Cross Talk Between Down Regulation of Steroidogenic Genes Expression, Oxidative and Apoptotic Biomarkers in Testes Induced by Administration of Tramadol and Boldenone and Their Combination in Male Albino Rats

BackgroundThe testis is the male reproductive gland or gonad having two vital functions - to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone.PurposeThe study aimed to investigate the effect of tramadol and boldenone injected alone or in combinatio for 2 months in rats on testicular function.MethodsGroup 1; normal control, Group 2; tramadol Hcl (TRAM) (20 mg/kg bwt.) (i.p). Group 3; boldenone undecylenate (BOLD) (5 mg/kg bwt) (i.m). Group 4; combination of TRAM (20 mg/kg bwt.) and BOLD (5 mg/kg), respectively for 2 months.ResultsTRAM and BOLD alone and in combination rats showed deteriorated testicular functions, lowered serum steroid levels (FSH, LH and testesterone), elevation in oxidative biomarkers (MDA & NO) and reduction in GSH and SOD, downregulation of StaR and HSD17B3 as well as assessment of testicular histopathological using H&E staining, PAS stain for histochemical assessment of polysaccharides and glycoproteins in the testes and Masson trichrome stain to assess the changes in the collagen fibers.ConclusionThe study illuminated the hazard of administration of these drugs for a long period as well as the prominent deleterious effects reported on concurrent use of both drugs.

Rare variant of ovotesticular disorder of sex development diagnosed due to injury-induced rupture of the reproductive gland in a patient with SRY-negative 46,ХХ karyotype (clinical case)

The clinical case of a rare variant of disorder of sex development (DSD) is described. This disorder was diagnosed with an emergency operation for the traumatic rupture of the gonad. A patient (14 years old) with a male phenotype and lack of muller duct derivatives had a female SRY negative karyotype (46,XX) and an ovotesticular gonad structure as a result of duplication in the regulatory zone of the SOX9 gene. Ovotesticular disorders of sex development with karyotype 46,XX, as a rule, are accompanied by an ambiguous genitalia and derivatives of the muller structures. Early diagnosis of the described variant of DSD was difficult due to the development of male type genitalia. Timely identification of DSD including the presented option of DSD, is possible during routine examinations of the urologist with mandatory ultrasound examination of the scrotum and pelvis.

Spleno-adrenal fusion mimicking an adrenal metastasis of a renal cell carcinoma: A case report and embryological background

Foci of splenic tissue separated from the spleen can occur as a congenital anomaly. Isolated nodules of splenic tissue are called accessory spleens or spleniculli. However, nodules of splenic tissue can merge with other organs during embryonic development, in which case we speak of spleno-visceral fusions: most often, they merge with the tail of the pancreas (thus forming spleno-pancreatic fusion or an intrapancreatic accessory spleen), with the reproductive gland (i.e., spleno-gonadal fusion), or with the kidney (i.e., spleno-renal fusion). Our case report describes the fusion of heterotopic splenic tissue with the right adrenal gland, which was misinterpreted as a metastasis of a renal cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spleno-adrenal fusion. Spleno-visceral fusions usually represent asymptomatic conditions; their main clinical significance lies in the confusion they cause and its misinterpretation as tumors of other organs. We believe that the cause of retroperitoneal spleno-visceral fusions is the anomalous migration of splenic cells along the dorsal mesentery to the urogenital ridge, together with primitive germ cells, at the end of the fifth week and during the sixth week of embryonic age. This theory explains the possible origin of spleno-visceral fusions, their different frequency of occurrence, and the predominance of findings on the left side.

Design and Simulation of Robotic Needle Guide for Transperineal Prostate Biopsy

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death for males in the United States [1]. Over three million Americans with prostate cancer were reported in 2016 [2] marking the prostate cancer as the most prevalent cancer among males in the US. In 2016, 180,890 new cases and 26,120 deaths were reported [1]. The prostate is a male reproductive gland located in the pelvis and surrounded by the rectum posteriorly and the bladder superiorly.

EFFECT OF COPULATION ON POTENTIALLY PRECANCEROUS PROSTATE LESIONS, SERUM TESTOSTERONE AND PROLACTIN LEVELS IN RATS

The prostate is an exocrine reproductive gland that participates in ejaculation and it is prone to diseases, including cancer. Aim: In the present study, we assessed the long­term effects of copulation on the development of precancerous lesions in rats, and compared them with testosterone­induced prostatic lesions. Materials and Methods: One group of Wistar males was given 10 copulatory sessions to one ejaculation with ovariectomized, hormone­primed females. Sessions occurred twice per week for a total of ten trials. A second group was exposed to females during the same trials, but physical contact was prevented. In addition, each group received a subcutaneous implant in the back either filled with testosterone propionate (T, 100 mg/kg) or empty. This resulted in four subgroups: 1) Control + No sex, 2) Control + Sex, 3) T + No sex and 4) T + Sex. Two days after the 10th trial all the males were sacrificed for prostate histo logy (H&E) and hormone analysis (testosterone and prolactin). Results: Males from the group Control + No sex expressed normal histo logy. However, those in the groups Control + Sex and T + No sex expressed metaplasia and dysplasia in both the dorsolateral and ventral portions of the prostate, respectively. Interestingly, males from the group T + Sex expressed dysplasia in the dorsolateral prostate only, but not in the ventral prostate. Conclusions: These results indicate that constant copulation may facilitate the development of prostatic lesions in males with normal levels of testosterone. However, copulation induces less lesions in the ventral prostate of males treated with testosterone.