Spermatogonia Count Research Articles

A comparative study between curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles on reproductive performance and antioxidant system of aged roosters

Increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant status can result in reduced reproductive activity and fertility in aged male broiler breeders. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of curcumin supplements (natural or nanoparticles) on the sperm characteristics, antioxidant system, fertility, and hatchability of aged roosters (54-64 wk), and to estimate the relative bioavailability value (RBV) of nano-curcumin on the measured parameters including the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), motility, viability, sperm count, volume, the concentration of testosterone, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), diameter of the spermatogenic tube (DST), epithelium thickness (EpiTh), spermatogonia count (SPcount), fertility, hatchability, and relative weight of testis (RW-testis). A total of 30 roosters were individually caged and randomly assigned to 5 treatments comprising control (without curcumin as the basal diet), basal diet + 15 mg/kg curcumin (CUR15), basal diet + 30 mg/kg curcumin (CUR30), basal diet + 15 mg/kg nano-curcumin (Nano15), and basal diet + 30 mg/kg nano-curcumin (Nano30) for 10 wk. The slope ratio method was used to estimate the bioavailability of nano-curcumin by regressing each response on supplemental curcumin intake. Increasing dietary curcumin (P < 0.001) elicited a linear response to all studied traits. The RBV for volume, viability, motility, HOST, RW-testis, and GPx were estimated as 135 (CI: 115-156%), 143 (CI: 114-173%), 159 (CI: 122-196%), 132 (CI: 107-157%), 195 (CI: 126-264%), 176 (CI: 103-249%), and 178% (28-328%), respectively. Our findings revealed that curcumin nanoparticles enhance the reproductive efficiency of aged breeder roosters. In addition, the curcumin nanoparticles RBV exceeded that of natural curcumin, suggesting that lower concentrations of curcumin nanoparticles could have a significant effect on reproductive characteristics.

Phoenixin-14 may ameliorate testicular damage caused by torsion-detorsion by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in prepubertal rats

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Phoenixin-14 (PNX-14) on oxidative damage, inflammatory response, histopathological variations, and serum testosterone levels in testicular tissues. Forty-eight Wistar albino prepubertal male rats were divided into 4 groups (Sham, TTD, TT+PNX+TD, TTD+PNX) (n=12). The torsion period was 2 hours and the detorsion period was 24 hours in the testicular torsion/detorsion (TD) groups. A single PNX-14 (50 µg/kg) dose was injected into the rats in the TT+PNX TD group on the 90th minute of torsion, and it was injected into the rats in the TTD+PNX group at the beginning of detorsion. Oxidative damage in testicular tissues was determined based on superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS), and inflammatory damage was determined based on TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Histopathological variations were investigated with the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining method in testicular tissues and analyzed based on Johnsen scores. Spermatogonia cells were examined immunohistochemically. Serum testosterone levels were determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A significant increase in oxidative stress and inflammation parameters was determined in the TTD group when compared to the other groups (p<0.05). PNX-14 treatment led to a statistically significant decrease in these parameters and significantly repaired the TD damage in testicular tissue (p<0.05). Johnsen scoring revealed significant improvement in PNX-14 groups and an increase in spermatogonia count, supporting the biochemical findings (p<0.05). PNX-14 could be a potential therapeutic agent in testicular TD damage and further studies should be conducted to elucidate the present study findings.

Adiponectin and the expression of BAX and caspase 3 in high-fructose - induced testicular injury in albino mice

Introduction and Aim: The increase in the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in recent decades has been correlated with high consumption of high-fructose and high-fat diets and has been associated with increased rates of male infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate how high fructose diet exerts its effect upon testicular morphology in addition to examine the potential effects of adiponectin treatment in restoring the architecture of seminiferous tubules through the expression of immunohistochemical markers BAX and caspase-3. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult albino mice were divided into three groups: In Group 1, mice fed with diet contained high concentration of fructose followed by adiponectin injection, Group 2, the mice fed with high concentration of fructose diet and received a saline placebo injection, and Group 3 (control) was nourished a regular food for 8 weeks. The parameters studied included changes in animal body weight, testicular spermatogenesis index, spermatogonia count, apoptotic index, exfoliative epithelium percentage and immunohistochemical scores for testicular BAX and caspase-3 expression. Results: Animals on high fructose diet showed increase in body weight which was markedly reduced by adiponectin treatment. High fructose diet also resulted in reduced spermatogenesis index and spermatogonia count with increased apoptotic and epithelial exfoliation indices. High fructose diet was also associated with high-fructose induced obesity and significantly associated with increased BAX and caspase-3 expression alleviated by adiponectin treatment. Conclusion: High-fructose intake induces obesity and obesity-related reduction in male fertility by reducing spermatogenesis and enhancing testicular cell apoptosis via different pathophysiological mechanisms. Such effects and mechanism can be reversed and corrected with adiponectin treatment.

RETRACTION NOTE TO: The effects of sericin in recovering spermatogenesis and sexual hormone levels in diabetic rats.

Sericin-S (a hydrolysate from the silk protein sericin) is a natural antioxidant, which may improve spermatogenesis while having high biological safety, thus potentially useful for the treatment of male infertility. Our objective was to determine the effects of sericin-S on the sperm parameters and sexual hormone levels in a diabetic rat model. Thirty-six adult male rats were randomly divided in two groups, inducing diabetes in one of them by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg). Both groups were randomly assigned to three subgroups, receiving oral gavage of saline, 1% or 2% sericin extract for 60 days. Therefore, the experimental design was a 2 × 3 factorial design of STZ and sericin treatments. One day after the last treatment, the rats were euthanized, weighed, the testes were processed (weigh, volume, and histology), and serum samples were processed for measuring sex hormone levels [testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone (LH)]. STZ treatment decreased LH concentration and counts of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids. Body and testis weights were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the control group (non-diabetic saline) compared to the treated groups. In non-diabetic rats, sericin treatments increased (p < 0.05) the number of testicular cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli, and Leydig cells) and sex hormone concentrations. In diabetic rats, administration of sericin significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm cell number and sex hormones levels. In nutshell, sericin can clearly modify sperm parameters and overall sex hormone function, and could improve spermatogenesis in normal and diabetic rats.

The effects of sericin in recovering spermatogenesis and sexual hormone levels in diabetic rats.

Sericin-S (a hydrolysate from the silk protein sericin) is a natural antioxidant, which may improve spermatogenesis while having high biological safety, thus potentially useful for the treatment of male infertility. Our objective was to determine the effects of sericin-S on the sperm parameters and sexual hormone levels in a diabetic rat model. Thirty-six adult male rats were randomly divided in two groups, inducing diabetes in one of them by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ; 65mg/kg). Both groups were randomly assigned to three subgroups, receiving oral gavage of saline, 1% or 2% sericin extract for 60days. Therefore, the experimental design was a 2 × 3 factorial design of STZ and sericin treatments. One day after the last treatment, the rats were euthanized, weighed, the testes were processed (weigh, volume, and histology), and serum samples were processed for measuring sex hormone levels [testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone (LH)]. STZ treatment decreased LH concentration and counts of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids. Body and testis weights were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the control group (non-diabetic saline) compared to the treated groups. In non-diabetic rats, sericin treatments increased (p < 0.05) the number of testicular cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli, and Leydig cells) and sex hormone concentrations. In diabetic rats, administration of sericin significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm cell number and sex hormones levels. In nutshell, sericin can clearly modify sperm parameters and overall sex hormone function, and could improve spermatogenesis in normal and diabetic rats.

Reproductive outcome of men with azoospermia due to cryptorchidism using assisted techniques

The aetiology of cryptorchidism is still undiscernible in the majority of cases. It has long been argued that cryptorchidism reflects a primary testicular maldevelopment, where the contralateral scrotal testis also suffers from aspermatogenesis and low spermatogonia count. The aim of the study was to determine the reproductive outcome of ex-cryptorchid men with azoospermia post-orchidopexy after testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI). In a retrospective analysis, we compared the sperm retrieval, fertilization, pregnancy and live birth rates after ICSI of consecutive ex-cryptorchid azoospermic patients (n = 15) undergoing TESE between Jan 2000 and Dec 2007 vs. non-cryptorchid azoospermic men (n = 142). Sperm retrieval rate of ex-cryptorchid men by TESE (66%) was comparable with non-cryptorchid men (47%) (p = 0.15) despite significantly higher FSH levels (30.7 +/- 25.4 vs. 17.9 +/- 14.8 respectively) (p = 0.018) and a more prevalent histopathology diagnosis of aspermatogenesis (75% vs. 40%, p = 0.046). Fertilization (43.3%), pregnancy (30%) and live birth (20%) rates after TESE-IVF-ICSI in the ex-cryptorchid group were not different from the non-cryptorchid group (48.7, 43 and 29%, p = 0.26, p = 0.21, p = 0.29 respectively). We conclude that the reproductive outcome of ex-cryptorchid men with azoospermia post-orchidopexy employing TESE-IVF-ICSI is comparable with non-cryptorchid azoospermic men.

Cryptorchidism: Aspects of Fertility and Neoplasms

Purpose: An attempt to make a rational strategy for treatment of cryptorchidism. Materials and Methods: 1,335 cryptorchid boys with biopsy at surgery (1,638 specimens). We studied: frequency of no germ cells in biopsies from 698 patients <12 years at surgery; fertility potential of 140 patients who were now adults, and apperance of testicular neoplasia in all biopsies. Results: Lack of germ cells appeared from 18 months. The frequency increased with increasing age. It appeared in 30% (61/202) bilateral, and 18% (88/496) unilateral cases. In men who had undergone bilateral or unilateral orchiopexy, respectively, there was normal sperm count in 19% (14/75) and 83% (54/65), and infertility was suspected in 56% (42/75) and 8% (5/65) (FE, p < 0.00005, p < 0.00005), respectively. The lowest, the mean, and the highest age-matched spermatogonia count per tubule at orchiopexy was associated with sperm count (Spearman test, p < 0.0001, p < 0.005, p < 0.05). Isolated, this was demonstrated for the 75 formerly bilateral (Spearman, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001), but not the 65 formerly unilateral cases (Spearman, p = 1.0). No germ cells at orchiopexy was associated with suspected infertility. Risk was 78–100% in bilateral (dependent on one or both testes affected), and 33% in unilateral cryptorchidism. There was one invasive germ cell tumor, six cases of carcinoma in situ testis, and one Sertoli cell tumor. Three neoplasms were diagnosed in intra-abdominal testes, four in boys with abnormal external genitalia, and two in boys with known abnormal karyotype. Risk of neoplasia was 5% (7/150) in patients with intra-abdominal testis, abnormal external genitalia or diagnosed abnormal karyotype, versus 0% (0/1,185) in patients without these characteristics (FE, p < 0.00005). Conclusion: We recommend surgery for cryptorchidism before 15–18 months of age because: (a) lack of germ cells is very rare before, and (b) lack of germ cells is associated with subsequent risk of infertility. At primary surgery for cryptorchidism, we recommend examination for testicular neoplasia in cases of intra-abdominal testis, abnormal external genitalia or known abnormal karyotype.

Effects of spaceflight on the spermatogonial population of rat seminiferous epithelium

Testes from rats flown on Cosmos 1887 were compared with vivarium control and synchronous control samples. The mean weights of flight testes, normalized for weight per 100 g, were 6.4% less when compared with the vivarium controls. Counts of spermatogonia from tissue sections (seminiferous tubules in maturation stage 6) from five animals in each group revealed 4% fewer spermatogonia in flight testes compared with synchronous controls and 11% fewer spermatogonia in flight samples compared with vivarium controls.

Zur Frage einer Operationsindikation bei Pendelhoden

Histometric studies in 34 boys with retractile testes and 21 controls with normal descent showed no significant statistic differences with regard to tubulus diameter and spermatogonia count. Operative treatment of retractile testes, therefore, is not indicated.

The Cytological and Histological Effects of Photoperiodism and X-irradiation on the Testes of the Syrian Hamster

The radiosensitivity of meiotic stem cells from photoregressed testes of the Syrian hamster was studied after in vivo irradiation with 2.67 Gy (1.77 Gy/min). The testes of Expt I animals were irradiated at the time of transfer from short days (11 weeks at 6L:18D (6 hours light: 18 hours) darkness) to long days (14L:10D) and sampled at weekly intervals between 5 and 10 weeks and at 15 weeks postirradiation. The Ext II animals received the same X-ray dose, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after the transfer to long days and were sampled 10 weeks postirradiation. In Expt I X-irradiation delayed the recovery of testis structure and function by 4 weeks. Animals in Expt II were homogeneous with regard to testicular weight, sperm count, tubule diameter and the level of pachytene, MI and MII damage. The incidence of structural chromosomal changes in primary spermatocytes at pachytene (synaptonemal complexes) and MI and MII was determined. In Exp I and II and data from X-irradiated testes (2.6 Gy) not exposed to short days (Control B, see Cawood and Breckon 1983), these cell types show a difference in sensitivity to the induction of structural damage. The lowest level of pachytene damage was in Expt II, and the ratio of the number of pachytene to MI cells showing structural change was 1.23:1 (P = 0.41), not significantly different from 1:1. In Expt I the pachytene, MI structural change ratio was 1.60:1 (P = 0.010), significantly different from 1:1. The control B ratio was 1.85:1 (P = 0.0037) which was significantly different from 1:1. The preliminary results indicate that testes fully regressed to the 'stem' cell level by exposure to short day length have a similar radiosensitivity to normal (non-regressed) testes. However, testes irradiated during the recovery phase from photoperiod-induced regression have increased sensitivity to radiation damage. The relative testis weight was reduced to a mean of 1.25 g by the sequential X-ray treatment--this may indicate that the effects of the X-rays (3 Gy) on a recovering photoregressed testis are independent of the time of the X-ray treatment during the recovery period. Recovery of tubule diameter is not perturbed and may be slightly increased, with an associated elevation of MI-MII activity--but a low spermatogonia count.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Relationship between germinal cells function and dynamics of FSH secretion.

Tubular histology was correlated to FSH levels assayed under basal conditions (8 cases) or in response to Gn-RH (24 cases) in 32 infertile males, in whom a testicular biopsy was indicated as part of the work-up. A good correlation was found between number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes and levels of FSH, under basal conditions or, even more, in response to Gn-RH; correlation was less close with respect to spermatids 1 and 2 and nonexistent with respect to Serotoli cells. In spite of those findings, when taking into account only mean counts of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, some overlapping of values in individual cases still existed. On the other hand, when correcting the above perameters for tubular diameter and number of tubules per LPF, a much closer correlation between parameters of tubular function and dynamics of FSH regulation was obtained; the overlapping of values was found only in 1 out of 32 cases.

Effects of prolactin on spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized mice.

SUMMARY Hypophysectomized mice were treated daily for 28 days with 12 i.u. prolactin, 10 μg luteinizing hormone (LH), 10 μg LH plus 12 i.u. prolactin, 50 μg testosterone propionate (TP), or 50 μg TP plus 12 i.u. prolactin. The yield of spermatogenesis was studied quantitatively from the counts of spermatogonia, preleptotene and pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules at stage VII of spermatogenesis. Prolactin administered alone caused a small, but significant, increase in the yield of spermatogenesis. Treatment with a mixture of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone and growth hormone in amounts 1·5 times higher than those reported as contaminants of prolactin had similar effects. Injections of LH or TP caused partial restoration of spermatogenesis. The yield of spermatogenesis was significantly higher in animals given LH plus prolactin than in the animals given LH alone. Prolactin, however, did not augment the effects of TP on spermatogenesis. It is concluded that prolactin acts on the Leydig cells of the testis to increase their responsiveness to LH. More androgen appears to be produced under the influence of LH when prolactin is also present.