Sexual maturation of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): a histological, hormonal and spermatic evaluation

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Etelvina Pinto-Fochi ◽  
Ana Carolina Negrin ◽  
Wellerson Rodrigo Scarano ◽  
Sebastião Roberto Taboga ◽  
Rejane Maira Góes
Keyword(s):  
Mongolian Gerbil ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Mature Adult ◽  
Drastic Increase ◽  
Testicular Morphology ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Daily Sperm Production

This study determined the phases of sexual development of the male Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) based on an integrative analysis of testicular morphology, hormonal data and sperm parameters. Male gerbils were analysed at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 50, 60, 70, 90, 100 and 120 days of age. Body, testicular and epididymal weights increased up to Day 70, 60 and 90, respectively. The impuberal phase, characterised by the presence of gonocytes, extended until Day 14. The prepubertal period lasted until Day 42, when puberty was achieved and a drastic increase in serum testosterone levels, mature adult Leydig cells and elongated spermatids was observed. Gerbils at 60 days of age showed a remarkable number of spermatozoa in the testis, epididymidis caput/corpus and cauda, and at Day 70 the maximum daily sperm production was reached. However, the gerbil may be considered sexually mature only from Day 90 onward, when sperm reserves become stable. The total transit time of spermatozoa along the epididymis of sexually mature gerbils was 11 days, with 1 day in the caput/corpus and 10 days in the cauda. These data cover a lacuna regarding the reproductive parameters of this rodent and provide foundations for its use in testicular toxicology studies.

scholarly journals DAPL1 is a novel regulator of testosterone production in Leydig cells of mouse testis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-bin Chen ◽  
Jorge Carlos Pineda Garcia ◽  
Shinako Arizono ◽  
Tomoki Takeda ◽  
Ren-shi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Mouse Testis ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
In Vitro Data

AbstractLeydig cells in the testes produce testosterone in the presence of gonadotropins. Therefore, male testosterone levels must oscillate within a healthy spectrum, given that elevated testosterone levels augment the risk of cardiovascular disorders. We observed that the expression of death-associated protein-like 1 (DAPL1), which is involved in the early stages of epithelial differentiation and apoptosis, is considerably higher in the testes of sexually mature mice than in other tissues. Accordingly, Dapl1-null mice were constructed to evaluate this variation. Notably, in these mice, the testicular levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and serum testosterone levels were significantly elevated on postnatal day 49. The findings were confirmed in vitro using I-10 mouse testis-derived tumor cells. The in vivo and in vitro data revealed the DAPL1-regulated the expression of StAR involving altered transcription of critical proteins in the protein kinase A and CREB/CREM pathways in Leydig cells. The collective findings implicate DAPL1 as an important factor for steroidogenesis regulation, and DAPL1 deregulation may be related to high endogenous levels of testosterone.

scholarly journals Neonatal hypothyroidism does not increase Sertoli cell proliferation in iNOS−/− mice

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathália L M Lara ◽  
Luiz R França
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Sertoli Cell ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Testis Size ◽  
Additive Effects ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Neonatal Hypothyroidism ◽  
Laboratory Rodents ◽  
Daily Sperm Production

Sertoli cell (SC) proliferation in mice occurs until two weeks after birth and is mainly regulated by FSH and thyroid hormones. Previous studies have shown that transient neonatal hypothyroidism in laboratory rodents is able to extend SC mitotic activity, leading ultimately to higher testis size and daily sperm production (DSP) in adult animals. Moreover, we have shown that due to higher SC proliferation and lower germ cell apoptosis, iNOS deficiency in mice also results in higher testis size and DSP. Although the cell size was smaller, the Leydig cells (LCs) number per testis also significantly increased in iNOS−/−mice. Our aims in the present study were to investigate if the combination of neonatal hypothyroidism and iNOS deficiency promotes additive effects in SC number, testis size and DSP. Hypothyroidism was induced in wild-type (WT) and iNOS−/−mice using 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) through the mother’s drinking water from 0 to 20 days of age, and were sacrificed at adulthood. Our results showed that, in contrast to the WT mice in which testis size, DSP and SC numbers increased significantly by 20, 40 and 70% respectively, after PTU treatment, no additive effects were observed for these parameters in treated iNOS−/−mice, as well as for LC. No alterations were observed in spermatogenesis in any group evaluated. Although we still do not have an explanation for these intriguing findings, we are currently investigating whether thyroid hormones influence iNOS levels and/or counterbalance physiological effects of iNOS deficiency in testis function and spermatogenesis.

Duration of spermatogenesis and daily sperm production in the rodent Proechimys guyannensis

Zygote ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathália L.M. Lara ◽  
Ivan C. Santos ◽  
Guilherme M.J. Costa ◽  
Dirceu A. Cordeiro-Junior ◽  
Antônio C. G. Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
Testis Weight ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Neotropical Rodent ◽  
Very High ◽  
Daily Sperm Production

SummaryThe spiny rat (Proechimys guyannensis) is a neotropical rodent that is used in biomedical research, particularly research related to chronic resistance to epilepsy and infectious diseases. To our knowledge, there are few reports concerning the reproductive biology of this species. Therefore, besides providing basic biometric and morphometric data, in the present study we investigated testis function and spermatogenesis in adult spiny rats. The mean testis weight and gonadosomatic index obtained were 1.63 ± 0.2 g and 1.15 ± 0.1% respectively. Based on the development of the acrosomic system, 12 stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle were characterized. Stages VI and VII presented the highest frequencies (~17–19%), whilst stages II to V showed the lowest frequencies (~2–4%). The most advanced germ cell types labelled at 1 h or 20 days after BrdU injections were respectively preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes at stage VII and elongated spermatids at stage III. The mean duration of one cycle was 7.5 ± 0.01 days and the entire spermatogenic process lasted 33.7 ± 0.06 days (~4.5 cycles). The seminiferous tubules (ST) occupied ~96 ± 1% of the testis parenchyma, whereas Leydig cells comprised only 1.5 ± 0.4%. The number of Sertoli cells (SC) per testis gram and the SC efficiency (spermatids/SC) were respectively 78 × 106 ± 11 × 106 and 7.9 ± 1. The daily sperm production per testis gram (spermatogenic efficiency; daily sperm production (DSP)/g/testis) was 78 × 106 ± 8 × 106. To our knowledge, this spermatogenic efficiency is among the highest found for mammals investigated to date and is probably related to the very short duration of spermatogenesis and the very high ST percentage and SC number obtained for this species.

Prepubertal treatment of rats with clomiphene citrate affects postpubertal testicular development

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine L. Brown ◽  
Prabir K. Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Cell Function ◽  
Clomiphene Citrate ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Normal Serum ◽  
Gnrh Receptor ◽  
Testicular Development ◽  
Fsh Receptor ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Testicular Weight ◽  
Daily Sperm Production

Abstract. A previous study showed that clomiphene citrate (clomiphene) reduced serum and pituitary gonadotropins and impaired testis growth and steroidogenesis in 10-day-old rats treated for up to two weeks. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of prepubertal clomiphene treatment on postpubertal pituitary-testicular function. Rats were implanted with pellets that released 0, 0.05, 0.5 or 5.0 mg clomiphene ·kg−1·day−1 between 10–31 days of age and were killed at 90 days of age. Testis and prostate weights in treated rats were reduced (P< 0.05), whereas serum LH, FSH and testosterone, and pituitary gonadotropin and GnRH receptor concentrations had recovered to levels observed in control rats. Testicular FSH receptor concentrations were not altered; however, FSH receptor content was decreased (P< 0.05) in clomiphene-treated rats proportional to the reduction in testicular weight. In contrast, testicular LH and GnRH receptor concentrations were increased (P< 0.05) in treated animals, resulting in similar receptor contents. Daily sperm production per gram of parenchyma was unaffected, while daily sperm production per testis was decreased in treated rats (P< 0.05). These data show early postnatal treatment with clomiphene does not permanently impair pituitary function. Despite reduced testicular mass, normal serum testosterone concentrations and testis LH receptor content of treated rats suggest recovered Leydig cell function. The decreased content of testicular FSH receptors and reduced sperm production suggest seminiferous tubule function was compromised in the adult rat.

Studies on the gonadal and epididymal sperm reserves of Mujjafaranagri rams

1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-334
Author(s):  
S. K. Jindal
Keyword(s):  
Tunica Albuginea ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Epididymal Sperm ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Daily Sperm Production

SummaryTesticular and epididymal sperm reserves were determined in six sexually mature Mujjafaranagri rams. The testes and epididymides weight were 151·4±5·49 and 20·7±0·164 g respectively. The total spermatids/g were 78±21·8×106, while daily sperm production per ram was estimated to be 4·46×109 when corrected for tunica albuginea weight. The number of spermatozoa in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides were 3·18, 2·56 and 16·29×lO9 respectively and they represented 14·4, 11·6 and 73·9% respectively of the sperm reserves on that side. The total epididymal sperm reserve per male ram was about 44·06×109 spermatozoa.

Duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and quantitative histology of the testis of the South American white-belly opossum (Didelphis albiventris), Marsupialia

1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
GF Queiroz ◽  
JC Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Tritiated Thymidine ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
South American ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Annual Reproductive Cycle ◽  
The South ◽  
Daily Sperm Production ◽  
Type A Spermatogonia ◽  
White Belly

The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the South American white-belly opossum, as obtained by autoradiography after intratesticular injection of tritiated thymidine, was estimated to be 17.3 +/- 0.1 days (mean +/- s.d.). Quantitative histological analysis was performed on testes from animals caught both in mating and non-mating periods of the annual reproductive cycle. Significant differences were found in the volumetric proportion of Leydig cells, but the spermatogenic yield remained constant throughout the year. The numerical ratio between type A spermatogonia and zygotene primary spermatocytes (1:12.0), as well as daily sperm production (4.8 x 10(6) sperm cells per g of testis parenchyma per day), were found to be lower than those reported in most eutherian mammals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document