Effect of polychlorinated biphenyl, Aroclor 1254 on rat epididymis.

BACKGROUND& OBJECTIVES: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), the synthetic chlorinated organic compounds, are known to decrease thyroid function, sperm count and fertility, and increase the risk of testicular cancer may cause serious effect on male reproduction. The objective of the present study was to study the effect of PCB, Aroclor 1254 on rat epididymal structure and function. METHODS: Adult male albino rats were treated ip with Aroclor 1254, 200 microg/kg body weight for 15 and 30 days. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, total triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The epididymal weight, sperm count, and caudal epididymal sialic acid, glyceryl phosphoryl choline (GPC) were also investigated. Histological studies were done on caput and caudal epididymal regions. RESULTS: Serum testosterone showed no change, but estradiol levels increased in 30 days treated animals, T3 and T4 levels decreased and TSH levels increased in both 15 and 30 days treated animals. Body weight, epididymal weight, sialic acid, GPC and sperm count were decreased only in 30 days Aroclor treated group. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The results suggested that Aroclor 1254 treatment for 15 and 30 days induced hypothyroidism in rats, but epididymal functions were altered only at 30 days treatment. The adverse effect of Aroclor 1254 (PCB) on epididymis might be due to indirect action through hormonal regulation.

Preliminary study of androgen, thyroid & adrenal status in alcoholic men during deaddiction.

To evaluate the status of the testes, thyroid, and adrenals in male alcoholics during the period of voluntary abstinence and therapy, chronic male drinkers undergoing a 4 wk inpatient deaddiction programme in a social hospital were recruited. Levels of a few serum and urinary hormones/metabolites viz., serum testosterone, total triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and urinary total 17-ketosteroids (17-KS), estrone, estradiol, and 17-hydroxy corticosteroids (17-OHCS) were assessed in alcoholics thrice during the treatment programme at hospital i.e., on the zero (day of admission), 10th, and 20th day and compared to those of non-alcoholic controls. Alcoholics registered elevated serum total T3, and reduced total T4 and testosterone levels at admission, which persisted even after 20 days of the rehabilitative programme. Markedly high urinary levels of total 17-KS, estrone, and 17-OHCS were observed on zero day of admission. Urinary estrone and 17-OHCS, unlike total 17-KS, showed a trend to return to the normal range during the 20 days period. Urinary estradiol levels, however, recorded no significant alteration. The results of this preliminary study are suggestive of alcohol-induced perturbations on the functional integrity of the testes, thyroid, and adrenal in male alcohol addicts, wherein 20 days period of total alcohol abstinence and rehabilitative programme failed to reverse alcohol-induced hypoandrogenization and altered thyroidal status, but only partially restored certain biochemical events associated with the excretion of steroid metabolites.

Role of prolactin on epididymal glycoprotein metabolism in matured monkeys, Macaca radiata: specific activities of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases.

Impact of altered serum prolactin status on enzymes involved in glycoprotein metabolism in epididymal tissue of matured monkeys was studied. Hyperprolactinemia (ovine prolactin-250 micrograms/kg body weight/day for 30 days) significantly inhibited the specific activities of dolichylphosphate mannosyl transferase, dolichylphosphate glucosyl transferase and galactosyl transferase, in the epididymal tissues. However, it had an enhanced effect on epididymal glycosidases such as beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, beta-N-acetyl galactosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase and alpha-L-fucosidase. Hypoprolactinemia (bromocriptine mesylate-1-mg/kg body weight/day for 30 days) on other hand had no significant effect on the specific activities of both, glycosyltransferases and glycosidases, in the epididymal tissues. The results suggest that hyperprolactinemia inhibits epididymal glycoprotein metabolism by impairing the incorporation of oligosaccharide units into proteins with enhanced degradation. This may have adverse effect on events leading to sperm maturation in epididymal environment.

Effects of prolactin and androgens on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in prostate of castrated bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata (Geoffroy).

Effects of prolactin (PRL), bromocriptine (Br), testosterone propionate (TP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the combinations of these androgens with PRL/Br on the specific activities of caudal and cranial prostatic cellular enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in castrated mature bonnet monkeys have been studied. Castration decreased all the enzymes studied such as hexokinase (HK), 6-phosphofructokinase (6-PFK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-3-PD), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) in the cranial and caudal prostates. PRL elevated the activities of all the enzymes above normal except G-3-PD of cranial lobe. In the caudal lobe, PRL brought back the activities of HK, PFK, PK, G-6-PD to normal and 6-PGD above normal except G-3-PD. TP/DHT treatment increased all the enzymes in both the lobes. PRL given along with TP/DHT further enhanced the androgen action with regard to HK, PK, G-6-PD and 6-PGD of cranial and PFK, G-3-PD, PK, G-6-PD and 6-PGD of caudal lobe. Br treatment did not produce any alteration of these enzymes in both the lobes. In the cranial lobe, during Br+TP/DHT treatment, the stimulating effects of androgen were unaffected on all the enzymes except PK. On the other hand in the caudal, the stimulatory effects of androgens were affected and the activities of HK, PFK, PK and 6-PGD were significantly decreased. The present results suggest that PRL has a direct as well as a synergistic action with androgens on enzymes of EMP and HMP shunt in the prostates of monkeys.

Influence of prolactin, androgens and bromocriptine on seminal vesicular and prostatic adenosine triphosphatases in castrated adult monkeys Macaca radiata.

E ects of prolactin (PRL), bromocriptine (Br), testosterone propionate (TP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the combinations of these androgens with PRL/Br on specific activities of adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) of seminal vesicles and cranial and caudal prostates were studied in castrated adult bonnet monkeys. Castration decreased all ATPases (sodium/potassium, magnesium and calcium dependent) of seminal vesicles and both the lobes of prostate. PRL restored the normal activities of all ATPases in both the organs. Br given alone decreased all ATPases of prostate but caused no significant alteration, particularly calcium dependent ATPases of seminal vesicles and caudal prostate. TP/DHT replacement restored all ATPases of both the organs to the normal levels. PRL + TP/DHT further enhanced all the ATPases activities of all the regions studied. Br + TP/DHT decreased all ATPases but it did not produce any alteration in the calcium ATPases of seminal vesicles. The results suggest that prolactin facilitates membrane transport enzymes in the cranial and caudal prostate and seminal vesicles of adult castrated bonnet monkeys.

Effect of corticosterone on epididymal lipids in pubertal rat.

Serum corticosterone excess was induced by the administration of corticosterone acetate to adrenal intact rats. Different lipid classes were studied in unwashed and washed (epididymal sperm and fluid free) caput and cauda epididymides. The unwashed caput epididymidis registered a significant decrease in total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipid while total glyceride glycerol and its fractions were not altered after corticosterone treatment. Among phospholipid fractions phosphatidyl inositol, choline and ethanolamine showed a significant decrease. Unlike the unwashed caput epididymidis, the washed caput region recorded a marked increase in total lipid, glyceride glycerol and its fractions. However, total lipid in the washed cauda region significantly increased and the increase was mainly due to triacyl glycerol. Though the phospholipid fractions phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine showed an increase, the total phospholipid was not altered significantly. Serum testosterone and prolactin registered a significant decrease while gonadotropins were unaltered. On the withdrawal of corticosterone treatment, all the lipid classes turned to normalcy along with serum testosterone and prolactin. It is concluded that corticosterone excess favours lipid accumulation in the sperm free epididymal tissue and its influence on epididymis is region specific and reversible.

Effects of prolactin and androgens on seminal vesicular lipids of castrated mature bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata.

Effects of prolactin (PRL), bromocriptine (Br), testosterone propionate (TP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the combination of these androgens with PRL/Br on the total lipid, total cholesterol, total glyceride glycerols, total phospholipid and their fractions in seminal vesicles of castrated mature monkeys were studied. Glyceride glycerols formed the major portion (50%) of total lipids in normal monkeys. Cholesterol and phospholipids were of equal share (25%). Esterified cholesterol formed major share (75%) of total cholesterol. Diacyl glycerol was the major (60%) glyceride glycerol and phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine were the major phospholipid classes. Except triacyl glycerol castration markedly decreased all the lipid classes. PRL restored normal free and esterified cholesterol and phosphatidyl inositol but Br invariably decreased all the lipid classes. TP/DHT treatment stimulated the free and esterified cholesterol more than the control; it restored the normal glyceride glycerols. Phosphatidyl inositol, choline and ethanolamine were stimulated by androgens and other phospholipid classes were brought to normal. Addition of PRL + TP/DHT markedly increased esterified cholesterol, phosphatidyl inositol, choline, ethanolamine and phosphatidic acid. In all these aspects, Br counteracted the effects of androgens and PRL.

Influence of castration and testosterone propionate on prostatic and seminal vesicular lipids in mature monkeys.

The effect of castration and administration of testosterone propionate (TP) has been studied in mature monkeys in relation to prostatic and seminal vesicular lipids to castrates on prostatic and seminal vesicular lipids were studied in mature monkeys. Castration decreased prostatic total lipid, total phospholipids and total glyceride glycerols. Among neutral lipid classes only diacyl glycerol was decreased due to castration. Similarly among phospholipid classes, phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine were decreased. A marked decrease in the seminal vesicular total lipid, total phospholipids, total cholesterol and total glyceride glycerol were observed due to castration. Mono and diacyl glycerols and phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine also registered a significant decrease after castration. Administration of TP to castrates brought back all the lipid classes to normal level which showed a decrease due to castration. However, TP treated to castrates on both seminal vesicles and prostates had no effect on other classes of lipids which were unaltered by castration. The present study reveals that lipid metabolism in the male accessory sex organs is under androgenic control. Nevertheless, the influence of testicular androgen is specific to different classes of lipids as a number of phospholipids and neutral lipid classes were resistant to castration or administration of TP.