Steroidal interactions in the ageing endocrine system: absence of suppression and pathology in reproductive systems of old males from a mixed-sex socially stressful rat colony

1993 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Taylor ◽  
M. Bardgett ◽  
S. Farr ◽  
S. Womack ◽  
D. Komitowski ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A paradigm using chronic social stress and multiple measures of the reproductive system were used to assess changes with ageing in the dynamics of endogenous steroid interactions. The 22- to 24-month-old male rats lived for 8 weeks in one of four types of colony, in groups of the same sex or groups of mixed sex including familiar or unfamiliar old males. Measures of endocrinology (circulating steroid levels), behaviour (exploration and sociosexual responses), physiology (body and organ weights and epididymal sperm count) and histology (adrenal and ventral prostate glands) served as markers of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) or hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axes. Old males living under stable conditions as familiar same-sex colonies served as the comparison group. Results indicated clear chronic activation of the HPA axis in the unfamiliar all-male colonies and of the HPT axis in the familiar males from mixed-sex colonies, whereas both steroidal axes were stimulated in colonies of unfamiliar males and females. Findings from aged males under chronic stress suggested that reproductive dysfunction may be limited to situations in which activation of the HPA axis occurs without concurrent stimulation of the HPT axis. Data on steroidal interactions from mixed-sex groups suggested that (1) chronic excitation of the HPA failed to suppress function in the reproductive system of the old males, (2) their stress responses were little affected by chronic HPT activation and (3) there was no evidence for stress-induced pathology, even in the vulnerable prostate gland. The conclusion is that increased risks for urogenital pathology with long-term exposure to stress is not an inevitable outcome for ageing male rats nor, perhaps, for other social species living under conditions in which multiple endocrine systems typically undergo simultaneous activation. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 137, 115–122

1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 889-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pant ◽  
AK Prasad ◽  
SC Srivastava ◽  
R. Shankar ◽  
SP Srivastava

1 Carbofuran was administered orally to adult male rats at dose levels of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 mg kg -1 body weight, 5 d wk-1 for 60 days. A dose dependent decrease was observed in body weight of rats treated with 0.2-0.8 mg carbofuran kg -1 body weight 2 A significant decrease in the weight of epididymides, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and coagulating glands was observed at various test doses of carbofuran except at the lowest dose. 3 Decreased sperm motility, reduced epididymal sperm count along with increased morphological abnormali ties in head, neck and tail regions of spermatozoa were observed in rats exposed to 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 mg carbo furan kg-1 body weight. 4 In addition, significant alterations were observed in the activities of marker testicular enzymes viz. sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) (decreased), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) (increased) depending on dose. 5 Histologically, the results indicated the toxicity of carbo furan on testes depending on dose. The changes pre dominantly consisted of moderate oedema, congestion, damage to Sertoli cells and germ cells, along with the accumulation of cellular debris and presence of giant cells in the lumen of a few seminiferous tubules which showed disturbed spermatogenesis with the higher doses of carbofuran. 6 These observations determined a no effect level dose of 0.1 mg kg-1 body weight of carbofuran on the biochemi cal and morphological indices studied for male repro ductive toxicity assessment in the rat model. The results of the present study provide first hand information on the reproductive toxicity of carbofuran in male rats.


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

1979 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. GREENSTEIN

Available high-affinity binding sites for 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured in cytosols obtained from the amygdala, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland and ventral prostate gland of 12-week-old rats at various times after orchidectomy, and in the corresponding tissues of 18-month-old male rats. It is suggested that the lower affinity of the DHT binding reaction in brain and ventral prostatic cytosols after orchidectomy or ageing respectively, may explain, at least in part, the changes in the responsiveness of the tissues to androgens.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest L. Hunt ◽  
Donald W. Bailey

ABSTRACT Male rats 23 days of age were rendered diabetic by subcutaneous injections of alloxan. Diabetes was determined one week later on the basis of urine sugar concentration. At regular intervals following treatment animals were sacrificed and the testes, seminal vesicles and prostate gland removed for histological study. Severe diabetes resulted in failure of descent of the testes, failure of development of the germinal epithelium and castrate-type accessory organs. A more moderate diabetic condition resulted in delayed testicular descent, delayed onset of spermatogenesis and development of accessory structures. Control rats maintained on an inadequate diet were comparable to the moderate diabetics. Treatment with insulin corrected all the deleterious effects of diabetes on the reproductive system. In diabetic animals, not receiving insulin, treatment with chorionic gonadotrophin resulted in hypertrophy of interstitial cells and some development of accessory structures, but did not bring about testicular descent nor onset of spermatogenesis. Treatment with testosterone stimulated accessory structures, but did not affect testicular descent.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Yang ◽  
Haijie Yu ◽  
Reji Babygirija ◽  
Bei Shi ◽  
Weinan Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Stress is widely believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Central neuropeptide Y (NPY) counteracts the biological actions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and in turn attenuates stress responses. Administration (intracerebroventricular, ICV) of NPY, significantly antagonized the inhibitory effects of chronic complicated stress (CCS) on gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility in rats. However, ICV administration is an invasive technique. The effect of intranasal administration of NPY on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and GI motility in CCS conditions have not been studied, and the inhibitory mechanism of NPY on CRF through the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor needs to be further investigated. A CCS rat model was set up, NPY was intranasal administered every day prior to the stress loading. Further, a GABAA receptor antagonist was ICV injected daily. Central CRF and NPY expression were evaluated, serum corticosterone and NPY levels were analyzed, and colonic motor functions was assessed. CCS rats showed significantly increased CRF expression and corticosterone levels, which resulted in enhanced colonic motor functions. Intranasal NPY significantly increased central NPY mRNA expression and reduced central CRF mRNA expression as well as the plasma corticosterone level, helping to restore colonic motor functions. However, ICV administration of the GABAA receptor antagonist significantly abolished these effects. Intranasal administration of NPY upregulates the hypothalamic NPY system. NPY may, through the GABAA receptor, significantly antagonize the overexpressed central CRF and attenuate the HPA axis activities in CCS conditions, exerting influences and helping to restore colonic motor function.


2021 ◽  
pp. 113614
Author(s):  
Sarah Fourman ◽  
Dana Buesing ◽  
Sean Girvin ◽  
Houda Nashawi ◽  
Yvonne M. Ulrich-Lai

2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Sharma ◽  
M. P. Dobhal ◽  
Y. P. Singh ◽  
A. K. Rai ◽  
R. Sharma ◽  
...  

The antifertility activity of organoantimony(III) complexes PhSb[RC(NC6H4S)CH2(NC6H4S)CR′] {R' = CH3 (R1) and R = R' = CF3 (R2)} derived from corresponding sterically hinlered bifuinctional tetradentate ligands in the male rats was determined. The administration of compounds R1 and R2 at the dose level of 20 mg/kg. b. wt. siignificantly reduced the weights of testes and epididymides. Auxiliary glands showed a significant reduction after the treatment of compound R1 only. Treated animals showed a notable depression of spermatogenesis. The preleptotene spermatocytes were decreased by 76.19 and 47.06; the secondary spermatocytes by 87.4% and 54.87337; and the step-19 spermatids by 72.9 and 46.77% respectively, following the compound R1 and R2 treatment. Reduced sperm count and motility resulted in 100% negative fertility in both the treated groups. A significant fall in the content of various biochemical parameters of eproductive tissues was observed after R1 and R2 treatment in comparison to controls.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-337
Author(s):  
Hassan Moladoust ◽  
Ebrahim Nasiri ◽  
Rouhollah Gazor ◽  
Tolue Mahdavi ◽  
Reza Ghorbani ◽  
...  

Background: Lifestyle factors, including environmental and occupational exposure, have a key role in reproductive health status and may impact fertility. Formaldehyde (FA) is a suspected reproductive toxicant, which may cause significant adverse effects on the reproductive system. This study was aimed at detecting the impact of FA and the possible protective role of vitamin E on the male reproductive system in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control rats, rats treated with vehicle (corn-oil), rats treated with 10 mg/kg/day FA (FAt), and rats treated with FA plus 30 mg/kg/day vitamin E plus vehicle (FAt+ vitamin E) for two weeks. After treatment, sex hor­mone levels were examined using ELISA. Moreover the count, morphology, and motility of sperm, were observed. Results: The sperm count and the percentage of rapid progressive sperm were significantly decreased in rats in the FAt-treated group compared with those in the control and vehicle-treated groups (p<0.05). Vitamin E treatment significantly improved the parame­ters examined in the FAt+ vitamin E group (29.85±8.62 vs. 10.04±4.79 for sperm count and 60.50±5.67 vs. 42.19±8.02 for sperm motility). Moreover, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels mildly decreased in the FA exposure group, although the difference was not statis­tically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that FA exposure had a negative impact on sperm parameters and some reproductive hormones in rats and vita­min E attenuated the deleterious impact of FA on the reproductive system of adult male rats. [GMJ.2017;6(4):330-7] DOI: 10.22086/gmj.v6i4.904


2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj K. Sharma ◽  
H. Rehwani ◽  
A. K. Rai ◽  
R. S. Gupta ◽  
Y. P. Singh

Triphenylantimony(V) derivative,Ph3Sb(OPri)[SC6H4N:C(CH3)CH2C(O)CH3],1b, and the corresponding benzothiazoline ligand [1, 2],HNC6H4SC︹(CH3)CH2C(O)CH3,1a, have been tested for their effects on the reproductive system of male albino rats. The oral administration of both1aand1bat the dose level of 10 mg/rat/day produced significant reduction in the weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, and ventral prostate. Significant decrease in sperm motility as well as in sperm density resulted in 100% sterility. Significant (P<.01) alterations were also found in biochemical parameters of reproductive organs in treated male rats as compared to the control group. Production of preleptotene, pachytene, and secondary spermatocytes was decreased by 42%, 43%, 39%, and by 44%, 49%, 55% in the ligand,1a, and organoantimony(V) derivative,1b, treated rats, respectively. These results indicate that both compounds1aand1bare antispermatogenic in nature and on oral administration in male rats, and finally caused sterility. A comparison indicates that the organoantimony(V) derivative1bis more effective pertaining to its antispermatogenic activity than the corresponding ligand1a.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 357-365
Author(s):  
Bassam Abdulaziz Alahmadi

Cancer treatments can affect sperm production and a significant percentage of cancer patients may develop permanent azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia after chemotherapy. To investigate the influence of Gemcitabine toxicity on the reproductive system of albino male rats (sperm count and morphology). An experimental animal study conducted in the zoology department, College of Science, King Saud University during the period from June to October 2014 using albino rats (Rattusnorvegicus) (Wistar strain). Males were divided into four different groups (control" 0 mg/kg",7 mg/kg,14 mg/kg, and 21 mg/kg). The reproductive organs, testicles and epididymis decreased in weight and atrophied in most of the animals treated with the drug in various doses. The mean absolute and relative epididymal weights were also significantly decreased. In the drug-effects recovery group, neither the testicles nor the epididymis in the animals treated with the three doses recovered fully normal weight. The testis's efficiency in producing sperm was significantly decreased at all doses. In the recovery group, the testis regained its efficiency, as no significant difference was recorded between the drug-treated groups and the control group. The drug caused complete loss of sperm, in a rat treated with the big dose. Gemcitabine caused a significant increase in the percentage of deformed sperms in all treated animals. Gemcitabine drug has high toxicity on the reproductive system of rats with a dose tenth of human dose, with a massive decrease in the count and quantity of sperm, which means that this drug can have more toxicity effects on human.


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