tESTIS

Macrocyclic complexes of Mn(II) were synthesized by template condensation using 2,6-diaminopyridine and diethylenetriamine with malonic, succinic, glutaric and adipic acids. The reaction proceeded smoothly to completion. These 16- to 24-membered N(6), but behaving as tetradentate, macrocyclic complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, infrared, electronic, mass and X-ray spectral analyses. The elemental analyses are consistent with the formation of complexes [Mn(N(6)L(n))Cl(2)]. All the complexes are stable and monomeric in nature, as indicated by the molecular weight determinations. The spectral studies confirmed the proposed framework of the new macrocyclic complexes and indicated an octahedral geometry around the central metal atom. The complexes were screened in vitro against a number of pathogenic fungi and bacteria to assess their growth-inhibiting potential. The testicular sperm density, sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of ca...

The rete testis in the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus), Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) and drake (Anas platyrhynchos) was studied histologically and with both the scanning and transmission electron microscopes. All the birds have rete epithelial cells varying between squamous and high cuboidal. A cilium-like structure projects from the luminal portion of most cells into the rete lumen, and the outline of the cells varies from polygonal to elongate. Sparse, stubby microvilli were concentrated on the cell borders. Ultrastructural features suggest only moderate secretory and absorptive activities in the cells. The rete testis of birds is amply supplied with blood as well as lymphatic vessels and nerves. Intraepithelial lymphocytes form part of the rete epithelium, and macrophages are present in large numbers in the rete lumen of the domestic fowl and drake and, to a lesser degree, also in the rete epithelium of the drake.

It is generally agreed that physiological levels of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, are important in protecting against oxidative stress-induced tissue damage. We investigated the effects that pinealectomy and the administration of exogenous melatonin have on the brains, testes, duodena and stomachs of rats. Pinealectomized (Px) and sham-operated (non-Px) rats were used. We evaluated structural changes, and catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The rats were divided into the following five groups (eight rats in each group): sham (non-Px), Px+ vehicle, Px+ melatonin (10 mg/kg given daily intraperitoneally for a week), melatonin and ethyl alcohol. The antioxidant levels in the tissue of Px rats were significantly lower than in those of the sham group. Administering melatonin significantly increased antioxidant levels (p < 0.05). The Px rats also showed a significant increase in MDA levels when com...

Molecular clocks drive circadian rhythmicity of cellular functions in peripheral tissues and organs, kidney included, whereas in the testis this clockwork seems constitutively active. We have evaluated the periodicity and the dynamics of expression of the clock genes BMAL1, CLOCK, PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2 and REV ERBalpha over 24 h in the kidney and testis using a mouse model. The periodicity was explored by single cosinor, and dynamics were explored by calculation of fractional variations of gene expression related to time intervals. Kidney and testis were harvested at 4-h intervals over a 24-h period from eight-week-old C57BL/6 male mice housed individually on a 12 h light (L)-dark (D) cycle (lights on at 08:00 h; lights off at 20:00 h) and mRNA was extracted and analyzed by Quantitative Real-time Reverse Transcription PCR. A statistically significant difference was evidenced between kidney and testis for the original values of expression level of BMAL1, PER1, PER2 CRY1, CRY2 and RE...

Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in young Caucasian men. It has been suggested that testicular microlithiasis (TML) is a premalignant condition. This study's objective was to investigate TML histology prevalence in testicular cancer patients in two European populations. We analysed archived histopathology orchiectomy specimens from 152 patients diagnosed with testicular cancer at Fredericia Hospital in Denmark from 2004 to 2014, and 106 patients diagnosed at St Thomas' Hospital in London from 2011 to 2015. The Danish patients' median age was 37 years (range: 16-74 years) and the English patients' 36 years (range: 18-78 years). In the Danish patients, 29 (19.1%) had TML, and in the English patients, 43 (40.6%) had TML (p < 0.001). Haematoxylin bodies were slightly more common in the English patients. Laminated calcification was more often seen in seminomas than in non-seminomas.
 CONCLUSIONS: The English testicular cancer patients had a statistic...

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, gabexate mesilate (GM), in rats with ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) damage due to unilateral testicular torsion. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into three groups, each containing ten rats. A sham operation was performed in group 1 (control). In group 2 (I-R/untreated), 1 h detorsion of the testis was performed after 6 h of unilateral testicular torsion. In group 3 (I-R/GM), after performing the same surgical procedures as in group II, gabexate mesilate was given intravenously. In all experimental rats, ipsilateral orchiectomies were performed for histological examination and measuring the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). MDA values and the testicular injury score decreased and SOD, CAT and GSH-Px values increased in the GM-treated group compared to the I-R/untreated group. The Tc-99m pertechnetate uptake ratio and the perfusion index were significantly decreased in the group 2 compared to the group 1 and 3 rats. In group 3, these values were significantly increased compared to group 2. Most of the specimens in the GM-treated group showed grade-I testicular injury. However, the injuries in the I-R/untreated rats varied between grade-III and grade-IV. The results of this study show that GM may play a role in reducing the injury caused by I-R.

The treatment of inguinal hernia has changed considerably over the past 15 years. We reviewed the preclinical and clinical literature to find out the effect of inguinal hernia surgery on male fertility because it has been suggested that hernia surgery may impair testicular function and male fertility. A search on Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library was performed to find related articles. Animal models show substantial effects of hernia repair on the structures in the spermatic cord, which is more pronounced in mesh repairs. Although the number of studies and the included numbers of patients were limited, clinical studies indicate that these potential adverse effects do not seem to have a clinical impact on male fertility in humans with inguinal hernias. Future clinical studies, preferably with bilateral patients, are necessary to investigate the clinical relevance of the effects of inguinal hernia and hernia surgery on male fertility.