Degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium following epididymal obstruction in prepubertal rats

Flickinger, Charles J.; Baran, Maureen; Howards, Stuart S.; Herr, John C.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(19990101)254:1<76::aid-ar10>3.0.co;2-#

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In present study, no differences were encountered histologically and morphologically among the ligation group on the 21 st and the 35 th days, and in the sham group. These findings are in concordance with that of Flickinger et al ( 1 ). In all of the rats in the ligation group on the 56 th day, the diameter and the width of the lumen of the seminiferious tubules increased compared to the sham group.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Deleterious changes can occur in the seminiferous tubules as a result of obstruction of the male duct system. These changes are variable according to blocked region ( 1 - 3 ). Studies on the obstruction of male duct system are especially focused on the ductus deferens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies show that epididymal obstruction leads to pathological changes in the seminiferous tubules, but some of these changes are reversible; whereas some other studies report that after partial epididymectomy, the pathological changes in the seminiferous tubules are definitive ( 3 , 11 ). In studies concerning the prepubertal period, in the seminiferous tubules, serious and irreversible changes are encountered that are characterized by depletion of the germinal cells completely or partially, in the seminiferous tubules ( 1 , 13 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of prepubertal epididymal ligation upon androgen receptor distribution in the rat caput epididymis

Gur¹,

Timurkaan²,

Timurkaan³

2011

Vet. Med. - Czech

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Background: Previous researches about the effects of epididymal obstruction on the testes are contradictory, and the mechanism harmful effect of male duct system obstruction on seminiferous tubules still remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of epididymal obstruction in prepubertal rats on the testis. Materials and Methods: 15 days of age, the young rats were divided at random in two groups for epididymal ligation (n=25) or sham operation (n=15). Both groups were sacrificed at 21, 35, 56, 90, 120 days. The testis were removed, fixed in Bouin’s fixative and embedded in paraffin wax. The tissues were sectioned at 5 µm and stained with haematoxylin-eosin and triple stain. Results: In ligated rats the first histological alterations were detected at 56 days. These degenerative changes included increase at the seminiferous tubule diameter and basal membrane thickness, decrease at the germinal epithelium thickness, depletion of spermatids and presence of multinucleated spermatids. In 90 and 120 days ligation groups; germ cells greatly reduced in number. Conclusion: progressive degenerative alterations occurred in the seminiferous tubules after prepubertal epididymal obstruction but these degenerative alterations are not observed until puberta and in the seminiferous tubules that showed extensive degeneration, seminiferous epithelium was composed mainly of Sertoli cells.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of prepubertal epididymal ligation upon androgen receptor distribution in the rat caput epididymis

Gur¹,

Timurkaan²,

Timurkaan³

2011

Vet. Med. - Czech

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“…Congenital and acquired obstructions cause an increase in hydrostatic pressure in the seminiferous tubules, rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymal duct and the initial part of the vas deferens depending on obstruction level [10]. Degeneration of the secretory epithelium is a general response to obstruction of the male ductal system; increased pressure and accumulation of metabolites might be possible mechanisms of damage [11]. In the present study, the diameters of both the obstructed and contralateral testes were significantly higher in prepubertal rats in group 3 than in the other two groups, suggesting that the testes are more susceptible to obstruction of the vas deferens in prepubertal than in adult rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Histopathological examination of both ipsilateral and contralateral testes with different obstructive models in prepubertal and adult rats

Altay¹,

Hekımgıl

Kefi³

et al. 2001

BJU International

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Objective To determine the histopathological changes in both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes of prepubertal and adult male rats 60 days after creating different obstructive models. Material and methods Thirty-six prepubertal and 32 adult albino male rats were examined in three different obstructive models of the right testis. In group 1 the spermatic cord was ligated, in group 2 the ligation was between the caput epididymis and testis, and in group 3 the vas deferens was ligated. Sixty days after ligation both testes were removed and evaluated for testis diameter, mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD), and degenerative, obstructive and in¯amma-tory changes. Results The diameter of the obstructed right testis and MSTD were signi®cantly greater in prepubertal rats but there was no apparent difference in adult rats. For obstructive changes, sloughing of germ cells in the prepubertal rats and germ cell absence in adult rats were signi®cantly more common in group 3. The contralateral testis diameter and MSTD of group 3 was signi®cantly greater only in prepubertal rats.Statistically signi®cant values of obstructive change, e.g. sloughing of germ cells and apical vacuolation in Sertoli cells, were apparent in prepubertal rats, but tubular ectasis was the only statistically signi®cant criterion of obstruction in adult rats. Conclusion The testes are more susceptible to obstruction of the vas deferens in prepubertal than in adults rats, resulting in increased hydrostatic pressure and oedema of both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes, which might be caused by collateral circulation and rat testicular microcirculation, with a rhythmic pattern of arteriolar dilatation and constriction (vasomotion). Although the presence of oedema and high hydrostatic pressure was not prominent in adults, formation of spermatic granulomas and absence or sloughing of germ cells in the obstructed and contralateral testes re¯ect the early effects of vas ligation on spermatogenesis in adulthood.

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“…In the rat, epididymal ligation causes extensive degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium with loss of virtually the entire germ cell population and a significant decline in both testicular and epididymal weight (32), although ligation of the initial segment of the caput epididymis results in temporary testicular changes followed by evidence of recovery in the mouse (33). These testicular alterations differed from that of the MCA mutant testes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meichroacidin Containing the Membrane Occupation and Recognition Nexus Motif Is Essential for Spermatozoa Morphogenesis

Tokuhiro

Hirose

Miyagawa

et al. 2008

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Meichroacidin (MCA) is a highly hydrophilic protein that contains the membrane occupation and recognition nexus motif. MCA is expressed during the stages of spermatogenesis from pachytene spermatocytes to mature sperm development and is localized in the male meiotic metaphase chromosome and sperm flagellum. MCA sequences are highly conserved in Ciona intestinalis, Cyprinus carpio, and mammals. To investigate the physiological role of MCA, we generated MCA-disrupted mutant mice; homozygous MCA mutant males were infertile, but females were not. Sperm was rarely observed in the caput epididymidis of MCA mutant males. However, little to no difference was seen in testis mass between wild-type and mutant mice. During sperm morphogenesis, elongated spermatids had retarded flagellum formation and might increase phagocytosis by Sertoli cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that MCA interacts with proteins located on the outer dense fibers of the flagellum. The testicular sperm of MCA mutant mice was capable of fertilizing eggs successfully via intracytoplasmic sperm injection and generated healthy progeny. Our results suggest that MCA is essential for sperm flagellum formation and the production of functional sperm.

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Degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium following epididymal obstruction in prepubertal rats

Cited by 12 publications

References 36 publications

The effects of prepubertal epididymal ligation upon androgen receptor distribution in the rat caput epididymis

The effects of prepubertal epididymal ligation upon androgen receptor distribution in the rat caput epididymis

Histopathological examination of both ipsilateral and contralateral testes with different obstructive models in prepubertal and adult rats

Meichroacidin Containing the Membrane Occupation and Recognition Nexus Motif Is Essential for Spermatozoa Morphogenesis

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