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Query: UNIPROT:P56851 (
epididymal
)
11,273
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
A glycoprotein, designated CMB-1, has been identified in media from Sertoli cell-enriched cultures that increases in concentration in response to
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) and testosterone. Subsequent studies indicated that CMB-1 is immunologically related to albumin and alpha-fetoprotein and is concentrated in the luminal compartment of the testis in adult rats. Thus, CMB-1 was termed testibumin. The goal of the present study was to determine the concentrations of this protein in testes, epididymides, and serum of normal rats between 10 and 180 days of age and to compare them to rat androgen-binding protein (rABP). Testibumin concentration in rat testes increased with age and peaked at Day 60; thereafter, unlike rABP, its concentration declined, reaching a plateau by 150 days of age. Testibumin concentration in the
epididymal
compartment also increased with age and peaked at Day 90; thereafter, its concentration remained relatively unchanged. Unlike rABP, which accumulates in the caput epididymis, testibumin did not accumulate preferentially in any particular region of the epididymis. In spite of the marked changes of testibumin concentration in the male reproductive tract, the levels in blood remained relatively constant between 10 and 180 days of age. In adult male and female rats, the serum concentrations of testibumin were similar. Following orchiectomy, serum testibumin concentration decreased by 50% with an apparent t1/2 of approximately 8 h. The presence of immunoreactive macromolecules in other species that share epitopes with rat testibumin was also investigated. Material in human sera and extracts of human and monkey testes cross-reacts with rat testibumin. After [35S]methionine was added to the primary Sertoli cell-enriched cultures, anti-testibumin antiserum selectively immunoprecipitated a radiolabeled protein with the same electrophoretic mobility as purified testibumin on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. We conclude that 1) rat testibumin is synthesized and secreted by Sertoli cell-enriched cultures; 2) the relative concentrations and distribution of testibumin in testis, epididymis, and serum of the rat as a function of age are strikingly different from those of rABP; 3) rat testibumin shares epitopes with proteins in human serum and testicular extracts of monkey and man.
...
PMID:The distribution of rat testibumin in the male reproductive tract. 244 71
Developmental changes in pituitary content and secretory patterns of luteinizing hormone (LH),
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) and prolactin (PRL), testicular size and steroidogenic function, testicular LH- and
FSH
-binding activity, and growth of the accessory sex organs were examined for 24 Dorset X Leicester X Suffolk rams (born in March) every 30 days from 30 to 150 days of age, and again at 200 days. Pituitary LH and
FSH
contents increased between 30 and 60 days of age and remained constant until 150 days, when contents were somewhat greater than on either 120 or 200 days. LH-pulse amplitude and frequency, and mean
FSH
concentration, were highest at 60 and (or) 90 days of age. Testicular growth increased dramatically between 90 and 150 days of age in association with increases in the number of LH- (100-fold) and
FSH
- (33-fold) binding sites in the testis and a small increase in blood testosterone concentration (1 ng/ml). During the same period, pituitary content and blood concentration of PRL increased to maximal values,
epididymal
, vesicular gland and bulbourethral gland weights increased 6-fold, and body weight doubled. Between 150 and 200 days of age, testosterone concentration increased considerably (8 ng/ml), as did LH-pulse frequency and the amount of LH- and
FSH
- binding in the testis; the reproductive organs continued to grow at a rate faster than that of the body as a whole. Testicular development of ram lambs was accompanied by increases in the secretion of all three pituitary hormones with gonadotropic properties, and in the number of LH and
FSH
receptors.
...
PMID:Pubertal changes in the secretion of gonadotropic hormones, testicular gonadotropic receptors and testicular function in the ram. 250 35
The effects of hypophysectomy and gonadotropin replacement on transepithelial movement of 3H-androgen in the rat epididymis were examined by in vivo microperifusion of 3H-testosterone followed by in vivo micropuncture to obtain peritubular and intraluminal fluid. In the caput epididymidis of normal rats, intraluminal 3H-androgen concentrations were approximately 300% of those in the interstitial space. In contrast, proluminal movement of 3H-androgen into rat caput
epididymal
tubules was significantly decreased 10 days after hypophysectomy. 3H-Testosterone movement across the caput
epididymal
epithelium was completely returned to normal by supplementation with 24 micrograms/day
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) or 24 micrograms/day luteinizing hormone (LH). However, neither 0.12 micrograms/day
FSH
nor 250 micrograms/day prolactin returned proluminal androgen movement to normal. It is speculated that
epididymal
uptake of peritubular testosterone is mediated by androgen-binding protein, which is known to be secreted by Sertoli cells after stimulation by
FSH
or testosterone.
...
PMID:Proluminal movement of 3H-androgen across the epididymal epithelium in the rat after hypophysectomy and gonadotropin supplementation. 251 35
An experiment was designed to investigate the mechanisms controlling testicular compensatory hypertrophy in rams. Endocrine and histological events were examined, with special attention to Sertoli cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy as contributing factors to the compensatory process. Fifteen sexually mature yearling Targhee rams were allotted to intact control (C, n = 5) and unilateral castrate (UC, n = 10) treatment groups in June. Approximately 150 days after UC, testicular tissue was collected in November after efferent duct cannulation and rete testis fluid (RTF) collection or perfusion fixation. Unilateral castration increased mean testis weight by 56% (p = 0.01) and mean
epididymal
weight by 15% (p = 0.05). Although the mean volume of RTF collected more than doubled after UC (1.55 +/- 0.86 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.10 ml for UC and C rams, respectively), the difference was not statistically significant. By 150 days after UC, the concentrations of
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in jugular venous blood did not differ between the two treatment groups. The concentrations of T. dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and androgen-binding protein (ABP) in RTF were also similar for UC and C rams. However, since the observed mean RTF volume was increased, the amounts of T, DHT, and ABP exiting the testes of these UC rams via the RTF were approximately doubled, although this difference was not statistically significant. UC increased the mean diameter of seminiferous tubules by 21% (p less than 0.01) and of their lumina by 51% (p less than 0.01), but did not significantly increase mean height of seminiferous epithelium or estimated length of seminiferous tubules per testis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:The influence of unilateral castration on testicular morphology and function in adult rams. 251 66
The goal of this study was to discriminate between two hypotheses regarding how the circadian rhythm of pineal melatonin (MEL) production transmits photoperiodic information: (1) A circadian rhythm of sensitivity to MEL regulates the hormone's effect; (2) the duration of the MEL signal, rather than its circadian timing, is the critical parameter of the MEL rhythm. The experiment examined the response of pinealectomized (PINX) male Siberian hamsters to 10-hr (short-day-type) versus 6-hr (long-day-type) duration MEL infusions (10 ng/infusion) in cycles with period lengths (T) of 18, 24, 36, and 48 hr. After cannula implantation, animals were moved from LD 16:8 to LD 10:14 (lights-on from 0500 to 1500 hr, EST), where the timed infusions began. Additional T 24 cycles included as controls employed 18-hr MEL, 18-hr saline (SAL), and 10-hr SAL infusions: Body weight and food intake were measured weekly. After 6 weeks, animals were killed; blood samples were taken for radioimmunoassay (RIA) of serum
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) and prolactin (PRL); and terminal body,
epididymal
white adipose tissue (EPIWAT), and paired testis weights were recorded. Six-hour MEL infusions failed to induce short-day-type effects, regardless of the period (T) of the infusion cycle. In contrast, compared to SAL and 6-hr MEL infusions, 10-hr MEL resulted in decreases in body, EPIWAT, and testis weights in T 24, but not in T 36 or T 48. In T 18, testis, body, and EPIWAT mass were decreased, but not to the same extent as in T 24. Similarly, daily 18-hr MEL infusions (T24) were less effective as a short-day stimulus than were 10-hr MEL infusions. The effectiveness of 10-hr, but not 6-hr, MEL infusions in T 18 and T 24 is consistent with the duration hypothesis and argues against the circadian hypothesis. Neither hypothesis could have predicted that all infusion cycles of T greater than or equal to 36 hr, regardless of the infusion durations, would fail to elicit short-day-type responses. This outcome suggests a need for relatively frequent (T less than 36 hr) MEL stimulation in addition to the requirement for adequate duration of each MEL infusion.
...
PMID:Effect of melatonin infusion duration and frequency on gonad, lipid, and body mass in pinealectomized male Siberian hamsters. 251 5
This paper compares the statistical precision and biological sensitivity of multiple indices of reproductive function to infertility in the male rodent. The studies discussed include those that examined reproductive function in the male following perinatal exposure to reproductive toxicants and others in which the compounds were administered to young-adult males, often with very diverse results. For example, some chemicals that alter sex differentiation reduce fertility by affecting breeding performance alone (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), fenarimol, or losulazine), without altering sperm and testicular measures. Others also markedly alter sex differentiation of the genitalia, the accessory glands and the testis in addition to their effects on central nervous system (CNS) sex differentiation and mating behavior (testosterone, flutamide, cyproterone acetate, tamoxifen, estradiol and diethylstilbestrol (DES)). In contrast, prenatal exposure to compounds that alter primary germ cell survival (busulphan, congo red) induce partial gonadal/germ cell agenesis without altering sex differentiation. These chemicals dramatically reduce testicular sperm production in the male offspring, and the most severely affected males are infertile. In a series of studies conducted in our laboratory, young male rats were exposed to known reproductive toxicants in a dose related manner from puberty, through young adulthood and breeding. We have found that the profile of effects varies considerably depending upon the chemical's mechanism of toxicity. When a compound produced infertility through direct effects of testicular function (Carbendazim (MBC) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP)), then testis weight, testicular histology, and testicular sperm head counts provided sensitive indicators of toxicity. In general, dramatic reductions in sperm production are required to induce infertility and these changes were accompanied by elevated serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) and changes in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone synthesis. Chemicals that have hormonal activity, alter the internal endocrine environment, or directly effect CNS function induce a completely different profile of effects. For example, estrogen administration alters the function of the seminal vesicle and the endocrine system, and reduces
epididymal
sperm reserves; while testicular measures are relatively unaffected. Since very different spectrums of effects are produced by different compounds, no single endpoint will consistently be the most sensitive indicator of reproductive toxicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
...
PMID:Correlation of sperm and endocrine measures with reproductive success in rodents. 266 89
In the present study rats were dosed from weaning, through puberty and gestation, to Day 15 of lactation with methoxychlor at 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day. Morphological landmarks of puberty were measured, including the ages at vaginal opening, first estrus, and first estrous cycle in females and at preputial separation in males. In the female, estrous cyclicity, fertility, litter size, number of implantation sites, organ weights, and ovarian and uterine histology were also measured. The viability of the offspring (F1) and their fertility were evaluated using a continuous breeding protocol. Males were necropsied after breeding, the reproductive organs were weighed, and the cauda
epididymal
sperm counts were determined. One testis was used for histopathology, while the other was used to quantify interstitial fluid (IF) content, IF testosterone concentration, and testicular sperm production. Testosterone and androgen-binding protein were measured in the caput epididymis, and sperm motility and morphology were evaluated from a caudal sample. The serum and pituitary were saved for hormonal determinations. Methoxychlor accelerated the age at vaginal opening and first estrus, and the vaginal smears were cornified. Growth was retarded at 100 and 200 mg/kg/day and fertility was reduced when the females were bred with untreated or similarly treated males. In the highest-dose group, the mated females went from constant estrus into pseudopregnancy following mating, but they had no implants. In males, methoxychlor treatment markedly reduced growth, seminal vesicle weight, cauda
epididymal
weight, caudal sperm content, and pituitary weight. Puberty was delayed in the two highest-dosage groups. Testicular sperm measures were much less affected than caudal measures. Testis weight and histology were slightly affected, and testicular sperm production, sperm morphology, and motility were unaffected. Endocrine function of the testes and pituitary was altered by methoxychlor administration. Leydig cell testosterone production, in response to human chorionic gonadotropin challenge, was reduced and pituitary levels of prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and
follicle-stimulating hormone
(
FSH
) were altered. In contrast, serum levels of prolactin,
FSH
, and luteinizing hormone were unaffected. Serum TSH was reduced by 50% of control at 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, while pituitary levels were increased. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone concentration in the mediobasal hypothalamus was also elevated. In spite of the many reproductive alterations, the fertility of treated males was not reduced when they were mated with untreated females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
...
PMID:A dose-response analysis of methoxychlor-induced alterations of reproductive development and function in the rat. 292 22
Effect of insulin on glucagon binding to rat
epididymal
adipocytes was studied in vitro. [125I]iodoglucagon binding to isolated adipocytes was increased by preincubation of the cells with insulin. Maximal increase was observed with 7 X 10(-10) M insulin. In Scatchard analysis, [125I]iodoglucagon competition data generated one binding site with a single affinity for glucagon binding in the cells pretreated with buffer alone. Pretreatment of the cells with insulin increased the affinity without changes in the number of binding sites. [125I]iodoglucagon binding to isolated adipocytes was not affected by pretreatment of the cells with luteinizing hormone,
follicle-stimulating hormone
, growth hormone, or with prolactin. These results suggest that insulin stimulates glucagon binding to adipocytes.
...
PMID:Effect of insulin on glucagon binding to isolated rat epididymal adipocytes. 302 93
Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer and immunosuppressive agent commonly used in men of reproductive age. The relationship between the effects of paternal cyclophosphamide treatment on the male reproductive system and the pregnancy outcome is unknown. To study this relationship, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered saline or cyclophosphamide (1.4, 3.4, and 5.1 mg/kg) daily for 11 wk by gavage. Each male was mated weekly with two females in proestrous; 20 days later, the females were caesarean-sectioned and the number of corpora lutea, resorptions, and normal and abnormal fetuses were noted. After 11 wk of treatment, none of the drug-treated males showed any significant difference compared to controls with respect to male reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone or
follicle-stimulating hormone
,
epididymal
sperm counts or fertility. Despite the apparent minimal effects of the treatment regimen on the male reproductive system, there were a number of effects on pregnancy outcome. There was a dose-dependent increase in preimplantation loss at 5-6 wk that was not evident at other times, a progressive dose-dependent increase in postimplantation loss starting at 2 wk, and an increase in malformed and growth-retarded fetuses at 3-4 and 7-9 wk. These results indicate that low dose chronic cyclophosphamide treatment of the male rat can affect the outcome of his progeny; such effects are seen in the absence of any apparent alteration of a number of measures of male reproductive function.
...
PMID:Chronic low dose cyclophosphamide treatment of adult male rats: effect on fertility, pregnancy outcome and progeny. 308 78
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
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