Sperm Count In Cauda Epididymis Research Articles

Bisphenol F blocks Leydig cell maturation and steroidogenesis in pubertal male rats through suppressing androgen receptor signaling and activating G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) signaling

Bisphenol F (BPF) is a new analog of bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has deleterious effects on the male reproductive system, but the effect of BPF has not been studied in detail. In this study we focus on the effect of BPF on Leydig cell maturation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with 0, 1, 10, or 100 mg/kg BPF from postnatal days 35–56. BPF significantly reduced serum testosterone levels and sperm count in cauda epididymis at dose ≥1 mg/kg. It significantly down-regulated the expression of steroidogenic enzymes, while increasing FSHR and SOX9 levels at 10 and 100 mg/kg. Further studies showed that BPF reduced NR3C4 expression in Leydig and Sertoli cells without affecting its levels in peritubular myoid cells. BPF markedly increased GPER1 in Leydig cells at 100 mg/kg, and it significantly reduced SIRT1 and PGC1α levels in the testes at 100 mg/kg. BPF significantly inhibited testosterone production by immature Leydig cells at 50 μM after 24 h of treatment, which was completely reversed by NR3C4 agonist 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone and partially reversed by GPER1 antagonist G15 not by ESR1 antagonist ICI 182,780. In conclusion, BPF negatively affects Leydig cell maturation in pubertal male rats through NR3C4 antagonism and GPER1 agonism.

EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS STEM BARK EXTRACT OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA ON THE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS OF MALE RATS

Objective: The sexual stimulatory effect of aqueous stem bark extract of Xylopia aethiopica which is commonly used traditionally for the treatment of fertility-related problems in males is reported in this work.Methods: The present study investigated the effect of 14 d oral administration of 1 ml/kg distilled water (control), 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of body weight of the stem bark extract on some fertility parameters of the Swiss male rats. So, all the target organs (testis, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle and prostate) were weighed. The sperm motility and sperm count in testis, epididymis and vas deferens were determined. Serum and tissue protein, as well as cholesterol, were evaluated. The serum testosterone level was also assessed.Results: The extract did not produced significant change in the mobility of sperm, the sperm count in vas deferens, the relative weight of body and accessory organs at all doses. The daily sperm production (DSP) and the weight of prostate significantly increased at a dose of 100 mg/kg (p<0.01) while the sperm count in cauda epididymis increased at a dose of 200 mg/kg. The testicular and serum cholesterol significantly increased (p<0.001) at the dose of 100 mg/kg whereas the testicular and serum proteins increased (p<0.001) at the dose of 200 mg/kg. The serum testosterone level increased following 14 d of treatment (p<0.01) at the dose of 100 mg/kg.Conclusion: The results suggest that Xylopia aethiopica may have the potentials of being developed into a male fertility enhancing drug.

Seipin deficiency increases chromocenter fragmentation and disrupts acrosome formation leading to male infertility.

The Berardinelli–Seip congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (Bscl2, seipin) gene is involved in adipogenesis. Bscl2−/− males were infertile but had normal mating behavior. Both Bscl2−/− cauda epididymis sperm count and sperm motility were ~20 × less than control. Bscl2−/− seminiferous tubules had relatively normal presence of spermatogonia and spermatocytes but had reduced spermatids and sperm. Spatiotemporal expression analyses in Bscl2+/+ testes demonstrated prominent Bscl2 transcriptional activity in spermatocytes with a plateau reached around postnatal day 28. Seipin protein localization was most abundant in postmeiotic spermatids, suggesting translational repression of Bscl2 mRNA in spermatocytes. In situ end-labeling plus detected increased spermatid apoptosis in Bscl2−/− testis and annexin V detected increased percentage of positive Bscl2−/− round spermatids compared with control. Immunofluorescence of marker proteins synaptonemal complex proteins 3 and 1 (SYCP3 and SYCP1), and H3K9me3 (histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9) in germ cell spreads detected normal meiotic chromosome pairing and homologous chromosome synapsis in Bscl2−/− spermatocytes, but significantly increased percentages of round spermatids with chromocenter fragmentation and late spermatids and sperm with chromatin vacuoles, indicating defective chromatin condensation in Bscl2−/− spermatids. Bscl2−/− late spermatids were disorganized within the seminiferous epithelium, despite normal appearance of Sertoli cells detected by vimentin immunofluorescence. Peanut agglutinin staining revealed various abnormalities of acrosomes in Bscl2−/− late spermatids, including the absence, irregular-shaped, and fragmented acrosomes, indicating defective acrosome formation in Bscl2−/− late spermatids, which may affect late spermatid orientation in the seminiferous epithelium. Mitotracker strongly stained the midpiece of control sperm but only very weakly labeled the midpiece of Bscl2−/− sperm, indicating defective mitochondrial activity that most likely contributed to reduced Bscl2−/− sperm motility. These data demonstrate novel roles of seipin in spermatid chromatin integrity, acrosome formation, and mitochondrial activity. Increased spermatid apoptosis, increased chromocenter fragmentation, defective chromatin condensation, abnormal acrosome formation, and defective mitochondrial activity contributed to decreased sperm production and defective sperm that resulted in Bscl2−/− male infertility.

Reversible Antifertility Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ficus Racemosa L. in Male Mice

Objective To evaluate male antifertility activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus racemosa bark. Methods Swiss male mice were orally administered hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus racemosa bark (50 mg/kg for 30 d and 100 mg/kg body weight for next 30 d), and the effect of the treatment on body weight, reproductive organs weight, sperm, biochemical profile (sialic acid in epididymis and fructose in seminal vesicle), fertility and vaginal contraceptive efficacy was investigated. Recovery studies were also performed. Results Extract reduced fertility to 70% within 60 d. Suppression of cauda epididymis sperm count, motility, viability and abnormal morphology was observed. Marked reduction was noted in the weight of reproductive organs and the level of sialic acid in epididymis and fructose in seminal vesicle. Vaginal application of bark extract exhibited 80% vaginal contraceptive efficacy. After cessation of plant extract treatment, the altered parameters recovered after 60 d. Conclusion Clinical assessment of male antifertility agents should include acceptability, safety and efficacy during and after the treatment. The above results revealed the potential, reversible male antifertility effect of hydroalcoholic extract F. racemosa bark.

Toxic effects of anatoxin-a on testes and sperm counts of male mice

Anatoxin-a, a potent neurotoxin, is one of a number of toxins produced by cyanobacteria especially some strains of Anabaena. Toxic cyanobacteria are found worldwide in inland and coastal water environments. The present study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of anatoxin-a on testes and sperm counts of male mice. The animals of the treatment groups were administered with 50, 100 and 150 μg/kg/day anatoxin-a for seven consecutive days by intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. Although there were no significant changes in body weight gain, and absolute and relative testes weights, absolute and relative weights of cauda epididymis reduced significantly in the 100 and 150 μg/kg groups when compared with control group. The number of sperm count in cauda epididymis was reduced dose dependently in all treatment groups compared with control animals. Anatoxin-a caused dose-dependent histopathological changes in the testes of mice such as degenerations in seminiferous tubules, intercellular disassociation of spermatogenetic cell lines, sloughing of germ cells into tubular lumen, vacuolisation in Sertoli cells and loss of germ cells. The epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubules decreased significantly in all treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner.

Effect of endosulfan during fetal gonadal differentiation on spermatogenesis in rats

Pregnant rats were exposed to endosulfan (1 or 2 mg/kg per day) from day 12 of gestation through parturition. Male neonates were fostered to untreated dams. At 100 days of age, the male offspring were sacrificed. Exposure to endosulfan during fetal gonadal differentiation altered the process of spermatogenesis by affecting testicular lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase. Reduction in spermatid count in testis and sperm count in cauda epididymis was observed. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle showed significant decrease in weights in both the treated groups while no effect on prostate weight was recorded. Hence it can be suggested that endosulfan interferes in the process of spermatogenesis. The overall toxicity was dose dependent.

Normal Sexual Development of Rats Exposed to Butyl Benzyl Phthalate from Conception to Weaning

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) has been administered in drinking water (1000 μg/liter) to pregnant AP rats during gestation and lactation. The sexual development of the pups was then monitored until their termination at postnatal day 90 (pnd 90). Pups derived from animals exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in drinking water (50 μg/liter) acted as a positive control group. Glass drinking bottles were employed following demonstration of absorption of BBP into plastic drinking bottles. Drinking water intake was monitored and the estimated average exposures of the dams was 182.6 μg/kg/day BBP and 8.6 μg/kg/day DES. A total of 240 control pups, 204 BBP pups, and 64 DES pups were obtained for study. The sexual development of both genders of pups was monitored. The body weights of the DES pups were significantly reduced at birth, an effect that persisted until pnd 90. The body weights of the BBP pups were marginally increased at birth, but this difference resolved by pnd 90. DES affected the sexual development of the pups for all endpoints monitored—anogenital (AG) distance on pnd 2; average day of vaginal opening and prepuce separation; uterus, testes, and accessory sex gland weight; and cauda epididymis sperm count and homogenization resistant testicular sperm count at pnd 90. BBP failed to affect any of these parameters, with the exception of a 1.1-day advance in the average day of vaginal opening and a small increase in male AG distance on pnd 2. These last two effects are related to the increased weight of the BBP pups. The incidence of FSH-containing cells in the pituitary gland of animals from each group was unaffected at pnd 90. The effects observed for the DES pups are consistent with the results of earlier studies by Sharpeet al.(Environ. Health Perspect.103, 1136–1143, 1995). However, the absence of an effect of BBP administration on pup testis weight and testicular sperm count at pnd 90 is in contrast to reductions in these measurements reported earlier by Sharpeet al.(Environ. Health Perspect.103, 1136–1143, 1995) for similarly derived BBP pups.

Effects of cannabinoids on function of testis and secondary sex organs in the Fischer rat.

Chronic oral treatment of young adult male Fischer rats with delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 1, 5 and 25 mg kg-1 day-1, or crude marihuana extract (CME), 3, 15 and 75 mg kg-1 day-1, reduced body weight gain by about 50-80% at the high CME or THC dose and was correlated with decreased food intake. When cannabinoid was administered early in the light cycle (9-11 a.m.), cauda epididymis sperm count and seminal vesicle fluid and fructose content were depressed to 50-65% at the high dosages but were not significantly different from those of pair-fed controls. Administration late in the light cycle (4-5 p.m.) depressed epididymal sperm count, seminal vesicle fluid content, and weight of testis, seminal vesicles and epididymis to 40-80% below that seen for pair-fed controls. 24 h after the last treatment, serum testosterone was unchanged in intubated control and low-dose treated rats, compared with untreated controls, but was elevated nearly twofold in medium-dose-treated rats (p less than 0.05). The results indicate that time of cannabinoid administration as well as feeding pattern are critical in studies of the rat reproductive system.