Propranolol treatment affects ventral prostate blood vessels and serum testosterone concentrations in adult rats

Andrologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Plećaš ◽  
A. Glavaški ◽  
T. Solarović
1983 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilop T. Huhtaniemi ◽  
Dwight D. Warren ◽  
Kevin J. Catt

Abstract. The purpose of the present study was to compare the inhibitory effects of oestrogen and a gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist analogue (GnRH-A) on the pituitary-testicular function of adult rats. Animals were treated with sc injections of oestrogen (diethylstilboestrol, DES, 5 or 50 μg/kg body weight/day) or a gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist analogue. [(D-Ser-(tBu)6)des-Gly10-GnRH N-ethylamide, GnRH-A, 0.4 or 4 μg/kg/day] up to 12 days. Serum LH (24 h after the last hormone injection) decreased by 83% in 3 days with DES, but was unchanged during 12 days of GnRH-A treatment. Serum testosterone (T) decreased by 98% during DES treatment, and also clearly but less profoundly, by 89%, with GnRH-A. Maximal decrease in the weights of the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles were 73–78% with DES-treatment, but clearly slower, and to a lesser extent, with GnRH-A (33–41%). Testicular weights decreased consistently (up to 41%) with GnRH-A treatment only. DES decreased the content of testicular LH receptors by 40% in 12 days whereas GnRH-A caused a loss of 97% in LH binding. Testicular lactogen receptors decreased to similar extents (by 68–78%) with both treatments. A clear increase in serum progesterone/T ratio was observed with both types of treatment, suggesting blockade of steroidogenesis at the C21 steroid level. These findings suggest that the antigonadal actions of oestrogen in the intact animal are largely due to a decrease of circulating gonadotrophin levels, and that those of GnRH-A are predominately due to Leydig cell LH-receptor down-regulation and steroidogenic lesions, induced by transiently elevated gonadotrophin levels. The inhibitory effects of oestrogen on testicular function appeared to be faster and more complete that those of GnRH-A in the present short-term experiments.


1995 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Aguilar ◽  
F Antón ◽  
C Bellido ◽  
E Aguilar ◽  
F Gaytan

Abstract Testicular serotonin (5HT) concentrations were determined by HPLC in the testes of rats treated neonatally with oestradiol benzoate (EB) and in adult rats treated with the Leydig cell cytotoxic ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS). 5HT concentrations were related to mast cell numbers. EB-treated rats showed an accumulation of mast cells in the testes at 35 and 70 days of age and increased 5HT concentrations in both the interstitial fluid and the testicular capsule, whereas no increases in 5HT concentrations or in the number of mast cells were found for the ventral prostate of these animals. On the contrary, 5HT concentrations were not related to the number of Leydig cells. In EB-treated rats, in which Leydig cells were nearly absent at 35 days of age, 5HT concentrations were significantly increased. Furthermore, EDS-treated rats did not show significant changes in 5HT concentrations, in spite of the elimination of Leydig cells. These data suggest that mast cells are a major source of serotonin in the rat testis. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 146, 15–21


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1302-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
HAA Aly

The current study was aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of lycopene against gentamicin-induced testicular toxicity in adult rat testes. Pretreatment with lycopene (4 mg/kg/day) significantly prevented the decrease in the absolute testes weight and relative testes weight and the reduction in sperm count, motility, viability, and daily sperm production in gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day)-treated rats. Gentamicin significantly decreased the level of serum testosterone and testicular lactate dehydrogenase-X and G6PDH activities but a marked increase was observed upon pretreatment with lycopene. Testicular caspase-3 and -9 activities were significantly increased but lycopene showed significant protection from gentamicin-induced apoptosis. Oxidative stress was induced by gentamicin treatment as evidenced by increased hydrogen peroxide level and lipid peroxidation and decreased the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities and glutathione content. These alterations were effectively prevented by lycopene pretreatment. Histopathological examination showed loss of spermatogenesis and morphological abnormalities of the testis after treatment with gentamycin. These abnormalities were effectively normalized by pretreatment with lycopene. In conclusion, gentamicin decreases rat testes weight and inhibits spermatogenesis. It induces oxidative stress and apoptosis by possible mitochondrial dysfunction. These data provide insight into the mode of action of gentamicin-induced testicular toxicity and the beneficial role provided by lycopene to restore the suppressed spermatogenesis.


1973 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. MOBBS ◽  
I. E. JOHNSON ◽  
J. G. CONNOLLY

SUMMARY The weight of the accessory sex glands, and the citrate and nucleic acid content of the ventral prostate (VP) glands, were examined in animals which had been adrenalectomized 30 days previously and in intact control rats. Adrenalectomy greatly reduced the citrate content, but did not affect the nucleic acid content of the VP. It was concluded that the adrenals stimulated prostatic function rather than growth. The concentration of radioactivity in the accessory sex glands of adrenalectomized and/or castrated animals after the injection of [3H]testosterone was compared with that in sham-operated controls. Radioactivity was related to the DNA content of the VP of the four groups. It was concluded that adrenalectomy facilitated the uptake and/or retention of androgen. [3H]Corticosterone was not retained by any of the accessory sex glands of animals adrenalectomized and castrated 2 days previously. It seems unlikely that the glands should be considered 'target organs' for corticosterone in the accepted sense of the term, but it is suggested that corticosteroids may help to maintain the balance between differentiation and growth in the VP by influencing the metabolism of androgens by the prostate gland.


1979 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Cook ◽  
M. Notelovitz ◽  
P. S. Kalra ◽  
S. P. Kalra

1976 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Verjans ◽  
K. B. Eik-Nes

ABSTRACT Testes of adult, male rats were exposed to a total dose of 1500 R of X-irradiation. Testicular weight decreased from day 8 after X-ray treatment. This decrease was, however, preceded by an increment of the testis weight on day 4 following treatment. X-ray treatment of testes was associated with significant increases in serum FSH. Testicular irradiation had, however, no effect on ventral prostate and seminal vesicles weights. Serum testosterone increased only on day 1, 2 and 4 after irradiation, while serum LH levels tended to increase from day 8 post-irradiation. These changes were not significant, however, when compared with non-irradiated controls. At 7, 13 and 20 days following 1500 R of bilateral, testicular X-irradiation, the hypothalamic-pituitary unit was still capable of responding to exogenous gonadotrophin releasing factor. Serum FSH may in male rats be regulated at least partly by circulating steroids of testicular origin and partly by an unknown factor of non-interstitial cell nature.


2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
Manuel García ◽  
Hernandes Corralho

The prostate gland is regulated by steroid hormones and complex interactions based on a subtle balance between androgen and estrogen (E2) regulate prostatic development and physiology. Interestingly, the changes in steroid hormone levels at old ages affect the hormonal milieu and contribute to the evolution of the pathological changes of the gland. We have analyzed the effects of letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, on the structure in the ventral prostate of control and castrated adult rats. The results demonstrated alterations in prostate physiology after letrozole treatment. Serum levels of testosterone, prostate weight and proliferative index in luminal and basal cells were increased. Estrogen serum levels were not altered dramatically, in contrast to slight increase in gonadotrophin hormones seen in the castrated animals. Castration did not alter the proliferation index of basal cells. Reorganization of tissue compartments was seen with significant increase in letrozole treated animals. A decrease in androgen receptor expression was seen 21-days after the beginning of treatment with letrozole. These results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. These results reveal new aspects in the relationship between androgen receptor and steroid metabolism in the prostate gland, demonstrating that alteration in hormone levels during a short time period induces significant alterations in prostate homeostasis. 


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
M. N. Ghabriel ◽  
J. J. Lu ◽  
W. H. Lim ◽  
B. P. Setchell

It was recently shown that the endothelial barrier antigen (EBA), previously thought to be specific to endothelial cells in the central nervous system, was also present in endothelial cells in the testis and in epithelial cells in the dorsolateral prostate of adult rats.1 In the present study, we examined the effect of moderate spinal cord injury (SCI), produced by compression for 5 min of the cord at T 10/11. There was a slight reduction in EBA in the testis and prostate 24 h after SCI, and this became more obvious after 3days. EBA was completely absent from the prostate and testis at 1 week. By 2 and 4 weeks some expression of EBA returned, and at these times EBA was also detected in the ventral prostate. Brain endothelial cells remained positive throughout. We cannot yet say whether these changes are due directly to interference with the nerve supply, or involve changes in androgen status. (1)Ghabriel MN, Lu JJ, Hermanis G, Zhu C, Setchell BP (2002) Reproduction 123, 389–397.


1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
A S Faqi ◽  
P R Dalsenter ◽  
W Mathar ◽  
B Heinrich-Hirsch ◽  
I Chahoud

1 The aim of this study was to ascertain the reproductive effects of PCB 77 on adult male rats and to determine its concentration in the liver and testis. Adult male rats (n=15/group) were treated subcutaneously with a singledoseof18 mg/kgbw(PC18)orwith60 mg/kg bw (PC60). The substance was dissolved in a 10 ml volume of peanut oil/kg. Control rats received the same volume of the vehicle. The reproductive effects as well as the concentration of PCB 77 in the liver and testis were investigated 1, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. 2 In both groups, the daily sperm production (DSP; 6106) remained permanently reduced in the PC18 as well as in the PC60 groups throughout the entire investigation period (DSP week 8: control: 31+7; PC18: 22+5; PC60: 20+7). The sperm number (6106) per cauda epididymis was affected only at the 1st and 4th week after treatment (control week 1: 211+67; PC18 week 1: 135+62; PC60 week 1: 142+49). Moreover, a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm was observed 4 weeks following treatment in the PC18 and PC60 groups and 8 weeks after treatment in the PC60 group. Abnormal tails were the most frequent changes observed. 3 The relative testicular and prostata weights (g) were slightly increased in the PC60 group at the 1st and 4th week following treatment (testis weight: control/I: 0.46+0.02; PC60/I: 0.51+0.03). 4 The serum testosterone concentrations and effects on testis morphology were not reported. 5 The maximum concentration of PCB 77 was detected in the liver and testis 1 week after treatment. The concentration declined 4 weeks after treatment in both organs, but still a significant amount of PCB 77 was detectable in the liver as well as in the testis 8 weeks after treatment. 6 The results demonstrate that PCB 77 affects sperm variables when applied to adult rats and that the elimination of PCB 77 in the testis parallels that of the liver.


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