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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Microscopic innervation of the spermatic ducts and the testis. III: Tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis].

The cholinesterase activity and ultrastructural characteristics of the nerves in tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis have been studied in Wistar rats. The tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis are innervated by a dense network which has varicosities containing different types of synaptic vesicles. The nerve fibres are located between the smooth muscle cells and the fibroblasts, and under the epithelial basement membrane. Inside the ductuli efferentes testis, the nerves form perivascular, subepithelial and muscle plexuses. According to the positive reaction for cholinesterase as well as the characteristics of the synaptic vesicles, these structure have at least a double adrenergic-cholinergic innervation. Our results demonstrate that the nervous fibres in ductuli efferentes testis are more abundant than in tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis. The role of the vegetative nervous system in the initial segments of the spermatic pathways is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

How well does contralateral testis hypertrophy predict the absence of the nonpalpable testis?

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy of contralateral testis hypertrophy for predicting monorchia in patients with a nonpalpable testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1993 to September 1998 we evaluated 60 patients 7 months to 11 years old for a unilateral nonpalpable testis. Four patients were excluded from study who had received human chorionic gonadotropin or had signs of puberty. We correlated contralateral testis hypertrophy, defined as testis volume greater than 2 cc or testis length greater than 2 cm., with presence or absence of the nonpalpable testis. We also recorded the degree to which contralateral testis length less than 2.1 cm. correlated with the presence or absence of the nonpalpable testis. Laparoscopy and open exploration were performed in 52 and 4 cases, respectively. RESULTS: Contralateral testis hypertrophy greater than 2 cm. was noted in 16 patients, including 14 (87.5%) with monorchia and 2 (12.5%) with an intra-abdominal testis. Of the 15 patients with a contralateral measurement of 1.8 to 2.0 cm. 14 had monorchia (93%) and 1 had a tiny ovotestis. Of the 25 patients with a contralateral measurement of less than 1.8 cm. 13 (52%) had testes that were intra-abdominal in 11 and canalicular in 2. The optimal cutoff value for contralateral enlargement was 1.8 cm. (p = 0.00061). The most common laparoscopic finding in patients with contralateral testis hypertrophy greater than 2 cm. was blind ending vessels proximal to the internal ring in 56%. CONCLUSIONS: Contralateral testis hypertrophy is common in patients with a nonpalpable testis. Hypertrophy 1.8 cm. or greater predicts monorchia with an accuracy of about 90%. The finding of contralateral testis hypertrophy provides useful information for preoperative counseling, allowing us to inform parents that the nonpalpable testis is most likely absent. Exploration is still required. Laparoscopy is particularly advantageous in contralateral testis hypertrophy since it was the only procedure required in about half of our cases.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of the vanishing testis in boys with a unilateral impalpable testis: is the side of presentation significant?

A total of 208 boys with a unilateral impalpable testis and a contralateral descended testis was studied to correlate the probability of finding blind-ending vas and vessels (vanishing testis) with the side of presentation of the impalpable testis. Of 142 boys with a left impalpable testis 93 (65%) had a vanishing testis and of 66 boys with a right impalpable testis 38 (58%) had a vanishing testis (p < 0.28). These data indicate that impalpable and vanishing testes are more likely to occur on the left side in boys with a unilateral impalpable testis but the likelihood of having a vanishing testis is similar regardless of the side of presentation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The ascending testis and the testis undescended since birth share the same histopathology.

PURPOSE: The etiology of the ascending testis is controversial. We propose that ascending testis, defined as a testis previously thought to be descended and later noted to be out of the scrotum, is due to mild hypogonadotropic hypogonadism affecting both testes. The diagnosis of these low types of true undescended testes is difficult to make clinically in children since they are frequently confused with retractile testes. In this study we compared testicular biopsies in a group of boys with ascending testes with those in boys who had an undescended testis since birth (primary undescended testis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 1995, 91 patients with ascending testes underwent orchiopexy and bilateral testis biopsy. The total germ cell count, processus vaginalis status, age at surgery and whether followup was done by a pediatrician or pediatric urologist were compared in patients with ascending and unilateral primary undescended testes. RESULTS: The total germ cell count was similar in the undescended and the contralateral descended testis in patients with ascending and primary undescended testes. The processus vaginalis was more likely to be closed in ascending testes (57% versus 36%, p = 0.0001). Age at surgery and the total germ cell count were similar in patients followed by pediatricians and pediatric urologists. CONCLUSIONS: The ascending testis has the same germ cell count as the primary undescended testis. Yearly followup by the primary care physician is recommended for patients with retractile testes.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1985

Studies on the participation of tunica albuginea and rete testis (TA and RT) in the quantitative structure of human testis.

In 309 testes, the % proportion of the tunica albuginea (TA) and rete testis (RT) was determined in the quantitative composition of the testis. The weight of the testis ranged widely from 3.0 to 34.5 g, mean weight 14.67 +/- 6.0 g, with a statistically non-significant difference in favour of the right testis (15.3 +/- 6.32 g). The mean weight of the testes decreased with age, being 16.77 g in young men, 14.98 g in middle-aged men, and 13.6 g in old men. The absolute weight of TA and RT ranged from 1.0 to 12.0 g, being on the average 3.57 +/- 1.42 g. Similarly as the mean weight of the testis, that of TA and RT was not significantly different between the right and left testis, and between various age groups. On the other hand, a significant rise was observed in the % proportion of the mass of TA and RT in the total mass of the testis in various age groups. In young men, this proportion was 20.36%, in middle-aged men 24.28%, and in old men 28.83%. Statistically significant differences appeared between the mean values in the youngest and oldest age groups and the oldest and middle age groups. In the whole material, the % proportion of TA and RT in the quantitative composition of the testis ranged from 13.6 to 75.0%, being 25.7 +/- 8.1% on the average. Identical results were obtained by 2 different methods in men dying between 17 and 91 a of age, and the mean age of them was 58.2 a.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Exclusion of SOX9 as the testis determining factor in Ellobius lutescens: evidence for another testis determining gene besides SRY and SOX9.

In mammals the initiation of testis determination usually depends on the Y-chromosomal gene SRY. A few species, however, escape from this rule with a testis determination that is independent of SRY. The mole vole Ellobius lutescens is one of these species. It is not known how testis determination is initiated in this species but it has been suggested that a gene from the sex determination cascade usually acting downstream of SRY is mutated and has taken over the testis-determining function. At present SOX9 is the only candidate gene for which a testis-determining function in the absence of SRY has been observed. To test the hypothesis that testis differentiation in E. lutescens is initiated by SOX9, segregation analysis of SOX9 alleles was performed in an E. lutescens family. As there is no marker data available in this species we screened both Ellobius SOX9 introns for polymorphisms suitable for segregation studies. A biallelic polymorphism was found in the second intron of the SOX9 gene and analysis of this marker in the Ellobius family revealed an inheritance pattern completely independent of the sex of the animals. Thus, SOX9 can be excluded from being the testis-determining factor in E. lutescens. These results provide evidence for another possibly yet unknown gene besides SRY and SOX9 able to exert testis-determining function.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Tissue-specific binding of testis nuclear proteins to a sequence element within the promoter of the testis-specific histone H1t gene.

The rat histone H1t gene is transcribed only in testis germinal cells. This testis-specific chromosomal protein is first synthesized during spermatogenesis in pachytene spermatocytes and the entire complement of testis histones is replaced during the midspermatid stage of spermiogenesis by positively charged transition nuclear proteins TP1 and TP2. Mobility shift assays conducted using crude nuclear protein extracts from different tissues and an 18-bp DNA sequence element within the H1t promoter as a probe reveal binding only with nuclear proteins from testis. The binding is specifically competed with an excess of the same unlabeled DNA fragment but not with heterologous competitors. A larger oligonucleotide corresponding to the same sequence element plus 18 bp of the adjacent downstream H1/CCAAT element binds nuclear proteins from all tissues tested, but a unique low mobility band is formed only with testis extracts. Protein-DNA crosslinking experiments reveal that two major polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 13 and 30 kDa bind to the 18-bp H1t promoter sequence element. This strong correlation between the tissue where the H1t gene is transcribed and the presence of testis-specific nuclear proteins that bind to a sequence element within the testis histone H1t promoter supports the possibility that these DNA-binding proteins may participate in formation of an active transcription initiation complex with the testis H1t promoter.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding two subunits of calcineurin from scallop testis: demonstration of stage-specific expression during maturation of the testis.

Complementary DNAs encoding two subunits of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) testis calcineurin were cloned, and the nucleotide sequences of their coding regions were determined. The deduced amino acid sequences of the catalytic subunit, calcineurin A (486 amino acid residues, M(r) 55,005.91), and the regulatory subunit, calcineurin B (170 residues, M(r) 19,237.67), showed high similarity to those of mammalian calcineurins, especially to the brain-type ones rather than to the testis-specific isoforms. Northern blot analysis showed that only a single species for each subunit was expressed in testis and the expression of each subunit increased dramatically from January to March during the maturation stages of the one-year cycle. The period when the maximum amount of mRNAs for calcineurin was expressed corresponds to the one immediately after meiosis, that is, the maturation stage in which 20-80% of the average testis is occupied by spermatozoa. The result is consistent with the one as to the expression of the testis-specific isoform of calcineurin A in mouse, which occurs immediately after meiosis. This is the first report on the stage-specific expression of calcineurin in invertebrate testis and its sequence similarity to the mammalian brain-type isoforms may indicate that the mammalian testis-specific isoforms appeared in evolution after the divergence of mammals from the mollusks and then diverged rapidly for specific functions in testis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

[Effects of cyclosporin A on expression of FasL and Fas in the contralateral testis after the unilateral testis injured in KM mouse].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of Cyclosporin A (CsA) on spermatogenesis and expression of FasL and Fas in the contralateral testis after the unilateral testis was injured. METHODS: 60 mice were randomly divided equally into groups A (control), B (the unilateral testis was injured by glacial acetic acid), C (excision of ipsilateral testis at 6 hours after the unilateral testis was injured by glacial acetic acid) and D (CsA within 6 hours after the unilateral testis was injured by glacial acetic acid). Sperm density and sperm motility were evaluated after 4 weeks. Expression of FasL and Fas was performed by immunohistochemistry (SP method). The positive cells with SP staining in seminiferous tubules were calculated. RESULTS: Sperm density and sperm motility in group D were significantly increased compared with group B(P < 0.05). Expression of FasL and Fas in group D decreased significantly compared with group B (24.3 +/- 7.0 vs 37.8 +/- 5.8 and 17.8 +/- 4.3 vs 32.4 +/- 3.6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CsA decreased expression of Fas and FasL and maintained spermatogenesis in the contralateral testis after the unilateral testis was injured by glacial acetic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Identification of the testis c-mos promoter: specific activity in a seminiferous tubule-derived extract and binding of a testis-specific nuclear factor.

The c-mos proto-oncogene is predominantly expressed in male and female germ cells and is involved in the regulation of meiosis. To investigate the mechanism of testis-specific regulation of c-mos transcription, I set out to identify the rat testis c-mos promoter. This was achieved by characterization of the rat testis c-mos transcription start site by primer extension and sequence analysis of cDNAs obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification of 5' ends of c-mos RNA. The rat testis c-mos transcription start site is located 0.56 kb upstream of the coding region. A fragment containing the rat testis c-mos promoter directs transcription in a nuclear extract derived from rat seminiferous tubules, but not in a liver nuclear extract. DNAase I footprint analysis and gel-retardation assays showed binding of a novel testis-specific nuclear factor to the rat testis c-mos promoter at a site homologous to the testis-specific cis-acting element identified in the promoter of the RT7 gene, which is specifically expressed in haploid male germ cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Histopathological and cytopathological correlations of percutaneous testis biopsy and open testis biopsy in infertile men.

A testis biopsy is used to assess quantitatively testicular spermatogenesis in infertile patients. Recently, several reports have used less invasive, percutaneous methods to obtain testis tissue. Percutaneous testis biopsies and touch imprints, immediately followed by open testis biopsies, were performed on 24 testes (19 patients) to ascertain whether they could provide the same histological information as an open biopsy. The technique of percutaneous testis biopsy using a core biopsy system is described. Comparison of the percutaneous and open biopsy histological diagnoses revealed a 95% correlation. The percutaneous method using 1 pass through the testis failed to provide adequate tissue in 2 of 24 patients. Touch imprints obtained by the percutaneous method also provided a 95% correlation compared with the open method (2 of 24 touch imprints were lost during processing and, thus, were not evaluated). Percutaneous testis biopsies and touch imprints provide adequate tissue for histological and cytological evaluation, with excellent correlation with biopsies obtained by the traditional open methods. Percutaneous testis biopsy and touch imprint may be performed in an office setting, thus obviating the need to perform an open biopsy in the operating room.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha isoform in rat testis: cDNA cloning, characterization, and biochemical comparison of the recombinant testis and liver enzymes.

Previous data indicated a tissue-specific regulation of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex, especially in the brain and testis. The lack of biochemical data on the rat testis PDH limits comparative analysis between testis and liver enzymes. Therefore, we have isolated a cDNA clone encoding rat testis PDH E1 alpha isoform, determined its nucleotide sequence, studied the tissue-specific expression, and characterized the recombinant protein produced in bacteria, compared to the liver counterpart. Our cDNA clone (2.2 kb) contained the identical open reading frame (from nt 974 to 2149) with that previously reported (Cullingford et al., 1993 Biochim Biophys Acta 1216:149-153) but contained a long 5' untranslated region, which has little identity to the other clone. Northern blot confirmed testis-specific expression of this isoform. Genomic DNA analyses by PCR amplification suggested this clone is a gene product distinct from its X-linked somatic counterpart. Our biochemical and kinetic analyses revealed that the purified recombinant rat testis PDH E1 (containing both E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits) was enzymatically active and phosphorylated in vitro by purified PDH-kinase p48 or p45, similar to the recombinant human liver enzyme. Our current data thus indicate that the differential regulation of testis PDH observed in the animal model may result from differential modulation of PDH-kinase or -phosphatase in this tissue rather than the presence of functionally different PDH E1 subunit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

GLUT3 glucose transporter isoform in rat testis: localization, effect of diabetes mellitus, and comparison to human testis.

Facilitative hexose transporter expression was compared in rat and human testes. In rat testis, only GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins were expressed. By contrast, human testis expressed GLUT1 and GLUT3 in addition to GLUT5. Immunocytochemical studies showed that GLUT3 was expressed in all cells of the seminiferous epithelium of rat testis, including sperm. In human testis, GLUT3 was expressed exclusively in cells juxtaposed to the lumen of the seminiferous tubule and ejaculate sperm, a pattern of expression that was identical to that of GLUT5. Induction of insulinopenic diabetes mellitus in the rat did not alter the levels or the distribution of GLUT3 protein or mRNA in the testis. Moreover insulin treatment of the diabetic rats did not produce changes in GLUT3 mRNA or protein levels. The results show that rat and human testis express the high-affinity glucose transporter GLUT3, which allows for the efficient uptake of glucose. In addition, the testis may be protected from changes in glucose transporter expression in experimental diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Retractile testis and gliding testis. Two distinct clinical entities].

The gliding testis is a testicle located below the external ring, can be manipulated to the upper scrotum, but is prone to ascend to its original position. Histologic changes can be detected in these gonads by 7 years of age. We evaluated 427 consecutive prepubertal boys referred for cryptorchidism. One hundred and twenty-three had classical undescended, 71 ectopic, 55 retractile, and 178 (mean age 6 years 2 moths) gliding testes. The gliding testes were smaller than controlaterals in 24% of boys. All gliding testes were unilateral whereas bilaterality was 85% in the retractile group (p < 0.0001), 17.5% in the undescended (p < 0.001), and 10% in the ectopic group (p < 0.01). A history for one or more of the following: orchidopexy (3), hormonal treatment (5), late testicular descent (9), spermatic cord torsion (5), testicular pain (10), actual retractile testes (20) or actual gliding testis (58), was present in 93 (52.2%) of the fathers of the gliding group. Forty-seven (81%) paternal gliding testes were hypotrophic. Seventy-five boys with gliding testis underwent initial hormonal therapy with transient benefit, and 57 were operated on. Two anatomical findings are typical of the gliding testis: the absence of the gubernaculum and a processus vaginalis partially patent from the upper scrotum to the mid groin area. This feature explains the mobility of the gliding testis from the external ring to the upper scrotum. The absence of the gubernaculum may be responsible for a higher incidence of spermatic cord torsion in this population. The gliding testis is a distinct entity, representing the mildest degree of a true undescended testis. As hormonal treatment gives only transient results, orchidopexy should be considered before testicular damage occurs.

Buserelin↗
PubMed1979

Induction of meiosis in fetal mouse testis in vitro by rete testis tissue from pubertal mice and bulls.

To test whether a meiosis-inducing substance (MIS) is responsible for the induction of meiosis in the testis at puberty, pubertal mouse rete testis was grown with (1) fetal undifferentiated mouse testis attached to the other side of a filter and (2) the used medium obtained from culture of the rete testis of a pubertal bull for 2 days. In both systems meiosis was induced in the fetal testis showing that MIS is not species specific. No meiosis-preventing effect was seen and it is concluded that meiosis in the testis is triggered at puberty as a result of the activity of the MIS concomitant with decreased activity of the meiosis-preventing substance.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Orchidopexy or orchidectomy for preventing tissue hypoxia in contralateral testis following induction of ipsilateral abdominal testis associated with vas deferens obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: An experimental study was planned to evaluate and compare the effects of orchidopexy and orchidectomy on ipsilateral and contralateral testes in rats subjected to ipsilateral abdominal testis and vas deferens obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of 12 rats each were established. Sham operation, intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction and orchidopexy or orchidectomy for prior intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction were performed in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. While testes were maintained for 8 weeks in the same position in groups 1 and 2, orchidopexy or orchidectomy was performed in groups 3 and 4 after the first 4 weeks, and the remaining testes were harvested after an additional 4 weeks. Lactic acid hypoxanthine contents were determined and the groups were compared with the paired t test. RESULTS: Maintaining intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction for 8 weeks and orchidopexy yielded the highest lactate values. However lactate levels in contralateral testes did not increase. On the other hand, hypoxanthine levels revealed the highest values after the initial 4 weeks. The 8-week study period resulted in increases of ipsilateral and contralateral testicular hypoxanthine levels. Orchidopexy caused a decrease in ipsilateral testicular values and ameliorated the increase in hypoxanthine levels in contralateral testes. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing an intra-abdominal testis with its vas deferens ligated into the scrotum ameliorates the oxidative stress in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Since orchidectomy does not result in better contralateral testicular values, orchidopexy should be preferred when treating an undescended testis with vasal obstruction.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Quantitative evaluation of biopty gun testis needle biopsy. Correlation between biopsy score of varicocele-bearing testis and sperm count.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the applicability of quantitative evaluation of needle biopsy of the testis and any correlation between biopsy score and sperm parameters in infertile or subfertile men with varicocele. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 45 infertile men with clinical left varicocele were included in the study. All patients underwent left varicocelectomy and bilateral biopty gun needle biopsy of both testes. Spermiograms were obtained before and three months after the operation. The biopsy specimens were evaluated for Johnsen and Agger score, Leydig cell score, germ cell/Sertoli cell ratio, mean tubular diameter, peritubular fibrosis, and tubular and basement membrane hyalinization. RESULTS: Mean sperm count, motility and normally configured motile sperm counts increased 20%, 25% and 60% by month 3, respectively (P < .05). We did not observe any significant change in normally configured sperm counts. A mean of 14 tubuli per testis were obtained with single-pass needle biopsy. Johnsen and Agger scores, Leydig cell scores, mean tubular diameter and germ cell/Sertoli cell ratios of both testes were comparable. However, there was significantly less peritubular fibrosis, tubular hyalinization and basal membrane hyalinization in the right testis when compared to the varicocele-bearing left testis (P < .05). We found positive correlations between Johnsen and Agger score of varicocele-bearing left testis and preoperative normally configured motile sperm counts (Pearson's r = .34 and P < .05 and Pearson's r = .41 and P < .05, respectively). The Leydig cell score of varicocele-bearing testis correlated inversely with sperm counts (Pearson's r = -0.37, P < .05). CONCLUSION: These observations may prove of prognostic value in infertile or subfertile men with varicocele.

Adult↗