Fine mapping of the region including hypogonadism (hgn) locus on rat chromosome 10

The hypogonadic rat (hgn/hgn) shows male sterility, reduced female fertility, and renal hypoplasia, controlled by a single recessive gene located on rat chromosome 10. We developed a fine map around the hgn locus using 565 rat backcross progeny and a Rat/Hamster radiation hybrid panel. The hgn locus was linked to Aldoc (aldolase c) and whn (winged helix of nude), and located in a 0.34-cM region between D10Rat30 and D10Rat68. The distance of the region was approximately 840-kb on rat physical map. Neither loci responsible for male sterility nor renal hypoplasia has been mapped on the homologous regions of mouse chromosome 11 and human chromosome 17. Identification of the gene responsible for the hgn mutation would provide important information on urogenital development.     

Ethanol exposure decreases cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in rat testes

Ethanol exposure is known to suppress male reproductive activity in laboratory animals and humans. The present study was designed to evaluate whether chronic ethanol exposure decreases proliferative activity or increases apoptosis in the testes. Ethanol (1.5 g/kg or 3 g/kg i.p., 15% v/v in saline) was administrated to adult male rats for 10 days. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used as a proliferative marker. Western blot analysis showed that ethanol administration significantly reduced the level of PCNA. Also, immunoreactivity of PCNA-positive cells in the spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were decreased by ethanol exposure. However, the number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly increased in the testicular germ cells of ethanol-treated rats. Moreover, ethanol administration significantly increased the level of activated caspase-3 in testes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that ethanol may partly contribute to the suppression of male reproductive activity through a reduction of cell proliferation and an enhancement of cell death in rat testes.     

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes increases apoptosis through JNK phosphorylation and Bax activation in rat testes

Diabetic disease is known to suppress male reproductive activity in laboratory animals and humans. The present study was designed to evaluate whether streptozotocin-induced diabetes increases apoptotic cell death in rat testes through activation of the JNK and Bax pathway. Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) and testis samples were collected after 3 months. Compared with controls, body weight and testicular weight were lower in the diabetic group, and the apoptotic index in testicular germ cells was significantly increased. Expression of phospho-JNK and Bax was significantly increased in the diabetic group, and the level of activated caspase-3 was also increased, compared to that of controls. Our findings suggest that streptozotocin-induced diabetes increases apoptotic cell death in rat testes through phosphorylation of JNK and activation of Bax.     

镉诱导仔猪睾丸支持细胞氧化酶活性降低及DNA的损伤

以仔猪睾丸支持细胞为试验模型,采用二步酶消化法分离支持细胞进行培养。探讨了0、10、20、40、80μmol/L的氯化镉对支持细胞的毒性作用。结果表明:10μmol/L以上的氯化镉有抑制支持细胞生长的作用,并能使支持细胞氧化酶活性下降,造成支持细胞DNA的损伤。     

Immunohistochemical localization of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) in the developing and mature rat testes

It has been suggested that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogenesis in the testes. Its signal is mediated predominantly by the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR). Signalling through IGF-IR has been shown to have a potent survival function. IGF-IR, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, is widely expressed across many cell types. In this study, we demonstrated the distribution of IGF-IR in testes of differently aged rats. Anti-IGF-IR is a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide mapping at the carboxy terminus of the IGF-IR of human origin. Testicular specimens were fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin. The paraffin-embedded sections were processed for standard immunohistochemistry by the labelled streptavidin-biotin technique. At postnatal day 19, IGF-IR immunoreactivity was seen moderately in spermatogonia, and slightly both in leptotene and zygotene primary spermatocytes. At postnatal day 35, immunoreactivity was seen slightly both in the pachytene primary spermatocytes and Leydig cells. Although there was intense immunoreactivity in the Leydig cells and in the elongated spermatids on days 50 and 70, the intensity of reaction was decreased in the elongated spermatids in the 10th month. Our results suggest that IGF-IR may play significant roles in testicular function and germ cell development.     

Immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunits in the shiba goat fetal, neonatal, and adult testes

The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits in the fetal, neonatal and adult testes of Shiba goats. The testes were obtained from a fetus at 90 days, a neonate at 15 days, and two adult Shiba goats (both of 3 years old). The sections of testes were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC) using polyclonal antisera raised against porcine inhibin alpha, inhibin/activin betaA, and inhibin/activin betaB. Inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits were expressed in Leydig cells, but not in the Sertoli cells of the fetus with a weak immunostaining. An increase in the number of positive cells and a more intense immunohistochemical signal for inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits were observed in the Leydig cells of neonatal testes. Moreover, inhibin alpha, betaA, and betaB subunits were expressed in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of adult testes, respectively. These results suggest that Shiba goats testes have the ability to synthesize inhibins in the fetus, neonate, and adult, and the cellular localization of inhibin/activin subunits showed age-related changes in fetal, neonatal, and adult testes of Shiba goats.     

小鼠睾丸支持细胞体外分离培养的研究

为了研究一种能快速、高效地分离、纯化小鼠睾丸支持细胞的方法,试验采用颈部脱臼的方法处死3周龄的小白鼠,取其睾丸并去除附属组织(血管、白膜脂肪等)后剪碎,用Ⅳ型胶原酶和胰蛋白酶分步消化制备细胞悬液进行培养,台盼蓝染色以鉴定细胞的活率;再对细胞悬液进行低渗溶液处理并利用支持细胞贴壁而其他细胞不贴壁的特性对其进行分离、纯化;最后对支持细胞采用H.E.和油红O染色的方法进行鉴定,观察其形态、结构和生长增殖情况。结果表明:该方法能够有效地分离、纯化以及培养小白鼠睾丸支持细胞。     

Some clinical aspects of hypo-orchidism (small testes) in the ram

Extract

The problem discussed in this paper is the differentiation of the several conditions which may contribute to or cause abnormally small testes in the ram, either as a result of atrophy or hypoplasia.     

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) induces apoptosis in chicken B cells

The ability of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) serotypes 1 and 2, and the role of VP4 of both serotypes as well as the capacity of three IBDV intermediate serotype 1-specific vaccine strains to induce apoptosis in a chicken B-lymphocyte cell line, DT40, were investigated using the TUNEL technique. It was observed that IBDV serotype 1 infected the DT40 cell line and directly induced apoptosis. In contrast, the non-pathogenic serotype 2 neither infected nor induced apoptosis, but was able to reduce the serotype 1-induced apoptosis when the two viruses were present in combination. VP4 of both serotypes did not induce apoptosis. IBDV VP2 of serotype 2 induced apoptosis in the same proportion and intensity as VP2 of serotype 1. IBDV intermediate vaccines varied in their ability to induce apoptosis in the DT40 cell line, which was also decreased-delayed in presence of serotype 2 IBDV. We hypothesize that both serotypes compete for the same receptor in DT-40 cells, and suggest that IBDV-induced apoptosis is a multistep process involving virus replication, protein expression, and release of virions.     

Effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on fetal islet B cells in vitro

ABSTRACT. It has been reported that when the rat fetus is treated with streptozotocin (STZ) in vivo, islet B cells are destroyed but later recover. To investigate the process of the recovery of B cells after in vitro treatment of the fetal pancreas with STZ and the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the recovery of B cells, we measured the level of insulin released from the cultured fetal pancreas and examined it histologically. As a result, we immunohistologically confirmed the regeneration of B cells in the pancreas that had been cultured for 48 hr after destruction of islet B cells by STZ treatment. An immunohistologic study using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed that without the addition of EGF, the cell division index was significantly higher in the STZ-treated group (STZ group) than in the untreated group (intact group), whereas with the addition of EGF, the cell division index increased in both groups, but EGF did not have a significant cell division-promoting effect on the pancreas in the STZ group. The addition of EGF caused a significant decrease in the concentration of insulin in culture medium in both groups. These results indicate that EGF has a cell growth-promoting effect on intact fetal pancreas in vitro but has the effect of inhibiting the release of insulin, and thus suggest that EGF does not trigger the regeneration of islet B cells.     

Ex vivo bupivacaine treatment results in increased adipogenesis of skeletal muscle cells in the rat

Intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is observed in some skeletal muscle pathologies. IMAT is implicated not only in the disorders of muscle contraction, but also of metabolism and insulin sensitivity due to its nature as a secretary organ. Several studies indicate the presence of cells with adipogenic potential in skeletal muscle. However, the mechanism of fate specification that triggers these cells to enter an adipogenic program in vivo remains to be solved. In the present study, we examined whether activation of the adipogenic program of muscle‐resident cells precedes their proliferation upon muscle injury. For this purpose, muscle injury was induced by injecting bupivacaine (BPVC) to excised skeletal muscle ex vivo. Cells isolated from ex vivo BPVC‐treated muscle exhibited higher adipogenic potential than those from saline‐treated muscle. Pre‐plating exposure of skeletal muscle cells to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mimicked the effect of ex vivo BPVC‐treatment, suggesting that bFGF released from extracellular matrix in response to muscle injury activates their adipogenic program. Interestingly, the number of myotubes were significantly reduced in the culture from BPVC‐treated muscle, suggesting that adipocytes negatively regulate myogenesis.     

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity in cultured canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)

Autologous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) infusion therapy improves the hepatic fibrosis. To investigate the mechanism of remission, we evaluated the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 activity in canine BMSCs and the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on their expression. The activity and the gene expression of MMPs were analyzed by gelatin zymography and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. The specific gelatinase bands were indicative effect of MMP-2 and -9 in canine BMSCs. MMP-2 expression seemed to be increased by TNF-α and IL-1β while MMP-9 was enhanced by TNF-α and IL-6. These results suggested that remissive effect on liver fibrosis might be partly attributable to the MMP-2 and -9 activity in BMSCs under the inflammatory condition.     

Increased apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) during general and epidural anaesthesia in dogs

The objective of the study was to investigate the hypothesis that perioperative lymphocytopenia was due to apoptosis of these cells induced by either halothane or epidural anaesthesia in dogs. The relationship between apoptosis induction and plasma concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol and the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 was examined as well. The study was performed on 22 healthy mongrel dogs, equal numbers from both genders, weighing 18.3 ± 2.9 kg, and aged between 3–5 years. Dogs were divided in three groups. Eight of the animals were anaesthetized with halothane, another eight received epidural anaesthesia using lidocaine, and six served as controls. Venous blood samples were obtained immediately before (0 minute) anaesthesia, during deep anaesthesia (120 minute), and on the next day (24 hour) in order to determine the following parameters: the total lymphocyte counts, the percentage of apoptotic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by flow cytometry, plasma concentrations of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor – alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin – 10 (IL-10) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ЕLISA), and plasma cortisol levels by radioimmune assay. Both halothane and epidural anaesthesia in dogs induces apoptosis of PBMC with slight decrease in total lymphocyte counts. These immunomodulatory effects were transient and faded till the 24th hour. Concerning the mechanism of inducing lymphocyte apoptosis by general or epidural anaesthesia, it seemed that neither cortisol, nor the tested cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 were implicated in this process. Further investigations are necessary to confirm this assumption.     

Immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunit proteins during the breeding season in testes and scented glands of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of inhibin a and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits in the muskrat testes and scented glands during the breeding season. Inhibin α and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits were expressed in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of testes and glandular cells of scented glands, respectively. Also, positive signals of inhibin α and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits by Western blotting were both observed in testicular and scented glandular tissues. These results suggested that the testes and scented glands of the muskrats had the ability to synthesize inhibins and activins and that activins and inhibins might play an important role in testicular and scented glandular function in muskrats.     

Histology and morphometry of the testes of adult domestic cats (Felis catus)

Testicles of 30 mongrel cats were analyzed histologically and morphometrically, divided into three groups: G1 (1-2 years old), G2 (over 2 and up to 4 years old) and G3 (over 4 and up to 6 years old). After orchiectomy and histopathology, the morphometric parameters studied were: thickness of the tunica albuginea (72 μm) and seminiferous epithelium (77.19 μm), perimeter (53.81; 90.57 μm), (54.80; 101.07 μm); area (174.23; 494.55 μm(2)), (176.68; 629.70 μm(2)); maximum diameter (14.94; 28.02 μm), (14.76; 31.66 μm); minimum diameter (13.25; 21.92 μm), (13.30; 24.52 μm); and shape factor (index for regularity of the format) (1.36; 1.36), (1.39; 1.35) of the nucleus and cytoplasm of spermatogonia and Leydig cells, respectively. The results can be used for comparative studies and contribute knowledge concerning the height of the seminiferous epithelium, thickness of the tunica albuginea and size of spermatogonia and Leydig cells.     

T-2毒素对大鼠离体培养卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

将未成熟的Wistar大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞进行原代培养,用不同浓度的T-2毒素染毒细胞24 h.染毒结束后,采用MTT法检测细胞相对活力,荧光染料Hoechst 33258检测卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡变化,RT-PCR检测凋亡调控基因Bcl-2、Bax和P53 mRNA的表达.结果显示,随着T-2毒素染毒剂量的增加,颗粒细胞的细胞活力逐渐下降;而细胞凋亡率、Bcb2、Bax、P53 mRNA表达水平、Bax mRNA/Bcl-2 mRNA比值则逐渐上升;除1 nmol/L剂量组外,其余各剂量组与对照组比较差异显著(P＜0.05).结果表明,T-2毒素可显著抑制大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞活力,诱导颗粒细胞凋亡,并呈浓度依赖关系.