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Showing papers in "Archives of Andrology in 1988"


Journal ArticleDOI
A. H. El-beheiry1, A. Souka1, A. El-Kamshoushi1, S. Hussein1, K. El-sabah1 
TL;DR: Treatment with bromocriptine markedly reduced the level of serum prolactin together with improvement of sexual libido and potency and suggested that hyperprolactinemia is not one of the main causes of impotence.
Abstract: One hundred impotent men and 15 sexually active male volunteers served as the source for this study. Serum prolactin was estimated in all cases using radioimmunoassay technique. Cases with hyperprolac-tinemia were treated with bromocriptin for 3 months. Hyperprolactinemia was detected in three patients only (3%), with no findings of pituitary tumors. Treatment with bromocriptin markedly reduced the level of serum prolactin together with improvement of sexual libido and potency. The mere presence of 3 cases only with hyperprolactinemia among 100 impotent subjects suggested that hyperprolactinemia is not one of the main causes of impotence.

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The only factor that showed a significant correlation of fertilization was normal morphology (p less that 0.01), and acrosin levels were not significantly different in patients with and without fertilization.
Abstract: Acrosin, a neutral proteinase, is located within the acrosome. The aim of this study was to evaluate acrosin concentrations in patients with severe damage of the sperm head and to determine whether acrosin concentration could predict the chances of fertilization in an IVF program. Sixty patients were accepted into this study, prospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, those with a normal morphology of 20 million sperm/ml and >30% progressively motile sperm. The acrosin assays were performed on the semen sample obtained on the day of IVF. Routine IVF insemination procedures were used, and only mature oocytes were considered. The only factor that showed a significant correlation with fertilization was normal morphology (p< 0.01). The mean acrosin level was 73.4 ± 38.6 mIU/10 million sperm in group I and 70.9 ± 42.7 mIU/10 million sperm in group II (no significant d...

36 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Corrected seminal fructose level was significantly lower in asthenospermic than in normomotile subjects, irrespective of the sperm count, and may be a useful marker of the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles.
Abstract: Seminal fructose, sperm count, and sperm motility were measured in 340 men attending an infertility clinic. Seminal fructose correlates negatively with sperm count but not with sperm motility. The best correlation between sperm count and seminal fructose was obtained using the logarithm (log) of sperm count. When seminal fructose was multiplied by the log of sperm count obtaining a value named "corrected fructose," the correlation with sperm count disappeared, and there was positive correlation between corrected seminal fructose and sperm motility. Therefore, corrected seminal fructose level was significantly lower in asthenospermic than in normomotile subjects, irrespective of the sperm count. Corrected seminal fructose, but not seminal fructose levels, was lowered in subjects with either low levels of serum testosterone (less than 3 ng/ml) or evidence of an obstructive process in the reproductive tract. In both situations sperm motility was also reduced. The corrected fructose level was not affected by the presence of varicocele, hyperprolactinemia, or hyperserotoninemia. Measurement of corrected seminal fructose rather than seminal fructose may be a useful marker of the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Conventional semen parameters (sperm density, motility, abnormality, and vitality) were the least to discriminate between the three groups and the presence of abnormal sperm chromatin may lead to infertility as a result of early pregnancy loss.
Abstract: Semen samples from husbands with a history of unexplained infertility (n = 33), of women with habitual abortion (n = 36), or normal fertile donors (n = 20) were subjected to conventional semen analysis (SA), Acridine orange test (AOT), and zona-free hamster egg penetration test (HEPT). The three tests operate independently. The most discriminatory test was AOT (p = 0.0001) followed by HEPT (p = 0.019). The frequency of sperm chromatin heterogeneity as detected by AOT red fluorescence was highest in habitual abortion (39.4%), followed by unexplained infertility (16.4%), and, last, donors (9.4%). However the percentage of penetration was highest in habitual abortion (50.7%), followed by donors (43.1%), and least in unexplained infertility (33.9%). Conventional semen parameters (sperm density, motility, abnormality, and vitality) were the least to discriminate between the three groups. The presence of abnormal sperm chromatin may lead to infertility as a result of early pregnancy loss.

29 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test was evaluated in 40 men whose wives had no apparent fertility factors, and the results suggest that the HOS test might be of value in predicting which couples should be more patient despite low semen parameters.
Abstract: The hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test was evaluated in 40 men whose wives had no apparent fertility factors. Only one of 29 men with normal semen parameters had a surbnormal HOS test, and that couple failed to conceive compared to 27 of 28 with normal HOS test who did conceive. All five couples with husbands with subnormal semen parameters but with normal HOS tests achieved a pregnancy, but none of the three with abnormal HOS tests achieved a pregnancy. The results suggest that the HOS test might be of value in predicting which couples should be more patient despite low semen parameters.

29 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The action of the hormones on sperm membrane was accompanied by some steroid-dependent structural modification promoting the psi decrease, which plays an important role in the capacitation, preparing it for sperm penetration in the ova.
Abstract: The accumulation of the lipophilic cation radiolabeled triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP +) was utilized to determine the resting membrane potential across the plasma membrane (ψ) on human sperm. Washed sperm were suspended and incubated in low-K+ and high-K+ medium and allowed to take up the cation to a steady state (that is, 20 min at 37 °C). The data were transformed according to concentration using the intracellular volume and with these values inserted in the Nernst equation we obtain ψ. When the concentration of K+ was low in the medium, the ψ was -69 ± 2 mV, the ψ was temperature- and pH-dependent. The sperm were incubated in the same conditions in the presence of testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. The addition of these hormones induced the decrease in ψ by about 29%, 32%, and 40%, respectively. On the other hand, capacitation of spermatozoa was induced by the addition of calcium and the ionophore A23187 and in these conditions the ψ decreased 50%. The action of the hormones on sperm membran...

28 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: After SDS or SDS-EDTA treatment, asthenozoospermic semen had a lower resistance to decondensation than normozoos permic semen and contained more stained immature nuclei after aniline blue staining, indicating its relative nuclear immaturity.
Abstract: Ejaculated human spermatozoa were studied to assess their nuclear maturity. After SDS or SDS-EDTA treatment, asthenozoospermic semen had a lower resistance to decondensation than normozoospermic semen and contained more stained immature nuclei after aniline blue staining. It showed a higher uptake of ethidium bromide, specific for DNA. There was no difference in the binding of 14C iodoacetamide in the two groups. Therefore, asthenozoospermic semen could be characterized by its relative nuclear immaturity.

27 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Human sperm for use in artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH) were prepared by two methods: the monolayer Percoll method and the discontinuous Percoll density gradient of four steps, which focused mainly on the oligozoospermic semen concentration.
Abstract: Human sperm for use in artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH) were prepared by two methods: the monolayer Percoll method and the discontinuous Percoll density gradient of four steps. The former focused mainly on the oligozoospermic semen concentration, with the sperm concentration and motility being improved 4.29 ± 3.7 times and 1.92 ± 1.1 times, respectively (n = 41). The latter was used principally for the selective isolation of forward motile sperm, with the sperm motility being increased from 42.3 ± 29.5% to 76.3 ± 11.0. % after centrifugation. The clinical application of these procedures resulted in 35 (the monolayer Percoll method) and 10 (the discontinuous Percoll density gradient) successful deliveries with greater enhancement of sperm qualities. The number of females was predominate over the males in the delivered cases: 31:14 (100:45.1) females to males.

24 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Oxidative injury caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species and a compromised antioxidant defense system may be responsible for the antifertility effects of gossypol.
Abstract: This study examined the effects of gossypol acetic acid on the antioxidant defense system of the rat testis. In gossypol-treated animals testis catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase are the two enzymes that protect against oxidative damage by hydrogen peroxide. Other antioxidants that were reduced in treated animals were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, alpha-tocopherol, and ascorbate. Gossypol, a pigment of cottonseed and cottonseed products, causes infertility in humans and many animal species, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Gossypol is known to produce reactive oxygen species in vitro. Oxidative injury caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species and a compromised antioxidant defense system may be responsible for the antifertility effects of gossypol.

24 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a male fertility test was performed on 100 consecutive semen samples and no significant correlation was detected between sperm motility and red fluorescence, indicating that the presence of abnormal DNA had no effect on the sperm fertility.
Abstract: Acridine orange fluorescence, semen analysis, and zona-free hamster egg penetration tests were performed on 100 consecutive semen samples. No significant correlation was detected between sperm motility and red fluorescence. However, abnormal sperm morphology correlated significantly with red fluorescence (p ± 0.001) and fluorescence index (p ± 0.001). Presence of a high percentage of red fluorescing sperm did not prevent their penetration of zona-free hamster egg, indicating that the presence of abnormal DNA had no effect on the sperm fertility. The significance of acridine orange fluorescence male fertility test requires further elucidation.

23 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The uremic damage acts at the testis level, impairing the activity of the enzyme 17-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (17-OHSD), even if a derangement of the peripheral interconversion between steroids cannot be excluded.
Abstract: Primary hypogonadism occurring among uremic men on hemodialysis has been widely investigated, yet few data are available concerning the general pattern of steroidogenesis. In 161 hemodialysis patients and in 83 healthy subjects, serum levels of gonadotropins (LH and FSH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) were assessed through RIA methods. Mean ± SD hormone levels were: LH 45.6 ± 41.1 mIU/ml, FSH 16.3 ± 16 mIU/ml, PRL 42.4 ± 69.1 ng/ml, A 0.83 ± 0.27 ng/ml, El 64.3 ± 31.7 pg/ml, all higher than controls; T 289 ± 125 ng/100 ml, E2 11.8 ± 3 pg/ml, and DHEA-S 1.4 ± 1.4 μg/ml, all lower than controls. The A/T and E1/E2 ratios were also higher than controls and showed a good positive linear correlation (r - 0.40; p < 0.001) between each other. The uremic damage acts at the testis level, impairing the activity of the enzyme 17-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (17-OHSD), even if a derangement of the peripheral inter...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Topoisomerase I, which is involved in DNA metabolism, was measured in the testes of 37 infertile men with varicocele, using a minute amount of testicular biopsy specimen, and activity was lower than that of normal men.
Abstract: Topoisomerase I, which is involved in DNA metabolism, was measured in the testes of 37 infertile men with varicocele, using a minute amount of testicular biopsy specimen. In 38% of infertile men topoisomerase I activity was lower than that of normal men. Forty-six percent of patients with high grade varicocele (grade III) showed reduced topoisomerase I activity, while only 26% of patients with low grade varicocele (grades I and II) showed reduced levels of topoisomerase I. Johnsen's score of the patients with low topoisomerase I activity was lower than that of patients with normal levels of topoisomerase I. The decrease of topoisomerase I activity may be correlated with at least some fraction of hypospermatogenesis associated with varicocele.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The binding ability of five different cells in culture to mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) was studied and the EGF-LA in seminal plasma was considered to be derived mainly from prostatic gland because the EGI in cytosol of prostatic glands was higher than that of seminal vesicle.
Abstract: The binding ability of five different cells in culture to mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) was studied. A simple radioreceptor assay (RRA) using normal rat kidney cell (NRK-52E) as a source of EGF receptor was established. Maximal binding capacity and apparent dissociation constant of NRK-52E cell were 3.36 femtomoles of mEGF bound per 106 cells and 2.85 × 10-11 M, respectively. EGF-like activity (EGF-LA) in seminal plasma and in cytosols of prostatic gland and seminal vesicle was 39.6 ± 9.9 ng/ml, 0.67 ± 0.10 ng/mg protein (mean ± SE) and <0.2 ng/mg protein, respectively. The EGF-LA in seminal plasma was considered to be derived mainly from prostatic gland because the EGF-LA in cytosol of prostatic gland was higher than that of seminal vesicle.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comparative electrophoretic analysis of nuclear proteins was investigated in ejaculated human semen and confirmed the biochemical heterogeneity of nucleoproteins in sperm with normal routine parameters and demonstrate the same heterogeneity in semen with defective routine parameters.
Abstract: A comparative electrophoretic analysis of nuclear proteins was investigated in ejaculated human semen. The results confirm the biochemical heterogeneity of nucleoproteins in sperm with normal routine parameters and demonstrate the same heterogeneity in semen with defective routine parameters: nucleoproteins comprise histones, intermediate proteins, and protamines in the two groups. Individual qualitative and quantitative differences are observed within and between the two groups. The results allow a better knowledge of nuclear characteristics of ejaculated human spermatozoa but it does not permit the establishment of a relationship between biochemical heterogeneity of sperm nucleus and decreased fertility.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggested the possibility that sex steroids might influence the renin-angiotensin system in Leydig cells, as both levels in the ISV in the treated group were significantly higher than in the nontreated group.
Abstract: To better understand the local renin-angiotensin system in Leydig cells of the human testis, the plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma concentration of angiotensin II (PAII) in the left internal spermatic vein (ISV) and cubital vein (CV) were measured at the time of surgical repair of varicocele in 27 patients. Fourteen of the patients were given a single i.m. injection of hCG (10,000 IU/m2) 4 days before the operation, whereas the remaining 13 were not treated. Although the mean PRA or PAII levels in the CV in the treated and nontreated groups were similar, both levels in the ISV in the treated group were significantly higher than in the nontreated group (p less than 0.05). For PAII levels in the treated group, nine of 11 patients with an increased PRA level showed significantly higher levels than the normal peripheral PAII value. The serum testosterone levels in the same ISV were also much higher in the treated group than in the nontreated group (p less than 0.001). These results suggested the possibility that sex steroids might influence the renin-angiotensin system in Leydig cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the temperature sensitivity of DNA synthesis may be one of the primary causes of delicate thermal inhibition of human spermatogenesis.
Abstract: To determine the optimal temperature for DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses in the human testis, the levels of incorporation of 3H-thymidine, l4C-uridine, and 14C-leucine into testicular tissue were s...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggested that the hormonal disturbance in Klinefelter's syndrome is unrelated to the occurrence of testicular epidermoid cyst.
Abstract: Hormonal studies were performed in patients of Klinefelter's syndrome with and without testicular epidermoid cyst. Mean levels of plasma gonadotropins were elevated above normal ranges. The mean testosterone level in plasma was abnormally low. The mean prolactin level in plasma was within the normal limit. However, mean plasma levels of these hormones were not significantly different between the two groups. The administration of LH-RH resulted in low response of plasma gonadotropins. The response of plasma testosterone to the administration of hCG was also abnormally low. However, in the LH-RH and hCG tests there were no significant differences between the two groups. These data suggested that the hormonal disturbance in Klinefelter's syndrome is unrelated to the occurrence of testicular epidermoid cyst.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate no direct involvement of ACE in the regulation of sperm motility but suggest a direct interaction of gossypol with the plasma membrane of spermatozoa with a temporary and reversible intervention with membrane transport processes.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of several pharmacological compounds on the motility and velocity of washed human spermatozoa. Results were evaluated by multiple exposure photography and computer-aided picture analysis. The motility-inhibiting effect of the antifertility drug gossypol was confirmed. Gossypol proved to be a potent inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) detectable in high concentrations in seminal plasma. However, human sperm motility was not inhibited during incubation with two other specific ACE-inhibitors (captopril, enalapril). On the contrary, high concentrations of captopril even showed a slight motility-stimulating effect. These results indicate no direct involvement of ACE in the regulation of sperm motility but suggest a direct interaction of gossypol with the plasma membrane of spermatozoa. To clarify whether or not gossypol blocks membranous ion transport, the effect of well-defined ion transport blocking agents on sperm motility was inves...

Journal ArticleDOI
Rina Singer1, Zvi Dickerman1, M Sagiv1, Zvi Laron1, E. Livni1 
TL;DR: In most patients the motility and viability values were normal, although the percentage of morphologically pathological sperm was higher than normal, and CMI toward autologous semen revealed a positive reaction, which may suggest a better fertility prognosis of postcryptorchid oligozoospermic patients than in patients with oligozoopermia of other etiology.
Abstract: Andrological and endocrinological parameters and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) were assessed in 25 postpubertal males who had undergone repair of unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism in childhood or early adolescence. Among 20 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism, approximately 30% had decreased sperm density, whereas among 5 bilaterally affected, 1 was azoospermic and 2 oligozoosper-mic. In most patients the motility and viability values were normal, although the percentage of morphologically pathological sperm was higher than normal. Levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, LH, and prolactin were within normal ranges in all the patients. Levels of FSH were slightly elevated. These findings may suggest a better fertility prognosis of postcryptorchid oligozoospermic patients than in patients with oligozoospermia of other etiology. CMI toward autologous semen revealed a positive reaction in 80% of the bilateral group and in 45% of the unilateral group. This response might be due to the damage of se...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was concluded that relative decrease in the prostatic activity with respect to that of the seminal vesicles appears to be the cause of slow-liquefaction.
Abstract: Abnormality in liquefaction of human semen is associated with poor scoring in postcoital tests and may lead to subfertility. A relative study on the seminal plasma characteristics of slowly and normally liquefying human ejaculates has been made. A multitude of seminal vesicular and prostatic components in the seminal plasma of eight slow-liquefying ejaculates from 4 men were compared with ten normally liquefying ejaculates from different healthy volunteers. For 60% liquefaction, the time taken by these two types of ejaculates was 46 and 7 min, respectively. The levels of the components that are mainly secreted by the seminal vesicles were similar in both the groups. But all the prostatic components demonstrated significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased levels in the slow-liquefying group from those in the group being compared. It was concluded that relative decrease in the prostatic activity with respect to that of the seminal vesicles appears to be the cause of slow-liquefaction.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Positive regulation of PIP by testosterone and stimulatory effect of estradiol-17 beta on PIP in rat ventral prostrate are demonstrated.
Abstract: Prostatic inhibinlike peptide (PIP) was detected in the ventral but not in the dorsal lobe of rat prostate. On orchiectomy, PIP concentration in the ventral prostate increased significantly, whereas it decreased on testosterone administration and attained value comparable with that in intact control. Estradiol-17β-treated animals exhibited high levels of PIP in absence of significant alterations in the protein content. The effect of prolactin and human chorionic gonadotropin on PIP concentration was not so prominent at the dose levels studied. The present study thus demonstrates negative regulation of PIP by testosterone and stimulatory effect of estradiol-170 on PIP in rat ventral prostrate.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Sperm chromatin was notably more susceptible to both micrococcal nuclease and DNase I action than liver chromatin, however, in the presence of saturating concentrations of polylysine they were similarly protected.
Abstract: The structure of human sperm chromatin compared with somatic chromatin (liver) was studied by titration of the exposed DNA-phosphate groups with poly-1-lysine (3000 and 28,100 MW) and by their susceptibility to the hydrolytic action of micrococcal nuclease and DNase I. With both sizes of polyly-sine used, the binding values were significantly lower for sperm chromatin (0.31 ± 0.05) than for liver chromatin (0.52 ± 0.05), indicating the presence of about 30% and 52% of free phosphate groups, respectively. Interaction with liver chromatin left no polylysine molecules partially unbound (“wastage”) even when 28,100 MW polylysine was used; on the contrary, sperm chromatin showed 26% of “wasted” polylysine even when the smaller polymer was used, indicating that in sperm chromatin the accessible DNA zones are usually no longer than 42 A, that is, 12 base pair. Sperm chromatin was notably more susceptible to both micrococcal nuclease and DNase I action than liver chromatin. However, in the presence of saturating ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: L-carnitine added to the suspension medium decreases the glucose-sustained progressive motility of human spermatozoa and inhibition of the occurrence of the acrosome reaction parallel to a viability enhancement and negligible changes of the cellular content of ATP.
Abstract: L-carnitine added to the suspension medium decreases the glucose-sustained progressive motility of human spermatozoa. Addition of 20 mM L-carnitine to the capacitation medium causes an inhibition of the occurrence of the acrosome reaction parallel to a viability enhancement and negligible changes of the cellular content of ATP. The cellular efflux of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase was also inhibited by L-carnitine. A possible role of L-carnitine on membrane stability and metabolism of spermatozoa is briefly discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that seminal hCG beta is thought to be secreted by the prostate and the process of spermatogenesis and the value of seminal h CG beta may serve as an effective index for the testicular function.
Abstract: The level of human seminal chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (hCG beta) was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean hCG beta level in 34 normal men was 3.7 +/- 1.6 ng/ml, which was much higher than that in serum. The mean hCG beta level for 20 patients with mild oligozoospermia (20-39 x 10(6) sperm/ml) was 2.5 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, that for 34 patients with severe oligozoospermia (1-19 x 10(6) sperm/ml) was 1.7 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, and that for 21 azoospermia was 1.5 +/- 0.6 ng/ml. Thus, the decrease of sperm count was correlated with the decrease of hCG beta. In 17 cases to which testicular biopsy was applied together with sperm counting, the seminal hCG beta level was found to positively correlate with the germinal cell index (the ratio germinal cell count/Sertoli cell count) and with the testicular volume. The level of seminal hCG beta was also found to correlate negatively with the levels of seminal LH and FSH and positively with the level of seminal testosterone. These findings suggest that the production of seminal hCG beta is a process of spermatogenesis and closely related to spermatogenesis. The level of hCG beta in serum was too low to detect, and no relation to that in seminal plasma could be investigated. However, in 6 cases with testicular tumor, the hCG beta level in serum was high, whereas that in seminal plasma was rather low probably because of unilateral secretion. Enhanced production of hCG beta by tumor tissues and the destruction of the blood-testis barrier by proliferation of tumor cells seemed to be one of the causes of this high hCG beta level in serum. The hCG beta levels in 13 vasectomized seminal plasma and the prostatic fluid samples collected from 3 normal men were 1.5 ng/ml, which was similar to those in azoospermic patients. These findings suggest that the seminal hCG beta level consists of the hCG beta secreted by the testis and about 1.5 ng/ml of hCG beta from the prostate. Based on these results, seminal hCG beta is thought to be secreted by the prostate and the process of spermatogenesis and the value of seminal hCG beta may serve as an effective index for the testicular function.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the human kidney cytosol there is no evidence of sexual dimorphism in basal β-glucuronidase activity; whereas the total testosterone circulating levels do not seem to control the enzyme activity.
Abstract: Basal β -glucuronidase activity was measured in the cytosol of renal cortex in 10 women and nine men, and its levels were correlated to the concentrations of the main circulating androgens and to the cytoplasmic androgen receptor content. β -Glucuronidase activity in women was similar to that found in men, despite blood testosterone levels being higher in the latter. The activity of the enzyme does not appear to be related to circulating levels of either testosterone or androstenedione. Only in men the androgen receptor content and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels were inversely correlated to β-glucuronidase. In the human kidney cytosol there is no evidence of sexual dimorphism in basal β-glucuronidase activity; whereas the total testosterone circulating levels do not seem to control the enzyme activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The most likely explanation of the data is that the XXSxr genotype is not testis specific but also influences the epididymis directly, and appears also to subvert mesenchymal-epithelial development in both epidodymis and testis.
Abstract: Sex reversed (Sxr), a duplication of the Y chromosomal testis-determining factor in mice, causes testis development in XXSxr animals. No effects of Sxr on nongonadal organs are expected. However, we have previously shown that the epididymis of XXSxr pseudomale (sex-reversed) mice lacks the Initial Segment. In the present study we examined the ultrastructure of the head of the epididymis of adult and 21-day old XXSxr pseudomale mice. Epithelial cells of both adult and juvenile XXSxr animals contain numerous vesicles, some within mitochondria. The basal lamina is thickened and infolded. The periepithelial layer is abnormally thick, with distorted smooth muscle cells and fibrocytes that also contain lysosomelike vesicles, often in mitochondria, and excessively wide intercellular spaces. Normal collagen fibrils are infrequent; they are in part replaced by wisps of nondiscrete material, possibly immature collagen. Sxr is known to affect spermatogenesis and Sertoli cells. The abnormal conjugation of sex-determi...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The compensatory hyperactivity/hypersecretion should be considered primarily an intrinsic Leydig cell response, not related to changes in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis, according to previously reported normal serum luteinizing hormone levels after hemicastration.
Abstract: Hemiorchidectomized rats were followed up to 15 days postsurgery for morphologic evaluation of compensatory testicular response and its correlation to serum testosterone levels. Although gross compensatory testicular hypertrophy (CTH) was not noted, an enlarged interstitium was observed with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Leydig cells with morphologic changes suggestive of increased cellular activity. These histologic changes were accompanied by compensatory testicular hypersecretion (CTHS) illustrated by the return of the serum testosterone levels to near the intact-control value in the later groups. Ultrastructural studies of the Leydig cells indicated an increase in the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum as an underlying mechanism for this response. In view of the previously reported normal serum luteinizing hormone levels after hemicastration, the compensatory hyperactivity/ hypersecretion should be considered primarily an intrinsic Leydig cell response, not related to changes in the hypothalamo-h...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A statistical method was used to evaluate testicular biopsies on which a semiquantitative morphometric analysis was applied and the results confirm with a high level of significance the qualitative knowledge of testicular pathology.
Abstract: A statistical method was used to evaluate 629 testicular biopsies on which a semiquantitative morphometric analysis was applied. The results confirm with a high level of significance (p < 0.001) the qualitative knowledge of testicular pathology. Some tight correlations between histological and/or cytological parameters are enlightened.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The renin-angiotensin system in human testis is demonstrated by measuring the plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma angiotens in II (PAII), and testosterone in the internal spermatic vein (ISV) simultaneously after treatment with hCG, and the relationship between the renIn-angiotsin system and sex steroids from Leydig cells of the male gonad is elucidated.
Abstract: Renin, a protease that cleaves the prohormone angiotensinogen thereby releasing angiotensin I, plays a major role in regulating blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Although renin is synthesized mainly in the cortical cells of the kidney, the presence of renin or reninlike activity has been recognized in various extrarenal tissues of humans and animals, including such reproductive organs as LH-containing cells of the anterior pituitary, placentral trophoblasts, and Leydig cells of the male gonad. It has also been learned that the renin in these extrarenal tissues generates angiotensins locally, which may interact with angiotensin II receptors in a paracrine or autocrine manner. However, the precise roles of the renin-angiotensin system in extrarenal tissue are not yet understood. We demonstrated the renin-angiotensin system in human testis by measuring the plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma angiotensin II (PAII), and testosterone in the internal spermatic vein (ISV) simultaneously after treatment with hCG, and elucidated the relationship between the renin-angiotensin system and sex steroids from Leydig cells of the male gonad.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Unless some future proof that the differences in semen parameters demonstrated in this study have no clinical significance, these data suggest that the collection of semen samples for sperm analysis or therapeutic use should be performed in glass containers.
Abstract: The effects of glass, polystyrene, and polypropylene containers on semen parameters as measured by Cell Soft computer-assisted semen analysis and hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) tests were assessed in unwashed specimens and again after sperm washing and swim-up procedures. A superiority in unwashed specimens was observed in glass versus polystyrene concerning velocity, motility percentage, and HOS testing (p less than 0.01). Also, superiority of glass versus polystyrene was demonstrated for linearity and ALH (p less than 0.05). Glass was only superior to polypropylene in categories of motility and HOS testing (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). There was no category in which plastic was statistically superior to glass in the unwashed specimens. Concerning washed and swim-up specimens, there were no semen parameters in which there was any superiority demonstrated of either glass or plastic. Unless some future proof that the differences in semen parameters demonstrated in this study have no clinical significance, these data suggest that the collection of semen samples for sperm analysis or therapeutic use should be performed in glass containers.