OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of prepubertal continuous exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on the testis development in SD rats.

METHODSTwenty-one-day-old weanling prepubertal male SD rats were randomly divided into a control (n = 24) and an experiment group (n = 54), gavaged daily with corn oil vehicle or corn oil + DBP at the repeated dose of 0 mg/(kg x d) (control), 50 mg/(kg x d) (low-dose), 200 mg/(kg x d) (medium-dose) and 600 mg/(kg x d) (high-dose) for 14, 21 and 28 days, and then sacrificed by decapitation on PND35, PND42 and PND49. The body weight gain, the testis weight and volume and the weight of accessory sex organs were measured, the serum testosterone level assayed by chemoluminescence technique, the testis tissues stained by H&E and observed under the light microscope for morphological alteration, the mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules determined and testicular biopsy scores obtained.

RESULTSDisordered arrangement of spermatogenic cells was found in some seminiferous tubules on PND35 in the low-dose group, but testis development and spermatogenesis were normal on PND42 and PND49. In the medium-dose group, disordered arrangement and decreased number of spermatogenic cells were observed on PND35 and PND42, but without testicular atrophy, and various grades of spermatogenic cells and sperm were seen on PND49. High-dose DBP slowed down the body weight gain, decreased serum T levels and induced degeneration of seminiferous tubules, arrest of spermatogenic epithelium development and necrosis of spermatogenic cells. The pubertal rats (PND49) showed testicular atrophy, azoospermia and delayed development of accessory sex organs.

CONCLUSIONPrepubertal continuous exposure to DBP induces damages to testicular development and spermatogenesis in a dose-dependent manner, and those induced by high-dose DBP cannot be recuperated in the phase of prepubertal development, while the slight adverse effects on the testis induced by low- and medium-dose DBP could be completely or partly reversible before PND49.

Animals ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; Growth ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the current status of penis and testicular development in boys and the effects of overweight/obesity on their development in the Zhengzhou area of Henan Province.

METHODSHeight, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, penis length and testicular volume were measured in 3 546 4 to 12-year-old boys. The penis length and testicular volume were compared between the overweight/obesity and normal weight groups.

RESULTSBefore 9 years of age, the testicular volume was progressively smaller, and after 9 years old, it gradually increased. By the age of 11, it increased rapidly. The penis length increased gradually between 4 and 11 years of age, and after the age of 11 it increased rapidly. Phimosis was found in 144 cases (4.01%) and cryptorchidism was found in 18 cases (0.51%). A total of 639 (18.02%) boys were overweight or obese among 3 546 boys. At the ages of 6 and 7 years, the testicular volume in the overweight/obesity group was greater than in the normal control group (P<0.05). The penis length in the overweight/obesity group was significantly shorter than in the normal control group (P<0.05) by the age of 11 years. The correlation analysis showed that the testicular volume at the ages of 4 and 5 years was positively correlated with height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference in overweight/obese boys. The penis length at the ages of 7 and 8 years was negatively correlated with weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. By the age of 12 years, the penis length was positively correlated with the height.

CONCLUSIONSThe development of penis and testicles in boys in the Zhengzhou area is in line with the level of sex development of Chinese boys. Overweight/obesity adversely affects the development of penis and testicles.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Penis ; growth & development ; Testis ; growth & development

Doppel protein (abbreviation Dpl) is a newly recognized Glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchored and highly glycosylated protein, which is similar to prion protein (PrP) in the chemical structure. The encoding gene of Dpl named PRND locates at the downstream of the prion protein gene (PRNP). These two proteins are different in physiological functions. The expression of Dpl focuses on testis tissue at the adult, and takes an important role in maintaining sperm integrality, normal fertility, and motion ability. We reviewed the biological characters, physiological functions of Dpl and its effects on male reproduction in order to provide theory guidance for the study on physiological function and male reproduction controlling.
Animals ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Prions ; metabolism ; physiology ; Reproduction ; physiology ; Testis ; growth & development ; metabolism

The two-dimensional model of cell culture is an important method in the study of testicular development and spermatogenesis but can not effectively mimic and regulate the testicular microenvironment and the whole process of spermatogenesis due to the lack of relevant cell factors and the disruption of a three-dimensional spatial structure. In the past 20 years, the development and optimization of the in vitro model such as testis organotypic culture and in vivo model such as testis transplantation achieved a transformation from two- to three-dimension. The maintenance and optimization of the testicular niche structure could mimic the testicular microenvironment and cell types including Leydig, Sertoli and germ cells, which showed similar biological behaviors to those in vivo. Besides, the cell suspension or tissue fragment floats in the gas-liquid interface so that the development of somatic and germ cells is well maintained in vitro whilst the feedback linkage between grafted testis tissue and hypothalamus-pituitary of the host rebuilt in the in vitro model provides an endocrinological basis for spermatogenesis, which serves as an effective methodology to better understand the organogenesis and development of the testis as well as testicular function regulation, advancing the concept of treatment of male infertility. Al- though each of the methods may have its limitations, the progress in the processing, freezing, thawing, and transplantation of cells and tissues will surely promote their clinical application and present their value in translational medicine.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Germ Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; growth & development

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

An age-dependent cellular change of DNA contents in the testis of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated by flow-cytometric method. Testicular cell suspensions at the age of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 26 weeks were prepared and stained with propidium iodide. The relative proportions in the number of mature and immature haploid (1n), diploid (2n), S-phase and tetraploid (4n) cells were calculated. The proportion in the number of mature haploid cells was sharply increased to the age of 10 weeks (about 38%), thereafter increased slightly to the level of 42% at the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of immature haploid cells was dramatically increased to the age of 6 weeks, then maintained at the level of 20 to 30% thereafter. The proportion of diploid cells was 64% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually through the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of S-phase cells was increased to the age of 4 weeks, then maintained at a plateau level to the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of tetraploid cells were about 26% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually to the age of 26 weeks. These results suggest that the proportions of testicular cells may depend on the age of the rat and that the flow cytometric method may be useful in the evaluation of the spermatogenic status with regard to accuracy and sensitivity.
Animals ; DNA/*analysis/genetics ; Diploidy ; Flow Cytometry/methods/veterinary ; Haploidy ; Male ; Rats ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis/chemistry/*growth & development

PURPOSE: Object of present study is to identify the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonis (GnRHa) treatment on final adult height in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) children with central precocious puberty. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted of all CAH patients seen between 1977 and 2004, in pediatric endocrinology department, Seoul National University Hospital. All patients treated with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid toward to CAH. Treatment group (SW7, SV12) received GnRHa or associated with growth hormone (GH) when they had pubertal changes; breast development before 8 years in girls, testis enlargement (>4 mL) before 9 years in boys and pubertal response in GnRH stimulation test. GnRHa treatment was continued from 1 year to 7.5 years (mean=3.6 yr) while they continued glucocorticoid therapy. We evaluated them every 6 month or yearly until reached final adult height (FH). We compared FH SDS between treatment group and control group. Also final adult height in treatment group compared with pretreatment predicted adult height (By Bayley-Pinneau method). Each group was subdivided into salt wasting group (SW) and simple virilizing group (SV). RESULTS: Treatment group (SW 7, SV 12) was included 19 patients with CAH and control group (SW 6 SV 7) was belonged 13 patients. In treatment group, predicted adult heights are 148.5+/-8.8 cm (-2.8+/-0.8SDS) in SW, 149.8+/-6.7 cm (-2.8+/-1.1SDS) in SV and midparental heights are 165.9 7.7 cm (0.4+/-0.5SDS), 163.3+/-p9.0 cm (-1.40+/-0.8SDS), respectively. Final adult heights are 158.87.4 cm(-0.9+/-1.2SDS) in SW and 156.7+/-7.4 cm (-1.5+/-1.2SDS) in SV. In control group, pretreatment predicted adult height and midparental heights were 154.8+/-12.0 cm (-2.1+/-0.6SDS) in SW, 149.9+/-6.3 cm (-2.3+/-0.7SDS) in SV and 159.8+/-7.2 cm (-1.2+/-0.5SDS) in SW, 158.6+/-5.1 cm (-0.6+/-0.8SDS) in SV. Final heights are 154.4+/-5.3 cm (-2.1+/-0.6SDS) in SW and 153.6+/-4.1 cm (-1.5+/-0.8SDS) in SV. There was no significant difference in comparison of FH between control group and treatment group (By Mann-Whitney test, SW P=0.063, SV P=0.663). But it was significant in comparison predicted adult height and final adult height in treatment group (By Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test P=0.043 in SW, P=0.008 in SV). CONCLUSION: In CAH children with precocious puberty, treatment with GnRH agonist alone treatment is effective to improve final adult height. But the effectiveness is limited. So GH or GnRHa combined with GH therapy is more attempted.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Adult ; Breast ; Child* ; Endocrinology ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Testis

Testicular descent is an essential step in the course of reproductive system development. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of testis descent is not distinct. Gubernaculum has a very close relationship with testis descent. Maldescent of testis can cause abnormalities of genital system such as testicular underwent (cryptorchidism), dysplasia, tumor, infertility and low sexuality. Recently insulin like hormone 3 is a hotspot of concerning affecting gubernacular development and testicular descent. This article briefly reviews the advances in these aspects.
Animals ; Humans ; Insulin ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Proteins ; physiology ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; physiology ; Testis ; growth & development

Spermatogenesis is a complex process regulated by endocrine and testicular paracrine/autocrine factors. Gonadotropins are involved in the regulation of several testicular paracrine factors, mainly of the IL-1 family and testicular hormones. Testicular cytokines and growth factors (such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF, IFN-gamma, LIF and SCF) were shown to affect both the germ cell proliferation and the Leydig and Sertoli cells functions and secretion. Cytokines and growth factors are produced by immune cells and in the interstitial and seminiferous tubular compartments by various testicular cells, including Sertoli, Leydig, peritubular cells, spermatogonia, differentiated spermatogonia and even spermatozoa. Corresponding cytokine and growth factor receptors were demonstrated on some of the testicular cells. These cytokines also control the secretion of the gonadotropins and testosterone in the testis. Under pathological conditions the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are increased and negatively affected spermatogenesis. Thus, the expression levels and the mechanisms involved in the regulation of testicular paracrine/autocrine factors should be considered in future therapeutic strategies for male infertility.
Animals ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Growth Substances ; physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology

Animals ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Testis ; drug effects ; Triazines ; toxicity