Influence of experimental cryptorchidism on cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme and delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in rat testes

Buchholzia coriacea seed induce antifertility by interfering with steroidogenic enzymes and inflammatory cytokines in rat testis

Buchholzia coriacea has been reported to possess antifertility activities but little is known of the mechanisms responsible. This study was therefore designed to examine the mechanism responsible for the action of Buchholzia coriacea. Eighteen male Wistar rats (180-200 g) were used for this study. They were grouped into 3 (n = 6) namely, Control, Methanolic fraction of Buchholzia coriacea (MFBC) 50 mg/kg, and MFBC 100 mg/kg administered orally with respective dosage. After 6 weeks of administration, rats were euthanized, serum collected, while testes, epididymis and prostate were excised and homogenized. Testicular protein and testosterone, aromatase and 5α-reductase enzyme, 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β-HSD, interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-10 and Prostatic specific enzyme antigen (PSA) were assessed and data analyzed with ANOVA. There were significant increases in 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD levels in the MFBC 50 mg/kg with corresponding decreases in MFBC 100 mg/kg when compared to control. IL-1 was decreased in both doses while IL-10 increased in both doses compared to control. 5-α reductase enzyme was significantly decreased in the MFBC 100 mg/kg relative to the control. Testicular protein, testosterone and aromatase enzyme were not significantly different at both doses compared to control. PSA was significantly increased in the MFBC 100 mg/kg but not the 50 mg/kg relative to control. MFBC exhibits antifertility properties by interfering with testicular enzymes and inflammatory cytokines.

Effects of surgical repair of experimental left varicocele on testicular temperature, spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, endocrine function, and fertility in rabbits

To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical correction of varicocele in restoring the function of the varicocelized testicle, experimental varicoceles were created in 16 male rabbits by partly ligating the left lumbotesticular trunk. Five control rabbits received a sham operation (group A). Two months later, eight of the varicocelized rabbits underwent surgical repair by ligation and cutting of the dilated left testicular vein (group B). The remaining eight varicocelized animals did not receive any additional treatment (group C). Five months after the initial operation, group C animals had a significantly lower sperm concentration, sperm motility, bilateral testicular androgen-binding protein activity, bilateral testicular vein testosterone concentration, bilateral testicular versus intraabdominal temperature difference, and fertility when compared with groups A and B. These findings suggested that the surgical repair of an experimental varicocele in the rabbit can significantly improve the parameters indicating the harmful effects of the varicocele on the testicles.

Testicular steroid sulfatase in a cryptorchid rat strain

Steroid sulfatase (STS) activity was studied in scrotal and abdominal testes from genetically unilateral cryptorchid rats. Specific STS activity was significantly increased in microsomes from abdominal and scrotal testes of the cryptorchid animals as compared to that of control ones. When expressed per gonad, STS activity was only enhanced in the scrotal testis. No difference in the enzyme affinity was observed between descended and undescended testes. Testosterone content was markedly reduced in the abdominal testes. Normal plasma testosterone levels together with elevated LH levels were measured in the cryptorchid rats. The existence of differences in STS expression between descended and undescended testes gives additional support for this enzymatic activity being implicated in testicular function.

Testosterone, androstenedione, progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in plasma and testes of immature rats under basal conditions and after hCG stimulation. Effect of bilateral cryptorchidism

Rats were made bilaterally cryptorchid at 21 days of age; sham-operated rats were used as controls. At 35 days, the animals were injected i.m. with saline or with 10 IU hCG. Progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone were measured in both testes and plasma under basal conditions and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 72 h respectively after injection. The plasma levels and intratesticular contents of the steroids were generally lower in cryptorchid rats. The patterns of the steroid response to hCG were similar in both groups: in the testes and in the plasma, they increased acutely following hCG injection (except testicular androstenedione), then, after 72 h, returned to normal values in the plasma but remained higher than the basal values in the testes. These results suggest that there are no gross abnormalities in the testicular steroidogenic pathways and that the mechanism of action of hCG on the Leydig cells is unaltered in bilaterally cryptorchid immature rats.

Impaired testosterone biosynthesis in cryptorchidism

In an attempt to determine whether the production and synthesis of testosterone (T) by the testis is impaired by the cryptorchid state, the ability of the cryptorchid rat testis to form T was assessed at various time periods into adulthood after the surgical induction of cryptorchidism in the newborn period. The intratesticular T content of the descended testis rose from 0.3 ng/testis at 14 days of age to 71.2 ng/testis at adulthood (day 56); whereas in the cryptorchid testis, the values were 0.4 ng/testis and 2.0 ng/testis, respectively, at the same ages (P less than 0.001). For determination of the site of inhibition of T biosynthesis in the cryptorchid testis, the enzymatic activities (17 alpha-hydroxylase, 17,20-desmolase, and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in the delta 4T biosynthetic pathway were measured. All these enzyme activities in the cryptorchid testis were inhibited at 56 days of age by about 80% when compared with the descended testis (P less than 0.01). These data suggest that cryptorchidism exerts a deleterious effect on the ability of the Leydig cells to synthesize T and may in part explain the abnormal morphology and resultant infertility seen in patients with cryptorchidism.

Maturation of the juvenile rat testis after surgical treatment of cryptorchidism

Rats were made bilaterally cryptorchid at 17 days of age and bilateral orchidopexy performed at 34 days of age. The epididymal content of androgen binding protein (ABP), the weight and morphology of the testis, the cross-sectional area of seminiferous tubules and the testicular concentration of testosterone were then studied at 34, 42, 59 and 120 days of age. Cryptorchidism was followed rapidly by progressive inhibition of spermatogenesis and testicular growth as well as by decreased Sertoli cell secretion of ABP. Orchidopexy resulted in a gradual restoration of spermatogenesis, and all impaired parameters seemed to improve at the same, fairly slow rate. Restoration was not complete, but by 120 days of age the morphological appearance of the testis was compatible with recovery of normal fertility.

Possible testicular 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency in cryptorchid neonates

In order to explain the impaired neonatal secretion of testosterone (T) in cryptorchid neonates, plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), precursors of T, and T were measured in bilateral cryptorchid and control babies from the first to the 90th day of life. RIA of steroids was performed after plasma ether extraction and celite ethylen glycole column chromatography. In comparison to the neonatal period, plasma LH, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), and T were increased in both groups at the 60th day, although cryptorchids showed significantly lower T level (1018 +/- 168 pg/ml) than controls (1985 +/- 410 pg/ml, p less than 0.001). At the same time, androstenedione (A) and 17 alpha-hydroxy-progesterone (17P) remained unchanged. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were higher in cryptorchids in the neonatal period, and increased in both groups at the second to third month of life. The T/DHT ratio was significantly higher in cryptorchids in all age groups. These data indicate that (1) neonatal T formation probably occurs through the delta 5 pathway; (2) impaired T secretion in cryptorchid neonates could be due to a deficiency of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; and (3) cryptorchid neonates exhibit an elevated 5 alpha-reductase activity of unknown origin.

Effect of cryptorchidism and orchidopexy on 3B hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in rat testicle

The activity of 3B hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD), an enzyme intimately involved in the biosynthesis of testosterone, was histochemically examined in cryptorchid testes of the rat and also after subsequent orchidopexy. Enzyme activity was severly depressed in testes held 15 days or longer in the abdominal cavity but promptly returned to normal in testes that were returned to the scrotum. This particular enzyme system was not permanently injured in the rat by the cryptorchid condition up to 40 days.

Effects of two structurally different antispermatogenic compounds on the synthesis of steroids in rat testes

The influence of two drugs with antispermatogenic properties on steroid biosynthesis has been studied in rat testes in vitro with pregnenolone as the substrate. 20-438, an indenopyridine derivative increased the relative conversion of pregnenolone to progestins and estradiol, whilst decreasing the conversion of substrate to testosterone and androstenedione. PMHI, a pipecolinoindane derivative, reduced testosterone levels in the testes without altering the relative conversion of pregnenolone to various steroids. This suggests that the agent is partially inhibiting the biosynthesis of androgen precursors leading to a testosterone deficiency in testicular tissue which may result in reduced spermatogenesis.