The process of seminiferous cord formation is the first morphological event that differentiates a testis from an ovary and indicates male sex determination. Cord formation occurs by embryonic Day 14 (Day 0 = plug date; E14) in the rat. A series of experiments were conducted to determine if neurotropins and their receptors are important for the process of rat embryonic cord formation. The expres...

The testis is the special male gonad responsible for spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis with complex gene expressions. Characterizing and comparing the testis-specific genes in different species can reveal key genes related to testis specific functions and provide supplementary information for study of human testis function. We screened testis-specific genes from Unigene libraries, total 317, ...

Gonocytes are a transient population of male germ-line stem cells that are derived from primordial germ cells in the embryo and give rise to spermatogonial stem cells, which establish and maintain spermatogenesis in the postnatal testis. In contrast to spermatogonial stem cells, gonocytes can be identified easily in neonatal rat testis cell suspensions based on their large size and distinct mor...

Testicular damage is one of the most hazardous effects chemotherapy as it frequently associated with oligozoospermia and azoospermia. This study aimed at evaluating protective effect melatonin in a rat model busulfan-induced testicular injury. Rats were divided into four groups: control, melatonin, busulfan, busulfan plus melatonin. After 15 days, semen was collected from epididymis testes asse...

BACKGROUND Endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates are understood primarily from in utero exposures within the fetal rat testis. Nevertheless, their path of action, dose-response character, and cellular target(s) within the fetal testis are not known. OBJECTIVES In this study we investigated the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), and severa...

Our previous studies showed that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A and GABAB receptors are involved in rat sperm acrosome reaction induced by progesterone or GABA. Here, we report the presence of GABAC receptor in rat testis and spermatozoa. Full-length complementary DNA encoding the rho1, rho2 and rho3 subunits of GABAC receptor were cloned from rat testis; their sequences are identical to those...

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect CAPE on oxidative stress and apoptosis against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in rat testis after diabetes. Materials methods: rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control animals, animals given CAPE, STZ-induced diabetic CAPE. Diabetes induced by a single intraperitoneal injection STZ (55 mg/kg). Testicular exa...

We had previously reported presence of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in sperm and demonstrated its tubulin deacetylase activity and role in sperm motility in rat. In the present study we report its abundant expression in testis, epididymis, accessory sex organs, brain, and adrenal. In the testis, HDAC6 transcript and protein were observed throughout development. We therefore cloned the gene fro...

Gonadotropins are heterodimers consisting an alpha chain (Cgα) and a beta chain. Interestingly, presence of complicated LH-β transcripts in rat testis was accidently found; testicular LH-β transcripts were confined in seminiferous tubules to spermatids, and the translated products were localized in the elongated spermatids. We hypothesized that mouse testis has potential to produce the tissue s...

The cDNA for the monocarboxylate transporter MCT2 from rat testis has been cloned and sequenced. The derived protein sequence shows 82% identity with that from hamster. Rat MCT2 has a relative insertion of five amino acids in the N-terminal sequence preceding the first predicted transmembrane segment. MCT2 appears to be less highly conserved between species than MCT1. Using Northern blotting of...