title: Status of the down-regulated canine testis using two different GNRH agonist implants in comparison with the juvenile testis.
abstract: Testicular function in the dog was down-regulated using two different GNRH agonist implants, with adult and juvenile testes serving as controls. Treatment resulted in an increased percentage of the interstitial area and decreased area of Leydig cell nuclei. Expression of StAR and the steroidogenic enzymes cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc, CYP11A1) and cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase (P450c17, CYP17A1) in Leydig cells was blocked at the mRNA and protein level, showing no differences between the two agonists. Staining for androgen receptor (AR) by immunohistochemistry was positive in Sertoli, Leydig and peritubular cells and some spermatogonia, with in situ hybridization confirming expression in Sertoli cells. At the mRNA level, expression of AR was not affected; however, translation was blocked (reduced percentage of AR-positive Sertoli cells), with the number of nuclei in basal position being decreased. In the juvenile testes, mRNA expression of StAR, CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 was higher compared with the other groups but distinctly lower for the AR. At the protein level, the expression was at the limit of detection for StAR; AR-positive Sertoli cells were not detected. Our observations show that the down-regulated testis is different from the juvenile one rather resembling the testicular status in seasonal breeders out of season.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Straße 106, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goericke-Pesch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spang
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kowalewski
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Failing
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004343:Drug Implants; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C066438:deslorelin