Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P56851 (epididymal)
 11,273 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To determine the clinical value of seminal transferrin measurements, transferrin concentrations in seminal plasma were determined by single radial immunodiffusion. Men with various disorders of spermatogenesis had significantly lower mean values than those with normal semen (170 micrograms/ejaculate, s.e.m. = 18.4), oligospermia (40.5 micrograms, s.e.m. = 7.2) or azoospermia due to primary seminiferous tubule failure (65.9 micrograms, s.e.m. = 29.1). In these subjects with patent genital tracts, seminal transferrin was directly correlated with sperm concentration and indirectly correlated with serum FSH levels. Seminal transferrin increased following gonadotrophin treatment of men with gonadotrophin deficiency from 19.6 micrograms (s.e.m. = 5.5) to 108.6 micrograms (s.e.m. = 31.7). Patients with genital tract obstructions also had low levels; vasal agenesis (21.8 micrograms, s.e.m. = 5.6), vasectomy (48.5 micrograms, s.e.m. = 21.0), epididymal obstruction (46.6 micrograms, s.e.m. = 7.1). These results confirm that most seminal transferrin comes from the testes and reflects Sertoli cell function. However, there is a very wide range of transferrin levels in normal semen and a number of normospermic samples have low values similar to those seen with abnormal Sertoli cell function or obstruction. Thus, measurement of seminal transferrin is of limited diagnostic value.
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PMID:Seminal transferrin, an index of Sertoli cell function: is it of clinical value? 374 35

Although the testicular cytotoxicity of many chemotherapeutic drugs has been evaluated in mice, their small size can pose technical problems. In this report, we describe doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in a larger animal model, the Sprague-Dawley rat. Fifty-three rats were used for this study. On day 0, rats in the treatment groups were anesthetized and given different single intravenous doses of doxorubicin (0.1 to 30 mg./kg.). On day 56 +/- 2, all surviving rats were killed and necropsied. Testicular toxicity was evaluated qualitatively by histology and quantitatively by testicular weight, sperm head count, repopulation index and epididymal index. The histologic effects of doxorubicin on the heart, liver and kidney were qualitatively evaluated. Progressive dose-dependent testicular atrophy and oligospermia occurred at low and intermediate dosages of doxorubicin (0.1 to 5 mg./kg.). Marked testicular atrophy, oligospermia and germinal aplasia were observed at high dosage of doxorubicin (10 mg./kg.). LD50 for animal mortality at day 56 +/- 2 for doxorubicin appears to be 10 mg./kg. These findings are similar to those reported in mice. The rat is a suitable model for the study of techniques to avoid drug-induced testicular damage.
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PMID:Testicular cytotoxicity of intravenous doxorubicin in rats. 376 66

Cytoproterone acetate (CPA) type antiandrogens have been found to inhibit all androgen-dependent function (also reproductive ability) in man and male experimental animals. In animals a CPA dose can be established which reduces spermatogenesis but leaves hormone regulation unchanged. It is not possible to selectively affect epididymal sperm maturation. Initial clinical experience with high-dosage CPA therapy for fertility inhibition was gained from patients with sex deviations. Oral administration of 100-300 mg CPA daily caused high degree of oligospermia within a few weeks; whether longterm therapy (1 1/2-2 years) leads to desensitization and subsequent increase of gonadotropins and androgens with recovered fertility has not yet been established. Sex drive is strongly affected by high-dosage therapy, hence not desirable for male fertility control. A World Health Organization study used a low-dosage daily oral CPA intake of 5-20 mg over a period of 12-26 weeks. Men under 30 years of age tolerated this daily use without side effects; men over 35 years complained of diminished libido and potency. These CPA dosages reduced sperm quality to subfertile values; sperm count, shape, and motility were affected but no azoospermia was achieved. In vitro and in vivo sperm migration is strongly affected. All somatic and psychosexual changes are reversible. In contrast to animal studies oral use of 10 mg CPA daily modifies endocrinologic processes in man. There is a decrease in FSH and LH synthesis and release; this demonstrates a stronger gestagen effect than the antiandrogen effect of CPA. There is an even greater reduction in plasma testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels. CPA also modifies testicular androgen production; changes in spermatogenesis can be attributed to a reduced androgen output and to a ect CPA effect on the tubules. A distinct modification of spermatogenesis and posttesticular sperm maturation processes cannot be demonstrated in the dosage range studied. Current studies do not allow a conclusive evaluation of the applicability of CPA for fertility control in men. Longterm studies with smaller CPA dosages are needed.
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PMID:[Modification of fertility of the male by antiandrogens]. 621 27

Sixty male patients of leprosy (mean age = 27.2 +/- 5.04 years) selected at random, were studied for gonadal involvement and therapeutic efficacy of two indigenous drugs. Of these 34 were married, with the mean duration of illness 4.17 +/- 3.27 years. Only those with lepromatous and dimorphous leprosy developed testicular and epididymal changes. Testicular pain and/or swelling (lepromatous = 62.5%, dimorphous = 30%) was the commonest presenting feature. Altered sexual function was observed in 34 (56.6%) cases, while 11 patients revealed altered sexual hair pattern and nine gynaecomastia. Reduced testicular size associated with soft feel was present in 25% of cases with no testicular sensation in 8 (13.3%) and impaired testicular sensation in 9 (15%) patients. Spermogram revealed azoospermia in 19 (35%) and oligospermia in 16 (26.6%) patients. Histopathological findings of testicle biopsy revealed evidence of leprous pathological irrespective of testicular size, semen picture and clinical manifestations. Histopathological changes had shown marked variation and so did not enable categorising them into vascular, interstitial and obliterative phases. These changes were believed to be due to the altered gonadal state in leprosy. The therapeutic efficacy of the indigenous preparations, Speman and Tentex forte (Himalaya) was evaluated subjectively as well as objectively in 34 patients. 82.3% of cases showed subjective improvement while objective improvement in spermogram was noted in 87.5% cases with oligospermia. The drugs have no side effect and were well tolerated.
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PMID:Gonadal involvement in leprosy--study of gynaecomastia, testicular and epididymal involvement and therapeutic efficacy of indigenous drugs. 660 32

The mouse epididymal duct can be histologically divided into five segments (I-V), and the principal cells in segment II appear to secrete periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive material into the lumen. In this study, male dd-mice received one, two, or four 800-R doses of radiation beginning at age 50 days. Mice receiving multiple doses were irradiated at 1-week intervals. After irradiation, marked depletion of spermatozoa, or aspermia, occurred in the epididymal duct for 2 to 16 weeks after a latency period of 3 to 4 weeks according to the times of irradiations. During oligospermia or aspermia, PAS-positive inclusions appeared in the principal cells in segment IV. The inclusions occupied a supranuclear position and appeared as round granules and globules measuring 2-15 micron in diameter, and increased in number, size, and staining intensity with time. They disappeared after reappearance of spermatozoa. The findings suggest that PAS-positive material may bind to spermatozoa and, if not bound, is reabsorbed by the principal cells in segment IV and deposited as intracellular inclusions, and the principal cells in segment IV are capable of digesting the accumulated PAS-positive material.
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PMID:Response of epididymal duct to the temporary depletion of spermatozoa induced by testicular irradiation in mice. 663 30

Fifty Wistar rats underwent right epididymo-deferens anastomosis by microsurgery, 1 to 4 weeks after ligation of the right epididymo-deferens loop. The left testis was removed in the first 32 rats. The others also underwent anastomosis but without prior ligation. Amongst the 25 rats now studied by mating, vaso-epididymography and dye injection, we have found 14 obstructions, 5 cases of permeability without fertilisation and 6 fertile and permeable animals. This series demonstrates for the first time the possibility of success of such anastomosis in the animal. They are designed to replace the classical latero-lateral anastomosis. The latter causes a spermatic granuloma by epididymal fistula. Recanalisation of the granuloma explains the frequency of postoperative oligospermia in patients with normal testes. The first results in man are very encouraging.
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PMID:[Epididymo-deferens anastomosis. Experimental study in the rat]. 687

Adult Sprague-Dawley male rats (65 days of age) received 10 daily treatments of 0, 200 or 400 mg benomyl/kg/day by gavage. Body weight, tissue weights, total epididymal sperm counts and sperm concentration from the vas deferens were measured 14 days after the last treatment. Testicular histology was evaluated in the 0 and 400 mg/kg/day groups. Significant findings included 35-48% depressions in the total epididymal sperm counts and in the vas deferens sperm concentrations in adult animals treated with 200 or 400 mg/kg/day. Histological evaluations of testicular sections from 6 adult animals in the 400 mg/kg/day group indicated a slight to moderately severe hypospermatocytogenesis in 2 animals and a slight to severe generalized hypospermatogenesis in 2 animals. Caudal epididymis weight were significantly (P less than 0.05) depressed with benomyl treatment. No treatment effects were found in body weight, liver, kidney, tests, or seminal vesicle weights.
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PMID:Effect of benomyl on reproduction in the male rat. 709 21

The diagnosis of azoospermia or severe oligospermia that is made using conventional techniques (testicular biopsy, epididymal exploration, and vasovesiculography) may in some cases remain a dilemma. In such circumstances, post-testicular causes of obstruction must be evaluated. Following the clinical experience acquired in a selected population of 150 severely infertile subjects, the total sperm count in the fluid obtained from the bladder after a seminal tract washout during vasovesiculography has proved to be a valid tool to diagnose the location of the (sub-)obstruction in the seminal tract in complicated cases. Some representative cases are presented. In particular, seminal tract washout (STW) helps to identify functional distal seminal tract emptying disturbances and epididymal incomplete obstruction.
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PMID:Seminal tract washout: a new diagnostic tool in complicated cases of male infertility. 772 70

In the neurological mutant mouse weaver (wv/wv), the majority of males are infertile due to hypospermatogenesis. Heterozygous weaver mice (wv/+) cease mating successfully when males reach an average age of 3.5 months. The contents of epididymal fluid were scored for the number of sperm and sperm motility in wv/wv, wv/+ and controls. Testes were examined in mice of the three genotypes at various ages using light and electron microscopy. In wv/+ males, sperm counts were significantly lower than in controls and were significantly higher than in wv/wv. The seminiferous epithelium in weaver mice appears depleted soon after puberty and a wide range of degenerative changes was identified in both germ cells and Sertoli cells. Analogous cellular aberrations were detected in heterozygous males, but they appeared at an older age and were not as severe as in wv/wv. We hypothesize that in weaver homo- and heterozygosity the damage of Sertoli cells may induce degeneration of germinal cells and particularly affect the most advanced spermatogenic cells.
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PMID:Degeneration of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells in homozygous and heterozygous weaver mice. 776 Feb 15

The multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (TII), a ready-made Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, have been shown to cause oligospermia in patients. In the present study, the antifertility effects of TII and tripchlorolide (T4, isolated from TII) were observed in male rats. In rats fed with TII at a dose of 10 mg.kg.d for 7 weeks, the seminiferous tubules were essentially not influenced. However, most of the sperm heads along the surface of the tubular lumen were transformed from the normal sickle-shaped to round shaped, suggesting a possible mutagenic action. There was minimal testicular change but prominent epididymal spermatozoa damage in all rats treated with T4 (0.05 mg.kg.d) for 7 weeks. The epididymal spermatozoa showed various structural abnormalities, including disrupted connecting pieces and cracked midpieces, and more than 80% of the spermatozoa were decapitated. No significant changes were seen in the main visceral organs. The data suggest that T4 may have good prospects as a male contraceptive.
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PMID:Antispermatogenic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii and tripchlorolide (T4) on rat gametogenesis and spermatozoa. 800 57


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