Spermatogenesis is a complex regulatory process depending on a variety of hormones (such as FSH, LH, T, and 17beta estradiol), cytokines, and genes. Research on gene regulation in spermatogenesis has become a hot spot and revealed some spermato-genesis-related genes, such as AYZ, DAZ, YRRM, NOSTRIN, and so on. Reports are rarely seen on the role of CR16 in male reproduction, and its action mechanism in spermatogenesis is not yet clear. This article updates the role of CR16 in spermatogenesis in the male reproductive system from the perspective of Sertoli cells forming a blood-testis barrier.
Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; cytology

PURPOSE: To verify the regulation of transepithelial resistance (TER) of Sertoli cells by Leydig cells in mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary culture of Sertoli cells was established on cell culture plate insert and monolayer culture was subjected to coculture in the Leydig cell culture. Changes in TER was monitored for 48 h using the conductivity meter equipped with two electrodes system. RESULTS: TER gradually increased according to the development of monolayer of Sertoli cells on the cell culture plate insert. Net changes in TER of Sertoli cells culture was significantly higher under the Leydig cells coculture compared to control after 48 h of coculture. CONCLUSIONS: It is the first report about the increase in TER of Sertoli cells by Leydig cells in vitro. Paracrine interaction between Leydig cells and Sertoli cells might be involved in the development of functional blood testis barrier which is made by tight junctions between Sertoli cells in mouse testis.
Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Coculture Techniques* ; Electrodes ; Leydig Cells* ; Male ; Mice* ; Sertoli Cells* ; Testis ; Tight Junctions

Objective: To study the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) exposure on testicular autophagy levels and blood-testis barrier integrity in prepubertal male SD rats and testicular sertoli (TM4) cells. Methods: In July 2021, 9 4-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (normal saline), low dose group (1 mg/kg·bw CdCl(2)) and high dose group (2 mg/kg·bw CdCl(2)), and were exposed with CdCl(2) by intrabitoneal injection. 24 h later, HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of testis of rats, biological tracer was used to observe the integrity of blood-testis barrier, and the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ in testicular tissue were detected. TM4 cells were treated with 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2) for 24 h to detect the toxic effect of cadmium. The cells were divided into blank group (no exposure), exposure group (10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2)), experimental group[10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2)+60.0 μmol/L 3-methyladenine (3-MA) ] and inhibitor group (60.0 μmol/L 3-MA). After 24 h of treatment, Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of LC3-Ⅱ, ubiquitin binding protein p62, tight junction protein ZO-1 and adhesion junction protein N-cadherin. Results: The morphology and structure of testicular tissue in the high dose group were obvious changed, including uneven distribution of seminiferous tubules, irregular shape, thinning of seminiferous epithelium, loose structure, disordered arrangement of cells, abnormal deep staining of nuclei and vacuoles of Sertoli cells. The results of biological tracer method showed that the integrity of blood-testis barrier was damaged in the low and high dose group. Western blot results showed that compared with control group, the expression levels of LC3-Ⅱ in testicular tissue of rats in low and high dose groups were increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the 0 μmol/L, after exposure to 5.0, 10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2), the expression levels of ZO-1 and N-cadherin in TM4 cells were significantly decreased, and the expression level of p62 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ were significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the exposure group, the relative expression level of p62 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ in TM4 cells of the experimental group were significantly decreased, while the relative expression levels of ZO-1 and N-cadherin were significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The mechanism of the toxic effect of cadmium on the reproductive system of male SD rats may be related to the effect of the autophagy level of testicular tissue and the destruction of the blood-testis barrier integrity.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Testis ; Cadmium Chloride/metabolism* ; Cadmium ; Blood-Testis Barrier/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Autophagy

The relationship between Sertoli cells and germ cells in varicocele remains controversial. To study this relationship in varicocele, seminiferous tubular changes were observed in pubertal rats according to the length of time after induction of the varicocele and the interval between induction and repair of the varicocele. As the length of time of the varicocele increased, accumulation of lipid inclusions within the Sertoli cell cytoplasm appeared first and then premature sloughing of the early spermatids appeared. Lastly, decrease in testicular weight and mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD) together with decrease in the number of late spermatids were observed. Inter-Sertoli cell junctions were preserved unrelated to the duration of the varicocele. When Sertoli cell changes were reversed after varicocele repair, premature sloughing of the early spermatids was not observed. The testicular weight, MSTD and number of late spermatids were significantly increased compared to controls. When Sertoli cell changes were not fully reversed after varicocele repair, premature sloughing of the early spermatids was still observed. The testicular weight, MSTD and number of late spermatids were not significantly increased compared to controls. These results suggest that the blood-testis barrier remains intact in varicocele. The Sertoli cell is the primary intratubular site of alteration leading secondarily to spermatogenic disruption in varicocele. Changes in the Sertoli cell cause premature sloughing of the early spermatids and affect maximally the spermatid Stage.
Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Cytoplasm ; Germ Cells* ; Intercellular Junctions ; Rats* ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Varicocele*

Immunologic factors including antisperm antibodies play a significant role in pathogenesis of 10-20% of unexplained infertility cases. and any event or circumstance that would breach the blood-testis barrier may result in the formation of antisperm antibodies. Using an immunobead test we studied the occurrence of circulating antisperm antibodies in twelve patients who had undergone surgical treatment for testicular rupture due to blunt scrotal trauma. On the follow-up ranging from 6 to 14 months after surgical treatment only one patient was found to have circulating antisperm antibodies but his semen remained normal in spite of the presence of circulating antisperm antibodies.
Antibodies* ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Infertility ; Rupture* ; Semen

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of high power microwave (HPM) radiation on the structure and function of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in rats.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six male Wistar rats were treated by heart perfusion of lanthanum-glutaraldehyde solution and tail vein injection of evans blue (EB) at 6 h, 1, 3, 7 and 14 d after exposed to 0, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for 5 minutes, the structural change of BTB and distribution of lanthanum or EB observed through the light microscope, electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).

RESULTSTesticular interstitial edema, vascular congestion or hyperemia with accumulation of plasma proteins and red blood cells in the inner compartment of seminiferous tubules were observed after exposure to HPM. The above-mentioned pathological changes were aggravated at 1-7 d and relieved at 14 d after radiation, obviously more severe in the 30 and 100 mW/cm2 exposure groups than in the 10 mW/cm2. Both lanthanum precipitation and EB were deposited in the inner compartment.

CONCLUSIONHPM radiation may damage the structure and increase the permeability of BTB.

Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Previous concepts of immune-privileged sites obscured the role of peripheral immune cells in neurological disorders and excluded the consideration of the potential benefits of immunotherapy. Recently, however, numerous studies have demonstrated that the blood-brain barrier in the central nervous system is an educational barrier rather than an absolute barrier to peripheral immune cells. Emerging knowledge of immune-privileged sites suggests that peripheral immune cells can infiltrate these sites via educative gates and that crosstalk can occur between infiltrating immune cells and the central nervous system parenchyma. This concept can be expanded to the testis, which has long been considered an immune-privileged site, and to neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Thus, we propose that the relationship between peripheral immune cells, the brain, and the urologic system should be considered as an additional possible mechanism in urologic diseases, and that immunotherapy might be an alternative therapeutic strategy in treating neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Immune System* ; Immunotherapy ; Nervous System Diseases* ; Testis ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urologic Diseases ; Urology*

PURPOSE: Although the purpose of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) is to protect germ cells from harmful influences, it also impedes the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to the testis. This study was undertaken to determine whether a triolein emulsion could transiently alter the permeability of the BTB in cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An emulsion of 0.05ml triolein in 20ml of saline or just 20ml of normal saline, as the control, were infused into the testicular arteries in 18 and 15 cats, respectively (embolic and control group). Pre- and post-contrast magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were obtained 30 minutes and 2 hours after embolization. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the MRIs were performed via the presence and degree of contrast enhancement and the contrast enhancement ratios (CERs), respectively. An electron microscopy (EM) study was subsequently performed, using a lanthanum tracer, to correlate with the MRI results. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement of the testis was observed in both groups and at both time points, but was more prominent in the embolic group. The CERs in the embolic group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.0001). In each group, the CERs at 2 hours were significantly lower than those at 30 minutes (p=0.006). In the EM study, the entry of lanthanum was markedly increased at 30 mins, but recovered at 2 hours after embolization compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-arterial infusion of triolein emulsion transiently increased the permeability of the BTB. This result may be useful in future studies for a chemotherapy delivery system to the testis.
Animals ; Arteries ; Blood-Testis Barrier* ; Cats ; Drug Therapy ; Emulsions ; Fats ; Germ Cells ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Lanthanum ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microscopy, Electron ; Permeability ; Testis ; Triolein*

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to determine whether the severity of damage to the contralateral testis by ipsilateral testicular torsion/detorsion in pubertal rats, which have an incomplete blood-testis barrier, is different from that in adult rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We divided pubertal (6 weeks, n=17) and adult (10 weeks, n=17) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into group S (sham; n=5), group O (orchiectomy; n=6), and group D (detorsion; n=6). After 4 hours' torsion of the ipsilateral testis, we applied orchiectomy (group O) and detorsion (group D) depending on the group and compared the histopathologic changes and germ cell apoptosis of the contralateral testis at the age of 13 weeks. RESULTS: In each age group, increased interstitial area, edema, and germ cell sloughing were observed in group D. The mean seminiferous tubule diameter decreased more in group D than in group S or O in each age group (p<0.05). The mean germ cell layer thickness and number of spermatids per tubule decreased more in group D than in group S or O in each age group; additionally, in group D, values decreased more in pubertal rats than in adult ones (p<0.05, respectively). The mean numbers of terminal deoxyuridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were less than 1.0 in groups S and O, which was smaller than in group D (p<0.05); additionally, in group D, this value tended to be higher in pubertal rats than in adult ones (p=0.057). CONCLUSIONS: SD rats with a detorsioned testis had more severe damage to the contralateral testis than did those undergoing orchiectomy of the torsioned testis. Also, when comparing the severity of damage to the contralateral testis after ipsilateral torsion/detorsion between pubertal and adult rats, rats at a pubertal age, when most testicular torsions occur in clinical situations, had more severe damage than did those at an adult age.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Deoxyuridine ; Edema ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Orchiectomy ; Rats ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Spermatids ; Testis

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in the expressions of the tight junction related protein occludin and junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1) of the blood-testis barrier and their significance in rats after microwave radiation.

METHODSEighty male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation with average power density of 0, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 for five minutes, and dynamic changes in the expressions of testicular occludin and JAM-1 were observed by Western blot and image analysis at 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after the radiation.

RESULTSThere was a significant down-regulation in the expression of the occludin protein at 3 - 7 d, 6 h - 7 d and 6 h - 14 d (P < 0. 05), as well as in that of JAM-1 at 3 - 7 d, 1 - 7 d and 1-14 d (P < 0.05) after exposure to 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 microwave radiation.

CONCLUSIONThe decreased protein expressions of occludin and JAM-1 may play an important role in the microwave radiation induced-damage to the blood-testis barrier.

Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Microwaves ; Occludin ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; metabolism ; radiation effects