Spermatic and oxidative profile of domestic cat (Felis catus) epididymal sperm subjected to different cooling times (24, 48 and 72 hours)

Cooling stored epididymal samples for several days allows facilities to transport and process genetic material post‐mortem. Improvements to this practice allow the preservation of sperm from domestic cats, which are the ideal study model for wild felids. However, the modifications in spermatic features and the oxidative profile are not fully understood in cats. This information is necessary for the development of biotechniques, such as new extenders for cryopreservation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the spermatic and oxidative profile in samples from the epididymal cauda of domestic cats cooled at 5°C for 24, 48 and 72 hr. Spermatozoa were collected from the epididymis cauda. Evaluations consisted of computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA), plasma membrane integrity (eosin/nigrosin), acrosome integrity (fast green/rose bengal), sperm morphology, sperm DNA integrity (toluidine blue), mitochondrial activity (3′3 diaminobenzidine), activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), measurement of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein oxidation. A decrease in sperm motility parameters was observed after 72 hr of cooling (i.e. total and progressive) with a higher percentage of minor (37.7 ± 6.3%) and total defects (53.4 ± 6.3%). Additionally, a decrease in high mitochondrial activity (Class I: 16.6 ± 2.2%) occurred after 72 hr. The decrease in motility rates after a long cooling time probably was caused by the increase in sperm abnormalities. A long cooling time causes cold shock and mitochondrial exhaustion, but there was no observed change with the oxidative stress condition. Therefore, cat epididymal sperm stored at 5°C appear to maintain a high quality for up to 48 hr of cooling time.     

山羊甘肃棘豆中毒睾丸、附睾的病理学研究

山羊甘肃棘豆中毒睾丸、附睾的病理学研究丁伯良，王建辰，薛登民，贾维真，王淑娥（西北农业大学兽医系，杨陵７１２１００）马远莉（陕西省农科院农业测试中心）摘要对６只１０月龄西农莎能奶山羊公羊每日按１０ｇ／ｋｇ剂量单笼饲喂甘肃棘豆粉，４只同龄公羊作对照。１...     

Sonographic characteristics of goat testis on water bath based ultrasonography

Assessing the health of the testes in domestic animals is an important aspect of the breeding soundness examination and selection. The aim of the present study was to develop a simple method for scanning and to establish ultrasonographically the gross anatomic structures of the goat testes. Six adult male goats were examined to study the sonographic appearance of normal testes and epididymides using a water bath based ultrasound scanning technique. The ultrasonographic examinations were done using a 5–9 MHz/60 mm (7.5 MHz) linear-array transducer and a B-mode scanner. The ultrasonographic examination was performed in goats after standardizing the procedure on six testes collected from slaughter house. Results showed that in live goats when the probe was placed directly over the scrotum it gave distorted and unclear image. In water bath method the entire scrotum was dipped into a container filled with water and linear probe was used to observe the sonographic features of the testis. Each testis was viewed vertically, resulting in longitudinal image which was frozen, measured and printed through a thermal printer. The results of the ultrasonogram revealed that the testicular parenchyma was homogenous and moderately echogenic throughout. The diameter (mean±se) of the right and left testes was 4.47±0.14 and 4.42±0.07 cm respectively and no significant difference was observed between the testes. The mediastinum testis was a 1.50±0.22 cm wide linear structure of greater echogenicity than the testicular parenchyma when viewed in the transverse plane and nearly circular echogenic “spot” in the midline of the testis when viewed horizontally. The head and tail of the epididymides were easily identified on all the testes, but the epididymal body and ductus deferens were difficult to identify consistently. The tail of the epididymis was easily identified on the distal end of the testis with sonolucent tubules and appeared sonographically as a ‘peaked cap’ upon the testicular parenchyma. The diameter (mean±se) of the tail of right and left epididymis was 2.11±0.18 and 1.92±0.06 cm and no significant difference was observed between epididymides. The vascular pampiniform plexus (1.42±0.18 cm) was easily identified on the proximal end of the testes. The tunics of the testes appeared as a bright echogenic line. Inter-testicular septum appeared between testes as a hyperechoic line. It is concluded that ultrasonography permits a noninvasive evaluation of the internal structure of the scrotum and testes and water bath based sonographic examination may prove to be a valuable simple diagnostic methodology for evaluating physiopathologic conditions of goat testes and can be employed as a routine investigative method during breeding soundness and clinical examination.     

牦牛睾丸附睾LDH同工酶表达模式的研究

利用比色法和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术对６、１２、１８、２４月龄半血野牦牛,横交半血野牦牛和家牦牛睾丸、附睾组织ＬＤＨ同工酶活性及谱带表达进行测析。结果表明,睾丸、附睾ＬＤＨ在相同月龄其表达模式不同,６月龄睾丸ＬＤＨ有四条酶谱,活性百分率依次（ＬＤＨ１〉ＬＤＨ３〉ＬＤＨ２〉ＬＤＨ４）附睾只有三条酶谱（ＬＤＨ１〉ＬＤＨ２〉ＬＤＨ３）;到１２、１８月龄时,睾丸ＬＤＨ有五条酶谱（ＬＤＨ１〉ＬＤＨ３〉ＬＤＨ４     

基于RNA-seq数据筛选鸡睾丸附睾间差异表达基因及其功能分析

本文旨在通过对种公鸡睾丸和附睾进行转录组测序和生物信息学分析,筛选出2种组织中的差异表达基因并分析其生物学功能,探究睾丸和附睾在鸡精子发生和成熟过程中的作用.本研究共以8只公鸡的睾丸和附睾组织为对象,采用RNA-seq技术分析2种组织中的基因表达情况,筛选出差异表达基因并对差异表达基因进行GO和KEGG通路富集分析.结...     

香猪睾丸发育的形态学变化

为了解香猪睾丸发育过程中的形态学变化,外科手术取30、40、50、60、90、110日龄（每个年龄组n=3～4）香猪右侧睾丸经中性多聚甲醛固定,石蜡包埋,组织切片采用HE染色,40倍物镜下观察细胞数量变化,经显微照相后用Scion image软件测量生精小管、输出小管和附睾管的管壁面积。结果发现30～50日龄时睾丸生精...     

P450芳香化酶活性调控对小鼠睾丸和附睾发育及精子发生的影响

［目的］探索P450芳香化酶抑制剂——来曲唑调控内源性雌激素合成,对小鼠睾丸和附睾发育及精子发生产生的影响。［方法］将SPF级昆明系雄性小鼠随机分为对照组和试验组,试验组分为0.001、0.002、0.004、0.006、0.008、0.010 mg/kg来曲唑剂量组,连续灌服3 d,在停药后的第9、15和30天检测小鼠睾丸和附睾的发育及精子的发生情况。［结果］①各试验组与对照组比较,体重增长率无显著差异;②0.010 mg/kg来曲唑组与对照组比较,在灌服后的第15天睾丸系数显著减少（P〈0.05）,其他各试验组与对照组比较无显著差异;③各试验组与对照组比较,附睾系数无显著差异;④在第15和30天,0.006-0.010 mg/kg来曲唑组与对照组比较,精子密度显著减少（P〈0.05）,其他各组与对照组无显著差异。［结论］该研究使用的来曲唑浓度,对小鼠体重增长率及睾丸和附睾的发育率无显著影响或影响很小,但是超过0.006 mg/kg浓度时抑制精子的发生,说明一定程度抑制P450芳香化酶的活性,降低内源性雌激素合成,能够直接影响精子的发生能力。     

Characterisation of the carboxylesterase enzyme cauxin in the seminal fluid of the cat

The carboxylesterase cauxin is a major urinary protein in cats that is also found in seminal fluid (SF). This study investigated cauxin in feline SF including biochemical features, concentration, distribution and gene expression in epididymal tissue, and its reaction with acylglycerol substrates.Monomeric, dimeric, and/or multimeric forms of cauxin carrying N-glycosylations were detected on Western blots of feline SF but most were monomeric. Cauxin concentrations were markedly lower in SF (0.042 ± 0.020 mg/mL) than in urine (∼0.5 mg/mL) and cauxin gene expression was 60-fold lower in the epididymis than in the kidney. Immunohistochemical examination localised cauxin within the stereocilia and cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the caput and corpus epididymis. Cauxin-positive spermatozoa were detected in the lumen of the cauda epididymis but not in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cell lining. Using an in vitro assay, cauxin hydrolysed saturated 1-mono- but not di- and tri-acylglycerols. The results suggest that cauxin secreted from the caput and corpus epididymis acts as an esterase on lipid within feline SF.     

Immunolocalization of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its receptors (IGF-IR) in the equine epididymis

Insulin-like growth factor plays a paracrine/autocrine role in regulating testicular function in the stallion, but its presence in the equine epididymis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) are localized in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis in an age-dependent manner. Immediately after castration, epididymal tissue was fixed, paraffin-embedded, and processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Western blot was also performed using equine epididymal extracts to verify the specificity of the antibodies against IGF-I and IGF-IR. Immunolabeling of IGF-I was observed in the cytoplasm of principal and basal cells in the caput, corpus, and cauda at the pre-pubertal (3–7 months), pubertal (12–18 months), post-pubertal (2–4 years), and adult stages (4.5–8 years). Immunolabeling of IGF-IR was observed in the cytoplasm of principal cells in all regions of the epididymis in each age group. Immunolabeling of IGF-IR was also detected in the cytoplasm of basal cells from animals of all ages. Bands observed by Western blot corresponded to the molecular weights of IGF-I and IGF-IR, ~23 kDa and 95 kDa, respectively. These results suggest that IGF-I might function as an autocrine and/or paracrine factor during the development, maintenance and/or secretions of the stallion epididymis.