于对照组(P0.05);高剂量组和低剂量组SOD和GSH含量均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论PM_(2.5)可对大鼠子宫组织形态造成破坏,并诱发子宫相关的氧化应激反应。     

核转录因子NF-E2相关因子2信号通路在PM_(2.5)致雌性大鼠生殖损伤中的作用

目的研究核转录因子NF-E2相关因子2(NF-E2 related factor 2, Nrf-2)信号通路在PM_(2.5)雌性生殖损伤中的作用。方法 30只雌性SD大鼠随机分为生理盐水对照组、1.5 mg/kg PM_(2.5)低剂量组和37.5 mg/kg PM_(2.5)高剂量组,连续暴露染毒10 d。ELISA试剂盒检测子宫中肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α)、白介素-1β(interleukin 1 beta, IL-1β)和白介素-6(interleukin-6, IL-6)含量。荧光定量PCR (qPCR)检测子宫组织Nrf-2和血红素加氧酶-1(heme oxygenase-1, HO-1)mRNA表达水平。Western blot检测子宫组织Nrf-2和HO-1蛋白表达水平。结果低剂量组和高剂量组子宫TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6含量均明显高于对照组(P0.05);与低剂量组相比,高剂量组子宫TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6含量明显升高,差异有显著性(P0.05);且子宫组织炎性因子含量与PM_(2.5)暴露量正相关,随着PM_(2.5)暴露浓度的升高,TNF-a、IL-1β和IL-6含量不断升高(r=0.870、0.847和0.855)。荧光定量PCR和western blot检测结果显示,低剂量组和高剂量组子宫组织中Nrf-2和HO-1的mRAN表达水平和蛋白表达水平均明显高于对照组,差异有显著性(P0.05)。结论雌鼠暴露PM_(2.5)后,Nrf-2信号通路被激活,但PM_(2.5)依然能诱发子宫炎症反应,造成子宫组织损伤。     

猕猴前列腺增生动物模型的建立

利用猕猴（Macaca mulatta）建立前列腺增生动物模型,并探讨丙酸睾酮（TP）诱导猕猴前列腺增生模型的最佳剂量及给药时间。雄性猕猴12只,随机分为3个剂量的实验组和对照组共4组,每组3只。去势8周后,皮下注射给药。实验组按低、中、高剂量分别给予丙酸睾酮（TP）0.8、2.5、7.5 mg/(kg?d),对照组给予等体积溶剂,连续8周。B型超声探测去势前、去势后8周及TP干预4周、8周时猕猴前列腺体积,并采集分离各个实验阶段的血清备用。给药8周后处死动物,取前列腺,称量湿重,测量体积,计算前列腺重量指数及体积指数,H.E染色切片观察前列腺增生情况,并进一步测量腺腔面积及腺上皮细胞高度。同时,采用ELISA方法测定血清及前列腺组织中二氢睾酮（DHT）水平。B型超声结果显示,去势8周时,各组猕猴前列腺体积均明显小于去势前（P < 0.05）。TP干预4周及8周时,各剂量组猕猴前列腺体积均显著大于对照组（P < 0.05）,且在干预4周TP中剂量组达到最佳效果（P < 0.01）。而TP干预4周与8周相比,各组间并无显著性差异（P > 0.05）。解剖结果显示,各实验组猕猴前列腺湿重、体积及脏器指数均明显大于对照组（P < 0.05）,且在中剂量组达到最大值。而显微图像分析结果显示,实验组猕猴前列腺上皮细胞增生,与对照组比较,各剂量组猕猴前列腺腺腔面积明显增加（P < 0.01）,腺上皮细胞高度明显增高（P < 0.01）。二氢睾酮（DHT）水平检测结果显示,与对照组相比,药物干预后各实验组猕猴血清中DHT含量明显增高（P < 0.01）,且在中剂量组达到最大值。TP干预4周与8周相比,各组间并无显著性差异（P > 0.05）。同时,各实验组前列腺组织中DHT含量相较于对照组也明显增高,但剂量-效应关系不显著,中剂量组优于高、低剂量组。TP药物干预去势猕猴可成功建立猕猴前列腺增生模型,初步判定较为适宜的造模条件为丙酸睾酮给药剂量2.5 mg/(kg?d),给药时间4周。     

PM2.5通过激活NLRP3/Caspse-1通路诱导大鼠子宫炎症反应

颗粒物(PM)对呼吸系统、心血管系统、神经系统和免疫系统均有损害,但目前关于吸入颗粒物对生殖损伤的研究较少。本研究旨在探讨细颗粒物(PM_2.5)短期暴露对大鼠子宫炎症损伤及其作用机制。PM_2.5暴露30 d后,高剂量组大鼠的子宫脏器系数、内膜上皮细胞厚度和腺上皮高度均明显高于对照组(P<0.05),抑制剂MCC950则能明显降低PM_2.5对子宫的影响。子宫组织免疫荧光双染色结果显示,PM_2.5暴露组子宫内CD45白细胞和CD11b巨噬细胞均明显增加(P<0.05)。Elisa法检测子宫组织和血清中白介素1β(IL-1β)和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1),暴露组子宫组织和血清中IL-1β和TGF-β1含量明显升高(P<0.05)。Western印迹法检测结果显示,PM_2.5上调核苷酸结合低聚体结构域样受体3 (NLRP3)、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白质(ASC)、pro-IL-1β、pro-Caspase-1和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1(Caspase-1)的蛋白质表达量(P<0.05)。与高剂量组相比,NLRP3抑制剂MCC950能明显降低NLRP3/Caspase-1通路中关键蛋白质表达水平(P<0.05)。综上,PM_2.5通过激活NLRP3/ Caspase-1信号,诱导大鼠子宫炎症反应,为PM_2.5生殖毒性预防和治疗提供理论基础。     

甲状腺素对雄性去势大鼠垂体分泌LH的反应性及其在血浆中浓度的影响

本文观察了雄性去势大鼠注射T_4后对血浆和垂体组织LH含量的影响及垂体对不同剂量的LHRHa的反应性。结果表明血浆LH含量与去势对照组相比,7.5μg组的第3、6、9天明显低(P<0.05),2.5和5.0μg组各天则无差异(P>0.05)。各组对100ng/100克体重LHRHa的反应比对500ng的要大,T_4 7.5μg组对LHRHa最大反应出现的时间比2.5和5.0μg组的推迟60min。垂体重量和LH含量各组无差异(P>0.05)。结果提示:7.5μg T_4对雄性去势大鼠的LH分泌和对垂体的LHRHa反应均显示抑制作用。     

镉负荷大鼠一氧化氮和肿瘤坏死因子-α释放在介导多器官机能活动障碍中的作用

选择健康SD雄性成年大鼠36只,随机分成对照组(C组)、镉负荷中剂量组(M组)、镉负荷高剂量组(H组).将分析纯CdCl2·2.5H2O用生理盐水稀释成含镉0.4 mg/ml浓度的注射溶液,高压灭菌.M组和H组大鼠每天分别按含镉0.5和1.0 mg/kg体重腹腔注射染毒,C组用同样方法注射与H组同等剂量的生理盐水,进行急性镉负荷实验,连续观察7 d.研究急性镉负荷对大鼠血液及几种组织中一氧化氮(NO)自由基、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-a)变化的影响及作用.结果显示在整个实验期内,镉负荷大鼠体重与对照组比较明显下降;睾丸、心脏和肝脏组织中的镉含量极显著上升,并随镉负荷剂量和时间而增加;血浆NO水平M组虽高于对照组,但差异不显著,而H组极显著高于对照组,M和H组血浆TNF-α明显高于对照组;在整个实验期内,镉负荷大鼠睾丸、心脏和肝脏组织匀浆中NO较对照组高或明显高于对照组,睾丸和心脏组织匀浆中TNF-a也均高于或明显高于对照组,但肝脏中的TNF-a三组间没有差异.结果提示,镉负荷诱发NO、TNF-α大量释放在导致大鼠多种器官机能活动障碍发生过程中可能起重要作用.     

纳米炭黑颗粒复合寒冷暴露对小鼠肺部氧化应激反应的影响

目的：研究纳米炭黑颗粒复合寒冷暴露对小鼠肺部组织结构及其氧化应激反应的影响。方法：将72只健康雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为6组：对照（Ctrl）组、单纯冷暴露（C）组、低剂量染毒（L）组、低剂量染毒复合冷暴露（LC）组、高剂量染毒（H）组、高剂量染毒复合冷暴露（HC）组。采用吸入式气管滴注染毒方式,一次性滴注纳米炭墨颗粒染毒液40 μl,浓度分别为0.45 mg/ml （L）和4.05 mg/ml （H）。冷暴露方式为4℃暴露,4 h/d,连续20 d。暴露结束24 h后称重、取样,进行相关指标测定。采用试剂盒法测定小鼠肺组织匀浆中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活力和丙二醛（MDA）含量;肺组织块HE染色,观察肺组织病理组织结构改变。结果：所有冷暴露处理组小鼠的体重均显著低于所有非冷暴露组（P<0.05）,对照组及单纯染毒组小鼠体重均在实验开始14 d后明显升高（P<0.05）,单纯冷暴露组与纳米炭黑颗粒染毒复合冷暴露组小鼠体重均在14 d后趋于稳定。HE检测结果表明,单纯纳米炭黑颗粒染毒组及染毒复合冷暴露组小鼠肺泡腔内均有黑色颗粒沉积,高剂量染毒复合冷暴露组可见肺泡结构破环,排列凌乱,有大量炎细胞浸润。与对照组相比,其余各组SOD活力均显著降低（P<0.05）;高剂量染毒组及高剂量染毒复合冷暴露组GSH-Px活力明显低于对照组（P<0.01）;与对照组相比,高剂量染毒组、低剂量染毒与高剂量染毒复合冷暴露组MDA含量显著升高（P<0.01）。两因素方差分析提示,随着染毒剂量的增加,SOD活力及GSH-Px活力显著降低（P<0.05）;随着温度的降低,肺组织MDA含量显著升高（P<0.05）,4℃间歇性冷暴露与纳米颗粒物暴露对肺组织SOD、GSH-Px活力及MDA含量的影响均无交互作用。结论：纳米炭黑颗粒复合寒冷暴露可导致小鼠肺部炎症反应加重,氧化应激水平升高。     

不同剂量右美托咪定麻醉维持对老年全髋关节置换术患者血流动力学、细胞免疫和认知功能的影响

目的:探讨不同剂量右美托咪定麻醉维持对老年全髋关节置换术患者血流动力学、细胞免疫和认知功能的影响。方法:选取2017年3月~2019年8月期间我院收治的行全髋关节置换术的老年患者120例。采用随机数字表法分为对照组、低剂量组、高剂量组各40例。低剂量组和高剂量组麻醉维持分别持续泵入右美托咪定0.4μg/(kg·h)、0.8μg/(kg·h)维持麻醉,对照组给予0.9%氯化钠注射液持续泵入。比较三组患者围术期指标、血流动力学、细胞免疫、认知功能及不良反应。结果:高剂量组、低剂量组气管插管时(T2)、术毕5 min(T3)时间点心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)均高于对照组,且低剂量组高于高剂量组(P<0.05)。高剂量组、低剂量组T2、T3时间点CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺均高于对照组,且高剂量组高于低剂量组(P<0.05);高剂量组、低剂量组T2、T3时间点CD8⁺低于对照组,且高剂量组低于低剂量组(P<0.05)。术后1 d高剂量组、低剂量组简明精神状态量表(MMSE)评分较对照组高(P<0.05);低剂量组、高剂量组术后1 d的MMSE评分比较无差异(P>0.05)。低剂量组麻醉10 min后Ramsay镇静评分高于对照组、高剂量组(P<0.05);低剂量组术后苏醒时间、拔管时间较对照组、高剂量组短(P<0.05)。高剂量组的不良反应发生率高于对照组和低剂量组(P<0.05)。结论:老年全髋关节置换术患者术中采用右美托咪定麻醉维持,可维持血流动力学稳定,减轻免疫抑制及认知功能损害,安全性较好,其中以0.4μg/(kg·h)剂量的右美托咪定效果更佳。     

蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达的影响

目的:探讨蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体的影响。方法:选取40只健康雌性未孕SD大鼠,随机分为空白组、对照组、乌力吉-18高、低2个剂量组,每组10只。空白组灌胃等体积蒸馏水,对照组灌胃逍遥丸,高、低剂量组分别灌胃2.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1、1.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1乌力吉-18,连续给药31学艺术d。采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、促卵泡生成素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、雌二醇(E₂)及孕酮(PROG)的含量;免疫组化法检测下丘脑组织促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、垂体组织促性腺激素释放激素受体(GnRHR)的表达;以蛋白免疫印迹技术检测卵巢组织促卵泡生成素受体(FSHR)、黄体生成素受体(LHR)蛋白表达量。以实时荧光定量PCR检测卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量。结果:与空白组比较,乌力吉-18低剂量组可明显升高血清LH含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR表达及卵巢组织FSHR、LHR蛋白表达(P<0.05);乌力吉-18高剂量组可显著升高血清FSH、LH、E₂含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH表达及卵巢组织FSHR表达量(P<0.05),并可显著升高卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量(P<0.05);对照组可明显升高血清E₂含量(P<0.05)。结论:蒙药乌力吉-18可明显升高血清FSH、LH及E₂的含量,促进下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR及卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR的表达,表明乌力吉-18能够对下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达产生影响。     

雌激素诱导SD大鼠前列腺炎与内环境改变的关系

目的 通过雌二醇诱导SD雄鼠慢性前列腺炎,探讨SD雄鼠的内环境改变的关联性作用,为前列腺炎发生机制和治疗提供一条实验性途径.方法 3%戊巴比妥麻醉,无菌条件下去势手术;术后动物恢复5 d,30只雄鼠按照体重随机分组,每组10只.第6天低剂量组皮下注射0.25 mg/kg的雌二醇,高剂量组皮下注射1.25 mg/kg的雌二醇,溶媒对照组注射橄榄油,每天1次,连续30 d.结果 与溶媒对照组比较,低、高剂量组白细胞（WBC）、红细胞（RBC）、血红蛋白（HGB）和红细胞压积（HCT）均降低（P〈0.01）;前列腺酸性磷酸酶（PAP）明显降低（P〈0.01）;高剂量组睾酮含量明显增加（P〈0.01）,C-反应蛋白（CRP）在低、高剂量组也呈现增加的趋势,但差异没有统计学意义;溶媒对照组和给药组前列腺组织大体解剖表面未见明显差异,光学显微镜下,溶媒对照组前列腺组织结构完整、腺腔和间质无炎性细胞浸润,高剂量组和低剂量组的前列腺间质均可见炎细胞浸润;低、高剂量组大鼠脾脏均可见棕黄色颗粒沉淀,其余脏器无明显改变,胸腺、脾脏及其脏器系数均明显降低.结论 根据本实验结果,雌激素引起的慢性非细菌性前列腺炎可导致内环境血液学、血清生化,激素水平、脏器和脏器系数的一系列改变.     

维生素E对暴露于高温及PM2.5中COPD大鼠呼吸系统的保护性作用*

目的:探讨维生素E改善暴露于高温与PM_2.5对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)大鼠呼吸系统功能损伤的作用。方法:将54只7周龄SPF级雄性Wistar大鼠随机分成9个实验组(n=6),利用烟草烟雾和气管内滴注脂多糖建立COPD大鼠模型,而后对其进行PM_2.5(0 mg/ml、3.2 mg/ml)气管滴注染毒和维生素E腹腔注射(20 mg/ml)干预,随后高温组进行高温(40℃)暴露,每天一次(8 h),持续3 d。末次暴露后检测肺功能,HE染色制作肺组织病理切片,采用试剂盒测定大鼠肺组织中诱导性一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1)的表达水平。结果:与对照组相比,高温和PM_2.5暴露使COPD大鼠肺功能降低(P＜0.05),各PM_2.5染毒组中MCP-1含量均有显著升高(P＜0.05),高温组中iNOS活性显著增高(P＜0.05);与单纯PM_2.5染毒组相比,在常温健康和高温COPD维生素E干预组的TNF-α含量均显著降低(P＜0.05),三组维生素干预组中MCP-1含量均显著降低(P＜0.05),高温COPD维生素干预组中iNOS活性显著降低(P＜0.05)。结论:高温与PM_2.5可引起并进一步加重COPD大鼠的炎症反应,维生素E作为一种抗氧化剂,可明显改善上述损伤作用,从而保护机体。     

Immunological and cytotoxicological responses of the Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (M.), experimentally exposed to cadmium

Bivalve molluscs, as filter-feeding organisms, are known to accumulate metals that can produce deleterious effects on organisms. The phagocytic activity of haemocytes and lysosomal alterations in the digestive gland cells were measured in the freshwater Asian clam exposed to cadmium, in order to assess the possible use of immunocompetence and lysosomal responses as biomarkers of freshwater quality. Clams were exposed in the laboratory to nominal concentrations of 3, 10, 21.4, 46.5 and 100 µg l^-1 of cadmium and sampled after 7, 15 and 30 days of exposure. The results show a decrease of phagocytic activity after only 7 days of exposure to 10 µg l^-1 of cadmium. This response was also observed as the exposure time was increased. Lysosomes in the digestive cells increased in size and number after 7 days of exposure as cadmium concentration increased. After 30 days of exposure, a decrease in size and number indicated a change in the response to the metal from concentrations of 46.5 µg l^-1 of cadmium. A dose and time response both in phagocytic activity of haemocytes and lysosomal structure demonstrated a possible use of these biomarkers in freshwater biomonitoring.     

Effect of alendronate administration on bone mineral density and bone strength in castrated rats.

Castration of male rats leads to increased bone turnover and osteopenia. This study was conducted to examine the effects of the aminobisphosphonate alendronate on castration-induced bone changes. Bisphosphonates are drugs that inhibit bone turnover by decreasing the resorption. Since they suppress bone remodeling, they may also prevent the repair of microdamage and decrease bone strength. Although the mechanical properties of bones are directly related to the determination of fracture risk, bisphosphonate effects on the related variables have scarcely been investigated. Twenty-four male Wistar rats at two months of age were castrated or sham-operated to evaluate the effects of long-term administration (six months) of sodium alendronate at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day. The bones were tested mechanically by a three-point bending test in a Mini Bionix (MTS) testing system. High bone remodeling seen in castrated rats expressed by increased TrACP and B-ALP was suppressed by alendronate administration. Bone from castrated rats was characterized by a reduction in bone density as well as ash, calcium and phosphate content. Castration significantly altered mechanical properties of bone and femoral cortical thickness. When castrated rats were treated with high dose of alendronate, the changes in bone density resulting from castration were entirely prevented, and mechanical analysis revealed preserved mechanical strength of femur and cortical thickness. We conclude that castration induces cortical bone loss associated with high bone turnover in the male rat, and this bone loss can be prevented by alendronate through the inhibition of osteoclastic activity, while preserving the mechanical properties of bone. These results document the efficacy of alendronate, even at high doses, in preventing bone loss, loss of bone mechanical strength, and the rise in biochemical bone turnover indicators due to castration in rats, and raises the possibility that a alendronate could be equally effective in humans.     

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Prevents Alterations of Coronary Vascular Reactivity Caused by Hormone Deficiency Induced by Castration

The present study aimed to determine the effects of chronic treatment with different doses of testosterone on endothelium–dependent coronary vascular reactivity in male rats. Adult male rats were divided into four experimental groups: control (SHAM), castrated (CAST), castrated and immediately treated subcutaneously with a physiological dose (0.5 mg/kg/day, PHYSIO group) or supraphysiological dose (2.5 mg/kg/day, SUPRA group) of testosterone for 15 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was assessed at the end of treatment through tail plethysmography. After euthanasia, the heart was removed and coronary vascular reactivity was assessed using the Langendorff retrograde perfusion technique. A dose–response curve for bradykinin (BK) was constructed, followed by inhibition with 100 μM L-NAME, 2.8 μM indomethacin (INDO), L-NAME + INDO, or L-NAME + INDO + 0.75 μM clotrimazole (CLOT). We observed significant endothelium–dependent, BK–induced coronary vasodilation, which was abolished in the castrated group and restored in the PHYSIO and SUPRA groups. Furthermore, castration modulated the lipid and hormonal profiles and decreased body weight, and testosterone therapy restored all of these parameters. Our results revealed an increase in SBP in the SUPRA group. In addition, our data led us to conclude that physiological concentrations of testosterone may play a beneficial role in the cardiovascular system by maintaining an environment that is favourable for the activity of an endothelium–dependent vasodilator without increasing SBP.     

Effect of d-6-methyl-8-ergoline-i-ylacetamide (Deprenon) on the FSH content of the pituitary in castrated female rats.

The authors studied the effect of Deprenon (D-6-methyl-8-ergoline-I-acetylamide tartrate) on the FSH content of the adenohypophysis of female rats which had been castrated 3 and 6 weeks previously. The FSH content, determined by the method of Johnson and Naqui (1970), is expressed at the mean weights of the recipients' ovaries compared with a group given only 30 I.U. HCG. Within 30 min after administration, a single peroral dose of 0.5 mg Deprenon/kg produced a drop in the pituitary FSH content. This was not very pronounced 3 weeks after castration, but was highly significant 6 weeks after castration, when the amount of FSH in the control animals' pituitaries rose.     

Castration inhibits exercise-induced accumulation of Hsp70 in male rodent hearts

Intense exercise leads to accumulation of the inducible member of the 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins, Hsp70, in male, but not female, hearts. Estrogen is at least partially responsible for this difference. Because androgen receptors are expressed in the heart and castration leads to decreases in calcium regulatory proteins and altered cardiac function, testosterone (T) or its metabolites could also be involved. We hypothesized that removal of endogenous T production through castration would reduce cardiac Hsp70 accumulation after an acute exercise bout, whereas castrated animals supplemented with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) would show the intact male response. Fifty-four 8-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into intact, castrated, or castrated + DHT groups (n = 18/group). At 11 wk of age, 12 animals in each group undertook a 60-min bout of treadmill running at 30 m/min (2% incline) while the remaining 6 in each group remained sedentary. At 30 min or 24 h after exercise (n = 6/time point), blood and hearts were harvested for analysis. Serum T was undetectable in castrated and DHT-treated castrated rats, whereas serum DHT was significantly reduced in castrated animals only (approximately 60% reduction) (P < 0.05). Although there were no differences in constitutive levels of Hsp70 protein, exercise significantly increased cardiac hsp70 mRNA and protein in intact and DHT-supplemented rats, but not in castrated animals (P < 0.05). To examine whether castration eliminated the ability to respond to stress, another six intact and six castrated animals were subjected to a 15-min period of hyperthermia (core temperature raised to 42 degrees C) and killed 24 h later. As opposed to exercise, castrated animals subjected to heat shock exhibited increases in Hsp70 above nonshocked (i.e., sedentary) animals, similarly to intact males (P < 0.05). These data suggest that androgens, in addition to estrogen, play a role in the sexual dimorphism observed in the stress response to exercise but not heat shock.     

Cellular observations and hormonal correlates of feedback control of luteinizing hormone secretion by testosterone in long-term castrated male rhesus monkeys

Testosterone at physiological levels cannot exert negative feedback action on LH secretion in long-term castrated male monkeys. The cellular basis of this refractoriness is unknown. To study it, we compared two groups of male rhesus macaques: one group (group 1, n = 4) was castrated and immediately treated with testosterone for 30 days; the second group (group 2, n = 4) was castrated and treated with testosterone for 9 days beginning 21 days after castration. Feedback control of LH by testosterone in group 1 was normal, whereas insensitivity to its action was found in group 2. Using the endpoints of concentrations of aromatase activity (P450(AROM) messenger RNA [mRNA]) and androgen receptor mRNA in the medial preoptic anterior hypothalamus and in the medial basal hypothalamus, we found that aromatase activity in both of these tissues was significantly lower, P: < 0.01, in group 2 compared with group 1 males. P450(AROM) mRNA and androgen receptor mRNA did not differ, however. Our data suggest that the cellular basis of testosterone insensitivity after long-term castration may reside in the reduced capacity of specific brain areas to aromatize testosterone. Because P450(AROM) mRNA did not change in group 2 males, we hypothesize that an estrogen-dependent neural deficit, not involving the regulation of the P450(AROM) mRNA, occurs in long-term castrated monkeys.     

Effects of alcohol feeding on androgen receptors in the rat pituitary gland

Specific binding of testosterone-1 beta, 2 beta-3H by cytosol from anterior pituitary gland of alcohol-fed, isocaloric control, and castrated control and alcohol-fed rats with or without testosterone treatment has been investigated by charcoal assay. The number of androgen binding sites was significantly reduced in alcohol-fed rats (8 +/- 1.0 fmoles/mg cytosol protein), when compared to the isocaloric control value (13.2 +/- 2.1 fmoles/mg protein), with no significant change in Kd (0.7 +/- 0.14 nM). Castration significantly increased the number of receptor sites in control rats and when castrated control animals were treated with testosterone the binding sites were decreased to the intact control level. In contrast, castration or testosterone given to castrated alcohol-fed rats did not alter alcohol-induced reduction of the receptor sites. The binding affinity (Kd) is identical in all groups. The concentration of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was significantly lower in alcohol-fed rats when compared to that of normal controls. An increased serum LH level with a decreased testosterone level was noted in castrated control rats. However, castration of alcohol-fed rats had little or no effects on the concentrations of LH and testosterone. Administration of testosterone suppressed castration-induced high LH in control rats but alcohol-induced reduction of LH level was not altered by this treatment. These findings indicate that alcohol exerts a suppressive effect on the content of androgen receptors and secretory functions of gonadotropins in the pituitary gland.