Effect of estradiol on expression of cytoskeletal proteins during spermatogenesis in testis of sexually mature rats.

Earlier studies had shown that long term treatment with estradiol arrests spermatogenesis in adult male rats, at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day. The present study was therefore undertaken to ascertain the causes underlying the reduction in sperm counts by administering estradiol for a short term, at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day. Estradiol valerate was injected at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day, for a period of 10 days to one group of adult male rats, which were administered saline for 12 days prior to estradiol injection, and sacrificed after 22 days. The control group was administered saline for 22 days. The sera were analyzed for testosterone and FSH levels. One testis of each male was immersion fixed for histology, and for immunohistochemistry of two testicular cytoskeletal proteins, vimentin and vinculin. The contralateral testes were used for analysis of vimentin and vinculin gene expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and western blotting. Another group exposed to estradiol for 10 days was injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day, to ascertain the effect on germ cell proliferation, and sacrificed 12 days later, while estradiol treatment was continued till sacrifice. BrdU, at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day was injected i.p. to a group of control rats treated with saline for 10 days, and sacrificed 12 days later. The testes from both groups were immersion fixed for immunohistochemical detection of BrdU. Histology of estradiol treated testis showed predominance of tubules with round spermatids with accumulation of lipid droplets in Sertoli cell cytoplasm and decreased cell height, whereas controls showed elongating spermatids. BrdU immunolocalization in the testis, irrespective of treatment, indicated its incorporation in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) suggesting that estradiol sustained germ cell proliferation. Both vimentin and vinculin could be immunolocalized to the testis. The testicular levels of vimentin and vinculin, quantified after western blotting, were unaffected. The testicular expression of vimentin and vinculin seen by RTPCR was also unaffected. The study suggested that estradiol induced reduction in sperm counts was not due to adverse effects on proliferation. The observed predominance of seminiferous tubules showing round spermatids, accumulation of lipid droplets as compared to controls suggested that reduction in elongated spermatids occurred through reduced spermiation and phagocytosis. The study also suggested that reduction in Sertoli cell height after short-term estradiol treatment was not due to reduced expression of vimentin and vinculin, which could be maintained by estradiol. However, reduction in Sertoli cell height could have been due to suppression of FSH and testosterone, implicated in the polymerization of vimentin and organization of vinculin, two cytoskeletal proteins involved in inter-Sertoli or Sertoli-germ cell junctions. The study suggested that disorganization of Sertoli cell cytoskeleton and reduction in the volume of Sertoli cells could be an important factor for reduced efficiency of spermatogenesis after exposure to estrogenic molecules.

Metabolic effects of exercise in the golden fish Salminus maxillosus "dourado" (Valenciennes, 1849).

Strenuous exercise in fish is usually a consequence of migration, reproduction, and spawning. Varying among fishes, this kind of stress is associated with blood glucose and lactate increase, in relation to which two major groups are distinguishable: the "lactate releasers" and "non-lactate releasers". Unlike strenuous exercise, sustained swimming imposes a variety of effort that results in distinct kinetic types of blood lactate and glucose. Compared to Platichthys stellatus and Oncorhynchus mykiss, blood lactate of Salminus maxillosus (dourado) was lower after exercise, whereas recovery time was greater. Great demands were made of white muscle, and dourado is not a lactate releaser. Two different metabolic tendencies were observed in sustained and intense swimming. Gluconeogenesis was observed during recovery, as well as the alanine cycle which recomposes the lactate tissue pattern. Full recovery after intensive exertion required more than 24 hours.

Metabolic effects of exercise in the golden fish Salminus maxillosus "dourado" (Valenciennes, 1849)

Exercício intenso em peixes normalmente é conseqüência de migração, reprodução e desova. Esse tipo de esforço está associado ao aumento de glicose sangüínea e de lactato, o qual varia entre as diferentes espécies de peixes. Dois grupos são conhecidos, os "liberadores" e os "não liberadores" de lactato. Diferentemente do exercício intenso, o exercício contínuo impõe certo esforço que resulta em distintos tipos de cinética de lactato e glicose. A concentração de lactato plasmático em Salminus maxillosus é menor após o exercício quando comparada à Platichthys stellatus e Oncorhynchus mikyiss, mas o tempo de recuperação é maior. A musculatura branca é particularmente requisitada e o dourado apresenta-se como um "não liberador" de lactato. Duas tendências metabólicas distintas foram observadas para o exercício contínuo e intensivo. A gliconeogênese, que foi observada durante a recuperação, e o ciclo da alanina, que recompôs o padrão tissular de lactato. O período de completa recuperação do exercício intenso foi maior que 24 horas.

Metabolic effects of exercise in the golden fish Salminus maxillosus "dourado" (Valenciennes, 1849)

Strenuous exercise in fish is usually a consequence of migration, reproduction, and spawning. Varying among fishes, this kind of stress is associated with blood glucose and lactate increase, in relation to which two major groups are distinguishable: the "lactate releasers" and "non-lactate releasers". Unlike strenuous exercise, sustained swimming imposes a variety of effort that results in distinct kinetic types of blood lactate and glucose. Compared to Platichthys stellatus and Oncorhynchus mikyiss, blood lactate of Salminus maxillosus (dourado) was lower after exercise, whereas recovery time was greater. Great demands were made of white muscle, and dourado is not a lactate releaser. Two different metabolic tendencies were observed in sustained and intense swimming. Gluconeogenesis was observed during recovery, as well as the alanine cycle which recomposes the lactate tissue pattern. Full recovery after intensive exertion required more than 24 hours.

Exercício intenso em peixes normalmente é conseqüência de migração, reprodução e desova. Esse tipo de esforço está associado ao aumento de glicose sangüínea e de lactato, o qual varia entre as diferentes espécies de peixes. Dois grupos são conhecidos, os "liberadores" e os "não liberadores" de lactato. Diferentemente do exercício intenso, o exercício contínuo impõe certo esforço que resulta em distintos tipos de cinética de lactato e glicose. A concentração de lactato plasmático em Salminus maxillosus é menor após o exercício quando comparada à Platichthys stellatus e Oncorhynchus mikyiss, mas o tempo de recuperação é maior. A musculatura branca é particularmente requisitada e o dourado apresenta-se como um "não liberador" de lactato. Duas tendências metabólicas distintas foram observadas para o exercício contínuo e intensivo. A gliconeogênese, que foi observada durante a recuperação, e o ciclo da alanina, que recompôs o padrão tissular de lactato. O período de completa recuperação do exercício intenso foi maior que 24 horas.

Effect of oral tamoxifen on semen characteristics and serum hormone profile in male bonnet monkeys.

The effects of oral tamoxifen were studied at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg per day, on the serum hormones and semen parameters in adult male bonnet monkeys, for a period of 90 days. Honey was used as vehicle. Monkeys were treated with honey for 30 days, followed by tamoxifen from Day 30-120 (90 days). Thereafter the treatment was withdrawn until Day 150 of schedule. Blood samples were drawn at 12 and 24 clock hours at monthly intervals for the analysis of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone. Semen samples were also collected for analysis once a month, from Day 0-150 of exposure. Tamoxifen treatment produced a transient but significant increase in circulating gonadotropins, at Day 90 of treatment schedule, corresponding to 60 days of treatment. Whilst serum testosterone levels were normal throughout treatment period, an increase was observed after 30 days of drug withdrawal. No effect of oral tamoxifen was evident on semen parameters, viz., volume, counts, morphology and motility. However, throughout the exposure period to honey, a significant increase was observed in sperm counts without any effect on testosterone levels. The present study suggests that oral tamoxifen has a transient antiestrogenic effect on the serum hormones and no effect on semen parameters of adult nonhuman primate males. It is concluded that bioefficacy of oral tamoxifen may have been reduced due to hepatic metabolism.

REPuter: the manifold applications of repeat analysis on a genomic scale.

The repetitive structure of genomic DNA holds many secrets to be discovered. A systematic study of repetitive DNA on a genomic or inter-genomic scale requires extensive algorithmic support. The REPuter program described herein was designed to serve as a fundamental tool in such studies. Efficient and complete detection of various types of repeats is provided together with an evaluation of significance and interactive visualization. This article circumscribes the wide scope of repeat analysis using applications in five different areas of sequence analysis: checking fragment assemblies, searching for low copy repeats, finding unique sequences, comparing gene structures and mapping of cDNA/EST sequences.