Effects of Experimental Cryptorchidism on Sperm Motility and Testicular Endocrinology in Adult Male Rats

Abstract

Abstract. The effect of induced cryptorchidism on testicular function and sperm motility was investigated. Bilateral cryptorchidism was created surgically in adult male rats (treated group), and sham-operated rats were used as a control group. Five rats from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after surgery. The percentage of motile spermatozoa began to decrease 1 day after the operation, followed by an abrupt decline 3 and 5 days later in cryptorchid rats. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in the other sperm motility parameters 5 days after inducement of cryptorchidism. In cryptorchid rats, plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, and inhibin B were significantly lower than in the control group 1 day after the operation. Thereafter, plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, and testosterone gradually increased in the cryptorchid rats. On the other hand, plasma concentrations of inhibin B showed a further decline from day 3 after the operation onward. Concentrations of immunoreactive (ir)-inhibin, but not testosterone, in testicular interstitial fluid were remarkably increased until 3 days after surgery in the cryptorchid rats, and declined thereafter. Testicular response to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for testosterone release was decreased in the cryptorchid rats compared with the control rats, indicating that heat stress to testes resulted in a reduction of the activity of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. These results clearly indicate that heat stress to the testes resulted in a significant reduction of sperm activity within 3 days, and this was followed by changes in testicular endocrine function. Key words: Cryptorchidism, Heat stress, Inhibin B, Sperm motility, Testosterone (J. Reprod. Dev. 52: [219][220][221][222][223][224][225][226][227][228] 2006) ormal testicular descent is dependent on a series of complex endocrine and mechanical interactions [1]. In most mammalian species, the testis is kept approximately 4-5 C below body temperature. This lower temperature has been shown to be important for normal germ cell development and testicular function [2,3]. A slight increase in testicular temperature for a short period results in a rapid loss of mature germ cells [4,5], and the number of primary spermatocytes and spermatids drops rapidly [6]. In the field of animal production, summer sterility is a serious problem especially in male domestic animals, such as pigs, cattle, and stallions. In the rat, testicular damage caused by cryptorchidism is reversible, if the

Effects of Pantothenic Acid on Testicular Function in Male Rats

“…In previous studies, it has been reported that as the plasma concentration of testosterone decreases, sperm motility also decreases [9,18]. However, sperm motility does not decrease immediately, but rather decreases gradually along with the concentration of plasma testosterone [26]. In the present study, testosterone-dependent sperm motility parameters significantly decreased in rats fed a PaA-deficient diet as compared with control rats, which is correlated with the lowering of testosterone secretion by PaA deficiency.…”

Testicular Superoxide Dismutase Activity, Heat Shock Protein 70 Concentration and Blood Plasma Inhibin-.ALPHA. Concentration of Dogs with a Sertoli Cell Tumor in a Unilateral Cryptorchid Testis

“…The blood plasma INH concentration of cryptorchid men [3,7,21] and experimental cryptorchid rats [27] has been found to be lower than in normal men and rats. The authors have reported lower Sertoli cell function in experimental cryptorchid testes from dogs than in the contralateral scrotal testes [17].…”

Cadherin and vimentin immunoexpression in the testis of normal and induced infertility models of albino rats

“…Testis descent was prevented by suturing the inguinal canal. The right testis was kept in the scrotum [21]. The applied procedures were approved by the research ethical committee, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University.…”

“…Moreover, this elevated temperature was also shown to cause degenerative changes both in Sertoli and germ cells and has also been associated with decreased sperm motility [21]. In addition, it was shown that Cx lead to AJs disintegration [20].…”