Azoospermia of dogs with apoptotic germ cells and Leydig cells.
Apoptotic cell death in the testes of 4 dogs with azoospermia was examined. Blood plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and estradiol-17beta (E2) concentrations, and testicular transferrin (Tf) concentration as a marker of Sertoli cell function were measured in the 4 azoospermic dogs and in 5 normal dogs. The spermatids in 2 of the 4 azoospermic dogs and the Leydig cells in 3 of them exhibited apoptotic cell death. Mean LH, E2, and Tf concentrations in the 4 azoospermic dogs were significantly higher than in the normal dogs (P<0.01). These findings suggested that the azoospermia in all 4 dogs might has been caused by abnormal functions of Sertoli cells as well as Leydig cells.
Kawakami
E
E
Department of Reproduction, Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
Hori
T
T
Tsutsui
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001706:Biopsy; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D014168:Transferrin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone