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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↗
PubMed2006

Building a testis: formation of functional testis tissue after transplantation of isolated porcine (Sus scrofa) testis cells.

During mammalian development, morphogenesis of the testis requires the coordinated interplay of somatic cells to form seminiferous cords in which the primitive germ cells reside. These cords are the precursor of the functional male gonad and as such form the basis of male fertility. Cell migration during mammalian organogenesis and formation of complex tissues, such as the testis, are difficult to study in situ. Herein, we report extensive rearrangement of cells to regenerate complete functional testis tissue after implantation of isolated neonatal porcine testis cells under the skin of immunodeficient mice. Somatic cells and germ cells reorganized into structures that have remarkable morphologic and physiologic similarity to normal testis tissue, forming the endocrine and spermatogenic compartment of the testis. This unique in vivo system provides an accessible model for the study of testicular morphogenesis that could be especially useful in nonrodent species.

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↗
PubMed2007

Comparison of global gene expression between porcine testis tissue xenografts and porcine testis in situ.

Testis tissue from immature mammalian donor animals, grafted ectopically to immunodeficient mouse hosts, can undergo complete spermatogenesis with the production of fertilization-competent spermatozoa. To further characterize testis tissue xenografts as a model for testis function in situ, the objective of this study was to compare gene expression between porcine testis tissue xenografts and testis tissue in situ. Pieces of testis tissue from 1-week-old piglets were grafted onto immunodeficient male mice and a littermate piglet was raised for comparison as control. Complete spermatogenesis was present in the testis tissue xenografts at 8 months after transplantation into mouse hosts and in the 8-month-old control porcine testis tissue. Total RNA was isolated from xenografts and control tissue, and the RNA was labeled and hybridized to the porcine genome array. By analyzing the expression of 23,256 transcripts, we found that 71 genes were differentially expressed with at least a fourfold difference between xenografts and control tissue. Interestingly, none of the 56 transcripts present on the array that were annotated in porcine testis showed differential expression between xenografts and control testis. This analysis indicates that global gene expression in porcine testis xenografts appears comparable to testis tissue in situ. These findings support the hypothesis that testis tissue xenografts can provide a representative model to study mammalian spermatogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of the anti-androgenic endocrine disruptor vinclozolin on embryonic testis cord formation and postnatal testis development and function.

Vinclozolin is a systemic dicarboximide fungicide that is used on fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and turf grass. Vinclozolin and its metabolites are known to be endocrine disruptors and act as androgen receptor antagonists. The hypothesis tested in the current study is that transient embryonic exposure to an anti-androgenic endocrine disruptor at the time of testis determination alters testis development and subsequently influences adult spermatogenic capacity and male reproduction. The effects of vinclozolin on embryonic testicular cord formation in vitro were examined, as well as the effects of transient in utero vinclozolin exposure on postnatal testis development and function. Embryonic day 13 (E13, sperm-positive vaginal smear day = E0) gonads were cultured in the absence or presence of vinclozolin (50-500microM). Vinclozolin treated gonads had significantly fewer cords (P < 0.05) and the histology of the cords that formed were abnormal as compared to vehicle-treated organs. Pregnant rats were exposed to vinclozolin (100 mg/kg/day) between embryonic days 8 and 14 (E8-E14) of development. Testis morphology and function were analyzed from postnatal day (P) 0, pubertal P20, and adult P60. No significant effect of vinclozolin on testis histology or germ cell viability was observed in P0 testis. The pubertal P20 testis from vinclozolin exposed animals had significantly higher numbers of apoptotic germ cells (P < 0.01), but testis weight was not affected. The adult P60 sperm motility was significantly lower in vinclozolin exposed males (P < 0.01). In addition, apoptotic germ cell number in testis of vinclozolin exposed animals was higher in adult P60 animals. Observations demonstrate that vinclozolin can effect embryonic testicular cord formation in vitro and that transient in utero exposure to vinclozolin increases apoptotic germ cell numbers in the testis of pubertal and adult animals. This correlated to reduced sperm motility in the adult. In conclusion, transient exposure to vinclozolin during the time of testis differentiation (i.e. cord formation) alters testis development and function. Observations indicate that transient exposure to an anti-androgenic endocrine disruptor during embryonic development causes delayed effects later in adult life on spermatogenic capacity.

Androgen Antagonists↗
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↗
PubMed2005

Torsed appendix testis: gray scale and color Doppler sonographic findings compared with normal appendix testis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the size, shape, echogenicity, and blood flow of the appendix testis on sonography in control subjects and in patients with a torsed appendix testis and to evaluate the usefulness as well as the limitations of these criteria. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 11 lesions with torsed appendix testes and 15 normal appendix testes in 12 children. The following gray scale and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: size, shape, echogenicity, and blood flow of the appendix testis. RESULTS: The size of the appendix testis was larger in patients with a torsed appendix testis than in the control subjects (P < .05). A spherical shape of the appendix testis was more common in patients with a torsed appendix testis (P < .05). There was no blood flow within both the torsed and normal appendix testes. However, the frequency of increased periappendiceal blood flow was higher in patients with a torsed appendix testis (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the echogenicity between the torsed and normal appendix testes. CONCLUSIONS: Gray scale and color Doppler sonography may be helpful in the diagnosis of torsion of the appendix testis. A size of 5 mm or larger, spherical shape, and increased periappendiceal blood flow are indicative of a torsed appendix testis.

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↗
PubMed2006

Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor and testis tissue culture on spermatogenesis in bovine ectopic testis tissue xenografts.

Bovine ectopic testis tissue grafting is a technique that can be used to study bovine spermatogenesis and for the production of germ cells for a variety of applications. Approximately 10% of seminiferous tubule cross sections in testis grafts contain spermatids, providing a unique tool to investigate what regulates germ cell differentiation. We hypothesized that manipulation of testis tissue grafts would increase the percentage of seminiferous tubule cross sections undergoing complete germ cell differentiation. To test this hypothesis, bovine testis tissue was treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at the time of grafting or explant cultured for 1 wk prior to grafting. For the VEGF experiment, 8-wk donor tissue and graft sites were treated with 1 microg of VEGF in order to increase angiogenesis at the graft site. For the testis tissue culture experiment, 4-wk-old donor testis was cultured for 1 wk prior to grafting to stimulate spermatogonial stem cell proliferation. Testis tissue grafts were removed from the mice 24 wk after grafting. VEGF treatment increased graft weight and the percentage of seminiferous tubule cross sections with elongating spermatids at the time of graft removal. Cultured testis tissue grafts were smaller and had fewer seminiferous tubules per graft. However, there was no difference in the percentage of seminiferous tubule cross sections that contained any germ cell type between groups. These data indicate for the first time that bovine testis tissue can be manipulated to better support germ cell differentiation in grafted tissue.

Animals↗
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↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a dendritic cell population in normal testis and in chronically inflamed testis of rats with autoimmune orchitis.

Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) in the rat is the primary chronic animal model for the investigation of one of the main causes of male infertility, viz., testicular inflammation. Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen-presenting cells that play a fundamental role in autoimmune disease. We investigated the number of DC in normal testis and examined whether DC infiltrated the testis during the development of EAO. EAO was induced by active immunization with testis homogenate and adjuvants in two strains of rat (Wistar and Sprague Dawley). The presence of DC in testis was determined, 50 and 80 days after the first immunization, by immunohistochemical staining with specific antibodies (OX-62 and CD11c), and then the total number of DC was measured by stereological analysis. Labeled cells were found only in the interstitial compartment and within granulomas of EAO animals. The number of DC in EAO testes increased compared with control rats in both strains, whereas the number of OX-62+ and CD11c+ cells in adjuvant controls remained unchanged compared with untreated rats. Interspecies variations in the quantity of DC were found, with the total number of DC per testis in untreated and adjuvant control Sprague-Dawley rats being about three times higher than that seen in Wistar rats. Moreover, the increase in DC numbers at 80 days was less prominent in EAO testes of Sprague-Dawley rats than in the Wistar strain in which EAO was more severe and showed a higher number of granulomae. Thus, we have identified the DC population in normal and chronically inflamed testis. The increase in DC observed in EAO suggests that, under inflammatory conditions, the modified action(s) of these cells is a factor in the induction of the autoimmune response in testis.

Animals↗