Adult ; Azoospermia/parasitology* ; Hormones/blood* ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/parasitology* ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Testicular Diseases/parasitology* ; Trichomonas Infections/parasitology* ; Trichomonas vaginalis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the action of nitric oxide (NO) on testicular dysfunction in cirrhotic rats.

METHODSCirrhotic rats were induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Concentration of NO in the serum and homogenates of the testicular tissue in biliary cirrhotic rats, L-NAME rats, and sham operated rats were measured by assay of nitrate reductase. Concentrations of testosterone in the serum of 3 groups were measured by radioimmunoassay. Sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis of the rats were determined.

RESULTSConcentrations of NO in the serum and homogenates of the testicular tissue of cirrhotic rats were significantly greater than those of sham operated rats (4.165 micromol/L 1.162 micromol/L, and 1.305 micromol/g 0.087 micromol/g vs 0.535 micromol/L 0.237 micromol/L and 0.720 micromol/g 0.063 micromol/g). Concentrations of testosterone in the serum, the sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis were significantly lower in cirrhotic rats than sham operated rats (0.049mug/L 0.020 microgram/L, 16.46% 4.84%, and 86.89 10(6)/ml 33.17 10(6)/ml vs 2.680 microgram/L 0.403 microgram/L, 62.45% 9.21%, and 299.43 10(6)/ml 53.85 10(6)/ml). By contrast, the administration of a low dose of L-NAME (0.5 mg/kg per day) for one week to cirrhotic rats was associated with a significant reduction in concentration of NO (1.975 micromol/L 0.406 micromol/L and 0.950 micromol/g 0.057 micromol/g) and a significant increase in concentration of testosterone in the serum, the sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis (0.993 microgram/L 0.179 microgram/L, 33.85% 4.93%, and 188.94 10(6)/ml 38.34 10(6)/ml).

CONCLUSIONSNO is associated with testicular dysfunction in cirrhosis. The testicular dysfunction induced by cirrhosis can obtain improvement by using low dose of L-NAME.

Animals ; Liver ; parasitology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testicular Diseases ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Testosterone ; blood

AIMTo evaluate the effect of Schistosoma intercalatum infestation on the testicular function of mice.

METHODSMale BALB C mice were infested by immersion of the tail and hind feet into the water with 50 or 100 cercariae of Cameroon strain S. intercalatum. Sixty days later the animals were killed, blood was collected and the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles were dissected and weighed. The plasma and testicular testosterone were evaluated with radioimmunoassay, the seminal vesicular fructose with colorimetric method, and the histology of testis and cauda epididymis observed under light microscope. The intensity of infestation was estimated in terms of S. intercalatum egg load in the liver.

RESULTSIn infested mice, the testicular weight did not change significantly while the epididymal and seminal vesicular weights were significantly lowered compared to the controls. Furthermore, the fructose levels in the seminal vesicle fluid were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in about 50% of infested mice. S. intercalatum infestation also decreased the plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations. Histological studies indicated that the spermatogenesis, the testicular interstitial tissue and the cauda epididymis were qualitatively normal. Parasite eggs were not found in these organs. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter did not show significant differences between the infested and control mice.

CONCLUSIONS. intercalatum infestation impairs testicular function.

Animals ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Parasite Egg Count ; Schistosoma ; Schistosomiasis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Diseases ; parasitology ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism