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Biomedical subjects

C C Capen

Publications and source records attributed to C C Capen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A comparison of bone turnover in athymic (nude) and euthymic mice: biochemical, histomorphometric, bone ash and in vitro studies.

Bone turnover in T-cell deficient mice was investigated by comparing parameters of bone physiology in athymic (nude) and euthymic mice. Static and dynamic bone histomorphometry, serum biochemical assays, body weight and tibia length measurements, and bone ash determination were completed in 6- and 12-wk-old athymic (nude) mice (NIH: Swiss nu/nu) and euthymic mice (nu/+) (10 mice/group). In vitro bone resorbing activity stimulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in calvaria of neonatal athymic and euthymic mice. Athymic mice had smaller vertebral tissue area (p less than 0.01), tibia length (p less than 0.001), and less body weight (p less than 0.01) than euthymic mice. The percent double labeled surface (p less than 0.05) and mineralizing perimeter (p less than 0.01) were reduced in athymic as compared to age-matched euthymic mice. Osteoclast number was reduced in the 6-wk athymic mice as compared to 6-wk euthymic mice. Osteoclastic perimeter was reduced in the 12-wk-old mice (athymic and euthymic) as compared to the 6-wk-old mice. Serum calcium was lower at both ages in athymic mice (p less than 0.01) as compared to euthymic mice. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were reduced (p less than 0.01) in 12-wk-old athymic mice as compared to age-matched euthymic mice, and were greater in 6-wk-old mice than 12-wk-old mice. Athymic mice had greater femur density than euthymic mice (p less than 0.01), and lower (p less than 0.001) percent ash weight of dry bone compared to euthymic mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1989

Mechanisms that lead to disease of the endocrine system in animals.

Endocrine glands are collections of specialized cells that synthesize, store, and release their secretions directly into the blood stream. They are sensing and signalling devices located in the extracellular fluid compartment and are capable of responding to changes in the internal and external environments to coordinate a multiplicity of activities that maintain homeostasis. Diseases of the endocrine system are encountered in many animal species and present challenging diagnostic problems. The major pathogenic mechanisms responsible for disturbances in endocrine function include: 1) primary hyperfunction of an endocrine gland; 2) secondary hyperfunction; 3) primary hypofunction of an endocrine gland; 4) secondary hypofunction; 5) endocrine hyperactivity secondary to diseases of other organs; 6) hypersecretion by nonendocrine tumors of hormone-like substances; 7) failure of fetal endocrine function; 8) endocrine dysfunction due to failure of target cell response; 9) endocrine dysfunction resulting from abnormal degradation of hormone; and 10) iatrogenic syndromes of hormone-excess. For each major category, several specific disease problems have been selected to illustrate the morphologic and functional changes that characterize the response of a particular endocrine gland to disruption of function.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The effects of xenobiotics on the structure and function of thyroid follicular and C-cells.

The mammalian thyroid gland is composed of 2 distinct endocrine cell populations concerned with the synthesis of 2 different classes of hormones. Follicular cells secrete the metabolically active iodothyronines whereas the C-(parafollicular) cells are concerned with the production of calcitonin, a hormone that influences blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, and bone cell metabolism. The synthesis of metabolic thyroid hormones is different than in other endocrine glands because the final assembly of hormone occurs within the follicular lumen. This extracellular synthesis of thyroid hormones is made possible by thyroglobulin, a glycoprotein synthesized by follicular cells. The secretion of thyroid hormones under the influence of pituitary thyrotrophin (TSH) from stores in the luminal colloid is initiated by elongation of microvilli and formation of pseudopods. FD&C Red No. 3 is a tetraiodinated derivative of fluorescein which in lifetime studies increases the incidence of thyroid follicular cell adenomas in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The striking changes in circulating levels of thyroid hormones and morphologic evidence of follicular cell stimulation are the result of alterations in the peripheral metabolism of thyroxine. An inhibition by FD&C Red No. 3 of 5'-deiodinase in the liver and kidney would explain the lower serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels. The pituitary, sensing the lowered circulating levels of T3, increased the secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone which resulted in the morphologic evidence of follicular cell stimulation in the long-term studies. Other xenobiotics increase the incidence of thyroid tumors in rodents by a direct effect on the thyroid gland to disrupt 1 of 3 or more possible steps in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. Physiologic perturbations alone, such as iodine deficiency or partial thyroidectomy, can disrupt thyroid hormone economy in rodents and, if sustained, increase the development of thyroid tumors. The wide variety of drugs, chemicals, and physiologic perturbations which increase thyroid tumor development appear to act through a secondary (indirect) mechanism to promote tumor development by causing a long-standing hypersecretion of thyroid stimulating hormone. Nodular and/or diffuse hyperplasia of C-cells occurs with advancing age in many strains of laboratory rats and in response to long-term hypercalcemia in certain animal species and human beings. Focal or diffuse hyperplasia often precedes the development of C-cell neoplasms. Radiation and the feeding of diets high in vitamin D resulting in hypercalcemia have been reported to increase the incidence of C-cell tumors in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Recent advances in the structure and function of the parathyroid gland in animals and the effects of xenobiotics.

Parathyroid glands in animals consist of a single basic type of secretory cell concerned with the elaboration of one hormone. Parathyroid hormone is the principal hormone involved in the minute-to-minute fine regulation of blood calcium in mammals. A larger biosynthetic precursor of parathyroid hormone is first synthesized on ribosomes of the endoplasmic reticulum in chief cells. Pre-proparathyroid hormone is rapidly converted to proparathyroid hormone in the Golgi apparatus. Active parathyroid hormone is packaged into membrane-limited secretory granules that are stored in the cytoplasm until secretion is stimulated. Parathyroid cells in most animals store relatively small amounts of preformed hormone but are capable of responding to minor fluctuations in calcium ion concentration by rapidly altering the rate of hormonal synthesis and secretion. Recently synthesized and processed active parathyroid hormone may be released directly in response to increased demand and bypass the storage pool of mature secretory granules. Relatively few chemicals or experimental manipulations significantly increase the incidence of parathyroid tumors. Irradiation increases the development of parathyroid adenomas in rats and the incidence is modified by feeding diets with variable amounts of vitamin D. Parathyroid adenomas have been encountered infrequently following the administration of a variety of chemicals in 2-year bioassay studies in Fischer rats; however, the incidence increases dramatically when comparing 2-year studies to lifetime data.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Tumors of the parathyroid gland and circulating parathyroid hormone-related protein associated with persistent hypercalcemia.

Neoplasms of the parathyroid glands are uncommon in all species of laboratory and domestic animals, but occur in low incidence in rats, Syrian hamsters, and dogs and rarely in mice. Proliferative lesions of the parathyroid gland include hyperplasia (diffuse and focal), adenomas, and carcinomas. The tumors may be functional or nonfunctional. Trophic atrophy of remaining parathyroid tissue is present around functional tumors. Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is a syndrome that occurs in human and animal patients with certain malignant neoplasms and is characterized by hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and increased osteoclastic bone resorption. The syndrome is thought to be due to the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like factors by the tumor cells which bind to PTH receptors in bone and kidney and result in the clinical manifestations of HHM. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a newly purified and sequenced protein which originated from human tumors associated with HHM. PTHrP has been shown to stimulate in vitro and in vivo effects similar to PTH-like proteins isolated from tumors associated with HHM. Well characterized animal models of HHM include a rat Leydig cell tumor line (Rice-500), the rat Walker mammary carcinosarcoma, and the canine apocrine adenocarcinoma. All 3 models have been found to contain 3 biologic activities which are thought to be important in the pathogenesis of HHM, viz., in vitro bone resorbing activity, adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity of bone and kidney cells, and transforming growth factor activity. The first 2 activities are due to PTH-like proteins which are able to compete for binding to the PTH receptor. The complete spectrum of functional disturbances in patients with HHM may be the result of the combined effects of a PTH-like protein (i.e., PTHrP) and transforming growth factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Separation of parathyroid hormone-like activity from transforming growth factor-alpha and -beta in the canine adenocarcinoma (CAC-8) model of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

A canine adenocarcinoma model (CAC-8) of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy was evaluated for transforming growth factors (TGF)-alpha and -beta, PTH-like activity [adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA)], and in vitro bone-resorbing activity. Biological activities present in CAC-8 were separated by reverse phase or cation exchange HPLC. TGF alpha in tumor extract was separated from TGF beta and ACSA by reverse phase HPLC. TGF alpha eluted between 26-30% acetonitrile and was identified by RIA. After the initial reverse phase separation, TGF beta and ACSA in tumor extract coeluted between 36-38% acetonitrile. Sequential cation exchange followed by reverse phase HPLC separated TGF beta from ACSA. Evaluation of fractions containing ACSA using an in vitro bone-resorbing assay demonstrated copurification of ACSA and bone-resorbing activity. The PTH receptor antagonist [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bovine PTH-(3-34)-amide, but not [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bovine PTH-(7-34)-amide, completely inhibited ACSA in column eluates. Conditioned cell culture medium from CAC-8 primary cultures contained predominantly latent TGF beta that could be activated by acidification. These findings indicate that the CAC-8 model of cancer-associated hypercalcemia produces a PTH-like factor, TGF alpha, and TGF beta that were separable by reverse phase or cation exchange HPLC. This feature should be useful to investigate the role of TGFs and PTH-like proteins in the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Acute hypocalcemia associated with infarction of parathyroid gland adenomas in two dogs.

Two dogs were examined because of anorexia, lethargy, muscle tremors, weakness, and seizures that were associated with an acute onset of hypocalcemia. Both dogs had histories of chronic hypercalcemia. Examination of the parathyroid glands revealed infarction of focal parathyroid adenomas, with atrophy of the remaining parathyroid glands. It was concluded that the acute onset of hypocalcemia was caused by infarction of functional parathyroid adenomas that were previously responsible for the cause of persistent hypercalcemia. Infarction of a parathyroid adenoma should be included in a list of differential diagnoses of acute hypocalcemia in the dog, especially if hypercalcemia has been diagnosed previously.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1988

Effects of infusion of human parathyroid hormone-related protein-(1-40) in nude mice: histomorphometric and biochemical investigations.

Female nude mice were infused with 5.0, 3.0, or 1.0 micrograms/day of synthetic human parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) or control diluent with subcutaneous Alzet miniosmotic pumps for 7 days. Serum calcium was increased (p less than 0.01) on days 3 (13.9 mg/dl), 5 (13.6 mg/dl), and 7 (12.9 mg/dl) in mice infused with PTHrP at 5.0 micrograms/day compared with control nude mice (8.8 mg/dl). Serum calcium was significantly increased to a lesser degree in mice infused with 1.0 micrograms/day PTHrP (day 3) or 3.0 micrograms/day (days 3 and 7). Serum phosphorus was decreased (p less than 0.01) in all three groups of mice infused with PTHrP (4.6 mg/dl, 5.0 micrograms/day; 6.7 mg/dl, 3.0 micrograms/day; and 6.4 mg/dl, 1.0 micrograms/day) compared with controls (8.5 mg/dl). Serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol was increased (2.4-fold) in mice infused with PTHrP (5.0 and 3.0 micrograms/day). The urinary calcium-creatinine ratio (0.74 compared with 0.034 in controls) was increased (p less than 0.03) in mice infused with PTHrP (5.0 micrograms/day), but the urinary phosphorus-creatinine ratio was not different from that in controls. The urinary cAMP-creatinine ratio was increased (1.6-fold) in mice infused with PTHrP (5.0 micrograms/day). Static bone histomorphometry revealed increased (p less than 0.01) trabecular bone area, osteoblast perimeter, osteoid perimeter, osteoid width, wall width, osteoclast area, number of osteoclasts, and osteoclast perimeter in trabecular bone of lumbar vertebrae from mice infused with PTHrP. Dynamic bone histomorphometry demonstrated increased (p less than 0.01) double-labeled perimeter, mineralizing perimeter, and bone formation rate. The results of this study indicated that PTHrP increased serum calcium and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, decreased serum phosphorus, increased urinary excretion of calcium, phosphorus, and cAMP, and increased both bone resorption and formation in nude mice. PTHrP mimics the action of native PTH in vivo and is likely to be an important protein in the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

The three biologic activities most commonly associated with tumors that produce Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (HHM) include; 1) adenylate cyclase stimulating activity (PTH-like activity), 2) in vitro bone resorbing activity, and 3) transforming growth factor activity. The canine adenocarcinoma (CAC-8) model of HHM contains all three activities and the first two are inhibited by a PTH receptor antagonist. These data in light of the recent purification of PTH-related peptides from human tumors suggest that CAC-8 produces a PTH-related protein that is important in the pathogenesis of hypercalcemia. The CAC-8 tumor is a well characterized example of HHM and offers several advantages for further investigations on the pathogenesis of HHM: 1) transplantable tumor line from a spontaneous neoplasm in the dog, 2) tumor extracts contain the three biologic activities associated with HHM, 3) slow progressive growth rate in nude mice permits investigations on treatment of HHM, 4) increased bone resorption and formation in nude mice mimics the effects of PTH on bone, and 5) the only model of HHM that has been demonstrated to contain bone resorbing activity that can be inhibited by a PTH receptor antagonist.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Variable hepatocellular vacuolization associated with glycogen in rabbits.

Marked variation in hepatocellular vacuolization was present in New Zealand white rabbits used as controls in 28-day and 91-day percutaneous studies conducted at 5 different laboratories. Vacuoles in hepatocytes of alcohol-fixed and formalin-fixed livers contained periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive material which was removed with diastase digestion, indicating the presence of glycogen. The magnitude of hepatocyte vacuolization was subjectively assessed by light microscopy using 5 histologic grades. Quantitative measurements of hepatocyte perimeter and lobule radius for representative liver sections of each histologic grade corroborated the different grades used. Factors associated significantly with the degree of vacuolization were sex (females were affected more severely than males), body weight, relative liver weight, and the laboratory conducting the study. Also apparent were variations in mean severity of hepatocyte vacuolization between studies conducted at the same laboratory, and variation in severity of vacuolization within individual studies. Duration of the study and season had no significant association with the degree of vacuolization. Marked variation of hepatocellular vacuolization due to glycogen accumulation must be recognized when evaluating results of toxicity testing in rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Inhibition of in vitro bone resorption by a parathyroid hormone receptor antagonist in the canine adenocarcinoma model of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

In vitro bone resorption induced by tumor extract derived from a hypercalcemic canine adenocarcinoma was significantly inhibited by the PTH receptor antagonist, [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bovine (b) PTH-(3-34) amide. Dose-response curves were prepared for in vitro bone resorption induced in neonatal mouse calvaria by tumor extract, bPTH-(1-34), and prostaglandin E2. A 1:2000-fold ratio of bPTH-(1-34) to [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide significantly inhibited bone resorption induced by bPTH-(1-34); however, a 1:10,000 ratio completely antagonized bone resorption. At equivalent potency (1.80-fold stimulation of in vitro bone resorption) of tumor extract compared to bPTH-(1-34), [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide (5.0 microM) was capable of significantly reducing in vitro bone resorption. Bone resorption induced by tumor extract (1.35-fold stimulation) was inhibited by [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide at concentrations of 5.0 and 1.0 microM. Bone resorption induced by prostaglandin E2 (300 nM) was not inhibited by [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide (5.0 microM). These data indicate that [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide antagonizes in vitro bone resorption induced by bPTH-(1-34) in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibits bone resorption induced by the canine adenocarcinoma model of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Bone and kidney adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity produced by a hypercalcemic canine adenocarcinoma line (CAC-8) maintained in nude mice.

The tumor line CAC-8, is a serially transplantable adenocarcinoma maintained in nude mice which originated from a hypercalcemic dog. Nude mice with CAC-8 developed a syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. CAC-8 contained a protein factor which stimulated adenylate cyclase of bone and kidney cells in vitro. The adenylate cyclase (AC) of rat osteosarcoma cell lines, ROS 17/2.8 (ROS) and UMR-106, was stimulated by the tumor extract and potentiated by forskolin (0.1 microM). The ROS cells responded to the lowest concentration of CAC-8 extract, but UMR cells responded with a greater increase in AC activity compared to controls following exposure to CAC-8 extract. Pretreatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with dexamethasone enhanced the response to CAC-8 extract. The opossum kidney cell line (OK) was less sensitive to the AC-stimulating activity of CAC-8 extract, but AC stimulation was increased in the presence of forskolin. Bovine (1-34) parathyroid hormone (BPTH) (10 nM) stimulated AC equally in ROS, UMR, and OK cells. Isoproterenol (1.0 microM) stimulated AC activity in ROS and UMR cells but not in OK cells. The AC-stimulating activity of CAC-8 appeared to bind to the parathyroid hormone receptor of ROS, UMR, and OK cells since addition of the parathyroid hormone receptor antagonist, [8,18norleucine, 34tyrosine]BPTH (3-34) amide, inhibited CAC-8-mediated cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate production and alone did not stimulate AC activity. The AC-stimulating activity of CAC-8 was acid and heat stable. Trypsin digestion reduced BPTH and CAC-8 stimulation of AC to near basal levels and treatment of CAC-8 extract with dithiothreitol reduced AC stimulation in UMR cells by approximately 50%. Extracts of the hypercalcemic tumor line (CAC-8) contained bone and kidney AC-stimulating activity which was enhanced by forskolin and dexamethasone, inhibited by [8,18Nle, 34Tyr]BPTH (3-34) amide, heat stable, trypsin sensitive, inactivated by reduction, and had a relative molecular weight of 34,000 by gel exclusion chromatography. Isolation and characterization of the factor(s) produced by CAC-8 that stimulate AC activity will be useful in further understanding the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalemia of malignancy in animal and human patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

The effect of low calcium diet, mithramycin, and dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate on humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in nude mice transplanted with the canine adenocarcinoma tumor line (CAC-8).

The effect of a low calcium diet, mithramycin, or dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate were evaluated in nude mice with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy associated with the transplanted canine adenocarcinoma (CAC-8). Low calcium (0.01%) diet significantly reduced serum calcium levels in hypercalcemic nude mice and reduced urine calcium excretion to control levels. Mithramycin (8 mg/kg) decreased serum calcium concentration and urine calcium excretion to the range of control non-tumor-bearing nude mice at day 5 after a single injection, but there was no change in the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts in lumbar vertebrae. Osteoclasts from CAC 8-bearing nude mice after mithramycin administration were decreased in size, had small ruffled borders, and increased relative size of clear zones. Dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate (Cl2MDP) (45 mg/kg) partially reduced serum calcium concentration of hypercalcemic tumor-bearing nude mice, decreased urine calcium excretion to control levels, and markedly reduced the numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts in lumbar vertebrae. Osteoclasts from Cl2MDP-treated nude mice were smaller and had a reduced frequency of ruffled borders than saline-treated hypercalcemic nude mice. In vitro bone resorption induced by CAC-8 extract was significantly reduced by Cl2MDP and mithramycin. The results of these investigations suggest that the hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with HHM in nude mice with CAC-8 are the combined result of altered calcium homeostasis in the bone, kidney, and intestine. Chemotherapeutic agents that specifically affect only bone or feeding a low calcium diet alone may not completely ameliorate the hypercalcemia of HHM.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Lifetime toxicity/carcinogenicity study of FD & C Red No. 3 (erythrosine) in rats.

FD & C Red No. 3 was fed to Charles River CD rats as a dietary admixture in two long-term toxicity/carcinogenicity studies. The studies consisted of an in utero and an F1 phase. In the former, the compound was administered to five groups of the F0 generation rats (60 of each sex/group) at levels of 0.0, 0.0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0% ('original study') and 0.0 or 4.0% ('high-dose study'). The concurrent control groups received the basal diet. After random selection of the F1 animals, the long-term phase was initiated using the same dietary levels and 70 rats of each sex/group, including the three control groups. Rats were exposed for a maximum of 30 months. No compound-related effects were noted in the in utero phase. Mean body weights of the female F1 rats on 4.0% FD & C Red No. 3 (3029 mg/kg/body weight/day) were significantly lower than those of controls (P less than 0.01) throughout the study. Food consumption increased in all treated groups in a dose-related manner. There were no significant effects on the haematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis and no compound-related effects on survival. In male rats receiving 4.0% FD & C Red No. 3 (2464 mg/kg/day) thyroid weights were increased, with a mean weight of 92 mg compared to 44 mg for controls, and statistically significant increases in the incidence of thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy, hyperplasia and adenomas were recorded. A numerically increased incidence of thyroid follicular adenomas in female rats given 0.5, 1.0 or 4.0% FD & C Red No. 3 was not statistically significant. The no-observed-adverse-effect levels established in these studies were 0.5% (251 mg/kg/day) for male rats and 1.0% (641 mg/kg/day) for females.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

In vitro bone resorption activity produced by a hypercalcemic adenocarcinoma tumor line (CAC-8) in nude mice.

Tumor extracts and conditioned tissue culture media from a canine adenocarcinoma tumor line (CAC-8) propagated in nude mice significantly increased in vitro bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvaria as measured by release of previously incorporated 45Ca. In vitro bone resorption activity was induced in a dose-dependent manner, was not suppressible by indomethacin, and was heat- and acid-stable. Gel exclusion chromatography demonstrated peak bone resorbing activity at a relative molecular mass of approximately 28,000. The parathyroid hormone (PTH) antagonist (8,18norleucine, 34tyrosine) bovine PTH (3-34) amide did not inhibit CAC 8-stimulated or (1-34) bPTH-induced bone resorption. There was an increased number of tartrate-resistant, acid phosphatase-positive cells in calvariae exposed to CAC-8 extract. Ultrastructural evaluation of calvaria revealed hypertrophy and maturation of osteoclasts in calvaria exposed to CAC-8 extract. The maturation effects included close contact to bone surfaces and the presence of clear zones and ruffled borders in osteoclasts. Similar structures were observed infrequently in osteoclasts of control calvaria. These data demonstrate that the tumor line (CAC-8) contained activity capable of stimulating in vitro bone resorption by increasing osteoclast numbers and the activity of existing osteoclasts.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Spermatid giant cells, tubular hypospermatogenesis, spermatogonial swelling, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and tubular dilatation in the testes of normal rabbits.

Testes of 36 normal New Zealand white rabbits (8, 15, 18, 26, and greater than 52 weeks of age) were examined by light and electron microscopy. The incidence and number of affected tubules were determined for spermatid giant cells, focal tubular hypospermatogenesis, cytoplasmic swelling of spermatogonia, intracytoplasmic vacuoles in seminiferous epithelium, and tubular dilatation. Spermatogenesis commenced at 15-18 weeks of age and was present in all rabbits by 18 weeks. Spermatid giant cells occurred in 96% of rabbits 15 weeks of age and older. Focal hypospermatogenesis was present in 14-57% of testes once active spermatogenesis began. Ninety-seven percent of testes in all age groups combined had spermatogonial swelling. Infrequent dilated seminiferous tubules were present in five rabbits. Ultrastructurally, spermatid giant cells were round cells with multiple nuclei that appeared to arise by widening of narrow intercellular bridges that normally connect spermatogenic epithelial cells. Pale-staining spermatogonia consisted of cytoplasmic and nuclear swelling with disruption of plasma and nuclear membranes. Tubules with spermatogonial swelling were more numerous in 15- and 18-week-old rabbits. There were no significant differences in incidence or extent of spermatid giant cells, focal hypospermatogenesis, cytoplasmic vacuoles, or tubular dilatation between age groups after spermatogenesis commenced. Although the cause of these changes is not known, they were frequent findings in normal rabbits 15 weeks of age and older.

Animals↗