Antibacterial effects of nano-decoction iron polysulfide in epididymitis and the systematic evaluation of its toxicity on the reproductive health of male mice

Abstract Background: Increased applications of quantum dots (QDs) in biomedical field have aroused attention for their potential toxicological effects. Although many studies have been carried out on the toxicity of QDs, their effects on reproductive and development are still unclear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the male reproductive toxicity and developmental toxicity of CdSe/ZnS QDs in BALB/c mice.Results: The male mice were injected intravenously with CdSe/ZnS QDs at the dosage of 2.5 mg/kg BW or 25 mg/kg BW, respectively, and the survival status, biodistribution of QDs in testes, serum sex hormone levels, histopathology, sperm motility and acrosome integrity was measured on Day 1, 7, 14, 28 and 42 after injection. On Day 35 after treatment, male mice were housed with non-exposed female mice, and then offspring number, body weight, organ index and histopathology of major organs, blood routine and biochemical tests of offspring were measured to evaluate the fertility and offspring health. The results showed that CdSe/ZnS QDs could rapidly distribute in the testis, and the fluorescence of QDs could still be detected on Day 42 post-injection. QDs had no adverse effect on the structure of testis and epididymis, but high-dose QDs could induce apoptosis of Leydig cells in testis at an early stage. No significant differences in survival of state, body weight organ index of testis and epididymis, sex hormones levels, sperm quality, sperm acrosome integrity and fertility of male mice were observed in QDs exposed groups. However, the development of offspring was obviously influenced, which was mainly manifested in the slow growth of offspring, changes of organ index of main organs, and the abnormality of liver and kidney function parameters.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that CdSe/ZnS QDs were able to cross the blood-testis barrier (BTB), produce no discernible toxic effects on the male reproductive system, but could affect the healthy growth of future generations to some extent. In view of the broad application prospect of QDs in biomedical fields, our findings might provide insight into the biological safety evaluation of the reproductive health of QDs.

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Potential reproductive health effects and oxidative stress associated with exposure to potassium dichromate (K2CR2O7) and magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) in male mice

Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.12669/pjms.304.4757 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Muhammad Imran Naseer ◽

Kalsoom Zaigham ◽

Arif Malik ◽

Umm E Habiba ◽

Rabail Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Effects ◽

Magnesium Sulphate ◽

Potassium Dichromate ◽

Male Mice ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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Sex significantly influences transduction of murine liver by recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors through an androgen-dependent pathway

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2002-09-2889 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 480-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

Andrew M. Davidoff ◽

Catherine Y. C. Ng ◽

Junfang Zhou ◽

Yunyu Spence ◽

Amit C. Nathwani

Keyword(s):

Gene Transfer ◽

Targeted Delivery ◽

Viral Vectors ◽

Nuclear Protein ◽

Viral Vector ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Transduction Efficiency ◽

Inverted Terminal Repeat ◽

Male Mice ◽

Receptor Complexes

AbstractA systematic evaluation of the influence of sex on transduction by recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) indicated that transgene expression after liver-targeted delivery of vector particles was between 5- to 13-fold higher in male mice compared with female mice, irrespective of the proviral promoter or cDNA and mouse strain. Molecular analysis revealed that the rAAV genome was stably retained in male liver at levels that were 7-fold higher than those observed in females. Further, the sex difference in transduction was observed with AAV-2– and AAV-5–based vectors, which use distinct receptor complexes for infection. In concordance with the differences in AAV transduction, gel shift analysis with nuclear extracts derived from the liver of mice and humans revealed substantially higher binding of host nuclear protein to the rep-binding site (RBS) of AAV inverted terminal repeat (ITR) in males compared with females. Transduction efficiency and binding of nuclear protein to RBS was dramatically reduced in male mice by castration. In contrast, although oophorectomy did not significantly influence rAAV transduction, administration of 5α dihydrotestosterone, prior to gene transfer, increased stable hepatocyte gene transfer in females to levels observed in male mice, implying that androgens significantly influence hepatocyte gene transfer. Interestingly, sex did not have a significant effect on AAV gene transfer into nonhepatic tissue, indicating that there are distinct tissue- and sex-specific differences in the mechanisms responsible for efficient transduction with this vector. These results have significant implications for gene therapy of autosomal and acquired disorders affecting the liver.

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Genipin improves reproductive health problems caused by circadian disruption in male mice

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ◽

10.1186/s12958-020-00679-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yihua Xu ◽

Li Wang ◽

Siyuan Cao ◽

Ruihua Hu ◽

Rui Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Circadian Rhythm ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Health Problems ◽

Circadian Disruption ◽

Control Group ◽

Testis Size ◽

Male Mice ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background Circadian rhythm disruption impacts a wide range of physiological processes, including fertility. However, the effect of circadian disruption on male spermatogenesis and fertility, and treatments for these effects have been largely unexplored at the molecular level. Methods In this study, we examined the effects of genipin on improving the reproductive health problems caused by circadian disruption. Three groups of animals were fed under different conditions: control group (normal T cycle with saline), group of shortened T cycles (Light/Dark = 4 hours/4 hours) with saline, and a group of shortened T cycles with genipin by oral gavage. The male fertility was evaluated by fertility study and pups parameters analysis after successful sexual behavior and mating with female mice. We sacrificed the treated animals after 5 or 10 weeks and collected the testis, sperm and serum for histological analysis, sperm motility assay, and serum hormone detection, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of genipin was assessed by detection of progesterone secretion and steroidogenic key proteins expression, including StAR and CYP11A1, in mouse Leydig tumor MLTC-1 cells. Results Male mice exposed to shortened light-dark cycles, much shorter than 24 hours, had reduced fertility with decreased sperm concentrations and sperm motility. Male mice under circadian disruption have reduced testis size and abnormal morphology, leading to lower fertility rates, reduced litter size and pup body weight. Treatment with exogenous genipin, a natural plant-derived compound, alleviated circadian disruption-induced damage to fertility and spermatogenesis and normalized testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and androstenedione (ASD) levels in the male mice. The levels of key proteins involved in steroidogenesis, StAR and CYP11A1, were reduced in mouse testes after the circadian disruption, but genipin treatment restored the reduction. The mRNA expression of SRD5A1, which encodes an androgen synthesis enzyme, was also upregulated by genipin treatment. Furthermore, genipin treatment showed a positive effect on steroidogenesis in MLTC-1 cells, resulting in an increase in hormone secretion and the upregulation of StAR and CYP11A1. Conclusions Our results showed an association between circadian disruption and reproductive health problems in male mice and indicated that treatments with genipin have positive effects on the reproductive health of male mice with circadian rhythm disorders.

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Ultrastructural Lesions Produced by Alcohol and Sucrose in the Heart and Liver of C57BL Mice

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100068035 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 208-209

Author(s):

K.K. SEKHRI ◽

C.S. ALEXANDER ◽

H.T. NAGASAWA

Keyword(s):

Osmium Tetroxide ◽

Male Mice ◽

Alcohol Group ◽

Group Iii ◽

Group I ◽

C57bl Mice ◽

Group Ii

C57BL male mice (Jackson Lab., Bar Harbor, Maine) weighing about 18 gms were randomly divided into three groups: group I was fed sweetened liquid alcohol diet (modified Schenkl) in which 36% of the calories were derived from alcohol; group II was maintained on a similar diet but alcohol was isocalorically substituted by sucrose; group III was fed regular mouse chow ad lib for five months. Liver and heart tissues were fixed in 2.5% cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde, post-fixed in 2% osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon-araldite.

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Image Analysis of Intramembrane Particles in Freeze-Fractured Biomembranes Using Computer Simulation Techniques

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100114694 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

pp. 214-215

Author(s):

D.J. Benefiel ◽

R.S. Weinstein

Keyword(s):

Membrane Proteins ◽

Freeze Fracture ◽

Integral Membrane Proteins ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Intramembrane Particles ◽

Modeling Methods ◽

Simulation Techniques ◽

Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy ◽

Fracture Electron ◽

Computer Simulation Techniques

Intramembrane particles (IMP or MAP) are components of most biomembranes. They are visualized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and they probably represent replicas of integral membrane proteins. The presence of MAP in biomembranes has been extensively investigated but their detailed ultrastructure has been largely ignored. In this study, we have attempted to lay groundwork for a systematic evaluation of MAP ultrastructure. Using mathematical modeling methods, we have simulated the electron optical appearances of idealized globular proteins as they might be expected to appear in replicas under defined conditions. By comparing these images with the apearances of MAPs in replicas, we have attempted to evaluate dimensional and shape distortions that may be introduced by the freeze-fracture technique and further to deduce the actual shapes of integral membrane proteins from their freezefracture images.

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