The Effect of Cryptorchidism on the Quantitative Histology, Histochemistry and Hydrolytic Enzyme Activity of the Rat Testis

Blackshaw, A. W.; Massey, PF

doi:10.1071/bi9780053

Cited by 31 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Therefore, presumably the reduced testicular Tf concentrations in the cryptorchid dogs means lower Sertoli cell function in both testes after the production of artificial unilateral cryptorchidism. The low Sertoli cell function in the cryptorchid testis is induced by the higher temperature in the abdominal cavity or the inguinal position of the cryptorchid testis [2,25]. In this study, a large volume of E 2 secreted by the cryptorchid testis presumably caused lower Sertoli cell function in the contralateral testis by inhibiting of not only the LH-secreting function of the anterior pituitary but its FSH-secreting function as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Function of Contralateral Testis after Artificial Unilateral Cryptorchidism in Dogs

Kawakami

Hori

Tsutsui

1999

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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ABSTRACT. The effects of a cryptorchid testis on the contralateral testis were investigated after artificially producing unilateral cryptorchidism in 8 beagle dogs. Bilateral testicular biopsy and collection of spermatic vein blood and peripheral vein blood were performed at the time of the operation to produce the cryptorchidism and 52 weeks later. The testicular tissue was used for histological examination by light microscopy and measurement of the testicular transferrin (Tf) concentration by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E 2 ), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Semen was collected weekly and its quality was examined. No spermatogenesis was observed in the cryptorchid testes at 52 weeks after the operation, and the number of germ cells in the contralateral testes had decreased but the number of Sertoli cells did not change. The Tf concentration in both testes had also decreased. The mean total number of sperm between 48 and 52 weeks after the operation (194 × 10 6 ) was less than half the number before the operation (510 × 10 6 ). Mean spermatic vein plasma T levels (51 ng/ml) in the cryptorchid testes 52 weeks after the cryptorchid operation were significantly lower than before the operation (91 ng/ml; P<0.05). By contrast, spermatic vein plasma E 2 levels (80 pg/ml) were significantly higher than the values before the operation (51 pg/ml P<0.05). The peripheral plasma LH levels decreased. These findings indicate that a large quantity of E 2 secreted by the cryptorchid testis inhibits the endocrine and spermatogenic functions of the contralateral testis in the dog. In particular, it is assumed that dysfunction of the contralateral testis is associated with Sertoli cell dysfunction suggested by the low Tf concentration.-KEY WORDS: artificial cryptorchidism, canine, estrogen.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Function of Contralateral Testis after Artificial Unilateral Cryptorchidism in Dogs

Kawakami

Hori

Tsutsui

1999

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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“…Pachytene spermatocytes and young spermatids were found to be the first cells affected after experimental cryptorchidism in rats [13,14]. When fragments of human testes were cultured at 37 C, the number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes were not affected, whereas the numbers of spermatids and spermatozoa were lower [15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of Scrotal Insulation and Pathological Lesions on .ALPHA.-Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) and Vimentin in the Bull Testes

Devkota

Sasaki

Matsui

et al. 2010

Journal of Reproduction and Development

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Abstract. The expression patterns of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin in the bovine testis indicate the maturation status of seminiferous tubules. The present study demonstrates the effects of impaired spermatogenesis resulting from increased testicular temperature after scrotal insulation and pathological lesions in subfertile bull testes on the changes in immunohistochemical expression of α-SMA and vimentin. Scrotal insulation induced degenerative changes of seminiferous tubules, and subfertile bull testes demonstrated characteristic mixed atrophied lesions; dysplastic lesions were seen in one bull. The increased intensity of peritubular α-SMA in the dysplastic area was distinct and indicated shrinkage of the seminiferous tubules. The mixed atrophied lesions revealed unaltered expression of peritubular α-SMA. However, considerable distortion was observed in the expression of α-SMA in severely degenerated tubules after insulation, which may indicate the heat sensitivity of peritubular α-SMA or its relation with spermatogenic activity under sudden heat stress. The vimentin expression pattern in the degenerated tubules of post-insulated testes was unaltered. However, the Sertoli cell-only tubules of mixed atrophied subfertile bull testes were characterized by an increase in vimentin of strong intensity resembling that in the transforming pattern, which may indicate the reversion of Sertoli cell maturity in such cases. Key words: α-SMA, Scrotal insulation, Subfertile bull testis, Vimentin (J. Reprod. Dev. 56: [187][188][189][190] 2010) ytoskeletal proteins provide structural and functional support to cells. The expression patterns of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin in the bovine testis indicate the maturation status of seminiferous tubules [1,2]. Continuous exposure of the postnatally developing testis to body heat causes failure of spermatogenesis and delayed appearance of α-SMA and vimentin in Sertoli cells fail to attain the mature pattern [2]. Apart from causing degenerative lesions, cryptorchidism induced artificially also causes structural disruption of actin filaments in the rat testis [3].In bulls, increased testicular temperature induced by scrotal insulation adversely affects spermatogenesis, which then is reflected in the semen quality [4][5][6]. Some bulls reared for breeding purposes have substandard quality of spermatozoa, which may cause subfertility. Although testicular lesions of subfertile bulls have not been characterized thus far, some cases of mild to severe spermatogenic lesions have been reported in bull testes [7,8]. Testicular biopsies of men with impaired fertility generally reveal lesions of mixed atrophy characterized by seminiferous tubules having full spermatogenesis up to 'Sertoli cell-only features' [9,10]. The Sertoli cells of germ-cell-depleted tubules in the aging human testis showed increased vimentin and expressed cytokeratin [11]. The present study is the first of its kind in bulls and investigates the effects of impaired spermatogenesis resulting from incr...

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“…Clinically, cryptorchidism is a typical case of testicular heating in which the testes are exposed to body temperature rather than scrotal temperature, and abnormal testis function and damaged spermatogenesis are routinely observed in these cases [35], [36]. In addition, a supraphysiologic heating (higher than body temperature) on the testis also can disrupt spermatogenesis [12], [26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autophagy and Apoptosis Act as Partners to Induce Germ Cell Death after Heat Stress in Mice

et al. 2012

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Testicular heating suppresses spermatogenesis which is marked by germ cell loss via apoptotic pathways. Recently, it is reported that autophagy also can be induced by heat treatment in somatic cells. In this study, the status of autophagy in germ cells after heat treatment, as well as the partnership between autophagy and apoptosis in these cells was investigated. The results demonstrated that besides initiating apoptotic pathways, heat also induced autophagic pathways in germ cells. Exposure of germ cells to hyperthermia resulted in several specific features of the autophagic process, including autophagosome formation and the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. Furthermore, the ubiquitin-like protein conjugation system was implicated as being likely responsible for heat-induced autophagy in germ cells since all genes involving this system were found to be expressed in the testes. In addition, the upstream protein in this system, Atg7 (Autophagy-related gene 7), was found to be expressed in all types of spermatogenic cells, and its expression level was positively correlated with the level of autophagy in germ cells. As a result, Atg7 was selected as the investigative target to further analyze the role of autophagy in heat-induced germ cell death. It was shown that down expression of Atg7 protein resulted in the notable decrease in the level of autophagy in heat-treated germ cells, and this down-regulation of autophagy caused by Atg7 knockdown further reduced the apoptotic rate of germ cells. These results suggest that autophagy plays a positive role in the process of germ cell apoptosis after heat treatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that heat triggers autophagy and apoptosis in germ cells. These two mechanisms might act as partners, not antagonist, to induce cell death and lead to eventual destruction of spermatogenesis.

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The Effect of Cryptorchidism on the Quantitative Histology, Histochemistry and Hydrolytic Enzyme Activity of the Rat Testis

Cited by 31 publications

References 20 publications

Function of Contralateral Testis after Artificial Unilateral Cryptorchidism in Dogs

Function of Contralateral Testis after Artificial Unilateral Cryptorchidism in Dogs

Effects of Scrotal Insulation and Pathological Lesions on .ALPHA.-Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) and Vimentin in the Bull Testes

Autophagy and Apoptosis Act as Partners to Induce Germ Cell Death after Heat Stress in Mice

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