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

Tissue sections from testes and epididymides obtained from 17 young beef bulls with scrotal circumference (SC) between 27 and 40.5 cm were studied to determine whether small testes were a manifestation of lesions or a result of less, but otherwise normal, seminiferous epithelium. The SC correlated negatively with the estimates of germinal epithelial loss and positively with seminiferous epithelial area. Four bulls with SC less than 30 cm had severe lesions in their testes. Hypoplastic tubules were characterized by Sertoli's cells only with no evidence of germinal cells. Loss of germinal cells, leaving vacuolated epithelium and atrophy, were observed in degenerated tubules. Hyperplasia of Leydig's cells was observed in the vicinity of Sertoli's cell-only tubules, resulting either from degeneration or hypoplasia, and atrophy of Leydig's cells was associated with tubules devoid of Sertoli's cells. These findings indicated that Sertoli's cells may produce a factor(s) required for maintenance and regulation of Leydig's cell function. Epididymal epithelium, especially in the head, had regressed in bulls with hypoplastic and degenerative changes in their testes. Decreased sperm concentration and motility and an increased frequency of morphologic defects were observed in the 4 bulls with testicular lesions and regressed epididymal epithelium. Blood plasma profiles of cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were determined in the 4 bulls with SC less than 30 cm and 10 of the 13 bulls with SC greater than 30 cm. There were no statistically significant (P greater than 0.1) differences in the responses to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone or base-line patterns of blood plasma follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone between the 2 groups. However, in the bulls with SC less than 30 cm, the mean concentration of testosterone was lower, whether spontaneous (P less than 0.05) or exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone induced (P less than 0.1). The fact that these bulls were not deficient in gonadotropins indicated that Leydig's cell function was impaired by local factors, either the factors that caused the tubular damage or those consequent to the tubular damage.
 ...
PMID:Pathophysiology of small testes in beef bulls: relationship between scrotal circumference, histopathologic features of testes and epididymides, seminal characteristics, and endocrine profiles. 309 13

Cell size and number of parametrial fat pads were determined in Swiss mice made obese by means of a high-fat diet (40% lard w/w) given ad lib. This diet and a control were introduced to two groups of mothers during gestation and lactation, and sucklings were given the same diets as their mothers at weaning and throughout life.2-wk old mice suckled by mothers fed a high-fat diet have fatter parametrial pads. This difference is due solely to an increase in fat cell size. After weaning, until the 18th wk, the two groups differed with a striking fat cell enlargement seen in the obese group. Later on, whereas cell numbers did not change in the control group, a constant and uninterrupted increase in number is shown in those of obese mice until the 52nd wk. Hyperplasia was observed only in adults. When the high-fat diet was introduced to adult rats it also triggered an increase in fat cell number. Three sites of fat pads were compared in both sexes at 32 wk of age. All sites increased in weight in the high-fat fed group. This was due to: hyperplasia in perirenal site, hypertrophy in epididymal and subcutaneous sites, and hyperplasia plus hypertrophy in the parametrial one. So, in each sex, adipose sites in the obese mice reacted to the diet in a site-specific way. It was concluded that the level of fat in a diet is involved in both formation and maturation of new fat cells and in the regulation of fat cell lipid content. The two processes may be separated or may act together according to the adipose tissue site.
 ...
PMID:Effect of age, sex, and sites on the cellularity of the adipose tissue in mice and rats rendered obese by a high-fat diet. 508 Apr 16

The toxicity of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB) was evaluated in 13-week gavage studies in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. In addition to histopathology, evaluations included clinical chemistry, hematology, thyroid hormone analyses, and reproductive parameters. Groups of 10 rats and 10 mice of each sex were exposed to TCAB at dose levels of 0, 0.1, 1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg for 5 days a week for 13 weeks. In the rat studies, the major effects for both males and females included a 10% decrease in terminal body weight at 30 mg/kg/day, an increase in hematopoietic cell proliferation in the spleen at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day, and a responsive anemia at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. A 15 to 30% decrease in platelet counts and a 20 to 40% decrease in thymus weights was observed at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. An increase in liver weight up to 15% was found at 3 mg/kg/day and higher doses in males and at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day in females, respectively. An increase in spleen weights up to 15% was observed at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day in males and at 30 mg/kg/day in females. A marked decrease in circulating total thyroxine (TT4) was found in both males and females at all dose levels tested. TT4 could hardly be detected at 10 and 30 mg TCAB/kg/day. In addition, hyperplasia of the forestomach was increased at 3 mg/kg/day and higher doses in males and at 30 mg/kg/day in females. In the mouse studies, an increase in liver and spleen weight was observed up to approximately 25% in both males and females at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. Hyperplasia of the forestomach was observed at 1 mg/kg/day and higher doses in both males and females. In males, a 30% decrease in thymus weights at 30 mg/kg/day and a 60% decrease in epididymal sperm density at 3 and 30 mg/kg/day was observed. Also in males, centrilobular hypertrophy of hepatocytes and an increase in hematopoietic cell proliferation in the spleen was observed at 3 mg/kg/day and higher doses. Based on the current study and information in the literature, TCAB has dioxin-like properties. Comparison of the effects of TCAB in the present study and in the literature to those with 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) indicates that TCAB is from two to six orders of magnitude less potent than TCDD depending on the end point.
 ...
PMID:Toxicity of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene in rats and mice. 1019 80

3,3',4,4'-Tetrachloroazoxybenzene is not commercially manufactured but is present as a contaminant of 3,4-dichloroaniline and its herbicidal derivative Diuron(R). In addition, environmental contamination occurs when 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene is formed by the photolysis and biolysis of 3,4-dichloroaniline. 3,3',4,4'-Tetrachloroazoxybenzene was nominated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for toxicity testing based on concerns over the potential for human exposure, the structural resemblance to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, and the reported dioxin-like effects of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene. The toxicity of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene was evaluated in 16-day and 13-week gavage studies in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. In addition to histopathology, evaluations included hematology (rats only), clinical chemistry, thyroid hormone analyses (rats only), hepatic cell proliferation (rats only), cytochrome P(450)1A immunohistological staining in the liver (rats only), and assessments of male reproductive endpoints and estrous cycle length. Additional genetic toxicology studies included mutagenicity tests in Salmonella typhimurium and the determination of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow and peripheral blood erythrocytes. In the 16-day studies, groups of five male and five female rats received 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene in corn oil by gavage at doses of 0, 12.5, 32, 80, 200, or 500 mg per kg body weight, 5 days a week. Groups of five male and five female mice received 0, 1, 3.2, 10, 32, or 100 mg/kg in corn oil by gavage, 5 days a week. Major effects in rats included increases in liver and lung weights, and decreases in mean body weights and body weight gains, heart weights, and thymus weights. Effects in mice included increases in liver weights and decreases in thymus weights. No effects on survival were observed. Treatment-related lesions included cytoplasmic alteration of hepatocytes, splenic hematopoietic cell proliferation, thymic atrophy, and nephropathy in rats and thymic atrophy, splenic hematopoietic cell proliferation, and hepatic foci of inflammation and necrosis in mice. In the 13-week studies, groups of 10 male and 10 female rats and mice received 3,3',4,4'- tetrachloroazoxybenzene in corn oil by gavage at doses of 0, 0.1, 1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg, 5 days a week. In the 13-week rat study, all males and seven females in the 30 mg/kg groups died. Decreases in final mean body weights and body weight gains were observed in 3 and 10 mg/kg males and 10 and 30 mg/kg females. Decreased thymus weights, accompanied by thymic atrophy observed microscopically, were observed at doses of 1 mg/kg or greater in males and females. Increased liver weights were observed in males and females administered 1 mg/kg or greater, and hepatic cytochrome P(450)1A staining was increased in 1 and 3 mg/kg males and 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg females. In addition, a responsive anemia and decreases in platelet counts were observed in dosed male and female rats. A marked decrease in circulating thyroxine concentrations was observed in dosed males and females. In spite of this sharp decrease, thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were marginally increased. A decrease in epididymal spermatozoal motility was observed in all dosed groups tested. In 10 mg/kg females, the estrous cycle length was increased. Major effects included increased incidences of hyperplasia of the forestomach in 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg males and 10 and 30 mg/kg females. Increased incidences of centrilobular degeneration and hematopoietic cell proliferation were observed in the liver of dosed males and females. Furthermore, chronic active inflammation of the lung vasculature and hematopoietic cell proliferation in the spleen were observed in dosed males and females. The increased severities of cardiomyopathy and nephropathy in males and the incidences of cardiomyopathy and nephropathy and severity of cardiomyopathy in females were 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene related. In the 13-week mouse study, the major effects included increases in liver weights in males administered 3 mg/kg or greater and females administered 1 mg/kg or greater. Hyperplasia of the forestomach and dilatation of hair follicles were observed in 10 and 30 mg/kg males and 30 mg/kg females. Furthermore, thymus weights were decreased in males administered 3 mg/kg or greater and in 10 and 30 mg/kg females. Increased incidences of centrilobular hypertrophy of hepatocytes were observed in 10 and 30 mg/kg males and females. Increased incidences of hematopoietic cell proliferation in the spleen were observed in 30 mg/kg males and in 10 and 30 mg/kg females. Increases in the incidences of thymocyte necrosis were observed in 10 mg/kg males and in 10 and 30 mg/kg females. The incidences of splenic pigmentation were increased in all dosed groups of males, and the severity of pigmentation increased with increasing dose in males and females. 3,3',4,4'-Tetrachloroazoxybenzene was not mutagenic in S. typhimurium strain TA97, TA98, TA100, or TA1535 with or without induced S9 metabolic activation enzymes. It did not induce significant increases in micronucleated erythrocytes in a three-exposure male mouse bone marrow micronucleus test up to dose levels of 200 mg/kg, but results of a 13-week peripheral blood micronucleus test conducted in male and female mice were positive. In summary, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene caused typical dioxin-like effects, including thymic atrophy, increased liver weights, induction of hepatic cytochrome P(450)1A, and decreased mean body weight gains. Furthermore, a marked decrease in circulating thyroxine concentrations was observed in male and female rats, even at the lowest dose (0.1 mg/kg) in female rats. A decrease in epididymal sperm motility was observed at all doses in rats. Effects on the hematopoietic system occurred at doses including and lower than those that caused histopathologic alterations in the liver. A no-observable-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was not reached in rats. In male and female mice, the NOAEL was 1 and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, treatment-related effects included increased incidences of hyperplasia of the forestomach epithelium in rats and mice, chronic active inflammation of the vasculature of the lung in rats, increased incidences and/or severities of cardiomyopathy and nephropathy in rats, and dilatation of the hair follicles in mice. Comparison of various dioxin-like effects in these studies with those reported in the literature indicate that 3,3',4,4'- tetrachloroazoxybenzene is six to two orders of magnitude less potent than 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
 ...
PMID:NTP Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of 3,3',4,4'-Tetrachloroazoxybenzene (CAS No. 21232-47-3) Administered by Gavage to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. 1198 83

Adipose tissue grows by two mechanisms: hyperplasia (cell number increase) and hypertrophy (cell size increase). Genetics and diet affect the relative contributions of these two mechanisms to the growth of adipose tissue in obesity. In this study, the size distributions of epididymal adipose cells from two mouse strains, obesity-resistant FVB/N and obesity-prone C57BL/6, were measured after 2, 4, and 12 weeks under regular and high-fat feeding conditions. The total cell number in the epididymal fat pad was estimated from the fat pad mass and the normalized cell-size distribution. The cell number and volume-weighted mean cell size increase as a function of fat pad mass. To address adipose tissue growth precisely, we developed a mathematical model describing the evolution of the adipose cell-size distributions as a function of the increasing fat pad mass, instead of the increasing chronological time. Our model describes the recruitment of new adipose cells and their subsequent development in different strains, and with different diet regimens, with common mechanisms, but with diet- and genetics-dependent model parameters. Compared to the FVB/N strain, the C57BL/6 strain has greater recruitment of small adipose cells. Hyperplasia is enhanced by high-fat diet in a strain-dependent way, suggesting a synergistic interaction between genetics and diet. Moreover, high-fat feeding increases the rate of adipose cell size growth, independent of strain, reflecting the increase in calories requiring storage. Additionally, high-fat diet leads to a dramatic spreading of the size distribution of adipose cells in both strains; this implies an increase in size fluctuations of adipose cells through lipid turnover.
 ...
PMID:Hypertrophy and/or Hyperplasia: Dynamics of Adipose Tissue Growth. 1932 73