The aim of this work was to study effects of ketotifen fumarate (KF) on prevention of tissue damage in testes of rats with experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) and on the contralateral testis in a model of prolonged testicular cord torsion (TCT). Rats with EAO or TCT were injected intraperitoneally once daily with KF or saline solution (vehicle group). Incidence and severity of testicular damage were evaluated by histopathology using an EAO score or a Johnsen score. Mast cells (MC) were identified by histochemistry and quantified. In EAO model, KF significantly reduced severity of histopathological testicular damage compared to rats in the vehicle group. KF also reduced the number of testicular MC compared to vehicle group. Similarly, in TCT model, multifocal damage of the contralateral testis was observed 30 days after testicular torsion characterized by sloughing of the germinal epithelium, seminiferous tubule atrophy, and interstitial edema. Focal signs of inflammation and fibrosis of seminiferous tubular walls were also observed. In contrast, sections of contralateral testis of rats injected with KF and killed 30 days after surgery showed normal histological features. A significant decrease in the number of MC was observed in rats treated with KF compared to untreated animals. In conclusion, we demonstrated that treatment with KF reduced testicular inflammatory process and MC infiltrates in both EAO and TCT models. The results suggest a promising treatment for infertile male patients with testicular pathologies associated with inflammation and germ cell loss.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/pathology* ; Cell Count ; Epididymis/pathology* ; Epididymitis/pathology* ; Histamine H1 Antagonists/pharmacology* ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunity, Cellular/drug effects* ; Ketotifen/pharmacology* ; Male ; Mast Cells/pathology* ; Orchitis/pathology* ; Rats ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spermatic Cord Torsion/pathology* ; Testis/pathology* ; Vaccination

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule (MDZG) on the development and maturation of epididymal sperm in experimental varicocele (VC) rats.

METHODSSixty SD male rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number, sham operation, VC model, Aescuven forte, and low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG. The model of left VC was made by the Turner method in all the rats except those of the sham operation group, followed by treatment with 0.9% normal saline for the animals in the sham operation and VC model groups, Aescuven forte tablets at 54 mg per kg of the body weight for those in the Aescuven forte group, and MDZG at 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/ml for those in the low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG groups, all administered intragastrically qd for 8 successive weeks. Then, all the rats were sacrificed and their left epididymides harvested for examination of the quality of the epididymal sperm and the local microscopic and ultrastructural changes of the epididymal tissue.

RESULTSThe VC model rats showed significant apoptosis of the epididymal sperm cells, interstitial edema, microvascular dilatation, degeneration and degeneration of the epithelial cells, degeneration of some principal cells and basal cell vacuoles, and immature spermatids in the lumen. Sperm motility was significantly increased in the Aescuven forte and low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG groups as compared with the VC models (P <0.01). Both sperm concentration and motility were markedly higher in the high-dose MDZG than in the Aescuven forte group (P <0.05). Remarkable apoptosis of epididymal sperm cells was observed in the microenvironment of sperm development in the VC models, which exhibited no statistically significant difference from that in the rats of the medium- and high-dose MDZG groups.

CONCLUSIONSExperimental varicocele induced local apoptosis of epididymal sperm cells, interstitial edema and microvascular dilatation in the rat epididymis, while Modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule could improve the stability of epididymal sperm maturation and contribute to their development.

Aesculus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Edema ; chemically induced ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; Varicocele ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Morinda officinalis (MO) extract on cytoxan (CTX) -impaired spermatogenesis of adult male SD rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 56 adult male SD rats into seven groups of equal number: blank control, CTX model, CTX + NS, CTX + 10 g/kg MO, CTX + 20 g/kg MO, CTX + 30 g/kg MO, and CTX + 40 g/kg MO. We made the models of impaired spermatogenesis in the SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of CTX and treated the animal models by intragastric administration of MO at the concentrations of 10, 20, 30, and 40 g per kg per d, respectively. After two weeks of medication, we observed the changes in the body weight, testicular and epididymal indexes, and microstructure of the testis tissue, measured the mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) , and obtained testicular biopsy scores (TBS) in different groups, followed by comparative analyses.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the CTX + NS group showed no remarkable differences in the body weight ([234.83 ± 28.77] g) and epididymal index (2.71 ± 0.34) from those of the four CTX + MO groups, but exhibited a significantly lower testicular index ([12.15 ± 1.04] g) than those in the CTX + 20 g/kg MO ([13.71 ± 0.97] g), CTX + 30 g/kg MO, ([13.30 ± 0.29] g), and CTX + 40 g/kg MO group ([13.48 ± 0.51] g) (P < 0.05). Light microscopy revealed obvious pathological changes of the testis tissue in the CTX + NS group and significantly ameliorated structures of the seminiferous tubules in the CTX + MO 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg groups, with the MSTD of (204.78 ± 11.03), (216.55 ± 10.93), (218.03 ± 11.23), and (218.59 ± 14.06) μm, respectively, and the TBS of 9.03 ± 0.39, 9.69 ± 0.26, 9.83 ± 0.18, and 9.89 ± 0.11, respectively, all significantly higher than (189.74 ± 8.55) μm and 5.95 ± 1.21 in the CTX + NS group (P < 0.05). The efficacy of MO extract was increased in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONMorinda officinalis extract can repair cytoxan-induced damage to rat spermatogenesis, with may achieve the best effect at the concentrations of 30 and 40 g per kg per d.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Morinda ; chemistry ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

This study was conducted to elucidate the reproductive effect of NP on testis, epididymis and epididymal sperm in vivo. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with NP at 0, 40, 100, or 250 mg/kg body weight (bw) on alternate days for 90 d. The results showed that oral administration of NP may damage the structure and function of testis, induce apoptosis and oxidative stress in epididymis or even have cytotoxic effects on epididymal sperm.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Phenols ; adverse effects ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiobesity effect of Jueming Prescription (JMP), a Chinese herbal medicine formula, and its influence on mRNA expressions of beta3 adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in adipose tissue of diet-induced obese rats.

METHODSFifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n =8) that was on a standard chow diet, and the obese model group (n =42) that was on a diet of high fat chow. Two weeks after the high fat diet, 29 obese rats in the obese model group were further randomly divided into 3 groups: the untreated obese model group (n =9), the metformin group (n =10, metformin 300 mg kg⁻¹ day)⁻¹, and the JMP group (n =10, JMP 4 g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). After 8-week treatment, body weight, wet weight of visceral fat, and percentage of body fat (PBF) were measured. The levels of fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, and insulin were assessed, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. The adipose tissue section was stained with hematoxylin-Eosin, and the cellular diameter and quantity of adipocytes were evaluated by light microscopy. The mRNA expressions of beta3-AR and UCP-2 from the peri-renal fat tissue were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the obese model group, treatment with JMP resulted in significantly lower body weight, wet weight of visceral fat, PBF, and diameter of adipocytes, and significantly higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ISI (all P<0.01), JMP increased the mRNA expressions of beta3-AR and UCP-2 from perirenal fat tissue (P <0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSJMP could reduce body weight and adipocyte size; and the effect was associated with the up-regulation of beta3-AR and UCP-2 expressions in the adipose tissue and improvement of insulin sensitivity.

Adipocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adiposity ; drug effects ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cell Size ; drug effects ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Fasting ; blood ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Insulin ; blood ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ion Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Obesity ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uncoupling Protein 2 ; Weight Loss ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine on the testis and epididymis against ornidazole (ORN)-induced injury in male rats.

METHODSForty male SD rats weighing 200 -230 g were randomly divided into 5 groups, Group A treated with 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and Groups B, C, D and E with ORN at the daily dose of 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg plus LC 100 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg plus LC 100 mg/kg, respectively, all by oral gavage for 20 days continuously. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, all the rats were put to death, their testes and epididymides harvested, weighed and subjected to HE staining. The indexes of the testes and epididymides were obtained and their histopathological changes observed.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, Groups B and C showed significant decreases in the indexes of the testis and epididymis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), while Group D exhibited no difference and Group E extremely significant difference (P < 0.01). HE staining revealed that the spermatogenic cells at all levels of testicular seminiferous tubules were neatly arranged in Group B, caduceus in some seminiferous tubules, with decreased number of sperm and sporadic spermatogenic cells in the epididymal duct. Necrotic and caduceus spermatogenic cells were observed in the seminiferous tubules of Group C, with significantly decreased number of sperm and lots of non-sperm cell components in the epididymal duct. No obvious changes were found in the testicular seminiferous tubules, nor evident reduction in the number of sperm in the epididymal duct of Group D. Group E showed decreased number of sperm in the testicular seminiferous tubules, necrotic and caduceus spermatogenic cells, obviously reduced number of sperm and a lot of non-sperm cell components in the epididymal duct.

CONCLUSIONORC can induce histopathological changes in the testis and epididymis of male rats, and L-carnitine plays a role in protecting the testis and epididymis from ORN-induced injury in male rats.

Animals ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Ornidazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVEThe content of acrylamide increases remarkably in fried, baked and heat-processed starchy foods. The present experiment was aimed at investigating the toxicity of acrylamide on the reproductive system in male rats.

METHODSThirty weaned 21-day-old SD male rats were randomly allotted into three groups of 10 each. Group I and Group II were fed on water solutions containing acrylamide 5 mg/kg/d and 10 mg/kg/d for eight consecutive weeks, while the third group on fresh water only as the control. The body weight, viscera weights and testicle and epididymis tissues were detected at the fourth and eighth week respectively. In the end of the experiment, the sperm reserve and morphology in the cauda of the epididymis were examined.

RESULTSThe growth of the rats treated with acrylamide was retarded (P < 0.05). The weights of the testis and epididymis and the sperm concentration in the cauda of the epididymis of Group II were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after acrylamide administration, while no significant change was observed in the sperm concentration of Group I (P > 0.05). Furthermore, histopathological lesions were presented in the testes of the treated rats, and the number of Leydig cells around the apoptosis seminiferous tubules increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcrylamide has toxic effects on seminiferous tubules and decreases the production of sperm in male rats.

Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Size ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology

Potential negative effects of exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil on the reproductive system of male rats was investigated. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment. Exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil was achieved via oral administration of increasing doses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 ml/rat) every other day for 4 weeks. Cauda epididymal sperm reserves and relative weights of the testes as well as histological features of the testes of rats that received the crude oil treatment were compared to those of control rats. The results described here showed a significant (p < 0.01) dosedependent reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of rats that received crude oil treatment relative to the control group. The morphology of testes of the crude oil-exposed rats was characterized by the presence of interstitial exudates, degeneration, and necrosis of spermatogenic and interstitial (Leydig) cells. Findings indicate that exposure of male rats to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil may have adversely affected their reproductive systems. This may imply possible reproductive health hazards for animals and humans that may be exposed to this environmental pollutant, especially in areas where oil spillage is a common feature.
Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epididymis/*drug effects ; Male ; Petroleum/*toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa/*drug effects ; Testis/*drug effects/pathology

AIMTo investigate the effect of formaldehyde (FA) on testes and the protective effect of vitamin E (VE) against oxidative damage by FA in the testes of adult rats.

METHODSThirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control; (2) FA treatment group (FAt); and (3) FAt + VE group. FAt and FAt + VE groups were exposed to FA by inhalation at a concentration of 10 mg/m(3) for 2 weeks. In addition, FAt + VE group were orally administered VE during the 2-week FA treatment. After the treatment, the histopathological and biochemical changes in testes, as well as the quantity and quality of sperm, were observed.

RESULTSThe testicular weight, the quantity and quality of sperm, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly decreased whereas the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in testes of rats in FAt group compared with those in the control group. VE treatment restored these parameters in FAt + VE group. In addition, microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that seminiferous tubules atrophied, seminiferous epithelial cells disintegrated and shed in rats in FAt group and VE treatment significantly improved the testicular structure in FAt + VE group.

CONCLUSIONFA destroys the testicular structure and function in adult rats by inducing oxidative stress, and this damage could be partially reversed by VE.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

AIMTo quantitatively study the histological changes of the testis and epididymis as a result of a drastic reduction of testosterone secretion.

METHODSFourteen adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS, 75 mg/kg) and the same number of animals were injected with normal saline as a control. At days 7 and 12 (after treatment), respectively, half of the animals from each group were killed. The testes and epididymides were removed and tissue blocks embedded in methacrylate resin. The cell number per testis was estimated using the stereological optical disector and some other parameters were obtained using other morphometric methods.

RESULTSThe EDS treatment resulted in an almost complete elimination of Leydig cells but had no effect on the numbers of Sertoli cells per testis. At day 7 after EDS treatment, many elongated spermatids were retained in the seminiferous epithelium and many round spermatids could be seen in the epididymal ducts. At day 12, a looser arrangement of spermatids and spermatocytes became evident, with apparent narrow empty spaces being formed between germ cells in an approximately radial direction towards the tubule lumen; the numbers (per testis) of non-type B spermatogonia and spermatocytes were similar to controls, whereas that of type B spermatogonia increased by 59%, and that of early round, elongating and late elongated spermatids decreased by 37%, 72% and 52%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe primary spermatogenic lesions following EDS administration were (i) spermiation failure and (ii) detachment of spermatids and spermatocytes associated with impairment in spermiogenesis and meiosis.

Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mesylates ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; pathology ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; pathology