The Immunophysiology of Male Reproduction

Hedger, Mark P.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397175-3.00019-3

Cited by 37 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 1,142 publications

(1,971 reference statements)

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“…The LPS treatment conditions for these experiments are an established approach for producing an inflammatory response in the testis . Reduction in serum testosterone following LPS treatment is one well‐characterized effect, and we measured serum testosterone to demonstrate the physiological effects of LPS treatment in our experimental system.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research into defense mechanisms that male reproductive organs use to safeguard against pathogens is of importance because bacterial and viral infections are known to cause infertility, cancers of the male reproductive tract, and erectile dysfunction, among other conditions . Recent research has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play major roles in regulating androgen signaling, the repression of cell proliferation and oncogenic pathways within the male reproductive tract, and spermatogenesis .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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MicroRNAs downregulated following immune activation of rat testis

Parker

Palladino

2017

American J Rep Immunol

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MicroRNAs downregulated following immune activation of rat testis

Parker

Palladino

2017

American J Rep Immunol

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“…autoimmune epididymo‐orchitis). In fact, sperm autoimmunity is a considerable problem, with 5–10% of male infertility cases being attributed to sperm antibodies (Hedger, ; Lotti et al ., ), while inflammatory lesions can be found in the testes of a substantial proportion of men with idiopathic infertility (Suominen & Soderstrom, ; Schuppe et al ., ). Immunological events in the epididymis and vas deferens can have detrimental effects on spermatogenesis and fertility, and even systemic inflammation inhibits male reproduction (Gregory & Cyr, ; Fijak et al ., ).…”

Section: Background and Clinical Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Activins, follistatin and immunoregulation in the epididymis

Wijayarathna

Hedger

2019

Andrology

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Background: The interface between the epididymis and the immune system is implicated in many male reproductive pathologies. The resident immune cell populations and immune-environment within the epididymis are significantly different from the testis, which is an immune-privileged site. Moreover, the immune cell subsets and immunological responses between different regions of the epididymis vary considerably. The cauda epididymis is more susceptible to autoimmune responses than the caput in rodent models of active immunization or suppressed immune tolerance, and in men with congenital or physical damage to the reproductive tract. Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-b family of cytokines that are crucial for testis and epididymal development; however, they also have complex immunoregulatory properties and may play an essential role in the regulation of immunity in the reproductive tract. Materials and methods: Our recent research and relevant publications by other researchers identified following a PubMed search are reviewed. Results: The caput epididymis displays elevated endogenous expression of activins A and B and the immunoregulatory gene, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase, co-existing with an extensive population of intra-epithelial and interstitial macrophages and dendritic cells, which appear to be involved in regulating tolerance against sperm antigens. The caput is also relatively resistant to inflammatory damage caused by autoimmunity or bacterial infection, but the cauda, which exhibits low activin expression and high levels of the activin-binding protein, follistatin, is highly susceptible to inflammatory damage. Paradoxically, inflammation in the cauda induces increased activin production, and inhibition of activin activity reduces inflammatory responses. Studies using mouse models with altered levels of activins and follistatin indicate a relationship between the activins and genes involved in inflammation and immunoregulation. Conclusion: The existing data indicate that activins play a complex role in controlling inflammation and immunity in the epididymis and vas deferens.

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“…This activation drives intracellular cholesterol to bind to the mitochondrial membrane through the action of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Thus, cholesterol is metabolized to pregnenolone, and can be converted to progesterone or testosterone (Hedger, ). A study using the natural flavonoid chrysin showed that incubation of the Leydig tumor cells of mice with this flavonoid promoted an increase in cAMP and in the promoter activity of the StAR gene.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the reorganization of this barrier in the region of the rete testis—a region of morphological transition between testis and epididymis—renders this barrier incomplete. There is also a blood–epididymal barrier in the epididymis, but the literature shows that this barrier is less elaborate compared to the testis barrier (Hedger, ). The epididymal barrier controls the microenvironment to enable the spermatozoa to have a fluid suitable for their survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol extract of Bauhinia forficata link reduces lipid peroxidation in the testis and epididymis of adult Wistar rats

Sampaio

Lucchetta

Punhagui

et al. 2018

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Bauhinia forficata is a medicinal plant that has flavonoid components with hypoglycemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiviral and anti‐inflammatory action. Aim of this study is to evaluate the action of B. forficata alcoholic extract in the male genital system of adult male Wistar rats. For that, 20 adult male Wistar rats were distributed into two experimental groups: the B. forficata group, receiving B. forficata alcoholic extract (0.1 ml/10 g body weight/day) on alternate days, and the control group, receiving just the vehicle for 30 days straight both via gavage. On the 31st day, the animals were euthanized, and the testis and epididymis were collected for histopathological, biochemical, morphometric, and sperm count analysis. Mass spectrometry identified new compounds in the extract: trans‐caffeic acid, liquiritigenin, gallocatechin, and 2,4,6‐trihydroxyphenanthren‐2‐glycoside. Biochemical analysis showed higher total cholesterol levels in the testis and lower malondialdehyde levels in the testis and epididymis, in the B. forficata group. The mast cell count showed a reduction in degranulated mast cells in the caput region of the epididymis, in the B. forficata group. The luminal compartment of the caput and the epithelial of the epididymis cauda were reduced, whereas the stromal region of the epididymis caput was increased in the B. forficata group, compared with the control group. The testicular tissue was less impaired, considering that all the histological analyses were similar to the control. We believe that B. forficata alcoholic extract in the male genital system showed antioxidant action, especially in the epididymal tissue.

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The Immunophysiology of Male Reproduction

Cited by 37 publications

References 1,142 publications

MicroRNAs downregulated following immune activation of rat testis

MicroRNAs downregulated following immune activation of rat testis

Activins, follistatin and immunoregulation in the epididymis

Alcohol extract of Bauhinia forficata link reduces lipid peroxidation in the testis and epididymis of adult Wistar rats

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