The effects of acute and chronic inanition upon the development and structure of the testis in the albino rat

Abstract

Resumen por el autor, David M. Siperstein. Universidad de Minnesota.Los efectos de la inanici6n aguda y crbnica sobre el desarrollo y la estructura del testiculo de la rata albina.El desarrollo postnatal normal del testiculo ha sido estudiado por el autor en una serie de ratas albinas. Estos testiculos fueron comparados con 10s de ratas sometidas a una alimentacibn deficiente durante varios periodos. IJnas c u h t a s ratas fueron alimentadas con una dieta abundante despuks de una inanicibn prolongada. Los resultados mlis iinportantes de estos estudios son 10s sigdentes: 1. En ratas de dos dias el testiculo aumenta en peso a pesar de haber sometido a1 animal a1 hambre durante 48 a 50 horas, per0 las mitosis disminuyen en ndmero y el proceso normal de la diferenciaci6n histolbgica cesa. 2. Durante el periodo de nutrici6n deficiente durante tiempo variable en ratas de tree semanas, la mitosis contin6a en las cklulas de 10s tubos seminiferos, pero el proceso de la espermatoghesis cesa en el estado de espermatocito primario. Los espermatocitos degeneran y son reabsorbidos. Las espermatogonias y c6lulas de Sertoli solamente presentan cambios degenerativos en 10s casos de inanicibn extrema. 3. La inanicibn aguda en las ratas adultas con pdrdida del 30 a 47 por ciento del peso total produce cambios degenerativos en unos cuhntos tdbulos esparcidos irregularmente. Todos 10s demhs tGbulos presentan una estructura normal en apariencia. 4. La mitosis es muy persistente en el epitelio seminifero y tiene lugar a6n en aquellos ttibulos en 10s cuales casi todas las c6lulas aparecen m8s o menos degeneradas. 5 . La alimentacibn abundante despubs de una inanicibn prolongada (comenzada a las tres semanas de edad y extendida sobre 12 a 20 semanas) da como resultado la vuelta rApida a la estructura histolbgica normal. 6. Durante el periodo regenerativo el autor ha comprobado la existencia de una hipertrofia definida del tejido intersticial e hiperplasia de las c6lulas interst iciales.

The Effect of Undernutrition and Rehabilitation on the Development of the Reproductive Organs: Rats

“…It has also been recognized for a long time that if a growing rat is subjected to a period of undernutrition, the testes increase in weight relatively more than the body (Stewart, 1918) and may even gain weight when the body is losing weight (Siperstein, 1921). Undernutrition may induce changes of regression in the testes of an adult rat, and Siperstein (1921) showed that these two effects of a food deficiency might go on side by side.…”

“…It has also been recognized for a long time that if a growing rat is subjected to a period of undernutrition, the testes increase in weight relatively more than the body (Stewart, 1918) and may even gain weight when the body is losing weight (Siperstein, 1921). Undernutrition may induce changes of regression in the testes of an adult rat, and Siperstein (1921) showed that these two effects of a food deficiency might go on side by side. Rats have been investigated more than other animals and the undernutrition has been induced by various modifications of diet, not always strictly controlled but always with rather similar results (Winters, Smith & Mendel, 1927;Jackson & Smith, 1931;Smith, 1931;Clarke & Smith, 1938).…”

The Effect of Undernutrition and Rehabilitation on the Development of the Reproductive Organs: Pigs

“…No other work has been done on the rehabilitation of pigs after such severe undernutrition, but it has been shown that during less severe restrictions in young rats and goats the testes may account for an undue proportion of the body weight (Jackson & Smith, 1931, Clarke & Smith, 1938Wilson, 1960). The gravimetric and histological studies of Siperstein (1921) and attempt to summarize observations on male and female pigs and to show how the effects of undernutrition are related to those of rehabilitation, and to chronological time and somatic development. A preliminary account of some of this work has been given by McCance (1962) and McCance & Widdowson (1962).…”

Effects of megadoses of pyridoxine on spermatogenesis and male reproductive organs in rats

“…Since moderate food restriction in adult animals showed only minimal evidence of tubular degenaration (Siperstein 1921) and the relative testicular weights increased compared with those of ad libitum-fed control rats (Schwarz et al 1973), we predict that the effects of the body weight loss seen in this study would not be able to account for the changes observed.…”