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Query: UMLS:C0432222 (SEM)
 47,337 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Ovaries and testes were collected throughout the year from domestic cats spayed and neutered at local veterinary clinics. Fresh oocytes recovered from minced ovaries were subjected to in vitro maturation and then stained to determine stage of maturation or were inseminated with conspecific sperm. The cauda and corpus regions of each epididymis were dissected into pieces and placed in medium; 30 min later, the epididymal tissue was removed, the medium centrifuged, and the sperm pellet resuspended. Samples were assessed for total sperm count and sperm motility traits, morphology, acrosomal integrity, and ability to penetrate cat oocytes in vitro. Fewer excellent (grade I) oocytes were recovered per ovarian pair during September-November (mean +/- SEM, 19.2 +/- 2.1%) than during January-July (36.8 +/- 3.6%, p < 0.05), while the remaining months had intermediate percentages of grade I oocytes (p > 0.05). A high percentage of oocytes recovered from November-April completed nuclear maturation (64.3 +/- 6.8%), which was different (p < 0.05) from the values for May-July (32.2 +/- 3.8%) and August-October (10.4 +/- 2.9%). Percentage of oocytes with bound sperm was lowest (p < 0.01) in September and October (32.0 +/- 3.1%) compared to February and March (91.4 +/- 1.7%). Percentage of oocytes with sperm within the perivitelline space was highest (p < 0.05) in May-August (33.8 +/- 4.6%) compared to all other months. In contrast, the period of highest (p < 0.01) fertilization (i.e., >/= 4-cell embryo formation) was March-April (51.7 +/- 3.1%) as compared to May-July (17.2 +/- 1.8%) or November-January (12.4 +/- 2.6%). Negligible numbers of oocytes recovered during August-October developed beyond the 2-cell stage (1.1 +/- 0.3%). Blastocyst development from cleaved embryos was highest during February-April (44.3 +/- 2.3%) and lowest during August-October (0.6 +/- 0.1%; p < 0.01). Sperm recovered from the epididymides throughout the year did not differ (p > 0.05) in concentration or in any of the motility, structural, or functional variables evaluated. In summary, cat oocyte nuclear maturation in vitro is depressed during August-October, and the ability to form cleaved embryos remains low even when the capacity to achieve nuclear maturation is relatively high (November-January and May-July). In contrast, male cats are capable of consistently producing viable, progressively motile sperm throughout the year.
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PMID:Circannual variations in intraovarian oocyte but not epididymal sperm quality in the domestic Cat. 1037 48

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is synthesized in developing germ cells in the testis and may act as a paracrine modulator of spermatogenesis and/or participate in tubule-interstitial interactions. Despite the abundance of PACAP in the organ, its role in testicular function has not yet been studied in vivo. Using laser Doppler flowmetry, the effects of PACAP on blood flow in the testis and caput epididymidis were studied on anesthetized adult rats. When given intratesticularly as 5- and 50-ng doses, PACAP increased blood flow by 55+/-21% (mean +/- SEM, P < 0.05) and by 68+/-11% at 5 mm from the injection site, respectively. Whereas 5 ng PACAP did not influence blood flow 15 mm from the site of injection, flow was reduced (-7+/-3; P < 0.05) at this site following treatment with 50 ng. Injection of 50 ng PACAP into the caput epididymidis increased epididymal blood flow by 18+/-4% (P < 0.05) at 1 mm from the injection site. None of the treatments above significantly affected the mean arterial blood pressure. Using immunohistochemistry, PACAP was observed in elongated spermatids and in the acrosomes of round spermatids in some, but not all, seminiferous tubules. Also, distinct PACAP immunoreactivity was seen in epithelial cells, particularly in clear cells, of the caput epididymidis. In conclusion, PACAP can induce vasodilatation in both testicular and epididymal microvessels and may be involved in regulating blood flow in these organs. Whereas the vasodilatory effect of PACAP is strong in the testis, the epididymal response appears to be more moderate.
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PMID:Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP): effects on blood flow in the testis and caput epididymidis of the rat. 1038 16

Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) sperm samples were collected from a post-copulatory female and characterized to determine their potential for sperm preservation and future use in artificial insemination. Five samples of acceptable quality from one male were used to compare the effect of two cryoprotectants (glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)) and two post-thaw protocols (untreated and glass wool column) on sperm quality. The percentage of motile spermatozoa, sperm motility index (0-100) and sperm morphology were evaluated subjectively, and viability and acrosomal status were assessed using fluorescent markers. Evaluations of frozen-thawed spermatozoa were performed over a 6 h incubation interval. Post-coital semen samples (n = 5; 104.0 +/- 9.1 ml; 2.5 +/- 0.8 x 10(9) total spermatozoa; mean +/- SEM) exhibited a sperm motility index of 56.7 +/- 3.3, and contained 40.2 +/- 6.3%, 72.0 +/- 3.2% and 79.8 +/- 6.5% normal, viable and acrosome-intact spermatozoa, respectively. Glycerol and DMSO were equally effective as cryoprotectants and, regardless of post-thaw protocol, samples retained greater than 80% of all pre-freeze characteristic values. Processing semen samples through glass wool yielded higher quality samples, but only half the total number of motile spermatozoa compared with untreated samples. High values for pre-freeze sperm characteristics were also maintained after cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa from one black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) using the same protocol. In summary, Sumatran rhinoceros spermatozoa of moderate quality can be collected from post-copulatory females. Rhinoceros sperm samples show only slight reductions in quality after cryopreservation and thawing and have potential for use in artificial insemination.
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PMID:Post-coital sperm recovery and cryopreservation in the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and application to gamete rescue in the African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). 1086 90

The effect of nucleoside on Na+ reabsorption via Na+/nucleoside cotransporter in cultured rat epididymal epithelia was studied by short-circuit current (Isc) technique. Guanosine added apically stimulated Isc in a dose-dependent manner, with a median effective concentration (EC50) of 7 +/- 2 microM (mean +/- SEM). Removal of Na+ from the apical bathing solution or pretreatment with a nonspecific Na+/nucleoside cotransporter inhibitor, phloridzin, completely blocked the Isc response to guanosine. Moreover, the guanosine response was abolished by pretreatment of the tissue with ouabain, a Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of Na+/nucleoside cotransporter on the apical side and Na+/K+-ATPase on the basolateral side in Na+ reabsorption. In contrast, the Isc response to guanosine was not affected after desensitization of purinoceptors by ATP. Addition of the Na+/K+/2Cl- symport inhibitor bumetanide to the basolateral side or the nonspecific Cl- channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylate to the apical side showed no effect on the Isc response to guanosine, excluding stimulation of Cl- secretion by guanosine as the cause of the guanosine-induced Isc. The Isc response to purine nucleoside (guanosine and inosine) was much higher than that to pyrimidine nucleoside (thymidine and cytidine). Consistent with substrate specificity, results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed mRNA for concentrative nucleoside transporter (CNT2), which is a purine nucleoside-selective Na+/nucleoside cotransporter in the epididymis, but not for CNT1. It is suggested that the Na+/nucleoside cotransporter (i.e., CNT2) may be one of the elements involved in Na+ and fluid reabsorption in the epididymis, thereby providing an optimal microenvironment for the maturation and storage of spermatozoa.
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PMID:Na+ reabsorption in cultured rat epididymal epithelium via the Na+/nucleoside cotransporter. 1120 89

The effects of season (January-March = I; April-June = II; July-September = III; October-December = IV) and ovarian status (freshly ovulated, follicular, luteal, intermediate, or inactive) on the efficiency of the in vitro production of domestic cat embryos were evaluated. Ovaries and testes from cats with access to daylight were collected at local veterinary clinics. A total of 6843 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from 363 pairs of ovaries, matured in TCM 199 supplemented with BSA and gonadotropins (IVM), fertilized with epididymal sperm in a medium based on Tyrode albumin lactate pyruvate (IVF), and cultured in synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium supplemented with 10% estrous cow serum (ECS) and essential and nonessential amino acids. The proportion of freshly ovulated, follicular, or luteal ovaries was higher (P < 0.05) in seasons II (64.4%) and III (60.5%) than in seasons I (42.0%) and IV (30.6%). The average number of COCs recovered per donor was not influenced by season. After IVM/IVF, cleavage rates (Day 2) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in seasons II (mean +/- SEM: 53.1% +/- 1.9%) and III (54.6% +/- 2.8%) than in seasons I (48.4% +/- 1.4%) and IV (44.9% +/- 3.0%). Blastocyst rates on Day 6 were similar in seasons I (25.3% +/- 1.3%), II (28.2% +/- 1.5%), and III (29.6% +/- 2.3%) but were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in season IV (18.6% +/- 2.4%). The corresponding blastocyst rates on Day 8 were 28.9% +/- 1.3%, 33.7% +/- 1.6%, 37.9% +/- 2.3%, and 23.6% +/- 2.6%. In addition, we found a significant effect (P < 0.05) of ovary type; luteal, follicular, and intermediate ovaries yielding a higher proportion of developmentally competent oocytes than did freshly ovulated and inactive ovaries. These data show that the culture system used in our study supports development of IVM/IVF cat oocytes to blastocysts at a higher rate than those obtained with other methods. Although embryos could be produced throughout the year, the efficiency was significantly affected by season and ovary type.
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PMID:Efficient in vitro production of cat embryos in modified synthetic oviduct fluid medium: effects of season and ovarian status. 1142 Feb 17

The microvasculature of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) epididymis was investigated using light (LM), scanning electron (SEM), and transmission electron (TEM) microscopy techniques. SEM analysis of the buffalo epididymis showed fenestrations that occupied ovoid inside the endothelium of the postcapillary venules located in the caput, corpus, and cauda. They varied in shape and dimension, but more importantly, they connected the venules of the blood vascular system to the capillaries of the peripheral lymphatic vascular system. Morphofunctional analysis of these connections suggests that the microvasculature of the buffalo epididymis plays a role in facilitating the circulation of biologically active substances, and the absorption and secretion processes necessary for the survival and maturation of spermatozoa. The lymphatic capillaries at the connection points formed a network of variously sized polygonal links. These capillaries then converged to form the precollector lymphatic vessels, which in turn converged with the larger vessels originating from the testis. It was further noted that in the capillary endothelium there were no fenestrations, and in the large veins there were many diverticula. These diverticula appear to play a role in the regulation of the seasonal variations of the blood reflux. In general, the microvascular architecture of the buffalo epididymis, particularly its connection to the lymphatic vascular system, appears to play an important role in the absorption and secretion processes of the epididymal epithelium.
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PMID:Microvasculature of the buffalo epididymis. 1174 72

To understand the role of estrogen in testicular and epididymal function of rhesus monkeys, we measured steroids in the spermatic and peripheral venus circulation and aromatase activity and its mRNA in testis and epididymis. Testosterone, estradiol-17beta, and estrone, but not androstenedione, were elevated in the spermatic vein serum compared to the peripheral circulation. Aromatase activity in testis and in caput epididymis (259+/-16 [SEM] vs 274+/-47 fmol of 3H2O/mg of protein/h [n = 10], respectively) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in corpus and cauda (124+/-28 and 113+/-33 fmol of 3H2O/mg of protein/h [n = 10], respectively). In the ribonuclease protection assay, two P450arom mRNA transcripts were identified in testis and epididymis. One corresponded with the aromatase full-length transcript and the other was a truncated isoform. The latter was significantly more abundant than the former (p < 0.01). Our results demonstrate that the monkey testis and, to a lesser extent, the epididymis can aromatize androgens. However, in the epididymis, like in some areas of the brain, there was a discrepancy between the aromatase activity and the mRNA. The fact that P450arom mRNA and aromatase activity do not correlate in the epididymis may indicate that aromatase activity is not strictly regulated at the level of RNA expression and that other mechanisms for this regulation should be considered.
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PMID:Cytochrome P450 aromatase in testis and epididymis of male rhesus monkeys. 1182 22

The aim of the study was to determine the cellular contents and concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in fluids of patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst. Twenty-five symptomatic patients, 14 with epididymal cysts and 11 with spermatoceles, were included in the study. Fluids were obtained during surgical excision of the cysts and cytological smears were stained with May-Gruenwald-Giemsa to establish cell components. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were measured by chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Cytological analysis of the fluids demonstrated various sperm forms ranging from immature germ cells to degenerated spermatozoa without inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. The concentrations (mean+/- SEM, pg/mg protein) of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were 13.52 +/- 1.40, 22.20 +/- 2.43, 3.51 +/- 1.43 in spermatocele fluids and 5.76 +/- 0.48, 11.57 +/- 1.89, 2.53 +/- 0.41 in epididymal cyst fluids. Both IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the spermatocele group were higher than in the epididymal cyst group (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in TNF-alpha concentrations between the groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is involved in cyst formation. The presence of immunologic activation in these fluids advocates a policy of selective surgical intervention in patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst.
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PMID:Pro-inflammatory cytokine response of the fluid contents of spermatoceles and epididymal cysts. 1196 78

Although evidence suggests that high intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) inhibits sperm motility, data concerning [Ca2+]i within, or slightly above, the physiological range are sparse, particularly in mammalian sperm. We investigated inhibitors of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) and the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase with the objective of increasing the intracellular calcium ion activity in human spermatozoa to study its effect on motility and other functions. Thapsigargin (20 micromol/L) increased [Ca2+]i from 140 +/- 7 nmol/L over an approximately 2-min period to reach a plateau of 530 +/- 84 nmol/L (mean +/- SEM, n = 3, p < 0.05). In sperm suspended in calcium-free medium thapsigargin increased [Ca2+]i from 13 +/- 3.3 to 35 +/- 7.5 nmol/L (p < 0.01), consistent with the release of calcium from intracellular stores. Cyclopiazonic acid (60 micromol/L) caused a transient decrease in [Ca2+]i. Quercetin, (200 micromol/L) caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i to 1280 +/- 90 nmol/L, after which [Ca2+]i fell quickly at first but then more slowly. Thapsigargin (20 micromol/L) caused approximately 70% of sperm to acrosome react in < or = 5 min, but once acrosome reacted, many sperm died over the next 30 min. Lower concentrations of thapsigargin caused fewer acrosome reactions but were less toxic. Both thapsigargin and quercetin caused rapid dose-dependent decreases in sperm motility. The results are consistent with high [Ca2+]i in the range observed in caput epididymal or cryopreserved spermatozoa inhibiting motility, but might be confounded by other events following the acrosome reaction.
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PMID:Effects of Ca-ATPase inhibitors on the intracellular calcium activity and motility of human spermatozoa. 1463 22

Alpha-glucosidase activity (EC.3.2.1.20) is present in human seminal plasma, and the neutral form of the enzyme originates almost exclusively from the epididymis. In this study, the specific immunocytochemical location of alpha-glucosidase in the human epididymis was evaluated using a polyclonal antibody. Furthermore, a spectrophotometric assay was employed to assess epididymal obstruction in infertile patients. The enzymatic activity of alpha-glucosidase free of prostate isoform (AGFPI) was determined spectrophotometrically at 405 nm. According to AGFPI activity, patients with leucocytospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia were recorded as having normal values or low values indicating epididymal obstruction. Specific immunochemistry staining was demonstrated in the cytoplasmic cells at the epithelial level, in the transition area and in the efferent ducts. The values of the three groups and the control were as follows (mean +/- SEM): normozoospermia (control): 20.2 +/- 1.4 mU ml(-1); azoospermia: normal value: 17.6 +/- 2.2 mU ml(-1), low value: 7.4 +/- 1.8 mU ml(-1); oligozoospermia: normal value: 22.3 +/- 2.5 mU ml(-1), low value: 7.3 +/- 0.7 mU ml(-1); leucocytospermia: increase value: 38.9 +/- 3.7 mU ml(-1), low value: 11.1 +/-1.3 mU ml(-1). This study suggests that determination of alpha-glucosidase might be helpful to evaluate functions of the epididymis and particularly to exclude epididymal obstruction.
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PMID:Alpha-glucosidase in the human epididymis: topographic distribution and clinical application. 1545 51


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