Expression of orphan receptors TR2, TR3, TR4, and p53 in heat-treated testis of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

To investigate the possible role of testicular orphan receptors (TR) TR2, TR3, and TR4 in the process of germ cell apoptosis in the heat-treated testis of monkey, we have examined the spatiotemporal expression of the 3 TR mRNAs in relation to p53 mRNA levels in the monkey testis by in situ hybridization and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques. The results showed that TR2 mRNA was confined to spermatocytes; TR4 and TR3 mRNAs were expressed in both spermatocytes and spermatids. The heat treatment did not change TR2 mRNA level but significantly reduced TR4 mRNA expression in spermatocytes on days 3 and 8 after the heat treatment.

Dedifferentiation of adult monkey Sertoli cells through activation of extracellularly regulated kinase 1/2 induced by heat treatment.

Sertoli cells play a key role in triggering and regulating the process of spermatogenesis. Failure of a Sertoli cell to mature functionally will presumably render it incapable of supporting germ cell survival and development that appeared after puberty. Expression of cytokeratin 18 (ck-18) intermediate filaments indicates a state of undifferentiation usually observed in Sertoli cells of prepubertal testis.

Effects of Chinese herbal prescriptions on copulatory activity in aged male rats: a preliminary study.

Four herbal prescription medicines, Chi-Pao-Mei-Jan-Tan, Gui-Fu-Ba-Wei-Wan, Huan-Shao-Tan; and San Tsai-Feng-Sui-Tan, were tested for their effects on sexual behavior in aged rats. Crude liquid extracts of these herbs were administered to the rats daily through oral tubing for 14 days. All four herbal prescriptions showed some effects in restoration of mount and intromission behaviors, but there was no effect on restoration of ejaculation in 26 month old rats that had exhibited no copulatory activity (no mount, intromission and ejaculation) previously.