A quantitative morphological study of age-related changes in the donkey testis in the period between puberty and senium

Nipken, C.; Wrobel, Karl‐Heinz

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.1997.tb00310.x

Cited by 30 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Tubular diameter and epithelium height reflect different levels of activity of the seminiferous epithelium which may be related to seasonal changes [14], ageing [16], unbalance of endogenous or exogenous gonadotrophic hormones [28] and temperature increase [23]. These biometric parameters are important to evaluate the sperm production since there is a positive correlation between tubular diameter and spermatogenic activity [7].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Testicular Morphology and Serum Testosterone Concentration in Goats Following Scrotal Insulation

Xavier

Soares

Silva

et al. 2016

Acta Scientiae. Vet.

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Background: Heat directly applied to the testis has been providing information regarding the damage triggering mechanisms on spermatogenesis and possible treatments to prevent testicular changes. Testis submitted to heat-shock have inhibition of the local antioxidant defense mechanisms against lipid peroxidation and free radicals. Vitamin E and Selenium protect biological membranes against free radicals to prevent membrane lipid peroxidation. The current assay evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with Selenium and Vitamin E on testicular parenchyma and testosterone levels of goats submitted to heat shock by scrotal insulation.Materials, Methods & Results: The effect of dietary selenium and vitamin E supplementation on testicular parameters and serum testosterone concentration was evaluated in goats subjected to scrotal insulation. The animals were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 6) to receive either a control diet (CO) or a diet supplemented with selenium and vitamin E (SE). The animals received supplementation for 120 days: 60 days prior to scrotal insulation, 18 days during scrotal insulation and 42 days after scrotal insulation. Orchiectomy was performed on three animals from each group, immediately after the end of scrotal insulation. The remaining animals were neutered at the end of the experimental period (120 days). Testicles were routinely processed and embedded in glycol methacrylate, stained with toluidine blue/1% sodium borate and evaluated qualitative and quantitatively. Serum testosterone concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassay at the time of the orchiectomy. Scrotal circumference was greater (P < 0.05) in goats of the SE group (23.0 ± 1.00 cm) than those of the control group (20.0 ± 1.00 cm) at the end of the scrotal insulation period (Day 18). At the end of the experimental period (Day 42 post-scrotal insulation (PSI)), the seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous epithelium height were greater (P < 0.05) in the SE group than in control. Histological changes associated with testicular degeneration were detected after 18 days of scrotal insulation in the goats of the control group. The animals of SE group had some histological changes of seminiferous tubules but the majority of them had normal association of germ cells. Selenium and vitamin E supplementation did not seem to avoid testicular damage caused by scrotal insulation but accelerated testicular recovery after the removal of insulation. Testosterone serum levels were not changed in the animals submitted to scrotal insulation, with or without dietary supplementation with selenium and vitamin E.Discussion: In the current study, scrotal insulation for 18 days caused testicular degeneration in both groups. However, selenium and vitamin E supplementation were capable of maintaining the scrotal circumference on the 18th day of insulation in the SE group. Previous reports suggested that selenium and vitamin E could protect cell membranes against the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species. However, the histopathological changes and morphometric data observed in the both groups after 18 days of insulation demonstrated that supplementation with these antioxidants did not prevent the damage caused by heat stress. In turn, at 42 days after the removal of insulation, the tubular diameter and seminiferous epithelium height was greater in animals supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. In addition, the animals that received supplementation had most of seminiferous tubules with cell associations of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Vitamin E and selenium may reduce testicle sensitivity to heat and thereby shorten the spermatogenesis recovery time by 10 to 20 days. Selenium plus vitamin E added to feed was unable to prevent the degeneration of the testicular parenchyma in these animals. Nonetheless, the supplementation with both antioxidants hastened the recovery of spermatogenesis after the thermal injury.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Testicular Morphology and Serum Testosterone Concentration in Goats Following Scrotal Insulation

Xavier

Soares

Silva

et al. 2016

Acta Scientiae. Vet.

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“…Some authors have pointed to the possibility of a diminution in the number of proliferating spermatogonia, accompanied by an increase in their apoptosis with aging (Nipken and Wrobel 1997), although no quantitative data have been presented for this possible relation.…”

Section: Apoptosis and Proliferation In Aging Seminiferous Epitheliummentioning

confidence: 99%

Proliferation and Apoptosis in Aged and Photoregressed Mammalian Seminiferous Epithelium, with Particular Attention to Rodents and Humans

Pastor

Zuasti

Ferrer

et al. 2011

Reprod Domestic Animals

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Imbalances in the proliferation and apoptosis processes are involved in numerous epithelial alterations. In the seminiferous epithelium, normal spermatogenesis is regulated by spermatogonia proliferation and germ cell apoptosis, and both processes are involved in diverse pathological alterations of the seminiferous epithelium. Other physiological phenomena including aging and short photoperiod, in which apoptosis and proliferation seem to play important roles, cause testicular changes. Aging is accompanied by diminished proliferation and increased apoptosis, the latter occurring in specific states of the seminiferous cycle and considered the cause of epithelium involution. However, there is no clear evidence concerning whether proliferation decreases in the spermatogonia themselves or is due to an alteration in the cell microenvironment that surrounds them. As regards the factors that regulate the process, the data are scant, but it is considered that the diminution of c-kit expression in the spermatagonia, together with the diminution in antiapoptotic factors (Bcl-x(L))) of the intrinsic molecular pathway of apoptosis play a part in epithelial regression. A short photoperiod, especially in rodents, produces a gradual involution of the seminiferous epithelium, which is related with increased apoptosis during the regression phase and a diminution of apoptosis during recrudescence. Proliferative activity varies, especially during the total regression phase, when it usually increases in the undifferentiated spermatogonia. In other species showing seasonal reproduction, however, decreased proliferation is considered the main factor in the regression of the seminiferous epithelium. Little is known about how both phenomena are regulated, although data in rodents suggest that both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis contribute to the increase in this process. In conclusion, regression of the seminiferous epithelium in physiological situations, as in many pathological situations, is a result of alterations in equilibrium between the proliferation and apoptosis of germinal cell types. However, both physiological phenomena showed important differences as regard proliferation/apoptosis and their regulation pathways, probably as a result of their irreversible or reversible character.

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“…An increase in F50 demonstrates a shift towards a higher EEG frequency, indicating an increase in cortical arousal. In human subjects, awake and attentive states are characterised by high-frequency waveforms of low amplitude, with significant power in gamma and beta (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) Hz) frequency bands [9], whereas delta waveforms (1-4 Hz) dominate the EEG during deeper sleep. Studies have shown that activation of the reticular formation is closely associated with slow-wave EEG activity [10].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…increased amount of fibrous tissue surrounding the spermatic cord. Age-related changes in the testes of horses [28] and donkeys [29] are documented; however, changes in the structure of the spermatic cord, including innervation, are not described in the literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous electroencephalographic changes in a castration model as an indicator of nociception: A comparison between donkeys and ponies

Grint

Johnson

Clutton

et al. 2014

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Electroencephalographic responses to the noxious stimulus of castration were noted in both donkeys and ponies. Donkeys demonstrated a greater change in Ptot in response to castration than ponies; thus, donkeys appear to demonstrate a cerebral cortical response to a noxious stimulus that is similar to or greater than that in ponies, suggesting that their subtle behavioural expression of pain is not due to a difference in cortical processing of noxious sensory stimuli.

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A quantitative morphological study of age-related changes in the donkey testis in the period between puberty and senium

Cited by 30 publications

References 47 publications

Effect of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Testicular Morphology and Serum Testosterone Concentration in Goats Following Scrotal Insulation

Effect of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Testicular Morphology and Serum Testosterone Concentration in Goats Following Scrotal Insulation

Proliferation and Apoptosis in Aged and Photoregressed Mammalian Seminiferous Epithelium, with Particular Attention to Rodents and Humans

Spontaneous electroencephalographic changes in a castration model as an indicator of nociception: A comparison between donkeys and ponies

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