腺苷脱氨酶在大鼠睾丸,附睾中的分布

利用本实验室前期制备和鉴定了的抗人精子膜结合脱氨酶单克隆抗体和ＡＢＣ组分技术，我们分析了正常性成熟和性未成熟大鼠睾丸及附睾中的该酶分布情况。实验结果显示：（１）ＡＤＡ在正常性成熟和性未成熟大鼠睾丸和附睾中无分布；在性成熟大鼠中，ＡＤＡ的分布从际睾头部开始出现；（２）ＡＤＡ在正常性成熟大鼠附睾中的分布由附睾头部至尾部其密度未发现变化。     

Sonography of the testis and epididymis

Summary. Sonography (ultrasound) is the mainstay for imaging morphologic abnormalities of the scrotum and testis. It is used primarily for determining the location and nature of palpable lesions and to demonstrate clinically occult, nonpalpable lesions. This article describes the state of the art of scrotal sonography. After an initial presentation of the normal sonographic appearance of the testis and epididymis, the diagnostic evaluation of the most common scrotal disorders is described.
Scrotal sonography is characterized by high sensitivity in the detection of intrascrotal abnormalities and is a very good mode for differentiating testicular from paratesticular lesions. However, scrotal sonography is limited in determining whether a focal testicular lesion is benign or malignant. Unsatisfactory results are obtained by conventional sonography in the evaluation of testicular torsion. This gap in the diagnosis of scrotal pathologies is now being reliably filled by colour-coded duplex sonography.     

Sarcoidosis of testis and epididymis

A case of sarcoidosis involving the testes and epididymis is reported. The disease was bilateral, and evolved one year after discontinuation of corticoid therapy and was not accompanied by signs of systemic sarcoidosis.     

Malformations of the epididymis in undescended testis

Epididymal abnormalities in undescended testes are probably more common than suggested in the literature but only sporadic reports are found on this subject. For many years discussions have centered around the ideal age to operate on patients with undescended testes and consequently increase chances for future fertility. We analyzed 66 patients (82 testes) treated for undescended testis in our department, with special distinction between ectopia and cryptorchidism. Abnormalities ranged from simple epididymal elongation to more complex forms, such as complete disruption between the testis and epididymis. Among 49 ectopic testes the epididymides of 19 (38.8%) displayed more severe abnormalities in addition to elongation, while 16 (32.6%) showed only an elongated epididymis and 14 (28.6%) were normal. Among the 33 cryptorchid testes 29 (87.9%) showed the more complex anomalies and elongation, 3 (9.1%) were normal and only 1 (3%) was elongated. Our results demonstrate a much higher incidence of complex epididymal abnormalities in cryptorchidism (p less than 0.001). Elongated epididymis may present problems for sperm maturation and transportation, although with no other associated abnormality most can be regarded as patent. In our theory cases of elongation plus other major abnormalities probably are associated with severe impairment in sperm maturation and hindered transportation, with the future intrascrotal or extrascrotal position of the testis or early surgical repair being of little importance in terms of fertility.     

Dysplasia of the testis and epididymis.

Various congenital malformations of the testis and the seminal pathways are illustrated by 10 cases. Though these malformations are often free from symptoms, an increasing number of them are now being discovered in connection with investigations of male infertility. In cases of azoospermia where testicular biopsies show complete spermatogenesis, surgical exploration is indicated. Some of these malformations may then be treated by surgery, with fairly good prospects of restored fertility.     

Pyrimidine synthetic enzymes of the rat testis and epididymis following unilateral vasectomy.

The de novo pyrimidine synthetic enzyme, aspartate carbamyltransferase, and the two pyrimidine salvage enzymes, uridine and thymidine kinases, of the rat testis and epididymis were measured 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wk following unilateral vasectomy. Vasectomy had no effect on organ wet weights and on testicular and epididymal asparate carbamyltransferase and thymidine kinase activities. Increases in the uridine kinase activity of the caput epididymidis at 2 wk and of the cauda epididymidis from the second to the sixth weeks were the only significant enzymatic changes observed.     

金属硫蛋白对供心的保护作用

目的探讨金属硫蛋白(MT)对离体心脏的保护作用。方法16只Wistar大鼠,随机分为2组,对照组腹腔注射蒸馏水0.5ml,24h后取离体心脏行离体灌注(Langendorff模型),测定心功能,然后灌注HTK心脏保护液,4℃下保存3h,再行Langendorff灌注,10min后转为工作心模型15min;实验组腹腔注射36g/LZnSO4(1.5ml/kg),24h后取离体心脏,随后的处理同对照组。测定心肌组织中MT、ATP、丙二醛(MDA)及Ca2 的含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性,测定心功能指标、心肌含水量(MWC)、心肌肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)漏出率;测定心肌细胞线粒体内Ca2 ATPase活性、Ca2 含量及其合成ATP能力;观察心肌超微结构。结果实验组MT的含量明显高于对照组(P<0.01);实验组心功能指标、心肌组织中ATP含量及SOD活性均优于对照组(P<0.05,P<0.01),实验组MWC、MDA和Ca2 的含量以及CK、LDH漏出率均低于对照组(P<0.05,P<0.01);实验组心肌细胞线粒体内Ca2 ATPase活性及合成ATP能力均优于对照组(P<0.01),Ca2 含量低于对照组(P<0.01);实验组心肌细胞超微结构的损伤较对照组明显减轻。结论MT对鼠离体心脏具有保护作用。     

Effect of a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, flutamide on intraluminal acidification in rat testis and epididymis

Summary. Flutamide, a pure antiandrogen was administered to intact adult male rats to study the effect of altered availability of hormones on in situ pH, PCO₂ and bicarbonate concentration ([HCO⁻₃]) of seminiferous tubules, proximal caput, middle caput, middle corpus, and proximal cauda epididymidis. The weights of the epididymis and ventral prostate as well as the plasma testosterone level showed antiandrogenic effects of flutamide. Relative to controls, flutamide elevated significantly in situ pH in proximal caput, middle caput, middle corpus and proximal cauda epididymidis but not in seminiferous tubules. In situ PCO₂ values in the above segments, after flutamide, were indistinguishable from controls and from each other but all values remained significantly higher than systemic arterial blood PCO₂. Flutamide treatment did not change the [HCO⁻₃] in systemic arterial blood or seminiferous tubules but increased markedly the values in proximal caput and middle caput. The results of the present studies support the view that luminal acidification in the rat epididymis is under androgen control and may be important for sperm maturation and storage.     

Microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis

Testicular microlithiasis is a well-defined clinical and pathologic entity easily diagnosed through testicular echography; however, its association with cancer and infertility is now under debate. Many efforts have been done in recent years to clarify the spectrum of lesions observed in testicular microlithiasis, but no published data as to the existence of a possible microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis have been found. We have observed microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis in surgical (8 epididymis and 6 testis) and autopsy specimens (12 cases). In decreased order of frequency, microliths of the proximal spermatic way were seen in rete testis, epididymal duct, and efferent ducts. Intraluminal, subepithelial, and interstitial microliths were localized along these segments of the spermatic way. Subepithelial microliths were the most frequently found. A granulomatous reaction around the interstitial epididymal microliths, mimicking malacoplakia, was observed in 1 case. The differential diagnosis of microliths includes corpora amilacea, Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, calcium deposits, hyaline globules, and parasites, like the giant kidney worm Dioctophyme renale. In infants and young adults, microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis is frequently associated with alterations in the development of the proximal spermatic way. In elderly adults, it is related to ischemia and obstruction of the spermatic way.     

Effect of testosterone deprivation on expression of the androgen receptor in rat prostate, epididymis and testis

Adult rats were treated with ethane dimethane sulphonate (EDS) to eliminate the Leydig cells. This treatment resulted in very low levels of testosterone in the blood and in the testis. Furthermore, histological evaluation of spermatogenesis showed no marked differences between control and EDS-treated animals. In the ventral prostate, 5 days after EDS-treatment, a 4.0 +/- 0.3-fold up-regulation of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA was observed, together with a 2.2 +/- 0.2-fold increase in actin mRNA. In the epididymis, a 2.0 +/- 0.5-fold increase in AR mRNA level was observed, without a change in actin mRNA level. In the testes of EDS-treated rats, the AR mRNA level was not changed (1.02 +/- 0.17-fold of controls), and there was also no change in actin mRNA level at 5 days after EDS-treatment. These results indicate that AR mRNA expression in the ventral prostate and epididymis is regulated differentially by testosterone when compared to regulation in the testis. Testicular androgen binding sites were assayed by Scatchard analysis of the binding of 3H-R1881 to a nuclear fraction, that was isolated by a method which involved the use of liquid nitrogen and high sucrose buffer. The number of specific binding sites per testis in EDS-treated rats with testosterone-implants, remained unaltered compared to control rats (9.1 +/- 1.4 pmol/testis). In these rats, 20% of the normal testicular testosterone level was sufficient to maintain the androgen receptor in a tight nuclear binding (transformed) form. In testes from EDS-treated rats without testosterone-implants, the AR did not fractionate into the nuclear fraction; however, the total testicular AR content in these animals was close to control levels, as measured by nuclear 3H-R1881 binding after receptor transformation through injection of a high dose of testosterone (10 mg) 2 h before killing the rats (testosterone pulse). In the different experimental groups, FSH was not required to maintain the total testicular AR content (ligand binding). Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting of the testicular AR using specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies indicated that the total testicular amount of immunodetectable AR protein in long-term testosterone deprived rats was very low when compared to that in control rats or rats with testosterone-implants. This is in disagreement with results obtained in the ligand binding assay, and may point to a structural modification of the AR in the testis that possibly occurs in the prolonged absence of androgens.     

Limited Wegener＇s granulomatosis of the epididymis and testis

A case is presented of Wegener＇s granulomatosis limited to the testis and epididymis, simultaneously, in a 69-year-old man. Orchiectomy was carried out through an inguinal incision under the presumptive diagnosis of a right testicular tumor. A hard, irregular mass occupied the upper testicle and a portion of the epididymal head was visualized. Histopathologic examination of the specimen showed granulomatous inflammation of the testis and epididymis with prominent angiocentric granulomata in the walls of arteries, veins and foci of fibrinoid necrosis, surrounded by palisading inflammatory cells with a few giant cells. The diagnosis of limited Wegener＇s granulomatosis was considered, although antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody （c-ANCA） test was negative 2 weeks after orchiectomy. The patient showed an excellent response after local complete excision. He remains free of disease 18 months after orchiectomy.     

Localization of cellular retinol-binding protein and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein in the rat testis and epididymis

The distribution of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) in rat testis and epididymis was examined by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunolocalization technique. In the testis, cellular retinol-binding protein was localized exclusively in the Sertoli cells. Staining varied with the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and was maximal prior to the maturation divisions. Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein was localized exclusively in the germinal cells in the adluminal compartment. The results suggest that retinoic acid may be the retinoid form used by the germinal cells, and that Sertoli cells may use the cellular retinol-binding protein to transfer retinol from the basal to the adluminal compartment. In the epididymis, cellular retinol-binding protein was localized in the cytoplasm and stereocilia of the principal cells in the proximal caput epididymidis, while cellular retinoic acid-binding protein was localized in the spermatozoa and the stereocilia of the principal cells throughout the epididymis and in the epithelial cells of the distal vas deferens. Sperm staining intensity decreased from the initial segment to the cauda. The presence of high levels of cellular retinol-binding protein in the epithelial cells and high levels of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein in the spermatozoa of the caput epididymidis, known to be involved in the synthesis and secretion of factors necessary for sperm maturation, suggests that vitamin A may have a role in this process.     

Limited Wegener's granulomatosis of the epididymis and testis

A case is presented of Wegener's granulomatosis limited to the testis and epididymis,simultaneously,in a 69-year-old man.Orchiectomy was carried out through an inguinal incision under the presumptive diagnosis of a righttesticular tumor.A hard,irregular mass occupied the upper testicle and a portion of the epididymal head was visualized.Histopathologic examination of the specimen showed granulomatous inflammation of the testis and epididymis withprominent angiocentric granulomata in the walls of arteries,veins and foci of fibrinoid necrosis,surrounded bypalisading inflammatory cells with a few giant cells.The diagnosis of limited Wegener's granulomatosis was considered,although antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(c-ANCA)test was negative 2 weeks after orchiectomy.The patientshowed an excellent response after local complete excision.He remains free of disease 18 months after orchiectomy.(Asian J Androl 2006 Nov,8:737-739)     

Fusional anomalies of the testis and epididymis.

Earlier, the cause of infertility in undescended testis (UT) had been widely accepted as a consequence of the higher temperature of the inguinal/abdominal region. Observations made in the past two decades, however, gave new evidences. The most important of these is that UT is often associated with the fusional anomalies (FA) of the testis and epididymis. FA is the consequence of pathological intrauterine hormonal processes and many authors believe FA to be the primary cause for infertility in UT. Since 80% of UT cases are of endocrine origin, it would be suspected that the very same factors are responsible for both UT and FA. FA and other anomalies of the epididymis often occur in testicular torsion (TT) as well. It is remarkable that infertility could follow the unilateral forms of UT and TT despite the presence of a "healthy" contralateral gonad. In both entities contralateral FA (probably associated with testicular dysgenesis) is suspected. These observations could influence the primary surgical treatment of patients with UT and TT, as well as the mode of further management of these cases.