摘要:

We have investigated the interrelationship of the levels of 10 steroids in peripheral venous, spermatic arterial and spermatic venous blood, and in tissue specimens from the epididymis, vas deferens and testis from 8 patients who underwent orchidectomy for pathological conditions of the reproductive organs. The steroids analyzed by radioimmunoassay were: pregnenolone (5‐P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OH‐P), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the sulpho‐conjugated forms (‐S) of 5‐P, DHEA, T and DHT. The quantitatively major steroids in peripheral venous blood were, in order of magnitude, DHEA‐S, 5‐P‐S, DHT‐S, T‐S and T. No difference was observed between the levels of any of the steroids measured in peripheral venous and spermatic arterial blood. With the exception of DHEA‐S and DHT‐S, the levels of all steroids in spermatic venous blood were substantially higher than in peripheral venous blood (P<0.001). No correlation was found between steroid levels in spermatic venous and peripheral venous blood.Steroid concentrations in tissue from the epididymis, vas deferens and testis were markedly higher than in peripheral venous blood (P<0.01 toP<0.001), except for the levels of DHEA‐S which were about equal in the various blood and tissue specimens. Tissue to blood ratios varied from approximately 2.0 to 500 according to the steroid in question. The peripheral blood levels of 5‐P‐S, DHEA‐S and DHT‐S were substantially higher than respective unconjugated steroid levels (P<0.001); the ratios (sulphoconjugated to unconjugated) were approximately 17, 215 and 30, respectively. In contrast the respective ratios in the tissue specimens vaned from 0.3 to 5.0.These data indicate differences in the extent of tissue steroid accumulation and/or hnding. Furthermore, the varying relationship in different tissues between sulpho‐conjugated and unconjugated steroids suggests the existence of organ specific regulatory mechanisms for steroids in the human. The possibility that the various steroids, particularly the sulpho‐conjugated steroids studied, have specific tissue functions is discussed. It is suggested that the measurement of sulpho‐conjugated steroids may be useful for evaluation of

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00887.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Maternal exposure to cannabinoids influenced spermatogenesis and fertility in their male offspring examined at 60–80 days of age. Approximately 20% less spermatozoa were found in males whose mothers had received either the non‐psychoactive cannabinol (CBN) or cannabidiol (CBD) on day 1 post‐partum. Males exposed to the major psychoactive component of marihuana, Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) appeared to have spermatozoa in number comparable to controls. This finding may be consistent with the additional observation that CBN or CBD, but not THC, reduced the percentage of successful impregnations by cannabinoid‐exposed males. However, males exposed to each of these cannabinoids produced significantly less live offspring compared to controls. Plasma levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were reduced significantly in mice exposed to THC on day 12 of gestation, while testicular weight was reduced in adult mice exposed either on day 12 of gestation to CBD or on day 1 post‐partum to THC. These results indicate that perinatal exposure to psychoactive and non‐psychoactive components of marihuana can produce long‐term disruption of testicular function including the spermatogenic as well as the steroido

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00888.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

To validate earlier findings, mainly in laboratory animals, the effect of ethanol on the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa has been investigated. Ethanol added to the capacitation medium reduced the penetration of zona‐free hamster eggs by human spermatozoa in a dose‐dependent manner at concentrations from 50 to 500 mg % (0.05–0.5%). Fertilizing capacity was at least partially restored by washing in ethanol‐free medium. Ethanol exposure before capacitation had a slight stimulatory effect on the penetration of spermatozoa into zona‐free hamster ova. The motility of spermatozoa was not altered significantly, either quantitatively or qualitatively, by the presence of ethanol in the capacitation medium. These results suggest that the decrease in fertilizing ability of spermatozoa induced by ethanol during capacitation is due to a specific action on the capacitatio

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00889.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The effects of experimental cryptorchidism on seminiferous tubule secretions and interstitial cell testosterone production were studied in vitro. Spent media obtained from incubations of seminiferous tubules (SMST) from cryptorchid rats caused a significant increase in testosterone production when added to interstitial cells isolated from intact rats. The previously noticed inhibitory activity of the SMST from stages VIII–XI of the sperma‐togenic epithelial cycle gradually disappeared after the induction of experimental cryptorchidism. SMST obtained from both sham‐operated or cryptorchid rats stimulated basal testosterone production when added to interstitial cells from cryptrochid rats. SMST from rats had been cryptorchid for 7, 14 and 28 days stimulated testosterone production when added to interstitial cells prepared from intact animals. Seminiferous tubules from cryptorchid rats therefore appear to be the source of a heat stable, trypsin‐resistant factor with an apparent molecular weight of between 5000 and 10 000 daltons which stimulates testosterone production when added to interstitial cells in vitro. Its activity could not be blocked by an LRH antagonist. This factor enhances both basal and LH‐stimulated secretion of testosterone in contrast to the inhibitory activity which involves only a partial blockade of LH‐dependent ster

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00890.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The role of seminiferous tubule dysfunction in regulating the levels of a factor (or factors) in testicular interstitial fluid (IF) which stimulates Leydig cell testosterone secretion in vitro, was assessed by injecting rats with the Leydig cell toxin, EDS. Within 72 h of treatment EDS destroyed the Leydig cells and concomitantly reduced IF testosterone to undetectable levels. This was associated with nearly a 2‐fold increase (P<0.001) in levels of the IF‐factor(s) as judged by the enhancement of hCG‐stimulated testosterone production (= IF bioactivity). By 3 weeks, and thereafter up to 10 weeks post‐EDS, Leydig cells regenerated within the testis, and testosterone levels returned to control values, but IF‐bioactivity remained significantly increased. The latter was associated with seminiferous tubule dysfunction as indicated initially by testicular morphology, raised serum levels of FSH and reduced testicular weight. For animals with normal testosterone levels, there was a significant negative correlation (r = ‐0.57, N = 46;P<0.001) between testicular weight and IF bioactivity. A similar increase in IF bioactivity in the presence of normal testosterone levels was observed in rats in which patchy severe seminiferous tubule damage had been induced by short‐term cryptorchidism. It is concluded that, in addition to testosterone, seminiferous tubule function may dictate the intratesticular levels of the testosterone‐stimulating

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00891.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Proteins from ‘luminal fluid’ or from a homogenate of whole vas deferens were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. Four major bands with apparent molecular weights of 34·5, 36, 38 and 180 Kilodaltons (K) were observed in homogenates. In ‘luminal fluid’ the same protein pattern was observed except that 38 K band was missing. These four major bands probably originated from the vas deferens as they were not detected in plasma and were still present after ligation between the epididymis and vas deferens. After castration, there was a specific reduction of the 34·5 K MW protein band in both homogenate and ‘luminal fluid’. When the androgen‐dependence of proteins was investigated using radioactive methionine, the piotein spectra from normal and castrated males showed that about 10 polypeptides were differentially induced or repressed by androgens. The synthesis of some proteins (MW's 24, 36 and 180 K) was decreased by castration while the synthesis of several others (MW's between 27 and 82 K) was increased. Most of these androgen‐dependent proteins were detectable

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00892.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The ventral prostates, dorsolateral prostates, coagulating glands (anterior prostates), ampullary glands and/or seminal vesicles of male golden hamsters were excised bilaterally. The effects of these treatments on fertility, fecundity and sex ratio of offspring were studied. Total removal of the glands or ablation of the ventral prostates alone reduced fertility. The lack of secretions from the coagulating glands and seminal vesicles in the seminal fluid all favoured a higher proportion of male pups born in a litter. Absence of all or any of these glands did not appear to affect litter size.

ISSN:0105-6263    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00893.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY