二乙基己烯雌酚对成年仓鼠附睾肥大细胞数量分布的影响

成年雄性仓鼠经皮下连续注射二乙基己烯雌酚(DES)7 d后,用改良甲苯胺蓝染色法(MTB)和阿尔新蓝番红染色法(AB S)研究DES对附睾肥大细胞的形态大小、类型和数量分布的影响。结果表明:仓鼠附睾肥大细胞为结缔组织型肥大细胞,多分布于附睾头与附睾尾的被膜和间质中。试验组的肥大细胞常见于附睾管近旁,多呈脱颗粒状。虽然试验组与对照组的肥大细胞大小相近,但试验组的肥大细胞数量增多,尤其是附睾尾间质中肥大细胞增加明显(P<0.01)。     

附睾功能及其对精子成熟的影响

哺乳动物的附睾为精子的成熟提供了特殊的微环境，是精子成熟、保护、运输和贮存的部位，在生殖过程中起着重要作用。附睾上皮细胞的合成、分泌、转运等功能使精子发生了一系列结构、生化和功能的改变．从而使精子获得受精和运动能力。作者对附睾的形态结构、功能和对精子成熟影响研究现状等作简要综述。     

Immunolocalization of sex steroid receptors in the epididymis and ductus deferens of immature and mature Japanese Quail, Coturnix Japonica

The goal of this study was to determine whether in the Japanese quail the male genital tract contains receptors for progesterone, androgen and estrogen (PR, AR and ER, respectively), which have significant roles in reproductive functions, and whether their localization changes during sexual maturation. The epididymis and ductus deferens (middle and ampulla regions) of immature (approximately 30-day-old) and mature male Japanese quail were collected and frozen sections of them were immunostained for PR, AR and ER. The immunoreaction products for AR and PR were found in the nuclei of epithelial cells in the efferent ductules, epididymal duct, and the middle and ampulla regions of the ductus deferens of mature and immature birds. In the mature birds, the epithelial cells of the efferent ductules, epididymal duct, and the middle and ampulla regions of the ductus deferens were positive for ER, although some of the cells in the ductus deferens were negative. The epithelial cells of the ductules in the epididymis stained positive for ER, but the immunoreactions were negligible in the ductus deferens of immature birds. These results suggest that the epididymis and ductus deferens in quail possesses PR, AR and ER receptors. Each receptor is expressed before sexual maturation, although enhancement of ER expression may occur during maturation.     

Epithelial response to experimentally introduced intraluminal bacteria in the avian epididymal ducts

The response of the epithelial cells of the various ducts of the avian epididymis, whose function is poorly understood, to intraluminal bacteria was evaluated by the injection of an avirulent strain of Salmonella gallinarium into the RT for 24 h. Ultrastructurally, bacteria and invading mononuclear cells were present in the lumina of the RT, proximal efferent ducts (PED) and distal efferent ducts. However, only the non-ciliated (Type I) cells of the PED epithelium ingested bacteria from the lumen. Fragments of bacteria also occurred in several intercellular spaces in the epithelium of the PED. Some mononuclear cells also contained fragments of bacteria. Neither cell death in the various epithelia nor mononuclear infiltration of the periductal tissue occurred. Therefore, in addition to the established function of absorbing most of the testicular fluid entering the epididymis, the Type I cells also appear capable of recognising and removing foreign particulate matter from the epididymal through-flow in the proximal part of the epididymis.     

PP1γ2对树鼩精子成熟和运动性的调控作用研究

为了阐明树鼩精子中是否存在丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶1γ2(PP1γ2)及其在附睾精子中的存在形式,进而探究PP1γ2对精子成熟和运动性的调控作用,本试验以树鼩为研究对象,采用Western blotting分析了不同条件下树鼩附睾头和附睾尾精子中PP1γ2的存在形式和磷酸化程度,探讨了双丁酰环腺苷酸(db-cAMP)、3-异丁基-1-甲基黄嘌呤(IBMX)或Ca²⁺对树鼩精子中PP1γ2磷酸化表达水平的影响,并进一步研究了磷酸酶抑制剂冈田酸(okadaic acid,OA)和花萼海绵诱癌素A(calyculin A,CA)对树鼩精子中PP1γ2磷酸化程度的影响及其对树鼩附睾头和附睾尾精子运动度的影响。结果显示,在树鼩附睾头和附睾尾精子中均存在PP1γ2,且在等量的附睾头和附睾尾精子蛋白中,PP1γ2在附睾尾精子的磷酸化程度远高于附睾头精子;db-cAMP、IBMX或Ca²⁺不改变PP1γ2的磷酸化水平;磷酸酶抑制剂OA和CA能明显提高附睾头和附睾尾中PP1γ2磷酸化的程度,且能显著提高精子(尤其是附睾头精子)的运动度(P<0.05),OA和CA的最佳作用浓度分别为1μmol/L和10 nmol/L,最佳作用时间分别为15、20 min。本研究结果表明,蛋白磷酸酶PP1γ2对树鼩精子成熟及运动性具有重要的调控作用,其主要通过磷酸化和去磷酸化的变化发挥作用。     

还原型谷胱甘肽对氟中毒小鼠附睾的影响

试验旨在研究还原型谷胱甘肽（reduced glutathione,GSH）对氟中毒小鼠附睾的影响。将50只3周龄ICR雄性小鼠随机分为5组,分别为对照组和4组染氟组。对照组饮用蒸馏水,染氟组分别供给含100 mg/L NaF的蒸馏水,自由饮水30 d。之后在染氟组中选择3组每日分别灌胃200、400和800 mg/（kg·只）GSH,同时各组小鼠再自由饮含氟水30 d。试验结束后,摘取小鼠附睾进行活性氧（ROS）、丙二醛（MDA）、GSH含量及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶（GSTs）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）活性检测,同时制作石蜡切片,HE染色后进行组织形态结构分析。结果显示,与对照组相比,100 mg/L NaF组精子密度、精子活力、GSH含量、GPx和GR活性均显著下降（P<0.05）,而GSH添加组较100 mg/L NaF组均有所升高;100 mg/L NaF组精子畸形率、ROS和MDA含量较对照组均显著升高（P<0.05）,而GSH添加组较100 mg/L NaF组均降低,其中800 mg/kg GSH组效果明显。与对照组相比,100 mg/L NaF组附睾头、附睾体及附睾尾管腔厚度升高,管腔内精子数量下降;GSH添加组附睾头、附睾体及附睾尾的管腔厚度与管腔内精子数量都有所恢复,其中800 mg/kg GSH组效果较好。综上所述,添加GSH后氟中毒小鼠谷胱甘肽抗氧化系统酶活性有所升高,附睾组织形态结构一定程度上有所恢复,对附睾有一定的改善作用。     

附睾中脂质运载蛋白家族的研究进展

脂质运载蛋白(lipocalin,Lcn)家族的功能十分重要,其中附睾分泌的Lcn家族能结合一些小分子配体,呈高度区域性分布,参与很多生物调控过程,在精子成熟过程中扮演重要角色,可为研究附睾功能提供理论基础。作者介绍了Lcn家族的结构特征、Lcn在附睾中的表达、作用及研究现状。     

Effects of Sodium Fluoride on the Morphological Structure of the Epididymis and the Expression of Tight Junction Genes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of fluoride on epididymal morphological structure and mRNA expression of tight junction genes.60 healthy male mice were divided into four groups randomly, including control group (distilled water) and 25,50,100 mg NaF/L groups, respectively. After 60 days, the thighbones were collected and fluoride contents were determined by fluorine ion selective electrode method. Paraffin slides of right epididymis with HE stain were produced to evaluate epididymal morphological structure under light microscope. The left epididymis were collected to isolate total RNA and detect the mRNA expression of tight junction genes by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the fluoride contents of thighbones increased in a dose-dependent manner, and were extremely significantly higher in 50 and 100 mg/L groups than those in control group (P<0.01).NaF extremely significantly increased the thickness of cauda epididymal pipe wall in fluoride groups (P<0.01) and the Claudin-2 mRNA expressions in fluoride groups were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01) and the ZO-1 mRNA expression in 100 mg/L group was significantly decreased (P<0.05) as compared with control group. In conclusion, excessive NaF ingestion adversely affected epididymal morphological structure and mRNA expressions of Claudin-2 and>ZO-1,which might contribute to the damage of blood-epididymal barrier.     

Canine spermatozoa—What do we know about their morphology and physiology? An overview

Spermatozoa are unique cells because of their morphological and physiological characteristics. They are produced during the process called spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis consists of three phases: spermatocytogenesis, spermiogenesis and spermiation, during which spermatozoa undergo several changes. Spermatogenesis takes place within the seminiferous tubules containing two types of cells—the germ cells and the Sertoli cells—that alongside the Leydig cells, which play an important role when it comes to normal fertility. Everything is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and specific hormones due to multi-hormonal feedback systems. Spermatozoa possess morphological and physiological features, which are sometimes completely different from what is observed in various somatic cells. What is more, canine spermatozoa have specific characteristics making them special compared to the spermatozoa of other mammalian species. The metabolic energy production, which is crucial for the appropriate functioning of spermatozoa, can be fuelled by different metabolic pathways utilizing different chemical substrates. Inseparable from the oxidative phosphorylation process is the production of reactive oxygen species, which are both essential and toxic to spermatozoa. Furthermore, epididymis is a very important structure, responsible for the transport and maturation of spermatozoa, which are then stored in the last segment of epididymis—the epididymal cauda. Moreover, the retrieval of spermatozoa from the epididymides is crucial for the development of assisted reproduction techniques and sperm cryopreservation methods. The information gained from the research on domestic dogs might be transferred to their wild relatives, especially those species categorized as endangered.