OBJECTIVETo evaluate the toxic effects of mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on Mice Testis related enzymes and hormones.

METHODSAfter determining the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of VOCs using the acute toxicity test, 40 male clean inbred Kunming mice were assigned to 1/8 LD₅₀ VOCs exposure group, 1/4 LD₅₀ VOCs exposure group, and 1/2 LD₅₀ VOCs exposure group, as well as positive control group with cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg) and negative control group with tea oil, with 8 mice in each group. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with respective agents for 5 days. The levels of testis testosterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined by ELISA. Meanwhile, the activity of testicular marked enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, acid phosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were examined.

RESULTSCompared with the negative control group, the 1/8 LD₅₀ exposure group had a significantly increased testis coefficient (P<0.05). Both the activity of testicular marked enzymes and the levels of testicular sex hormones in all exposure groups showed significant downward trends with increasing VOC doses compared with those in the negative control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVOCs have obvious toxicity to mouse testis by changing the levels of testicular sex hormones and the activity of testicular marked enzymes.

Animals ; Estradiol ; chemistry ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; chemistry ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; chemistry ; Luteinizing Hormone ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Testis ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; chemistry ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; toxicity

OBJECTIVES: To study the value of basal luteinizing hormone (LH) level combined with uterine volume measurement in the early diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls with different Tanner stages. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the girls who presented with breast development before the age of 8 years and attended the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2017 to September 2022. According to the results of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist test, the girls with peak LH ≥5.0 IU/L and peak LH/follicle stimulating hormone ≥0.6 were enrolled as the positive group, and the other girls were enrolled as the negative group. The two groups were compared in terms of the basal LH level and uterine volume. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze their value in the early diagnosis of CPP. RESULTS: For the girls with Tanner B2 and B3 stages, the positive group had significantly higher basal LH level and uterine volume than the negative group (P<0.05). The basal LH level had an optimal cut-off value of 0.325 IU/L and 0.505 IU/L respectively in the diagnosis of Tanner stage B2/B3 CPP, while uterine volume had an optimal cut-off value of 1.639 mL and 2.158 mL respectively. Basal LH level combined with uterine volume measurement had a significantly larger area under the ROC curve than uterine volume measurement alone (P<0.001), but with no significant difference compared with that of basal LH level measurement alone (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Basal LH level combined with uterine volume measurement is valuable in the early diagnosis of CPP in girls with different Tanner stages, which provides a basis and guiding significance for clinical diagnosis of CPP.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Early Diagnosis ; Luteinizing Hormone/chemistry* ; Puberty, Precocious/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterus/pathology*

OBJECTIVESTo detect the sexual hormone level in semen of patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia, and further analyze the relationship between sexual hormone and idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia.

METHODS50 male patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 50 in idiopathic oligospermia and 50 male controls with normal sperm density were selected. The sperm density and sexual hormone in semen were detected respectively by routine semen analysis and chemical luminescence technique.

RESULTSThe values of LH were (5.19 +/- 0.67) IU/L and (4.77 +/- 0.68) IU/L, and those of FSH were (1.90 +/- 0.79) IU/L and (2.27 +/- 0.25) IU/L in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of LH and FSH were (2.19 +/- 0.22) IU/L and (1.61 +/- 0.14) IU/L in normal control group respectively. There were significant differences in the values of LH and FSH between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The values of PRL were (6.25 +/- 0.51) ng/ml and (6.33 +/- 0.34) ng/ml, and those of T were (1.51 +/- 0.12) ng/ml and (1.68 +/- 0.71) ng/ml in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of PRL and T were (6.36 +/- 0.32) ng/ml and (1.83 +/- 0.09) ng/ml in normal control group respectively. There were no significant difference in the values of PRL between idiopathic azoospermia, oligospermia and normal control group, but there were significant differences of T between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control. Compared with 0.84 +/- 0.20 in normal control, the values of T/LH were 0.35 +/- 0.09 and 0.29 +/- 0.04 in idiopathic oligospermia and azoospermia respectively and there were significant differences(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe changes of LH, FSH and T values may be one of the reasons that cause the dysfunction of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation in patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia. The study of semen hormone may lead to new strategies in the treatment to azoospermia and oligospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; analysis ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Testosterone ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of water fluoride exposure on reproductive hormones in female.

METHODSCross-sectional study was conducted in seven villages of a county in Henan province by using simple random sampling including high fluoride area, defluoridation project area and control area on April, 2011 based on the preliminary study results of fluoride concentration in drinking water. Women who were born and growth or lived in the village at least 5 years and aged 18-48 years old were recruited using cluster sampling. They were divided into high fluoride group (HFG, 116 subjects), defluoridation project group (DFPG, 132 subjects) and control group (CG, 227 subjects) in accordance with the above areas. All subjects accepted questionnaire and physical checkup. Fasting blood and morning urine samples were collected. The concentration of fluoride in urine was determined by fluoride ion selective electrode method. The serum level of GnRH was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum level of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) were determined by chemiluminesence immunoassay (CLIA).

RESULTSThe average age was (39.44 ± 7.34), (38.84 ± 8.03), (37.45 ± 7.70) years old in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively, there were no significant differences among the three groups (F = 3.02, P = 0.05). The urine fluoride levels were (1.34 ± 1.07), (2.59 ± 1.57), (0.92 ± 0.46) mg/ml in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively, there was a significant difference among three groups (F = 105.38, P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed of serum GnRH, LH, T, FSH and E2 among three groups in follicular phase (P > 0.05). The serum levels of E2 in Ovulatory period were 67.73, 58.09, 84.96 pg/ml in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively. It was lower in HFG than that in CG (H = 4.00, P < 0.05). The serum levels of T in Ovulatory period were 0.55, 0.45, 0.55 ng/ml in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively. It was lower in HFG than that in DFPG (H = 6.47, P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between HFG and CG (H = 2.41, P > 0.05). The serum levels of GnRH in Luteal phase were 24.09, 20.16, 23.50 ng/ml in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively. It was lower in HFG than that in DFPG (H = 14.14, P < 0.05) and CG (H = 12.53, P < 0.05). The serum level of E2 in luteal phase were 81.47, 64.60, 74.55 pg/ml in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively. It was lower in HFG than that in DFPG (H = 5.69, P < 0.05). As for LH, FSH and T, no significant differences were observed among the three groups (P > 0.05 respectively). The abnormal rates of E2 level were 22.73 (30/102), 37.93 (44/72), 20.26 (46/181) in female from DFPG, HFG and CG respectively. The E2 abnormal rate in female from HFG was higher that from DFPG (χ(2) = 6.82, P < 0.05) and CG (χ(2) = 12.38, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFluoride exposure may influence reproductive hormones in female, especially in ovulatory and luteal phase of menstrual cycle.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking Water ; chemistry ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Fluorides ; adverse effects ; urine ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Menstrual Cycle ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Progesterone ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of environmental multi-media lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among lead exposed males engaged in E-waste dismantling, and the correlation between confounding factors and sex hormone levels.

METHODSAn E-waste dismantling area in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province was selected as the research site. One hundred and fifty two samples were collected from the groundwater, soil, rice, corn, chicken, and pork in the dismantling area. The effects of the multi-media lead pollution on the male blood lead and sex hormone levels of FSH, LH, and T, as well as the correlation with confounding factors, were studied.

RESULTSThe blood lead concentrations in the males aged under 31, from 31 to 45 and from 46 to 60 were 98.55, 100.23, and 101.45 μg/L, respectively. Of all the environmental media lead exposures, the groundwater, rice and soil were main contributing factors to the lead accumulation in humans. FSH and LH levels increased with the age while the T levels decreased with the age instead. There was a significant correlation between the FSH and LH levels and wearing masks.

CONCLUSIONThere was correlation between the FSH, LH, and T levels, and the mean values of lead concentrations in environmental media, and the sex hormone levels were correlated with the confounding factor of wearing masks.

Adult ; Electronic Waste ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; chemistry ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; chemistry ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Refuse Disposal ; methods ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of Schizandra Chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) on cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced dyszoospermia of rats and its effects on reproductive hormones.

METHODSSCP was extracted by ethanol-alkali solution. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the low dose SCP group (100 mg/kg), the middle dose SCP group (200 mg/kg), and the high dose SCP group (400 mg/kg). Except the normal control group, the dyezoospermia rat model was established by peritoneal injection of CTX at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg, once daily for 5 successive days. After modeling, SCP was intragastrically administered at corresponding dose to the three SCP groups. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All the medication was performed once daily for 60 successive days. The blood serum and testis were withdrawal 24 h after the last intragastric administration. The levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in the testis homogenate were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The sperm count, the motility rate, and the teratospermia rate were compared. The morphology of the testis was observed using HE staining.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the sperm count and the motility rate decreased, the teratospermia rate increased, the serum levels of FSH and LH increased, the T content in the testis homogenate decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the sperm count and the motility rate increased, the teratospermia rate decreased, the serum levels of FSH and LH decreased, the T content in the testis homogenate increased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01, P <0.05). All the indices showed dose-dependent manner in the SCP groups. The histological results showed the pathological injury in the testicular tissue was improved in all SCP groups.

CONCLUSIONSCP showed obvious therapeutical effects on CTX induced dyszoospermia in rats, and its mechanisms might be correlate with recovering the regulation function of hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis.

Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Male ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology ; Testosterone ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effect of arsenic on spermatogenesis.

METHODSMature (4 months old) Wistar rats were intraperitoneally administered sodium arsenite at doses of 4, 5 or 6 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) for 26 days. Different varieties of germ cells at stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle, namely, type A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7Sd) were quantitatively evaluated, along with radioimmunoassay of plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and assessment of the epididymal sperm count.

RESULTSIn the 5 and 6 mg/kg groups, there were significant dose-dependent decreases in the accessory sex organ weights, epididymal sperm count and plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone with massive degeneration of all the germ cells at stage VII. The changes were insignificant in the 4 mg/kg group.

CONCLUSIONArsenite has a suppressive influence on spermatogenesis and gonadotrophin and testosterone release in rats.

Animals ; Arsenites ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Body Weight ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium Compounds ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of TCTS on endometriosis rats.

METHODOn the model of surgical induced rat endometriosis, weight and pathological changes of endometrial transplant and serum hormones were observed.

RESULTWeight of endometrial transplants was reduced by TCTS 11.2 g.kg-1 and 22.5 g.kg-1 and transplants of TCTS treated rat showed poorly developed epithelium, thinner stroma, fewer stromal cells and glands. At the same time elevated serum E2, FSH and LH were reduced by TCTS.

CONCLUSIONTCTS can inhibit the growth of endometrial transplants, which is related with serum hormone, especially E2.

Animals ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endometriosis ; blood ; pathology ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterine Diseases ; blood ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extracts of root of kudzu vine on mammary gland and uterus development in rats.

METHOD40 Wistar rats weighting 65-85 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, estrogen group, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of high dose, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of low dose. (10 rats in each group). After having been treated for 7 days, the rats were killed; mammary glands and uterus were removed and weighed. Serum was isolated and kept at 4 degrees C for determination of hormones.

RESULT1. Administration of the root of kudzu vine significantly increased the weigh of mammary gland and uterus in rats. 2. Administration of the root of kudzu vine increased serum FSH, LH, E2 and decreased PRL.

CONCLUSIONExtracts of root of kudzu vine could enhance the weight of mammary gland and uterus growth in rats, which may provide experimental evidence for the development of new drug used for promoting mammary gland and uterus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prolactin ; blood ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

The Cajanus cajan L. is a natural plant, which contains lots of potential active components. The effects of the stilbene extracts from Cajanus cajan L. (sECC) on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in rats were identified. All experimental female rats were divided into 6 groups, i. e. sham-operated rats, OVX rats, 17beta-estradiol (E2)-treated rats, sECC-treated rats with three dosages, 50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1), separately. Two weeks after the operation, different dosage of sECC, E2 or deionized water were given to the 6 groups of rats, respectively for another 8 weeks through stomach. Then, all rats were killed. The body weight and uterus wet weight were measured. Contents of serum E2, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Femoral morphology was observed by HE stain. The results showed that there were no changes of the uterine weight and serum E2 concentration in sECC-treated rats compared with OVX rats. However, the serum FSH and LH concentrations reduced by 11.5% and 15.2% (P < 0.05), respectively. By HE staining, it is found that the 60% of the femur structure had been significantly improved in OVX rats treated with 200 mg x kg(-1) of sECC. The trabeculae were thicker and larger than that of OVX rats. It is clear that sECC improved femoral morphological structure and decreased FSH and LH contents without affecting serum E2 level and uterine weight in OVX rats. The results suggested that sECC had potential action in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cajanus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Femur ; pathology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; pathology