Distribution of actin filaments in the seminiferous epithelium of the Habu,Trimeresurus flavoviridis

The distribution of actin filaments was examined in the seminiferous epithelium of the Habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis; snake), by transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence histochemistry. By transmission electron microscopy, actin filaments were clearly found only at the site between Sertoli cell and spermatid without a lattice‐like structure. Fluorescence histochemistry showed a weak labelling of actin filaments in the seminiferous epithelium, whereas these findings seem to be common among reptiles, they are different from those in mammals. Additionally, the bundles of actin filaments adjacent to the plasma membrane of Sertoli cells, appeared in other reptiles, were not observed in the Habu.     

Effect of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) extract on testicular maturation in pre-pubertal and pubertal rats: A morphological and biochemical study

The present study aimed at analysing the effect of Khat plant extract on rat testicular development. Thirty-two weaned male albino rats (4 weeks old) were divided into four groups consisting of eight animals each. While control animals received normal saline, rats of groups I, II and III received 100, 200 and 300 mg Khat extract per kg body weight dissolved in distilled water by oral gavage daily for 8 weeks, respectively. Blood samples were collected in separate heparinized tubes by cardiac puncture from each rat and processed for measuring plasma levels of reproductive hormones LH, FSH, testosterone and prolactin. Five-µm sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined by light microscope. Some sections were immunostained for protamine-1 representing a biomarker for intact sperm differentiation. The present study clearly demonstrated that Khat extract has a pronounced effect on testicular maturation of developing albino rats at both the morphological and functional levels. Khat-treated groups revealed a significantly low serum testosterone level and severe impairment of spermatogenesis when compared with control animals. The current findings also verified, for the first time, that the final stages of sperm maturation (spermiogenesis) were strongly impaired after administration of Khat extract to experimental rats particularly at a higher dose (300 mg/kg body weight). This was proved by the very weak, if any, expression of protamine-1 in the maturing spermatids in Khat-treated rats.     

The expression and localization of inhibin isotypes in mouse testis during postnatal development

Inhibin, which is important for normal gonadal function, acts on the pituitary gonadotropins to suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. The level and cellular localization of the inhibin isotypes, α, β_A and β_B, in the testis of mice were examined during postnatal development in order to determine if inhibin expression is related to testicular maturation. Mouse testes were sampled on postnatal days (PNDs) 1, 3, 6, 18, 48 and 120, and analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Western blot analysis showed very low levels of inhibin α, β_A and β_B expression in the testes at days 1 to 6 after birth. The levels then increased gradually from PND 18 to 48-120, and there were significant peaks at PND 48. Inhibin α, β_A and β_B were detected in testicular cells during postnatal development using immunohistochemistry. The immunoreactivity of inhibin α was rarely observed in testicular cells during PND 1 to 6, or in the cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cells surrounding the germ cells and interstitial cells during PND 18 to 120. Inhibin β_A and β_B immunoreactivity was rarely observed in the testis from PND 1 to 6. On the other hand, it was observed in some spermatogonial cells, as well as in the interstitial space between PND 48 and PND 120. We conclude that the expression of inhibin isotypes increases progressively in the testis of mice with increasing postnatal age, suggesting that inhibin is associated with a negative feedback signal for FSH in testicular maturation.     

家兔与大鼠胫骨前肌的生后发育

为探讨家兔、大鼠胫骨前肌在生后各日龄阶段前、后亚体内快慢肌纤维的发育情况，应用大体解剖结合组织化学法明确其肌亚体，并作琥珀酸脱氢酶（SDH）染色，图象分析两型肌纤维的直径特征。用电生理记录仪，分别测量肌前、后亚体功能。结果表明：家兔与大鼠各肌亚体划分在生后发育中逐渐分界清楚，生后2、3天均未能分出Ⅰ、Ⅱ型肌纤维，也未见有原始肌束。Ⅰ、Ⅱ型肌纤维比例随年龄增长而变化，Ⅱ型纤维比例增大。Ⅱ型纤维直径均大于Ⅰ型纤维，葡萄状运动神经末梢支配慢肌纤维，斑点状运动终板位于快肌纤维，前后肌亚体诱发电位表明其特殊的功能。     

Seminiferous epithelium cycle staging based on the development of the acrosome in ram testis

Testicular histopathology is considered the most sensitive and reliable method to detect the effects of chemicals on sperm production. To carry out a sensitive examination of testicular histopathology and interpret the changes require knowledge of spermatogenic stages. Spermatogenic staging based on acrosome development during spermiogenesis is conventionally performed in animal species routinely used for research and toxicity testing. In contrast, small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, are rarely used as animal models to evaluate toxicity in male reproductive organs. To the best of our knowledge, a comparable spermatogenic staging system in rams has not yet been fully characterised. Hence, this study aimed to adapt the existing spermatogenic staging based on acrosome development in bull testes to fit the seminiferous epithelium cycle of ram testes. The results show that spermatogenic staging based on acrosome development in bull testes can, with slight modifications, be efficiently used for the staging of ram testes.     

神经肌亚体内肌纤维型的生后发育

将生后2天、2周、4周、8周、12周、16周、20周、24周的家兔胫骨前肌分成前、后亚体,分别得到腓得神经主要肌分支的支配,腓深神经分支的神经分布型式随年龄增长而递降.每个肌亚体组织化学特征经由乙酰胆碱碘溶液孵育后的运动终板而确定.肌纤维可分成SO、FG、FOG和FO型.除外生后2天龄之外,前、后亚体内SO、FG、FOG肌纤维在生后2周龄、4周龄、8周龄分别约占30%左右,生后12周龄以后,在前亚体内的SO型与FOG型纤维比率下降和FG型纤维升高要超过后亚体.全部肌纤维型在生后2周龄、4周龄、8周龄、12周龄的每个肌亚体的深、中、浅部都是均匀性分布.然而,不同部位的肌纤维类型差别明显,深部以氧化型为主,而浅部则以糖酵解型为主.这种差别在生后16、20、24周龄是最典型的.两个亚体生后发育期间的每条肌纤维毛细血管数(NCF)表明SO>FO>FOG>FG型纤维和毛细血管数与肌纤维横切面积比(CCA)显示FO>SO>FOG>FG型纤维,由此指出氧供较大需求的获得是通过减小肌纤维的面积而不仅仅是依赖于增加毛细血管数量.     

大鼠与家兔生后发育期趾浅屈肌纤维间的比较

肌纤维的分类建立在它们所含有的不同肌球蛋白重链(MHC)异构体基础上,对大鼠和家兔生后发育各年龄阶段趾浅屈肌采用标准的肌动球蛋白ATP酶和琥珀酸脱氢酶组织化学染色。在生后2周龄至24周龄的大鼠和家兔,I型和ⅡⅩ型肌纤维百分比例趋于减少,而ⅡA型和ⅡB型纤维百分比例则增加。进行大量单肌纤维的组织化学特征的比较和肌纤维间相关性探讨,结果表明,动物平均体重与趾浅屈肌的平均湿重随着生后发育逐渐增加。Ⅰ,ⅡⅩ,ⅡA型和ⅡB型纤维均在生后各年龄组的全部肌肉内被发现,但生后2日龄组是个例外。在生后发育期间,雄性大鼠和家兔ⅡB型纤维的平均肌纤维型构成要大于雌性大鼠和家兔,而雄性大鼠和家兔Ⅰ,ⅡⅩ型和ⅡA型3种氧化组织化学分类的肌纤维型构成均小于雌性大鼠和家兔。大鼠Ⅰ,ⅡⅩ,ⅡA型和ⅡB型纤维的平均横切面积明显小于家兔的同类型肌纤维,在大鼠和家兔可见明显的性别差异。在大鼠和家兔的ⅡⅩ型纤维横切面积是最小的,Ⅰ型和ⅡA型纤维呈中等大小横切面积,ⅡB型纤维横切面积最大。此研究有助于我们尝试研究啮齿类动物快肌纤维生理特征的适应性。     

The Postnatal Development of the Bovine Leydig Cell Population

Contents: The postnatal development of the bovine Leydig cell population from week 4 to young adulthood (75–100 weeks) was examined with morphometric techniques using perfusion-fixed samples and histological, semithin and ultrathin sections. Leydig cell mass per testis increases from 0.15 g to 3.62g between weeks 4 and 16, from 3.64 g to 5.93 g between weeks 20 and 30 and from 7.28 g to 10.47 g between 1 year and 1 1/2 to 2 years. Relative Leydig cell volume per unit is largest in week 16 (17.1 %). Calculated number of Leydig cells per testis amounts to 0.42 ± 10⁹ in week 4 and 6.02 ± 10⁹ in the adult group. Leydig cell nuclear diameter in week 4 (5.6 ± 0.3 pm) is significantly smaller and in week 75–100 (7.4 ± 0.4 μm) significantly larger than in weeks 8 through 52. Irrespective of varying Leydig cell size, the relative content of eR (about 48%) and mitochondria (about 8%) fluctuates in narrow limits during the entire period. The individual Leydig cell of week 4 has less than 20%, of week 8 about 30%, of weeks 16 through 52 about 50% of the volume of a Leydig cell of young adult (75–100 weeks) animals .     

Histomorphometrical study of the testis in the desert Rodent,Gerbillus tarabuli,sexually immature and adult during the annual reproductive cycle

Our interest in the testicular study of the desert rodent, Gerbillus tarabuli, would provide a better comprehension of the seasonality of spermatogenesis in rodents. We thus performed a biometric, histomorphometric and statistical analyses in Gerbillus tarabuli sexually immature and adult during the annual reproductive cycle (active and regressed states of gonadal activity). For that, fixed testes were embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained using the modified Heidenhain Azan and then were subjected to morphometric measurements at the light microscopic level. The biometric study revealed a positive correlation between the body weight and the maturity state only, with an average of 20.8 ± 2.92 g in sexually immature Gerbils, 37.40 ± 1.86 g in the sexually quiescent adults (p < .01) and 40.40 ± 2.98 g in the sexually active adults (p > .05), while the testes weight (sexually immatures = 0.02 ± 0.003 g, sexually quiescent adults = 0.13 ± 0.01 g; p < .001 and sexually active adults = 0.27 ± 0.01 g; p < .001) and the gonadosomatic index (sexually immatures = 0.09 ± 0.02%, sexually quiescent adults = 0.36 ± 0.04%; p < .01 and sexually active adults = 0.68 ± 0.07%; p < .01) varied according to the maturity state and as well as to the season in the adults. Through the histomorphometric study, the tubular diameter showed a continuous increase from sexually immature Gerbils (72.83 ± 7.57 μm) to sexually quiescent adults (99.45 ± 4.34 μm) p < .05 then to sexually active adults (182.58 ± 5.22 μm); p < .001, this is explained by the appearance of a large lumen after puberty in the quiescent (26.32 ± 1.28 μm); p < .001 and the enlargement of the seminiferous epithelium in actives (75.11 ± 1.81 μm); p < .001. Besides, the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio of Leydig cells (sexually immatures = 0.5 ± 0.02) diminishes significantly after puberty in the rest period (0.42 ± 0.03); p < .05 and then during the active period (0.24 ± 0.01); p < .001. These striking biometric and morphometric differences in Gerbillus tarabuli testis between sexually immature Gerbils, sexually quiescent and active adults, follow the photoperiod-induced changes in endocrine and exocrine functions and prove that Gerbillus tarabuli is a useful model to study histo-physiological relationships in the testis in order to develop a more complete understanding of spermatogenesis phenomenon.     

The ultrastructure of spermatogenic cells and morphological evaluation of testicular development in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus)

The silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) is a widely distributed and economically important marine fish in the Indo-Pacific. In this study, we acquired the second generation of wild P. argenteus by artificial breeding and further studied the testicular development and ultrastructure of spermatogenesis. The results of gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed the spawning period of this marine fish was from April to June. Besides, through morphological analysis, we found that P. argenteus had an anastomosing tubular testis surrounded by a layer of tunica albuginea, in which spermatogenesis occurred in cysts where the synchronous germ cells were completely surrounded by the cytoplasmic projection of Sertoli cells. Meanwhile, based on submicroscopic characteristics, the germ cells are classified into nine different types. During the ontogenesis of testis, both the early stage of spermatogenesis and sperm were observed in P. argenteus. At sperm maturation stage, different types of spermatozoa and activation of sperms occurred non-synchronously in the tubules. Cytoplasmic bridges also were observed among synchronous germ cells within the cysts, suggesting an interrelated and differentiated relationship among these germ cells.     

单侧睾丸动脉结扎／再通对小鼠生精上皮、血清抗精子抗体的影响

采用单侧睾丸动脉结扎／再通以研究其对小鼠睾丸生精功能以及血清中抗精子抗体IgG、IgM含量的影响。实验选择健康成年BALB／c雄性小鼠于显微镜下行单侧睾丸动脉结扎。再于2h、4h、6h后开通血管。ELISA法检测血清抗精子抗体IgG、IgM水平,光镜观察睾丸生精小管内变化。结果表明：与非术侧相比,术侧睾丸生精小管内生精细胞不同程度地凋亡坏死,生精上皮脱落。各手术组血清中抗精子抗体IgG、IgM含量均有明显增长（P〈0．05）。实验结论：单侧睾丸动脉结扎／再通可引起睾丸生精细胞的凋亡坏死,同时血清抗精子抗体IgG、IgM含量增加。     

连城白鸭睾丸生长发育规律的初步研究

为了更深入地了解连城白鸭睾丸生长发育规律。试验通过测定100、120、140、160、180、200、240和480日龄连城白鸭的睾丸长径、短径和重量等指标,比较分析连城白鸭各阶段睾丸重、睾丸体积和睾丸指数之间的关系,结果表明：连城白鸭100日龄至480日龄间的体重无显著差异,而100日龄至180日龄睾丸生长发育迅速,睾丸总重、睾丸总体积和睾丸指数迅速增长;180日龄至240日龄,睾丸生长发育相对减缓,睾丸总重、睾丸总体积和睾丸指数增长也相应减缓;240日龄后,睾丸的生长发育进入相对静止状态。表明了连城白鸭睾丸的生长发育较迟于体重的生长发育。     

Relationship between ultrasonographic appearance, testicular size, spermatozoal output and testicular lesions in the dog

The ultrasonographic appearance of the dog testis and epididymis was examined in vivo and in vitro. The relationship between specific testicular and epididymal dimensions was studied in normal animals. Assessment of testicular volume using ultrasound compared favourably to the volume calculated by water displacement. The correlation between testicular volume, epididymal cross-sectional area and semen parameters was, however, poor. Changes in the normal testicular architecture were identified in a variety of pathological conditions including testicular cysts and neoplasia.     

Postnatal development of corneal curvature and thickness in the cat

Objective To evaluate the postnatal development of central corneal curvature and thickness in the domestic cat. Animals studied Six Domestic Short‐haired (DSH) kittens starting at 9 weeks of age and 6 adult cats. Procedures Kittens were evaluated biweekly to monthly for a 12‐month period, starting at age 9 weeks. Corneal development was monitored by hand‐held keratometry and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Standard regression analysis using a nonlinear least squares method was used to generate a formula that would predict corneal curvature as a function of age. Results Mean keratometry (K) values for the 9‐week‐old cats were 54.51 (±1.02) diopters (D) and these values steeply declined over the next 3 months to 44.95 (±0.90) D. Thereafter, K‐values gradually decreased to reach a plateau by 12–15 months of age of 39.90 (±0.42) D. Because K‐values still appeared to be slightly diminishing at this point, six other > 2‐year‐old cats were evaluated by keratometry and were found to have K‐values of 38.99 (±0.81). Two to four diopters of astigmatism was common in young kittens whereas adult cats had a low mean degree of astigmatism (< 1 D). A formula that predicted keratometry values in diopters (K) as a function of age in weeks (w) was established as follows: K = 39.83 + 26.87 exp(?0.074 w). The central cornea increased in thickness primarily during the first 4 months of life with 9 week‐old kittens having values of 0.379 (±0.012) mm; 16‐week‐old kittens, 0.548 (±0.021) mm and 67 week‐old cats, 0.567 (±0.012) mm. Conclusions The maturation process of the feline cornea proceeds over the first 1–2 years of life to attain an adult status that is characterized by a roughly spherical state of approximately 39 D corneal curvature, substantially flatter than the human cornea, and a central thickness similar to the human cornea. Research studies of the refractive or optical properties of the cornea in which cats are used as experimental animals should be conducted on animals greater than 18 months of age.     

The morphological postnatal development of the testis of the Nubian bucks

This study was designed to monitor the morphological development of the reproductive tract of the Nubian bucks in relation to puberty. Thirty-two Nubain male kids were used in the study. The animals were slaughtered at intervals of 2 weeks starting from 1 day old up to 24 weeks of age. Tissue samples were obtained from the testes and processed for ultrastructural studies. The boundary tissue of the newly forming seminiferous tubule adhered closely to the basal lamina. It consisted of a single continuous layer of myoid cells, the outer surface of which was covered by scattered fibroblasts. The ultrastructural study of the boundary of the seminiferous tubule revealed that it consisted of three layers; inner fibrous, middle and outer cellular. The seminiferous tubules at week one were lined by two layers of epithelia; spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in the basal layer, and primary spermatocytes in the second layer. A gradual increase in the diameter of the tubules and epithelial height continued to increase with age. Furthermore, spermatocytes number showed an increase with age. In conclusion, based on the appearance of spermatozoa in the lumina of the seminiferous tubules, puberty age was achieved between weeks 18 and 20.     

Absence of Sirtuin 1 impairs the testicular development in cattleyak by inactivating SF-1

Cattleyak, which are interspecific hybrids between cattle and yak, display much higher growth performances than yak. However, F1 male cattleyak are infertile due to defective testicular development. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a histone deacetylase that is essential for various biological processes, while the roles of testicular SIRT1 in yak and cattleyak are still poorly understood. Here, we found that SIRT1 was localized in various kinds of yak testicular cells except elongated spermatids while it was deficient in cattleyak testis. Further studies indicated that cattleyak testis exhibited decreased histone acetylation levels on H3 and H4. One of SIRT1 co-factors, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), was lost in cattleyak testis at protein level. Expressions of several SF-1 target genes responsible for Sertoli cell development and steroidogenesis, including STAR, CYP11A1, CYP26B1, FDX1 and HSD3B, decreased significantly in cattleyak testis. In addition, SIRT1-mediated P53 acetylation was not responsible for the cell apoptosis in cattleyak testis. Taken together, our results suggested the deficiency of SIRT1 in yak testis caused inactivation of SF-1 and the impairment of testicular development. This research provides theoretical bases for understanding the mechanism of cattleyak sterility and gives new insights in revealing the roles of SIRT1 in regulating yak testicular development.     

猪腮腺分泌蛋白在腮腺生后发育过程中表达特性研究

腮腺的解剖结构和分泌特点,决定了它具备进行生物反应器和抗病育种研究的良好条件。猪肋腺分泌蛋白(PSP)基因在腮腺中特异性表达,但PSP的表达量尚无报道。本研究利用荧光定量PCR对猪PSP在腮腺生后发育不同阶段的表达进行研究。结果表明:PSP在不同发育期的腮腺中高效表达,而且表达量的变化在可接受的范围内。因此可以利用猪PSP基因的调控区作为转基因生物反应器的转基因平台。     

AR、ER基因在鸡、鹌鹑及其杂交种睾丸组织中的表达及其对睾丸生长发育的影响

为探讨鸡（♂）与鹌鹑（♀）属间杂交种睾丸生长发育不良的分子机理,采集新罗曼蛋用型公鸡、朝鲜公鹌鹑、鸡与鹌鹑杂交的雄性杂交种不同发育时期的睾丸组织样共计96份并测定其体质量与睾丸质量。采用实时荧光定量PCR对公鸡、公鹌鹑及其杂交种不同生长发育期睾丸组织中AR、ER基因的mRNA表达进行了检测。结果显示：（1）鸡和鹌鹑的睾丸均能随着日龄、体质量的增长而正常生长发育,但鸡与鹌鹑杂交的杂交种的睾丸却生长缓慢而发育不良;（2）鸡和鹌鹑不同生长发育期睾丸组织中AR、ER基因mRNA的表达具有相似性,AR基因均有一个极显著的峰值,ER基因均呈波动性变化;鸡与鹌鹑的杂交种均为极端性表达,AR基因呈直线下降,ER相反则一直升高;与鸡和鹌鹑相比,杂交种AR、ER基因mRNA的极端性表达均应为异常表达。（3）鸡、鹌鹑及其杂交种的共同点是AR表达为最高峰时,ER则趋于最低点,反之,ER表达为最高峰时,AR则趋于最低点,表明ER基因对AR基因具有上调作用或者AR基因对ER基因具有下调作用,从而推测AR与ER即相对立而又协同作用的表达模式是鸡和鹌鹑睾丸组织正常生长发育的分子调控模式,探明了鸡与鹌鹑的杂交种睾丸组织发育不良的分子影响因素是其睾丸组织中的AR、ER基因mRNA异常表达。