scholarly journals THE ACTIVITY AND ISOFORMS OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE IN TISUES OF REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF RATS

Author(s):  
N. Kuzmina ◽  
D. Ostapiv ◽  
A. Chajkovska ◽  
A. Panych

The aсtivity of superoxide dismutase, the content of its isoforms in testis, epididimis, and in epididimal spermatozoa of pubescent rat males were studied. The experiments were performed on adult male rats (age 5 - 6 months). After decapitation, the testes and the epididimis were taken, from which the spermatozoa were washed with 0.9 % sodium chloride solution. The total protein and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in the supernatant and the sperm suspension. SOD isoforms were detected after electrophoresis in 10 % polyacrylamide gel by specific staining of gel plates with nitrosine tetrazolium. The highest activity was found to be in the tissue of the testes (18.2 ± 2.59 IU/mg of protein), less on 34.6% in the epididymis and the lowest on 46.7% in epididymal sperm. Electrophoresis in 10 % polyacrylamide gel and specific staining in the tissues of testis, epididymis, and epididymal sperm of rats revealed five major SOD isoforms, which, depending on the speed of movement in PAAG, were labeled, from maximum to least mobile, such as S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5. The specifity of testicular tissue is the presence of two minor isoforms (S1a- and S1b-isoforms), which are characterized by high electrophoretic mobility and lower intensity of manifestation, and the color disappears over time, unlike other proteins of the enzyme. It was found that the SOD isoenzyme spectrum is characterized by tissue specificity and depended on the physiological and functional features of the tissue of the reproductive organs of males and spermatozoa. In the testis tissue, S2 isoform was in the largest amount– 36.7 ± 1.91%, less and almost the same content of S1-, S3- and S4-isoforms (18.0 ± 3.27, 19.3 ± 3.98 and 15.7 ± 2.15%) and the least – S5-, S1a- and S1b-isoform (6.2 ± 1.20%; 2.2 ± 0.03 and 1.9 ± 0.01%). In the epididimis tissue, the content of the S3-isoform was higher on 17.9% and S2- and S1- respectively on 7.9% and 4.9%, respectively, compared to the testis. SOD isoenzymes of epididymal spermatozoa are characterized by a high content of S2 isoforms, which is more on 11.2% than in the testis, and the content of S1 isoforms, by contrast, is lower on 10.0%. The established differences in the content and activity of individual isoforms of the enzyme indicate the existence of tissue specificity of SOD proteins, due to the functional characteristics of the studied tissues. Optimal protection of sperm from O2• - in the process of their differentiation and maturation is ensured by the activity of different SOD isoforms, confirming the established differences in the isoenzyme spectrum.

Author(s):  
Asmaa ELnamaky ◽  
Amal Halawa ◽  
Mamdouh Abouelmaged

he present work was designed to investigate the reproductive toxicity induced by oral administration of chlorpyrifos (CPF), cypermethrin (CYP) and their combination in adult male albino rats. Forty mature male albino rats were separated into four groups (10 each), the first group was used as control, while second, third and fourth groups received orally 1/20 LD50 of CPF (10 mg/kg b.wt), 1/20 LD50 of CYP (17.22 mg/kg b.wt) and 1/40 LD50 of CPF plus 1/40 LD50 of CYP (5 mg/kg b.wt CPF plus 8.61 mg/kg b.wt CYP) respectively for 26 days. The results revealed that exposure to CPF and/or CYP induced a significant decrease in the reproductive organs weight. Moreover, a significant decrease in spermatic picture (sperm cell concentration and viability) was observed with high percent of sperm abnormalities. Serum levels of testosterone and pituitary gonadotropins (FSH and LH) have been declined significantly in all treated groups. Significant elevations were observed in malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations, while antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activities were decreased significantly as a result of induced oxidative stress. A significant drop in prostatic acid phosphatase activity was observed. Additionally, the results showed some histopathological alterations in the reproductive organs as well as neurological lesions in brain and pituitary glands. In conclusion, CPF and CYP induce deleterious effects on reproductive efficiency of male rats which reflect more obvious impacts when both combined


Andrologia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 110-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Sakhaee ◽  
L. Emadi ◽  
J. Abshenas ◽  
R. Kheirandish ◽  
O. Azari ◽  
...  

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. SORRENTINO ◽  
R. J. REITER ◽  
D. S. SCHALCH

1996 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 736-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pant ◽  
R. Shankar ◽  
SP Srivastava

The spermatotoxic effect of carbaryl in adult and young male rats has been examined. Carbaryl 50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. Male fed 5 d/week for 60 days, caused dose and age- dependent decline in epididymal sperm count and sperm motility, an increase in sperm with abnormal morphology. The dose of 25 mg/kg/d was a 'No observed effect level' for the indices studied. Young animals in comparison to adults exhibited pronounced spermatotoxic effects.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Paraskevi Papaioannidou ◽  
Theodora Papamitsou ◽  
Ioannis Makaronidis ◽  
Ioannis Kyriakidis ◽  
Ioannis Papaioannidis ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
T. T. B. Vo ◽  
E.-M. Jung ◽  
M.-G. Back ◽  
V. H. Dang ◽  
K.-C. Choi ◽  
...  

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) with androgenic and anti-androgenic effects may alter reproductive function by binding to androgenic receptors (AR) and inducing or modulating AR-dependent responses in the male reproductive system. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying these events remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, we elucidated the prenatal effects of maternal testosterone propionate (TP), flutamide (Flu), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on male reproductive organs of newborn rats. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley (n = 32 in total, n = 8/each group) rats were treated with these compounds at gestation days 11 to 21, and newborn males (n = 154 in total) were euthanized at post-neonatal day (PND) 63. Interestingly, maternal exposure to Flu or DEHP caused fluctuations in the neonatal levels of serum testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Serum T and LH were up-regulated by Flu, but these hormones were down-regulated by DEHP. The anogenital distances (AGD) of male newborns were detected at PND 1, 21, and 63. Male rats treated prenatally with DEHP (100 mg kg–1 mother’s body weight) or Flu showed an AGD shorter than that of control rats. At PND 63, the sperm concentration, viability, and mobility were reduced in the maternal DEHP and Flu-treated groups. The numbers of seminiferous tubules were reduced in the Flu- and DEHP-treated offspring when compared with vehicle- and TP-treated groups, and the tubules of the testes at PND 63 were disrupted by a high dose of Flu. In addition, we examined differential gene expression patterns in the testes by microarray analysis following ED exposure, particularly in sex determination-related genes. Significantly distinct expressions of sex determination-related genes were observed in the testes by microarray analysis following treatments with different types of EDs in this study. Although Flu and DEHP are considered to be identical with regard to their anti-androgenic effects, their effects on developing male reproductive organs were distinct, suggesting that Flu competes with endogenous T, while DEHP influences a different step in androgenesis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
GF Gonzales ◽  
M Gasco ◽  
A Cordova ◽  
A Chung ◽  
J Rubio ◽  
...  

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is a Peruvian hypocotyl that grows exclusively between 4000 and 4500 m in the central Andes. Maca is traditionally employed in the Andean region for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties.The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that Maca can prevent high altitude-induced testicular disturbances. Adult male rats were exposed for 21 days to an altitude of 4340 m and treated with vehicle or aqueous extract of Maca (666.6 mg/day). The lengths of the stages of the seminiferous epithelium and epididymal sperm counts were obtained at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of exposure. The stages of the seminiferous tubules were assessed by transillumination. A dose-response study was also performed at sea level to determine the effect of Maca given to male rats at doses of 0, 6.6, 66.6 and 666.6 mg/day for 7 days on body weight, seminiferous tubule stages and epididymal sperm count. The length of stage VIII and the epididymal sperm count were increased in a dose-dependent manner in Maca-treated rats but treatment reduced the length of stage I. At the highest dose, sperm count increased 1.58 times, the length of stage VIII increased 2.4 times and the length of stage I was reduced 0.48 times compared with the value at dose 0. Exposure to high altitude resulted in a reduction in epididymal sperm count after 7 days and lower values were maintained up to 21 days. Altitude reduced spermiation (stage VIII) to half and the onset of spermatogenesis (stages IX-XI) to a quarter on days 7 and 14 but treatment with Maca (666.6 mg/day) prevented these changes. Data on transillumination and epididymal sperm count in the Maca-treated group exposed to high altitude were similar to those obtained at sea level. Maca increased the sperm count on day 21 of exposure to high altitude to values similar (1095.25 +/- 20.41x10(6) sperm, means +/- S.E.M.) to those obtained in the Maca-treated group at sea level (1132.30 +/- 172.95x10(6) sperm). Furthermore, in the Maca-treated group exposed for 21 days to high altitude, epididymal sperm count was higher than in the non-treated group at sea level (690.49 +/- 43.67x10(6) sperm). In conclusion, treatment of rats with Maca at high altitude prevented high altitude-induced spermatogenic disruption.


1991 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Nicholson ◽  
S. E. F. Guldenaar ◽  
G. J. Boer ◽  
B. T. Pickering

ABSTRACT The long-term effects of oxytocin administration on the testis were studied using intratesticular implants. Adult male rats had an Accurel device containing 20 μg oxytocin (releasing approximately 200 ng/day) implanted into the parenchyma of each testis; control animals received empty devices. The animals were killed at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Some animals were perfused and the testes processed for light and electron microscopy. Blood was collected from the remaining animals for the measurement of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, LH, FSH and oxytocin; epididymal sperm counts were measured and the testes were extracted and radioimmunoassayed for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and oxytocin. Long-term administration of oxytocin resulted in a significant reduction in testicular and plasma testosterone levels throughout the 4-week period examined and, after 14 days of treatment, lipid droplets were seen in the Leydig cells of treated but not control animals. Concentrations of dihydrotestosterone in the plasma and testes of the oxytocin-treated animals, however, were significantly elevated after 7 and 14 days and at no time fell below control values. Plasma FSH levels were also lower in the oxytocin-treated animals. Intratesticular oxytocin treatment did not affect LH or oxytocin concentrations in the plasma, epididymal sperm counts or the number of Leydig cells in the testis. Empty Accurel devices had no effect on testicular morphology. This study provides the first evidence that oxytocin in vivo can modify steroidogenesis in the testis. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 130, 231–238


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document