Abstract Fall-calving Hereford-SimAngus heifers [single-sired; body weight (BW): 451 ± 28 (SD) kg; body condition score (BCS): 5.4 ± 0.7] bred to a single sire were individually-fed 100% (control; CON; n = 12) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of estimated metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from d 160 of gestation to calving. Post-calving, all females were fed to meet lactational nutrient requirements until weaning. From d 1 to 147 of lactation, dams were individually fed chopped tall fescue hay and supplemented in Calan gates to constrain diets of calves to milk only. After d 147, dams and calves were managed as a group in drylots, and calves could access the tall fescue hay offered to their dams. Bull calves (CON; n = 8; NR; n = 9) were castrated at 176 ± 3 (SD) d of age to represent a later pre-pubertal growth stage that is indicative of post-pubertal testis size. The epididymis and pampiniform plexus were removed, and calipers were used to determine the length and perpendicular widths of each testis. Testis weight was recorded, and testis volume was determined by water displacement in a graduated cylinder. Testis parenchyma was fixed in neutral buffered formalin for histological analyses. Seminiferous tubule diameter was measured on perpendicular diameters of 40 randomly chosen tubules with a visibly round cross-section. Data were analyzed with late gestational nutritional plane and calving date as fixed effects. Birth weight of bull calves was not affected (P > 0.99), but we previously reported that late gestational nutrient restriction decreased (P ≤ 0.04) milk production by 15% during the first 147 d of lactation. By d 63 of age, bull calves born to previously NR dams weighed less (P = 0.03) than bull calves born to CON dams. Body weight remained different (P ≤ 0.04) until castration, at which point bull calves born to previously NR dams weighed 14% less (P = 0.02) than bull calves born to CON dams. Average testis diameter was less (P = 0.03), and average testis length tended to be less (P = 0.07) for calves born to previously NR dams. Paired testes weight and volume were less (P ≤ 0.05) for calves born to previously NR dams, but testes weight relative to calf BW and average seminiferous tubule diameter were not affected (P ≥ 0.20) by late gestational nutritional plane. In the current study, pre-pubertal bull calves born to NR dams had decreased testis size, but it is difficult to delineate if this is a direct effect of gestational undernutrition on fetal development or its indirect effect on post-weaning development due to decreased milk production.

Although the order Rodentia does not present a high risk of extinction compared to mammals as a whole, several families demonstrate high levels of threat and/or data deficiency, therefore highlighting the need for targeted research and the application of ecological and reproductive data to the development of conservation actions. The order Rodentia, the largest among mammals, includes 9 families, and the family Cricetidae is the most diverse of the Brazilian rodents. In Brazil, 12 of the 16 genera of Oecomys are found. Oecomys bicolor is known in Brazil as the 'arboreal rat' and is, found in dry, deciduous and tropical forests. The mean body weight of Oecomys bicolor was 35.8 g and the gonadal, tubular and epithelial somatic indexes were, 0.53%, 0.47% and 0.37%, respectively. Seminiferous tubules volume density was 89.72% and the mitotic and meiotic indexes corresponded to 8.59 and 2.45 cells, respectively, and the yield of spermatogenesis was 23.83 cells. The intertubular compartment represented 10.28% of the testis parenchyma and around 5% of the interstitial space was occupied by Leydig cells, whose number per gram of testis was 11.10 × 107 cells. By evaluating the biometric and histomorphometric characteristics of the testis, there is evidence that this species has a high investment in reproduction. Due to the high contribution of the seminiferous epithelium and the intertubular compartment in this species, compared to the others of the same family, it is possible to infer that the species Oecomys bicolor has a promiscuous reproductive behaviour.

Morinda citrifolia protective effects on paclitaxel-induced testis parenchyma toxicity: An experimental study

Effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONS) testicular injection on Leydig cell function and sperm production in a murine model

Congenital ZIKV infection promotes alarming effects on male offspring's reproductive biology. This study showed the presence of the ZIKV antigen in the testis parenchyma, decreased testosterone levels, and sperm abnormalities in male offspring born to infected mothers. Infection with ZIKV during pregnancy is associated with fetal developmental problems. Although neurological issues are being explored more in experimental studies, limited research has focused on the reproductive health consequences for offspring born to infected mothers. In this context, this study aimed to assess the impact of ZIKV infection during pregnancy on the testes and sperm of adult male offspring. Female mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with a Brazil strain of ZIKV during the 5.5th day of embryonic gestation. The offspring were evaluated 12 weeks after birth to analyze cellular and molecular changes in the testes and sperm. A novel approach combining variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and machine learning modeling was also introduced for sperm sample analysis. The study revealed the presence of ZIKV protein in the testis parenchyma of adult male offspring born to infected mothers. It was shown that the testes exhibited altered steroidogenesis and inflammatory mediators, in addition to significant issues with spermiogenesis that resulted in sperm with DNA fragmentation, head defects, and protamination failure. Additionally, sperm dielectric properties and artificial intelligence showed potential for rapid identification and classification of sperm samples from infected mice. These findings provide crucial insights into the reproductive risks for men born from ZIKV-infected pregnant women.

Transcription factors and miRNA act as contrary regulators of gene expression in the testis and epididymis of Bos indicus animals

Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is a condition characterized by calcium deposits within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. The clinical significance of TM remains unclear and poses a strategic challenge for clinicians. The natural course of TM is unknown, with the development of ultrasound technology. TM is defined as hyperechogenic foci in the testis parenchyma of varying degrees and diffusely spreading in the testis, often bilaterally, on ultrasound. The echogenic shadow typically seen in renal lithiasis or calcifications is absent in TM. This condition is usually discovered incidentally during ultrasonography of the scrotum. The prevalence of TM in asymptomatic males is estimated at about 5% (range between 1.1% and 10%). The incidence of TM ranges from 0.7% to 8.7% in children with potential risk factors for primary testicular tumors and 4.1% to 4.2% in asymptomatic children according to currently published papers. In this review, definition, prevelance, etiology, pathophysiology and evaluation of TM in childhood will be discussed. Keywords: testicular microlithiasis, children, management, treatment

Torsion of the appendix testis or epididymis is a cause of acute scrotum in children. Ultrasonography with color Doppler is the first-choice modality for diagnosis. However, this method requires skill and experience to make a diagnosis with confidence. Recently, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for diagnosis in various fields has been reported. However, to our knowledge, there has been no report of this method being used to diagnose torsion of the appendix testis or epididymis. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic findings in torsion of the appendix testis or epididymis. Patients who underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for torsion of the appendix testis or epididymis at our institution between April 2010 and April 2023 were enrolled in this study (n = 12). Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography findings of the affected appendage and the testis parenchyma were examined retrospectively. The parenchyma of the testes was notably enhanced in all the cases. However, 9 of the 12 cases showed that the appendage with torsion was not enhanced at all. In the remaining three cases, only slight enhancement was seen. Nevertheless, it was notably less than that of the parenchyma of the testis. Our findings indicated that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may be an easy and reliable method for diagnosing torsion of the appendix testis or epididymis.

BackgroundChemical castration of male animals is an alternative to surgical castration for inducing azoospermia, consequent sterility. Intra-testicular injection of zinc gluconate has been used for chemical castration in several animal species. However, its application to equine species, such as donkeys, has yet to be reported. This study aimed to evaluate the use of zinc gluconate for the chemical castration of male donkeys and to compare its effectiveness relative to routine surgical castration. For this purpose, investigations of serum testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone levels, testicular ultrasonographic echogenicity, and histopathological findings were performed.MethodsFourteen clinically healthy adult male donkeys were randomly and equally divided into two groups. The donkeys in group I (n = 7) underwent surgical castration. The donkeys in group II (n = 7) received intra-testicular zinc gluconate injections. The donkeys were kept under close clinical observation for 60 days. Abnormalities in donkey behavior and gross alterations in the external genitalia were recorded daily. Serum testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured 15 days before the start of the treatment and 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after treatment. The testicles of group II donkeys were evaluated ultrasonographically. At the end of the study, the testes were removed and histologically examined.ResultsSerum testosterone levels significantly declined compared to pre-castration levels in surgically castrated donkeys (group I), but donkeys exposed to chemical castration (group II) showed a non-significant reduction in testosterone levels. Donkeys in the surgical group had considerably lower serum AMH levels. In contrast, there was a non-significant (p > 0.05) increase in AMH levels in the chemical group compared with the pre-sterilization level. In addition, ultrasonographic examination revealed that the testicular echo-density had changed, as observed by a few scattered hyperechoic regions throughout the entire testis parenchyma. The histopathological investigation confirmed the presence of necrosis of the spermatogenic epithelium, increased thickness of the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules, marked interstitial fibrosis, and shrinkage of the seminiferous tubules. Furthermore, syncytial giant cells were present in the lumen of seminiferous tubules and were associated with Sertoli cell vacuolation. Donkeys subjected to chemical castration (group II) had orchitis, as confirmed histopathologically.ConclusionIntra-testicular injection of zinc gluconate resulted in histopathological and ultrasonographic testicular changes in adult male donkeys, which may affect their reproductive potential. However, it did not significantly alter serum testosterone or AMH levels, indicating that it cannot be used as a substitute for surgical castration in male donkeys.

Evaluation of testicles by sonoelastography in men recovering after Covid-19 disease

The current study aimed to detect specific types of ADAM proteins in the bovine sperm. Histology study of tissue of male reproduction was involved with testis, head, body, and the tail of the epididymis. Results showed that the testis composed of the parenchyma of testis contained the seminiferous tubules which are surrounded by two layers externally tunica vaginalis and internally tunica albuginea. PAS was positive in the seminiferous tubules of testis and lumen, epithelium of the head, and body of epididymis, Whereas Alcian blue was very low intensity stains with sections and contents of the head, body and tail of the epididymis. Fresh ejaculated bovine sperms were collected and separated from seminal plasma, and proteins of sperm were extracted and run on an electrophoresis gel. Then, the bands of proteins have been stained with coomassie stain, after that, the pieces of proteins were cut and separated from gels and amino acids were extracted after the digestion of proteins, and uploaded to a mass spectrometry machine. Our data was profiled and analysed and detected characterised ADAM proteins included: ADAM1, ADAM2, ADAM3A, ADAM10 and ADAM32, and uncharacterized ADAM proteins included: ADAM1B, ADAM7, ADAM9, ADAM12, ADAM15, ADAM17.

To evaluate the changes in testicular stiffness and microcirculation caused by spermatic vein ligation in patients with varicocele, we conducted a case-controlled study. A total of 27 grade III left varicocele cases were enrolled. Testicular stiffness and perfusion were evaluated by shear wave elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound during subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy. The external and the internal parenchyma of bilateral testes were selected to compare the shear wave velocity of bilateral testes during the spermatic vein ligation. We mapped and compared the intensity-time curves following bolus contrast injection three times in the same region of interest. Initially, the shear wave velocity of the left internal parenchyma was higher than the right side (1.10 ± 0.06 m/s vs. 1.00 ± 0.03 m/s). It decreased (1.09 ± 0.06 m/s) (p < 0.05) after ligation. Meanwhile, the left epididymis had the higher agent peak intensity (0.90 × 10E-5AU), the largest area under the curve (80.20 × 10E-5AU s), and the longest washout area (54.35 × 10E-5AU s). In addition, the left internal parenchyma presented a sharper slope (0.18 × 10E-5AU/s) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the spermatic vein ligation improved the perfusion of the internal testicular parenchyma, but it could temporally deteriorate the stasis of the epididymis. These changes caused softer testicular parenchyma.

The present study was conducted on the testes of six healthy adult Large White Yorkshire pigs. Parenchyma of testes of adult boars was surrounded by a thick fibrous testicular capsule composed of inner tunica vasculosa, middle tunica albuginea, and outer visceral layer of tunica vaginalis. Tunica vasculosa was prominent and characterised by loose connective tissue contained numerous blood vessels. Tunica albuginea was composed of irregular connective tissues madeup of collagen, elastin and reticular fibres. Visceral layer of tunica vaginalis was found as outer thin layer of testicular capsule comprised of mesothelium and connective tissue layer. Connective tissue layer was blended with underlying connective tissues of tunica albuginea.

Histomorphological changes in testicular parameters and seminiferous epithelium of different age groups male donkeys; pre-pubertal-pubertal and post-pubertal periods were observed. The present study was performed on Testes of 14 donkeys obtained from local markets from Menoufia governorate. Animals divided into four age groups (pre-pubertal-pubertal - post-pubertal and senile after the collection, gross anatomical features of the testes were examined and recorded. The present anatomical result showed that the testis of the donkey was not completely descended into the scrotum around birth. The mean weight, length and width of both left and right testicles in groups differed significantly (p≤0.05) from each other. The both testicles were appeared not symmetrical, the left testes were larger than right one. All morphmetrical parameters were significantly increased when age advanced. The beginning of seminiferous epithelial cycle at 1.5 years old. Marked morphmetrical changes in donkey testes occurred from period of puberty until middle of sexual maturity at 6- 7-year-old after that a serious of regressive changes occurred. A marked increase in the weight and diameter of the testes was recorded at 2-6-year-old; The parenchyma of testis was dark reddish in color; it was covered by a thick tunica albuginea consisting of outer and inner fibrous layers in addition to middle vascular one. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules was greatly increased than those recorded at the early stage of the postnatal development. The present histological results emphasized an irregular arrangement of the testicular lobules of the donkey during various stages of the postnatal life. Such arrangement does not allow some lobules to have direct contact with the mediastinum testis. Numerous seminiferous tubules with different shapes and size were highly active.

This study is the first to investigate the effects of tebuconazole (TEB) on the physiological functions of bovine testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa. Motility and plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa exposed to TEB (0.001-100 µM) were evaluated at different incubation times (0-6 h), while TEB-induced spermiotoxicity was assessed after 24 h in cell cultures. Testicular cells, obtained from the parenchyma of bovine testes, were seeded at 1.0 × 104 and 1.5 × 106 cells/well in 96- and 12-well culture plates and incubated for 48 h in culture media containing TEB (0.001-100 µM) to evaluate cytotoxicity and hormone release, respectively. TEB did not affect the motility and plasma membrane integrity. However, significant spermiotoxicity occurred at higher TEB (1-100 µM) concentrations (P < 0.05) compared to control and lower doses. Although no dose caused cytotoxicity in testicular cells (P > 0.05), 1 and 100 µM TEB caused a significant increase in testosterone secretion (P < 0.05). As a result, high doses of TEB (1-100 µM) had slightly suppressive effects on spermatozoa; however, these doses had stimulatory effects on testosterone secretion by testicular cells. It appears that the disruption of hormonal homeostasis of testicular cells after TEB exposure may result in metabolic and especially reproductive adverse effects in bulls.

BackgroundDuring epididymal transit, spermatozoa go through several functional maturation steps, resulting from interactions with epididymal secretomes specific to each region. In particular, the sperm membrane is under constant remodeling, with sequential attachment and shedding of various molecules provided by the epididymal lumen fluid and epididymosomes, which also deliver sncRNA cargo to sperm. As a result, the payload of sperm sncRNAs changes during the transit from the epididymis caput to the cauda. This work was designed to study the dynamics of cattle sperm sncRNAs from spermatogenesis to final maturation.ResultsComprehensive catalogues of sperm sncRNAs were obtained from testicular parenchyma, epididymal caput, corpus and cauda, as well as ejaculated semen from three Holstein bulls. The primary cattle sncRNA sperm content is markedly remodeled as sperm mature along the epididymis. Expression of piRNAs, which are abundant in testis parenchyma, decreases dramatically at epididymis. Conversely, sperm progressively acquires miRNAs, rsRNAs, and tsRNAs along epididymis, with regional specificities. For instance, miRNAs and tsRNAs are enriched in epididymis cauda and ejaculated sperm, while rsRNA expression peaks at epididymis corpus. In addition, epididymis corpus contains mainly 20 nt long piRNAs, instead of 30 nt in all other locations. Beyond the bulk differences in abundance of sncRNAs classes, K-means clustering was performed to study their spatiotemporal expression profile, highlighting differences in specific sncRNAs and providing insights into their putative biological role at each maturation stage. For instance, Gene Ontology analyses using miRNA targets highlighted enriched processes such as cell cycle regulation, response to stress and ubiquitination processes in testicular parenchyma, protein metabolism in epididymal sperm, and embryonic morphogenesis in ejaculated sperm.ConclusionsOur findings confirm that the sperm sncRNAome does not simply reflect a legacy of spermatogenesis. Instead, sperm sncRNA expression shows a remarkable level of plasticity resulting probably from the combination of multiple factors such as loss of the cytoplasmic droplet, interaction with epididymosomes, and more surprisingly, the putative in situ production and/or modification of sncRNAs by sperm. Given the suggested role of sncRNA in epigenetic trans-generational inheritance, our detailed spatiotemporal analysis may pave the way for a study of sperm sncRNAs role in embryo development.

Although rodents represent approximately 40% of all living mammalian species, our knowledge regarding their reproductive biology is still scarce. Due to their high vulnerability to environmental changes, wild rodents have become beneficial models for ecological studies. Thus, we aimed to comparatively investigate key functional testis parameters in four sexually mature wild rodent species (A. cursor, A. montensis, N. lasiurus, and O. nigripes). These species belong to the Cricetidae family, which is the most diverse family of rodents in South America, with a total of ~120 species in Brazil. The results found for the gonadosomatic index and the sickled sperm head shape observed strongly suggest that the species here evaluated are promiscuous, prolific, and short-lived. The duration of spermatogenesis was relatively short and varied from ~35–40 days. Both the percentage of seminiferous tubules (ST) in the testis parenchyma (~95–97%) and the number of Sertoli cells (SC) (~48–70 million) per testis gram were very high, whereas a fairly good SC efficiency (~8–13 round spermatids per SC) was observed. In comparison to other mammalian species studied, particularly the rodents of the suborder Myomorpha (i.e. hamsters, rats and mice), the rodents herein investigated exhibited very high (~62–80 million) daily sperm production per testis gram. This impressive spermatogenic efficiency resulted mainly from the short duration of spermatogenesis and quite high values found for the ST percentage in the testis and the SC number per testis gram. We expect that the knowledge here obtained will help conservation programs and the proper management of wildlife.

Background: The use of mosquito coils has increased exponentially, especially in the under developed countries. Many researches have been conducted over the past few years to advocate both the possible risks and potential benefits. These coils and the inhalation of their smoke have been proved to cause upper and lower airway tract infections. But still the possible side effects of inhalation of these coil smoke on other organ systems of the body were unclear. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups each containing eight rats. Group A was control group while group B was allowed to inhale mosquito coil smoke for four week. The experimental group was exposed to MCS for 8 hours / day. Histopathological analysis of testis was carried out. Results: Histopathological studies of rats exposed to MCS revealed changes in parenchyma of testis. Decrease in the height of germinal epithelium and diameter of seminiferous tubules and increase in and vascular congestion was observed. Conclusion: The results of present study suggest that allethrin based mosquito coil smoke has harmful effects on testis

Paired tests weight of twelve adult Large White boars (x = 18.5months)ranged from 424.90g to 705.90g while volumen percent of round spermatid nuclei in the testes was 3.63 ± 0.16. Mean daily sperm production and daily sperm production per gram testicular parenchyma were respectively 19.47 ± 0.78 x 109 and 33.47 ± 1.29 x 106 . In the second study the sorbitol dehydrogenase activity per gram deproteinised testicular parenchyma was negatively and not significantly correlated (r = 0.2)with the daily sperm produced per gram testis parenchyma

Introduction: Testicular torsion is a serious urologic problem that can cause dysfunction of the testis and fertility loss due to ischemia. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) with its high convergence of growth factor can possess a beneficial role in regenerative therapy particularly ischemia/reperfusion (1/R) injury.Aim of the work: To evaluate the possible ameliorating effect of PRP in the I/R injury in testicular torsion rat model.Materials and Methods: Thirty two adult male albino rats were used. 24 were assigned into three groups, with eight in each: Group I (Control group). Group II (Ischemia/reperfusion group) (I/R group): subjected to left testicular torsion for two hours followed by detorsion .Group III (PRP-treated I/R group) subjected to left testicular torsion for two hours followed by detorsion and PRP was injected into the testis parenchyma upon detorsion. The PRP was prepared from the remaining eight rats. Testicular sections were taken and stained with H&E, toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining against PCNA & Bcl-2 and other samples were processed for transmission electron microscopic study. Western blot assay for caspase -3 and transforming growth factors- β(TGF-β) protein expressions. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) measurement were performed. Blood samples are collected for testosterone hormone and Inhibin-B levels assays. Morphometric and statistical analysis were done.Results: Light microscopic examination revealed testicular structural changes in I/R group, marked damage of the testis, defective spermatogenesis with wide areas of cell loss. Injection of PRP in group III resulted in improvement of testicular tissue changes .This was proved ultrastructurally and by the morphometric results, which showed significant changes in serum testosterone, Inhibin-B levels, MDA, GSH, and SOD measurement of group II when compared to the control group and was documented by Western blot assay for caspase -3 and TGF-β.Conclusion: Platelet rich plasma could be promising to have an effective role in treatment for rescuing the testis from ischemia/reperfusion injury. PRP could use as a therapeutic plan for regeneration after I/R to avoided orchidectomy.