抗兔附睾特异性蛋白ESP－2单克隆抗体及其抗生育研究

兔附睾液中分离纯化了两个特异性蛋白ＥＳＰ－１和２，分子量分别为４２ＫＤ和２０ＫＤ。应用基因克隆技术，又从人睾丸λ－ｇｔｌｌ表达性。ＤＮＡ基因库中筛选分离出一个１．９Ｋｂ的编码ＥＳＰ－２ｃＤＮＡ片段，为了进一步深入研究ＥＳＰ－２做为抗生育疫苗的可能性，本研究用半固体融合细胞培养基法成功地制备了抗ＥＳＰ－２的单克隆抗体，经三轮筛选后获得阳性克隆３８个，经定量分析ＯＤ值均为０．５以上，其中三株命名为ＥＳＰ－２ｍＡｌ、ＥＳＰ－２ｍＡ３和ＥＳＰ－２ｍＡ９，接种于ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔之后，腹水滴度均达１∶１００，０００。本研究采用体内外结合的被动免疫抗生育实验，即用抗体处理精子后进行体内抗生育实验，用小鼠双侧子宫互为对照和实验，证明ＥＳＰ－２ｍＡ３，ＥＳＰ－２ｍＡ９单抗对小鼠受精有明显的抑制作用，Ｐ＜０．０５和＜０．０１。对上述两株ＥＳＰ－２抗体的抗受精机理需进一步探讨。     

大鼠精子在附睾内成熟中膜唾液酸含量变化的研究

本文报道运用Percoll 梯度离心技术,分离纯化大鼠附睾头、体、尾各段精子(20例),再用硫代巴比妥酸法对精子膜唾液酸含量依次进行测定,结果显示:大鼠附睾头、体、尾各段精子膜唾液酸含量具有显著差异(P<0.01),各段精子膜唾液酸量分别为10.18±2.82、8.42±3.077、83±2.79μg/10~8精子(X±SD)。用胶体铁组化染色也证实精子在附睾内转运时膜唾液酸量呈下降趋势。由此提示:精子膜唾液酸含酸量与精子在附睾内成熟即受精能力的发育与维持有十分密切的关系。     

Diagnostic value of scrotal sonography in infertile men

Scrotal sonography with a 7.5 MHz sector scanner was performed on 658 consecutive patients of our infertility clinic. The incidence of pathological findings was unexpectedly high. Forty per cent of the patients revealed pathological structures such as varicoceles (21%), hydroceles (7%), epididymal abnormalities (6%), spermatoceles (6%), intratesticular hyper- and hypoechoic changes (4.5%), intratesticular cysts (1%) and tumours or carcinoma in situ (CIS) (0.6%). Sonographic evaluation and measurement of the caput epididymidis was compared with palpation. Sonography distinguished size ranges of "normal" and "thickened" epididymides as diagnosed by palpation. Cystic structures were proven in 56% of cases with "thickened" epididymides. The sonographically determined diameters of doppler-negative blood vessels were significantly smaller than those of doppler-positive vessels. Sonography revealed a higher occurrence of varicoceles than diagnosed by palpation (76% by palpation). Only 58% of sonographically identified hydroceles and only 67% of sonographically detected spermatoceles were detected by palpation. One testicular tumour and one case with CIS were only seen by sonography and not suspected on palpation. The results demonstrate that sonography represents a valuable tool in the routine diagnosis of andrological patients.     

The behavior of epididymis, processus vaginalis and testicular descent in cryptorchid boys treated with buserelin

This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was initiated to analyze the behavior of epididymis, processus vaginalis and testicular descent in cryptorchid boys treated with a low dose (20 g) of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (Buserelin), administered daily, as a nasal spray, for a short period (28 days). Fifty-nine true cryptorchid boys were randomly assigned to 3 groups: buserelin, treatment [22], surgical treatment [18] or placebo control group [19]. The 3 groups of patients were similar before treatment in regard to testicular position, chronological and bone age, height and weight, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, penile size and the volume of the contralateral descended testis. None of the patients had retractile testes. Buserelin significantly induced testicular descent compared to the boys treated with a placebo (P<0.01). A normal epididymis was found more often in boys with successful descent (P<0.003). A closed processus vaginalis was also more frequently observed in the group treated with buserelin than in surgically treated one (P<0.05). In conclusion, buserelin was capable of inducing testicular descent besides provoking further development of the epididymis and closing the processus vaginalis.     

Late postnatal development and differentiation of the ductus epididymidis in a dasyurid marsupial (Antechinus stuartii)

Summary The general histology and ultrastructural features of the developing ductus epididymidis were examined in the brown marsupial mouse, Antechinus stuartii, from April, when males were sexually immature, until August, when the adult males were involved in mating activities, just prior to the annual male die-off. Samples were also examined 3 and 6 months after the August die-off period in males kept in isolation from conspecifics during the prebreeding and breeding periods. In April, tubule diameter and epithelial height were largest in the caput and least in caudal segments but the reverse was observed thereafter. Epithelial height increased in caput segments in August and remained high in the post die-off samples. However, caput epithelial height and tubule diameters were low compared with the remainder of the duct from July until February. Luminal shape in caudal segments (10, 11 and 12) changed in June from circular to a narrow slit, and the epithelium became variable in height. The epididymal epithelium was undifferentiated with few cytoplasmic organelles in April. Differentiation occurred mostly from May to June in associaion with an increased abundance of cytoplasmic organelles, increasing prostatic weight and rising plasma androgen levels. Differentiated principal and basal cells were found in caput and corpus regions in May and in caudal segments in June in association with the de novo development of a brush border of microvilli. Few clear cells were seen in caput and corpus regions of the duct in May but they, and mitochondria-rich cells, were common throughout the duct from June. Development of the unusual structural features of the cauda epididymidis preceded the arrival of spermatozoa in June. The presence of degenerating spermatozoa and cytoplasmic droplets in the cauda at this time suggested that it was not yet capable of supporting sperm viability. There was no evidence to suggest that the presence of spermatozoa has a stimulatory effect on the epididymis. Intact sperm were observed throughout the duct from July. Free cytoplasmic droplets, which showed some evidence of degeneration, collected in large masses in the distal corpus/ proximal cauda epididymidis of adult males between aggregates of spermatozoa. Epididymal differentiation appeared complete by mid-July; few ultrastructural changes occurred after this time. Recruitment of spermatozoa into the epididymis ceased by August and was associated with a rapid decline in sperm content in the proximal caput segments. In the November and February samples, spermatozoa were present only in distal corpus and proximal cauda segments. As in some eutherian mammals, differentiation of the epididymis in A. stuartii occurs in a descending fashion from caput to cauda. Development is linked to the onset of fluid and androgen production from the testis, which is essential for developing and maintaining a suitable caudal environment for storage and survival of spermatozoa.     

肉苁蓉对小鼠睾丸和附睾形态学及组织化学的影响

目的　观察肉苁蓉对小鼠睾丸和附睾的形态学及组织化学的影响。方法　选昆明系雄性小鼠 30只 ,随机分为用药Ⅰ、Ⅱ组与对照组。用肉苁蓉水煎液 (4g·kg-1·d-1和 8g·kg-1·d-1)灌胃 ,对照组用生理盐水灌胃 ,三周后处死小鼠 ,测定精液中精子数量、活率、运行速度等形态学指标 ,以及精浆中果糖含量。组织化学观察睾丸和附睾琥珀酸脱氢酶和非特异性脂酶反应。结果　给药组上述指标均高于对照组。结论　提示肉苁蓉确有壮阳补肾之功效。     

Alterations in the spermatic function generated by obesity in rats

In order to assess the effect of obesity on epididymal and germinal epithelia in control rats and obese rats induced by a high fat diet, we evaluated the epididymal and testicular morphologies, lipid peroxidation in the epididymis, leptin serum levels, steroid hormones, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia and some spermatobioscopic parameters. No significant difference was observed in the levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides between the two groups. Nonetheless, in the obese rats, circulating leptin and estradiol levels showed a significant increase and there was a decline in the testosterone levels. The same group showed an increase in the lipid peroxidation of the epididymis and reduced spermatobioscopic parameters. The heads of the epididymis showed morphological differences in obese rats. No significant difference was observed between the testes of both groups. There is a clear evidence of an effect on sperm in obese rats and this seems to occur in the epididymis.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Localization of Toll‐Like Receptors on Epididymal Epithelial Cells and Spermatozoa

Problem Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are a family of innate immunity receptors that are essential for detecting invading pathogens. Objectives of this study were to identify epididymal cell types expressing TLRs and to determine if TLRs are present on spermatozoa. Method of study Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin‐embedded sections from regions of the rat epididymis was used to identify epididymal cell types expressing TLRs. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence were used to detect TLRs on spermatozoa. Results TLRs 1–9 and 11 are abundantly expressed by the epididymal epithelium in most regions of the duct with the exception of clear cells of the cauda which do not express TLRs 5–7 or 11. TLRs were detected on epididymal spermatozoa and several TLRs showed regional distributions patterns suggesting modification during epididymal transit. Conclusion The abundance of TLR family members in the epididymal epithelium and on spermatozoa provides strong evidence that TLRs play important roles in innate immunity of the male reproductive tract.