In this study, the effects of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), one of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, on immature Shiba goat testes in vitro were examined. The testes of 2-month-old Shiba goats were cut into smaller pieces, and seeded in medium. At 1, 3, 6 and 9 hr after administration of MEHP at various concentrations (0, 100 nmol ml-1, 1 nmol ml-1, and 1 x 10-3 nmol ml-1, respectively), the specimens were obtained for light and transmission electron microscopic observations. As a result, at 1 hr after exposure to MEHP, the vacuolization and nuclear membrane rupture appeared in Sertoli cells. Such alterations tended to gradually increase in number in timeand dose-dependent manners. Moreover, by MEHP treatment, apoptotic spermatogenic cells (characterized with chromatin condensation, cytoplasm shrinkage without membrane rupture, still functioning cell organelles, and packed cell contents in membrane-bounded bodies), apoptotic Sertoli cells (characterized with nuclear membrane lysis, nuclear condensation), necrotic spermatogenic cells (characterized with swollen and ruptured mitochondria, plasma membrane lysis, spilt cell contents, and chromatin clumps), and necrotic Sertoli cells (characterized with marginated chromatins along the nuclear membrane, ruptured vesicles within the MNB, some swollen and ruptured cell organelles, e.g. mitochondria) could be identified. Conclusively, ultrastructurally the treatment with MEHP at low concentration tends to lead spermatogenic and Sertoli cells to apoptosis, whereas that at high concentration tends to lead spermatogenic and Sertoli cells to necrosis. Thus, the testicular tissue culture is advantageous for screening testicular toxicity of chemicals.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects/physiology ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate/*analogs&derivatives/*toxicity ; Goat Diseases/*chemically induced/pathology ; Goats ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/veterinary ; Necrosis ; Sertoli Cells/ultrastructure ; Spermatozoa/drug effects/pathology/ultrastructure ; Testicular Diseases/*chemically induced/pathology ; Testis/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology/ultrastructure ; Vacuoles/physiology/ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of resveratrol on spermatogenesis after 2,5-hexanedione(2,5-HD)-induced testicular injury.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group A were normally raised and Group B, C, D and E exposed to 1% 2,5-HD for 5 weeks, followed by administration of resveratrol of different concentrations (20, 40 and 80 mg/[ kg x d], respectively) to Group C, D and E for 9 weeks. Then the rats were killed, their physical signs, body weight gain and testis weight were assessed, and immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis used to investigate the numbers and diameters of seminiferous tubules and the expression of c-kit protein of spermatogenic cell membrane.

RESULTSThe rats exposed to 2,5-HD showed weak body, lax skin, dim color pattern, tardy body weight gain, and emaciated testis. Immunohistochemistry revealed emaciated seminiferous tubules, stagnant obsolete spermatogonia and negative expression of c-kit protein. After resveratrol administration, the 2,5-HD-induced physical signs were improved and close to normal. Compared with those of the 2,5-HD injured group, the body weight and testis weight of the resveratrol treated group increased obviously (P < 0.01); and the aliquots of the seminiferous epithelia began to differentiate and the spermatogenesis and expression of c-kit protein partly resumed (P < 0.01). With increasing dose of resveratrol, the diameters and numbers of seminiferous tubules (P < 0.01) and the expression levels of c-kit protein (P < 0.01) were gradually and significantly restored almost to normal.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol could promote the recovery of spermatogenesis after 2,5-HD-induced testicular injury.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Hexanones ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; therapeutic use ; Testicular Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

AIM: To investigate the histological and ultrastructural changes observed in pan masala intoxicated mammalian testes under the effect of cardamom. METHODS: Male Swiss mice were given pan masala orally at a dose of 2% of the feed and cardamom at a dose of 0.2% of the feed. They were divided into three groups, control (Group I), pan masala-treated (Group II), and a combination of pan masala and cardamom-treated group (Group III). Histologically, the testes of Group II mice displayed degeneration of tubular epithelium, disruption of spermatogenesis, and a marked reduction in germ cells. RESULTS: When cardamom was given, damage was less with fewer distorted cells and also improvement with normal tubules and spermatid differentiation in Group III. Ultrastructurally, pan masala-treated testes showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei of spermatogonia, and abnormal acrosomal granules. CONCLUSION When cardamom was given, the amelioration process was more evident showing a comparable morphology with control.
Animals ; Areca ; adverse effects ; Elettaria ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Testicular Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Tobacco ; adverse effects ; Tobacco, Smokeless ; adverse effects ; Vacuoles ; drug effects