OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of diabetic autonomic neuropathy on the seminal vesicle and search for the theoretical evidence for the prevention and treatment of diabetic infertility by observing changes in the contents of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and muscarinic M3 receptor in the seminal vesicle of diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetic models were established in 10 of the 15 male adult SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), and the other 5 were included in a normal control group. Eight weeks after modeling, seminal vesicles were collected from the rats for HE and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the diabetic models showed a decreased number of smooth muscle cells, thinner cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells and disordered structure in the seminal vesicle. The intensity of NGF-positive staining was significantly enhanced, but that of M3 markedly reduced in the diabetic group. There were statistically significant differences in the mean integrated optical density (IA) of muscarinic M3 receptors and NGF between the control and diabetic groups (0.0187 +/- 0.0024 vs 0.0100 +/- 0.0015 and 0.0209 +/- 0.0085 vs 0.0412 +/- 0.0117, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe changes in the expressions of NGF and M3 receptors in the seminal vesicle of diabetic rats suggest that diabetes mellitus may induce autonomic neuropathy of the seminal vesicle.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; metabolism ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism

The developmental features, growth and organogenesis of Macroorchis spinulosus were observed in albino rats. Globular and thick walled metacercariae, possessed a stylet, Y-shaped excretory bladder and extracecal testes. In albino rats, M. spinulosus showed habitat shifting. The majority of M. spinulosus reside in the jejunum for the first four days post infection (p.i.) and migrate to the duodenum at the later stage of infection. M. spinulosus grew rapidly during the first four days and reached full maturity at 14 days p.i. and later reduced in size. The ovary was separated from the genital primodium at one day p.i. The seminal vesicle appeared on the third day and divided into two sacs on the fourth day p.i. and intrauterine eggs and sperm mass were produced on the fourth day. Organogenesis and enlargement of reproductive organs governed the growth of M. spinulosus. The similarity of related species of the genus Macroorchis to M. spinulosus was discussed in consideration to developmental features.
Animals ; Astacoidea/parasitology ; Female ; Male ; Organogenesis ; Ovary/growth & development ; Pharynx/growth & development ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles/growth & development ; Testis/growth & development ; Trematoda/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/physiology

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effects of 19-nortestosterone (NT) on the growth and development of the ventral prostate (VP), epididymis, and seminal vesicles (SV) in hypogonadal (hpg) mice.

METHODSThe silastic tube filled with NT was implanted subdermally into mature hpg mice (n = 7) for five weeks. Similar silastic tubes without NT were implanted into both of hpg mouse control group (n = 7) and normal mouse group (n = 10) instead. The weights of sex accessory glands and the branch tip number of VP from all mice were evaluated.

RESULTSThe weights of VP, SV, and epididymis in NT treated hpg group were significantly higher than those of hpg control group (P < 0.005); and the branching morphology of the VP showed a tendency to be normal and the development of prostate ductal tip was improved significantly. Especially, the weight of SV in NT treated hpg mice was equal to that of normal mice, while the weights of VP, epididymis and branching tip number in NT treated hpg group was still significantly lower than that of normal mice (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONSThe NT treatment significantly stimulates the growth and development of the sex accessory gland in mature hpg mouse.

Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Genitalia, Male ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Nandrolone ; therapeutic use ; Prostate ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; growth & development

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of finasteride on the microvascular density (MVD) and the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the seminal vesicle of rats.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into groups A, B, C and D, those in groups A and B fed with normal saline as the control and those in C and D with finasteride at 40 mg per kg of the body weight per day, A and C for 14 days and B and D for 28 days. Then the seminal vesicles of the animals were harvested for HE staining, measurement of MVD, determination of the expressions of CD34 and VEGF by immunohistochemistry, and observation of histomorphological changes in the seminal vesicle.

RESULTSThe expressions of CD34 in groups C and D were decreased by 6.7% and 15.8% as compared with those in A and B (P<0.01), and that in group D decreased by 9.3% in comparison with that in C (P<0.01). The expression indexes of VEGF in groups C and D were decreased by 6.9% and 14.1% as compared with those in A and B (P<0.01), and that in group D decreased by 9.0% in comparison with that in C (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFinasteride can inhibit the expression of VEGF in the seminal vesicle tissue of the rat and hence suppress the angiogenesis of microvessels of the seminal vesicle.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Finasteride ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism